Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Environmental Viral Agents on Frequency and Tempo of Diabetes Mellitus in BB/Wor Rats

Elimination of environmental viruses by cesarean derivation of the University of Massachusetts colony of BB/Wor rats increased the frequency and accelerated the tempo of spontaneous diabetes among diabetes-prone (DP) rats. In contrast, the viral-antibody–free (VAF) environment did not alter the resistance of pre-VAF diabetes-resistant (DR) rats to spontaneous and RT6+ T-lymphocyte–depletion–induced diabetes. Pre-VAF and VAF rats have essentially the same lymphocyte subsets, and VAF-DP rats are susceptible to the adoptive transfer of diabetes and to the diabetes-accelerating effects of polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid injections. These results suggest that the presence of environmental viral pathogens may act to inhibit effector cell function in lymphopenic DP rats while enhancing effector cell activity in nonlymphopenic DR rats.
Oral and depot progestin therapy for endometriosis: towards a personalized medicine

ABSTRACT Introduction: Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent chronic inflammatory disorder that requires a life-long management plan. Long-term adherence to treatment is pivotal to ensure an effective clinical management. In this optic, one of the cornerstone of endometriosis medical treatment is represented by progestins. Areas covered: This narrative review examines the clinical efficacy, safety and tolerability of oral and depot progestins used in the treatment of endometriosis. The material included in the current manuscript was obtained with a MEDLINE search through PubMed from inception until February 2017. Expert opinion: Progestins are effective in controlling pain symptoms in the majority of women with endometriosis, and their effect seems not inferior to that achieved with other compounds used to treat the disease, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist. Available progestins include a broad range of both oral and depot compounds, and represent, in most cases, an inexpensive treatment option. In addition, progestins do not increase significantly thrombotic risk and could be adopted in those women with metabolic or cardiovascular contraindication to estrogen-progestins. The choice between the different available compounds should be tailored for every woman with preference to the most cost-effective treatment, depending on the most complained symptom and disease location.
Comparing the Heterogeneity of Copper-Binding Characteristics for Two Different-Sized Soil Humic Acid Fractions Using Fluorescence Quenching Combined with 2D-COS

Heterogeneous distributions of copper-binding characteristics were compared for two ultrafiltered size fractions of a soil HA using fluorescence quenching combined with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2D-COS). The apparent shapes of the original synchronous fluorescence spectra and the extent of the fluorescence quenching upon the addition of copper were similar for the two fractions. The stability constants calculated at their highest peaks were not significantly different. However, the 2D-COS results revealed that the fluorescence quenching behaviors were strongly affected by the associated wavelengths and the fraction's size. The spectral change preferentially occurred in the wavelength order of 467 nm → 451 nm → 357 nm for the 1–10 K fraction and of 376 nm → 464 nm for the >100 K fraction. The extent of the binding affinities exactly followed the sequential orders interpreted from the 2D-COS, and they exhibited the distinctive ranges of the logarithmic values from 5.86 to 4.91 and from 6.48 to 5.95 for the 1–10 K and the >100 K fractions, respectively. Our studies demonstrated that fluorescence quenching combined with 2D-COS could be successfully utilized to give insight into the chemical heterogeneity associated with metal-binding sites within the relatively homogeneous HA size fractions.
Navigating multiple options and social relationships in plural health systems: a qualitative study exploring healthcare seeking for sick children in Sierra Leone.

BACKGROUND Sierra Leone has emerged from civil war but remains in the lowest tier of the human development index. While significant health reforms, such as the removal of user fees, aim to increase access to services, little is known about how families navigate a plural health system in seeking health care for sick children. This research aims to build on recent care-seeking literature that emphasizes a shift from static supply-and-demand paradigms towards more nuanced understandings, which account for the role of household agency and social support in navigating a landscape of options. METHODS A rapid ethnographic assessment was conducted in villages near and far from facilities across four districts: Kambia, Kailahun, Pujehun and Tonkolili. In total, 36 focus group discussions and 64 in-depth interviews were completed in 12 villages. Structured observation in each village detailed sources of health care. RESULTS When a child becomes sick, households work within their geographic, social and financial context to seek care from sources including home treatment, herbalists, religious healers, drug peddlers and facility-based providers. Pathways vary, but respondents living closer to facilities emphasized facility care compared with those living further away, who take multi-pronged approaches. Beyond factors linked to the location and type of healthcare provision, social networks and collaboration within and across families determine how best to care for a sick child and can contribute to (or hinder) the mobilization of resources necessary to access care. Husbands play a particularly critical role in mobilizing funds and facilitating transport to facilities. CONCLUSION Caregivers in Sierra Leone have endured in the absence of adequate health care for decades: their resourcefulness in devising multiple strategies for care must be recognized and integrated into the service delivery reforms that are making health care increasingly available.
Mining Quantitative Association Rules in Practice Building a working data mining system

