Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Novel asthma therapeutics: insights from whole-genome studies

Asthma is characterized by recurrent and reversible airflow obstruction as well as bronchial hyper-responsiveness. Airway inflammation is central to asthma pathogenesis. Bronchodilators are advocated as rescue treatments for acute asthma symptoms, whereas anti-inflammatory drugs such as Inhaled Corticosteroids (ICS) are common controller therapies for chronic asthma. Leukotriene modifiers are widely prescribed alternatives to ICS. During the past several years, a number of pharmacogenomic studies adopting whole-genome arrays have identified novel gene targets that contribute to the heterogeneity in responses to these anti-asthma drugs. These gene chips contain dense probes that capture either genotypes of single-nucleotide polymorphisms or the expression of genes across the entire human genome. Through these approaches, CLCA1, periostin, serpinB2, FKBP51, NFKB, GLCCI1 and T gene were reported to modulate ICS response in asthma patients whereas ARG1, CRHR2, SPATS2L and COL22A1were novel genes for bronchodilator responses. Some of these therapeutic targets were replicated in independent populations and/or supported by downstream in vitro and in vivo experiments on their functionality. Adequate bioinformatics support was essential in pharmacogenomics research in view of the enormous amount of whole-genome data involved. These whole-genome findings will ultimately facilitate personalized asthma pharmacotherapy that allows us to choose among treatment options that will likely be effective to any particular patient. However, more resources and collaborative efforts are required to advance the pharmacogenomics research.
The Colorado Trust’s Healthy Communities Initiative: Results and Lessons for Comprehensive Community Initiatives

24 THE FoundationReview Over the past 20 years, a small but influential cohort of foundations (e.g., Annie E. Casey, Ford, Kellogg) has experimented with comprehensive community initiatives (CCIs) as a means of generating sustainable, community-wide improvements in health and quality of life (Kubisch et al., 2002). Rather than funding individual organizations to achieve a particular set of programmatic outcomes, CCIs seek to transform “communities” (neighborhoods, towns, cities, or larger regions) through a locally driven approach to system reform or community development. According to Brown and Garg (1997), these initiatives are characterized by (a) the devolution of authority
Differential development of retroactive and proactive interference during post-learning wakefulness

Newly encoded, labile memories are prone to disruption during post-learning wakefulness. Here we examine the contributions of retroactive and proactive interference to daytime forgetting on an auditory classification task in a songbird. While both types of interference impair performance, they do not develop concurrently. The retroactive interference of task-B on task-A developed during the learning of task-B, whereas the proactive interference of task-A on task-B emerged during subsequent waking retention. These different time courses indicate an asymmetry in the emergence of retroactive and proactive interference and suggest a mechanistic framework for how different types of interference between new memories develop.
Large eddy simulation and measurements of turbulent enclosed rotor-stator flows

Turbulent flows are studied in an actual enclosed rotor-stator configuration with a rotating hub and a stationary shroud. Besides its fundamental importance—the disk boundary layer is one of the simplest platforms for investigating the underlying structure of three-dimensional boundary layers—this cavity models more complex configurations relevant to rotating machinery. Large eddy simulation is performed using a spectral vanishing viscosity technique that is shown leading to stable discretizations without sacrificing the formal accuracy of the spectral approximation. Numerical results and velocity measurements have been favorably compared for a large range of rotational Reynolds numbers (105⩽Re=Ωb2∕ν⩽106) in an annular cavity of curvature parameter Rm=(b+a)∕(b−a)=1.8 and of aspect ratio G=(b−a)∕h=5, where a and b are, respectively, the inner and outer radii of the rotating disk and h is the interdisk spacing. In the detailed picture of the flow structure that emerges, the turbulence is confined mainly in .
Social networking site use: Linked to adolescents' social self‐concept, self‐esteem, and depressed mood

