Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence of C282Y and E168X HFE mutations in an Italian population of Northern European ancestry.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In Italy, the prevalence of C282Y is lower than in Northern European countries. We hypothesized a higher prevalence of C282Y in Northern than in Southern Italian populations. We previously identified a nonsense mutation (E168X) in hemochromatosis probands originating from a region in the north-west of Italy. We aimed to define the prevalence of C282Y and E168X in that region and the origin of the E168X mutation by haplotype analysis. DESIGN AND METHODS Six-hundred and six blood donors were investigated for C282Y, H63D, S65C and E168X mutations by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction assays. Three hundred were also tested for rare HFE and TFR2 mutations by reverse-hybridization test strips. D6S265, D6S105 and D6S1281 microsatellites were analyzed to define E168X 6p-associated haplotypes. RESULTS One C282Y homozygote, thirteen C282Y/ H63D compound heterozygotes, four E168X heterozygotes and three E168X/H63D compound heterozygotes were found. The allele frequencies of C282Y, H63D, S65C, and E168X were 4.7%, 14.9%, 0.74% and 0.58%, respectively. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of C282Y in the region investigated was much higher than that previously reported in Italy. This finding is probably due to the heavy Celtic component of this north-western population and suggests that in populations of Northern Italian descent screening studies for hemochromatosis could be cost-effective. The prevalence of E168X in this region, although low, suggests that the mutation probably originated here many years ago and its frequency increased as a result of a local founder effect. Given its severity, we suggest that the E168X mutation should be searched for in all hemochromatosis patients of Northern ancestry with an incomplete HFE genotype.
Gender and Preschoolers' Perception of Emotion

A person's gender plays a role in the emotion children attribute to that person, even given unambiguous cues to a basic emotion. Eighty preschoolers (4 or 5 years of age) were asked to name the emotion of either a boy (Judd) or a girl (Suzy) in otherwise identical stories about prototypical emotional events and, separately, as shown with identical prototypical facial expressions. Boys more often labeled Judd than Suzy as disgusted, both in the disgust story and with the disgust face. There was also a trend for girls to label Suzy as afraid more often than Judd, both in the fear story and with the fear face.
Sensitivity and Uncertainty of a Long‐Term, High‐Resolution, Global, Terrestrial Sensible Heat Flux Data Set

Sensible heat flux directly influences local and regional climate and can be estimated using remotely sensed satellite observations. Although significant efforts have been made to estimate sensitivity and uncertainty in energy flux estimates at the local and regional scales using both models and algorithms compatible with remotely sensed satellite data, few studies quantify the sensitivity or uncertainty at the global scale, enabling a global comparison among uncertainty drivers. This study uses the 10 percentile change from the mean value in the empirical cumulative distribution function for the distribution of each input data set to calculate the sensitivity of the unconstrained, terrestrial sensible heat flux to change in the input data sets and uses this sensitivity in a first‐order analysis of the uncertainty in the sensible heat flux. The largest sensitivities to the Zilitinkevich empirical constant (Czil) are in the Amazon, northern Australia, and the plains of North America, while the sensitivity of the sensible heat flux to the temperature gradient is largest in dry regions of shorter vegetation. The Czil contributes most to the uncertainty of over 50–100 W/m2 in the Amazon and Indonesia, while the temperature gradient contributes most to the uncertainty elsewhere, producing an overall global average uncertainty of 24.8 W/m2. Future work should reduce the uncertainties in the temperature gradient and the Czil to reduce the uncertainty in sensible heat flux estimates.
On the performance of Redundant Traffic Elimination in WLANs

Redundant Traffic Elimination (RTE) detects and removes repeated chunks of data across network flows, protocols, and applications, with the purpose of reducing bandwidth usage. In this paper, we explore the effectiveness of RTE in WLAN, compare it to RTE in Ethernet, and investigate specific issues affecting RTE in WLAN. Our results show that applying RTE to WLAN links is promising and can potentially yield high bandwidth savings, although RTE is not as effective in WLAN as in wired networks. However, to exploit the full potential of RTE, it is necessary to deal with specific challenges, such as longer headers, control and management frames, retransmissions, and dropped frames. We find that including parts of MAC headers in RTE can increase overall bandwidth savings by up to 53% in a public WLAN. To handle dropped frames, which can severely compromise the effectiveness of RTE, we make a case for MAC-layer RTE, which detects frame loss at the sender. This preserves 23% more savings than a previous approach. However, frame retransmissions generate additional traffic at MAC layer, which reduces the effectiveness of RTE in general case.
Structure of Adeno-Associated Virus Type 4

