Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Epidemiology of respiratory virus infections among infants and young children admitted to hospital in Oman

The aim of this prospective study was to determine the epidemiology of respiratory viruses responsible for seasonal epidemics of influenza‐like illness in infants and young children in Oman. All children ≤5 years of age consecutively admitted to Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in Oman over a 1‐year period between December 2007 and December 2008 with acute respiratory infections were included. A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for viral detection was performed on nasopharyngeal aspirates. Analyses were conducted using univariate statistical methods. Of the 259 infants and young children, at least one respiratory virus was detected in 130 samples (50%). The most prevalent viruses were respiratory syncytial virus (RSV; 43%; n = 56), adenovirus (15%; n = 20), and parainfluenza virus (PIV) (11%; n = 14). Dual or multiple viral infections were found in 23 cases (18%). The three most prominent symptoms of the cohort were fever (78%; n = 201), tachypnoea (77%; n = 200), and runny nose (61%; n = 158). The majority had bronchiolitis (39%; n = 101) while 37% (n = 96) had pneumonia. RSV was more likely to affect those that were young (4 months vs. 7.5 months; P = 0.002) and had tachypnoea (93% vs. 69%; P = 0.004), lower respiratory tract infections (91% vs. 80%; P = 0.039), and bronchiolitis (57% vs. 38%; P = 0.024). The study indicated that respiratory viruses are highly prevalent in children ≤5 years presenting with acute respiratory infections in Oman, of which RSV is the most prominent. J. Med. Virol. 84: 1323–1329, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Influence of Adhesion Force on icaA and cidA Gene Expression and Production of Matrix Components in Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms

ABSTRACT The majority of human infections are caused by biofilms. The biofilm mode of growth enhances the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus spp. considerably, because once they adhere, staphylococci embed themselves in a protective, self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs). The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of forces of staphylococcal adhesion to different biomaterials on icaA (which regulates the production of EPS matrix components) and cidA (which is associated with cell lysis and extracellular DNA [eDNA] release) gene expression in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Experiments were performed with S. aureus ATCC 12600 and its isogenic mutant, S. aureus ATCC 12600 Δpbp4, deficient in peptidoglycan cross-linking. Deletion of pbp4 was associated with greater cell wall deformability, while it did not affect the planktonic growth rate, biofilm formation, cell surface hydrophobicity, or zeta potential of the strains. The adhesion forces of S. aureus ATCC 12600 were the strongest on polyethylene (4.9 ± 0.5 nN), intermediate on polymethylmethacrylate (3.1 ± 0.7 nN), and the weakest on stainless steel (1.3 ± 0.2 nN). The production of poly-N-acetylglucosamine, eDNA presence, and expression of icaA genes decreased with increasing adhesion forces. However, no relation between adhesion forces and cidA expression was observed. The adhesion forces of the isogenic mutant S. aureus ATCC 12600 Δpbp4 (deficient in peptidoglycan cross-linking) were much weaker than those of the parent strain and did not show any correlation with the production of poly-N-acetylglucosamine, eDNA presence, or expression of the icaA and cidA genes. This suggests that adhesion forces modulate the production of the matrix molecule poly-N-acetylglucosamine, eDNA presence, and icaA gene expression by inducing nanoscale cell wall deformation, with cross-linked peptidoglycan layers playing a pivotal role in this adhesion force sensing.
Mechanism for the suppression of the mammalian stress response by genistein, an anticancer phytoestrogen from soy.

