Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SPP1 rs9138 variant contributes to the severity of radiological damage in anti-citrullinated protein autoantibody-negative rheumatoid arthritis

Objective We recently reported an association of the SPP1 rs9138 and rs11439060 functional variants with the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the association being greater in anti-citrullinated protein autoantibody (ACPA)-negative patients. We hypothesised that SPP1 may contribute to the severity of joint destruction in RA, specifically in the ACPA-negative population. Methods Patients with RA in the ESPOIR cohort underwent genotyping for SPP1 rs9138 and rs11439060. Radiographs of the hands and feet were obtained at the first visit and at 1- and 2-year follow-up. Association analyses were performed by ACPA status. A replication study of the relevant subset of the Leiden Early Arthritis Clinic (EAC) cohort was performed. Results In the ESPOIR cohort (652 patients), rs9138 was significantly associated with radiological progression of joint destruction at 2 years, the association being restricted to 358 ACPA-negative patients (p=0.034). In the replication study with the Leiden EAC cohort (273 ACPA-negative patients), rs4754, which is in complete linkage disequilibrium with rs9138, was significantly associated with joint damage progression in ACPA-negative patients at 2- and 7-year follow-up (p=0.019 and p=0.005, respectively). Combined analysis of the two cohorts revealed a 0.95-fold rate of joint destruction per year per minor allele (p=0.022). Conclusions The SPP1 rs9138 variant contributes to joint damage progression in ACPA-negative RA.
Effect of Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding on gastrointestinal metabolism of ingested glucose.

BACKGROUND Data from studies conducted in animal models suggest that intestinal glucose uptake and metabolism are upregulated after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) surgery, which contributes to a weight-loss-independent improvement in glycemic control. OBJECTIVE We conducted a cohort study to evaluate whether an increase in gastrointestinal metabolism of ingested glucose occurs in obese people who underwent RYGB compared with those who underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). DESIGN A mixed meal containing stable isotope-labeled glucose was used to determine the gastrointestinal (small intestine and liver) retention, and presumably metabolism, of ingested glucose in obese subjects before and after matched weight loss (∼21%) induced by RYGB (n = 16) or LAGB (n = 9). RESULTS The total percentage of ingested glucose that appeared in the systemic circulation was slightly lower after than before RYGB (85% ± 9% and 90% ± 8%, respectively) but was slightly higher after than before LAGB (89% ± 3% and 85% ± 4%, respectively) (P-interaction < 0.05). Accordingly, gastrointestinal clearance of ingested glucose (cumulative percentage cleared over 6 h postprandially) increased after RYGB (from 10% ± 8% before to 15% ± 9% after surgery) but decreased after LAGB (from 15% ± 4% before to 11% ± 3% after surgery) (P < 0.05). Surgery-induced weight loss caused a similar decrease in the 6-h postprandial plasma glucose area under the curve in both RYGB and LAGB groups (-4% ± 9% and -6% ± 5%, respectively; P = 0.475). CONCLUSIONS These data support the notion that intestinal glucose disposal increases after RYGB surgery. However, the magnitude of the effect was small and did not result in weight-loss-independent therapeutic effects on postprandial glycemic control. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00981500.
The Relationships Among Health Behaviors in Older Persons

Objective: To examine the relationships among health behaviors in older persons and whether they form related groups of behaviors. Method: Health behaviors (physical activity, alcohol use, nutrition, weight stability, and smoking) were analyzed using factor analysis in two representative samples of two cohorts of Israeli older persons aged 75 to 94. Data collection was conducted during 1989-1992 for the first cohort (N = 1,200) and during 2000-2002 for the second (N = 421). Results: Four factors of health behaviors were found mostly unrelated: (a) physical activity and weight stability, (b) alcohol use, (c) smoking, and (d) nutrition. Discussion: The analysis enables identification of underlying health-behavior dimensions in an understudied population. Furthermore, the findings have important implications for health-promotion policy, indicating that prevention and health-promotion programs for older persons should target each health behavior, and not assume that the practice of any health behavior implies a healthy overall lifestyle in this population.
Functional Connectivity Analysis of FMRI Time-Series Data

