Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Disability in inflammatory bowel diseases: Developing ICF core sets for patients with inflammatory bowel diseases based on the international classification of functioning, disability, and health

Abstract: The inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are associated with a reduced quality of life. The impact of IBD on disability remains largely unknown. With the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) of the World Health Organization (WHO), we can now rely on a globally agreed‐upon framework and system for classifying the typical spectrum of problems in the functioning of persons with a specific disease given the environmental context in which they live. The aim of this article is to outline the methods to be utilized to develop ICF Core Sets for IBD. The project is a cooperation between the ICF Research Branch of the WHO, the IPNIC group, the International Society of Physical Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM), and the International Organization on Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IOIBD). Four worldwide studies will be conducted from 2009 to 2010. ICF categories relevant for IBD will be identified by systematic literature review of outcomes and measures used in IBD research, semistructured patient interviews, Internet‐based expert survey, and cross‐sectional study for clinical applicability. The final definition of ICF Core Sets for IBD will be determined at a Consensus Conference. Field testing will then be used to validate the ICF Core Sets. ICF Core Sets are being designed to provide useful standards for research and clinical practice. This tool will enable research that improves understanding of functioning, disability, and health in IBD, and may lead to interventions to improve and maintain functioning and minimize disability among IBD patients throughout the world. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010)
Different Growth and Physiological Responses of Six Subtropical Tree Species to Warming

Quantifying changes in interspecific plant growth and physiology under climate warming will facilitate explanation of the shifts in community structure in subtropical forest. We evaluated the effects of 3 years climate warming (ca. 1°C, 2012–2015) on plant growth and physiological parameters of six subtropical tree species by translocating seedlings and soil from a higher to a lower elevation site. We found that an increase in soil/air temperature had divergent effects on six co-occurring species. Warming increased the biomass of Schima superba and Pinus massoniana, whereas it decreased their specific leaf area and intrinsic water use efficiency compared to other species. Warming decreased the foliar non-structural carbohydrates for all species. Our findings demonstrated that a warmer climate would have species-specific effects on the physiology and growth of subtropical trees, which may cause changes in the competitive balance and composition of these forests.
A Preliminary study of the development, validity, and reliability of a caregiver questionnaire for the health-related quality of life in children with cerebral palsy.

BACKGROUND In Taiwan, there is no disease-specific instrument to measure the health-related quality of life (HRQL) in children with cerebral palsy (CP). The goal of this preliminary study was to develop and test the validity and reliability of a caregiver questionnaire for HRQL in children with CP (CQ-HRQL-CP). METHODS The CQ-HRQL-CP included 4 dimensions, motor ability, pain and emotion, interaction and participation, and satisfaction and expectation. The questions were modified based on the content validity index (CVI). A purposive sampling of 45 parents of children with CP completed tests of the item discriminant validity and internal consistency. Twenty of these parents were randomly recruited for further testing of the test-retest reliability. RESULTS The CVI of individual items and dimensions was 0.86~1. With regard to the item discriminant validity, items which correlated more strongly with other dimensions than with their own dimensions were deleted. The adjusted Cronbach's coefficient value was 0.87~0.99. The test-retest reliability, evaluated using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC(3,1)), was 0.86~0.99 for each dimension. CONCLUSIONS The content validity, item discriminant validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of this new CQ-HRQL-CP were acceptable. Further study of the concurrent validity of the CQ-HRQL-CP is needed.
ALPHA‐CHAIN HEMOGLOBIN POLYMORPHISMS ARE CORRELATED WITH ALTITUDE IN THE DEER MOUSE, PEROMYSCUS MANICULATUS

In deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) populations in the western United States, alpha‐globin haplotype frequency, beta‐globin haplotype frequency, and base‐line blood oxygen affinity (measured after acclimation to low altitude) show strong correlations with native altitude. The correlations improve when an average regional altitude is substituted for the local altitude at collection sites. This substitution roughly compensates for the effects of gene exchange between populations in areas of highly variable topography. When subspecific effects are removed with covariate analyses a significant (P < 0.05) relationship remains only for alpha‐globin haplotype frequency and altitude. Thus, alpha‐globin haplotype frequency, beta‐globin haplotype frequency, and base‐line blood oxygen affinity may be explained by either subspecific or altitudinal effects, but subspecific effects explain a larger proportion of the variance. Part of the subspecific effect may be attributable to an underlying relationship of subspecies with altitude. The analyses for the alpha‐globins in conjunction with other data on the effects of alpha‐globins on blood oxygen affinity and whole‐animal physiological performance are consistent with the hypothesis that the frequency of the alpha‐globins evolved in response to selection resulting from the stress of high‐altitude hypoxia.
An Empirical Examination of User Adoption Mobile Payment

Due to the high uncertainties and perceived risk associated with using mobile payment, it is critical for service providers to build users' trust. This paper explored the critical factors influencing users' intention to adopt mobile payment from a trust perspective. The results are based on a survey sample of 193 participants. SmartPLS2.0 is employed in the data analysis. The findings indicate that perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, structure assurance and ubiquity have significant effect on users' trust, which further affect user usage intention. Thus mobile service providers need to concern trust to facilitate user adoption and usage of mobile payment services.
Coping Motives Moderate Efficacy of Personalized Normative Feedback Among Heavy Drinking U.S. College Students.

OBJECTIVE Personalized normative feedback (PNF) interventions have received empirical support, are presumed to work by reducing normative misperceptions, and have been found to be particularly efficacious for those who drink for social reasons. However, PNF interventions also offer direct comparisons between one's own drinking and normative drinking, which may be especially important for coping drinkers. The present research evaluated whether reduced perceived norms and drinking at follow-ups varied as a function of coping motives. METHOD Aims were examined as a secondary analysis of a PNF intervention study among 252 U.S. college students. Following baseline assessment, participants were randomly assigned to receive PNF or assessment only. Follow-up assessments occurred 3 and 6 months after baseline. RESULTS Findings indicated that the PNF intervention was more effective at both follow-ups in reducing drinking, but not alcohol use problems, for participants scoring higher in coping motives. Furthermore, coping motives were the only drinking motive that uniquely moderated PNF efficacy. Analyses indicated that intervention effects on drinking varied as a function of coping drinking motives; however, intervention effects on norms did not vary by coping motives. Finally, coping motives were found to moderate associations between perceived norms and drinking. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that coping motives may be useful for identifying young adults-and presumably others-who can most benefit from PNF approaches. Furthermore, PNF may influence future drinking behavior through mechanisms other than changes in perceived norms. Future investigations could examine other pathways through which PNF may reduce drinking.
Restoration of cutaneous pigmentation by transplantation to mice of isogeneic human melanocytes in dermal–epidermal engineered skin substitutes

Autologous engineered skin substitutes (ESS) containing melanocytes (hM) may restore pigmentation and photoprotection after grafting to full‐thickness skin wounds. In this study, normal hM were isolated from discard skin, propagated with or without tyrosinase inhibitors, cryopreserved, recovered into culture, and added to ESS (ESS‐P) before transplantation. ESS‐P were incubated in either UCMC160/161 or UCDM1 medium, scored for hM densities, and grafted to mice. The results showed that sufficient hM can be propagated to expand donor tissue by 100‐fold; incubation of hM in tyrosinase inhibitors reduced pigment levels but did not change hM recovery after cryopreservation; hM densities in ESS‐P were greater after incubation in UCDM1 than UCMC160 medium; hM were localized to the dermal–epidermal junction of ESS‐P; and UCDM1 medium promoted earlier pigment distribution and density. These results indicate that hM can be incorporated into ESS‐P efficiently to restore cutaneous pigmentation and UV photoprotection after full‐thickness skin loss conditions.
Outbreak of diarrhea among preweaning alpacas (Vicugna pacos) in the southern Peruvian highland.