BACKGROUND Soy products contain high levels of genistein, a phytoestrogen that is a potent inhibitor of cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Genistein has been found to inhibit the growth of carcinogen-induced cancers in rats and human leukemia cells transplanted into mice. The induction of stress proteins (e.g., glucose-related proteins and heat shock proteins) in tumor cells has been shown to protect them against programmed cell death; this stress response is inhibited by genistein. The mechanism(s) by which genistein affects certain stress response genes was explored in this study. METHODS Mammalian cell cultures were treated with azetidine, a proline analog, which elicits a stress response that includes the induction of the expression of glucose-regulated protein GRP78 and heat shock protein HSP70. The effects of azetidine and/or genistein treatment on cellular levels of grp78 and hsp70 messenger RNAs and proteins were measured by northern blot hybridization and western blot analyses, respectively, and the binding of nuclear factors to sequence motifs in the upstream (promoter) regions of these two genes were examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. RESULTS Genistein antagonized the binding of a specific transcription factor, nuclear factor-Y/CCAAT binding factor (NF-Y/CBF), to the CCAAT sequence element most proximal to the transcription start sites in the hsp70 and grp78 promoters; this CCAAT element was previously shown to be necessary for full-stress inducibility of both genes. Treatment of cells with genistein converted NF-Y/CBF into a nonbinding, transcriptionally inactive form. IMPLICATION The anticancer effects of genistein may be related to its ability to reduce the expression of stress response-related genes.
Cyclic pursuit behavior for hierarchical multi-agent systems with low-rank interconnection

This paper is concerned with the stability degree of a class of hierarchical multi-agent systems based on a fairly general model which expresses an integrated hierarchical systems by focusing on the rank of interconnection matrix. We first define the expression of the interconnection matrix and explain the significance of its low-rank property instead of sparseness or small gain property to represent the weakness of the interaction. We then derive the analytical eigenvalue distribution for a class of rank one interconnection matrix and examine the stability degree of the whole system for cyclic pursuit, which are confirmed by numerical examples with simulations. We also investigate the properties of rank two case is a preliminary step of the general case.
Asymmetric localisation of cytokine mRNA is essential for JAK/STAT activation during cell invasiveness

The transition from immotile epithelial cells to migrating cells occurs in all organisms during normal embryonic development, as well as during tumour metastasis. During Drosophila oogenesis, border cells (BCs) are recruited and delaminate from the follicular epithelium. This process is triggered by the polar cells (PCs), which secrete the cytokine Unpaired (Upd) and activate the JAK/STAT pathway in neighbouring cells, turning them into invasive BCs. Interestingly, either a decrease or an increase in BC number alters migration, indicating that mechanisms controlling the level of JAK/STAT signalling are crucial in this process. Here, we show that PCs have a highly stable and polarised network of microtubules along which upd transcripts are asymmetrically transported in a Dynein-dependent manner. We demonstrate that in the absence of upd mRNA localisation the ligand is no longer efficiently secreted, leading to a loss of signalling strength as well as recruitment and migration defects. These findings reveal a novel post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism of JAK/STAT signalling in the control of epithelial cell invasiveness.
Filaggrin Mutation in Korean Patients with Atopic Dermatitis

Purpose Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic, relapsing eczematous inflammatory skin disease. Mutations in the filaggrin gene (FLG) are major predisposing factors for AD. Ethnic differences exist between Asian and European populations in the frequency and spectrum of FLG mutations. Moreover, a distinct set of FLG mutations has been reported in Asian populations. The aim of this study was to examine the spectrum of FLG mutations in Koreans with AD. We also investigated the association of FLG mutations and clinical features of AD and compared the Korean FLG landscape with that of other East Asian countries. Materials and Methods Seventy Korean patients with AD were enrolled in this study. Fourteen FLG mutations previously detected in Korean, Japanese, and Chinese patients were screened by genotyping. Results Four FLG null mutations (3321delA, K4022X, S3296X, and S2889X) were identified in eleven patients (15.7%). The most commonly detected mutations in Korean patients with AD were 3321delA (n=6, 9.1%) and K4022X (n=3, 4.5%). FLG mutations were significantly associated with elevated IgE (≥200 KIU/L and/or MAST-CLA >3+, p=0.005), palmar hyperlinearity (p<0.001), and a family history of allergic disease (p=0.021). Conclusion This study expanded our understanding of the landscape of FLG mutations in Koreans and revealed an association between FLG mutations and AD phenotype.
Insights into Resistance to Fe Deficiency Stress from a Comparative Study of In Vitro-Selected Novel Fe-Efficient and Fe-Inefficient Potato Plants

