Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anxiety and major depression comorbidity in a family study of obsessive–compulsive disorder

To understand the familial relationship between obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD), other anxiety disorders, and major depressive disorder (MDD), we examined the rates of anxiety disorders and MDD in first‐degree relatives of OCD probands and controls, the association between age at onset of OCD and the occurrence of other anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder in relatives of probands, and the co‐transmission of specific anxiety disorders, MDD, and OCD within families of probands. Recurrence risks were estimated from 466 first‐degree relatives of 100 probands with OCD and 113 first‐degree relatives of 33 non‐psychiatric controls. Rates of non‐OCD anxiety disorders and MDD were comparable in relatives of OCD probands and controls. Rates of anxiety disorders and MDD were higher among case relatives with OCD than among case relatives without OCD and control relatives. Fifty percent of case relatives with OCD had at least one comorbid anxiety disorder. Early age at onset (<10 years) in probands was associated with higher rates of anxiety and depression comorbidity among case relatives with OCD but not among case relatives without OCD. The occurrence of specific anxiety disorders and MDD in case relatives was independent of the same comorbid diagnosis in the OCD probands. OCD, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and MDD occurred together more often than expected by chance among individuals with OCD. Furthermore, age at onset in probands is associated with specific anxiety and affective comorbidity among case relatives. These findings support the hypothesis that early‐ and late‐onset OCD represent different etiologic variants. Depression and Anxiety 20:165–174, 2004. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Creation of the Biomedical Engineering Research Group GIIB-UPS at the Salesian Polytechnic University

The integration of engineering and medicine in recent years has led to the development of technological innovations in the health field, that is why this area has been declared emergent in many countries and it has become a basic research discipline. In this paper we describe the experience in the academic support of the Electronic Engineering Department at the Salesian Polytechnic University of Cuenca for development projects of biomedical engineering from 2001 in order to establish guidelines to begin with the research group GIIB-UPS. The main objectives are to enrich the teaching and learning method in Biomedical Engineering, to strengthen the social appropriation of knowledge of the results of research around biomedical engineering in the University and to establish guidelines to begin the process of forming the first research group in this field in Ecuador. Based on results to date, we conclude that biomedical engineering education must ensure a positive work environment in which students will develop social sensibility with professional ethic and learn about the importance in their profession of multidisciplinary cooperation with professionals in the biomedical field. The proper progress of a research group requires time and planning for research training by lecturers and students.
Transformation of Neurospora crassa with the cloned am (glutamate dehydrogenase) gene

We used DNA containing the am gene of Neurospora crassa, cloned in the lambda replacement vector lambdaL-47 (this clone is designated lambdaC-10), and plasmid vector subclones of this DNA to transform am deletion and point mutant strains. By means of subcloning, all sequences required for transformation to am prototrophy and expression of glutamate dehydrogenase have been shown to reside on a 2.5-kilobase BamHI fragment. We also characterized several am+ strains that were obtained after transformation with lambdaC-10. These strains showed Mendelian segregation of the am+ gene, although less than 50% of the transformed strains showed the normal linkage relationship of am with inl. In all cases tested, the strains had incorporated lambda DNA as well. The lambda DNA also showed a Mendelian segregation pattern. In one case, the incorporation of am DNA in a novel position was associated with a mutagenic event producing a strain with a very tight colonial morphology. In all cases in which the am+ gene had become the resident of a new chromosome, glutamate dehydrogenase was produced to only 10 to 20% of the wild-type levels.
Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease in Mexico

Creutzfeldt‐Jakob disease (CJD) is classified within the group of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE). It is a rapidly progressive illness that affects mental functions. The average age of onset is 50 years. Various tests can help orient the clinical diagnosis, but the confirmatory test is still the post mortem analysis. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical and histopathological characteristics of patients diagnosed as suffering from CJD, at the National Institute of Neurology and Neurosurgery of Mexico (NINN). An observational, descriptive and transversal study was conducted. We collected information concerning these cases from the Departments of Epidemiology and Pathology, as well as the clinical charts of the patients with a diagnosis of CJD. Fifteen cases were registered of which three CJD cases were definite, five probable cases were identified, and seven were possible. The average age of the patients was 49 years. Two definite cases were female and one was male. It is important to improve the systems for surveillance of this type of disease and, furthermore, to permit greater accessibility to laboratories where the procedures necessary for supporting diagnosis can be followed.
Cooperation between higher education institutions and companies from a spatial perspective: An empirical analysis of Germany using Bayesian logistic multilevel models

