Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychiatric disorders in young adult intercountry adoptees: an epidemiological study.

OBJECTIVE The prevalences of psychiatric disorders in young adult intercountry adoptees and nonadopted young adults from the general population were compared. METHOD In the Netherlands, a total of 1,484 young adult intercountry adoptees (72.5% of the original sample at age 10-15 years) and 695 nonadopted subjects (78.1% of the original sample) of comparable age from the general population were interviewed by using a standardized psychiatric interview generating DSM-IV diagnoses. RESULTS The adopted young adults were 1.52 times as likely to meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder as the nonadopted young adults; the 95% confidence interval (CI) was 1.15-2.00. The adoptees were 2.05 (95% CI=1.32-3.17) times as likely to meet the criteria for substance abuse or dependence. The adopted men were 3.76 (95% CI=1.69-8.37) times as likely to have a mood disorder as nonadopted men, while for women there was no significant difference between adoptees and nonadoptees. No significant difference for the diagnosis of disruptive disorder was found. For all diagnoses together, adoptees with low and middle parental socioeconomic status in childhood did not differ from the comparison subjects, while adoptees with high parental socioeconomic status were 2.17 times (95% CI=1.50-3.13) as likely to meet the criteria for a disorder as nonadoptees with high parental socioeconomic status. CONCLUSIONS Intercountry adoptees run a higher risk of having severe mental health problems in adulthood than nonadoptees of the same age. The risk of later malfunctioning differs for different disorders and different groups of adoptees.
Versatile protein microarray based on carbohydrate‐binding modules

Non‐DNA microarrays, such as protein, peptide and small molecule microarrays, can potentially revolutionize the high‐throughput screening tools currently used in basic and pharmaceutical research. However, fundamental obstacles remain that limit their rapid and widespread implementation as an alternative bioanalytical approach. These include the prerequisite for numerous proteins in active and purified form, ineffectual immobilization strategies and inadequate means for quality control of the considerable numbers of multiple reagents. This study describes a simple yet efficient strategy for the production of non‐DNA microarrays, based on the tenacious affinity of a carbohydrate‐binding module (CBM) for its three‐dimensional substrate, i.e., cellulose. Various microarray formats are described, e.g., conventional and single‐chain antibody microarrays and peptide microarrays for serodiagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus patients. CBM‐based microarray technology overcomes many of the previous obstacles that have hindered fabrication of non‐DNA microarrays and provides a technically simple but effective alternative to conventional microarray technology.
Optimal scheduling of electrical appliances and DER units for home energy management system

This paper presents an optimal scheduling model for Demand Response (DR) based Home Energy Management System (HEMS) that schedules residential electrical appliances and Distributed Energy Resource (DER) units for active residential consumers. The scheduling problem is formulated using Mixed-Integer Linear Programing (MILP). The primary objective of the proposed model is to minimize the electricity expenditure of the consumer while maintaining an optimal comfort level. Grid reliability criteria have also been incorporated into the optimization constraints to address the issue of rebound peaks and voltage-level violation in distribution grids which may arise due to large-scale adoption of DR-based HEMS. The proposed HEMS model is simulated and verified with a case study for a typical house, and the simulation showed positive results with up to 18% energy expenditure savings for the consumer.
The Role of Gamification in Motivating User Participation in Requirements Determinations

The success of a project heavily relies on the quality of requirements determination, which the systems are built upon. However, about 60% of project failures are due to weak requirements determination. This weakness is due to poor communication and lack of stakeholder engagement. Understanding the factors that motivate user participation behaviors during requirements determination can increase user engagement during the requirements determination process. However, empirical research on the factors that motivate participants during requirements determination to engage and share their knowledge is still lacking. The purpose of this paper is to examine the motivational impact of gamification elements on user participation behaviors during requirements determination. This paper presents an extended model of the theory of reasoned action. The extended model posits that gamification elements will influence user participation intentions indirectly through their effects on attitude and subjective norms.
Augmentation of in vivo cytotoxic T lymphocyte activity and reduction of tumor growth by large multivalent immunogen.

