Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Common PPARγ variants C161T and Pro12Ala are not associated with inflammatory bowel disease in an Australian cohort.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ is a transcription factor, highly expressed in colonic epithelial cells, adipose tissue and macrophages, with an important role in the regulation of inflammatory pathways. The common PPARγ variants C161T and Pro12Ala have recently been associated with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) and an extensive UC phenotype respectively, in a Chinese population. PPARγ Pro12Ala variant homozygotes appear to be protected from the development of Crohn's disease (CD) in European Caucasians. METHODS A case-control study was performed for both variants (CD n=575, UC n=306, Controls n=360) using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis in an Australian IBD cohort. A transmission disequilibrium test was also performed using CD trios for the PPARγ C161T variant. Genotype-phenotype analyses were also undertaken. RESULTS There was no significant difference in genotype distribution data or allele frequency between CD and UC patients and controls. There was no difference in allele transmission for the C161T variant. No significant relationship between the variants and disease location was observed. CONCLUSIONS We were unable to replicate in a Caucasian cohort the recent association between PPARγ C161T and UC or between PPARγ Pro12Ala and an extensive UC phenotype in a Chinese population. There are significant ethnic differences in genetic susceptibility to IBD and its phenotypic expression.
Youth-to-youth: HIV prevention and young people in Kenya.

Kenya is at the forefront of the HIV epidemic in Africa with an estimated 1.1 million cases by the end of 1995. Most infections occur between 15-24 years of age. Unprotected heterosexual intercourse is widespread among Kenyan youth but policy makers remain convinced withholding information about sexuality will discourage premarital sexual activity. This pamphlet documents 4 youth-to-youth initiatives planned and implemented by young people themselves aimed at empowering Kenyan youth to avoid HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases: Mathare Youth Sports Association which trains football squad members as AIDS peer educators; the Fish Group a Catholic youth organization in Kisumu that has organized a behavior change club to encourage sexual responsibility; the Kenya Society for People with AIDS which conducts educational campaigns at schools market centers and clinics; and the Teenage Mothers and Girls Association of Kenya which informs members about AIDS through small group discussions provides vocational training and loans to enable young women to avoid dependence on men and lobbies for efforts to curtail child prostitution. All 4 programs share credibility with the target population high levels of creativity and personal commitment and cost-effectiveness due to their reliance on volunteers. On the other hand youth-led organizations face financial constraints lack of program management and evaluation skills an overdependence on charismatic leaders and high volunteer turnover. Given the tremendous potential of youth-led initiatives to help young people cope with the HIV/AIDS threat this approach should be given broader financial and organizational support to further expand its activities.
Anticipatory EEG Signals for Detecting and Classifying Game Interaction Onset

In this study, we propose to investigate the presence of anticipatory patterns in electroencephalography (EEG) signals while driving a virtual car to determine two specific actions (1) turn left and (2) turn right, a few milliseconds before such actions take place. Our results show the feasibility of using anticipatory brain signals for detecting and classifying game interaction before it happens.
IL-12Rβ2 Is Essential for the Development of Experimental Cerebral Malaria

A Th1 response is required for the development of Plasmodium berghei ANKA (PbA)-induced experimental cerebral malaria (ECM). The role of pro-Th1 IL-12 in malaria is complex and controversial. In this study, we addressed the role of IL-12Rβ2 in ECM development. C57BL/6 mice deficient for IL-12Rβ2, IL-12p40, or IL-12p35 were analyzed for ECM development after blood-stage PbA infection in terms of ischemia and blood flow by noninvasive magnetic resonance imaging and angiography, T cell recruitment, and gene expression. Without IL-12Rβ2, no neurologic sign of ECM developed upon PbA infection. Although wild-type mice developed distinct brain microvascular pathology, ECM-resistant, IL-12Rβ2–deficient mice showed unaltered cerebral microcirculation and the absence of ischemia after PbA infection. In contrast, mice deficient for IL-12p40 or IL-12p35 were sensitive to ECM development. The resistance of IL-12Rβ2–deficient mice to ECM correlated with reduced recruitment of activated T cells and impaired overexpression of lymphotoxin-α, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in the brain after PbA infection. Therefore, IL-12Rβ2 signaling is essential for ECM development but independent from IL-12p40 and IL-12p35. We document a novel link between IL-12Rβ2 and lymphotoxin-α, TNF-α, and IFN-γ expression, key cytokines for ECM pathogenesis.
The Political Economy of Intergovernmental Transfers—Evidence from Indian Disaster Relief