INTRODUCTION Infections, particularly diarrheal infections, are a major cause of neonatal death in South American camelids. The aim of this study was to identify the pathogens that could have caused the recent diarrhea outbreak among the alpacas in Silli, Cusco, located in the southern Peruvian highland. METHODOLOGY Spleen, kidney, and intestine tissue along with fecal and intestinal lavage samples were obtained from 50 one- to five-week-old alpacas and analyzed for the presence of parasites, bacteria, and viruses. RESULTS Laboratory testing of the 50 crias included in this study revealed that 80% were infected with Eimeria spp. , 40% with coronavirus, 34% with E. coli, 32% with rotavirus, 22% with Clostridium spp. , and 20% with Cryptosporidium spp. Of these 50 alpaca crias, 20 presented with a single infection (19 positive for Eimeria spp. and 1 positive for rotavirus). Co-infections with up to four pathogens occurred in 60% of the samples. The significance of such infections is not clear, but it is noteworthy that the animals suffering from necrotic and/or hemorrhagic enteritis presented with quadruple infections. It is likely that co-infections increase the severity of the disease. CONCLUSIONS These data show that multiple pathogens circulate among young alpaca crias and could be associated with diarrheal disease in these animals. The findings from this study warrant the provision of subsidies for future assessment of the potential economic impact of these infections on the productivity of the Peruvian alpaca industry.
Suppressive efficacies of antimicrobial agents against human peripheral-blood mononuclear cells stimulated with T cell mitogen and bacterial superantigen

Abstract The immunomodulatory efficacies of 12 antimicrobial agents clinically used were examined against T cell mitogen- or bacterial superantigen-induced proliferation of peripheral-blood mononuclear cells of healthy subjects. Minocycline (CAS 13614-98-7), rifampicin (CAS 13292-46-1), trimethoprim (CAS 738-70-5), and ribavirin (CAS 36791-04-5) significantly inhibited the proliferation of mitogen-stimulated mononuclear cells at 1 – 100 µg/ml (p < 0.001), whereas ofloxacin (CAS 82419-36-1) enhanced the proliferation (p < 0.001). Ampicillin (CAS 69-53-4), lincomycin (CAS 859-18-7), vancomycin (CAS 1404-93-9), sulfamethoxazole (CAS 723-46-6), fosfomycin (CAS 26016-99-9), Colistin (CAS 1264-72-8), and polymyxin B (CAS 1405-20-5) showed no significant effect. Minocycline, rifampicin, trimethoprim, and ribavirin also inhibited the proliferation of superantigen-stimulated peripheral-blood mononuclear cells at 1–100 µg/ml (< 0.001), whereas ofloxacin stimulated the proliferation (p < 0.001). Rifampicin and minocycline at 10–100 µg/ml significantly inhibited interleukin-2 production from mitogen-or superantigen-stimulated peripheral-blood mononuclear cells (p < 0.025). These results suggest that certain kinds of antimicrobial agents inhibited the proliferation of mitogen- and superantigen-stimulated human peripheral-blood mononuclear cells and suppressed interleukin-2 production from these cells. The ofloxacin effect is immunostimulative, while the drug did not influence the interleukin-2 production.
Abundances, Identity, and Growth State of Actinobacteria in Mountain Lakes of Different UV Transparency

