Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and trends in obesity among US adults, 1999-2008.

CONTEXT The prevalence of obesity increased in the United States between 1976-1980 and 1988-1994 and again between 1988-1994 and 1999-2000. OBJECTIVE To examine trends in obesity from 1999 through 2008 and the current prevalence of obesity and overweight for 2007-2008. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Analysis of height and weight measurements from 5555 adult men and women aged 20 years or older obtained in 2007-2008 as part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a nationally representative sample of the US population. Data from the NHANES obtained in 2007-2008 were compared with results obtained from 1999 through 2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Estimates of the prevalence of overweight and obesity in adults. Overweight was defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 25.0 to 29.9. Obesity was defined as a BMI of 30.0 or higher. RESULTS In 2007-2008, the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity was 33.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 31.6%-36.0%) overall, 32.2% (95% CI, 29.5%-35.0%) among men, and 35.5% (95% CI, 33.2%-37.7%) among women. The corresponding prevalence estimates for overweight and obesity combined (BMI > or = 25) were 68.0% (95% CI, 66.3%-69.8%), 72.3% (95% CI, 70.4%-74.1%), and 64.1% (95% CI, 61.3%-66.9%). Obesity prevalence varied by age group and by racial and ethnic group for both men and women. Over the 10-year period, obesity showed no significant trend among women (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] for 2007-2008 vs 1999-2000, 1.12 [95% CI, 0.89-1.32]). For men, there was a significant linear trend (AOR for 2007-2008 vs 1999-2000, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.12-1.58]); however, the 3 most recent data points did not differ significantly from each other. CONCLUSIONS In 2007-2008, the prevalence of obesity was 32.2% among adult men and 35.5% among adult women. The increases in the prevalence of obesity previously observed do not appear to be continuing at the same rate over the past 10 years, particularly for women and possibly for men.
A quality of context driven approach for the selection of context services

As wireless networks and mobile devices are becoming ubiquitous, mobile users are increasingly requiring access to application services that can adapt to their context as they move to new locations, for example, in their corporate or partners' networks. The quality-of-context information (QoC) used by these application services is a determinant factor in the adaptation process. As application services typically receive context data from several context services, the selection of suitable context services is of paramount importance in providing mobile users with tailored services. In this paper, we describe our proposed framework for context management and our proposed QoC-based algorithm for the selection of context services. The algorithm takes into account the QoC requirements of application services for each context information to which they subscribe with the Context Broker, on which the framework is relying for context management.
SATB1 Conditional Knockout Results in Sjögren’s Syndrome in Mice

Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) is an autoimmune disease in which exocrine tissues are affected by cellular and humoral immunity. As a result, the salivary and lacrimal glands of patients with SS are damaged, leading to xerostomia (dry mouth) and keratoconjunctivitis sicca (dry eyes). Because experimental approaches to investigate SS pathogenesis in human patients are limited, development of a mouse model is indispensable for understanding the disease. In this study, we show that special AT-rich sequence binding protein-1 conditional knockout (SATB1cKO) mice, in which the SATB1 gene is specifically deleted from hematopoietic cells, develop SS by 4 wk of age, soon after weaning. Female mice presented an earlier onset of the disease than males, suggesting that female SATB1cKO mice are more susceptible to SS. T cell–dominant immune cell infiltration was observed in the salivary glands of 4 wk old SATB1cKO mice, and the frequency of B cells gradually increased as the mice aged. Consistently, levels of anti-SSA and anti-SSB Abs were increased around 8 wk of age, after salivary production reached its lowest level in SATB1cKO mice. These results suggest that SATB1cKO mice can be a novel SS model, in which the progression and characteristics of the disease resemble those of human SS.
Patchwork Prototyping: A Rapid Prototyping Technique That Harnesses the Power of Open-Source Software

