Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Heterogeneity of Susceptibility Gene in Different Ethnic Populations: Refining Association Study of PTPN22 for Graves’ Disease in a Chinese Han Population

In our previous studies, we presumed subtypes of Graves’ disease (GD) may be caused by different major susceptibility genes or different variants of a single susceptibility gene. However, more evidence is needed to support this hypothesis. Single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs2476601 in PTPN22 is the susceptibility loci of GD in the European population. However, this polymorphism has not been found in Asian populations. Here, we investigate whether PTPN22 is the susceptibility gene for GD in Chinese population and further determine the susceptibility variant of PTPN22 in GD. We conducted an imputation analysis based on the results of our genome-wide association study (GWAS) in 1,536 GD patients and 1,516 control subjects. Imputation revealed that 255 common SNPs on a linkage disequilibrium (LD) block containing PTPN22 were associated with GD (P<0.05). Nine tagSNPs that captured the 255 common variants were selected to be further genotyped in a large cohort including 4,368 GD patients and 4,350 matched controls. There was no significant difference between the nine tagSNPs (P>0.05) in either the genotype distribution or allelic frequencies between patients and controls in the replication study. Although the combined analysis exhibited a weak association signal (P combined = 0.003263 for rs3811021), the false positive report probability (FPRP) analysis indicated it was most likely a false positive finding. Our study did not support an association of common SNPs in PTPN22 LD block with GD in Chinese Han population. This suggests that GD in different ethnic population is probably caused by distinct susceptibility genes.
Detection and genetic characterization of norovirus infections in children with acute gastroenteritis in Japan, 2007-2009.

BACKGROUND Noroviruses are a major cause of epidemic gastroenteritis in children and adults. The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular epidemiology of norovirus gastroenteritis in Japan. METHODS A total of 954 fecal specimens collected from infants and children with acute gastroenteritis from five different regions (Tokyo, Sapporo, Saga, Osaka, and Maizuru) of Japan during 2007-2009 were identified by multiple RT-PCR and semi-nested PCR. RESULTS Norovirus was detected in a relatively high detection rate (26.6%; 254 of 954). Of the identified NoV, 9.5% (91 of 954) were positive by semi-nested PCR. Norovirus GII (97.3%) was more prevalent than GI (2.7%). Norovirus infections were very common in the patients aged 12-23 months (44.5%; 113 of 254). Winter month seasonality supported norovirus infection in Japan. All 7 GI sequences (100%) detected only in 2007-2008 clustered with Chiba 407 known as GI.4 genotype. Most of the norovirus GII sequences in 2007-2008 belonged to GII.4 (77.9%), followed by GII.14 (11.9%), and GII.3 and GII.6 (5.1% each). In 2008-2009, norovirus sequences were classified into eight distinct genotypes (GII.1, GII.2, GII.3, GII.4, GII.6, GII.7, GII12, and GII.14). GII.4/2006b variant was responsible for 100% among the detected GII.4 strains in both seasons. Interestingly, GII.6/GII.14 recombinant strains emerged, for the first time in Japanese children, as the second prevalent genotype (11.9%) in 2007-2008 and then dropped rapidly to 2.3% in a year after. In addition, GII.b/GII.3 and GII.4/GII.3 recombinant strains that had been described previously were also found in this study. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report to demonstrate the co-circulation of the predominant GII.4/2006b variant and the emerging GII.6/GII.14 recombinant strains and supports the importance of norovirus as a causative agent of diarrhea in Japanese children with acute gastroenteritis.
Continuing My Journey on Designing and Refining Criterion-Referenced Assessment Rubrics.

I am delighted that my 2006 article was in the top 10 most downloaded articles on the 10 year anniversary of the Journal of Learning Design . In 2006, when the article was written, I worked at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). At that time, the development of criterion-referenced assessment rubrics was gaining momentum. In 2015, as I write this reflection, all 37 Australian universities that support a law school universally accept criterion-referenced assessment as opposed to norm-referenced assessment. This year, I started working at the University of the Sunshine Coast and I am proud to say that its assessment policy explicitly endorses the development of criterion-referenced assessment rubrics. I have published several journal articles on designing and implementing criterion-referenced assessment rubrics and it continues to be my quintessential research interest.
Realization of efficient RF energy harvesting circuits employing different matching technique

