Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating equations for measures of association between repeated binary responses.

Moment-based methods for analyzing repeated binary responses using the marginal odds ratio as a measure of association have been proposed by a number of authors. Carey, Zeger, and Diggle (1993, Biometrika 80, 517-526) have recently described how the marginal odds ratio can be estimated using generalized estimating equations (GEE) based on conditional residuals (deviations about conditional expectations). In this paper, we show that other measures of association between pairs of binary responses, e.g., the correlation, can also be estimated using conditional residuals. We demonstrate that the estimator of the correlation based on conditional residuals is nearly efficient when compared with maximum likelihood or second order estimating equations (GEE2) except when the correlation is large. This estimator also yields more efficient estimates of the correlation than the usual GEE estimator that is based on unconditional residuals. Furthermore, the gains in efficiency can be quite considerable when some of the responses are missing or incomplete, or, alternatively, when cluster sizes are unequal (in the clustered data setting).
Risk factors and outcomes associated with first-trimester fetal growth restriction.

CONTEXT Adverse environmental exposures lead to developmental adaptations in fetal life. The influences of maternal physical characteristics and lifestyle habits on first-trimester fetal adaptations and the postnatal consequences are not known. OBJECTIVE To determine the risk factors and outcomes associated with first-trimester growth restriction. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Prospective evaluation of the associations of maternal physical characteristics and lifestyle habits with first-trimester fetal crown to rump length in 1631 mothers with a known and reliable first day of their last menstrual period and a regular menstrual cycle. Subsequently, we assessed the associations of first-trimester fetal growth restriction with the risks of adverse birth outcomes and postnatal growth acceleration until the age of 2 years. The study was based in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Mothers were enrolled between 2001 and 2005. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES First-trimester fetal growth was measured as fetal crown to rump length by ultrasound between the gestational age of 10 weeks 0 days and 13 weeks 6 days. Main birth outcomes were preterm birth (gestational age <37 weeks), low birth weight (<2500 g), and small size for gestational age (lowest fifth birth centile). Postnatal growth was measured until the age of 2 years. RESULTS In the multivariate analysis, maternal age was positively associated with first-trimester fetal crown to rump length (difference per maternal year of age, 0.79 mm; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.41 to 1.18 per standard deviation score increase). Higher diastolic blood pressure and higher hematocrit levels were associated with a shorter crown to rump length (differences, -0.40 mm; 95% CI, -0.74 to -0.06 and -0.52 mm; 95% CI, -0.90 to -0.14 per standard deviation increase, respectively). Compared with mothers who were nonsmokers and optimal users of folic acid supplements, those who both smoked and did not use folic acid supplements had shorter fetal crown to rump lengths (difference, -3.84 mm; 95% CI, -5.71 to -1.98). Compared with normal first-trimester fetal growth, first-trimester growth restriction was associated with increased risks of preterm birth (4.0% vs 7.2%; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.12; 95% CI, 1.24 to 3.61), low birth weight (3.5% vs 7.5%; adjusted OR, 2.42; 95% CI, 1.41 to 4.16), and small size for gestational age at birth (4.0% vs 10.6%; adjusted OR, 2.64; 95% CI, 1.64 to 4.25). Each standard deviation decrease in first-trimester fetal crown to rump length was associated with a postnatal growth acceleration until the age of 2 years (standard deviation score increase, 0.139 per 2 years; 95% CI, 0.097 to 0.181). CONCLUSIONS Maternal physical characteristics and lifestyle habits were independently associated with early fetal growth. First-trimester fetal growth restriction was associated with an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes and growth acceleration in early childhood.
Gilles de la Tourette syndrome and deep brain stimulation

Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome (GTS) is characterized by multiple motor and one or more vocal/phonic tics. Psychopathology and co‐morbidity occur in approximately 80–90% of clinical cohorts. The most common psychopathologies are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive‐compulsive behaviours, obsessive‐compulsive disorder, depression, anxiety and certain behavioural disorders. In severe GTS patients who are refractory to medication and other therapies, deep brain stimulation (DBS) is investigated. To date there have been some 50–55 patients who have received DBS in 19 centres worldwide. Nine different brain targets in the thalamus, the pallidum, and the ventral caudate and anterior internal capsule have been stimulated. This paper reviews critically and in detail all studies published to date. Only two studies on just a few patients fulfil some of the evidence‐based criteria. DBS for GTS is therefore still highly experimental.
Adaptação da escala de autoconceito artístico para estudantes do ensino secundário