India’s National Calamity Contingency Fund (NCCF) is a discretionary federal grant that supports the sub-national governments with their disaster relief efforts. Evidence suggests that discretionary intergovernmental transfers in countries with national coalition governments contribute to distributive politics. Coalition formateur(s) use these transfers to form or hold together fractious coalitions. We use data on the NCCF from 1997 to 2013 for 23 Indian states to test for distributive politics. Our results show no evidence of NCCF contributing to distributive politics. We argue instead that the NCCF contributes to a different political phenomenon—tactical redistribution.
PID control of magnetic levitation system based on derivative filter

This paper aims at the development of a proportional integral derivative (PID) controller with a derivative filter coefficient for a magnetic levitation system (MLS), which is a highly nonlinear open loop system. The mathematical modeling of MLS is done using MATLAB/Simulink. The proposed controller simulation results are evaluated with sine wave and step response. The results obtained are also compared with PID controller. The response of the proposed PID controller with derivative filter show better response in comparison to that of conventional PID controller.
Genetic and environmental influences on restrained eating behavior.

OBJECTIVE We examined the relative contributions of genetic and environmental influences to restrained eating. METHOD Restrained eating was assessed by the Restraint Scale in a survey mailed to all twins enrolled in the University of Washington Twin Registry. We used structural equation modeling to estimate genetic and nongenetic contributions to restrained eating. RESULTS 1,196 monozygotic (MZ), 456 same-sex dizygotic (DZ) twins, and 447 opposite-sex twins were included in analyses. Restraint Scale scores were more closely correlated in MZ twins (r(male) = . 55, r(female) = . 55) than in same-sex DZ twins (r(male) = . 31, r(female) = . 19). Based on structural equation modeling, the estimated heritability for restrained eating, adjusted for body mass index (BMI) and sex, was 43% (95% confidence interval 35-50%). There was little evidence for common environmental effects. DISCUSSION These results indicate an inherited component to restrained eating. Genes could influence restrained eating directly or through inherited mediators such as personality factors or tendencies to gain weight.
Blocking IL-17A Promotes the Resolution of Pulmonary Inflammation and Fibrosis Via TGF-β1–Dependent and –Independent Mechanisms

Pulmonary fibrosis is the pathologic basis for a variety of incurable human chronic lung diseases. IL-17A, a glycoprotein secreted from IL-17–producing cells, has recently been shown to be a proinflammatory cytokine involved in chronic inflammation and autoimmune disease. In this study, we report that IL-17A increased the synthesis and secretion of collagen and promoted the epithelial–mesenchymal transition in alveolar epithelial cells in a TGF-β1–dependent manner. Using in vivo fibrotic models, we found IL-17A expression to be elevated and IL-17A–associated signaling pathways to be activated in fibrotic lung tissues. Neutralization of IL-17A in vivo promoted the resolution of bleomycin-induced acute inflammation, attenuated pulmonary fibrosis, and increased survival. Additionally, IL-17A antagonism inhibited silica-induced chronic inflammation and pulmonary fibrosis. Targeting IL-17A resulted in a shift of the suppressive immune response in fibrotic lung tissue toward a Th1-type immune response, and it effectively induced autophagy, which promoted the autophagic degradation of collagen and autophagy-associated cell death. Moreover, IL-17A was found to attenuate the starvation-induced autophagy, and autophagy modulators regulated collagen degradation in the alveolar epithelial cells in a TGF-β1–independent manner. Administration of 3-methylamphetamine, an autophagy inhibitor, reversed the therapeutic efficacy of IL-17A antagonism in pulmonary fibrosis. Our studies indicate that IL-17A participates in the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis in both TGF-β1–dependent and –independent manners and that the components of the IL-17A signaling pathway are potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of fibroproliferative lung diseases.
Convergence of Presenilin- and Tau-Mediated Pathways on Axonal Trafficking and Neuronal Function

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a significant and growing health problem in the aging population. Although definitive mechanisms of pathogenesis remain elusive, genetic and histological clues have implicated the proteins presenilin (PS) and tau as key players in AD development. PS mutations lead to familial AD, and although tau is not mutated in AD, tau pathology is a hallmark of the disease. Axonal transport deficits are a common feature of several neurodegenerative disorders and may represent a point of intersection of PS and tau function. To investigate the contribution of wild-type, as opposed to mutant, tau to axonal transport defects in the context of presenilin loss, we used a mouse model postnatally deficient for PS (PS cDKO) and expressing wild-type human tau (WtTau). The resulting PS cDKO;WtTau mice exhibited early tau pathology and axonal transport deficits that preceded development of these phenotypes in WtTau or PS cDKO mice. These deficits were associated with reduced neurotrophin signaling, defective learning and memory and impaired synaptic plasticity. The combination of these effects accelerated neurodegeneration in PS cDKO;WtTau mice. Our results strongly support a convergent role for PS and tau in axonal transport and neuronal survival and function and implicate their misregulation as a contributor to AD pathogenesis.
A 13.5-MHz relaxation oscillator with ±0.5% temperature stability for RFID application

