Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fine-Mapping and Phenotypic Analysis of the Ity3 Salmonella Susceptibility Locus Identify a Complex Genetic Structure

Experimental animal models of Salmonella infections have been widely used to identify genes important in the host immune response to infection. Using an F2 cross between the classical inbred strain C57BL/6J and the wild derived strain MOLF/Ei, we have previously identified Ity3 (Immunity to Typhimurium locus 3) as a locus contributing to the early susceptibility of MOLF/Ei mice to infection with Salmonella Typhimurium. We have also established a congenic strain (B6.MOLF-Ity/Ity3) with the MOLF/Ei Ity3 donor segment on a C57BL/6J background. The current study was designed to fine map and characterize functionally the Ity3 locus. We generated 12 recombinant sub-congenic strains that were characterized for susceptibility to infection, bacterial load in target organs, cytokine profile and anti-microbial mechanisms. These analyses showed that the impact of the Ity3 locus on survival and bacterial burden was stronger in male mice compared to female mice. Fine mapping of Ity3 indicated that two subloci contribute collectively to the susceptibility of B6.MOLF-Ity/Ity3 congenic mice to Salmonella infection. The Ity3.1 sublocus controls NADPH oxidase activity and is characterized by decreased ROS production, reduced inflammatory cytokine response and increased bacterial burden, thereby supporting a role for Ncf2 (neutrophil cytosolic factor 2 a subunit of NADPH oxidase) as the gene underlying this sublocus. The Ity3.2 sub-locus is characterized by a hyperresponsive inflammatory cytokine phenotype after exposure to Salmonella. Overall, this research provides support to the combined action of hormonal influences and complex genetic factors within the Ity3 locus in the innate immune response to Salmonella infection in wild-derived MOLF/Ei mice.
Validity of Big Five personality judgments in childhood: a 9 year longitudinal study

In a 9 year longitudinal study over childhood, the Big Five personality traits were assessed at ages 4–6 by teacher Q‐sorts, at age 10 by parental Q‐sorts, and at age 12 by parental and friend ratings on bipolar adjective scales. The Big Five Q‐sort indices were based on definitions proposed by John, Caspi, Robins, Moffitt, and Stouthamer‐Loeber (1994) for adolescent boys. They were related to judgments and behavioural observations of inhibition and aggressiveness, and to antecedents and consequences of school achievement such as IQ and cognitive self‐esteem. Neuroticism and low extraversion correlated with social inhibition, low agreeableness and low conscientiousness with aggressiveness, and conscientiousness and/or culture/intellect/openness with antecedents and outcomes of school achievement. These correlations were consistently found throughout childhood. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF TOURISM CONSUMPTION DYNAMICS : A Time-varying Parameter Demand System Approach

This study considers the dynamics of the consumption behaviour of tourists from an economic perspective. The evolution of various demand elasticities is explored using a time-varying parameter almost ideal demand system model. The top four source markets for tourism in Hong Kong are examined, and three major tourist expenditure categories, including shopping, hotel accommodation and meals outside hotels, are investigated for each market. Elasticity analysis reveals different consumption trends and patterns across the source markets. The findings will serve as a useful reference for Hong Kong tourism-related industries and the government in their efforts to enhance the competitiveness of Hong Kong as an international tourism destination.
The ‘Great Migration’ of summer 2015: analysing the assemblage of key drivers in Turkey

ABSTRACT By 2015, approximately 2.8 million refugees had arrived in Turkey: approximately 2.5 million from Syria and about 300,000 from other countries. By the end of the year, an estimated 850,000 had moved on to Greece and from there on to other E.U. countries. This onward flow represents a sudden change from 2014 when only 51,000 people exited Turkey for the E.U. This article investigates events in Turkey in 2015 in order to explain these processes. The theoretical framework analyses the interplay of what I describe as secondary root causes for flight. It examines conditions in Turkey as first country of arrival and considers the migration infrastructure as well as political opportunities and constraints. This paper is based on findings from two research projects conducted in 2014 and 2015 which included qualitative interviews with refugees and stakeholders, as well as field observations. It considers the main patterns emerging during this period of both inward and secondary migration, as well as changes over time from 2014 to 2016.
Clinical Breast Examination As the Recommended Breast Cancer Screening Modality in a Rural Community in Malaysia; What Are the Factors That Could Enhance Its Uptake?