Resumo O presente estudo reflecte os resultados obtidos na adaptacao da escala de autoconceito artistico para adolescentes de Vispoel (1993). Partimos de uma abordagem que define o autoconceito como um constructo multidimensional, sendo um reflexo das varias facetas da vida dos sujeitos, que tanto os identifica como os diferencia. Assim, torna-se pertinente o desenvolvimento de instrumentos de medida para dimensoes especificas do autoconceito, nomeadamente no que respeita a componente artistica, traduzindo a existencia de uma percepcao artistica integrada na estrutura do autoconceito. Deste modo, o objectivo do presente estudo foi adaptar a escala de autoconceito artistico de Vispoel (1993) para aplicacao com adolescentes portugueses. Responderam a escala de autoconceito artistico 226 sujeitos do 10o e 11o anos, representando um universo escolar diversificado que contemplou estudantes de musica, danca, artes visuais e do ensino regular. A escala de autoconceito artistico de Vispoel e constituida por 40 itens agrupados em 4 dimensoes: Musica, Artes Visuais, Danca e Representacao. Os dados foram analisados do ponto de vista da validade interna, com o recurso a analises factoriais exploratorias e confirmatorias, e da fidedignidade, atraves da analise da consistencia interna. A analise factorial exploratoria revelou resultados satisfatorios tendo-se agrupado claramente os itens nas 4 dimensoes sugeridas: musica, danca, artes visuais e representacao. A totalidade dos factores explica 62,92% da variância total. Os resultados da consistencia interna revelaram igualmente uma fiabilidade bastante satisfatoria (entre α=.93 e α= .94). Foi posteriormente realizada uma analise factorial confirmatoria, contemplando os dados de 203 alunos. O modelo testado revelou um ajustamento aceitavel.
Phylogenetic Relationships among Hoplobatrachus rugulosus in Thailand as Inferred from Mitochondrial DNA Sequences of the Cytochrome-b Gene (Amphibia, Anura, Dicroglossidae)

A fragment (564 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome-b (Cyt-b) gene was studied for 73 individual rice field frogs (Hoplobatrachus rugulosus) from 18 geographical locations (populations) within Thailand. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of 12 haplotypes, with five haplotypes being represented in two or more populations, and the other seven being population-distinct haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis by maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and neighbor joining analyses all placed the 12 haplotypes into two distinct and well-separated clades with high bootstrap support, reflecting the high sequence divergences between the clades (25.3–32.3%). The mountain ranges and the Isthmus of Kra are likely to have played important roles in hindering gene flow among H. rugulosus populations in Thailand. From the sequence divergence values, the two clades of H. rugulosus can be classified into two distinct species, and therefore, the strains of H. rugulosus bred in farm stocks should be restricted to a population of one clade so as to avoid cross breeding between the two clades.
Mode of inheritance of increased host acceptance in a seed beetle

Abstract Colonization of a novel plant by herbivorous insects is frequently accompanied by genetic changes that progressively improve larval or adult performance on the new host. This study examined the genetic basis of adaptation to a marginal host (lentil) by the seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus (F.). Quasi-natural selection in the laboratory rapidly increased the tendency to oviposit on lentil. The mode of inheritance of this increase in host acceptance was determined from crosses between three lentil-adapted lines and a line maintained on the ancestral host, mung bean. In each set of crosses, females from the lentil lines laid two to three times more eggs on lentil than did females from the mung-bean line. Hybrid females consistently displayed an intermediate level of host acceptance, which did not differ between reciprocal crosses. Alleles promoting greater oviposition on lentil thus were inherited additively, with no evidence of sex-linkage or cytoplasmic effects. In a time-course study, hybrid females initially resembled the parent from the mung-bean line, as few eggs were laid on lentil during the first 24 h. However, oviposition rates on lentil after 72 h were closer to the rate observed in the lentil-line parent. Inferences about additivity vs. dominance in genes affecting oviposition may, therefore, depend on experimental protocol. Comparison with earlier work suggests that inheritance patterns observed in crosses between recently derived selection lines (as in this study) may differ from those obtained in crosses between long-divergent geographic populations.
Enforceable Rights for Victims of Crime in Adversarial Justice

