Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unifying Candidate Gene and GWAS Approaches in Asthma

The first genome wide association study (GWAS) for childhood asthma identified a novel major susceptibility locus on chromosome 17q21 harboring the ORMDL3 gene, but the role of previous asthma candidate genes was not specifically analyzed in this GWAS. We systematically identified 89 SNPs in 14 candidate genes previously associated with asthma in >3 independent study populations. We re-genotyped 39 SNPs in these genes not covered by GWAS performed in 703 asthmatics and 658 reference children. Genotyping data were compared to imputation data derived from Illumina HumanHap300 chip genotyping. Results were combined to analyze 566 SNPs covering all 14 candidate gene loci. Genotyped polymorphisms in ADAM33, GSTP1 and VDR showed effects with p-values <0.0035 (corrected for multiple testing). Combining genotyping and imputation, polymorphisms in DPP10, EDN1, IL12B, IL13, IL4, IL4R and TNF showed associations at a significance level between p = 0.05 and p = 0.0035. These data indicate that (a) GWAS coverage is insufficient for many asthma candidate genes, (b) imputation based on these data is reliable but incomplete, and (c) SNPs in three previously identified asthma candidate genes replicate in our GWAS population with significance after correction for multiple testing in 14 genes.
Deciding on equity or parity: a test of situational, cultural, and individual factors

Previous cross-cultural research in distributive justice has neglected the situational and individual determinants of allocation preferences. This study incorporated the cultural value of Individualism–Collectivism (I–C), situational demands of task interdependence and system goals, and individual achievement motivation to examine their effects on the allocation decisions made by U.S. Americans and Hong Kong Chinese. It was found that the Americans and the Chinese in the study responded to situational demands in a similar fashion, i.e. equity was preferred under circumstances of low interdependence and the productivity goal whereas parity was preferred under circumstances of high interdependence and the solidarity goal. It was also found that in the U.S., I–C had no significant relation with the allocation differential (between the bonus amounts for the highest and the lowest performer), and the achievement motivation interacts with levels of interdependence and with goal priorities; in Hong Kong, both I–C and the achievement motivation related negatively to the allocation differential. Research and managerial implications for international management were discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Factors influencing economic crime investigators’ job commitment

Although there is a vast body of literature on job satisfaction and commitment, studies analysing the police force have received considerably more limited attention. The aim of the present study was to examine the impact of job satisfaction on economic crime investigator’s job commitment in Finland. Data were collected from the electronic questionnaire administered to all police officers in Finland in 2010. The data analysis methods used include frequency distributions and structural equation modelling. The findings revealed that job satisfaction strongly influences economic crime investigators’ job commitment.
Characterizing and Modeling the Dynamics of Activity and Popularity

Social media, regarded as two-layer networks consisting of users and items, turn out to be the most important channels for access to massive information in the era of Web 2.0. The dynamics of human activity and item popularity is a crucial issue in social media networks. In this paper, by analyzing the growth of user activity and item popularity in four empirical social media networks, i.e., Amazon, Flickr, Delicious and Wikipedia, it is found that cross links between users and items are more likely to be created by active users and to be acquired by popular items, where user activity and item popularity are measured by the number of cross links associated with users and items. This indicates that users generally trace popular items, overall. However, it is found that the inactive users more severely trace popular items than the active users. Inspired by empirical analysis, we propose an evolving model for such networks, in which the evolution is driven only by two-step random walk. Numerical experiments verified that the model can qualitatively reproduce the distributions of user activity and item popularity observed in empirical networks. These results might shed light on the understandings of micro dynamics of activity and popularity in social media networks.
Colorimetric Characterization of Mobile Devices for Vision Applications

Purpose Available applications for vision testing in mobile devices usually do not include detailed setup instructions, sacrificing rigor to obtain portability and ease of use. In particular, colorimetric characterization processes are generally obviated. We show that different mobile devices differ also in colorimetric profile and that those differences limit the range of applications for which they are most adequate. Methods The color reproduction characteristics of four mobile devices, two smartphones (Samsung Galaxy S4, iPhone 4s) and two tablets (Samsung Galaxy Tab 3, iPad 4), have been evaluated using two procedures: 3D LUT (Look Up Table) and a linear model assuming primary constancy and independence of the channels. The color reproduction errors have been computed with the CIEDE2000 color difference formula. Results There is good constancy of primaries but large deviations of additivity. The 3D LUT characterization yields smaller reproduction errors and dispersions for the Tab 3 and iPhone 4 devices, but for the iPad 4 and S4, both models are equally good. The smallest reproduction errors occur with both Apple devices, although the iPad 4 has the highest number of outliers of all devices with both colorimetric characterizations. Conclusions Even though there is good constancy of primaries, the large deviations of additivity exhibited by the devices and the larger reproduction errors make any characterization based on channel independence not recommendable. The smartphone screens show, in average, the best color reproduction performance, particularly the iPhone 4, and therefore, they are more adequate for applications requiring precise color reproduction.
‘Paying for performance’ in Rwanda: does it pay off?

