Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
n-3 and n-6 Fatty acids are independently associated with lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) is an independent risk factor for CVD and has been proposed as a marker of vascular inflammation. Polyunsaturated n-3 fatty acids (FA) and several n-6 FA are known to suppress inflammation and may influence Lp-PLA2 mass and activity. The associations of n-3 and n-6 plasma FA with Lp-PLA2 mass and activity were analysed using linear regression analysis in 2246 participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis; statistical adjustments were made to control for body mass, inflammation, lipids, diabetes, and additional clinical and demographic factors. Lp-PLA2 mass and activity were significantly lower in participants with the higher n-3 FA EPA (β = − 4·72, P< 0·001; β = − 1·53; P= 0·023) and DHA levels (β = − 4·47, β = − 1·87; both P< 0·001). Those in the highest quintiles of plasma EPA and DHA showed 12·71 and 19·15 ng/ml lower Lp-PLA2 mass and 5·7 and 8·90 nmol/min per ml lower Lp-PLA2 activity than those in the first quintiles, respectively. In addition, lower Lp-PLA2 mass and activity were associated with higher levels of n-6 arachidonic acid (β = − 1·63, β = − 1·30; both P< 0·001), while γ-linolenic acid was negatively associated with activity (β = − 27·7, P= 0·027). Lp-PLA2 mass was significantly higher in participants with greater plasma levels of n-6 linoleic (β = 0·828, P= 0·011) and dihomo-γ-linolenic acids (β = 4·17, P= 0·002). Based on their independent associations with Lp-PLA2 mass and activity, certain n-3 and n-6 FA may have additional influences on CVD risk. Intervention studies are warranted to assess whether these macronutrients may directly influence Lp-PLA2 expression or activity.
Analysis of cerebrospinal fluid and cerebrospinal fluid cells from patients with multiple sclerosis for detection of JC virus DNA

Objective 1) To determine whether JC virus (JCV) DNA was present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood from patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) in comparison with controls and 2) to find out if our clinical material, based on presence of JCV DNA, included any patient at risk for progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML). Methods The prevalence of JCV DNA was analyzed in CSF and plasma from 217 patients with MS, 86 patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), and 212 patients with other neurological diseases (OND). In addition, we analyzed CSF cells, the first report of JCV DNA in CSF cells in a single sample, and peripheral blood cells in a subgroup of MS (n = 49), CIS (n = 14) and OND (n = 53). Results A low copy number of JCV DNA was detected in one MS cell free CSF sample and in one MS CSF cell samples. None of these had any signs of PML or developed this disease during follow-up. In addition, two OND plasma samples were JCV DNA positive, whereas all the other samples had no detectable virus. Conclusion A low copy number of JCV DNA may occasionally be observed both in MS and other diseases and may occur as part of the normal biology of JC virus in humans. This study does not support the hypothesis that patients with MS would be at increased risk to develop PML, and consequently screening of CSF as a measurable risk for PML is not useful.
Experimental evaluation of the impact of virtual reality on the sentiment of fear

This study explores the effect of virtual reality on the sense of fear and presence in an immersive VR environment in comparison with a desktop screen. At the same time it attempts to answer whether users with specific psychological profiles measured with the Big 5 personality test are more susceptible to emotions of fear in digital environments than others. Although the analysis of the results did not produce statistically significant and conclusive findings, there is a strong indication towards increased presence and the sentiment of fear in a VR environment, as well as towards a relation of the Big 5 Openness to experience aspect with the fear levels of the participant.
Factors Associated with HPV Vaccination among Cambodian American Teenagers.