In this thesis, we present a practical framework for mining quantitative association rules and give recommendations regarding presentation of the discovered rules. A system for mining and working with quantitative association rules was designed. We suggest a general system architecture that covers a range of practical applications, spreads logically separate functionality between several independent modules, and scales well with the number of clients served by the system. Further, we motivate a choice of a suitable mining technique and present an alternative mechanism for generating rules from trend rule candidates. A workflow allowing users without previous background in data mining to make effective use of mined rules to support everyday work is described. Two models for assessing interestingness of rules are suggested. Impact is an interestingness measure based on the difference between the observed average and the expected average as well as on the number of data records behind the rule. Hotness is a user-specific interestingness value combining statistical significance of the rule with collective intelligence of all users and personal preferences of the current user. The segment-to-item technique for visualizing multiple rules in a compact and accessible format was developed, as well as the metasegment-to-item approach that is a further generalization of this idea. In addition, ways of using data visualization to facilitate analysis of individual rules are described. A working system based on these ideas was implemented and integrated into an industrial software product proving that the developed techniques and designs are feasible in a practical application.
Sensory tricks in focal dystonia and hemifacial spasm

Sensory tricks are sensory, often but not exclusively tactile, stimuli usually in the body part affected by the movement disorder that produce a meaningful alleviation of dystonia. The frequency and clinical features of sensory tricks in different types of dystonia are poorly studied in the literature. There is no information regarding the presence of a similar phenomenon in HFS.
Toward Identification of Black Lemma and Pericarp Gene Blp1 in Barley Combining Bulked Segregant Analysis and Specific-Locus Amplified Fragment Sequencing

Black barley is caused by phytomelanin synthesized in lemma and/or pericarp and the trait is controlled by one dominant gene Blp1. The gene is mapped on chromosome 1H by molecular markers, but it is yet to be isolated. Specific-locus amplified fragment sequencing (SLAF-seq) is an effective method for large-scale de novo single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery and genotyping. In the present study, SLAF-seq with bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was employed to obtain sufficient markers to fine mapping Blp1 gene in an F2 population derived from Hatiexi No.1 × Zhe5819. Based on SNP screening criteria, a total of 77,542 polymorphic SNPs met the requirements for association analysis. Combining two association analysis methods, the overlapped region with a size of 32.41 Mb on chromosome 1H was obtained as the candidate region of Blp1 gene. According to SLAF-seq data, markers were developed in the target region and were used for mapping the Blp1 gene. Linkage analysis showed that Blp1 co-segregated with HZSNP34 and HZSNP36, and was delimited by two markers (HZSNP35 and HZSNP39) spanning 8.1 cM in 172 homozygous yellow grain F2 plants of Hatiexi No.1 × Zhe5819. More polymorphic markers were screened in the reduced target region and were used to genotype the population. As a result, Blp1 was delimited within a 1.66 Mb on chromosome 1H by the upstream marker HZSNP63 and the downstream marker HZSNP59. Our results demonstrated the utility of SLAF-seq-BSA approach to identify the candidate region and discover polymorphic markers at the specific targeted genomic region.
A survey of attack and defense techniques for reputation systems

Reputation systems provide mechanisms to produce a metric encapsulating reputation for a given domain for each identity within the system. These systems seek to generate an accurate assessment in the face of various factors including but not limited to unprecedented community size and potentially adversarial environments. We focus on attacks and defense mechanisms in reputation systems. We present an analysis framework that allows for the general decomposition of existing reputation systems. We classify attacks against reputation systems by identifying which system components and design choices are the targets of attacks. We survey defense mechanisms employed by existing reputation systems. Finally, we analyze several landmark systems in the peer-to-peer domain, characterizing their individual strengths and weaknesses. Our work contributes to understanding (1) which design components of reputation systems are most vulnerable, (2) what are the most appropriate defense mechanisms and (3) how these defense mechanisms can be integrated into existing or future reputation systems to make them resilient to attacks.
Convergence properties of the multistage constant modulus array for correlated sources

