Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chrysanthemum Chlorotic Mottle Viroid: a System for Reverse Genetics in the Family Avsunviroidae (Hammerhead Viroids)

Viroids are small single-stranded circular RNAs able to infect plants. Chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle was one of the first viroid diseases reported, but identification and characterization of the causing RNA was delayed by its low accumulation in vivo. Chrysanthemum chlorotic mottle viroid (CChMVd) (398-401 nt) adopts a branched conformation instead of the rod-like secondary structure characteristic of most viroids. The natural sequence variability and the effects of artificial mutants support that the branched conformation is physiologically relevant and additionally stabilized by a kissing-loop interaction critical for RNA in vitro folding and in vivo viability. CChMVd shares structural similarities with peach latent mosaic viroid, with which forms the genus Pelamoviroid within the family Avsunviroidae. CChMVd adopts hammerhead structures that catalyze self-cleavage of the oligomeric strands of both polarities resulting from replication through a symmetric rolling-circle mechanism. The two CChMVd hammerheads display peculiarities: the plus has an extra A close to the central conserved core, and the minus an unsually long helix II. There are non-symptomatic strains (CChMVd-NS) that protect against challenge inoculation with severe strains (CChMVd-S). Introduction by site-directed mutagenesis of one of the CChMVd-NS specific mutations (UUUCGAAA) is sufficient to change the symptomatic phenotype into non-symptomatic without altering the viroid titer. This pathogenicity determinant maps at a tetraloop of the CChMVd branched conformation. Co-inoculations with typical CChMVd-S and -NS variants showed that the infected plants remain symptomless only when the latter was in more than a 100fold excess, indicating the higher fitness of the S variant. RNA silencing could mediate the observed cross-protection.
Analysis of suicide deaths in a 15-year period in Eskisehir, western Anatolia, Turkey and the determination of risk factors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES It is estimated that every year 1 million people die all around the world due to suicide. The average rate of suicide in the world is reported as 16/100 000. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and discuss the suicide cases in our city Eskisehir that is located in western Anatolia. DESIGN AND SETTINGS This is a retrospective study covering the period 1997–2011. METHODS All deaths in Eskisehir caused due to the consumption of forensic medicines in a 15-year period between 1997 and 2011 were evaluated retrospectively. A total of 553 cases were determined to be suicidal following both forensic and criminal investigations, and were included in the study. Furthermore, death examination and autopsy reports were investigated, and judicial investigation records were also taken into account. RESULTS In this period, the average rate of suicide in our city was determined as 5.1/100 000 of which 71.4% of the cases were male. It was determined that the suicides most commonly occurred between the ages of 19 and 29 (32.4%, n=179). The most commonly encountered suicide method was hanging (60.9%, n=337). CONCLUSION It was ascertained that the suicide rate in our city was lower than the average rate in the world, but it was higher than the average rate in Turkey. Unemployment was determined as the most common risk factor in our study. A follow-up should be provided for people with a history of attempting to commit suicide or with a tendency to committing suicide due to a psychological disorder.
5-HT2 antagonist ritanserin in neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism: a double-blind comparison with orphenadrine and placebo.

Several studies support the hypothesis of 5-HT (serotonin) involvement in the physiopathology of the extrapyramidal system. Ritanserin is a new compound with a high, selective, and long-lasting binding affinity for 5-HT2 receptors. A therapeutic effect of ritanserin has been reported in Parkinson's tremor and L-Dopa-induced dyskinesias but no effect was seen in essential tremor. In this double-blind comparative study with orphenadrine (150 mg daily p.o.) and placebo, ritanserin (30 mg daily p.o.) was administered to 36 schizophrenic outpatients who were being treated with neuroleptic drugs and who had parkinsonism. For a period of 3 weeks, the treatment was added to the antipsychotic therapy after a 7-day washout from previous antiparkinson medication. Psychopathology was rated weekly by the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale and showed no significant changes during the trial. The Mindham Rating Scale was used to assess symptoms of parkinsonism; at week 3, ritanserin was superior to orphenadrine (p less than 0.03) and to placebo (p less than 0.01). The results confirm previous observations of the therapeutic efficacy of ritanserin on neuroleptic-induced parkinsonism, and support the hypothesis that serotonin influences extrapyramidal physiopathology.
Transcriptome analysis of frontal cortex in alcohol‐preferring and nonpreferring rats