Breast cancer is the most common cause of deaths and the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women worldwide. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of breast cancer screening, specifically on clinical breast examination, and the predictors of its uptake among women in Malaysia. A cross-sectional study was carried out in five selected districts whereby women aged between 20 to 64 years old, from a total of 1000 households were interviewed. A total of 1192 women responded to the survey of which 53.3% reported had ever done clinical breast examination. Significant associations with clinical breast examination were noted for income and distance from the hospital. These factors should be considered in developing interventions aimed at promoting clinical breast examination. In particular, healthcare providers should be proactive in raising awareness about clinical breast examination among women in Malaysia.
Client Improvement and Working Alliance: Case-Manager Factors

ABSTRACT To investigate working alliance and other factors in case managers' perceptions of client improvement, data were collected from 95 case manager–adult client pairs from community-based agencies. Per the multiple regression results, client improvement as perceived by case manager increased with level of working alliance as perceived by case manager, and with manager age and social work education at the bachelor's level and master's level. Such improvement decreased with level of client substance abuse as perceived by manager. No association was found between client improvement as perceived by case manager and four further tested factors: level of working alliance as perceived by client; homogeneous gender and ethnicity of client and case manager; case manager work experience; duration of client working with the current case manager. Implications for practice and education are discussed.
Pulse oximetry oxygen saturation during the 6-min walk test: a limit for stopping the test without resuming it

We read with interest the systematic review on [1] and the new procedures for [2] field tests for chronic respiratory diseases. However, we would like to raise some concerns regarding the indications given when oxygen desaturation occurs during the 6-min walk test (6MWT). Caution should be taken when adopting new ERS/ATS recommendation on 6-min walk test procedure http://ow.ly/PX9OB
Library and Information Science Research in Iran: An Analysis of National and International Publications

Abstract Using a scientometric approach, this study examines scholarly publications by library and information science (LIS) researchers affiliated with Iranian institutions that were published in non-Iranian journals and indexed in the Web of Science (WoS) database, together with publications in Iranian LIS journals from 1980 through 2016. The results show that Iranian authors published 538 LIS documents indexed in WoS and another 7,837 in national journals. The research article was the predominant document type at both the national and international levels. The total number of international publications in LIS by all countries was 313,449; Iran ranked 34th among the countries for publications in LIS.
Generalized Lorentzian Gravity in 1+1D and the Calogero Hamiltonian

We introduce and solve a generalized 1+1D Lorentzian gravity model in which a certain subclass of baby-universes is allowed, the occurrence of these being governed by a coupling constant β. Combining transfer matrix-, saddle pointand path integral techniques we show that for β < 1 it is possible to take a continuum limit in which the model is described by a 1D quantum Calogero Hamiltonian. The coupling constant β survives the continuum limit and appears as a parameter of the Calogero potential.
Modeling Heterogeneous Network Traac in Wavelet Domain: Part Ii{ Non-gaussian Traac

Following our work described in Part I of this paper that modeled various correlation structures of Gaussian traac in wavelet domain, we extend our previous models to heterogeneous network traac with either a non-Gaussian distribution or a periodic structure. To include a non-Gaussian distribution, we rst investigate what higher-order statistics are pertinent by exploring a relationship between timescale analysis of wavelets and cumulative traac. We then develop a novel algorithm in the wavelet domain to capture the important statistics. By utilizing local properties of wavelet basis in both space and time, we further extend such wavelet models to periodic MPEG traac. As wavelets provide a natural t to higher-order statistics as well as localized spatial and temporal dependence of periodic traac at diierent time scales, the resulting wavelet models for both non-Gaussian and periodic traac are simple and accurate with the lowest computational complexity attainable.
Contributions of open crop straw burning emissions to PM2.5 concentrations in China