Abstract Adolescents spend a substantial amount of time using social networking sites (SNSs); however, little is known regarding whether such use is associated with indicators of adjustment. The present study employed a multidimensional measure of SNS use to investigate the link between Australian adolescent SNS use and indicators of adjustment. Youth (N = 1,819, 55% female) from 34 diverse high schools across Western Australia were surveyed. The results showed that frequency of SNS use was linked to higher social self‐concept while investment in SNSs was associated with lower self‐esteem and higher depressed mood. Furthermore, having an SNS was linked to more negative indicators for female adolescents compared with male adolescents, although the link between frequency of use and investment in SNSs to indicators of adjustment was not moderated by gender. The present study highlights the complexity of the relationship between adolescent SNS use and indicators of adjustment, and offers insight into the diverse types of adolescent use of SNSs.
Antibacterial and antioxidative compounds from Cassia alata Linn.

Phytochemical investigation of Cassia alata Linn. led to the isolation of six known anthraquinones: aloe-emodin (1), emodin (2), -hydroxyemodin (3), lunatin (4), physcion (5), and ziganein (6), six flavonoids: apigenin (7), 7,4-dihydroxy-5methoxyflavone (8), diosmetin (9), kaempferol (10), luteolin (11), and trans-dihydrokaempferol (12) as well as one stilbene, trans-resveratrol (13). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, NMR and MS. Nine compounds (3-9 and 12-13) were reported for the first time as metabolites of C. alata. Compound 2 exhibited strong antibacterial activity against methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA)-SK1 and B. cereus TISTR 687 with MIC values of 4 and 8 µg/mL, respectively. Compound 10 was found to exhibit antioxidative activity with IC 50 value of 9.67 µM that was three times stronger than that of ascorbic acid (IC 50 25.41 µM).
Combined micro‐Raman, micro‐infrared, and field emission scanning electron microscope analyses of comet 81P/Wild 2 particles collected by Stardust

Abstract— We report combined micro‐infrared, micro‐Raman, and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) analyses of particles collected by the Stardust spacecraft during its flyby of comet 81P/Wild 2 on 2 January 2004 and successfully returned back to Earth on 15 January 2006. We present mid‐infrared (IR) spectra of six of these particles. The CH2/CH3 ratios inferred from the infrared data are greater than those seen in organics in the diffuse interstellar medium, possibly indicating the presence of longer or less branched aliphatic chains. The micro‐Raman data offer insights into the state of the order of the carbonaceous component present in the particles. Raman parameters for most of the particles span a similar range to that observed in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and the most primitive meteorites. Both the IR and Raman data imply the presence of a very labile carbonaceous component. Hydrated silicates may be present in two particles of Track 35, one of which may also contain carbonates, but further investigations with other techniques need to be performed to confirm these findings. In some cases, the analyses are difficult to interpret because of the presence of compressed aerogel mixed with the grains.
Who is Hit Hardest During a Financial Crisis? The Vulnerability of Young Men and Women to Unemployment in an Economic Downturn

The current financial and economic crisis has resulted in the worst global recession since World War II. The subsequent destruction of jobs and increased duration of joblessness will ensure that unemployment across the world will continue to rise and stay stubbornly high for some time to come, well after the economy has begun to recover. Beyond this generalization, such downturns have more adverse implications for vulnerable segments of the population such as youth. As presented in this paper, data for both the current and previous financial crises reveals that young people are indeed hit hardest as reflected by rising unemployment rates, which persist long after the economy is growing again. In the wake of the present downturn, young men have been particularly affected, which has been driven by a range of factors including the high proportion of young men in heavily impacted sectors such as construction. In response to this situation, policymakers should utilize targeted crisis interventions that aim to keep youth employed where possible, while also assisting new entrants and those who have lost jobs find employment (or at a minimum stay attached to the labour force), particularly as the economy recovers.
Influence of Zinc Nutrition on Growth and Yield Behaviour of Maize (Zea mays L.) Hybrids