OBJECTIVES Parents have general influence over their children's health and health behavior. However, given the dearth of specific literature regarding knowledge level and social and cultural factors influencing HPV vaccination behaviors among Cambodian American (CA) parent, it is difficult to develop an effective, evidence-based public health HPV vaccination program. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the HPV vaccine uptakes among CA teenagers and to examine factors influencing HPV vaccine uptakes. DESIGN AND SAMPLE A descriptive, cross-sectional survey design and a combination of network and targeted sampling methods were used. RESULTS CA mothers (n = 130) completed a health survey through face-to-face interviews in either English or Khmer language. Girls vaccination rates were 29% while that of boys was 16%. Awareness and knowledge of HPV among CA mothers was very low, and many believed that their daughters, who speak English and were educated in the U.S., had more knowledge about health than they did. Logistic regression analysis showed that CA girls had significantly higher odds of vaccination when their mothers possessed a higher level of English reading ability and had greater awareness and knowledge of HPV. CONCLUSIONS The strikingly low rates of HPV vaccination among CA girls and boys underscore the need to improve vaccination outreach, education, and uptake. The findings can be used to develop targeted public health HPV vaccination programs for CAs, which will reduce cervical cancer disparities.
On ℓ∞ and L∞ gains for positive systems with bounded time-varying delays

This paper is devoted to the analysis of the ℓ∞ and L∞ gains for positive linear systems with interval time-varying delays. Through exploiting the monotonicity of the state trajectory, we first prove that for positive systems with constant delays, the ℓ∞ and L∞ gains are fully governed by the system matrices but independent of the delay size. Moreover, for positive systems with bounded time-varying delays, by comparing with the nominal systems with constant delays, it turns out that the ℓ∞ and L∞ gains are exactly the same as that of the constant delay systems. The results in this paper reveal that the ℓ∞ and L∞ gains of positive linear systems are not sensitive to the magnitude of time delays and hence the computation of ℓ∞ and L∞ gains of positive systems with bounded time-varying delays can be reduced to computing the ℓ∞ and L∞ gains of the corresponding delay-free systems. Both continuous-time and discrete-time cases are considered in this paper.
Pertussis Vaccine: A Critique

A critical level of serum IgG pertussis toxin antibody is both essential and sufficient to confer individual and herd immunity to pertussis. Monocomponent pertussis toxoid conferred such immunity in Sweden and in Denmark. We refute the notion that filamentous hemagglutinin, pertactin, and fimbriae add to the immunity conferred by pertussis toxoid and describe the artifact created when efficacy is estimated for multicomponent pertussis vaccines. Lastly, the genetically-inactivated mutant pertussis toxoid is safer, more immunogenic, and should be more effective than the current chemically-inactivated pertussis toxin.
D B ] 1 M ar 2 01 5 Data Fusion : Resolving Conflicts from Multiple Sources

Many data management applications, such as setting up Web po rtals, managing enterprise data, managing community data, and sha ring scientific data, require integrating data from multiple sources. Each of the se sources provides a set of values and different sources can often provide conflic ti g values. To present quality data to users, it is critical to resolve conflicts and discover values that reflect the real world; this task is called data fusion. This paper describes a novel approach that finds true values from conflicting information when there are a large number of sources, among which some may copy from others. We p res nt a case study on real-world data showing that the described algorit hm can significantly improve accuracy of truth discovery and is scalable when the re are a large number of data sources.
Video Popularity Dynamics and Its Implication for Replication

Popular online video-on-demand (VoD) services all maintain a large catalog of videos for their users to access. The knowledge of video popularity is very important for system operation , such as video caching on content distribution network (CDN) servers. The video popularity distribution at a given time is quite well understood. We study how the video popularity changes with time, for different types of videos, and apply the results to design video caching strategies. Our study is based on analyzing the video access levels over time, based on data provided by a large video service provider. Our main finding is, while there are variations, the glory days of a video's popularity typically pass by quickly and the probability of replaying a video by the same user is low. The reason appears to be due to fairly regular number of users and view time per day for each user, and continuous arrival of new videos. All these facts will affect how video popularity changes, hence also affect the optimal video caching strategy. Based on the observation from our measurement study, we propose a mixed replication strategy (of LFU and FIFO) that can handle different kinds of videos. Offline strategy assuming tomorrow's video popularity is known in advance is used as a performance benchmark. Through trace-driven simulation, we show that the caching performance achieved by the mixed strategy is very close to the performance achieved by the offline strategy.
Dietary Intake, FTO Genetic Variants, and Adiposity: A Combined Analysis of Over 16,000 Children and Adolescents