PM2.5 inventories have been developed in major Chinese cities to quantify the contributions from various sources based on annual emissions. This approach, however, could substantially underestimate the contribution from open straw burning during the harvest or other active burning periods. This study examines this issue by estimating monthly and annual straw-burning PM2.5 emissions in China and comparing with them with the corresponding emissions from other anthropogenic sources. Annually burned straw PM2.5 emissions during 1997 ∼ 2013 for 31 China provinces were calculated based on crop and related burning information for 12 months based on satellite detection of agricultural burning. Annual emissions from other anthropogenic sources were collected from the literature and allocated to monthly values using air pollution index measurements. The results indicate that the annual PM2.5 emissions from open straw burning in China were 1.036 m tons. The monthly PM2.5 emission ratios of straw burning to other anthropogenic sources during June, the harvest period for many regions, were several times larger than the annual ratios at national, regional, and province levels, suggesting that, in contrast to annual emissions that were used in the PM2.5 inventories in Chinese cities to assess the contributions from other sources, monthly emissions should be used to assess the contributions from straw burning during the harvest or other active burning periods. The larger contributions from straw burning shown in this study also suggest that substantial reduction of open field straw burning would dramatically improve air quality in many Chinese regions during the harvest or other active burning periods.
Simultaneous bilateral cochlear implants: Developmental advances do not yet achieve normal cortical processing

Simultaneous bilateral cochlear implantation promotes symmetric development of bilateral auditory pathways but binaural hearing remains abnormal. To evaluate whether bilateral cortical processing remains impaired in such children, cortical activity to unilateral and bilateral stimuli was assessed in a unique cohort of 16 children who received bilateral cochlear implants (CIs) simultaneously at 1.97 ± 0.86 years of age and had ~4 years of CI experience, providing the first opportunity to assess electrically driven cortical development in the absence of reorganized asymmetries from sequential implantation.
Midwifery E-Health: From design to validation of “Mammastyle — Gravidanza Fisiologica”

Health education for pregnant women is one of the aims chased by using mobile applications for health prevention and healthy lifestyle promotion. The literature claims the lack of mobile applications with evidence-based information and supported by health professionals. This paper deals with the design, the implementation, and the evaluation of a service for healthy women with a normal pregnancy aimed at promoting healthy lifestyles, monitoring the eating habits and the physical activity, for educational purposes and overweight and obesity prevention in pregnancy.
A Comparison of the Visual Perceptual Processing Skills of Children (6-10 Years Old) with and without Human Immuno-Deficiency Virus (HIV) Using the Test of Visual Perceptual Skills-3rd Edition (TVPS-3) in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Background: Visual perceptual skills are essential for independent participation in self-care tasks, educational, work and leisure time activities. The effect of HIV on the visual perceptual skills is not well understood among children in low resource settings like Zimbabwe. Methods: A cross sectional comparative study was done with 30 children living with HIV and 30 children living without HIV residing in Harare urban area. The TVPS-3 was used to assess their visual perceptual skills. SPSS version 22, STATISTICA 13 and Microsoft 2016 were used for data analysis. Results: Both groups of children had mean percentile ranks below 50 on their TVPS-3 scores. Children without HIV generally performed better than those with HIV but the difference was not statistically significant in most cases. Through univariate analysis, only performance on Spatial Relations significantly differed between the two groups. Both groups had lowest scores in Basic visual perceptual skills. Age and school grade were the independent predictors of the children’s performances in the study. Conclusion: There is need for Occupational therapy services in public primary schools and in the pediatric Opportunistic Infections clinics in hospitals to be part of the health team which caters for children with visual perceptual challenges.
Protein Kinase Pathway Human Breast Cancer Cells by the Ras / Mitogen-Activated Gene in Trefoil Factor 1 Chromatin Modification of the Updated