This research paper aims at highlighting factors which influence the spatial focus of interactions between higher education institutions (HEIs) and the economic system in Germany. In the pursuit of this goal, our research work employs a Bayesian statistical analysis of empirical data gathered from a German-wide online survey of professors (7,500 participants) focused on the extent of knowledge diffusion with respect to their institutions of origin. The results provided by our statistical analysis indicate that some fields of research are favourable in facilitating cooperation between companies and University professors in the region, while others are more prone to cooperate supraregional. In the case of professors at Universities of Applied Sciences (UAS), the results reveal only a low influence concerning the research discipline. These findings are not surprising because of the narrow spectrum of research disciplines at UAS. Beyond these results, the time budget allocated for research poses as a major factor of influence for the cooperation activities of professors at UAS. These findings have been expected since UAS professors have less allocated time for research leading to a more regional focus of cooperation with companies. Surprisingly across all models, only a very few categories in total are credible for the "Application relevance of research" and the "Cooperation intensity".
Parent education: an evaluation of STEP on abusive parents' perceptions and abuse potential.

PROBLEM To examine the effects of a structured, time-limited parent training group on abusive or potentially abusive parents. METHODS A pretest-posttest control group design was used with consenting parents (N = 18) to examine the effects of Systematic Training for Effective Parenting (STEP) on abusive parents' perceptions of their children's behaviors and on the parents' potential to physically abuse. The Adlerian Parental Assessment of Child Behavior Scale and the Child Abuse Potential Inventory were used to measure treatment effects. FINDINGS After participating in STEP, abusive parents had significantly more positive perceptions of their children and were significantly less potentially abusive. Using volunteers, the project cost an average of $100 for each parent. CONCLUSIONS The research lends empirical support to individual psychology and family systems theory. Future research is indicated using larger samples to examine lay vs. professional leadership of the groups, as well as comparisons of different parenting programs with abusive parents.
Selected Topics on Corruption: An Interdisciplinary Approach

This dissertation contains a series of essays that focus on corruption and its policy implications.The study begins by providing an overview of corruption research and the contribution of this study to the field. The first essay explores the relationship between corruption and various forms of information and communication technologies (ICT). The analysis suggests that internet awareness of corruption could potentially act as a deterrent to corruption, however the impact of e-government may depend on the quality of institutions. The second essay uses data from the Afrobarometer survey to explore perceptions of corruption across states in Nigeria. Using a mixed effects regression model, the study finds perception of corruption to differ across gender, feelings of marginalization and confidence levels in the Nigerian administration. Overall, people who were more optimistic about Nigeria, were associated with less perceptions of corruption than people who were more pessimistic about Nigeria as a democracy and as a fair country. This study suggests that attitudes impact survey based measures of corruption, therefore using survey based measures as a proxy for actual corruption in relatively ethnic diverse countries such as Nigeria may be misleading. The third essay analyzes corruption among street level bureaucrats especially in developing countries and helps provide insight into why corruption among street level bureaucrats remains rampant in certain parts of the world despite a significant level
Piloting Participatory Arts-Based Methods for Exploring Indonesians’ Experiences in a U.S. Biotechnology Training Program

Science communication faculty and professionals often train scientists about conveying and delivering critical and sometimes controversial scientific information to public audiences. This qualitative case study was situated in a U.S.-based biotechnology training program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture for connecting Indonesian science fellows with university biotechnology scientists and science communication experts. The researchers piloted a participatory arts-based approach for instructing and researching Indonesian scientists’, professionals’, and educators’ learning and experiences in the program. Participatory and arts-based research has the potential to uncover and bring to light participants’ perceptions. Participants used iPad multimedia kits to demonstrate their learning of the training’s science communication content, co-constructed and conducted interviews, and captured photos and videos chronicling their experiences throughout the program. Results showed participants’ photos predominantly focused on field site and laboratory visits during the training and participants effectively applied digital storytelling techniques presented in the workshops. Themes from the co-constructed interviews included participants’ definitions of biotechnology, concerns about regulation, labeling, and public understanding, and expressing a hope that biotechnology may improve food security in Indonesia. This pilot study has implications for future international science communication training via intentional instructional design and arts-based research for a culture-centered communication approach.
The experiences of adolescents and young adults residing with their families in emergency shelters in Canada

