Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An inside job: how endosomal Na+/H+ exchangers link to autism and neurological disease

Autism imposes a major impediment to childhood development and a huge emotional and financial burden on society. In recent years, there has been rapidly accumulating genetic evidence that links the eNHE, a subset of Na+/H+ exchangers that localize to intracellular vesicles, to a variety of neurological conditions including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), intellectual disability, and epilepsy. By providing a leak pathway for protons pumped by the V-ATPase, eNHE determine luminal pH and regulate cation (Na+, K+) content in early and recycling endosomal compartments. Loss-of-function mutations in eNHE cause hyperacidification of endosomal lumen, as a result of imbalance in pump and leak pathways. Two isoforms, NHE6 and NHE9 are highly expressed in brain, including hippocampus and cortex. Here, we summarize evidence for the importance of luminal cation content and pH on processing, delivery and fate of cargo. Drawing upon insights from model organisms and mammalian cells we show how eNHE affect surface expression and function of membrane receptors and neurotransmitter transporters. These studies lead to cellular models of eNHE activity in pre- and post-synaptic neurons and astrocytes, where they could impact synapse development and plasticity. The study of eNHE has provided new insight on the mechanism of autism and other debilitating neurological disorders and opened up new possibilities for therapeutic intervention.
Functions of Identity: Scale Construction and Validation

The purpose of this study was to construct a reliable indicator of the 5 functions of identity proposed by Adams and Marshall (1996). Following Loevinger's (1957) method of test construction, 2 related studies were completed to test the substantive, structural, and external validity of the Functions of Identity Scale. Study 1 provides support for the substantive validity (factor structure, internal consistency, and construct validity). Results of Study 2 reveal evidence for 4 functions of identity and support for the external validity of the scale. As predicted, the complexity of identity status (diffusion, foreclosure, moratorium, and achievement) was positively correlated with the functions of identity, except for the measure of harmonious goals. These findings also support the conceptualization of the process of identity formation based on the distinctions of active and passive identity. Passive identity (diffusion plus foreclosure) was associated with lower scores on the Functions of Identity Scale than was active identity (moratorium plus achievement).
Bargaining babblers: vocal negotiation of cooperative behaviour in a social bird

Wherever individuals perform cooperative behaviours, each should be selected to adjust their own current contributions in relation to the likely future contributions of their collaborators. Here, we use the sentinel system of pied babblers (Turdoides bicolor) to show that individuals anticipate contributions by group mates, adjusting their own contribution in response to information about internal state broadcast by others. Specifically, we show that (i) short-term changes in state influence contributions to a cooperative behaviour, (ii) individuals communicate short-term changes in state, and (iii) individuals use information about the state of group mates to adjust their own investment in sentinel behaviour. Our results demonstrate that individual decisions about contributions to a cooperative effort can be influenced by information about the likely future contribution of others. We suggest that similar pre-emptive adjustments based on information obtained from collaborators will be a common feature of cooperative behaviour, and may play an important role in the development of complex communication in social species.
Age estimation of immature human skeletal remains from the dimensions of the girdle bones in the postnatal period.

OBJECTIVES This study provides classical calibration regression formulae for age estimation from the dimensions of unfused shoulder and pelvic girdle bones. MATERIALS AND METHODS Age estimation models were derived from a sample of 160 known age and sex individuals (63 females and 97 males) aged birth to 12 years, selected from Portuguese and English skeletal collections. The sample was divided into two age groups at the age of 2 years, and formulae were obtained for the sexes separately and combined. RESULTS Measurements of the pelvis provide more precise age estimates than the shoulder. In the younger age group, the height and width of the ilium, and the height of the glenoid yield the most precise age estimates. In the older age group, the length of the clavicle provides the most precise estimates, followed by measurements of the pubis and ischium. DISCUSSION In the younger individuals (<2 years), age estimates based on measurements of the pelvic girdle seem to be as or more precise than those based on the length of long bones. In older individuals (≥2 years), estimates based on the measurements of the girdles are less precise than those based on the length of long bones. These age estimation formulae may be useful for fragmentary and incomplete material in archaeological and forensic contexts. The formulae are suitable for a variety of archeological populations living under adverse conditions. These conditions are similar to some "developing" countries, and hence the formulae may also be applicable to modern forensic remains from such environments.
Secondary Outcomes of a Pilot Randomized Trial of Azithromycin Treatment for Asthma