The term ``functional connectivity' is used to denote correlations in activation among spatially-distinct brain regions, either in a resting state or when processing external stimuli. Functional connectivity has been extensively evaluated with several functional neuroimaging methods, particularly PET and fMRI. Yet these relationships have been quantified using very different measures and the extent to which they index the same constructs is unclear. We have implemented a variety of these functional connectivity measures in a new freely-available MATLAB toolbox. These measures are categorized into two groups: whole time-series and trial-based approaches. We evaluate these measures via simulations with different patterns of functional connectivity and provide recommendations for their use. We also apply these measures to a previously published fMRI dataset in which activity in dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was evaluated in 32 healthy subjects during a digit sorting task. Though all implemented measures demonstrate functional connectivity between dACC and DLPFC activity during event-related tasks, different participants appeared to display qualitatively different relationships.We also propose a new methodology for exploring functional connectivity in slow event-related designs, where stimuli are presented at a sufficient separation to examine the dynamic responses in brain regions. Our methodology simultaneously determines the level of smoothing to obtain the underlying noise-free BOLD response and the functional connectivity among several regions. Smoothing is accomplished through an empirical basis via functional principal components analysis. The coefficients of the basis are assumed to be correlated across regions, and the nature and strength of functional connectivity is derived from this correlation matrix. The model is implemented within a Bayesian framework by specifying priors on the parameters and using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) Gibbs sampling algorithm. We demonstrate this new approach on a sample of clinically depressed subjects and healthy controls in examining relationships among three brain regions implicated in depression and emotion during emotional information processing. The results show that depressed subjects display decreased coupling between left amygdala and DLPFC compared to healthy subjects and this may potentially be due to inefficient functioning in mediating connectivity from the rostral portion Brodmann's area24 (BA24).
A peptide inhibitor of HIV‐1 neutralizing antibody 2G12 is not a structural mimic of the natural carbohydrate epitope on gp120

MAb 2G12 neutralizes HIV‐1 by binding with high affinity to a cluster of high‐mannose oligosac charides on the envelope glycoprotein, gp120. Screening of phage‐displayed peptide libraries with 2G12 identified peptides that bind specifically, with Kds ranging from 0.4 to 200 μM. The crystal structure of a 21‐mer peptide ligand in complex with 2G12 Fab was determined at 2.8 Å resolution. Comparison of this structure with previous structures of 2G12‐carbohydrate complexes revealed striking differences in the mechanism of 2G12 binding to peptide vs. carbohy drate. The peptide occupies a site different from, but adjacent to, the primary carbohydrate‐binding site on 2G12, and makes only slightly fewer contacts to the Fab than Man9GlcNAc2 (51 vs. 56, respectively). However, only two antibody contacts with the peptide are hydro gen bonds in contrast to six with Man9GlcNAc2, and only three of the antibody residues that interact with Man9GlcNAc2 also contact the peptide. Thus, this mechanism of peptide binding to 2G12 does not sup port structural mimicry of the native carbohydrate epitope on gp120, since it neither replicates the oligo saccharide footprint on the antibody nor most of the contact residues. Moreover, 2G12.1 peptide is not an immunogenic mimic of the 2G12 epitope, since anti sera produced against it did not bind gp120. —Menendez, A. , Calarese, D. A. , Stanfield, R. L. , Chow, K. C. , Scanlan, C. N. , Kunert, R. , Katinger, H. , Burton, D. R. , Wilson, I. A. , Scott, J. K. A peptide inhibitor of HIV‐1 neutralizing antibody 2G12 is not a structural mimic of the natural carbohydrate epitope on gp120. FASEB J. 22, 1380–1392 (2008)
Snoring intensity and excessive daytime sleepiness in subjects without obstructive sleep apnea