The FTO gene harbors variation with the strongest effect on adiposity and obesity risk. Previous data support a role for FTO variation in influencing food intake. We conducted a combined analysis of 16,094 boys and girls aged 1–18 years from 14 studies to examine the following: 1) the association between the FTO rs9939609 variant (or a proxy) and total energy and macronutrient intake; and 2) the interaction between the FTO variant and dietary intake, and the effect on BMI. We found that the BMI-increasing allele (minor allele) of the FTO variant was associated with increased total energy intake (effect per allele = 14.3 kcal/day [95% CI 5.9, 22.7 kcal/day], P = 6.5 × 10−4), but not with protein, carbohydrate, or fat intake. We also found that protein intake modified the association between the FTO variant and BMI (interactive effect per allele = 0.08 SD [0.03, 0.12 SD], P for interaction = 7.2 × 10−4): the association between FTO genotype and BMI was much stronger in individuals with high protein intake (effect per allele = 0.10 SD [0.07, 0.13 SD], P = 8.2 × 10−10) than in those with low intake (effect per allele = 0.04 SD [0.01, 0.07 SD], P = 0.02). Our results suggest that the FTO variant that confers a predisposition to higher BMI is associated with higher total energy intake, and that lower dietary protein intake attenuates the association between FTO genotype and adiposity in children and adolescents.
Model Counting in Product Configuration

We describe how to use propositional model counting for a quantitative analysis of product configuration data. Our approach computes valuable meta information such as the total number of valid configurations or the relative frequency of components. Thi s information can be used to assess the severity of documentation errors or to measure documentation quality. As an application example we show how we apply these methods to product documentation formulas of the Mercedes-Benz line of vehicles. In order to process these large formulas we developed and implemented a new model counter for non-CNF formulas. Our model counter can process formulas, whose CNF representations could not be processed up till now.
Severity of symptoms and demyelination in MOG‐induced EAE depends on TNFR1

The individual role of tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNFR2 signaling in experimental autoimmune encephalomeylitis (EAE) was investigated using mice lacking TNFR1 (TNFR1− / −), TNFR2 (TNFR2− / −) as well as double receptor (TNFR1 / 2− / −) and double ligand (TNF / LTα− / −) knockout mice. In wild‐type (wt) mice immunized with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide 35 – 55 the clinical course is characterized by an acute disease onset with peak disease scores and a consecutive chronic phase lasting up to 60 days. Compared to control mice, TNF / LTα‐deficient mice showed a significant delay in disease onset and a remarkable reduction in demyelination which was, however, associated with increased inflammation. In TNFR1− / − and TNFR1 / 2− / − mice, the disease course was comparable to TNF / LTα‐deficient mice but rather monophasic and less severe at late time points. Likewise only minimal spinal cord demyelination became apparent. In contrast, the course of EAE in TNFR2− / − mice was severe and associated with remarkable demyelination. Taken together these findings define TNFR1 as crucial mediator in MOG‐induced EAE and suggest a protective role for TNFR2 signaling in the clinical course of EAE.
Heat shock inhibits caspase‐1 activity while also preventing its inflammasome‐mediated activation by anthrax lethal toxin

