Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism, the five factor model of personality and hippocampal volume: Implications for depressive illness

Altered hippocampal volume, the brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) Val66Met polymorphism, and neuroticism have each been implicated in the etiology of psychiatric disorders, especially depression. However, the relationship between these variables is not well understood. Here, we determined the effects of the BDNF Val66met polymorphism on the five‐factor personality dimensions (assessed using the NEO‐FFI), trait depression (assessed with the DASS‐21) in a cross‐sectional cohort of 467 healthy volunteers. A large matched subset of this cohort was also assessed for grey matter volume of the hippocampus and contiguous temporal cortical regions using magnetic resonance imaging. In Met carriers, elevations in neuroticism and trait depression and stress were associated with lower mean hippocampal volume, but there were no such associations in Val homozygotes. Trait depression, in particular, was found to moderate the effects of BDNF genotypes on hippocampal volume. Met carriers with high trait depression showed a reduction in grey matter volume of the mean hippocampus compared with Val homozygotes. These findings suggest that even in otherwise healthy subjects, trait depression may contribute to the susceptibility of Met carriers to hippocampal grey matter loss. Hum Brain Mapp 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A method to design adaptive controllers for flexible joint robots

An approach to the design of control laws for robot manipulators is proposed. This approach can be applied to robots having flexible joints as well. An application to the case of unknown parameters is also given with reference to a single-link robot with one revolute elastic joint. A drawback to the method considered is the complexity of the resulting control law, as shown by the single-link example. Some simulation results for a three-link rigid robot are also presented. <<ETX>>
Association of Paracellin-1 with ZO-1 Augments the Reabsorption of Divalent Cations in Renal Epithelial Cells*

Paracellin-1 (PCLN-1) belongs to the claudin family of tight junction proteins and possibly plays a critical role in the reabsorption of magnesium and calcium. So far, the physiological properties of PCLN-1 have not been clarified. In the present study, we investigated whether PCLN-1 is associated with ZO-1. We also investigated whether 45Ca2+ transport across the paracellular barrier is affected by this association. In vitro binding analysis using glutathione S-transferase fusion protein showed that the C-terminal TRV sequence, especially Thr and Val residues, of PCLN-1 interacts with ZO-1. Next, PCLN-1 was stably expressed in Madin-Darby canine kidney cells using a FLAG tagging vector. ZO-1 was co-immunoprecipitated with the wild-type PCLN-1 and the alanine substitution (TAV) mutant. However, mutants of the deletion (ΔTRV) and the alanine substitution (ARV and TRA) inhibited the association of PCLN-1 with ZO-1. Confocal immunofluorescence demonstrated that the wild-type PCLN-1 and the TAV mutant localized in the tight junction along with ZO-1, but the ΔTRV, ARV, and TRA mutants were widely distributed in the lateral membrane including the tight junction area. Interestingly, monolayers of cells expressing the wild-type PCLN-1 and the TAV mutant showed higher activities of 45Ca2+ transport from apical to basal compartments, compared with those expressing the ΔTRV, ARV, and TRA mutants and the mock cells. 45Ca2+ transport was inhibited by increased magnesium concentration suggesting that magnesium and calcium were competitively transported by PCLN-1. It was noted that a positive electrical potential gradient enhanced 45Ca2+ transport from apical to basal compartments without affecting the opposite direction of transport. Thus, PCLN-1 localizes to the tight junction followed by association with ZO-1, and the PCLN-1·ZO-1 complex may play an essential role in the reabsorption of divalent cations in renal epithelial cells.
PREVALENCE OF ANTIBODY TO TOXOPLASMA GONDII AND TRICHINELLA SPP. IN FERAL PIGS (SUS SCROFA) OF EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA

Feral pigs (Sus scrofa) survive in many climates, reproduce year-round, and are dietary generalists. In the United States, the size and range of the feral pig population has expanded, resulting in greater interaction with humans and domestic swine and increased potential for disease transmission. We conducted a serosurvey in feral pigs from eastern North Carolina to determine exposure to the zoonotic parasites, Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. Between September 2007 and March 2009, blood serum was collected from 83 feral pigs harvested at Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center, Four Oaks, North Carolina, USA. We used a modified agglutination test to test for T. gondii antibodies and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to test for Trichinella spp. antibodies. The prevalences of antibodies to T. gondii and Trichinella spp. were 27.7% and 13.3%, respectively and 4% (n=3) had antibodies to both agents. We detected an increased risk of T. gondii antibodies with age, whereas the risk of exposure to T. gondii across years and between sexes was similar. In eastern North Carolina, feral pigs have been exposed to T. gondii and Trichinella spp. and may pose a health risk to domestic swine and humans.
A progeroid syndrome with neonatal presentation and long survival maps to 19p13.3p13.2.

We report on a Palestinian family with three affected individuals exhibiting progeroid syndrome characterized by intrauterine growth retardation, a progeroid appearance, failure to thrive, short stature, and hypotonia. The progeroid features were evident at birth. All the affected members of this family have survived beyond the neonatal period and one of them is currently a 27-year-old adult. As parental consanguinity suggested an autosomal recessive mode of inheritance, we employed homozygosity mapping using single nucleotide polymorphism arrays followed by next generation whole exome sequencing to identify the disease-causing gene. We were able to identify a single block of homozygosity shared between all the affected members of the studied family spanning 2.3 Mb on chromosome 19p13.3p13. 2. However, Sanger sequencing of known genes and whole exome sequencing of the three affected sibs did not reveal a convincing causal mutation. These findings are anticipated to open the way for the identification of the molecular causes underlying this syndrome.
SimDex: Exploiting Model Similarity in Exact Matrix Factorization Recommendations

We present SimDex, a new technique for serving exact top-K recommendations on matrix factorization models that measures and optimizes for the similarity between users in the model. Previous serving techniques presume a high degree of similarity (e.g., L2 or cosine distance) among users and/or items in MF models; however, as we demonstrate, the most accurate models are not guaranteed to exhibit high similarity. As a result, brute-force matrix multiply outperforms recent proposals for top-K serving on several collaborative filtering tasks. Based on this observation, we develop SimDex, a new technique for serving matrix factorization models that automatically optimizes serving based on the degree of similarity between users, and outperforms existing methods in both the high-similarity and low-similarity regimes. SimDexfirst measures the degree of similarity among users via clustering and uses a cost-based optimizer to either construct an index on the model or defer to blocked matrix multiply. It leverages highly efficient linear algebra primitives in both cases to deliver predictions either from its index or from brute-force multiply. Overall, SimDex runs an average of 2x and up to 6x faster than highly optimized baselines for the most accurate models on several popular collaborative filtering datasets.
State Newborn Screening in the Tandem Mass Spectrometry Era: More Tests, More False-Positive Results