Iron (Fe) deficiency induces chlorosis (IDC) in plants and can result in reduced plant productivity. Therefore, development of Fe-efficient plants is of great interest. To gain a better understanding of the physiology of Fe-efficient plants, putative novel plant variants were regenerated from potato (Solanum tubersosum L. var. ‘Iwa’) callus cultures selected under Fe deficient or low Fe supply (0–5 μM Fe). Based on visual chlorosis rating (VCR), 23% of callus-derived regenerants were classified as Fe-efficient (EF) and 77% as Fe-inefficient (IFN) plant lines when they were grown under Fe deficiency conditions. Stem height was found to be highly correlated with internodal distance, leaf and root lengths in the EF plant lines grown under Fe deficiency conditions. In addition, compared to the IFN plant lines and control parental biotype, the EF plants including the lines named A1, B2, and B9, exhibited enhanced formation of lateral roots and root hairs as well as increased expression of ferritin (fer3) in the leaf and iron-regulated transporter (irt1) in the root. These morphological adaptations and changes in expression the fer3 and irt1 genes of the selected EF potato lines suggest that they are associated with resistance to low Fe supply stress.
Screening of folate status with use of dried blood spots on filter paper.

BACKGROUND Dried blood spots (DBS) on filter paper have been a successful and economical matrix for neonatal screening. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to develop and evaluate an optimized method for DBS folate analysis and to assess DBS folate stability. DESIGN DBS were eluted from paper by sonication in 5 g ascorbic acid/L containing 0.1% (by vol) Triton X-100 and hemoglobin folate values (HF; as pmol/g) were calculated from DBS eluate folate and hemoglobin concentrations. RESULTS Over 95% of DBS folate was eluted during a standardized sonication cycle and DBS folate assay reproducibility was acceptable both within (CV: <8%) and between (CV: <9%) runs. HF means (+/-1 SD) from finger-stick DBS and conventional venous methods were 2513 +/- 1144 and 2607 +/- 1195 pmol/g, respectively, in blood samples taken concurrently from 80 donors, and they correlated well (r = 0.97, P < 0.001). HF values and erythrocyte folate measures may be interconverted by using the mean cell hemoglobin concentration. CONCLUSION The DBS matrix has potential as an inexpensive and practical option for folate screening studies.
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Anti-Angiogenic and Anti-Neoplastic Effects of Endostar on Liver Cancer through Optical Molecular Imaging

Molecular imaging enables non-invasive monitoring of tumor growth, progression, and drug treatment response, and it has become an important tool to promote biological studies in recent years. In this study, we comprehensively evaluated the in vivo anti-angiogenic and anti-neoplastic effects of Endostar on liver cancer based on the optical molecular imaging systems including micro-computer tomography (Micro-CT), bioluminescence molecular imaging (BLI) and fluorescence molecular tomography (FMT). Firefly luciferase (fLuc) and green fluorescent protein (GFP) dual labeled human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HCC-LM3-fLuc-GFP cells) were used to establish the subcutaneous and orthotopic liver tumor model. After the tumor cells were implanted 14∼18 days, Endostar (5 mg/kg/day) was administered through an intravenous tail vein injection for continuous 14 days. The computer tomography angiography (CTA) and BLI were carried out for the subcutaneous tumor model. FMT was executed for the orthotopic tumor model. The CTA data showed that tumor vessel formation and the peritumoral vasculature of subcutaneous tumor in the Endostar treatment group was significantly inhibited compared to the control group. The BLI data exhibited the obvious tumor inhibition day 8 post-treatment. The FMT detected the tumor suppression effects of Endostar as early as day 4 post-treatment and measured the tumor location. The above data confirmed the effects of Endostar on anti-angiogenesis and tumor suppression on liver cancer. Our system combined CTA, BLI, and FMT to offer more comprehensive information about the effects of Endostar on the suppression of vessel and tumor formation. Optical molecular imaging system enabled the non-invasive and reliable assessment of anti-tumor drug efficacy on liver cancer.
Sexual Intercourse Among Adolescents Maltreated Before Age 12: A Prospective Investigation