Histone H3 phosphorylation is a downstream response to activation of the Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. This modification is thought to have a role in chromatin remodeling and in the initiation of gene transcription. In MCF-7 breast cancer cells, we observed that phosphorylated histone H3 (phospho-H3) at Ser but not Ser increased with phorbol ester (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, TPA) treatment. Although phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 levels in these cells cultured under estradiol deplete and replete conditions displayed no change, a significant induction was observed after TPA treatment. Furthermore, whereas both estradiol and TPA increased trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) mRNA levels in these cells, only TPA-induced and not estradiol-induced TFF1 expression was inhibited by the H3 kinase mitogen and stress activated protein kinase (MSK) inhibitor H89 and MAPK kinase inhibitor UO126, showing the involvement of the Ras/ MAPK following TPA induction. Mutation of the activator protein 1 (AP-1) binding site abrogated the TPA-induced transcriptional response of the luciferase reporter gene under the control of the TFF1 promoter, showing the requirement for the AP-1 site. In chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, estradiol treatment resulted in the association of the estrogen receptor-A (ERA) and acetylated H3 with the TFF1 promoter. The levels of phospho-H3 and MSK1 associated with the TFF1 promoter were moderately increased. In the presence of TPA, whereas ERA was not bound to the promoter, a strong association of acetylated and/or phospho-H3, MSK1, and c-Jun was observed. These results show that although both stimuli lead to TFF1 gene activation, estradiol and TPA exert their effects on TFF1 gene expression by different mechanisms. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(9): 4610-6)
Molecular genetics and clinical features of Chinese idiopathic and heritable pulmonary arterial hypertension patients

Mutations of the bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor (BMPR2) gene predispose to pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). 290 idiopathic (I)PAH patients and 15 heritable (H)PAH were screened to determine the spectrum and rate of BMPR2 mutations in a large Chinese patient group. Gene sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA®) were used to detect sequence mutations and large rearrangements (RGTs). Total mutation rate was 14.5% (n=42 out of 290) in Chinese IPAH patients, and 53.3% (n=8 out of 15) in HPAH patients. RGT mutation rate was 3.1% (n=7 out of 229) and represented 14% (n=7 out of 50) of all identified mutations. 25 BMPR2 mutations were newly identified. Patients in this study were younger than other reported PAH subjects. BMPR2 mutation carriers were ∼6 yrs younger at diagnosis than noncarriers (p=0.002), but this relationship was significant only in the female group, which was larger. The proportion of females carrying a BMPR2 mutation was half that of males (12.8% versus 25.3%; p=0.008). Our results indicate that the overall genetics of Chinese PAH patients is similar to that of other populations, but the clinical picture differs by the precocity of the disease in the whole patient group, and the lower proportion of females found to carry a BMPR2 mutation.
Higher Precision in Pointing Movements of the Preferred vs. Non-Preferred Hand Is Associated with an Earlier Occurrence of Anticipatory Postural Adjustments

It is a common experience to exhibit a greater dexterity when performing a pointing movement with the preferred limb (PREF) vs. the non-preferred (NON-PREF) one. Here we provide evidence that the higher precision in pointing movements of the PREF vs. NON-PREF hand is associated with an earlier occurrence of the anticipatory postural adjustments (APAs). In this aim, we compared the APAs which stabilize the left or the right arm when performing a pen-pointing movement (prime mover flexor carpi radialis (FCR)). Moreover, we analyzed the elbow and wrist kinematics as well as the precision of the pointing movement. The mean kinematics of wrist movement and its latency, with respect to prime mover recruitment, were similar in the two sides, while APAs in triceps brachii (TB), biceps brachii (BB) and anterior deltoid (AD) were more anticipated when movements were performed with the PREF than with the NON-PREF hand (60–70 vs. 20–30 ms). APAs amplitudes were comparable in the muscles of the two sides. Earlier APAs in the preferred limb were associated with a better fixation of the elbow, which showed a lower excursion, and with a less scattered pointing error (PREF: 10.1 ± 0.8 mm; NON-PREF: 16.3 ± 1.7). Present results suggest that, by securing the more proximal joints dynamics, an appropriate timing of the intra-limb APAs is necessary for refining the voluntary movement precision, which is known to be scarce on the NON-PREF side.
An Examination of the Generalizability of the LSI-R and Vrag Probability Bins