Power management and charging of batteries for wireless sensors become a problem when using them in the field applications. In this paper, we present RF energy harvesting circuit with three different approaches: resonator, number of multiplier stages and low pass filter (LPF). Resonator provide 30 times improvement in amplitude of input (100 mV) AC signal. In proposed circuit L type network, between input power source and rectifier, works as resonator as well as matching network at resonant frequency. It results in maximum efficiency 79% with 50kO load at -10 dBm input power. We also present the effect of multiplier stages on output voltage and RF to DC conversion efficiency. Optimum efficiency of approximately 80% is achieved with Dickson topology in input power region 0 to 10dBm for 3rd, 5th and 7th stages, respectively. Application of LPF is also introduced with an existing circuit. It provides 140 mV improvement in output voltage with input power -10dBm. It also shows that maximum efficiency 75% and 64% is possible with dielectric constant (er=9) and substrate height (H=0.0004m), for microstrip line of matching circuit at -10 dBm input power with 10 kO load.
Predator effects on herbivore and plant stability

Humans are rapidly altering the diversity and composition of ecological communities by accelerating rates of species extinctions and introductions. These changes in diversity are not random and disproportionately involve the addition or extinction of predators. Theoretical and microcosm studies suggest predator removal may either increase or decrease ecosystem stability. Here we test whether the addition or removal of predators affects aggregate biomass stability in 40 experiments carried out in six different ecosystems. Predators did not alter the temporal variability of autotroph biomass, but significantly destabilized herbivore biomass. The effects of predators on herbivore biomass stability varied significantly among ecosystems, with benthic and pelagic lake systems showing the greatest shifts. Consequently, the addition of predators to communities, as occurs in many conservation efforts, biological control programmes and species introductions, may lead to more variable system dynamics.
Regulation of neurotrophin receptor (Trk) signaling: suppressor of cytokine signaling 2 (SOCS2) is a new player

The classic neurotrophins Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) and Neurotrophins NT-3 and NT-4 are well known to regulate various aspects of neuronal differentiation, survival and growth. They do this by binding to their cognate receptors, members of the Tropomyosin-related kinase (Trk) receptor tyrosine kinase family, namely TrkA, TrkB, and TrkC. These receptors are then internalized and localized to different cellular compartments, where signal transduction occurs. Conversely, members of the suppressor of cytokine signaling (SOCS) family are best known as negative regulators of signaling via the JAK/STAT pathway. Some members of the family, and in particular SOCS2, have roles in the nervous system that at least partially overlap with that of neurotrophins, namely neuronal differentiation and neurite outgrowth. Recent evidence suggests that SOCS2 is a novel regulator of NGF signaling, altering TrkA cellular localization and downstream signaling to affect neurite growth but not neuronal survival. This review first discusses regulation of Trk receptor signaling, followed by the role of SOCS2 in the nervous system and finishes with a discussion of possible mechanisms by which SOCS2 may regulate TrkA function.
Examining certain blood parameters of sporters of national boxing team before and after the match

Research group of this study consists of total 10 b oxers who are actively involved in Turkish big male national boxing team and with average age of 22.40 age/years . Blood samples were taken twice from boxers const ituting the research group before and after the match after the camp program of eight weeks applied for research g Data and laboratory results are utilized as covariant. Relative changes in the data obtained are analyzed by SAS package program and by utilizing PROC MEANS procedure. Sign ificance level of changes observed is specified by Paired t test that adds significance at the level of P<0.05. Statistically significant increase is observed in the glucose levels of boxers as one of the blood parameters before and after the match (P=0.0014). Decrease in the insuli n levels is determined before and after the match, however it i s not found statistically significant (P=0.1059). It is observed that cortisol levels have increased before and afte r the match, however it is not considered statistic ally meaningful (P=0.0534). Decrease in the urea levels is determin ed before and after the match, however the differen ce is not found statistically significant. (P=0.5837). Diffe rences in the creatine levels before and after the match are found to be insignificant (P=0.0815). According to the resul ts of the research, important changes in all blood parameters of sporters of national boxing team are observed befor e and after the match, however statistically signif icant difference is observed only in glucose parameter. Thus, it can be stated that our application caused significant changes only in the glucose parameter among the par ameters we examined.
Self-Perception as a Predictor of Academic Performance in Adolescents With Learning Disabilities

Self-Perception as a Predictor of Academic Performance in Adolescents With Learning Disabilities by Kirk L. Rhodes MPA, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, 2002 BS, University of Central Missouri, 1996 Dissertation Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy Special Education
Hierarchical, collaborative wireless charging in sensor networks

Wireless power transfer is used to fundamentally address energy management problems in Wireless Rechargeable Sensor Networks. In such networks mobile entities traverse the network and wirelessly replenish the energy of sensor nodes. In recent research on collaborative wireless charging, the mobile entities are also allowed to charge each other. In this work, we enhance the collaborative feature by forming a hierarchical charging structure. We distinguish the chargers into two groups, the hierarchically lower Mobile Chargers (MCs) which charge sensor nodes and the hierarchically higher Special Chargers (SCs) which charge MCs. We propose and implement four new collaborative charging protocols, in order to achieve efficient charging and improve important network properties. Our protocols are either centralized or distributed, and assume different levels of network knowledge. Extensive simulation findings demonstrate significant performance gains, with respect to non-collaborative state of the art charging methods. In particular, our protocols improve several network properties and metrics, such as the network lifetime, routing robustness, coverage and connectivity. A useful feature of our methods is that they can be suitably added on top of non-collaborative protocols to further enhance their performance.
The Relationship Between Bullying at Workplace with Psychological and Spiritual Well Being of Nurses