Ante las demandas de una mejor integracion de las victimas en los sistemas de justicia penal, han surgido una serie de programas y experiencias piloto innovadoras que tratan de cambiar el papel desempenado por ellas. Sin embargo, con esta politica se tiende a apartar a las victimas del delito del proceso penal dirigiendolas hacia otras vias alternativas de justicia. Mientras que la innovacion se puede encontrar en la periferia del derecho y la justicia penales, a traves de la justicia restaurativa, los programas de resolucion de problemas y de intervencion que complementan o se desarrollan junto con los procesos judiciales ordinarios, el siglo XXI ha sido testigo de la aparicion de los derechos y poderes de las victimas que afectan, de forma mas directa, al proceso judicial. Este articulo explora la aparicion de los derechos, exigibles por las victimas de delitos, que inciden en los procesos judiciales de caracter acusatorio. Para ello se tienen en cuenta las nuevas prerrogativas de las victimas respecto de las decisiones previas al juicio, durante el juicio y en la imposicion y cumplimiento de la sancion, ademas de poderes considerables mas alla de las fases judiciales.
Temporal and spatial patterns of diarrhoea in the Mekong Delta area, Vietnam

SUMMARY This study examined the temporal and spatial patterns of diarrhoea in relation to hydro-meteorological factors in the Mekong Delta area in Vietnam. A time-series design was applied to examine the temporal pattern of the climate–diarrhoea relationship using Poisson regression models. Spatial analysis was applied to examine the spatial clusters of diarrhoea using Global Moran's I and local indicators of spatial autocorrelation (LISA). The temporal pattern showed that the highest peak of diarrhoea was from weeks 30–42 corresponding to August–October annually. A 1 cm increase in river water level at a lag of 1 week was associated with a small [0·07%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·01–0·1] increase in the diarrhoeal rate. A 1 °C increase in temperature at lag of 2 and 4 weeks was associated with a 1·5% (95% CI 0·3−2·7) and 1·1% (95% CI 0·1−2·3) increase in diarrhoeal risk, respectively. Relative humidity and diarrhoeal risk were in nonlinear relationship. The spatial analysis showed significant clustering of diarrhoea, and the LISA map shows three multi-centred diarrhoeal clusters and three single-centred clusters in the research location. The findings suggest that climatic conditions projected to be associated with climate change have important implication for human health impact in the Mekong Delta region.
Le risque de feux de brousse sur la Grande Terre de Nouvelle-Calédonie : l’Homme responsable, mais pas coupable

Depuis des annees en Nouvelle-Caledonie, les feux anthropiques croissent en nombre, frequence et etendue, menacant la conservation des ecosystemes et devenant un danger pour les populations. Les estimations montrent que les feux de foret et de brousse devastent en moyenne chaque annee de 20 000 a 50 000 ha soit pres de 3 % de la superficie totale de l’archipel. Au dela de la perte de biodiversite, il en resulte le cortege des risques d’impacts indirects des incendies : assechement des cours d’eau en saison seche, appauvrissement des sols, acceleration du processus de desertification, aggravation du ruissellement, augmentation de l’erosion des sols, phenomenes d’hypersedimentation, etouffement des recifs coralliens, etc., autant de maux qui affectent directement les populations locales et leur milieu de vie dont une grande partie se nourrit des produits d’une agriculture vivriere traditionnelle et ou d’une peche artisanale. Cependant malgre les enjeux lies a la gestion de ce risque majeur, l’une des constatations que nous pouvons faire, au-dela du manque de moyens humains et techniques de lutte, est une connaissance fragmentaire sur la repartition et les causes des incendies en Nouvelle-Caledonie. Cette communication, presentant quelques resultats du programme ANR INC (Incendies et biodiversite des ecosystemes en Nouvelle-Caledonie), aura comme objectifs d’analyser la distribution spatiale de l’occurrence des feux detectes par les satellites MODIS. Ces informations seront croisees au travers d’un SIG a des indicateurs spatialises de type statuts fonciers (terrains coutumiers/prive) socio-economiques (taux de chomage, niveau scolaire, origine ethnique.) afin d’identifier des facteurs correles aux departs d'incendies. Dans un deuxieme temps, l’etude de la perception de ce risque chez les populations Kanak nous permettra de mettre en evidence les causes principales des feux de brousse non maitrises.
Helicobacter pylori outer membrane protein HopQ identified as a novel T4SS‐associated virulence factor