ABSTRACT The occurrence, identity, and activity of microbes from the class Actinobacteria was studied in the surface waters of 10 oligo- to mesotrophic mountain lakes located between 913 m and 2,799 m above sea level. Oligonucleotide probes were designed to distinguish between individual lineages within this group by means of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Bacteria of a single phylogenetic lineage (acI) represented >90% of all Actinobacteria in the studied lakes, and they constituted up to 70% of the total bacterial abundances. In the subset of eight lakes situated above the treeline, the community contribution of bacteria from the acI lineage was significantly correlated with the ambient levels of solar UV radiation (UV transparency, r2 = 0.72; P < 0.01). Three distinct genotypic subpopulations were distinguished within acI that constituted varying fractions of all Actinobacteria in the different lakes. The abundance of growing actinobacterial cells was estimated by FISH and immunocytochemical detection of bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation into de novo-synthesized DNA. The percentages of Actinobacteria with visible DNA synthesis approximately corresponded to the average percentages of BrdU-positive cells in the total assemblages. Actinobacteria from different subclades of the acI lineage, therefore, constituted an important autochthonous element of the aquatic microbial communities in many of the studied lakes, potentially also due to their higher UV resistance.
Cloning and sequence analysis of a trans-regulatory locus required for exoenzyme S synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Exoenzyme S is an ADP-ribosyltransferase enzyme distinct from exotoxin A that is synthesized and secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Yields of exoenzyme S are variable and depend on strain and growth conditions. Since certain medium additives are required for exoenzyme S production, its regulation may be influenced by environmental stimuli. In this study, we have cloned a region that complements the exoenzyme S-deficient phenotype of strain 388 exs1::Tn1, a chromosomal Tn1 insertional mutation. A large clone (28 kb) was shown to restore both synthesis and secretory functions to the mutant strain. Subcloning and Tn501 mutagenesis experiments localized the region required for exoenzyme S synthesis to a 3.2-kb fragment. Nucleotide sequence analysis demonstrated several open reading frames. Comparison of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of purified exoenzyme S with predicted amino acid sequences of all open reading frames indicated that the structural gene was not encoded within the sequenced region. Homology studies suggested that the region encoded three regulatory genes, exsC, exsB, and exsA. ExsA was homologous to the AraC family of transcriptional activator proteins, with extensive homology being found with one member of this family, VirF of Yersinia enterocolitica. VirF and ExsA both contain carboxy-terminal domains with the helix-turn-helix motif of DNA-binding proteins. The ExsA gene product appeared to be required for induction of exoenzyme S synthesis above a low basal level. Expression of ExsA was demonstrated by cloning the region under the control of the T7 promoter. Gene replacement experiments suggested that the expression of ExsC affects the final yield of exoenzyme S.
Monetary and Financial Cooperation Between China and the One Belt One Road Countries

ABSTRACT Based on the theory of optimal currency area (OCA), we calculate the OCA index between China and the OBOR partners with the expressed objective of identifying which partners exhibit monetary and financial compatibilities, and hence present the best potential in terms of cost and benefits. Our findings suggest that among South East Asia region, Malaysia exhibits the highest compatibility and profit potential, followed by Thailand and Vietnam. For the East European area, Poland and Croatia show the best potential in terms of monetary and financial cooperation; with the Czech Republic as close third. Based on our computation, currently Central Asia and the Middle East do not possess the condition or potential for beneficial financial and monetary collaboration.
Analysis of the cell fusion activities of chimeric simian immunodeficiency virus-murine leukemia virus envelope proteins: inhibitory effects of the R peptide