BACKGROUND. The advent of tandem mass spectrometry has made it possible to test newborns for multiple conditions efficiently. It is not known how state newborn screening programs have changed screening practices in response to this technology and how it affects the number of false-positive test results. METHODS. We obtained data from the National Newborn Screening and Genetics Resource Center regarding the screening practices for each of the 50 states, to determine the number of mandated disorders added to state newborn screening panels between 1995 and 2005. Combining these data with reported specificities from the literature and the number of births in each state, we estimated the number of infants who would have received false-positive results through screening with tandem mass spectrometry in 2005. RESULTS. The average state mandated screening for 5 disorders in 1995 (range: 0–8 disorders). Wyoming was the only state that decreased its panel size over the next decade. Kansas and Texas were the only states that did not add disorders to their panels between 1995 and 2005; the average state added 19. Iowa, Minnesota, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Tennessee each added ≥40 disorders. Assuming that an individual test for a disorder had a specificity of 99.995%, we estimated that ∼2575 infants would have received false-positive results through screening with tandem mass spectrometry in 2005. If specificity was assumed to be 99.9%, then the number increased to >51000. CONCLUSIONS. State newborn screening programs have expanded dramatically in the past decade. Because the benefit of such testing may be unclear in some cases and because the number of infants who may receive false-positive results and may be labeled falsely as having disease is potentially sizeable, a more cautious approach is needed.
Use of the SOFA score to assess the incidence of organ dysfunction/failure in intensive care units: results of a multicenter, prospective study. Working group on "sepsis-related problems" of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the use of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score in assessing the incidence and severity of organ dysfunction in critically ill patients. DESIGN Prospective, multicenter study. SETTING Forty intensive care units (ICUs) in 16 countries. PATIENTS Patients admitted to the ICU in May 1995 (n = 1,449), excluding patients who underwent uncomplicated elective surgery with an ICU length of stay <48 hrs. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The main outcome measures included incidence of dysfunction/failure of different organs and the relationship of this dysfunction with outcome. In this cohort of patients, the median length of ICU stay was 5 days, and the ICU mortality rate was 22%. Multiple organ dysfunction and high SOFA scores for any individual organ were associated with increased mortality. The presence of infection on admission (28.7% of patients) was associated with higher SOFA scores for each organ. The evaluation of a subgroup of 544 patients who stayed in the ICU for at least 1 wk showed that survivors and nonsurvivors followed a different course. This subgroup had greater respiratory, cardiovascular, and neurologic scores than the other patients. In this subgroup, the total SOFA score increased in 44% of the nonsurvivors but in only 20% of the survivors (p < .001). Conversely, the total SOFA score decreased in 33% of the survivors compared with 21% of the nonsurvivors (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS The SOFA score is a simple, but effective method to describe organ dysfunction/failure in critically ill patients. Regular, repeated scoring enables patient condition and disease development to be monitored and better understood. The SOFA score may enable comparison between patients that would benefit clinical trials.
Upland Agriculture in the Maya Lowlands: Ancient Maya Soil Conservation in Northwestern Belize*

In the 1970s scholars began to accept Maya terracing as the manifestation of ancient intensive agriculture and large populations. We examine many ancient terraces and berms excavated in the Three Rivers region of Belize, synthesize the geography and suggest the intent of terracing across the Maya Lowlands, and analyze the history of terracing and soil erosion. Terraces occur in several slope positions and diverted and slowed runoff, to build up planting surfaces that could maximize soil moisture. The first accelerated soil erosion occurred during the Preclassic period (1500 b.c.‐a.d. 250). Maya terracing started in the Early Classic period (a.d. 250–600) and spread across the Lowlands with the great population expansion of the Late/Terminal Classic period (a.d. 600–900). Thereafter, the Maya would largely forsake terracing. Though abandoned for a millennium, many terraces still function in today's tropical forests and burning milpas.
Developing a modern platform for test engineering — Introducing the origen semiconductor developer's kit

Many of the tools used today in semiconductor test engineering are single-point solutions that are concerned with the mechanics of translating test IP between domains and formats. There is no cohesive standardized framework to bind them all together; and workflow and application architecture choices are largely left up to the individual engineer. Learning from the state-of-the-art in other software engineering domains, we have developed a modern framework for semiconductor engineering that favors a convention-based approach to application architectures. By following conventions, powerful abstractions can be created to enable truly modular test development within a unified environment for the creation of test patterns, test programs, and all other test collateral. The paper reviews the background and some of the main capabilities of the framework and discusses how it is being used in production today to replace many conventional pattern flows. This is also a formal announcement that Freescale Semiconductor is open-sourcing the Origen Semiconductor Developer's Kit (SDK) to enable future development to be done in collaboration with the global semiconductor engineering community.
Stereological and Immunohistochemical Study of the Spleen in Hypothyroid Juvenile Rats