Objectives: The respiratory pathogen Chlamydia pneumoniae (C. pneumoniae) produces acute and chronic lung infections and is associated with asthma. Evidence for effectiveness of antichlamydial antibiotics in asthma is limited. The primary objective of this pilot study was to investigate the feasibility of performing an asthma clinical trial in practice settings where most asthma is encountered and managed. The secondary objectives were to investigate (1) whether azithromycin treatment would affect any asthma outcomes and (2) whether C. pneumoniae serology would be related to outcomes. This report presents the secondary results. Design: Randomized, placebo-controlled, blinded (participants, physicians, study personnel, data analysts), allocation-concealed parallel group clinical trial. Setting: Community-based health-care settings located in four states and one Canadian province. Participants: Adults with stable, persistent asthma. Interventions: Azithromycin (six weekly doses) or identical matching placebo, plus usual community care. Outcome Measures: Juniper Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire (Juniper AQLQ), symptom, and medication changes from baseline (pretreatment) to 3 mo posttreatment (follow-up); C. pneumoniae IgG and IgA antibodies at baseline and follow-up. Results: Juniper AQLQ improved by 0.25 (95% confidence interval; −0.3, 0.8) units, overall asthma symptoms improved by 0.68 (0.1, 1.3) units, and rescue inhaler use decreased by 0.59 (−0.5, 1.6) daily administrations in azithromycin-treated compared to placebo-treated participants. Baseline IgA antibodies were positively associated with worsening overall asthma symptoms at follow-up (p = 0.04), but IgG was not (p = 0.63). Overall asthma symptom improvement attributable to azithromycin was 28% in high IgA participants versus 12% in low IgA participants (p for interaction = 0.27). Conclusions: Azithromycin did not improve Juniper AQLQ but appeared to improve overall asthma symptoms. Larger community-based trials of antichlamydial antibiotics for asthma are warranted.
Adaptive Allocation of Pilot and Data Power for Time-Selective Fading Channels with Feedback

We consider data transmission through a time-selective (correlated) flat Rayleigh fading channel under an average power constraint. The channel is estimated at the receiver with a pilot signal, and the estimate is fed back to the transmitter. The estimate is used for coherent demodulation, and to adapt the data and pilot powers. We start with a block fading channel in which the channel gain changes according to a Gauss-Markov process. The channel estimate is updated during each coherence block with a Kalman filter, and optimizing the data and pilot powers is formulated as a dynamic program. We then study a continuous limit in which the coherence time tends to zero, and the correlation between successive channel gains tends to one, so that the channel process becomes a diffusion process. In this limit it is shown that the optimal pilot power control policy is "bang-bang", i.e., depending on the current system state (channel estimate and associated error variance) the pilot power is either the maximum allowable, or zero. The associated regions of the state space are illustrated numerically for specific system values. This example shows that the achievable rate with the optimized training policy provides substantial gains relative to constant training power at low SNRs
Segmentation Over Detection via Optimal Sparse Reconstructions

This paper addresses the problem of semantic segmentation, where the possible class labels are from a predefined set. We exploit top-down guidance, i.e., the coarse localization of the objects and their class labels provided by object detectors. For each detected bounding box, figure-ground segmentation is performed and the final result is achieved by merging the figure-ground segmentations. The main idea of the proposed approach, which is presented in our preliminary work, is to reformulate the figure-ground segmentation problem as sparse reconstruction pursuing the object mask in a nonparametric manner. The latent segmentation mask should be coherent subject to sparse error caused by intra-category diversity; thus, the object mask is inferred by making use of sparse representations over the training set. To handle local spatial deformations, local patch-level masks are also considered and inferred by sparse representations over the spatially nearby patches. The sparse reconstruction coefficients and the latent mask are alternately optimized by applying the Lasso algorithm and the accelerated proximal gradient method. The proposed formulation results in a convex optimization problem; thus, the global optimal solution is achieved. In this paper, we provide theoretical analysis of the convergence and optimality. We also give an extended numerical analysis of the proposed algorithm and a comprehensive comparison with the related semantic segmentation methods on the challenging PASCAL visual object class object segmentation datasets and the Weizmann horse dataset. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm achieves a competitive performance when compared with the state of the arts.
Long-term immunogenicity and efficacy of hepatitis B vaccine in hemodialysis patients.

Although the efficacy of hepatitis B vaccines in patients under chronic hemodialysis treatment has been well documented, the persistence of immunity in this population remains largely unknown. In this study we have followed 60 hemodialysis patients up to 3 years after primary hepatitis B vaccination (four doses of recombinant hepatitis B vaccine; Engerix B, 20 mg/dose) to evaluate the persistence of immunity (as indicated by serum levels of antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen-anti-HBs-higher than or equal to 10 mIU/ml). Fourty-four (73%) patients developed anti-HBs levels above 10 mIU/ml after vaccination; the remaining 16 (27%) vaccinees were considered nonresponders and were given a booster dose that again failed to elicit an immunoresponse. After 3 years of follow-up, 18 out of 44 (41%) responders had no detectable anti-HBs levels in the serum (antibody loss occurring within 8 and 12 months in 3 cases, within 1 and 2 years in 13, and within 2 and 3 years in 2 other cases). When compared with the responders that lost their antibodies during the follow-up period, those who remained immunoreactive 3 years after vaccination was initiated were younger and had higher anti-HBs levels at 8 months of follow-up. Two hepatitis B virus infections were detected among nonresponders during the follow-up period. Based on these data, we conclude that patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis therapy not only have lower response rates to hepatitis B vaccination than healthy adults, but also that these are frequently transient. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
High Frequency Jet Ventilation in Respiratory Failure Secondary to Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection: A Case Series