This chapter explores the concept of patchwork prototyping the combining of open source software applications to rapidly create a rudimentary but fully functional prototype that can be used and hence evaluated in real life situations. The use of a working prototype enables the capture of more realistic and informed requirements than traditional methods that rely on users trying to imagine how they might use the envisaged system in their work, and even more problematic, how that system in use may change how they work. Experiences with the use of the method in the development of two different collaborative applications are described. Patchwork prototyping is compared and contrasted with other prototyping methods including paper prototyping and the use of commercial off the shelf software.
The 9-Phenyl-9-fluorenyl Group for Nitrogen Protection in Enantiospecific Synthesis

One of the biggest challenges in asymmetric synthesis is to prevent racemization of enantiopure starting materials. However, at least some of the enantiopurity is lost in most of the existing reactions used in synthetic organic chemistry. This translates into unnecessary material losses. Naturally enantiopure proteinogenic amino acids that can be transformed into many useful intermediates in drug syntheses, for example, are especially vulnerable to this. The phenylfluoren-9-yl (Pf) group, a relatively rarely used protecting group, has proven to be able to prevent racemization in α-amino compounds. This review article showcases the use of Pf-protected amino acid derivatives in enantiospecific synthesis.
A Privacy-Preserving Location-Based System for Continuous Spatial Queries

-anonymization generated a cloaked region (CR) that was -anonymous; that is, the query issuer was indistinguishable from other users (nearest neighbors) within the CR. This reduced the probability of the query issuer’s location being exposed to untrusted parties ( ). However, location cloaking is vulnerable to query tracking attacks, wherein the adversary can infer the query issuer by comparing the two regions in continuous LBS queries. This paper proposes a novel location cloaking method to resist this attack. The target systems of the proposed method are road networks where the mobile clients’ trajectories are fixed (the road network is preknown and fixed, instead of the trajectories), such as subways, railways, and highways. The proposed method, called adaptive-fixed -anonymization ( ), takes this issue into account and generates smaller CRs without compromising the privacy of the query issuer’s location. Our results show that the proposed method outperforms previous location cloaking methods.
Distribution of cytochrome oxidase and parvalbumin in the primary visual cortex of the adult and neonate monkey, Callithrix jacchus

The anatomical distributions of the mitochondrial enzyme cytochrome oxidase (CO) and of the calcium binding protein parvalbumin (PV) were studied in the striate cortex of adult and neonate New World monkeys (Callithrix jacchus). In the adult marmoset, both proteins were found in laminar arrangements similar to those described for the macaque monkey, with prominent bands of PV‐like immunoreactive (PV‐LI) puncta in layers IV and IIIb, and fairly evenly distributed PV‐LI nonpyramidal neurons. Furthermore, the pattern of CO activity in area 17 of the neonate marmoset was almost identical to the CO pattern described in neonate macaque and squirrel monkeys. It came, therefore, as a surprise to find that the adult pattern of PV‐like immunoreactivity (PV‐LI) in the marmoset striate cortex arises from a neonatal pattern strikingly different from that seen in any developmental stage of the macaque, or in any other mammal studied so far. In the deep layers IV through VI of the neonate marmoset, a large number of PV‐LI neurons was stained in bandlike patterns, their number in layers IV and V exceeding the number of PV‐LI neurons present in these layers of the adult marmoset area 17. Staining of layers IV and VI was restricted to area 17 and involved nonpyramidal cells and their exceeding the number of PV‐LI neurons present in these layers of the adult marmoset area 17. Staining of layers IV and VI was restricted to area 17 and involved nonpyramidal cells and their processes. The stained band of layer V, in contrast, continued throughout most of the neocortex. In area 17, an estimated 10 to 20% of the stained cells in layer V exhibited pyramidal shapes. The findings show that the expression of PV by visual cortical cells occurs before birth and suggest that the comparatively early onset of PV expression is not dependent on the onset of textured vision. The exuberant number of stained cells in some layers, and particularly the staining of pyramidal cells, in the neonate marmoset, suggest that a considerable number of cells possesses the stainability for PV‐LI only transiently, i.e., in the marmoset, these cells have a specific demand for parvalbumin during this phase of their development. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fluorescence-Force Spectroscopy Maps Two-Dimensional Reaction Landscape of the Holliday Junction