Although it is widely accepted that alcohol abuse and alcoholism have a significant genetic component of risk, the identities of the genes themselves remain obscure. To illuminate such potential genetic contributions, DNA macroarrays were used to probe for differences in normative cortical gene expression between rat strains genetically selected for alcohol self‐administration preference, AA (Alko, alcohol) and P (Indiana, preferring), or avoidance, ANA (Alko, nonalcohol) and NP (Indiana, nonpreferring). Among 1,176 genes studied, six demonstrated confirmable, differential expression following comparison of ethanol‐naive AA and ANA rats. Specifically, the mRNA level for metabotropic glutamate receptor 3 (mGluR3) was down‐regulated in the AA vs. ANA lines. In contrast, calcium channel subunit α2δ1 (cacna2d1), vesicle‐associated membrane protein 2 (VAMP2), syntaxin 1 (both syntaxin 1a and 1b; STX1a and STX1b), and syntaxin binding protein (MUNC‐18) mRNAs were found to be increased in frontal cortex following comparison of AA with ANA animals. Bioinformatic analysis of these molecular targets showed that mGluR3 and cacna2d1 fall within chromosomal locations reported to be alcohol‐related by the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism (COGA) as well as quantitative trait loci (QTL) studies. To determine further whether these differences were strain specific, the above‐mentioned genes were compared in ethanol‐preferring (P) and ‐nonpreferring (NP) selected lines. VAMP2 was the only gene that displayed statistically different mRNA levels in a comparison of P and NP rats. In conclusion, the altered cortical gene expression illuminated here would have the effect of altering neurotransmitter release in AA rats (compared with ANA rats). Such alterations, however, might not be a universal characteristic of all animal models of alcohol abuse and will also require further investigation in post‐mortem human samples. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Occam's Razor Slices Through the Mysteries of Neurofilament Axonal Transport: Can it Really be so Simple?

Neuroﬁlaments (NFs) are prominent constituents of matureaxons.HowtheneuronestablishesandmaintainstheNFarrayhas been the subject of intense controversy (1). NFs alsorepresent the most highly phosphorylated proteins within theaxonal cytoskeleton, yet how phosphorylated NF are segre-gated within axons, and how phosphorylation contributes toNF dynamics are also not entirely clear (1). The recent demon-strationthatthemicrotubulemotorproteinkinesinparticipatesin the intracellular distribution and axonal transport of NFs, andthat phosphorylation regulates the association of NFs andkinesin (2,3), affords a new look at these unresolved aspectsof NF dynamics.
Elevated plasma prolactin and EEG slow wave power in post-polio fatigue: Implications for a dopamine deficiency underlying post-viral fatigue syndromes.

AbstractTo test the hypothesis that plasma prolactin and clcc-troencephalographic (EEG) slow wave activity are correlated with fatigue, 33 polio survivors without medical or psychologic comorbid-ities were studied. Subjects were administered the Post-Polio Fatigue Questionnaire (PFQ) and had resting measurement of both plasma prolactin and bilateral temporal-occipital power across the EEG frequency spectrum. Typical daily fatigue severity on the PFQ was significantly correlated with daily difficulty with attention, staying awake and motivation, but not with measures of acute polio severity or the number of limbs affected by laie-onset Post-Polio Sequelae symptoms. Prolactin was significantly correlated with daily fatigue severity on the PFQ (r = .39; p < .05). EEG power was equal between the two hemispheres across all frequency bands. However, EEG slow wave power in the right hemisphere was significantly correlated with daily fatigue severity and prolactin level (r = .37; p < .05). Using multiple linear r.
Diagnostic and therapeutic yield of push-and-pull enteroscopy for symptomatic small bowel Crohn's disease strictures

