Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pulmonary function deficits in newborn screened infants with cystic fibrosis managed with standard UK care are mild and transient

With the advent of novel designer molecules for cystic fibrosis (CF) treatment, there is huge need for early-life clinical trial outcomes, such as infant lung function (ILF). We investigated the degree and tracking of ILF abnormality during the first 2 years of life in CF newborn screened infants. Forced expiratory volume in 0.5 s (FEV0.5), lung clearance index (LCI) and plethysmographic functional residual capacity were measured at ∼3 months, 1 year and 2 years in 62 infants with CF and 34 controls. By 2 years there was no significant difference in FEV0.5 z-score between CF and controls, whereas mean LCI z-score was 0.81 (95% CI 0.45–1.17) higher in CF. However, there was no significant association between LCI z-score at 2 years with either 3-month or 1-year results. Despite minimal average group changes in any ILF outcome during the second year of life, marked within-subject changes occurred. No child had abnormal LCI or FEV0.5 on all test occasions, precluding the ability to identify “high-risk” infants in early life. In conclusion, changes in lung function are mild and transient during the first 2 years of life in newborn screened infants with CF when managed according to a standardised UK treatment protocol. Their potential role in tracking disease to later childhood will be ascertained by ongoing follow-up. Lung function changes in newborn screened infants with cystic fibrosis are mild and transient up to age 2 years http://ow.ly/7gkW30etHtb
Symptom Differences between Older Depressed Primary Care Patients with and without History of Trauma

Objective: The current study explored the relationship between past traumatic experiences and current depression in a sample of depressed older adult primary care patients. Method: Sixty-six patients were referred from primary care to a psychogeriatric clinic that specialized in the treatment of unipolar depressive disorders. All patients received an extensive psychological assessment. Results: Twenty-one percent had a history of trauma reported in their medical charts. Despite no differences found on a clinician-rated measure of depression, those with a trauma history had more depressive symptoms on a self-report measure. Conclusions: Although older patients with a history of trauma may not appear more depressed than a non-trauma comparison group, they may be in more psychological distress. The clinical implications of these findings and recommendations for mental health professionals are discussed.
Severe akathisia causing neuroleptic failure: An indication for lithium therapy in schizophrenia?

Several neuroleptics recurrently failed to ameliorate psychosis in three schizophrenic patients. Failures were caused by recurrent intractable akathisia, unresponsive to diazepam and trihexyphenidyl. Lacking this extrapyramidal side effect, lithium carbonate was tried and proved an effective antipsychotic. It is suggested that in schizophrenic psychosis lithium is a rational therapeutic option in cases of neuroleptic intolerance and failures due to akathisia.
E3 ligase activity of BRCA1 is not essential for mammalian cell viability or homology-directed repair of double-strand DNA breaks

Hereditary cases of breast and ovarian cancer are often attributed to germ-line mutations of the BRCA1 tumor suppressor gene. Although BRCA1 is involved in diverse cellular processes, its role in the maintenance of genomic integrity may be a key component of its tumor suppression activity. The protein encoded by BRCA1 interacts in vivo with the related BARD1 protein to form a heterodimeric complex that acts as a ubiquitin E3 ligase. Because the enzymatic activity of the BRCA1/BARD1 heterodimer is conserved over a broad phylogenetic range, it is thought to be critical for the central functions of BRCA1. To test this hypothesis, we have generated isogenic clones of embryonic stem cells that do or do not express an enzymatically proficient Brca1 polypeptide. Surprisingly, cells lacking the ubiquitin ligase activity of BRCA1 are viable and do not accumulate spontaneous cytogenetic rearrangements. Gene targeting efficiencies are modestly reduced in these cells, and chromosomal rearrangements arise at elevated rates in response to genotoxic stress. Nonetheless, cells lacking Brca1 enzymatic activity are not hypersensitive to the DNA cross-linking agent mitomycin C. They also form Rad51 focus in response to ionizing radiation and repair chromosome breaks by homologous recombination at wild-type levels. These results indicate that key aspects of BRCA1 function in genome maintenance, including its role in homology-directed repair of double-strand DNA breaks, do not depend on the E3 ligase activity of BRCA1.
A dual-process model of early substance use: tests in two diverse populations of adolescents.