Despite the recent advances in single-molecule manipulation techniques, purely mechanical approaches cannot detect subtle conformational changes in the biologically important regime of weak forces. We developed a hybrid scheme combining force and fluorescence that allowed us to examine the effect of subpiconewton forces on the nanometer scale motion of the Holliday junction (HJ) at 100-hertz bandwidth. The HJ is an exquisitely sensitive force sensor whose force response is amplified with an increase in its arm lengths, demonstrating a lever-arm effect at the nanometer-length scale. Mechanical interrogation of the HJ in three different directions helped elucidate the structures of the transient species populated during its conformational changes. This method of mapping two-dimensional reaction landscapes at low forces is readily applicable to other nucleic acid systems and their interactions with proteins and enzymes.
Growth Phase Regulation of the Main Folate Transporter of Leishmania infantum and Its Role in Methotrexate Resistance*

The protozoan parasite Leishmania relies on the uptake of folate and pterin from the environment to meet its nutritional requirements. We show here that a novel gene (folate transporter 1 (FT1)) deleted in a Leishmania infantum methotrexate-resistant mutant corresponds to the main folate transporter (Km, 410 nm). FT1 was established as the main folate transporter by both gene transfection and by targeted gene deletion. Modulation of the expression of FT1 by these manipulations altered the susceptibility of Leishmania cells to methotrexate. Folate transport was stage-regulated with higher activity in the logarithmic phase and less in the stationary phase. FT1 fused to green fluorescent protein led to the observation that FT1 was located in the plasma membrane in the logarithmic phase but was retargeted to an intracellular organelle followed by a degradation of the protein in stationary phase. Leishmania has several folate transporters with different characteristics, and the growth stage-related activity of at least one transporter is regulated post-translationally.
A Preliminary Molecular and Phylogenetic Analysis of the Genome of a Novel Endogenous Retrovirus in the Sea Slug Elysia chlorotica

An endogenous retrovirus that is present in the sea slug Elysia chlorotica is expressed in all individuals at the end of the annual life cycle. But the precise role of the virus, if any, in slug senescence or death is unknown. We have determined the genomic sequence of the virus and performed a phylogenetic analysis of the data. The 6060-base pair genome of the virus possesses a reverse transcriptase-domain-containing protein that shows similarity to retrotransposon sequences found in Aplysia californica and Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. However, nucleotide BLAST analysis of the whole genome resulted in hits to only a few portions of the genome, indicating that the Elysia chlorotica retrovirus is novel, has not been previously sequenced, and does not have great genetic similarity to other known viral species. When more invertebrate retroviral genomes are examined, a more precise phylogenetic placement of the Elysia chlorotica retrovirus can be determined.
Use of a Venous Flap From an Amputated Part for Salvage of an Upper Extremity Injury

The authors describe a patient in whom a large arterialized venous flap was harvested from a nonreplantable part after partial hand amputation. A 9 × 6-cm segment of dorsal hand skin was transplanted acutely in an artery–vein–vein fashion to cover exposed bone, joints, and reconstructed tendons. The flap provided durable coverage, and at 1 year the patient regained 94% total active motion at the index finger and 99% total active motion at the long finger. Salvage of component parts such as a venous flap and extensor tendons avoided additional procedures for coverage and staged tendon reconstructions.
Perceived parental rearing in subjects with obsessive–compulsive disorder and their siblings

Lennertz L, Grabe HJ, Ruhrmann S, Rampacher F, Vogeley A, Schulze‐Rauschenbach S, Ettelt S, Meyer K, Kraft S, Reck C, Pukrop R, John U, Freyberger HJ, Klosterkötter J, Maier W, Falkai P, Wagner M. Perceived parental rearing in subjects with obsessive–compulsive disorder and their siblings.
Voltage‐activated calcium and potassium currents in human pancreatic beta‐cells.