A steady-state analysis of the multistage constant modulus (CM) array is presented for the case of correlated source signals. Using a Wiener model for the converged adaptive algorithms, it is demonstrated that because of the cascade structure, signal cross-correlation causes "phantom" sources to be present. The resulting signal leakage in the adaptive cancellers between stages causes an increase in the minimum mean-square error. A parallel implementation that overcomes this loss in performance is described; it requires an initialization strategy to ensure that each stage captures a different source. Computer simulations are presented to illustrate the convergence properties of the cascade and parallel CM array systems and to verify the theoretical results.
A family study of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

BACKGROUND The causes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are as yet unknown. Evidence of familial aggregation is one approach for investigating the role of genetics in the etiology of this condition. The current study was conducted to determine ifOCD is familial and to investigate possible familial subtypes. METHODS Eighty case probands were identified in 5 specialty OCD clinics and 73 community control probands were identified by random-digit dialing. These probands and their first-degree relatives (343 case and 300 control relatives) were blinded to group and evaluated by psychiatrists and doctoral-level clinical psychologists using semistructured instruments. Final diagnoses were assigned by a blinded-consensus procedure. The results were analyzed using logistic regression by the method of generalized estimating equations. RESULTS The lifetime prevalence of OCD was significantly higher in case compared with control relatives (11.7% vs 2.7%) (P<.001). Case relatives had higher rates of both obsessions and compulsions; however, this finding is more robust for obsessions. Age at onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in the case proband was strongly related to familiality (odds ratio, 0.92; confidence interval, 0.85-0.99) (P = .05); no case of OCD symptoms was detected in the relatives of probands whose age at onset of symptoms was 18 years or older. Probands with tics or obsessive-compulsive personality disorder were not more likely to have relatives with OCD than those without these features. CONCLUSIONS Obsessive-compulsive disorder is a familial disorder. Obsessions are more specific to the phenotype than are compulsions. Age at onset of OCD is valuable in characterizing a familial subtype.
The Prion Protein Controls Polysialylation of Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule 1 during Cellular Morphogenesis

Despite its multi-faceted role in neurodegenerative diseases, the physiological function of the prion protein (PrP) has remained elusive. On the basis of its evolutionary relationship to ZIP metal ion transporters, we considered that PrP may contribute to the morphogenetic reprogramming of cells underlying epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMT). Consistent with this hypothesis, PrP transcription increased more than tenfold during EMT, and stable PrP-deficient cells failed to complete EMT in a mammalian cell model. A global comparative proteomics analysis identified the neural cell adhesion molecule 1 (NCAM1) as a candidate mediator of this impairment, which led to the observation that PrP-deficient cells fail to undergo NCAM1 polysialylation during EMT. Surprisingly, this defect was caused by a perturbed transcription of the polysialyltransferase ST8SIA2 gene. Proteomics data pointed toward β-catenin as a transcriptional regulator affected in PrP-deficient cells. Indeed, pharmacological blockade or siRNA-based knockdown of β-catenin mimicked PrP-deficiency in regards to NCAM1 polysialylation. Our data established the existence of a PrP-ST8SIA2-NCAM signaling loop, merged two mature fields of investigation and offer a simple model for explaining phenotypes linked to PrP.
A Comparative Analysis of Austenite-to-Martensite and Austenite-to-Bainite Phase Transformation Kinetics in Steels

This paper presents a comparison of the macroscopic transformation strain evolution as a function of the bainite and martensite phase fractions in steels. Specifically, the evolution of anisotropic strain with phase fraction follows a linear trend for the martensitic transformation due to continuous stress-induced variant selection. In the case of bainitic transformation, the anisotropic strain evolves non-linearly owing to diffusion, minimizing the distortion around the bainitic sheaves and further promoting stress-induced variant selection at the early stages of the bainitic phase transformation. However, this effectiveness is reduced when the bainitic sheaves start constricting the growth of each other.
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor improves outcome in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that results in progressive loss of motoneurons, motor weakness and death within 1–5 years after disease onset. Therapeutic options remain limited despite a substantial number of approaches that have been tested clinically. In particular, various neurotrophic factors have been investigated. Failure in these trials has been largely ascribed to problems of insufficient dosing or inability to cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB). We have recently uncovered the neurotrophic properties of the haematopoietic protein granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF). The protein is clinically well tolerated and crosses the intact BBB. This study examined the potential role of G-CSF in motoneuron diseases. We investigated the expression of the G-CSF receptor in motoneurons and studied effects of G-CSF in a motoneuron cell line and in the SOD1(G93A) transgenic mouse model. The neurotrophic growth factor was applied both by continuous subcutaneous delivery and CNS-targeted transgenic overexpression. This study shows that given at the stage of the disease where muscle denervation is already evident, G-CSF leads to significant improvement in motor performance, delays the onset of severe motor impairment and prolongs overall survival of SOD1(G93A)tg mice. The G-CSF receptor is expressed by motoneurons and G-CSF protects cultured motoneuronal cells from apoptosis. In ALS mice, G-CSF increased survival of motoneurons and decreased muscular denervation atrophy. We conclude that G-CSF is a novel neurotrophic factor for motoneurons that is an attractive and feasible drug candidate for the treatment of ALS.
A 10‐item smell identification scale related to risk for Alzheimer's disease