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether child maltreatment (physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, and neglect) predicts adolescent sexual intercourse; whether associations between maltreatment and sexual intercourse are explained by children's emotional distress, and whether relations among maltreatment, emotional distress, and sexual intercourse differ according to gender. METHODS: The Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect was a multisite, longitudinal investigation. Participants ranged from at-risk to substantiated maltreatment. Maltreatment history was assessed through Child Protective Service records and youth self-report at age 12. Youth reported emotional distress by using the Trauma Symptom Checklist at the age of 12 years and sexual intercourse at ages 14 and 16. Logistic and multiple regressions, adjusting for gender, race, and site, were used to test whether maltreatment predicts sexual intercourse, the explanatory effects of emotional distress, and gender differences. RESULTS: At ages 14 and 16, maltreatment rates were 79% and 81%, respectively, and sexual initiation rates were 21% and 51%. Maltreatment (all types) significantly predicted sexual intercourse. Maltreated youth reported significantly more emotional distress than non-maltreated youth; emotional distress mediated the relationship between maltreatment and intercourse by 14, but not 16. At 14, boys reported higher rates of sexual intercourse than girls and the association between physical abuse and sexual intercourse was not significant for boys. CONCLUSIONS: Maltreatment (regardless of type) predicts sexual intercourse by 14 and 16. Emotional distress explains the relationship by 14. By 16, other factors likely contribute to intercourse. Maltreated children are at risk for early initiation of sexual intercourse and sexually active adolescents should be evaluated for possible maltreatment.
Rewriting the rules for end joining via enzymatic splicing of DNA 3′-PO4 and 5′-OH ends

Significance The ability to repair breaks in the DNA phosphodiester backbone is essential for genome integrity. When breakage results in 5′-PO4 and 3′-OH termini, the ends can be rejoined to each other, or to novel partner strands, by classic DNA ligases that covalently activate the 5′-PO4 end by linkage to AMP. However, when breakage leaves 5′-OH and 3′-PO4 termini, the ends are considered “dirty” because they cannot be sealed by classic ligases. This paper shows that the unconventional ligase RtcB can evade the DNA dirty end chemistry problem by splicing DNA 3′-PO4 ends to DNA 5′-OH ends. RtcB accomplishes this by attaching a GMP nucleotide to the DNA 3′-PO4 end to activate it for nucleophilic attack by the 5′-OH. There are many biological contexts in which DNA damage generates “dirty” breaks with 3′-PO4 (or cyclic-PO4) and 5′-OH ends that cannot be sealed by DNA ligases. Here we show that the Escherichia coli RNA ligase RtcB can splice these dirty DNA ends via a unique chemical mechanism. RtcB transfers GMP from a covalent RtcB–GMP intermediate to a DNA 3′-PO4 to form a “capped” 3′ end structure, DNA3′pp5′G. When a suitable DNA 5′-OH end is available, RtcB catalyzes attack of the 5′-OH on DNA3′pp5′G to form a 3′–5′ phosphodiester splice junction. Our findings unveil an enzymatic capacity for DNA 3′ capping and the sealing of DNA breaks with 3′-PO4 and 5′-OH termini, with implications for DNA repair and DNA rearrangements.
Work as a Turning Point in the Life Course of Criminals: A Duration Model of Age, Employment, and Recidivism

Sociologists have increasingly emphasized “turningpoints” in explaining behavioral change over the life course. Is work a turning point in the life course of criminal offenders? If criminals are provided with jobs, are they likely to stop committing crimes? Prior research is inconclusive because work effects have been biased by selectivity and obscured by the interaction of age and employment. This study yields more refined estimates by specifying event history models to analyze assignment to, eligibility for, and current participation in a national work experiment for criminal offenders. Age is found to interact with employment to affect the rate of self-reported recidivism: Those aged 27 or older are less likely to report crime and arrest when provided with marginal employment opportunities than when such opportunities are not provided. Among young participants, those in their teens and early twenties, the experimental job treatment had little effect on crime. Work thus appears to be a turning point for older, but not younger, offenders.
The Empathy Assessment Index (EAI): A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of a Multidimensional Model of Empathy