This paper presents a 13.5-MHz low-power, RC on-chip relaxation oscillator with split-capacitor technique for RFID application. This oscillator implements only one comparator and one reference voltage to minimize power consumption and silicon area. A loop delay variation cancellation technique that employs an integrator loop and a split-capacitor architecture helps attained the temperature stability in the proposed oscillator. The proposed design is fabricated in 0.18-μm CMOS process. The relaxation oscillator consumes 48.8 μW at 1.8-V power supply. The measurement results show that the circuit can generate a stable frequency of 13.5 MHz. The output frequency variation is less than ±0.5% of temperature range from −30° C to 120° C, and the supply voltage variation coefficient is 0.5%/V across 1.5 V to 2.1V supply voltage.
Stored Light in an Optical Fiber via Stimulated Brillouin Scattering

We describe a method for storing sequences of optical data pulses by converting them into long-lived acoustic excitations in an optical fiber through the process of stimulated Brillouin scattering. These stored pulses can be retrieved later, after a time interval limited by the lifetime of the acoustic excitation. In the experiment reported here, smooth 2-nanosecond-long pulses are stored for up to 12 nanoseconds with good readout efficiency: 29% at 4-nanosecond storage time and 2% at 12 nanoseconds. This method thus can potentially store data packets that are many bits long. It can be implemented at any wavelength where the fiber is transparent and can be incorporated into existing telecommunication networks because it operates using only commercially available components at room temperature.
From "Creative Juice" to "Pioneer on an Iceberg": Teachers' and Administrators' Perspectives on Their 34-Year Old Interdisciplinary Curriculum.

This historical case study explores the 34-year history of interdisciplinary curriculum development in one public school district. Interviews with nine veteran teachers and three administrators suggest that the role of curriculum specialists and the drive for accountability and consistency are the key influences on the curriculum development process. The data related to the changing role of the district's curriculum specialists supports Schwab's (1973; 1983) vision for curriculum professors and curriculum leaders. Teachers and administrators appreciate curriculum leaders who are collaborative, innovative, and able to apply local and international ideas to curriculum development. Hargreaves, Earl, Moore, & Manning's (2001) interpretive lenses suggest that cultural, political, and post-modern perspectives illuminate this curriculum history. The school district has developed a culture of collaboration, struggles with the way state standards are presented, and suffers from the common post-modern concern with lack of time. An appendix presents a veteran curriculum developers' interview protocol. (Contains 24 references.) (Author/SM) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.
The Spatial Fay-Herriot Model in Poverty Estimation

Abstract Counteracting poverty is one of the objectives of the European Commission clearly emphasized in the Europe 2020 strategy. Conducting appropriate social policy requires knowledge of the extent of this phenomenon. Such information is provided through surveys on living conditions conducted by, among others, the Central Statistical Office (CSO). Nevertheless, the sample size in these surveys allows for a precise estimation of poverty rate only at a very general level - the whole country and regions. Small sample size at the lower level of spatial aggregation results in a large variance of obtained estimates and hence lower reliability. To obtain information in sparsely represented territorial sections, methods of small area estimation are used. Through using the information from other sources, such as censuses and administrative registers, it is possible to estimate distribution parameters with smaller variance than in the case of direct estimation. This paper attempts to estimate the poverty rate at LAU 1 level of Poland. This estimation will be possible through the use of data from different sources describing the living conditions of households and the use of the Fay-Herriot model with spatial correlation. As a result, estimates for previously unpublished levels of aggregation will be obtained.
Total Factor Productivity of Major Pulse Crops in India: Implications for Technology Policy and Nutritional Security

Improving TFP of pulse crops, the major sources of protein, is important to achieve food and nutritional security in India. In this context the paper has examined the consumption pattern of pulses in India and has estimated the TFP growth of major pulses (chickpea, pigeon pea, green gram and black gram) in the country. The study carried out for the period of 1994-95 to 2012-13, has used Malmquist productivity approach to estimate the TFP. The study has also explored the role of technology change in improving pulse productivity by studying the case of chickpea in Andhra Pradesh. The study has noted that per capita consumption of pulses has declined over the years. The consumption of pulses is far less by the lowest income group vis-a-vis the highest income group households. The yield of pulses in general has stagnated over the years. Among the pulses studied, only chickpea and green gram have exhibited improvement in TFP. The study has revealed that pulses are the cheapest source of proteins among all foods and therefore, have a significant place in improving nutrition at individual level as well as country level. It is the development of short-duration and heat-tolerant varieties and better management that have helped in yield improvement. The case study on chickpea in Andhra Pradesh has shown that productivity improvement is directly related to the share of improved varieties adoption. The study has concluded that the development of affordable technologies suitable for marginal environments and emerging cropping patterns would help improve the productivity of pulses in India, thereby may contribute to addressing the under-consumption of protein.
High-Efficiency Asymmetric Forward-Flyback Converter for Wide Output Power Range