OBJECTIVE We tested a dual-process model based on behavioral and emotional regulation constructs, which posits that good self-control and poor regulation make independent contributions and have different types of pathways to outcomes. The utility of the model for predicting substance use was tested in two diverse populations of younger adolescents. METHOD A survey was administered in classrooms to middle-school students in Westchester County, New York (N = 601) and Honolulu, Hawaii (N = 881). The New York sample was 8% African American, 5% Asian American, 47% Caucasian, 31% Hispanic, and 9% other ethnicity. The Hawaii sample was 21% Asian American, 8% Caucasian, 26% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 34% Filipino, and 10% other ethnicity. Structural equation modeling analyses tested pathways from the four regulation variables through six hypothesized mediators to a criterion construct of substance use (tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana). RESULTS Results were replicated across samples and were consistent with prediction. Unique contributions were found for good self-control and poor regulation, including both behavioral and emotional aspects. Good self-control had an inverse effect on substance use primarily through relations to higher levels of protective factors (e.g., academic competence). Poor regulation independently had a risk-promoting effect on substance use through relations to higher levels of risk factors (e.g., negative life events). CONCLUSIONS Two field studies showed the dual-process model is robust across different populations. Substance prevention programs should consider approaches for enhancing good self-control as well as procedures for reducing poor regulation and minimizing its impact. Extensions to health behaviors including dietary intake and physical activity are discussed.
Research on simulation-based performance analysis of aero-engine casing production line

Production line, taking on the most production task, is the important part in manufacturing enterprise. Under determinate resource, the running state of the production line has a great impact on the production capacity. This paper, aiming the aero-engine casing production line, makes a systematic study on production line simulation, builds the model of aero-engine casing production line, and makes analysis and optimization on the simulation results. A product-delivery-oriented simulation optimization method is proposed. The target function model based on an improved PSO algorithm is introduced to optimize the production scheduling.
The effect of interface trap states on reduced base thickness a-Si/c-Si heterojunction solar cells

A simulation study of (p+) a-Si/ (i) a-Si/ (n) c-Si/ (i) a-Si/ (n+) a-Si solar cell is carried out to identify the carrier loss mechanisms, which are a-Si/c-Si interface and base recombination. Improvements in open circuit voltage (VOC) and thus the efficiency can be achieved through better a-Si/c-Si interface passivation. In devices with excellent a-Si/c-Si interface passivation, base recombination is the dominant process. In such cases, reducing the base thickness (LBase) increases the carrier concentration in the base. The LBase can be reduced without significant loss in short circuit current (JSC) through effective light trapping techniques. Next, the relative contributions of the emitter/base ((i) a-Si/ (n) c-Si) and base/Back Surface Field ((n) c-Si/ (i) a-Si) interfaces to the overall carrier recombination loss are discussed. It is found that both interfaces have similar contributions to total carrier loss in long as well as short base devices.
The Effect of Board Composition on the Efficiency of Public Listed Companies in Malaysia

Using data from 2005 to 2010, we investigate the effects of board composition, especially by qualification of directors and role of independent directors, on the efficiency for Malaysia in balanced panel consisting of top 100 public listed companies and 582 observations. Using Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA), we calculate technical efficiency by taking into account of both time and firm effects directly. We conclude that the top 100 public listed companies are relatively less efficient in utilizing their inputs in terms of labor and capital in achieving a given level of output which is measured by the amount of sales revenues. In Tobit regressions, we investigate effect of board compositions on the firm's efficiency level for both cost and profit. With respect to the effect of board compositions, we find that number of independent directors is positively and statistically significant to increase firm efficiency while board size does not significantly influence the firms' performance.
Variants of human tissue‐type plasminogen activator that lack specific structural domains of the heavy chain.

The heavy chain of tissue plasminogen activator (t‐PA) consists of four domains [finger, epidermal‐growth‐factor (EGF)‐like, kringle 1 and kringle 2] that are homologous to similar domains present in other proteins. To assess the contribution of each of the domains to the biological properties of the enzyme, site‐directed mutagenesis was used to generate a set of mutants lacking sequences corresponding to the axons encoding the individual structural domains. The mutant proteins were assayed for their ability to hydrolyze artificial and natural substrates in the presence and absence of fibrin, to bind to lysine‐Sepharose and to be inhibited by plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1. All the deletion mutants exhibit levels of basal enzymatic activity very similar to that of wild‐type t‐PA assayed in the absence of fibrin. A mutant protein lacking the finger domain has a 2‐fold higher affinity for plasminogen than wild‐type t‐PA, while the mutant that lacks both finger and EGF‐like domains is less active at low concentrations of plasminogen. Mutants lacking both kringles neither bind to lysine‐Sepharose nor are stimulated by fibrin. However, mutants containing only one kringle (either kringle 1 or kringle 2) behave indistinguishably from one another and from the wild‐type protein. We conclude that kringle 1 and kringle 2 are equivalent in their ability to mediate stimulation of catalytic activity by fibrin.
Workforce participation patterns over the life course and the association with chronic diseases – a gendered approach