ABSTRACT Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a member of the Parvoviridae, belonging to the Dependovirus genus. Currently, several distinct isolates of AAV are in development for use in human gene therapy applications due to their ability to transduce different target cells. The need to manipulate AAV capsids for specific tissue delivery has generated interest in understanding their capsid structures. The structure of AAV type 4 (AAV4), one of the most antigenically distinct serotypes, was determined to 13-Å resolution by cryo-electron microscopy and image reconstruction. A pseudoatomic model was built for the AAV4 capsid by use of a structure-based sequence alignment of its major capsid protein, VP3, with that of AAV2, to which AAV4 is 58% identical and constrained by its reconstructed density envelope. The model showed variations in the surface loops that may account for the differences in receptor binding and antigenicity between AAV2 and AAV4. The AAV4 capsid surface topology also shows an unpredicted structural similarity to that of Aleutian mink disease virus and human parvovirus B19, autonomous members of the genus, despite limited sequence homology.
Effect of BEMER magnetic field therapy on the level of fatigue in patients with multiple sclerosis: a randomized, double-blind controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES Electromagnetic field therapy has been reported to be beneficial in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) with significant fatigue. This study was designed to evaluate the long-term effects of Bio-Electro-Magnetic-Energy-Regulation (BEMER) on MS-related fatigue. DESIGN This was a monocenter, patient- and rater-blinded, placebo-controlled trial. PATIENTS There were 37 relapsing-remitting patients with MS with significant fatigue in the study. INTERVENTION The intervention consisted of BEMER magnetic field treatment for 8 minutes twice daily in comparison to placebo for 12 weeks. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary outcome criterion was change in the Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) between baseline and 12 weeks. The secondary outcome criteria were changes of the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), a general depression scale-long version (ADS-L), Multiple Sclerosis Functional Scale (MSFC), and the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS). RESULTS There was evidence of a significant difference of MFIS value (primary outcome criterion) after 12 weeks in favor of the verum group (26.84 versus 36.67; p = 0.024). In addition, FSS values were significantly lower in the verum group after 12 weeks (3.5 versus 4.7; p = 0.016). After 6 weeks' follow-up, verum and placebo groups did not differ in experienced fatigue (MFIS, FSS). Regarding the subscales of the MFIS, there was a significant decrease in physical (p = 0.018) and cognitive (p = 0.041), but not in psychologic subscales only in the verum group regarding the timepoints baseline and 12 weeks. BEMER therapy was well tolerated. DISCUSSION In this pilot study, we were able to demonstrate a beneficial effect of BEMER intervention on MS fatigue. As this was only a pilot study, trials with more patients and longer duration are mandatory to describe long-term effects.
Blood pressure control in Italy: analysis of clinical data from 2005–2011 surveys on hypertension

Introduction: Blood pressure (BP) control is poorly achieved in hypertensive patients, worldwide. Aim: We evaluated clinic BP levels and the rate of BP control in hypertensive patients included in observational studies and clinical surveys published between 2005 and 2011 in Italy. Methods: We reviewed the medical literature to identify observational studies and clinical surveys on hypertension between January 2005 and June 2011, which clearly reported information on clinic BP levels, rates of BP control, proportions of treated and untreated patients, who were followed in different clinical settings (mostly in general practice, and also in outpatient clinics and hypertension centres). Results: The overall sample included 158 876 hypertensive patients (94 907 women, mean age 56.6 ± 9.6 years, BMI 27.2 ± 4.2 kg/m2, known duration of hypertension 90.2 ± 12.4 months). In the selected studies, average SBP and DBP levels were 145.7 ± 15.9 and 87.5 ± 9.7 mmHg, respectively; BP levels were higher in patients followed in hypertension centres (n = 10 724, 6.7%; 146.5 ± 17.3/88.5 ± 10.3 mmHg) than in those followed by general practitioners (n = 148 152, 93.3%; 143.5 ± 13.9/84.8 ± 8.9 mmHg; P < 0.01). More than half of the patients were treated (n = 91 318, 57.5%); among treated hypertensive patients, only 31 727 (37.0%) had controlled BP levels. Conclusion: The present analysis confirmed inadequate control of BP in Italy, independently of the clinical setting. Although some improvement was noted compared with a similar analysis performed between 1995 and 2005, these findings highlight the need for a more effective clinical management of hypertension.
Modelling of rainfall partitioning by a deciduous shrub using a variable parameters Gash model