Objective To describe the utility of high frequency jet ventilation (HFJV) as a rescue therapy in patients with respiratory failure secondary to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that was refractory to conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV). Design Descriptive study by retrospective review. Setting Pediatric intensive care unit at a tertiary care children’s hospital. Patients Infants on mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure due to RSV. Interventions Use of HFJV. Main Results Eleven patients were placed on HFJV. There was sustained improvement in ventilation on HFJV with a mean decrease in PCO2 of 9 mmHg at 24 h and 11 mmHg at 72 h. There were no significant changes in oxygenation by oxygenation index. No patients required extracorporeal support or suffered pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, or subcutaneous emphysema. Ten out of 11 (91%) patients survived to discharge from the hospital. Conclusion High frequency jet ventilation may represent an alternative therapy for RSV-induced respiratory failure that is refractory to CMV.
Comorbidity and glycemia control among patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care

Reports on the relationship between comorbidity and glycemia control in diabetic patients are conflicting and the method of measuring comorbidity varies widely among studies. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between diabetes control and comorbidity, taking into account all comorbidities and their severity, in a primary care setting. We performed a retrospective descriptive study based on chart review of 96 randomly selected type 2 diabetic patients. Comorbidity was measured with the cumulative illness rating scale (CIRS), an exhaustive comorbidity index. Diabetes was considered as controlled if the mean value of two measurements of glycosylated hemoglobin A (HbA1c) was less than 7%. Taking diabetes control as the dependent variable, its relationship with the CIRS score, age, sex, diabetes duration, and diabetes-related complications was explored. Diabetes control was not significantly related with the CIRS score, age, sex or diabetes severity. Diabetes duration was the only variable significantly related to diabetes control. Our study suggests that comorbidity measured with the CIRS in patients with type 2 diabetes is not a factor that prevents the achievement of a good glycemia control.
The New York City Puerto Rican Asthma Project: Study Design, Methods, and Baseline Results

Objective. We examined asthma risk factors among 274 Puerto Rican children born in New York to atopic mothers. Methods. We prospectively followed the cohort to measure aeroallergens in their homes and assess allergic sensitization. Baseline data are presented. Results. Maternal smoking was significantly higher among women born on the continental United States (25%) vs. those born elsewhere (11%). Cat ownership was more frequent among mainland-born women (15%) compared with those born in Puerto Rico (4%). While some aeroallergens were prevalent, few dust samples contained detectable dust mite allergens. Conclusions. By following this cohort, we hope to identify the roles that socio-cultural factors play in the process of allergic sensitization.
Implications on Humanoid Robots in Pedagogical Applications from Cross-Cultural Analysis between Japan, Korea, and the USA

Humanoids are the most advanced robots and have been expected to act in various fields including education. Thus, it is important to investigate in different cultures what people actually assume when they encounter the word "humanoid robots," from not only a psychological perspective but also an engineering one, focusing on such aspects as design and market of robotics. For this aim, a cross-cultural research instrument, the robot assumptions questionnaire (RAQ) was administered to university students in Japan, Korea, and the USA. As a result, it was found that the Japanese students more strongly assume autonomy, social relationships, and emotional capacity of humanoid robots than the Korean and USA students, and there are more detailed cultural differences of assumptions about humanoids related to daily-life fields, in particular, pedagogical fields. Moreover, it was found that the USA students have more ambivalent images of humanoids than the Japanese students, and the Korean students have more careful attitudes toward humanoid robots than the Japanese students. In addition, the paper discusses engineering implications of the research results.
HBME‐1 and CK19 are highly discriminatory in the cytological diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma

The cytologic diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma is straightforward in most instances. However, there are some mimics including goitrous nodules and Hurthle cell neoplasms. Many studies have shown the combination of HBME‐1 and CK19 expression to be useful in reaching a correct histologic diagnosis on tissue sections. We aim to assess the value of these markers in the setting of cell blocks prepared from needle aspiration specimens. We performed immunohistochemical staining of HBME‐1 and CK19 on cell block material from 22 thyroid nodules that also had follow‐up histology. Both CK19 and HBME‐1 were strongly positive in all nine cases of papillary thyroid carcinoma, the latter showing distinct luminal accentuation. In the non‐papillary carcinomas, none showed positivity for both HBME‐1 and CK19. Two of six Hurthle cell neoplasms were positive for CK19, however all were negative for HBME‐1. One of nine goitrous nodules was strongly positive for HBME‐1 with luminal/membranous staining, but this were negative for CK19.
Displaced Workers in the United States and the Netherlands