The study analyses strengths and weaknesses of the ‘Paying For Performance’ (P4P) approach rolled out in the Rwandan health sector since 2002. It uses three research methods: a cross‐sectoral literature review on P4P, its history and its context; 69 mostly semi‐structured interviews conducted in Rwanda; and an analysis of factors eventually confounding the impact evaluation of the Rwandan P4P approach. It is argued that P4P approaches can be traced backed in written form over four millennia and that considerable negative effects are reported throughout history. All side effects were found again in various forms in the Rwandan health sector. One particular side effect –‘gaming’– seriously threatens to affect the quality of health services. It is argued that P4P implicitly (and unintentionally) promotes a questionable concept of human ‘labour’ and that its focus on improving indicators rather than systemic changes can be regarded as vertical and counter‐productive. Two alternatives to the current P4P system are briefly depicted, and further research on the described challenges is recommended.
Stratified Medicine and Reimbursement Issues

Stratified Medicine (SM) has the potential to target patient populations who will most benefit from a therapy while reducing unnecessary health interventions associated with side effects. The link between clinical biomarkers/diagnostics and therapies provides new opportunities for value creation to strengthen the value proposition to pricing and reimbursement (P&R) authorities. However, the introduction of SM challenges current reimbursement schemes in many EU countries and the US as different P&R policies have been adopted for drugs and diagnostics. Also, there is a lack of a consistent process for value assessment of more complex diagnostics in these markets. New, innovative approaches and more flexible P&R systems are needed to reflect the added value of diagnostic tests and to stimulate investments in new technologies. Yet, the framework for access of diagnostic-based therapies still requires further development while setting the right incentives and appropriate align stakeholders interests when realizing long-term patient benefits. This article addresses the reimbursement challenges of SM approaches in several EU countries and the US outlining some options to overcome existing reimbursement barriers for stratified medicine.
Disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis in Latin America

The treatment of multiple sclerosis (MS) has become increasingly complex during the last 10 years, mainly because of the advent of new and more potent disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). In Latin America, the therapeutic repertoire available for MS treatment is similar to the one in the rest of the world, but the high costs of these drugs, in conjunction with the limited resources of the social security health systems, makes the treatment of MS more difficult. For neurologists in Latin America, providing personalized MS treatment has become a challenge. We present a review of the status of the DMT in Central and South America, benefits as well as limitations for providing full access to these medications in Latin America.
Mental Representation and Change: Developing Attachment Relationships in an Adoption Context

This article presents an attachment theory and research-based perspective on the utility of assessing qualities of mental representations as indexes of change in an adoption context. The article reviews findings from a large, longitudinal and intergenerational study of attachment relationships of previously maltreated children who were adopted in latency. An attachment perspective provides a secure base from which to explore how old objects were carried into these new relationships, by both adoptive parents and the children recently placed with them. The study has the potential to inform a wider area of interest, namely to add to our knowledge base concerning the assessment of mental representations in both children and adults. The possibility to provide empirical evidence for intergenerational links and changes in representations over time in relation to a new environment is helpful, especially if we can chart relationships that can facilitate or inhibit the emergence of trust, growth, and the development of corresponding representations.
Convergence of External Crohn’s Disease Risk Factors on Intestinal Bacteria

Crohn’s disease (CD) is an immune-mediated intestinal illness that significantly compromises health in many developed countries. Although definitive causes remain elusive, the required contribution of microbes in the progression of disease has become an accepted concept. Known CD risk factors, such as antibiotic use and acute infectious gastroenteritis, may impact the gut. This concept is now being explored with a view toward understanding the beneficial and unfavorable microbes that may be altered in numbers during such external insults. A comprehensive understanding of the microbial component to CD could be useful clinically as future therapies may focus on preventing risk exposures on susceptible individuals, eliminating harmful microbes, or restoring a protective gut microbiome. Here, we examine how acute infectious gastroenteritis and antibiotic exposure may impact the gut microbiota in the context of inflammation in CD.
Rectangular Shape Detection with an Application to License Plate Detection

Rectangular shape detection has a wide range of applications, such as license plate detection, vehicle detection and building detection. In this paper, we propose a robust framework for rectangular shape detection based on the channel-scale space of RGB images. The framework consists of algorithms developed to address two issues of a shape attention (i.e., a connected component of edge points), including: i) openness and ii) fragmentation. Furthermore, we propose an interestness measure for rectangular shapes by integrating interest points Our case study on license plate detection shows the promise of the proposed framework.
HERZBERG'S DUAL‐FACTOR THEORY OF JOB SATISFACTION AND MOTIVATION: A REVIEW OF THE EVIDENCE AND A CRITICISM