15 . 17 CHAPTER 1: Introduction . 18 1.1 Research Aims . 19 1.2 Synopsis Of Studies . 20 1.3 Structure Of This Thesis . 22 1.4 Next Chapter – Background and Literature Review . 23 1.5 . 24 CHAPTER 2: Introduction . 25 2.1 Background . 25 2.2 Population ageing . 25 2.2.1 2.2.1.1 Challenges and impacts of an ageing population. 29 Workforce participation by age and gender . 31 2.2.2 Current and future workforce participation . 31 2.2. 3 Workforce participation by gender. 33 2.2. 4 2.2. 4.1 Gender . 33 2.2. 4.2 Workforce participation by gender – differences between men and women . 36 Chronic diseases . 37 2.2. 5 2.2. 5.1 Global burden of chronic diseases . 37 2.2. 5.2 Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors of chronic diseases . 40 2.2. 5.3 Age, gender and chronic diseases . 42 2.2. 5.4 Chronic disease burden in Australia . 43
Attacks and their defenses for advanced metering infrastructure

The smart grid is the digitized, modernized, updated version of archaic traditional electric grid. Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) is an imperative part of the smart grid. It has replaced legacy metering, as it reports the energy consumption to the utility automatically through communication channels. AMI is also featuring to communicate control functions from utility to the smart meters. So, both the consumption data and control data needs to be securely transmitted to their ends. Any leak and tempering may produce the dire effects to both utility and consumers. Hence security of AMI is a very important concern to take real advantage of this technology. In this paper, first we analyze the security threats faced by AMI components and then propose the countermeasures to tackle them. The aim is to visualize the possible threats in the context of confidentiality, integrity and availability (CIA Triad) context and propose countermeasure.
Making sense of space-based Earth image data: the KidSat data system

The KidSat data system provided near real-time access to digital images taken from the space shuttle. The images were made available to middle school students and teachers across the country and overseas through the World Wide Web. The KidSat Project was one of the first NASA programs to attempt to use the web as a means of distributing image data within minutes of the time they were captured in space. After the first hurdle, getting the image data online in a timely manner, was cleared, it became the goal of the data system to present that data in an understandable context. The development of the system was a collaborative effort. Members of the data system team conferred continually with teachers, students, and other members of the KidSat Project. Modifications to the data system were made as often as was possible, while attempting to avoid confusing the users. The goal was to create an online system that presented the KidSat images in a manner that allowed the students to better understand and interpret these images. In short, that goal was reached, but whether the users agreed with this judgment may be directly related to the speed with which they could connect to the Internet. Many lessons were learned along the way, and strategies for future similar projects were devised. For the three KidSat missions, over 1500 images were captured and made available on the data system. Additionally, metadata describing the shuttle location and orientation, satellite weather data (captured at or near the time of the KidSat image), and digital maps of the area directly surrounding the KidSat image were made available. How these various data sets were assembled and how effectively design and operational goals were met is discussed in detail.
Travelers’ food experience sharing on social network sites

ABSTRACT The proliferation of social media offers new avenues for understanding traveler information sharing behavior. The purpose of this study was to explore the patterns of traveler food sharing experiences on soial network sites, their triggers, and consequences as well as the inter-relationships among these factors. Thirty-three semi-structured interviews and subsequent thematic analysis revealed five major sharing motivation domains including Social and relational, Self-image projection, Emotion articulation, Self-archiving, and Information sharing, all of which were situated along the two continuums (self–others and psychology–functionality) of a two-dimensional plane. This research uncovers fresh insights that are unique to travelers’ food experience sharing and offers theoretical contributions as well as practical implications for destination marketers.
Dendritic Cell-specific Intercellular Adhesion Molecule 3-grabbing Non-integrin (DC-SIGN)-mediated Enhancement of Dengue Virus Infection Is Independent of DC-SIGN Internalization Signals*

Dengue virus (DV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus that causes hemorrhagic fever in humans. In the natural infection, DV is introduced into human skin by an infected mosquito vector where it is believed to target immature dendritic cells (DCs) and Langerhans cells (LCs). We found that DV productively infects DCs but not LCs. We show here that the interactions between DV E protein, the sole mannosylated glycoprotein present on DV particles, and the C-type lectin dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing non-integrin (DC-SIGN) are essential for DV infection of DCs. Binding of mannosylated N-glycans on DV E protein to DC-SIGN triggers a rapid and efficient internalization of the viral glycoprotein. However, we observed that endocytosis-defective DC-SIGN molecules allow efficient DV replication, indicating that DC-SIGN endocytosis is dispensable for the internalization step in DV entry. Together, these results argue in favor of a mechanism by which DC-SIGN enhances DV entry and infection in cis. We propose that DC-SIGN concentrates mosquito-derived DV particles at the cell surface to allow efficient interaction with an as yet unidentified entry factor that is ultimately responsible for DV internalization and pH-dependent fusion into DCs.
Computed Tomography Perfusion Following Transarterial Chemoembolization of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Feasibility Study in the Early Period