1. The whole‐cell configuration of the patch clamp technique was used to study inward and delayed outward currents in beta‐cells isolated from human pancreatic islets. 2. The delayed outward current activated at about ‐20 mV and increased linearly with further depolarization. The instantaneous current‐voltage (I‐V) relation, measured by tail current analysis, reversed at ‐70 mV. This is close to the K+ equilibrium potential and suggests the outward current is carried primarily by potassium ions. In support of this idea, outward currents were abolished when internal K+ was replaced by the impermeant cation N‐methyl‐D‐glucamine (NMG). 3. The voltage dependence of K+ current activation could be fitted by a sigmoidal function with a mid‐point at +1 mV. K+ currents showed voltage‐dependent inactivation which was half‐maximal at ‐25 mV. 4. Inward currents were studied after outward currents were suppressed by replacing internal potassium with NMG. In 5 mM [Ca2+]o, the inward current activated between ‐50 and ‐40 mV, had a peak amplitude at ‐10 mV and reversed at potentials positive to +60 mV. The voltage dependence of inward current activation was sigmoidal with half‐maximal activation at ‐10 mV in 5 mM [Ca2+]o and at ‐22 mV in 5 mM [Ba2+]o. 5. Inward currents were unaffected by tetrodotoxin (TTX), but could be blocked by cadmium ions. Barium was also capable of carrying inward current. This pharmacology is consistent with inward currents flowing through Ca2+ channels. 6. The inactivation of the inward current was dependent on calcium entry. In two‐pulse experiments, the voltage dependence of inactivation was U‐shaped, and resembled that of the calcium current. Barium currents showed little inactivation. 7. In two‐pulse experiments the degree of inward current inactivation during the test pulse was related to the amount of calcium entry during the first pulse. Calcium entering at more positive potentials was less effective at producing inactivation. 8. Calcium and barium currents also showed a slow, voltage‐dependent inactivation when the holding potential was changed between ‐100 and ‐40 mV. This inactivation developed with a time course of seconds. 9. The Ca2+ and K+ currents described here are similar to those reported for rodent beta‐cells and indicate the rodent beta‐cell provides a good model for that of man.
The molecular topography of silenced chromatin in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Heterochromatin imparts regional, promoter-independent repression of genes and is epigenetically heritable. However, how silencing achieves regional repression is not well understood. Here, Thurtle and Rine probe the chromatin architecture at the silent mating type loci and telomeres at high resolution in budding yeast. The authors find evidence of a higher-order structure for silenced chromatin that is likely imposed by Sir proteins. This study illustrates the importance of the topology of heterochromatic regions to regional repression.
An Empirical Investigation of Eastern European Bond Markets

ABSTRACT We examine the value of Eastern European emerging bond markets to global fixed income managers. In an environment where bonds from traditional developed markets are offering modest yields, emerging market bonds with attractive yields are becoming more popular with institutional managers. Furthermore, the returns on these bonds exhibit low correlations with traditional fixed income investments and thus offer opportunities for portfolio diversification. We develop a multifactor forecasting model and estimate its parameters using a dynamic Kalman filter procedure. The forecasts are then used to construct optimal mean–variance portfolios with and without emerging market bonds. We find that the portfolios that include emerging market bonds have significantly higher Sharpe ratios.
Strategic Alliances of Entrepreneurial Firms: Value Enhancing Then Value Destroying

Research summary Based on the RBV and dynamic capabilities, this study explains the relationship between alliance formation and the private (pre-IPO) entrepreneurial firm's market performance. Findings show that while alliance formation positively and significantly affects the market performance of venture-backed firms in the software industry, forming a comparatively large number of alliances hurts these firms' market valuations. Managerial summary Entrepreneurial firms are better off entering a select number of strategic alliances and focusing on enhancing the outcomes of those select alliances as well as developing a dynamic alliance management capability. Such firms benefit most from establishing a moderate number of alliances rather than depending on a small number of alliances or becoming overwhelmed with a great number of alliances. Copyright © 2016 Strategic Management Society.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Vpr-Binding Protein VprBP, a WD40 Protein Associated with the DDB1-CUL4 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase, Is Essential for DNA Replication and Embryonic Development