ABSTRACT Emergency homeless shelters can be stressful environments for families. They can be associated with emotional distress and feelings of restriction for parents, and with behavioural, social, and developmental challenges for children. However, little is known about the experiences of accompanied youth residing in shelter with their families, as the literature about this age group's experiences of homelessness has mainly focused on unaccompanied youth. Findings from the current study are drawn from qualitative interviews with 16 adolescents and young adults (aged 16–21) who were homeless and living with their families in family homeless shelters in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Youth described family homeless shelters as stressful environments but also found that the shelters provided support to them and their families. Youth discussed the various strategies they used to cope in facing the challenges of shelter life. These findings add to our understanding of youth who are homeless and highlight the ways in which they adapt to the challenges of living in a family homeless shelter with their families. Recommendations are included for ways that shelter staff and policymakers can enact operational and systemic changes that could potentially improve the experiences of such youth and their families.
Validation of the Essen Stroke Risk Score and the Stroke Prognosis Instrument II in Chinese Patients

Background and Purpose— Little was known about the predictive accuracy of the Essen Stroke Risk Score and the Stroke Prognostic Instrument II in Chinese patients with stroke. Methods— We evaluated the predictive accuracy of both Essen Stroke Risk Score and Stroke Prognostic Instrument II scores for both recurrent stroke and combined vascular events using data from a prospective cohort of 11 384 patients with acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack admitted to 132 urban hospitals throughout China. Results— The cumulative 1-year event rates were 16% (95% CI, 15%–16%) for recurrent stroke and 18% (95% CI, 18%–19%) for combined vascular events. Both event rates were significantly higher in patients with transient ischemic attack and increased significantly from lower to higher Essen Stroke Risk Score and Stroke Prognostic Instrument II categories. Essen Stroke Risk Score and Stroke Prognostic Instrument II had similar predictive accuracies for each study outcome. Conclusions— In Chinese patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack, both Essen Stroke Risk Score and Stroke Prognostic Instrument II scores are equally able to stratify the risk of recurrent stroke and combined vascular events.
Localization of neuropeptide Y1 receptor immunoreactivity in the rat retina and the synaptic connectivity of Y1 immunoreactive cells

Neuropeptide Y (NPY), an inhibitory neuropeptide expressed by a moderately dense population of wide‐field amacrine cells in the rat retina, acts through multiple (Y1–y6) G‐protein–coupled receptors. This study determined the cellular localization of Y1 receptors and the synaptic connectivity of Y1 processes in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) of the rat retina. Specific Y1 immunoreactivity was localized to horizontal cell bodies in the distal inner nuclear layer and their processes in the outer plexiform layer. Immunoreactivity was also prominent in cell processes located in strata 2 and 4, and puncta in strata 4 and 5 of the IPL. Double‐label immunohistochemical experiments with calbindin, a horizontal cell marker, confirmed Y1 immunostaining in all horizontal cells. Double‐label immunohistochemical experiments, using antibodies to choline acetyltransferase and vesicular acetylcholine transporter to label cholinergic amacrine cell processes, demonstrated that Y1 immunoreactivity in strata 2 and 4 of the IPL was localized to cholinergic amacrine cell processes. Electron microscopic studies of the inner retina showed that Y1‐immunostained amacrine cell processes and puncta received synaptic inputs from unlabeled amacrine cell processes (65.2%) and bipolar cell axon terminals (34.8%). Y1‐immunoreactive amacrine cell processes most frequently formed synaptic outputs onto unlabeled amacrine cell processes (34.0%) and ganglion cell dendrites (54.1%). NPY immunoreactivity in the rat retina is distributed primarily to strata 1 and 5 of the IPL, and the present findings, thus, suggest that NPY acts in a paracrine manner on Y1 receptors to influence both horizontal and amacrine cells. J. Comp. Neurol. 454:373–382, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Short and long-span track seek control for hard disk drive dual-stage servo actuators

A novel strategy for design of a control system for a dual-stage servo actuator used in hard disk drives is proposed. The control system enables track-following, and both short-span and long-span track seeking. For this, a well-known decoupling structure is employed to disconnect the control of the primary voice coil motor (VCM) actuator from the loop for a secondary high-bandwidth actuator. The design procedure can be summarised in four steps: (i) design of an established non-linear seek-settle-track following controller for the VCM, (ii) design of a linear track following controller for the secondary actuator, (iii) observer design and (iv) design of a compensator to retain global stability and to improve performance. The compensator used in the secondary control loop is suitably combined with a saturation non-linearity to obtain actuator signal boundedness for the secondary actuator. The performance and robustness of the proposed control system is analyzed and demonstrated through simulation. Presented results show good track-following/seeking performance with negligible overshoot, fast settling time and smooth transition between short and long-span track seeking.
Point mutations in the regulatory region of the ilvGMEDA operon of Escherichia coli K-12