Objective Crohn's disease is frequently complicated by obstructive symptoms secondary to small bowel strictures that cannot be accessed by conventional endoscopy. Push-and-pull enteroscopy is a new endoscopic tool that might allow not only diagnostic work-up but also therapeutic interventions of these strictures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of push-and-pull enteroscopy in the treatment of symptomatic small bowel Crohn's disease strictures. Methods Between September 2003 and May 2006, 19 consecutive patients with known or suspected Crohn's disease and symptomatic small bowel strictures were subjected to push-and-pull enteroscopy and included in our analysis. Results With push-and-pull enteroscopy at least one small bowel stricture was accessed in each patient. On the basis of endoscopic assessment strictures in nine patients were not amenable to endoscopic therapy because of anatomical reasons (3/9) or severe inflammatory activity within the stenotic segment (6/9). They underwent direct surgery or intensified immunomodulatory treatment, respectively. In 10 patients with 13 strictures we performed 15 dilations in combination with push-and-pull enteroscopy under fluoroscopic guidance. Technical success was achieved in 8/10 patients, symptomatic relief with avoidance of surgery was achieved in 6/10 patients who remained symptom free during a mean follow-up period of 10 months (range, 4–16 months). No complications were encountered after dilation. Conclusions Push-and-pull enteroscopy is very useful for diagnosis and directing therapy in patients with Crohn's disease-associated strictures within the small bowel. Balloon dilation with the push-and-pull enteroscopy device appears safe and effective and can be considered as an alternative to surgery in selected patients with medically refractory strictures.
HDL cholesterol and bone mineral density in normal-weight postmenopausal women: is there any possible association?

AIM Epidemiological investigation of the association between lipid profile, atherosclerosis and bone mass has produced conflicting RESULTS The present paper reports the assessment of the lipid profile, bone mineral density (BMD) and turnover in a cohort of Italian women. METHODS In this cross sectional study we enrolled 173 women in menopause (101 osteoporotic and 72 normal). In each subject the authors evaluated BMD, bone turnover, lipid profile (total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein [HDL], low density lipoprotein [LDL] and triglycerides), and risk factors for osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases and eating habits using a questionnaire. RESULTS HDL was significantly higher in osteoporotic patients than in controls and the risk of osteoporosis was significantly higher in women with higher level of HDL. The authors suggest that the level of HDL could be used as screening for postmenopausal osteoporosis: the cut-off points recommended are HDL >61 mg/dL to detect women with a high risk (sensitivity 74%) and <45 mg/dL to detect those with a low risk (specificity 83%). CONCLUSION This study provides evidences of the relation between HDL, but not total cholesterol or LDL levels with BMD in a cohort of normal-weight women and equally distributed cardiovascular risks. It also suggests that a proatherogenic lipid profile is associated with higher bone mineral density, and that HDL can be used in deciding whether a patient's BMD should be measured.
Tree-based Topology Design for Multi-Sink Wireless Sensor Networks

This paper aims at designing tree-based topologies for Multi-Sink Wireless Sensor Networks (MS-WSNs). Tree height and the average number of children per parent, are the degrees of freedom of such a topology. The objective is to maximise the amount of information gathered at the sinks, that is, network reachability, having fixed node and sink densities and the air interface capacity. Once the number of levels for trees is fixed, network reachability is maximised by a proper choice of the average number of nodes at each level (i.e. the average number of children per parent). The study is performed by means of a statistical model and simulations. A mathematical framework taking into account connectivity aspects, radio channel fluctuations, random node and sink deployment, and the capacity of the air interface is considered; the mathematical analysis is based on a deterministic multiple access control (MAC) scheme. The framework has some limits: it does not consider a contention-based MAC protocol and assumes that nodes are distributed over an infinite plane. To overcome these limits we have developed a multi- sink simulator, which implements an IEEE 802.15. 4 standard compliant network, based on a three-level tree based topology. Simulation results show trends very similar to the ones obtained through the mathematical model; the causes of the differences between the two are discussed in detail. Finally, the difference between a mono-sink scenario, as usually considered in the literature, and the case with multiple sinks, is discussed by means of numerical comparisons.
Infant and toddler pathways leading to early externalizing disorders.