ABSTRACT Damaged DNA binding protein 1, DDB1, bridges an estimated 90 or more WD40 repeats (DDB1-binding WD40, or DWD proteins) to the CUL4-ROC1 catalytic core to constitute a potentially large number of E3 ligase complexes. Among these DWD proteins is the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Vpr-binding protein VprBP, whose cellular function has yet to be characterized but has recently been found to mediate Vpr-induced G2 cell cycle arrest. We demonstrate here that VprBP binds stoichiometrically with DDB1 through its WD40 domain and through DDB1 to CUL4A, subunits of the COP9/signalsome, and DDA1. The steady-state level of VprBP remains constant during interphase and decreases during mitosis. VprBP binds to chromatin in a DDB1-independent and cell cycle-dependent manner, increasing from early S through G2 before decreasing to undetectable levels in mitotic and G1 cells. Silencing VprBP reduced the rate of DNA replication, blocked cells from progressing through the S phase, and inhibited proliferation. VprBP ablation in mice results in early embryonic lethality. Conditional deletion of the VprBP gene in mouse embryonic fibroblasts results in severely defective progression through S phase and subsequent apoptosis. Our studies identify a previously unknown function of VprBP in S-phase progression and suggest the possibility that HIV-1 Vpr may divert an ongoing chromosomal replication activity to facilitate viral replication.
Chronobiology of human blood pressure in the light of static (room-restricted) automatic monitoring.

Systematic 24-h automatic physiologic monitoring has obvious merits, even without rhythmometry. It can lead more readily to the recognition of odd-hour blood pressure elevation (e.g., of 'evening' or 'morning' hypertension). Such a condition can constitute an initial diagnosis or it may be found under treatment that may seem to be satisfactory if its effects are assessed only on the basis of a conventional check at a casual, possibly 'wrong' time. The mere inspection of a 24-h record, however, does not necessarily allow one to make objective quantitative global statements as to a change in pattern, e.g., after a given intervention. This paper illustrates how by rhythmometry, some of the uncertainties of a subjective interpretation of a record may be removed by practitioners of medicine, as well as basic scientists interested in mechanisms of blood pressure variability. This is possible since a large part of blood pressure variability can be accounted for by its circadian periodic behavior. We herein present a methodology for data collection and analysis that allows the objective quantification of blood pressure rhythm parameters in health and disease and the derivation of reference standards for such parameters. The chronobiologic approach thus makes it possible to define 'hypertension' objectively, and to distinguish between 'mesor-' and 'amplitude-hypertension', i.e., between an elevation in overall mean and one in the predictable extent of variability. Moreover, chronobiology has shown that mesor-hypertension may be preceded by an elevation in circadian amplitude only (amplitude-hypertension). Parameter tests readily allow the assessment, in relation to an objective reference standard, of these conditions, with a defined probability. Similarly, response to drug or non-drug therapy can be established and a given intervention optimized by timing treatment. Using chronobiologic tools in cardiovascular research provides new insights into possible mechanisms underlying mesor- and amplitude-hypertension. The teaching of the chronobiology of blood pressure and autorhythmometry in schools has been proven to be feasible and has been recommended as a step toward self-help for health care.
Inhibition of Mcm4,6,7 Helicase Activity by Phosphorylation with Cyclin A/Cdk2*

A strong body of evidence indicates that cyclin-dependent protein kinases are required not only for the initiation of DNA replication but also for preventing over-replication in eukaryotic cells. Mcm proteins are one of the components of the replication licensing system that permits only a single round of DNA replication per cell cycle. It has been reported that Mcm proteins are phosphorylated by the cyclin-dependent kinases in vivo, suggesting that these two factors are cooperatively involved in the regulation of DNA replication. Our group has reported that a 600-kDa Mcm4,6,7 complex has a DNA helicase activity that is probably necessary for the initiation of DNA replication. Here, we examined the in vitro phosphorylation of the Mcm complexes with cyclin A/Cdk2 to understand the interplay between Mcm proteins and cyclin-dependent kinases. The cyclin A/Cdk2 mainly phosphorylated the amino-terminal region of Mcm4 in the Mcm4,6,7 complex. The phosphorylation was associated with the inactivation of its DNA helicase activity. These results raise the possibility that the inactivation of Mcm4,6,7 helicase activity by Cdk2 is a part of the system for regulating DNA replication.