Alpine deciduous shrubs play an important role in local water cycle for ecosystems of Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau, but rainfall partitioning of the deciduous shrubs has not been fully understood due to significant variation in spatial coverage and leaf storage capacity, especially the lack of appropriate model to describe relevant processes. To assess these processes, field experiments were performed to determine vegetation and atmospheric parameters for the deciduous Potentilla fruticosa shrub in the growing season of 2012. Based on the experimental data, a variable parameters Gash model specifically for deciduous shrub rainfall partitioning was adapted from the revised Gash model to simulate rainfall partitioning. Results showed that the interception, throughfall, and stemflow accounted for 21.44%, 29.26%, and 49.30% of total rainfall in the shrub patches, respectively. Nearly half of interception (46.1%) was lost through evaporation from saturated leaf canopy during rainfall events. The performance of the original model on deciduous shrub canopy was improved by utilizing a variable parameters Gash model that adopted event‐based changeable meteorological and canopy parameters. The rainfall partitioning pattern in the shrub patch was very sensitive to changes in canopy coverage, evaporation, and rainfall intensity, in which great varieties can add large potential errors to the revised Gash model simulations. To accurately model rainfall partitioning, it is reasonable to adopt variable parameters.
The hierarchical formation of a stellar cluster

Recent surveys of star-forming regions have shown that most stars, and probably all massive stars, are born in dense stellar clusters. The mechanism by which a molecular cloud fragments to form several hundred to thousands of individual stars has remained elusive. Here, we use a numerical simulation to follow the fragmentation of a turbulent molecular cloud, and the subsequent formation and early evolution of a stellar cluster containing more than 400 stars. We show that the stellar cluster forms through the hierarchical fragmentation of a turbulent molecular cloud. This leads to the formation of many small subclusters, which interact and merge to form the final stellar cluster. The hierarchical nature of the cluster formation has serious implications in terms of the properties of the new-born stars. The higher number-density of stars in subclusters, compared to a more uniform distribution arising from a monolithic formation, results in closer and more frequent dynamical interactions. Such close interactions can truncate circumstellar discs, harden existing binaries and potentially liberate a population of planets. We estimate that at least one-third of all stars, and most massive stars, suffer such disruptive interactions.
Protection against Respiratory Syncytial Virus by a Recombinant Newcastle Disease Virus Vector

ABSTRACT Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of severe lower respiratory tract disease in infants and the elderly, but no safe and effective RSV vaccine is yet available. For reasons that are not well understood, RSV is only weakly immunogenic, and reinfection occurs throughout life. This has complicated the search for an effective live attenuated viral vaccine, and past trials with inactivated virus preparations have led to enhanced immunopathology following natural infection. We have tested the hypothesis that weak stimulation of innate immunity by RSV correlates with ineffective adaptive responses by asking whether expression of the fusion glycoprotein of RSV by Newcastle disease virus (NDV) would stimulate a more robust immune response to RSV than primary RSV infection. NDV is a potent inducer of both alpha/beta interferon (IFN-α/β) production and dendritic cell maturation, while RSV is not. When a recombinant NDV expressing the RSV fusion glycoprotein was administered to BALB/c mice, they were protected from RSV challenge, and this protection correlated with a robust anti-F CD8+ T-cell response. The effectiveness of this vaccine construct reflects the differential abilities of NDV and RSV to promote dendritic cell maturation and is retained even in the absence of a functional IFN-α/β receptor.
Estimating VAR's sampled at mixed or irregular spaced frequencies : a Bayesian approach

Economic data are collected at various frequencies but econometric estimation typically uses the coarsest frequency. This paper develops a Gibbs sampler for estimating VAR models with mixed and irregularly sampled data. The approach allows efficient likelihood inference even with irregular and mixed frequency data. The Gibbs sampler uses simple conjugate posteriors even in high dimensional parameter spaces, avoiding a non-Gaussian likelihood surface even when the Kalman filter applies. Two applications illustrate the methodology and demonstrate efficiency gains from the mixed frequency estimator: one constructs quarterly GDP estimates from monthly data, the second uses weekly financial data to inform monthly output.
Hip Fractures in Persons with Stroke

Background. Our aim was to determine the incidence of hip fractures within two years after stroke, to identify associated factors, to evaluate which test instruments that best could identify people at risk, and to describe the circumstances that prevailed when they sustained their hip fractures. Method. A total of 377 persons with first-ever stroke were followed up for a 24-month period. Stroke severity, cognition, and associated medical conditions were registered. The following test instruments were used: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, Mini-Mental State Examination, Berg Balance Scale, Timed Up & Go, and Stops Walking When Talking. Result. Sixteen of the persons fractured their hip within the study period, which corresponds to an incidence of 32 hip fractures per 1000 person-years. Persons with fractures more often had impaired vision and cognitive impairment and more had had previous fractures. Of the investigated test instruments, Timed Up & Go was the best test to predict fractures. Conclusion. The incidence of hip fractures in persons with stroke was high in this study. Persons with previous fractures, and visual and cognitive defects are at the greatest risk. Certain test instruments could be used in order to find people at risk, which should be targeted for fall preventive measures.
The Oslo Health Study: A Dietary Index Estimating Frequent Intake of Soft Drinks and Rare Intake of Fruit and Vegetables Is Negatively Associated with Bone Mineral Density