Abstract The purpose of this work was to investigate the influence of hypothyroidism on spleen tissue morphology and immune cell density in fourteen-day-old juvenile rats. Hypothyroidism in pups (n=10) was induced by administration of propylthiouracil (PTU) in drinking water (1.5 mg/L) to their mothers during pregnancy and period of lactation. Fourteen-day-old pups were sacrificed and the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) serum concentration and thyroid activation index (Ia) were determined. Increased serum level of TSH and increased Ia showed that pups from PTU treated mothers were hypothyroid. White and red spleen pulp, marginal zone and connective tissue volume density has been assessed by using the stereological method. Using immunohistochemistry, the present CD3+ T lymphocytes, CD45RA+ B lymphocytes and CD68+ macrophages were quantified. A significant reduction of volume density of the periarteriolar lymphocyte sheath (VvPALS) and lymphatic follicles (Vvf) due to depletion of T and B lymphocytes respectively, was observed in the spleens of hypothyroid pups compared to controls. The volume density of the red pulp (Vvrp), marginal zone (Vvmz) and connective tissue (Vvct) was increased, as well as the number of CD68+ macrophages in the spleens of hypothyroid pups compared to controls. These results indicate that thyroid hormones might be important for normal development of both, specific and innate immune cells in the spleen during prenatal and early postnatal period. Cilj ovog istraživanja je bio da ispita uticaj hipotireoidizma na morfologiju tkiva slezine i zastupljenost ćelija imunskog sistema kod dve nedelje starih juvenilnih pacova. Hipotireoidizam mladunaca (n=10) je indukovan aplikacijom propiltiouracila (PTU) u vodi za piće (1,5 mg/L), majkama tokom perioda graviditeta i laktacije. Dve nedelje stari mladunci su žrtvovani i određena im je koncentracija tireostimulirajućeg hormona (TSH) u serumu, kao i indeks aktivacije štitaste žlezde (Ia). Na osnovu povišenog nivoa TSH i povišenog Ia, utvrđeno je da je PTU aplikovan majkama, doveo do pojave hipotireoidizma kod njihovih potomaka. Volumenska gustina bele i crvene pulpe, marginalne zone i vezivnog tkiva slezine mladunaca ispitivana je stereološkom analizom. Zastupljenost CD3+ T limfocita, CD45RA+ B limfocita i CD68+ makrofaga u slezini je određena primenom imunohistohemijske metode. Kod hipotireoidnih mladunca postojalo je značajno smanjenje volumenske gustine periarterijskog limfocitnog omotača (VvPALS) i limfnih folikula (Vvf), kao i deplecija CD3+ T limfocita i CD45RA+ B limfocita, u poređenju sa mladuncima iz kontrolne grupe. Za razliku od bele pulpe, volumenska gustina crvene pulpe (Vvcp), marginalne zone (Vvmz) i vezivnog tkiva (Vvct), kao i broj CD68+ makrofaga je bio povećan kod hipotireoidnih mladunaca u odnosu na kontrolnu grupu. Ovi rezultati ukazuju da tireoidni hormoni mogu da budu važni za normalan razvoj ćelija specifi čnog i nespecifi čnog imunskog sistema tokom prenatalnog i ranog postnatalnog perioda razvoja.
Constructing Agency in Treatment Decisions: Negotiating Responsibility in Cancer

People belonging to cancer patient support groups participated in focus groups concerning their experiences of orthodox and complementary medicine. Their accounts of treatment decisions for cancer were analysed through discourse analysis. Accounts of both complementary and orthodox medicine addressed an ideological dilemma concerning the positioning of individuals as active or passive. Active positions were congruent with the everyday value of autonomy and responsible individuality, but conflicted with the established expertise of the medical profession in cancer and entailed being accountable for one’s health. Passive positions reversed this situation. Complementary medicine provided an opportunity for people with cancer to negotiate active positions in a limited domain of health care. The responsibility for health associated with taking active treatment decisions was problematic in accounts of both orthodox and complementary medicine.
Inverse Scattering Problems of Reconstructing Perfectly Electric Conductors With TE Illumination