Snoring and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) are major obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) symptoms. Snorers with apnea/hypopnea index < 5 are designated “simple snorers” and do not meet OSA criteria. This study aimed to explore a possible association between snoring intensity and EDS defined as Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores ≥ 11 in non‐OSA subjects.
Calculating Web impact factor for university websites of Pakistan

– This study aims to explore the Web impact factors (WIFs) for websites of Pakistani universities. The paper discusses why revised Web impact factor (RWIF) is more meaningful than simple WIF. The study also attempts to rank the top-five websites of Pakistani universities by considering four different website ranking systems and compares the WIFs of university websites of other developing countries as well. , – This study calculates the RWIF for subject websites using two webometric tools. Open Site Explorer service (i.e. Developer Shed) and two commercial search engines, i.e. Google and Bing, were used to collect the data for examining the RWIF for subject websites. , – Collectively 41,960 web pages and 49,740 inlinks were found in top-ten Pakistani universities’ websites. The collective RWIF for subject websites comes to 1.185, which is at the top in comparison with other developing countries, i.e. India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. , – Calculating WIF for university websites in Pakistan and presenting the comparison with other types of website ranking system is a kind of first study conducted for Pakistani library websites. The study also presents alternate search strategy for data collection to calculate RWIF for websites.
Further characterization and validation of the oxygen uptake efficiency slope for persons with multiple sclerosis.

OBJECTIVE To further characterize the oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) in persons with multiple sclerosis through a direct comparison with matched controls, and by examining differences across the multiple sclerosis disability spectrum. Also, to validate the OUES as an alternative method, which can be derived from submaximal exercise testing, for expressing cardiorespiratory fitness in persons with mild-to-severe multiple sclerosis. PARTICIPANTS A total of 62 participants (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) = 1.5-6.5) with MS and 21 non-multiple sclerosis controls completed a symptom-limited cardiopulmonary exercise test. RESULTS The OUES was significantly lower in persons with multiple sclerosis (mean 1,708.5 (standard deviation (SD) 503.7)) compared with non-multiple sclerosis controls (mean 2074.2 (SD 823.2)). With regards to the multiple sclerosis sample, there was a significant difference in the OUES (F[2,59] = 8.9, p < 0.001, ηρ2 = 0.23) across the multiple sclerosis disability spectrum. The OUES was significantly correlated with both OUES50 (r = 0.86) and OUES75 (r = 0.91), and Bland-Altman plots demonstrated agreement between OUES and submaximal OUES values. CONCLUSION Overall, the OUES is a viable method for expressing cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with multiple sclerosis, and submaximal OUES is an appropriate alternative when maximal exercise testing is not feasible.
Movement of the pancreas associated with change of posture.

Because of its deep retroperitoneal location, the pancreas and swellings arising from it have been considered to be immobile during respiration as well as during change of posture [1, 2]. However, we, as well as other authors worldwide, have demonstrated that the traditional belief of the immobility of the pancreas during respiration is not true and, indeed, the pancreas moves during respiration [3, 4, 5, 6]. The phenomenon of the movement of the pancreas when changing posture has also been reported earlier [7]. We were intrigued with the marked mobility of the pancreas which was encountered during change of posture in a 25-year-old female patient with idiopathic chronic calcific pancreatitis. This 25-year-old female presented to us with acute abdominal pain of 24-hour duration. As a part of the diagnostic evaluation, abdominal skiagrams were performed both in the erect and the supine position which showed dense pancreatic calcification. This pancreatic calcification demonstrated marked movement during change of posture from the supine to the erect position. Once the patient recovered from an acute episode of abdominal pain, the skiagrams of the abdomen were repeated in both erect and supine positions, with the patient holding her breath in mid-expiration, to confirm the movement of the pancreas during change of posture. The skiagrams were performed after repeated rehearsals of breath holding in the same phase of respiration (midexpiration) to negate the effect of respiration on the movement of the pancreas. The abdominal skiagram in the supine position showed dense calcification throughout the pancreas (Image 1). The abdominal skiagram in the erect position (Image 2) showed a
DNN-based speech bandwidth expansion and its application to adding high-frequency missing features for automatic speech recognition of narrowband speech