Anthrax lethal toxin (LT) rapidly kills macrophages from certain mouse strains in a mechanism dependent on the breakdown of unknown protein(s) by the proteasome, formation of the Nalp1b (NLRP1b) inflammasome and subsequent activation of caspase‐1. We report that heat‐shocking LT‐sensitive macrophages rapidly protects them against cytolysis by inhibiting caspase‐1 activation without upstream effects on LT endocytosis or cleavage of the toxin's known cytosolic substrates (mitogen‐activated protein kinases). Heat shock protection against LT occurred through a mechanism independent of de novo protein synthesis, HSP90 activity, p38 activation or proteasome inhibition and was downstream of mitogen‐activated protein kinase cleavage and degradation of an unknown substrate by the proteasome. The heat shock inhibition of LT‐mediated caspase‐1 activation was not specific to the Nalp1b (NLRP1b) inflammasome, as heat shock also inhibited Nalp3 (NLRP3) inflammasome‐mediated caspase‐1 activation in macrophages. We found that heat shock induced pro‐caspase‐1 association with a large cellular complex that could prevent its activation. Additionally, while heat‐shocking recombinant caspase‐1 did not affect its activity in vitro, lysates from heat‐shocked cells completely inhibited recombinant active caspase‐1 activity. Our results suggest that heat shock inhibition of active caspase‐1 can occur independently of an inflammasome platform, through a titratable factor present within intact, functioning heat‐shocked cells.
Height, health, and inequality: the distribution of adult heights in India.

This paper explores the relationship between adult heights and the distribution of income across populations of individuals. There is a long literature that examines the relationship between mean adult heights and living standards. If adult height is set by the balance between food intake and charges to disease in early childhood, it is informative about economic and epidemiological conditions in childhood. Because taller populations are better-off, more productive, and live longer, the relationship between childhood conditions and adult height has become an important focus in the study of the relationship between health and wealth. Here I follow one of the tributaries of this main stream. A relationship between income and height at the individual level has implications for the effects of income inequality on the distribution of heights. These relationships parallel, but are somewhat more concrete than, the various relationships between income inequality and health that have been debated in the economic and epidemiological literatures, Richard G. Wilkinson (1996), Angus Deaton (2003).
Prognostic implication of leucocyte subpopulations in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Background Recent studies have suggested that variables related to host adaptive immunity and the tumor microenvironment may predict the outcome in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. This study was undertaken to determine the prognostic value of peripheral blood leucocyte subpopulations in diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma patients. Methods We prospectively analyzed the 16 leukocyte subpopulations using Cytodiff flow cytometric technique in a cohort of 45 diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma patients at a single institution between February and December 2014. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate prognostic factors for overall survival and progression free survival. Results Diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma patients had decreased cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic NK&T cells as well as increased CD16+ monocytes, CD16- monocytes and mature neutrophils. The decreased CD16- monocyte/CD16+ monocyte ratio and increased mature neutrophil/cytotoxic NK&T cell ratio were related to poor progression-free and overall survival outcome in single and multivariate analysis. The co-constructed model using International Prognostic Index and mature neutrophil/cytotoxic NK&T cell ratio can also help discriminate the clinical outcome. Conclusions The decreased CD16-monocyte/CD16+monocyte ratio and increased mature neutrophil/cytotoxic NK&T cell ratio predict poor prognosis in diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma patients. This finding provides a strong rationale for the study of cellular immunotherapy in B-cell lymphoma.
TOWARD DESIGNING A DYNAMIC CPU CAP MANAGER FOR TIMELY DATA-FLOW ( TDF ) PLATFORM

This work is one of the first attempts to address the problem of CPU resource allocation of a set of parallel data-flow applications that might have different quality of service (QoS) requirements. We observed that a static resource allocation schema might severely degrade the performance of some (if not all) data-flow applications as a result of fierce competition for obtaining CPU as the main shared resource in a cluster of server nodes. To allocate the best possible CPU cap, we propose a control-based solution that considers the degradation of performance caused by running concurrent data-flow processes. It uses the famous Kleinrock Formula for G/G/1/K queuing systems. The aim of the proposed dynamic solution is reduce the QoS violation incidents for all applications. It makes appropriate decisions by predicting the future entrance rate of data elements into each application. The performance of the proposed solution is bench-marked with the famous round robin algorithm, which is a classic but simple algorithm widely used as the resource allocation scheme in multiple commercial packages. The experimental results confirms that the proposed algorithm can reduce the latency of processing data records for applications by 48% compared to the round robin policy.
Fuzzy adaptive particle filter for a positioning beacon system