Bullying is the threatening factor in hospital environment for nurses’ health and wellbeing. Current research was administered with the aim of studying the relationship between bullying in hospital with psychological and spiritual well being among nurses. Research method was correlation and statistical population was the nurses of Yazd hospitals, among them 299 persons were selected using accessible sampling method. ¬ Data gathering instruments were the future made questionnaires which reliability and validity of them verified, including bullying questionnaire, psychological well being questionnaire and spiritual questionnaire. Results revealed that there is significant relationship between bullying (contempt and despising, angry and revengefulness, neglect, verbal persecution, threatening and unconventional work stress) with psychological well being and spiritual well being (personal, communal, environmental and transcendental). Also the results of regression analysis revealed that verbal persecution and unconventional work stress have significant predictive power for prediction of psychological well being, unconventional work stress have significant predictive power for prediction of personal spiritual well being and threatening have significant predictive power for prediction of environmental spiritual well being. The results of current research showed that bullying of co-workers and supervisors at hospital setting could expose the nurses’ psychological well being and relatively their spiritual well being with problem.
Regulation of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases in Cardiac Myocytes through the Small G Protein Rac1

ABSTRACT Small guanine nucleotide-binding proteins of the Ras and Rho (Rac, Cdc42, and Rho) families have been implicated in cardiac myocyte hypertrophy, and this may involve the extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and/or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades. In other systems, Rac and Cdc42 have been particularly implicated in the activation of JNKs and p38-MAPKs. We examined the activation of Rho family small G proteins and the regulation of MAPKs through Rac1 in cardiac myocytes. Endothelin 1 and phenylephrine (both hypertrophic agonists) induced rapid activation of endogenous Rac1, and endothelin 1 also promoted significant activation of RhoA. Toxin B (which inactivates Rho family proteins) attenuated the activation of JNKs by hyperosmotic shock or endothelin 1 but had no effect on p38-MAPK activation. Toxin B also inhibited the activation of the ERK cascade by these stimuli. In transfection experiments, dominant-negative N17Rac1 inhibited activation of ERK by endothelin 1, whereas activated V12Rac1 cooperated with c-Raf to activate ERK. Rac1 may stimulate the ERK cascade either by promoting the phosphorylation of c-Raf or by increasing MEK1 and/or -2 association with c-Raf to facilitate MEK1 and/or -2 activation. In cardiac myocytes, toxin B attenuated c-Raf(Ser-338) phosphorylation (50 to 70% inhibition), but this had no effect on c-Raf activity. However, toxin B decreased both the association of MEK1 and/or -2 with c-Raf and c-Raf-associated ERK-activating activity. V12Rac1 cooperated with c-Raf to increase expression of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF), whereas N17Rac1 inhibited endothelin 1-stimulated ANF expression, indicating that the synergy between Rac1 and c-Raf is potentially physiologically important. We conclude that activation of Rac1 by hypertrophic stimuli contributes to the hypertrophic response by modulating the ERK and/or possibly the JNK (but not the p38-MAPK) cascades.
Location and Distance Estimates by Blind and Sighted Children

Blindfold normal, blindfold autistic and congenitally blind children made reproduction location and distance estimates of an arm movement. For each task they first experienced a standard vertical movement of a predetermined extent. In the test tasks which followed, they either reproduced the movement exactly, reproduced the end point although commencing from a different starting position, or reproduced the same distance from a different starting point. Sighted normal children and blind children performed very similarly on both the reproduction and the location task. However on distance reproduction, the blind children underestimated the longer distances more markedly than did the normals. Autistic children resembled the blind in their attempts to reproduce the longer distances. In addition they had a tendency to overshoot over short distances in all tasks. The results are discussed in terms of the role of a visual reference system for different aspects of motor movements.
Ieee Transactions on Communications, Accepted for Publication toward a Preferred 4 × 4 Space-time Block Code: a Performance-versus-complexity Sweet Spot with Linear-filter Decoding