Statistics such as the Pearson’s r and Receiver Operating Characteristics are often used to test the generalization of criminal and violence prediction instruments. However, these analyses overlook potential error in the assessment of risk if the rates of offending within the initial validation samples are assumed accurate for other samples. This study examined the generalizability of the Level of Service Inventory-Revised and Violence Risk Appraisal Guide probability bins in a predominantly violent correctional sample. The findings showed that the initial bin probabilities were not transferable to our sample of predominantly violent male offenders. An empirical method of optimal binning was introduced. The discussion centered on the accurate use of bin probabilities in the communication of risk.
Transgenic Arabidopsis Plants Expressing Tomato Glutathione S-Transferase Showed Enhanced Resistance to Salt and Drought Stress

Although glutathione S-transferases (GST, EC 2.5.1.18) are involved in response to abiotic stress, limited information is available regarding gene function in tomato. In this study, a GST gene from tomato, designated LeGSTU2, was cloned and functionally characterized. Expression profile analysis results showed that it was expressed in roots and flowers, and the transcription was induced by salt, osmotic, and heat stress. The gene was then introduced to Arabidopsis by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Transgenic Arabidopsis plants were normal in terms of growth and maturity compared with wild-type plants. Transgenic plants also showed an enhanced resistance to salt and osmotic stress induced by NaCl and mannitol. The increased tolerance of transgenic plants was correlated with the changes in proline, malondialdehyde and antioxidative emzymes activities. Our results indicated that the gene from tomato plays a positive role in improving tolerance to salinity and drought stresses in Arabidopsis.
Trust Transfer on the World Wide Web

The World Wide Web (WWW) has been touted as providing great opportunities for small businesses to compete and thrive. Concerns about trust have been identified as a barrier to such businesses' success. This research explores how consumers’ initial trust judgments about organizations they encounter on the Web may be influenced by hypertext links from trusted web sites and associations with the more trust-inducing traditional retail channel. The paper develops and tests a cognitive model of the trust transfer process, arguing that trust is transferred across hypertext links based on the perceived interaction and similarity of the linked organizations and that institution-based trust is transferred from the traditional shopping channel to a Web-based organization based on evidence that the Web-based organization has a physical store. An experimental study shows that a hypertext link from one Web site to another increased the extent to which the linked organizations were perceived to have a business relationship and be similar and these perceptions had a positive influence on trusting beliefs regarding the linked site. Associating with the physical shopping channel by showing a picture of a building on a Web site increased the extent to which subjects reported intention to buy from the site. The study provided empirical evidence that trusting beliefs regarding the Web site had a significant positive effect on intention to buy from it. The paper discusses further development of the trust transfer model based on the social perception literature and explores implications for future research.
Strangeness enhancement at mid--rapidity in Pb--Pb collisions at 158 $A$ GeV/c

KS0, Λ, Ξ, Ω and negative particle h− yields and transverse mass spectra, measured at central rapidity in p-Pb and Pb-Pb collisions at 158 A GeV/c, are presented and discussed. Yields are studied as a function of the number of nucleons participating in the collision Npart, which have been estimated using the Glauber model. From p-Pb to Pb-Pb collisions the particle yields per participant increase substantially. Such an enhancement is more pronounced for multiply strange particles, and reaches an order of magnitude for Ω. For a number of participants Npart > 100, however, all yields per participant appear to be constant.