This paper focuses on the localization problem that is to design and deploy an active beacon system specifically for the target environment. Most problems in the localization are due to uncertainties in the modeling and sensors. Therefore, various filters are developed to estimate the states in noisy information. Recently, particle filter is issued widely because it can be applied to a nonlinear model and a non-Gaussian noise. In this paper, a fuzzy adaptive particle filter is proposed for a positioning beacon system. The basic idea is to generate samples at the high-likelihood using a fuzzy logic approach. The method brings out the improvement of an accuracy of estimation. In addition, this paper presents the localization method for a mobile robot with active ultrasonic beacon systems. For comparison purposes, we test a conventional adaptive particle filter method and our proposed method. Experimental results show that the proposed method can improve the localization performance.
Maximizing the stability of metabolic engineering‐derived whole‐cell biocatalysts

A systematic and powerful knowledge‐based framework exists for improving the activity and stability of chemical catalysts and for empowering the commercialization of respective processes. In contrast, corresponding biotechnological processes are still scarce and characterized by case‐by‐case development strategies. A systematic understanding of parameters affecting biocatalyst efficiency, that is, biocatalyst activity and stability, is essential for a rational generation of improved biocatalysts. Today, systematic approaches only exist for increasing the activity of whole‐cell biocatalysts. They are still largely missing for whole‐cell biocatalyst stability. In this review, we structure factors affecting biocatalyst stability and summarize existing, yet not completely exploited strategies to overcome respective limitations. The factors and mechanisms related to biocatalyst destabilization are discussed and demonstrated inter alia based on two case studies. The factors are similar for processes with different objectives regarding target molecule or metabolic pathway complexity and process scale, but are in turn highly interdependent. This review provides a systematic for the stabilization of whole‐cell biocatalysts. In combination with our knowledge on strategies to improve biocatalyst activity, this paves the way for the rational design of superior recombinant whole‐cell biocatalysts, which can then be employed in economically and ecologically competitive and sustainable bioprocesses.
Convergent occurrence of the developmental hourglass in plant and animal embryogenesis?

Background The remarkable similarity of animal embryos at particular stages of development led to the proposal of a developmental hourglass. In this model, early events in development are less conserved across species but lead to a highly conserved ‘phylotypic period’. Beyond this stage, the model suggests that development once again becomes less conserved, leading to the diversity of forms. Recent comparative studies of gene expression in animal groups have provided strong support for the hourglass model. How and why might such an hourglass pattern be generated? More importantly, how might early acting events in development evolve while still maintaining a later conserved stage? Scope The discovery that an hourglass pattern may also exist in the embryogenesis of plants provides comparative data that may help us explain this phenomenon. Whether the developmental hourglass occurs in plants, and what this means for our understanding of embryogenesis in plants and animals is discussed. Models by which conserved early-acting genes might change their functional role in the evolution of gene networks, how networks buffer these changes, and how that might constrain, or confer diversity, of the body plan are also discused. Conclusions Evidence of a morphological and molecular hourglass in plant and animal embryogenesis suggests convergent evolution. This convergence is likely due to developmental constraints imposed upon embryogenesis by the need to produce a viable embryo with an established body plan, controlled by the architecture of the underlying gene regulatory networks. As the body plan is largely laid down during the middle phases of embryo development in plants and animals, then it is perhaps not surprising this stage represents the narrow waist of the hourglass where the gene regulatory networks are the oldest and most robust and integrated, limiting species diversity and constraining morphological space.