Class I alloantigen incorporated into cell-size supported membranes provides an effective stimulus for in vitro stimulation of CTL responses. When alloantigen-bearing cell-size (5 microns) microspheres, termed large multivalent immunogen (LMI), were administered in vivo, no primary cytotoxic response to the Ag could be detected. However, coadministration of LMI and allogeneic tumor stimulator cells resulted in substantial augmentation of the resulting CTL response, compared with that obtained from mice that received just stimulator cells. Responses were augmented only when the same alloantigen was present on the LMI and on the stimulator cells, and the effector cells remained specific for the cognate alloantigen-bearing targets. The physical form of the alloantigen was critical for augmentation; alloantigen in liposomes had no effect on response levels. Tumor cell Ag in the form of purified plasma membrane vesicles can also be incorporated onto the surface of cell-size microspheres. As with allogeneic responses, tumor Ag on LMI specifically augmented the in vivo CTL activity generated in response to irradiated tumor cells in syngeneic mice. Administration of Ag-bearing LMI to mice inoculated i.p. with live P815, EL4, or RDM4 tumor cells resulted in a significant reduction in growth of the tumors in their syngeneic hosts. Similarly, LMI treatment significantly reduced growth of P815 as a solid s.c. tumor. LMI-mediated growth reduction occurred only when plasma membrane Ag from the cognate tumor was used to prepare the LMI, and Ag in the form of free plasma membrane vesicles was not effective. Although Ag has been used to manipulate in vivo humoral and Th responses, this has proven to be much more difficult for CTL responses. The ability of Ag-bearing LMI to affect significantly the in vivo levels of cytolytic response and to reduce syngeneic tumor growth has potential for application to tumor immunotherapy and, possibly, treatment of other diseases in which CTL can provide a protective effect.
Adjusted Risk Difference Estimation: An Assessment of Convergence Problems with Application to Malaria Efficacy Studies

A common measure of treatment effect in malaria efficacy studies is the risk difference, which can be estimated using binomial regression models. These models can fail to provide estimates, however, due to model failure or model convergence problems. Such failure most commonly occurs when the rate is close to 0% or 100% (a “boundary problem”) but can also occur occasionally even when the rate is not close to a boundary. This paper reports the findings from simulation studies performed to evaluate the factors that may contribute to model failure when using binomial regression to derive risk difference estimates. Convergence rates were found to fall: i) As one or both efficacy rates moved towards a boundary value, irrespective of the number of covariates included in the model; ii) As the numbers of covariates in the model increased; iii) As the levels of correlation between covariates the covariates increased. In all circumstances, convergence was poor when the efficacy rate in either group was 90% or more.
Research on the Relationship between Entrepreneur Confidence Index and Producer Price Index Based on Quantile Granger Causality

This paper investigates the relationship between Entrepreneur Confidence Index and Producer Price Index (PPI) based on the mean and quantile Granger causality tests, using quarterly statistics data from 2005 to 2017. The results indicate that there is a unidirectional causality between entrepreneur confidence index and PPI index. At different quantile levels, entrepreneur confidence index of the previous period has different effects on the current PPI index. At lower quantiles, the causality from entrepreneur confidence index to PPI index is significant, while entrepreneur confidence index has little impact on PPI at higher quantiles. The estimates of at low quantiles are positive and significant. Therefore, improving entrepreneur investment confidence will have a certain positive impact on PPI.
Design and characterization of mechanically-coupled CMOS-MEMS filters

This work reports on the design and characterization of a mechanically-coupled CMOS-MEMS filter centered at 8 MHz with a narrow bandwidth of 58 kHz (0.72% bandwidth) and an insertion loss around 17 dB via the combination of a post-data de-embedding technique and a filter termination performed in Agilent Advanced Design System (ADS). The high-velocity coupled arraying and gap-reduction mechanism are applied into the constituent resonator arrays of the filter to lower their motional impedance (Rm) down to 88 KΩ and further facilitate the filter termination. Moreover, the proper filter termination resistances (RQ) are chosen at the input/output ports of the filter for in-band impedance matching and ripple reduction.
In search of determinants for quoted housing rents: Empirical evidence from major German cities

Housing policy made a comeback on the German political agenda. Apartment rental prices increased drastically in most major cities over the last years. Despite wide agreement by policymakers regarding the need for regulation of the housing market, there is close to no empirical evidence on the drivers of rent prices. We follow a comparative, quantitative approach to determine the driving factors of rent prices in German cities, taking economic, societal and political variables into account and using time-series analysis. Our results show that the share of students and the local mean income account for differences in quoted rent prices.
Effects of interleukin-3 after chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer.