The ilvGMEDA operon of Escherichia coli K-12 is preceded by a regulatory region containing a promoter, a leader, and an attenuator. This region has been extensively characterized biochemically. In this note point mutations of the regulatory region are reported. The effect of these mutations on expression from the ilv regulatory region supports the previous biochemical analysis.
Pricing Sovereign Debt: Foreign versus Local Parameters

Sovereign bonds may be issued under either local or foreign parameters. This decision involves a tradeoff between the sovereign retaining discretion in managing the issue and relinquishing control to third parties. Examining three key bond parameters âˆ’ governing law, currency, and stock exchange listing âˆ’ we find that investors generally consider foreignâ€ parameter debt to be less risky than comparable localâ€ parameter debt issued by same sovereign. By matching the foreignâ€ and localâ€ parameter bonds of sovereigns that have issued both, we find that, with few exceptions, both investment grade and nonâ€ investment grade sovereigns are able to issue their foreignâ€ parameter bonds at relatively lower yields.
An email attachment is worth a thousand words, or is it?

There is an extensive body of research on Social Network Analysis (SNA) based on the email arhive. The network used in the analysis is generally extracted either by capturing the email communication in From, To, Cc and Bcc email header fields or by the entities contained in the email message. In the latter case, the entities could be, for instance, the bag of words, url's, names, phones, etc. It could also include the textual content of attachments, for instance Microsoft Word documents, excel spreadsheets, or Adobe pdfs. The nodes in this network represent users and entities. The edges represent communication between users and relations to the entities. We suggest taking a different approach to the network extraction and use attachments shared between users as the edges. The motivation for this is two-fold. First, attachments represent the "intimacy" manifestation of the relation's strength. Second, the statistical analysis of private email archives that we collected and Enron email corpus shows that the attachments contribute in average around 80-90% to the archive's disk-space usage, which means that most of the data is presently ignored in the SNA of email archives. Consequently, we hypothesize that this approach might provide more insight into the social structure of the email archive. We extract the communication and shared attachments networks from Enron email corpus. We further analyze degree, betweenness, closeness, and eigenvector centrality measures in both networks and review the differences and what can be learned from them. We use nearest neighbor algorithm to generate similarity groups for five Enron employees. The groups are consistent with Enron's organizational chart, which validates our approach.
Assessment of within-population genetic structure in Quercus crispula and Q. dentata by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis

The spatial genetic structure was assessed by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique for Quercus crispula Blume (37 individuals) and Q. dentata Thunberg (54 individuals) growing along a 550-m transect in Ishikari, Hokkaido, northern Japan. The simple Mantel test revealed significant negative correlation between genetic similarity and geographic distance in Q. dentata and negative but insignificant correlation in Q. crispula. Spatial autocorrelation analysis revealed that Mantel’s r generally decreased from positive to negative values with the increase of spatial distance in both oak species with significant deviation from zero for the 50–100-m (positive) and 250–300-m classes (negative) in Q. dentata. Thus, significant spatial genetic structure was revealed at least in Q. dentata
Marathon running as a cause of troponin elevation: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Cardiac troponin (cTn) has high sensitivity and specificity for myocardial injury in acute coronary syndrome. Our objective was to review the published literature regarding the incidence of cTn elevations in marathon runners. METHODS Systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies published before September 2009. We included studies of patients who had completed a marathon and had serum cTn levels within 24 hours. The primary outcome was the odds ratio for conversion of a normal pre-marathon cTn to an elevated post-marathon cTn. Secondary outcomes included the pooled prevalence of cTn elevation and comparison of the odds ratio for post-marathon elevation of cTnI versus cTnT. RESULTS Sixteen studies of 939 participants met criteria for inclusion. The mean age was 39 ± 4 years and patients were 74 ± 14% male. There were 6 pre-marathon cTn elevations and 579 post-race elevations. The pooled odds ratio for converting from a normal pre-race to an elevated post-race cTn was 51.84 (95% CI 16-168, I² = 66%, P < 0.001). The pooled incidence of a post-marathon cTn elevation was 51% (95% CI 33-69, I² = 98%, P < 0.001) of all runners. For the primary outcome there was no significant publication bias. Age and gender were not associated, but publication date and assay sensitivity was associated with cTn elevation. cTnI was less commonly elevated versus cTnT. CONCLUSIONS The available data demonstrate that cTn levels are frequently elevated after a marathon with unclear cardiovascular significance. This elevation of cTn appears to be consistent among a diverse patient population.