We propose a number of enhancement techniques to improve speech quality in bandwidth expansion (BWE) from narrow-band to wideband speech, addressing three issues, which could be critical in real-world applications, namely: (1) discontinuity between narrowband spectrum and the estimated high frequency spectrum, (2) energy mismatch between testing and training utterances, and (3) expanding bandwidth of out-of-domain speech signals. With an inherent prediction of missing high frequency features in bandwidth-expanded speech we also explore the feasibility of adding these estimated features to those extracted from narrowband speech in order to improve the system performance for automatic speech recognition (ASR) of narrowband speech. Leveraging upon a recently-proposed deep neural network based speech BWE system intended for hearing quality enhancement these techniques not only improve over the traditionally-adopted objective and subjective measures but also reduce the word error rate (WER) from 8.67% when recognizing narrowband speech to 8.26% when recognizing bandwidth-expanded speech, and almost approaching the WER of 8.12% when recognizing wideband speech in the 20,000-word open-vocabulary Wall Street Journal ASR task.
Programa para el contexto escolar de prevención de violencia en parejas adolescentes

La violencia en la pareja sigue siendo uno de los problemas mas preocupantes en el siglo XXI, y llega a comportar considerables costes y consecuencias graves para las victimas. A pesar de las leyes promulgadas, la prevalencia de esta violencia ha aumentado considerablemente entre los adolescentes. Aunque se han propuesto diversas teorias sobre sus causas, seguimos sin tener una explicacion psicobiologica y socioeducativa que proporcione un punto de partida suficientemente consensuado para su comprension y, por ende, para su prevencion. No obstante, existe gran consenso entre los especialistas sobre el hecho de que se deben implementar programas cuya intervencion este centrada, en exclusiva, en ese problema relacional. Sin embargo, los programas existentes para adolescentes son de un amplio espectro, donde la prevencion de la violencia en la pareja es un aspecto mas de sus objetivos. Por ello, seria oportuno proponer un programa de prevencion primaria y secundaria, dirigido a alumnado de 14 a 20 anos, cuyo unico y ultimo objetivo es la prevencion de la violencia en la pareja adolescente, del cual se presenta su metodologia y los resultados de evaluacion obtenidos tras su implementacion en centros de educacion secundaria en las Islas Canarias y en Murcia. Resultados que pueden indicar su eficacia.
Regional Differences in Adipose Tissue Metabolism in Women

Studies comparing adipose tissue metabolism in central versus peripheral fat depots have generated equivocal data. We examined whether regional differences in abdominal subcutaneous and omental adipose tissue metabolism in women exist and whether they persist across the spectrum of body fatness and abdominal adiposity values. We measured adipocyte size; lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity; and basal, isoproterenol-, forskolin-, and dibutyryl cAMP–stimulated lipolysis in adipose tissue or mature adipocytes isolated from the omental and subcutaneous fat depots in a sample of 55 healthy women undergoing elective gynecological surgery. Measures of body fat mass and body fat distribution were also obtained by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry and computed tomography. Subcutaneous adipocytes were significantly larger than omental adipocytes (P < 0.0001). LPL activity expressed as a function of cell number was significantly higher in subcutaneous versus omental adipose tissue (P < 0.0001). Basal, isoproterenol-stimulated, dibutyryl cAMP–stimulated (10−3 mol/l) and forskolin-stimulated (10−5 mol/l) lipolysis (expressed as a function of cell number) were all significantly higher in subcutaneous versus omental adipocytes (P < 0.05 to P < 0.0001). However, the response of omental adipocytes to lipolytic stimuli tested (fold increase over basal level) was significantly greater in magnitude compared with subcutaneous adipocytes (P < 0.01). These differences were relatively constant across total body fat mass and visceral adipose tissue area tertiles. In conclusion, compared with adipocytes from the omental fat compartment, subcutaneous adipocytes are larger, have higher LPL activity, and are more lipolytic on an absolute basis, which may reflect a higher fat storage capacity in this depot in women. In contrast, omental adipocytes display greater relative responsiveness to both adrenergic receptor–and postreceptor-acting agents compared with subcutaneous adipocytes. Overall and visceral obesity have only minor effects on regional differences in adipose tissue metabolism.
Assessment Of The Bacteriological Quality Of Ice Cream Offered For Public Consumption In Bauchi. Nigeria.