—We develop a new 4 × 4 Hadamard-precoded quasi-orthogonal space-time block code (QO-STBC) that enables highly effective near-maximum-likelihood (near-ML) reliability-based prioritized symbol detection using linear filters. Approximate block-error-rate minimization is being used to optimize the code rotation angle. Detailed computational complexity evaluation of the decoder in terms of real multiplications and additions shows significant complexity reduction for symbol alphabet sizes of interest. Numerical and simulation studies demonstrate negligible bit-error-rate degradation compared to the state-of-the-art in bit-error-rate by ML decoded 4 × 4 codewords.
Seroepidemiology Study of Cytomegalovirus and Rubella among Pregnant Women at St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Background Maternal cytomegalovirus (CMV) and rubella infections have adverse neonatal outcomes. Both CMV and rubella are more widespread in developing countries and in communities with lower socioeconomic status. The aim of this study was to investigate sero-prevalence of CMV and rubella infection and associated possible risk factors. Method Using cross sectional study design a total of 200 pregnant women were consecutively recruited starting from June and July 2014. Blood samples were collected, and structured questions were used to gather socio-demographic and risk factor related data. ELISA was used to detect CMV (IgG, IgM) and rubella IgM. SPSS version 20 was used to analyze the data, and regression was also performed. Results Out of 200 pregnant women, 88.5%, 30(15.5%) and 4(2.0%) were CMV-IgG, CMV-IgM, and rubella-IgM positive, respectively. Women who were immune/positive only for IgG were 73.5%. The second group was those with primary infection [IgG (+) plus IgM (+)] and this consisted of 15.0% participants. Eleven percent of the participants were at high risk for primary infection during their pregnancy. One pregnant woman was identified as having a recent primary infection. In this study, no statistically significant association was detected between CMV infection with idependent factors (p-value>0.05). Conclusion In addition to detection of high prevalence of CMV, detecting recent infection of rubella worsens the outcome of the disease. Rubella vaccine should be taken into consideration after large scale surveillance. However, screening of all pregnant women for CMV infection may not be cost-effective as in the countries with high seropositivity.
Aperture Synthesis Shows Perceptual Integration of Geometrical Form Across Saccades

We investigated the perceptual bias in perceived relative lengths in the Brentano version of the Müller-Lyer arrowheads figure. The magnitude of the bias was measured both under normal whole-figure viewing condition and under an aperture viewing condition, where participants moved their gaze around the figure but could see only one arrowhead at a time through a Gaussian-weighted contrast window. The extent of the perceptual bias was similar under the two conditions. The stimuli were presented on a CRT in a light-proof room with room-lights off, but visual context was provided by a rectangular frame surrounding the figure. The frame was either stationary with respect to the figure or moved in such a manner that the bias would be counteracted if the observer were locating features with respect to the frame. Biases were reduced in the latter condition. We conclude that integration occurs over saccades, but largely in an external visual framework, rather than in a body-centered frame using an extraretinal signal.
The Effects of Three Different Teaching Methods On EFL Intermediate Listeners

In most listening classes, students are tested, but they are rarely taught ‘how to listen’. This situation has remained the same in Japan since at least the 1970s. Therefore, this study examines effective teaching methods for English as a Foreign Language (EFL) listeners and determines whether students’ listening comprehension improves after they learn ‘how to listen’. The participants included 165 Japanese intermediate listeners divided into four groups: 38 in the control group (CG), 52 in the dictation training group (DTG), 46 in the listening strategy training group (LSTG) and 29 in the dictation and listening strategy group (D + LSTG). For 13 weeks, 30-minute weekly instructions were conducted for the DTG and LSTG while 60-minute instructions were conducted for the D + LSTG. Post-data reveal that dictation training is more effective than listening strategy training, although both are significant; however, the combination (dictation and listening strategy training) is ineffective.
Effective Communication and Neurolinguistic Programming

Importance of effective communication can hardly be ignored in any sphere of life. This is achieved through various means. One such instrument is Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) which has now taken roots in various aspects of learning and education. Its potential spans education and learning, language teaching, business management and marketing, psychology, law, and several other fields. In our work, we will briefly explore various facets of NLP with special reference to effective communication
The Health Heterogeneity of and Health Care Utilization by the Elderly in Taiwan

A good understanding of the health heterogeneity of elderly people, their characteristics, patterns of health care utilization and subsequent expenditures is necessary to adequately evaluate the policy options and interventions aimed at improving quality and efficiency of care for older people. This article reviews studies that used Latent Class Analysis to identify four health profiles among elderly people in Taiwan: High Comorbidity (HC), Functional Impairment (FI), Frail (FR), and Relatively Healthy (RH). Variables associated with increased likelihood of being in the FR group were older age, female gender, and living with one’s family, and these also correlated with ethnicity and level of education. The HC group tended to use more ambulatory care services compared with those in the RH group. The HC group tended to be younger, better educated, and was more likely to live in urban areas than were people in the FI group. The FI group, apart from age and gender, was less likely be of Hakka ethnicity and more likely to live with others than were individuals in the RH group. The FI group had relatively high probabilities of needing assistance, and the FR group had higher healthcare expenditures. A person-centered approach would better satisfy current healthcare needs of elderly people and help forecast future expenditures.