It was previously reported that truncation or proteolytic removal of the C-terminal 16 amino acids (the R peptide) from the cytoplasmic tail of the murine leukemia virus (MuLV) envelope protein greatly increases its fusion activity. In this study, to investigate the specificity of the effect of the R peptide on the fusion activity of viral envelope proteins, we expressed simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-MuLV chimeric proteins in which the entire cytoplasmic tail of the SIV envelope protein was replaced by either the full-length MuLV cytoplasmic tail or a truncated MuLV cytoplasmic tail with the R peptide deleted. Extensive fusion of CD4-positive cells with the chimeric protein containing a truncated MuLV cytoplasmic tail was observed. In contrast, no cell fusion activity was found for the chimeric protein with a full-length MuLV cytoplasmic tail. We constructed another SIV-MuLV chimeric protein in which the MuLV R peptide was added to an SIV envelope protein cytoplasmic tail 17 amino acids from its membrane-spanning domain. No fusion activity was observed within this construct, while the corresponding truncated SIV envelope protein lacking the R peptide showed extensive fusion activity. No significant difference in the transport or surface expression was observed among the various SIV-MuLV chimeric proteins and the truncated SIV envelope protein. Our results thus demonstrate that the MuLV R peptide has profound inhibitory effects on virus-induced cell fusion, not only with MuLV but also in a distantly related retroviral envelope protein which utilizes a different receptor and fuses different cell types.
Modest Overweight and Healthy Dietary Habits Reduce Risk of Dementia: A Nationwide Survey in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND Evidence of the associations of dietary habits and body mass index with dementia is inconsistent and limited in East Asian countries. OBJECTIVE We aim to explore the associations of dietary habits and body mass index with the odds of dementia. DESIGN Cross-sectional observational study. SETTING A nationwide, population-based, door-to-door, in-person survey. PARTICIPANTS Selected by computerized random sampling from all 19 counties in Taiwan. MEASUREMENT Diagnosis of dementia using the criteria recommended by the National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association. Lifestyle factors, dietary habits and demographic data were compared between normal subjects and participants with dementia. RESULTS A total of 10432 residents were assessed, among whom 2049 were classified as having a mild cognitive impairment (MCI), 929 were diagnosed with dementia, and 7035 were without dementia or MCI. After adjustment for age, gender, education, body mass index (BMI), dietary habits, habitual exercises and co-morbidities, including hypertension, diabetes and cerebrovascular diseases, we found inverse associations of dementia with the consumption of fish (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41-0.94), vegetables (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.13-0.95), coffee (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.35-0.97), green tea (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.34-0.75) and other types of tea (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.28-0.60). There was no association between dementia and fruit consumption. Compared with people who had a normal BMI (18 < BMI <= 24), older overweight people (24 < BMI <=30) had a reduced risk of dementia with an adjusted OR of 0.77 (95% CI 0.61-0.96). CONCLUSIONS Our study provides preliminary evidence that suggests that the consumption of fish, vegetables, tea, and coffee has potential benefits against dementia in East Asian population. Being modestly overweight (nadir risk at BMI = 25) in late life was associated with decreased odds of dementia. The benefit of fruits may be offset by their high sugar content.
Do white matter changes contribute to the subsequent development of dementia in patients with mild cognitive impairment? A longitudinal study

Objective. White matter lesions on brain CT or MRI are a frequent finding in patients with Alzheimer's disease. However, little is known about the prognostic significance of these changes in cognitively impaired individuals who are at risk for subsequent development of dementia. This study aims at investigating the potential impact of white matter lucencies (WML) on brain CT on the course of mild cognitive impairment.
The Migration Accelerator: Labor Mobility, Housing, and Aggregate Demand

Because people choose to move to relatively prosperous regions, economists have traditionally believed that migration mitigates the effects of local shocks. In the first part of this paper, I document that the opposite holds in the data: within-U.S. migration causes a large reduction in the unemployment rate of the receiving city, over several years. To establish the causal effect of inmigration, I construct a plausibly exogenous shock by using the outmigration of other places and predicting its destination based on historical patterns. In the second part of the paper, I document that the increase in the demand for housing explains the boom, through two channels. The construction channel occurs because housing is a durable good: hence there is a surge in the number of new houses and construction jobs. The house price channel occurs because the migrants' housing demand drives up prices, leading to increased borrowing and higher labor demand in non-tradable sectors. Together, these channels account for the size of the labor demand boom. This boom implies that the endogenous response of migration amplifies local labor demand shocks, an effect I label the "migration accelerator. " In the final part of the paper, I estimate that migration amplifies these shocks by 20 percent.
Informed trade, uninformed trade and stock price delay

ABSTRACT The probability of informed trading (PIN), a measure of information-based trading risk, has been broadly applied to empirical studies on asset pricing. However, it is still controversial whether PIN measures exclusively the risk of firm-specific private information or it also captures the private interpretation of market wide public information. This article examines the relevance of PIN to the delayed response of stock prices to market-wide information. We find that PIN significantly explains individual stock price delay even controlling for size, liquidity and risk, and low-PIN stock prices adjust to market information more rapidly not only because of a notably high level of informed trading but also an even much higher level of uninformed trading. Our findings support the notion that PIN also captures the private skilled interpretation of public common factor information by sophisticated investors, and provide new empirical evidence on how information-based trading affects the speed at which stock prices adjust to information.