A field experiment was conducted during spring 2011 at Agronomic Research Area, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan to evaluate the comparative efficacy of Zn uptake and grain yield in three maize hybrids namely Pioneer-32F 10, Monsanto-6525 and Hycorn-8288 through the application of Zn in the form of ZnSO4. The ZnSO4 treatments comprised; soil application at the time of sowing @ 12 kg&middotha-1 (Zn1), foliar application at vegetative stage (9 leaf stage) @ 1% ZnSO4 solution (Zn2) and foliar application at reproductive stage (anthesis) @ 1% ZnSO4 solution (Zn3) and one treatment was kept as a control, where zinc was not applied (Zn0). The experimental results showed substantial difference in all physiological and yield parameters except plant height and stem diameter. Statistically maximum grain yield (8.76 t&middotha-1) was obtained with foliar spray of ZnSO4 at 9 leaf stage (Zn2) in case of Monsanto-6525. As regard to quality parameters, Pioneer-32F 10 and Hycorn-8288 accumulated more zinc contents in grains but Monsanto-6525 attained more zinc concentration in straw. Foliar spray of ZnSO4 at 9 leaf stage produced 19.42% more zinc contents in grains as compared to other ZnSO4 treatments. Foliar spray of ZnSO4 at 9 leaf stage in Monsanto-6525 hybrid produced higher grain yield.
Part 2 Language lateralization in schizophrenia CHAPTER 9 Language lateralization in men with schizophrenia

Anatomical studies have shown that cerebral asymmetry is reduced in schizophrenia. Functional asymmetry appears to be reduced also, as was shown with dichotic listening studies. These studies, however, have not revealed whether reduced lateralization is the result of decreased language activity of the left hemisphere or whether it is the consequence of increased language-related activity in the right hemisphere. To elucidate this, we examined hemispheric dominance for language processing by means of functional MRI. Twelve schizophrenic patients and twelve healthy controls were scanned while they were engaged in a verb-generation and a semantic decision task. Activation was measured bilaterally in the frontal, temporal and temporo-parietal language areas, and a laterality index was derived from activity in these regions of interest in the left and the right hemisphere. Clinical symptoms were rated at time of scanning. The results indicate that language processing is less lateralized in patients than in controls (a mean laterality index of 0.35 versus 0.63 respectively. Analysis of variance of the extent of activity, i.e. numbers of active voxels, revealed a significant hemisphere by group interaction, which was probably due to increased activation in the right hemisphere of the patients. We found no evidence of reduced activity in the left hemisphere. Further analysis of clinical symptoms rated prior to scanning revealed that decreased language lateralization was associated with more severe hallucinations. We postulate that decreased language lateralization in schizophrenia may result from failure to inhibit the right hemisphere.
Robust Unit-Level Small Area Estimation: A Fast Algorithm for Large Datasets

Small area estimation is a topic of increasing importance in official statistics. Although the classical EBLUP method is useful for estimating the small area means efficiently under the normality assumptions, it can be highly influenced by the presence of outliers. Therefore, Sinha and Rao (2009; The Canadian Journal of Statistics) proposed robust estimators/predictors for a large class of unit- and area-level models. We confine attention to the basic unit-level model and discuss a related, but slightly different, robustification. In particular, we develop a fast algorithm that avoids inversion and multiplication of large matrices, and thus permits the user to apply the method to large datasets. In addition, we derive much simpler expressions of the boundedinfluence predicting equations to robustly predict the small-area means than Sinha and Rao (2009) did.
The Effect of Specific Language Features on the Complexity of Systems for Automated Essay Scoring.

This paper focuses on the relationship between different aspects of the linguistic structure of a given language and the complexity of the computer program, whether existing or prospective, that is to be used for the scoring of essays in that language. The first part of the paper discusses common scales used to assess writing products, then briefly describes various methods of Automated Essay Scoring (AES) and reviews several AES programs currently in use. It also presents empirical results attesting to the reliability and validity of these programs, principally with regard to essays written in English. The second part of the paper presents various linguistic features that may vary extensively across languages and examines the ramifications of these features on the complexity of the AES operational system. This analysis is presented chiefly with regard to Hebrew and English, which are used to illustrate the differences that may exist between languages. (Contains 5 tables and 30 references.) (SLD) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. (-9) fl) C1 00 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) is document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
Risk of Herpes Zoster in Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis Treated With Anti-TNF- Agents