This discussion paper has resulted in chapter 2 in: 'Losing Work, Moving On: International Perspectives On Worker Displacement', Peter J. Kuhn, Ed., 2002, W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research, Kalamazoo, MI, ISBN 0-88099-234-4.
Transition from fractional to classical Stokes–Einstein behaviour in simple fluids

An optical technique for tracking single particles has been used to evaluate the particle diameter at which diffusion transitions from molecular behaviour described by the fractional Stokes–Einstein relationship to particle behaviour described by the classical Stokes–Einstein relationship. The results confirm a prior prediction from molecular dynamic simulations that there is a particle size at which transition occurs and show it is inversely dependent on concentration and viscosity but independent of particle density. For concentrations in the range 5 × 10−3 to 5 × 10−6 mg ml−1 and viscosities from 0.8 to 150 mPa s, the transition was found to occur in the diameter range 150–300 nm.
Effects of adenosine agonists on ventilation during hypercapnia, hypoxia and hyperoxia in rhesus monkeys.

This study characterized in rhesus monkeys the effects of selected adenosine agonists on ventilation during normal atmospheric conditions and during conditions of hypercapnia, hypoxia and hyperoxia. In seated, unanesthetized monkeys prepared with a head plethysmograph, ventilation during exposure to air, CO2 (3, 4 and 5%) mixed in air (hypercapnia), 10% O2 mixed in N2 (hypoxia) and 100% O2 (hyperoxia) was measured during cumulative dosing with each drug. The nonselective (A1/A2) agonist, 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidadenosine (NECA), the peripherally active, A2-selective agonist, CGS 21680 [2-(carboxyethylphenylamino)adenosine-5'-carboxamide], and the A1-selective agonists, N6-cyclohexyladenosine and N6-cyclopentyladenosine, increased respiratory frequency (f), but had no significant effect on minute volume (VE) during exposure to air. The relative potencies for increasing f corresponded closely with their potencies for binding at A2 receptors. NECA and CGS 21680 increased f in a dose-dependent manner during exposure to 3% CO2, but proportional increases in f were less pronounced as the concentration of CO2 increased. NECA and CGS 21680 also increased f during hypoxia, but neither had a significant effect on f during subsequent hyperoxia. The highest dose of CHA and CPA decreased f below control values during exposure to 5% CO2 and decreased f and VE during hyperoxia. In contrast, the adenosine antagonist, caffeine, and the selective phosphodiesterase inhibitor, rolipram, increased f and VE under all conditions. During hypercapnia, the magnitude of the increases in f was similar at each concentration of CO2 studied. Caffeine and rolipram increased f and VE during hypoxia, and f and VE remained elevated during hyperoxia. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Arc Statistics in Clusters: Galaxy Contribution

The frequency with which background galaxies appear as long arcs as a result of gravitational lensing by foreground clusters of galaxies has recently been found by Bartelmann et al. to be a very sensitive probe of cosmological models. They have found that such arcs would be expected far less frequently than observed (by an order of magnitude) in the currently favored model of the universe, with a large cosmological constant, ΩΛ ~ 0.7. Here we analyze whether including the effect of cluster galaxies on the likelihood of clusters to generate long-arc images of background galaxies can change the statistics. Taking into account a variety of constraints on the properties of cluster galaxies, we find that there are not enough sufficiently massive galaxies in a cluster for them to significantly enhance the cross section of clusters and generate long arcs. We find that cluster galaxies typically enhance the cross section by only ≲15%.
Barreloid Borders and Neuronal Activity Shape Panglial Gap Junction-Coupled Networks in the Mouse Thalamus

The ventral posterior nucleus of the thalamus plays an important role in somatosensory information processing. It contains elongated cellular domains called barreloids, which are the structural basis for the somatotopic organization of vibrissae representation. So far, the organization of glial networks in these barreloid structures and its modulation by neuronal activity has not been studied. We have developed a method to visualize thalamic barreloid fields in acute slices. Combining electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and electroporation in transgenic mice with cell type-specific fluorescence labeling, we provide the first structure-function analyses of barreloidal glial gap junction networks. We observed coupled networks, which comprised both astrocytes and oligodendrocytes. The spread of tracers or a fluorescent glucose derivative through these networks was dependent on neuronal activity and limited by the barreloid borders, which were formed by uncoupled or weakly coupled oligodendrocytes. Neuronal somata were distributed homogeneously across barreloid fields with their processes running in parallel to the barreloid borders. Many astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were not part of the panglial networks. Thus, oligodendrocytes are the cellular elements limiting the communicating panglial network to a single barreloid, which might be important to ensure proper metabolic support to active neurons located within a particular vibrissae signaling pathway.