Background. Since nutritional factors may affect bone mineral density (BMD), we have investigated whether BMD is associated with an index estimating the intake of soft drinks, fruits, and vegetables. Methods. BMD was measured in distal forearm in a subsample of the population-based Oslo Health Study. 2126 subjects had both valid BMD measurements and answered all the questions required for calculating a Dietary Index = the sum of intake estimates of colas and non-cola beverages divided by the sum of intake estimates of fruits and vegetables. We did linear regression analyses to study whether the Dietary Index and the single food items included in the index were associated with BMD. Results. There was a consistent negative association between the Dietary Index and forearm BMD. Among the single index components, colas and non-cola soft drinks were negatively associated with BMD. The negative association between the Dietary Index and BMD prevailed after adjusting for gender, age, and body mass index, length of education, smoking, alcohol intake, and physical activity. Conclusion. An index reflecting frequent intake of soft drinks and rare intake of fruit and vegetables was inversely related to distal forearm bone mineral density.
Stable inversion of nonlinear non-minimum phase systems

Output tracking control of non-minimum phase systems is a highly challenging problem encountered in the control of flexible manipulators, space structures, and elsewhere. Classical inversion provides exact output tracking but leads to internal instability, while recent nonlinear regulation provides stable asymptotic tracking but admits large transient errors. As a first step to solve this problem, this paper addresses the stable inversion of non-minimum phase nonlinear systems. Using the notions of zero dynamics and stable/unstable manifolds, an invertibility condition is established for a class of systems. A stable but non-causal inverse is obtained offline that can be incorporated into a stabilizing controller for dead-beat output tracking. This inverse contrasts with the causal inverse proposed by Hirschorn where unstable zero dynamics result in unbounded inverse solutions. Our results reduce to those of Hirschorn for minimum phase systems, however. In a numerical example, the stable inverse has achiev.
Reflection does not undermine self-interested prosociality

The cognitive basis of prosocial behavior has received considerable recent attention. Previous work using economic games has found that in social dilemmas, intuitive decisions are more prosocial on average. The Social Heuristics Hypothesis (SHH) explains this result by contending that strategies which are successful in daily life become automatized as intuitions. Deliberation then causes participants to adjust to the self-interested strategy in the specific setting at hand. Here we provide further evidence for the SHH by confirming several predictions regarding when and for whom time pressure/delay will and will not alter contributions in a Public Goods Game (PGG). First, we replicate and extend previous results showing that (as predicted by the SHH) trust of daily-life interaction partners and previous experience with economic games moderate the effect of time pressure/delay in social dilemmas. We then confirm a novel prediction of the SHH: that deliberation should not undermine the decision to benefit others when doing so is also individually payoff-maximizing. Our results lend further support to the SHH, and shed light on the role that deliberation plays in social dilemmas.
Clinical Significance of New Coagulation and Fibrinolytic Markers in Ischemic Stroke Patients

Background and Purpose: We investigated plasma levels of D-dimer products of crosslinked fibrin degradation products, thrombin-antithrombin III complex, and plasmin-α2-antiplasmin complex for detecting coagulation system activation in ischemic stroke patients to determine the possible effect of age on these marker levels. Methods: We measured plasma levels of these three markers in 54 acute ischemic stroke patients within 5 days of stroke onset, in 44 chronic ischemic stroke patients over 3 months from onset, and in 50 age-matched healthy subjects. We divided the stroke patients into two subgroups, those with visible occlusion and those with nonvisible occlusion having obstruction of the major cerebral artery. Results: The plasma levels of these three markers were significantly (p<0.01) higher in the stroke patients than in controls. Significant differences did not exist at any level between the patients and controls in the younger-aged subjects (≤64 years of age), but did exist in the older-aged subjects (≥75 years of age). An age-related increase of the marker levels was noted between stroke patients and controls. No significant difference in the three markers was found among any of the stroke patients. Conclusions: Increased levels of these markers in stroke patients seem to be related mostly to age.
The infarct‐limiting effect of cerebral ischaemic postconditioning in rats depends on the middle cerebral artery branching pattern

Cerebral ischaemic postconditioning (PostCon) is a recently discovered endogenous neuroprotective phenomenon that occurs after several brief bouts of reperfusion/ischaemia instituted immediately after prolonged cerebral ischaemia. Data on the extent of PostCon‐mediated infarct size limitation in models of focal cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion are controversial. In this study, we investigated the infarct‐limiting effect of PostCon in the rat model of focal cerebral ischaemia–reperfusion. The relationship between anatomic pattern of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and infarct size was also studied. The protocol of PostCon consisting of five episodes each of 10‐s ischaemia and 10‐s reperfusion was protective in terms of infarct size limitation only in animals with the typical bifurcating MCA branching pattern. The anatomic pattern of the MCA should be considered as one of the important factors influencing the outcome of neuroprotection studies.