Context The risk of bacterial infection is increased in patients treated with drugs that inhibit tumor necrosis factor (TNF-). Little is known about the reactivation of latent viral infections during treatment with TNF- inhibitors. Objective To investigate whether TNF- inhibitors together as a class, or separately as either monoclonal anti–TNF- antibodies (adalimumab, infliximab) or a fusion protein (etanercept), are related to higher rates of herpes zoster in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Design, Setting, and Patients Patients were enrolled in the German biologics register RABBIT, a prospective cohort, between May 2001 and December 2006 at the initiationoftreatmentwithinfliximab,etanercept,adalimumab,oranakinra,orwhentheychanged conventionaldisease-modifyingantirheumaticdrug(DMARD). Treatment,clinicalstatus, and adverse events were assessed by rheumatologists at fixed points during follow-up. Main Outcome Measures Hazard ratio (HR) of herpes zoster episodes following anti–TNF- treatment. Study aims were to detect a clinically significant difference (HR, 2.0) between TNF- inhibitors as a class compared with DMARDs and to detect an HR of at least 2.5 for each of 2 types of TNF- inhibitors, the monoclonal antibodies or the fusion protein, compared with conventional DMARDs. Results Among 5040 patients receiving TNF- inhibitors or conventional DMARDs, 86 episodes of herpes zoster occurred in 82 patients. Thirty-nine occurrences could be attributed to treatment with anti–TNF- antibodies, 23 to etanercept, and 24 to conventional DMARDs. The crude incidence rate per 1000 patient-years was 11.1 (95% confidence interval [CI], 7.9-15.1) for the monoclonal antibodies, 8.9 (95% CI, 5.613.3) for etanercept, and 5.6 (95% CI, 3.6-8.3) for conventional DMARDs. Adjusted for age, rheumatoid arthritis severity, and glucocorticoid use, a significantly increased risk was observed for treatment with the monoclonal antibodies (HR, 1.82 [95% CI, 1.05-3.15]), although this risk was lower than the threshold for clinical significance. No significant associations were found for etanercept use (HR, 1.36 [95% CI, 0.732.55]) or for anti–TNF- treatment (HR, 1.63 [95% CI, 0.97-2.74]) as a class. Conclusion Treatment with monoclonal anti–TNF- antibodies may be associated with increased risk of herpes zoster, but this requires further study.
Non-invasive monitoring of endocrine status in laboratory primates: methods, guidelines and applications

Abstract. During the past three decades, non-invasive methods for assessing physiological, in particular endocrine, status have revolutionized almost all areas of primatology, including behavioural ecology, reproductive biology, stress research, conservation and last but not least management of primates in captivity where the technology plays an integral role in assisting the husbandry, breeding and welfare of many species. Non-invasive endocrine methods make use of the fact that hormones circulating in blood are secreted into saliva or deposited in hair and are eliminated from the body via urinary and faecal excretion. The choice of which matrix to use for hormonal assessment depends on a range of factors, including the type of information required, the measurement techniques involved, species differences in hormone metabolism and route of excretion and the practicality of sample collection. However, although sample collection is usually relatively easy, analysing hormones from these non-invasively collected samples is not as easy as many people think, particularly not when dealing with a new species. In this respect, the importance of a careful validation of each technique is essential in order to generate meaningful and accurate results. This paper aims to provide an overview of the available non-invasive endocrine-based methodologies, their relative merits and their potential areas of application for assessing endocrine status in primates, with special reference to captive environments. In addition, general information is given about the most important aspects and caveats researchers have to be aware of when using these methodologies.
Changes in the phytoplankton‐bacteria coupling triggered by joint action of UVR, nutrients, and warming in Mediterranean high‐mountain lakes