Both historically and currently, social work and related fields have expressed considerable interest in the construct of empathy. However, the ability to define and ultimately measure empathy is limited. This project validates a revised version of the Empathy Assessment Index (EAI), which is a measure rooted in a social cognitive neuroscience conceptualization of empathy. To evaluate the instrument’s psychometric properties, we administered the 50-item EAI with a five-component model of empathy to a sample of 773 undergraduate students and community members. We evaluate the EAI psychometrics conducting internal consistency, testretest, and confirmatory factor analyses. Findings indicate that a 17-item five-factor model of the EAI offers the best fit [CFI = . 98; RMSEA = . 04 (90% CI (.03; .05); WRMR = . 80]. The data do not support using empathic attitudes as a proxy for actions; however, the findings suggest the EAI functions better when measuring a fourfactor model, offering an important implication for future research.
Period Analysis for More Up-to-Date Graft and Patient Survival Estimates in Transplantation: An Evaluation Using United Network for Organ Sharing Data

Background. Traditional, cohort-based survival analysis approaches may provide outdated graft and patient survival estimates in times when clinical progress is rapid. Period analysis, a survival analysis method that uses left truncation and was shown to provide more up-to-date survival estimates than traditional, cohort-based methods in other medical fields, may improve the timeliness of survival monitoring in transplantation. Methods. Using United Network for Organ Sharing/Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network data, we evaluated, through a series of comparisons, how well most up-to-date 5-year survival estimates potentially derivable by two commonly used cohort-based methods and the period method would have been able to predict the later observed survival of corresponding most recent transplants in the dataset between 1992 to 1994 and 2001 to 2003. Results. In the analysis of overall survival, period analysis provided a best prediction for 93 of the 100 evaluated point estimates, whereas among 350 evaluated point estimates of age-specific survival, period analysis provided a best estimate on 254 occasions (72.6%), compared with 49 (14.0%) and 82 (23.4%) occasions for the cohort-based approaches. Mean average absolute differences between period estimates and the later observed survival were meaningfully lower than those obtained by traditional methods, indicating that period estimates may provide much better survival predictions for recently transplanted grafts and patients than estimates derivable at the same time by traditional survival analysis approaches. Conclusion. The timeliness of survival monitoring can be meaningfully improved by the application of period analysis. The use of period analysis for providing more up-to-date survival estimates in transplantation may be encouraged.
EBV-Infection in Cardiac and Non-Cardiac Gastric Adenocarcinomas is Associated with Promoter Methylation of p16, p14 and APC, but not hMLH1

Background: Epstein–Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric carcinomas (GC) constitute a distinct clinicopathological entity of gastric cancer. In order to determine underlying distinct aberrant promoter methylation we tested cardiac and non-cardiac GC with regard to the presence of EBV. Methods: One hundred GC were tested by RNA-in situ hybridization for the presence of EBV by EBV-encoded small RNA (EBER). Aberrant promoter methylation was investigated by methylation-specific real-time PCR for p16, p14, APC and hMLH1. P16 protein expression was assessed by immunohistochemistry. Results: In our selected study cohort, EBER-transcripts were detected in 19.6% (18/92) of GC. EBV-positive GC revealed significantly more often gene hypermethylation of p16, p14 and APC (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001 and p = 0.02, respectively) than EBV-negative GC. The majority of GC with p16 hypermethylation showed a p16 protein loss (22/28). In contrast, no correlation between the presence of EBV and hMLH1 hypermethylation was found (p = 0.7). EBV-positive GC showed a trend towards non-cardiac location (p = 0.06) and lower stages (I/II) according to the WHO (p = 0.05). Conclusion: Hypermethylation of tumor suppressor genes is significantly more frequent in EBV-associated GC compared to EBV-negative GC. Our data add new insights to the role of EBV in gastric carcinogenesis and underline that EBV-associated GC comprise a distinct molecular-pathologic as well as a distinct clinicopathological entity of GC.
Equilibrium Unemployment Under Negotiated Profit Sharing

We study employment, employee effort, wages and profit sharing when firms face stochastic revenue shocks and when base wages and profit shares are determined through negotiations. The negotiated profit share depends positively on the relative bargaining power of the trade union and it has effort-enhancing and wage-moderating effects. We show that higher profit sharing reduces equilibrium unemployment under circumstances with sufficiently ‘rigid’ labour market institutions, i.e. sufficiently high benefit-replacement ratios and relative bargaining powers of trade unions. Conversely, profit sharing seems to be destructive from the point of view of employment when the labour market ‘rigidities’ are sufficiently small.