University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test data from control subjects (n = 63), patients with mild cognitive impairment (n = 147), and patients with Alzheimer's disease (n = 100) were analyzed to derive an optimal subset of items related to risk for Alzheimer's disease (ie, healthy through mild cognitive impairment to early and moderate disease stages). The derived 10‐item scale performed comparably with the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test in classifying subjects, and it strongly predicted conversion to Alzheimer's disease on follow‐up evaluation in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Independent replication is needed to validate these findings. Ann Neurol 2005;58:155–160
Regulatory genes of simian immunodeficiency viruses from west African green monkeys (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus)

The high seroprevalence of simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs) in African green monkeys (AGMs) without immunological defects in their natural hosts has prompted consideration of SIV-infected AGMs as a model of apathogenic SIV infection. Study of the molecular mechanisms of SIVagm asymptomatic infection could thus provide clues for understanding the pathogenesis of human immunodeficiency viruses. Regulatory genes could be candidates for genetic control of SIVagm apathogenicity. We have characterized Vpr, Tat, Rev, and Nef genes of two SIVagm strains isolated from naturally infected sabaeus monkeys captured in Senegal. The results provide further evidence that SIVagm from West African green monkeys is the most divergent class of AGM viruses, with structural features in long terminal repeat sequences and Vpr and Tat genes that distinguish them from viruses isolated from other AGM species (vervet, grivet, and tantalus monkeys).
Genetic Diversity in Dengue Mosquito, Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) from Amazon Region: Comparative Analysis with Isozymes and RAPD Loci

Four populations of Aedes aegypti from Manaus were studied, using allozymes and RAPD loci, to determine intra- and interpopulation genetic variability and differentiation and to compare genetic structure parameters assessed with both markers. Five RAPD primers produced 52 polymorphic fragments, whereas only seven of 18 isozyme loci were polymorphic. The population from Praca 14 was the most polymorphic (P= 94.23% and P= 55.6%); while those from Coroado (P= 82.69% and P= 44.40%) and from Cidade Nova (P= 84.61% and P= 44.40%) were the least polymorphic, for both RAPD and isozymes respectively. The observed heterozygosity was higher between populations (Ho= 0.33 - 0.38) as assessed by RAPD. Wright's F statistics showed an F is value higher than F st (F is = 0.164 > F st = 0.048). AMOVA indicated that 95.12% of the genetic variability is intrapopulational. Even so, both of the genetic markers evaluated showed a relatively high gene flow ((N m = 15.15), and possibly are still random couplings, although the F is value was not low. The genetic distance between populations was similarly low for both markers: RAPD (0.012 - 0.016) and Isozymes (0.003 - 0.016). These results show that as assessed by both markers, the populations are genetically similar, and that isozymes (codominant) are the most efficient to detect the population genetic structure. Although isozymes revealed less genetic diversity than RAPDs, the estimated levels of genetic distance were identical.
Improve the compression ratios for code-based test vector compressions by decomposing

Code-based test vector compressions are the most capable of testing current SOCs consisted of a large number of IP cores because they do not need the structure information of the cores. However, the compression ratios of this kind of compression approaches are often lower than that of other compression methods, such as linear-decompression-based schemes and broadcast-scan-based schemes. In this paper, we propose a novel method that can greatly improve the compression ratios for code-based test vector compression techniques with affordable overheads. The method decomposes an original test set to a prominent component set and a residue set using Hadamard transform. The prominent component set can be generated easily by an additional on-chip TPG, whereas the residue set can be compressed efficiently. When testing is conducted, the compressed residue is transmitted from the tester to the CUT and decompressed by a decompressor. At the same time, the prominent component set is produced by the on-chip TPG, and then composed with the residue to restore the original test set that is at last applied to the CUT. The experimental results for seven different code-based methods on some largest ISCAS'89 circuits show that the total average compression ratio rises from 60.76% to 77.74%. The compression ratio will be further improved to 85.39% if a fault simulation tool can be used. Primary results on some ITC'99 circuitries are also provided.