Helicobacter pylori is a bacterial pathogen that colonizes the gastric niche of ∼ 50% of the human population worldwide and is known to cause peptic ulceration and gastric cancer. Pathology of infection strongly depends on a cag pathogenicity island (cagPAI)‐encoded type IV secretion system (T4SS). Here, we aimed to identify as yet unknown bacterial factors involved in cagPAI effector function and performed a large‐scale screen of an H. pylori transposon mutant library using activation of the pro‐inflammatory transcription factor NF‐κB in human gastric epithelial cells as a measure of T4SS function. Analysis of ∼ 3000 H. pylori mutants revealed three non‐cagPAI genes that affected NF‐κB nuclear translocation. Of these, the outer membrane protein HopQ from H. pylori strain P12 was essential for CagA translocation and for CagA‐mediated host cellresponses such as formation of the hummingbird phenotype and cell scattering. Besides that, deletion of hopQ reduced T4SS‐dependent activation of NF‐κB, induction of MAPK signalling and secretion of interleukin 8 (IL‐8) in the host cells, but did not affect motility or the quantity of bacteria attached to host cells. Hence, we identified HopQ as a non‐cagPAI‐encoded cofactor of T4SS function.
RF Energy Harvesting and Transfer in Cognitive Radio Sensor Networks: Opportunities and Challenges

By enabling sensor nodes to opportunistically access licensed channels, CRSN can provide a spectrum-efficient networking solution in the era of the Internet of Things. On the other hand, it also consumes extra energy for spectrum sensing and switching. This is a double-edged sword posing a dilemma between spectrum efficiency and energy efficiency. Recent advances in RF energy harvesting and transfer promote RF-powered CRSN in providing a promising way to address this challenge. In RF-powered CRSNs, sensor nodes can dynamically access the vacant licensed channels for interference-free data transmission and can also utilize the strong signals over the occupied licensed channels for energy harvesting. In this article, we investigate RF energy harvesting and transfer in CRSNs. We first introduce the architecture and advantages of RF-powered CRSN, typical applications, as well as the key challenges arising from applying RF energy harvesting and transfer into CRSN. We then propose a resource allocation framework to demonstrate how to jointly control the dynamic channel access and energy management to optimize network utility while guaranteeing network stability and sustainability. Some future directions are finally envisioned for further research.
Can we better select patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma for cytoreductive nephrectomy?

The benefits of cytoreductive nephrectomy (CN) in metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) should outweigh surgical morbidity. Even when the generally agreed upon selection criteria for CN are met, some patients do poorly after surgery. The objective of this study was to identify preoperative factors that were prognostic of outcome in patients who were being considered for CN.
Evidence for impaired sentence comprehension in early Alzheimer's disease

We investigated sentence comprehension in 46 patients with probable minimal (very mild), mild, or moderate dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT), comparing their performance on the Test for the Reception of Grammar (TROG), with that of 20 age- and education-matched controls. Performance on the TROG was generally related to dementia severity, independent of lexicosemantic and working memory (digit span) impairments, but related to at least 1 measure of attention. Some patients in the minimal group showed sentence comprehension deficits while others in the moderate group did not, indicating that DAT may impair sentence comprehension at the very earliest stages of disease, but that its effects are heterogeneous. Patients were most impaired on sentences with 2 propositions and noncanonical word order, suggesting difficulties with both interpretative and postinterpretative stages of sentence processing. Further investigation is needed into the relationship between attentional processes, interpretative and postinterpretative stages of syntactic processing in DAT. (JINS, 1999, 5, 393–404.)
Nicotine alters bovine oocyte meiosis and affects subsequent embryonic development