In. 1959, Herzberg, Mausner and Snyderman reported research findings that suggested that man has two sets of needs: his need as an animal to avoid pain, and his need as a human to grow psychologically. These findings led them to advance a "dual factor" theory of motivation. Since that time, the theory has caught the attention of both industrial managers and psychologists. Management training and work-motivation programs have been installed on the basis of the dual-factor theory. Psychologists have both advanced criticisms and conducted substantial research relevant to the dual-factor theory. The purpose of this paper is to review the theory, the criticisms, and the empiric investigations reported to date, in an effort to assess the validity of the theory. Whereas previous theories of motivation were based on causal inferences of the theorists and deduction from their own insights and experience, the dual-factor theory of motivation was inferred from a study of need satisfactions and the reported motivational effects of these satisfactions on 200 engineers and accountants. The subjects were first requested to recall a time when they had felt exceptionally good about their jobs. The investigators sought by further questioning to determine the reasons for their feelings of satisfaction, and whether their feelings of satisfaction had affected their performance, their personal relationships, and their well-being. Finally, the sequence of events that served to return the workers' attitudes to "normal" was elicited. In a second set of interviews, the same subjects were asked to describe incidents in which their feelings about their jobs were exceptionally negative—cases in which their negative feelings were related to some event on the job.
Infarct size reduction with the nucleoside transport inhibitor R-75231 in swine.

Adenosine (Ado) has been reported to be cardioprotective in several models of myocardial ischemia. The nucleoside transport inhibitor R-75231 (R-75) has been reported to enhance local Ado concentrations and postischemic recovery of function, but little is known regarding its effects on myocardial infarct size. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of R-75 on infarct size and to measure myocardial regional Ado concentrations. Studies were conducted in pentobarbital-anesthetized swine undergoing 60 min of coronary artery occlusion and 2 h of reperfusion. Control pigs (n = 8) were compared with those receiving R-75 (0.1 mg/kg i.v.) 15 min before either occlusion (Pre R-75, n = 8) or reperfusion (Rep R-75, n = 8). Interstitial fluid (ISF) Ado, coronary venous Ado, and infarct size (% of the region at risk) were measured. In the Pre R-75 group, ISF Ado concentrations were significantly increased before and during ischemia, reaching a peak value of 71.8 +/- 8.6 microM (vs. 16.8 +/- 0.8 microM in control). ISF inosine and hypoxanthine concentrations were significantly reduced during ischemia in Pre R-75 animals. Infarct size was smaller in Pre R-75 compared with control (21.6 +/- 1.9 vs. 38.4 +/- 2.6%, P < 0.05). The Rep R-75 group had significantly elevated coronary venous Ado concentrations but no increases in ISF Ado or reduction in infarct size (33.5 +/- 3.5%). These data indicate that R-75 increases myocardial Ado and reduces infarct size when administered before coronary occlusion. The R-75-induced reduction in infarct size appears to be related to the augmentation of ISF Ado before ischemia rather than to increased plasma Ado during reperfusion.
Comparative analysis of gender differences in outcomes after trauma in India and the USA: case for standardised coding of injury mechanisms in trauma registries

Introduction While females generally have better outcomes than males after traumatic injury, higher mortality has been shown to occur in females after intentional trauma in lower-income countries. However, gender differences in trauma outcomes in different countries have not been previously compared. We conducted a two-country comparative analysis to characterise gender differences in mortality for different mechanisms of injury. Methods Two urban trauma databases were analysed from India and the USA for fall, motor vehicle collision (MVC) and assault patients between 2013 and 2015. Coarsened exact matching was used to match the two groups based on gender, age, injury severity score, Glasgow Coma Score and type of injury (blunt vs penetrating). The primary outcome of mortality was studied by using logistic regression to calculate the odds of death in the four country/gender subgroups. Results A total of 10 089 and 14 144 patients were included from the Indian and US databases, respectively. After matching on covariates, 7505 and 9448 patients were included in the logistic regression. Indian males had the highest odds of death compared with US males, US females and Indian females for falls, MVC and assaults. Indian females had over 7 times the odds of dying after falls, 5 times the odds of dying for MVC and 40 times the odds of dying after assaults when compared with US females. Conclusion The high odds of death for Indian females compared with US females suggests that there are other injury and systemic factors that contribute to this discrepancy in mortality odds. This same mortality pattern and implication is seen for Indian males compared with all subgroups. Standardised coding of injury mechanism in trauma registries, in addition to intentionality of injury, can help further characterise discrepancies in outcomes by gender and country, to guide targeted injury prevention and care.
[Clinical manifestations of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)].