OBJECTIVE To examine pathways leading to specific types of early externalizing disorders. METHOD Longitudinal data were collected on 310 low-income, male subjects followed from infancy until age 6 years. RESULTS Support across informants was found for the importance of the caregiving environment during infancy in relation to the development of externalizing disorders at school entry. Support was also found for the significance of early child factors, but this was limited to child behavior at home. CONCLUSIONS The results are consistent with social learning and attachment models, which suggest that severe conduct problems in early childhood are the result of deficits in the caregiving environment. Support was also found for Moffitt's hypothesis that children with the comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder-oppositional defiant disorder/conduct disorder pattern experience multiple child and psychosocial risk factors that begin during infancy.
Molecular characterization of avian adenoviruses in Iranian broiler flocks

Summary This study was conducted to molecularly detect avian adenoviruses in broiler flocks showing liver lesions and respiratory syndrome in northeast Iran. In total, 60 tissue samples were collected from broiler farms with liver lesions, respiratory syndrome and also from clinically healthy flocks. Six samples were positive; however, three samples were selected for molecular studies. PCR products were sequenced to confirm the identity of avian adenoviruse. Based on the sequence analysis of the L1 region of the hexon gene, the NRB/FAV/4 should be classified as FAdV 8b strain and two other isolates - NRB/FAV/1 and NRB/FAV/5 - classified in cluster of the FAdV 2 & 11. As far as we know, this preliminary investigation is the only documented study to confirm the presence of avian adenoviruses in broiler flocks in Iran.
Protective Effects of Oral Disodium Cromoglycate on the Asthmatic Responses Induced by Food Allergy

Background: The food allergy can also participate in the pathological mechanism underlying the bronchial asthma. This should ultimately be confirmed by food ingestion challenge combined with monitoring of lung function (FVC and FEV1), demonstrating the particular types of asthmatic response to ingested foods. The oral disodium cromoglygate (DSCG, Nalcrom®) has been shown to be effective drug in prevention of food allergy. Methods: In 62 randomly selected patients with bronchial asthma developing 62 asthmatic responses to food ingestion challenge (17 immediate, IAR, p<0.01; 21 late, LAR, p<0.001; 8 dual late, DLAR, p<0.05; 11 delayed, DYAR, p<0.05; and 5 dual delayed DDYAR, p<0.05), the food ingestion challenges have been repeated twice, after the pretreatment with oral DSCG and after pretreatment with oral placebo. The study was performed according the double-blind, placebo-matched, cross-over design. Results: The DSCG, administered orally in a daily dose of 4×200 mg starting 2 weeks before and continuing through the challenge day up to 3 days after the challenge, as compared with placebo, protected highly significantly the IAR (p 0.2). No differences in the DSCG protective effects were observed with respect to the individual foods (p>0.2). Conclusions: It can be concluded that the food allergy can causally be involved in some patients with bronchial asthma, resulting in development of various types of asthmatic response. The asthmatic responses to food ingested can effectively be prevented by pretreatment with disodium cromoglycate administered orally in a daily dose of 4x 200 mg. If necessary the treatment with oral DSCG can be combined with other treatments, such as elimination diet and/or other additional drugs, e.g. β2–sympathomimetics or other drugs.
Correctness-Preserving Translation from Spi Calculus to Java , Revision 3

Spi Calculus is an untyped high level modeling language for security protocols, used for formal protocols specification and verification. In this paper, a type system for the Spi Calculus and a translation function are formally defined, in order to formalize the refinement of a Spi Calculus specification into a Java implementation. Since the generated Java implementation uses a custom Java library, formal conditions on the custom Java library are also stated, so that, if the library implementation code satisfies such conditions, then the generated Java implementation correctly simulates the Spi Calculus specification. A verified implementation of part of the custom library is further presented.
Earnings Inequality and Skill-Biased Technological Change with Endogenous Choice of Education