To define the maximum tolerated dose and to study whether recombinant human interleukin-3 (rhIL-3) reduced chemotherapy-induced neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, 20 chemotherapy-naive patients with advanced ovarian cancer eligible for treatment with 6 cycles of carboplatin-cyclophosphamide every 4 weeks (day 1) were entered in a phase I/II open, single-center trial. Cohorts of five patients received during 7 days 1, 5, 10, or 15 micrograms/kg/d rhIL-3 (days 5 through 11) in cycles 1, 3, and 5 by continuous intravenous (IV) infusion or once daily subcutaneous (SC) administration. In control cycles 2, 4, and 6, no rhIL-3 was administered. rhIL-3 significantly increased the recovery of leukocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts, especially at 5, 10, and 15 micrograms/kg rhIL-3. rhIL-3 also increased basophil, eosinophil, monocyte, and lymphocyte counts at this dose steps. Effects on reticulocytes were limited. No difference in efficacy between SC and IV rhIL-3 treatment was found. Chemotherapy postponement for insufficient bone marrow recovery was necessary in 22 of 45 control cycles versus 2 of 49 rhIL-3 cycles (P less than .001). Platelet transfusions were required in 7 of 45 control cycles versus 3 of 50 rhIL-3 cycles (P less than .5). rhIL-3 up to 10 micrograms/kg/d could be administered without severe side effects. At 15 micrograms/kg/d, rhIL-3 headache was dose-limiting. Other side effects were fever, flu-like symptoms, nausea, skin rash, flushing, facial erythema, and urticaria. Liver toxicity occurred in rhIL-3 and control cycles. rhIL-3 slightly increased tumor necrosis factor alpha, C-reactive protein, and serum amyloid A plasma levels, whereas no effect on IL-6 plasma levels was observed. rhIL-3 administered SC appears to be an interesting hematopoietic growth factor for reduction of chemotherapy-induced myelotoxicity.
The B7 Homolog Butyrophilin BTN2A1 Is a Novel Ligand for DC-SIGN1

The MHC-encoded butyrophilin, BTN2A1, is a cell surface glycoprotein related to the extended family of B7 costimulatory molecules. BTN2A1 mRNA was expressed in most human tissues, but protein expression was significantly lower in leukocytes. An Ig-fusion protein of BTN2A1 bound to immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells. Binding diminished upon MoDC maturation and no binding was detected to Langerhans cells. Induction of the counterreceptor was IL-4 dependent and occurred early during dendritic cell differentiation. The interaction required the presence of Ca2+ and was mediated by high-mannose oligosaccharides. These properties matched DC-SIGN, a DC-specific HIV-1 entry receptor. This was confirmed by binding of soluble BTN2A1 to DC-SIGN-transfectants and its inhibition by a specific Ab. DC-SIGN bound to native BTN2A1 expressed on a range of tissues. However, BTN2A1 was not recognized on some normal cells such as HUVECs despite a similar expression level. The BTN2A1 of tumor cells such as HEK293T have more high-mannose moieties in comparison to HUVECs, and those high-mannose moieties are instrumental for binding to DC-SIGN. The data are consistent with tumor- or tissue-specific glycosylation of BTN2A1 governing recognition by DC-SIGN on immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells.
Control of Power Electronic Interface for renewable energy sources under distorted grid voltage

In this paper a Power Electronic Interface (PEI) to integrate up to two renewable energy sources is presented. Through the control of the DC link terminal voltage and the AC terminal voltage of the voltage source converter (VSC) the generation of the different distributed sources can be adapted to the grid, supplying the local load and exporting energy to the grid. The system was analyzed under distorted grid voltage, where the quality of the grid current is affected. Solutions based on the use of resonant passive filters and injection of harmonics to compensate the distortion of the grid voltage is presented.
Taking Multiple Exposure Into Account Can Improve Assessment of Chemical Risks

During work, operators may be exposed to several chemicals simultaneously. Most exposure assessment approaches only determine exposure levels for each substance individually. However, such individual-substance approaches may not correctly estimate the toxicity of 'cocktails' of chemicals, as the toxicity of a cocktail may differ from the toxicity of substances on their own. This study presents an approach that can better take into account multiple exposure when assessing chemical risks. Almost 30000 work situations, monitored between 2005 and 2014 and recorded in two French databases, were analysed using MiXie software. The algorithms employed in MiXie can identify toxicological classes associated with several substances, based on the additivity of the selected effects of each substance. The results of our retrospective analysis show that MiXie was able to identify almost 20% more potentially hazardous situations than identified using a single-substance approach. It therefore appears essential to review the ways in which multiple exposure is taken into account during risk assessment.
Efficacy of a hyaluronan derivative gel in postsurgical adhesion prevention in the presence of inadequate hemostasis.