30 samples of locally produced and industrially produced ice cream were examined for the presence of bacteria contaminants. Bacteria count was carried out on the different samples using pour plate method. Isolates were identified using standard procedure. Different types of bacteria isolated include Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhi. The total bacteria count per ml of the locally produced ice cream sample range from 1.4 4 – 3.0 4 and the total bacteria count per ml of the industrially produced ice cream sample range between 3.0 3 8.8 cfu/ml. The mean count of locally produced and industrially produced ice cream was 2.0 4 and 5.3 3 respectively, therefore industrially produced ice cream is more hygienic than locally produced ice cream.The presence of possible pathogenic organisms in the analyzed ice-cream sample should be viewed with concern by the consumers, producing company and the Government since food poisoning by Staphylococcus sp, Bacillus sp and Salmonella sp is possible through consumption of contaminated ice-cream.
Comparative Study of Psychiatric Manifestations among Type I and Type II Diabetic Patients

Background: Anxiety and depressive disorders belong to the most common psychiatric disorders worldwide. They are generally seen in individuals who suffer from chronic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus (DM). The prevalence of depression among diabetics ranges from 8.5% to 32.5%, while that for anxiety it is up to 30%. In this study, we try to compare the mental health problems faced by those with Type I and Type II DM. Materials and Methods: Fifty patients diagnosed with Type I diabetes (T1D) and Type II diabetes each presenting to Medicine and Endocrinology Department were assessed with Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) for depression and Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A) for anxiety. Patients were assessed on sociodemographic profile, duration of illness, type of treatment and then the data were analyzed on different domains. Results: On the assessment of patients with HAM-D a total of 38% with T1D were found to be depressed, and 42% patients with Type II diabetes had depression. Similarly, on assessment of anxiety with HAM-A, a total of 44% with T1D had anxiety. In patients with Type II diabetes, a total of 34% patients suffer from anxiety. Conclusion: The study concludes that Type I and Type II are slightly different in terms of associated psychiatric illnesses. In those with psychiatric illness, they do less well in terms of improving their overall diabetes control. The wider implication is that all the patients with diabetes should be regularly assessed for psychological problems. There needs to be greater psychological/psychiatric support available to intensive diabetes clinics.
Fostering literal and inferential language skills in Head Start preschoolers with language impairment using scripted book-sharing discussions.

PURPOSE Preschoolers with language impairment have difficulties with both literal and inferential language, both of which are critical to later reading comprehension. Because these children are known to be at risk for later reading comprehension difficulties, it is important to design and test interventions that foster both literal and inferential language skills. Using a randomized pretest-posttest control group design, we investigated whether an 8-week, one-on-one book-sharing intervention would improve both the literal and inferential language skills of Head Start preschoolers with language impairments. METHOD Thirty children were randomly assigned to either a control group that received no intervention or to a treatment group that received twice-weekly 15-min sessions in which adults read books and asked both literal and inferential questions about the books using scripts that were embedded throughout the text. Treatment and control groups were compared using pre- and posttest scores on 2 measures of literal and 1 measure of inferential language skill. RESULTS Significant group differences, and medium to large effect sizes, were found between pre- and posttest scores for all 3 measures. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that book sharing with embedded questions that target both literal and inferential language skills can result in gains on both types of language in this population. Future studies with larger number of children are needed to corroborate these findings.