This article analyzes the impact of stochastic skill-biased technological change on earnings inequality in a general equilibrium OLG model. Wage dispersion is determined by the heterogeneity of skills by allowing for productivity differences due to education, ability, and age. The model performs well in reproducing stylized facts on the time pattern of the U.S. wage distribution and human capital accumulation. In particular, it shows that slow adjustment of the supply of educated labor can itself explain the nonmonotonic time pattern of the college premium. (JEL: D31, J24, J31) (c) 2008 by the European Economic Association.
A comprehensive cloud-based real-time simulation framework for oblivious power routing in clusters of DC microgrids

In this paper, we propose a novel cloud-based approach for solving the optimal power routing problem in clusters of DC microgrids. To this end, we deploy oblivious network routing design. Each cluster includes multiple microgrids which are connected via DC links in a multi-terminal DC system in a meshed network topology. In the proposed framework, the energy will be transmitted from the microgrid with additional power generation to the microgrid with power shortage to supply the loads internally. According to the nature of oblivious routing algorithm, all of the microgrids belonging to a specific cluster are unaware of the current cluster status. Furthermore, each microgrid does not need to have the access to the current flows through the multi-terminal DC system as well as the generation capacity and load demand of other microgrids. The optimal routing strategy considers two main objectives: 1)managing congestion through the DC lines, and 2) minimizing power loss through the network. The performance of our novel oblivious power routing method does not depend on the topology of network, i.e. it is applicable to both radial and non-radial power networks of different scales and arbitrary number of microgrids. The effectiveness of the proposed algorithm has been verified in MATLAB simulation. Furthermore, we propose a comprehensive simulation platform for further implementation of the proposed strategy on OPAL-RT real-time simulator system (RTDS). In our proposed platform, the communication path between the microgrids can be implemented on a cloud-based environment emulated by OMNeT++.
Why Play the Notes? Indirect Aesthetic Normativity in Performance

ABSTRACT While all agree that score compliance in performance is valuable, the source of this value is unclear. Questions about what authenticity requires crowd out questions about our reasons to be compliant in the first place, perhaps because they seem trivial or uninteresting. I argue that such reasons cannot be understood as ordinary aesthetic, instrumental, epistemic, or moral reasons. Instead, we treat considerations of score compliance as having a kind of final value, one which requires further explanation. Taking as a model the Humean account of fidelity as an artificial virtue, I sketch a practice-theoretic account of the nature and source of such reasons, one on which we can say that they are, after all, aesthetic, but only indirectly so.
Interferon beta-1b in secondary progressive MS

Background: A European (EU) and a North American (NA) placebo-controlled study with interferon beta-1b (IFNB-1b) in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS) showed divergent results with regard to their primary outcome of sustained Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) progression, while effects were similar on relapse and MRI-related endpoints. Reasons for this discrepancy were explored in the combined dataset. Methods: Baseline characteristics and variability in EDSS assessments were compared. Retrospective combined analyses for time to confirmed progression were performed to assess treatment effects overall and in subgroups defined by pre-study disease activity criteria and other key baseline variables. Results: The variance of EDSS measurements was 6.5% higher in the NA-SPMS study. The EU study included patients in an earlier phase of SPMS and with more active disease both pre-study (relapses, MRI) as well as on study (EDSS, relapses, and MRI variables as assessed in the placebo groups). The pooled analysis showed an overall risk reduction by about 20% in patients treated with 8 MIU (250 mcg) IFNB-1b for EDSS progression confirmed at 6 months (p = 0.008). Risk reduction by 30% to 40% was found for patients with at least one relapse or change in EDSS by >1 in the 2 years prior to study entry. No other consistent across-studies relation of clinical and MRI variables at baseline to potential treatment response was found. Conclusions: Although post hoc, this combined analysis of the two large studies with IFNB-1b in secondary progressive multiple sclerosis suggests that both pronounced disability progression and continuing relapse activity might help in identifying those patients in the secondary progressive phase of the disease who are more likely to benefit from treatment.