The effects of nicotine on nuclear maturation and meiotic spindle dynamics of bovine oocytes and subsequent embryonic development were investigated. Maturation rates (85%–94%) derived from nicotine treatments at 0.01 to 1.0 mM were similar to the control (86%), but significantly decreased at 2.0 to 6.0 mM. Haploid complements of metaphase II oocytes in 0.01 to 1.0 mM nicotine (approximately 90%) were similar to the control, while lower (ranged from 63% to 76%, P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) haploid oocytes were observed in the 2.0 to 6.0 mM nicotine groups. The majority of the PB1‐free oocytes derived from 3.0 to 6.0 mM nicotine treatments were diploidy (2n = 60). Spindle microtubules changed from characteristically being asymmetrical in the controls to being equally distributed into two separate chromosome groups in the nicotine treatments. Nicotine disorganized the microfilament organization and inhibited the movement of anaphase or telophase chromosomes to the cortical area. The inhibited two chromosome groups became two spindles that either moved close in proximity or merged entirely together resulting in diploidy within the affected oocyte. Nicotine treatment significantly reduced the rate of cleavage and blastocyst development after parthenogenetic activation. Diploidy and cell number were drastically reduced in the resultant blastocysts. In conclusion, nicotine can alter the normal process of bovine oocyte meiosis and affects subsequent embryonic development. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 1473–1482, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Cytosolic and nuclear calcium signaling in atrial myocytes: IP3-mediated calcium release and the role of mitochondria

In rabbit atrial myocytes Ca signaling has unique features due to the lack of transverse (t) tubules, the spatial arrangement of mitochondria and the contribution of inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor-induced Ca release (IICR). During excitation-contraction coupling action potential-induced elevation of cytosolic [Ca] originates in the cell periphery from Ca released from the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (j-SR) and then propagates by Ca-induced Ca release from non-junctional (nj-) SR toward the cell center. The subsarcolemmal region between j-SR and the first array of nj-SR Ca release sites is devoid of mitochondria which results in a rapid propagation of activation through this domain, whereas the subsequent propagation through the nj-SR network occurs at a velocity typical for a propagating Ca wave. Inhibition of mitochondrial Ca uptake with the Ca uniporter blocker Ru360 accelerates propagation and increases the amplitude of Ca transients (CaTs) originating from nj-SR. Elevation of cytosolic IP3 levels by rapid photolysis of caged IP3 has profound effects on the magnitude of subcellular CaTs with increased Ca release from nj-SR and enhanced CaTs in the nuclear compartment. IP3 uncaging restricted to the nucleus elicites ‘mini’-Ca waves that remain confined to this compartment. Elementary IICR events (Ca puffs) preferentially originate in the nucleus in close physical association with membrane structures of the nuclear envelope and the nucleoplasmic reticulum. The data suggest that in atrial myocytes the nucleus is an autonomous Ca signaling domain where Ca dynamics are primarily governed by IICR.
Screening of hypoxia-inducible genes in sporadic ALS

Genetic variations in two hypoxia-inducible angiogenic genes, VEGF and ANG, have been linked with sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (SALS). Common variations in these genes may reduce the levels or functioning of their products. VEGF and ANG belong to a larger group of angiogenic genes that are up-regulated under hypoxic conditions. We hypothesized that common genetic variation across other members of this group may also predispose to sporadic ALS. To screen other hypoxia-inducible angiogenic genes for association with SALS, we selected 112 tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (tgSNPs) that captured the common genetic variation across 16 VEGF-like and eight ANG-like hypoxia-inducible genes. Screening for association was performed in 270 Irish individuals with typical SALS and 272 ethnically matched unrelated controls. SNPs showing association in the Irish phase were genotyped in a replication sample of 281 Swedish sporadic ALS patients and 286 Swedish controls. Seven markers showed association in the Irish. The one modest replication signal observed in the Swedish replication sample, at rs3801158 in the gene inhibin beta A, was for the opposite allele vs. the Irish cohort. We failed to detect association of common variation across 24 candidate hypoxia-inducible angiogenic genes with SALS.