From an extensive study, we determined that heterotrophic bacterial production (HBP) variance in Sierra Nevada (Spain) lakes was explained mainly by excretion of organic carbon by algae (EOC), underlining a bacterial dependence on algal carbon. Subsequently, we studied how the interaction among global change factors such as ultraviolet radiation (UVR), nutrient inputs, and increased temperature affected this phytoplankton‐bacteria coupling through in situ factorial experiments in two model high‐mountain lakes, La Caldera, and Las Yeguas. Bacterioplankton were more sensitive than phytoplankton because the joint action of increased temperature and nutrient‐addition unmasked an inhibitory UVR effect on HBP while reducing the inhibitory UVR effect on primary production (PP) (in La Caldera) or augmenting the net PP values (in Las Yeguas). The interaction among the three factors had a different effect on phytoplankton‐bacteria coupling depending on the lake. Thus, in the colder lake (La Caldera), EOC was not adequate to meet the bacterial carbon demand (BCD), leading to a mismatch in phytoplankton‐bacteria coupling. Contrarily, in the warmer lake (Las Yeguas), the phytoplankton‐bacteria coupling was accentuated by the interaction among the three factors, with EOC exceeding BCD. These contrasting responses of phytoplankton‐bacteria coupling may affect the microbial loop development, becoming reinforced in warmer and less UVR‐transparent high‐mountain lakes, but weakened in colder and more UVR‐transparent high‐mountain lakes, with implications in the C‐flux of these sentinel ecosystems in a scenario of global change.
Pareto Optimality and Indeterminancy of General Equilibrium under Knightian Uncertainty

This paper studies general equilibrium theory, for both complete and incomplete markets, under Knightian uncertainty. Noting that the preference represented by Knightian uncertainty induces a set of complete preferences, we set ourselves the task of inquiring the relationship between an equilibrium under Knightian uncertainty and its counterpart under the induced complete preferences. It is shown that they are actually equivalent. The importance of this result is due to its applications, among which the existence of equilibria under Knightian uncertainty and their computation follow at once from the existing knowledge on general equilibrium theory under complete preferences. Moreover, by means of that equivalence, we are in a position to investigate the problem of efficiency and indeterminacy of equilibria under Knightian uncertainty.
Classification of some Linseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) Genotypes for Salinity Tolerance using Germination, Seedling Growth, and Ion Content

La salinidad reduce germinacion, retrasa emergencia, e inhibe el crecimiento de plantulas de lino (Linum usitatissimum L.) mientras algunas variedades son menos afectadas por la salinidad que otras. El objetivo de este estudio fue determinar los efectos de niveles de NaCl (0, 5, 10, 20 and 30 dS m-1) en germinacion y crecimiento de plantulas de 10 genotipos de lino (lineas 87, 89, 104, 114, 193, 194, 209, 215, C-90 y cv. Sari-85) y clasificar los genotipos por tolerancia a salinidad usando caracteristicas de germinacion y de plantulas. Se evaluaron porcentaje de germinacion, tiempo medio de germinacion, longitud de raices y brotes, peso fresco y seco de plantulas, contenido de Na+ y relacion Na:K de las plantulas. La clasificacion de los genotipos de lino por tolerancia a salinidad se hizo de acuerdo a (i) combinacion de Analisis de Cluster y Componentes Principales, (ii) contenido de Na+, y (iii) relacion Na:K de plantulas. Los resultados muestran que los valores mayores se obtuvieron en las lineas 193, 194, y 215 excepto para tiempo medio de germinacion, mientras el porcentaje de germinacion no fue adversamente influenciado por NaCl hasta 20 dS m-1. El crecimiento de plantulas fue inhibido a 20 dS m-1 aunque los genotipos exhibieron variadas respuestas. El contenido de Na+ fue elevado por NaCl, pero plantulas de las lineas 194, 193, y 215 tuvieron los menores contenidos de Na+ en todos los niveles de NaCl. El analisis de cluster realizado por parametros multiples revelo tres grupos para tolerancia a salinidad. Se concluyo que las lineas 193, 194, y 215 eran tolerantes, las lineas 87, 209, C-90, y cv. Sari-85 fueron moderadamente tolerantes, y las lineas 89, 104, y 114 fueron genotipos sensibles a sal. La clasificacion de genotipos por contenido de Na+ y relacion Na:K mostro resultados similares para genotipos tolerantes mientras se detectaron genotipos diferentes para el grupo sensible.