In this paper, the reconstruction of perfectly electric conductor (PEC) scatterers with transverse electric (TE) wave illumination is investigated using the continuous-type subspace-based optimization method (SOM). The PEC scatterers can be of arbitrary locations, shapes and quantities and no prior information about the scatterers is required in the reconstructions. Compared with the transverse magnetic (TM) counterpart, the TE case is not only mathematically more complex, but also numerically more demanding in the sense that the triangular basis is used to represent induced electric current. Moreover, under better mesh strategy and more strict objective function, numerical simulations for arbitrary PEC scatterers generate satisfactory results and are well robust against noise. The algorithm is also examined under the experimental scattering data and still obtains good reconstruction results.
Small-signal analysis of a kilo-watt-output power converter

A power converter supplying kilo-watt-power from its output side is developed in this paper. The composition of its power-stage includes an AC-DC converter and a DC-DC converter. The topology used by the DC-DC converter is the phase-shifted full-bridge with parallel current-doubler rectification converter (PSFB-PCDRC). For the sake of feedback controller design, the small-signal model of PSFB-PCDRC will be set up and employed further to analyze frequency responses. Moreover, the three-terminal switch model is used in this paper, therefore, the transfer function of PSFB-PCDRC is available to be acquired to simulate and analyze the frequency responses. Via practical measurements, the derivation of small-signal model and system compensation parameters can also be approved. The analysis and design procedure will be presented thereafter in the paper. Moreover, the simulations and experimental results are verified that both of which exactly correspond to the anticipated results of the theory, and furthermore, the validity of proposed design approach will also be approved and demonstrated.
Édouard Glissant’s Creolized World Vision: From Resistance and Relation to Opacité

It has long been an established fact that Édouard Glissant (September 21, 1928—February 3, 2011) was a pre-eminent, even iconic figure in the Francophone world. With numerous works in the fields of philosophy, literature, poetry, and drama at the time of his death, his renown in the world of arts and letters was beyond question, and he had long been seen as one of the pillars of Caribbean philosophical and political thought. While the groundwork of la pensée glissantienne was arguably laid in such early books of essays as Soleil de la conscience (1956) and L’Intention poétique (1969), and the beginnings of a discursive articulation assumed center stage in 1981 with the publication of Le Discours antillais and its fleshing out of such concepts as creolization and antillanité, it is the period spanning the publication of Poétique de la relation in 1990 to Glissant’s death in 2011 that most immediately concerns us here. Key concepts of the Glissantian oeuvre appeared in several works of this later period, including Introduction à une poétique du divers (1996), Traité du Tout-Monde (1997), and Philosophie de la relation (2009). Critical work on Glissant often divides his writing into two periods: before and after the publication of Le Discours antillais in 1981. In the first period one might claim that he focuses mainly on Martinique and its social, political, and cultural problems, while in the second, by developing the concept of the Tout-monde, he extends his vision to the postcolonial world as a whole. This shift, or evolution, in Glissant’s thinking and writing has led to what some might call a certain positional in-betweenness, in that in some quarters he is regarded as having moved away from being a postcolonial theorist, and of having abandoned its basic tenets, including those to which his writing gave rise. Eric Prieto sums up this situation well:
Automatic fluorescent tag detection in 3D with super‐resolution: application to the analysis of chromosome movement

In this paper, we describe an algorithmic framework for the automatic detection of diffraction‐limited fluorescent spots in 3D optical images at a separation below the Rayleigh limit, i.e. with super‐resolution. We demonstrate the potential of super‐resolution detection by tracking fluorescently tagged chromosomes during mitosis in budding yeast. Our biological objective is to identify and analyse the proteins responsible for the generation of tensile force during chromosome segregation. Dynamic measurements in living cells are made possible by green fluroescent protein (GFP)‐tagging chromosomes and spindle pole bodies to generate cells carrying four fluorescent spots, and observe the motion of the spots over time using 3D‐fluorescence microscopy. The central problem in spot detection arises with the partial or complete overlap of spots when tagged objects are separated by distances below the resolution of the optics. To detect multiple spots under these conditions, a set of candidate mixture models is built, and the best candidate is selected from the set based on χ2‐statistics of the residuals in least‐square fits of the models to the image data.