BACKGROUND Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH, Forestier disease) is in most cases a harmless, asymptomatic disease characterized by a massive, noninflammatory ossification with intensive formation of osteophytes affecting ligaments, tendons, and fasciae, especially of the spinal column. If the disease becomes symptomatic at all, the leading complaints will usually be dysphagia in the sense of a lump in the throat and difficulty in swallowing. However, in rare cases the osteophytes may influence the laryngeal function ranging from hoarseness and immobility of the vocal cord to life-threatening inspiratory stridor. Such laryngeal manifestations are almost unknown. PATIENTS AND METHOD We report on three patients, two female and one male, suffering not only from chronic dysphagia but also from increasing inspiratory stridor and difficult breathing. RESULTS Especially one case illustrates how difficult it can be to establish the etiological relationship between a cancer-like ulcer in the postcricoid region and a bilateral inactivity of the vocal cord on the one hand and DISH on the other hand. Only the resistance of the ulceration to any therapy as well as rare case reports in the literature confirmed our suspicion that the ulcer and disturbance of laryngeal function were caused by chronic pressure exerted by the huge vertebral osteophytes. In all three patients surgical resection of the osteophytes resulted in complete relief of complaints. CONCLUSION Uni- or bilateral immobility of the arytenoids, possibly associated with chronic inflammatory hyperplasia of the tissue of the arytenoids and the postcricoid region, may be a symptom of an unusual manifestation of DISH.
Insufficient activation of autophagy allows cellular damage to accumulate in critically ill patients.

CONTEXT Responses to critical illness, such as excessive inflammation and hyperglycemia, may trigger detrimental chain reactions that damage cellular proteins and organelles. Such responses to illness contribute to the risk of (nonresolving) multiple organ dysfunction and adverse outcome. OBJECTIVE We studied autophagy as a bulk degradation pathway able to remove toxic protein aggregates and damaged organelles and how these are affected by preventing hyperglycemia with insulin during critical illness. DESIGN AND SETTING Patients participated in a randomized study, conducted at a university hospital surgical/medical intensive care unit. PATIENTS We studied adult prolonged critically ill patients vs. controls. INTERVENTIONS Tolerating excessive hyperglycemia was compared with intensive insulin therapy targeting normoglycemia. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES We quantified (ultra)structural abnormalities and hepatic and skeletal muscle protein levels of key players in autophagy. RESULTS Morphologically, both liver and muscle revealed an autophagy-deficiency phenotype. Proteins involved in initiation and elongation steps of autophagy were induced 1.3- to 6.5-fold by critical illness (P ≤ 0.01), but mature autophagic vacuole formation was 62% impaired (P = 0.05) and proteins normally degraded by autophagy accumulated up to 97-fold (P ≤ 0.03). Mitophagy markers were unaltered or down-regulated (P = 0.05). Although insulin preserved hepatocytic mitochondrial integrity (P = 0.05), it further reduced the number of autophagic vacuoles by 80% (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Insufficient autophagy in prolonged critical illness may cause inadequate removal of damaged proteins and mitochondria. Such incomplete clearance of cellular damage, inflicted by illness and aggravated by hyperglycemia, could explain lack of recovery from organ failure in prolonged critically ill patients. These data open perspectives for therapies that activate autophagy during critical illness.
ASCA Observations of Seyfert 1 Galaxies. II. Relativistic Iron Kα Emission

We present evidence for widespread relativistic effects in the central regions of active galactic nuclei. In a sample of 18 Seyfert 1 galaxies observed by ASCA, 14 show an iron Kα line that is resolved, with mean width σKα = 0.43 ± 0.12 keV for a Gaussian profile (full width at half-maximum, FWHM ~ 50,000 km s-1). However, many of the line profiles are asymmetric. A strong red wing is indicative of gravitational redshifts close to a central black hole, and accretion disk models provide an excellent description of the data. The peak energy of the line is 6.4 keV, which indicates that it arises by fluorescence in near-neutral material. Our fits imply a low inclination for the disk in these Seyfert 1 galaxies, with a mean of 30°, consistent with orientation-dependent unification schemes. Differences in the line profiles from source to source imply slight variations in geometry, which cannot be accounted for solely by inclination. In most cases, we require that the line emission arises from a range of radii. Although a small contribution to the emission from a region other than the disk is not ruled out, it is not generally required and has little effect on our conclusions regarding the disk line. Our data are fit equally well with rotating (Kerr) and nonrotating (Schwarzschild) black hole models. We find a mean spectral index in the 3-10 keV range of ⟨Γ3-10⟩ = 1.91 ± 0.07 after accounting for the effects of reflection. Such observations probe the innermost regions of active galactic nuclei and arguably provide the best evidence yet obtained for the existence of supermassive black holes in the centers of active galaxies.