This paper proposes an asymmetric forward-flyback dc-dc converter that has high power-conversion efficiency ηe over a wide output power range. To solve the problem of ringing in the voltage of the rectifier diodes and the problem of duty loss in the conventional asymmetric half-bridge (AHB) converter, the proposed converter uses a voltage doubler structure with a forward inductor Lf in the second stage, instead of using the transformer leakage inductance, to control output current. Lf resonates with the capacitors in the voltage doubler to achieve a zero-voltage turnon of switches and a zero-current turn-off of diodes for a wide output power range. The proposed converter could operate at a wider input voltage range than the other AHB converters. ηe was measured as 95.9% at output power PO = 100 W and as 90% at PO = 10 W, when the converter was operated at input voltage 390 V, output voltage 142 V, and switching frequency 100 kHz.
The influence of sensors structure on measurement accuracy of pulse electric fields

The accurate measurement of fields is the basis of Electromagnetic pulse (EMP) protection. The influence of sensors structure on measurement accuracy of electric fields is investigated with finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The results show that sensors based on dipole antennas are more accurate than those based on monopole antennas, which is because dipole antennas take differential input signals and compensation effect improve the accuracy.
The Difference in Job Satisfaction Between Full-Time and Part-Time Early Childhood Educators Working in Public and Private Schools in South Carolina

The purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine if there was a difference in perceptions of job satisfaction among full-time and part-time teachers who work in both private and public early childhood centers in South Carolina. This study adds to the literature by investigating the impact of work employment classification and type of school on job satisfaction of Early Childhood educators. It is important to investigate the job satisfaction of early childhood educators because job dissatisfaction and high turnover in centers can negatively impact young children. This study allowed 200 participants throughout multiple early childhood centers in South Carolina to complete the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire survey to determine any differences. A two-way ANOVA was conducted to conclude any differences and/or interactions among the groups. Results indicated there was no significant difference in job satisfaction among type of school and early childhood educators or between type of position and type of school environment. However, there was a difference in job satisfaction and employment work classification. Overall, early childhood educators a satisfied with their positions, despite many shortcomings in early childhood education. Recommendations for further research include exploring the job satisfaction of early childhood educators specifically in urban and rural areas, as well as including a qualitative approach to achieve a well-rounded look at the early childhood educator.
Characterization of the human lipoprotein lipase (LPL) promoter: evidence of two cis-regulatory regions, LP-alpha and LP-beta, of importance for the differentiation-linked induction of the LPL gene during adipogenesis

When preadipocytes differentiate into adipocytes, several differentiation-linked genes are activated. Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) is one of the first genes induced during this process. To investigate early events in adipocyte development, we have focused on the transcriptional activation of the LPL gene. For this purpose, we have cloned and fused different parts of intragenic and flanking sequences with a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene. Transient transfection experiments and DNase I hypersensitivity assays indicate that several positive as well as negative elements contribute to transcriptional regulation of the LPL gene. When reporter gene constructs were stably introduced into preadipocytes, we were able to monitor and compare the activation patterns of different promoter deletion mutants at selected time points representing the process of adipocyte development. We could delimit two cis-regulatory elements important for gradual activation of the LPL gene during adipocyte development in vitro. These elements, LP-alpha (-702 to -666) and LP-beta (-468 to -430), contain a striking similarity to a consensus sequence known to bind the transcription factors HNF-3 and fork head. Results of gel mobility shift assays and DNase I and exonuclease III in vitro protection assays indicate that factors with DNA-binding properties similar to those of the HNF-3/fork head family of transcription factors are present in adipocytes and interact with LP-alpha and LP-beta. We also demonstrate that LP-alpha and LP-beta were both capable of conferring a differentiation-linked expression pattern to a heterolog promoter, thus mimicking the expression of the endogenous LPL gene during adipocyte differentiation. These findings indicate that interactions with LP-alpha and LP-beta could be a part of a differentiation switch governing induction of the LPL gene during adipocyte differentiation.