BACKGROUND We previously demonstrated that an auto-cross-linked hyaluronan-based antiadhesion agent (auto-cross-linked polysaccharide [ACP] gel) was effective in postsurgical adhesion prevention after open laparotomy and laparoscopic surgery with adequate hemostasis in animal models. This study assessed the ability of different preparations of ACP gel to prevent adhesions in the presence of bleeding or inadequate hemostasis. METHODS Ninety-seven female rabbits were subjected to a standardized surgical lesion with subsequent exudative abdominal bleeding (oozing model), and 97 animals were subjected to a standardized surgical lesion with severe abdominal bleeding (bleeding model). After injury, the animals were randomly assigned to 5 groups of treatment: 3 different preparations of ACP gel (20, 40, and 60 mg/mL), a hyaluronan-carboxymethylcellulose film, and no treatment. Three weeks after operation, the animals were killed, and the adhesions were assessed by a blinded observer who measured the length and area of the adhesions and who used the Blauer scoring system. RESULTS All 3 preparations of ACP gel and the hyaluronan-carboxymethylcellulose film reduced adhesion formation in both models (P <.01) as measured by the number of adhesion-free animals, mean Blauer score, and the mean length and surface area of the adhesions. There were no statistical differences between the different treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that different hyaluronan based agents in the presence of severe bleeding or exudative abdominal bleeding reduce de-novo postsurgical adhesion formation.
Distinct inflammatory mechanisms mediate early versus late colitis in mice.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Progression from the acute to chronic phase of inflammatory bowel disease cannot be easily evaluated in patients and has not been characterized in animal models. We report a longitudinal study investigating changes in the mucosal immune response in an experimental model of colitis. METHODS Severity of colitis, body mass, stool consistency and blood content, serum amyloid A, and tissue histology were examined in interleukin (IL)-10-deficient mice over 35 weeks. The corresponding production of IL-12, IL-18, interferon gamma, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-4, and IL-13 by lamina propria mononuclear cells in the inflamed intestine was measured. Administration of neutralizing antibody to IL-12 at distinct times during disease progression permitted evaluation of its therapeutic potential. RESULTS The clinical manifestations and intestinal inflammation delineated an early phase of colitis (10-24 weeks), characterized by a progressive increase in disease severity, followed by a late phase (>25 weeks), in which chronic inflammation persisted indefinitely. Lamina propria mononuclear cells from mice with early disease synthesized progressively greater quantities of IL-12 and interferon gamma, whereas production of both cytokines dramatically declined and returned to pre-disease levels in the late phase of colitis. Consistent with this pattern, neutralizing antibody to IL-12 reversed early, but not late, disease. In contrast, IL-4 and IL-13 production increased progressively from pre- to early to late disease. CONCLUSIONS Colitis that develops in IL-10-deficient mice evolves into 2 distinct phases. IL-12 plays a pivotal role in early colitis, whereas its absence and the synthesis of IL-4 and IL-13 in late disease indicate that other immune mechanisms sustain chronic inflammation.
Modal analysis of anisotropic cylindrical waveguides

In this article, modes are analytically expanded for cylindrical waveguide with anisotropic walls. With certain conditions, hybrid modes may appear with fundamental mode cutoff frequency lower than the TE11 fundamental mode of the equivalent metallic waveguide and/or with a larger single-mode frequency band. In some cases, the E transversal field shape of the fundamental mode can be more linear than the equivalent TE11 mode. Such properties of guided waves may result in the reduction of waveguide cross section or higher radiation efficiency in antenna applications.
Intracellular Targets of Paullones

Numerous inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases and glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) are being developed in view of their potential applications against cancers and neurodegenerative disorders. Among these, paullones constitute a family of potent and apparently selective cyclin-dependent kinase and GSK-3 inhibitors. However, their actual intracellular targets remain to be identified. To address this issue we have immobilized a paullone, gwennpaullone, on an agarose matrix. Extracts from various cell types and tissues were screened for proteins interacting with this matrix. This approach validated GSK-3α and GSK-3β as major intracellular paullone targets and also mitochondrial, but not cytoplasmic, malate dehydrogenase (MDH). Mitochondrial MDH was indeed inhibited by micromolar concentrations of paullones. Mitochondrial MDH was the major paullone-binding protein in the parasitic protozoon Leishmania mexicana, and paullones inhibited growth of the parasite. This simple batchwise affinity chromatography approach constitutes a straightforward method for the identification of intracellular targets of this particular class of novel anti-mitotic compounds. It has revealed an unexpected target, mitochondrial MDH, the inhibition of which may participate in the pharmacological effects of paullones.
Characterizing the Dynamics of the Quorum-Sensing System in Staphylococcus aureus

The virulence determinants of Staphylococcus aureus are expressed in a growth phase-dependent manner governed by the autoinducible quorum-sensing system agr. Activation of the agr system results in a rapid increase in the regulator RNAIII and occurs in response to accumulation of AIP. In order to activate the agr system, a basal transcription of agr components must be assumed. This basal transcription of agr components seems to be stimulated by sarA. To better understand how SarA would affect activation of the agr system by modulating the basal agr activity, a mathematical model for autoactivation of the agr system was set up. The model predicted that the agr system is hysteretic, meaning that the agr system is activated at a specific concentration of autoinducing peptide (AIP), whereas it is inactivated at a specific lower concentration of AIP. According to the model, changing the basal agr activity only had a marginal effect on steady-state levels of RNAIII but changed the sensitivity of the cells to AIP. This was supported by Northern blot analysis of RNAIII in S. aureus mutants with different levels of SarA expression. Since natural antagonistic AIPs have been demonstrated, the effect of adding inhibitors to the system was analyzed.