Objectives The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of computed tomography (CT) perfusion in early follow-up after transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods Fifteen patients with a total of 16 HCC who were referred to our institution for TACE were included in the study. Computed tomography perfusion was performed within 1 to 3 days before and 4 to 7 days after TACE. Multiphase contrast-enhanced CT was performed 35 (SD, 20) days after TACE. Hepatic arterial blood flow and portal venous blood flow, as well as the perfusion index (PI), were calculated for each HCC using the dual input maximum slope method. Visual grading of the PI and visual grading of the amount of deposition of embolic material within the HCC were performed using a 6-step scale. Differences in perfusion before and after TACE and correlation of perfusion before TACE with the amount of embolization material depositions 1 week and 1 month after TACE were tested. Results No statistically significant correlation was found between pre-TACE perfusion parameters and the amount of embolization material deposition in the post-TACE studies. There was no statistically significant difference between pre- and post-TACE arterial blood flow and portal venous blood flow, whereas PI was significantly lower after TACE. Congruently, visual grading of PI was statistically significantly lower after TACE. There was no statistically significant difference in quantitative pre-TACE and post-TACE PI between tumors, which showed hypervascularization in the multiphase follow-up CT and tumors that did not show hypervascularization. However, tumors that showed hypervascularization in the multiphase follow-up CT had significantly higher visual grading of PI after TACE than tumors that did not show hypervascularization. Conclusions Our findings indicate that visual interpretation of the PI of HCC derived from dual-input maximum slope CT perfusion may be an early predictor of response to TACE.
Cell Division Inhibition in Salmonella typhimuriumHistidine-Constitutive Strains: an ftsI-Like Defect in the Presence of Wild-Type Penicillin-Binding Protein 3 Levels

ABSTRACT Histidine-constitutive (Hisc) strains ofSalmonella typhimurium undergo cell division inhibition in the presence of high concentrations of a metabolizable carbon source. Filaments formed by Hisc strains show constrictions and contain evenly spaced nucleoids, suggesting a defect in septum formation. Inhibitors of penicillin-binding protein 3 (PBP3) induce a filamentation pattern identical to that of Hisc strains. However, the Hisc septation defect is caused neither by reduced PBP3 synthesis nor by reduced PBP3 activity. Gross modifications of peptidoglycan composition are also ruled out.d-Cycloserine, an inhibitor of the soluble pathway producing peptidoglycan precursors, causes phenotypic suppression of filamentation, suggesting that the septation defect of Hiscstrains may be caused by scarcity of PBP3 substrate.
Data mining-based detection of rapid growth in length of stay on COPD patients

Background: Due to the rapid development in industrialization and urbanization, air pollution has aggravated in the past few years, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has become the world's fourth leading cause of death. Through the study of factors affecting medical cost, we find that there is a strong correlation between medical cost and length of stay (LOS). Therefore, it is necessary to analyze and predict the LOS for patients with COPD. Objective: To identify COPD patients with rapidly increased LOS next year by the method of data mining. Methods: Based on the data from healthcare survey data in one city of China, we extracted the 36985 patients with COPD who had been admitted to hospital, from January 2011 to December 2012. On the basis of LASSO Logistic regression and random forests (RF), we established the prediction models. Results: The precision and accuracy of the method was proved correct and reliable (the AUC of LASSO: 0.62, the AUC of RF: 0.63) when employing 29 factors. Conclusion: This study provides an accurate and applicable method to detection the potential patients who are most likely to rapid growth in LOS.
Construction of a Sorbitol-Based Vector for Expression of Heterologous Proteins in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT A new inducible yeast expression vector, pXS7, was constructed by using the promoter and terminator sequences from theSaccharomyces cerevisiae SOR1 gene, which codes for the sorbitol dehydrogenase protein. We cloned the coding sequence of theSaccharomyces YEF3 gene in this vector and demonstrated an increase in YEF3 protein levels when cells were grown in the presence of the sugar sorbitol.
Gene expression differences in infected and noninfected middle ear complementary DNA libraries.

OBJECTIVES To investigate genetic differences in middle ear mucosa (MEM) with nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) infection. Genetic upregulation and downregulation occurs in MEM during otitis media (OM) pathogenesis. A comprehensive assessment of these genetic differences using the techniques of complementary DNA (cDNA) library creation has not been performed. DESIGN The cDNA libraries were constructed from NTHi-infected and noninfected chinchilla MEM. Random clones were picked, sequenced bidirectionally, and submitted to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Expressed Sequence Tags database, where they were assigned accession numbers. These numbers were used with the basic local alignment search tool (BLAST) to align clones against the nonredundant nucleotide database at NCBI. RESULTS Analysis with the Web-based statistical program FatiGO identified several biological processes with significant differences in numbers of represented genes. Processes involved in immune, stress, and wound responses were more prevalent in the NTHi-infected library. S100 calcium-binding protein A9 (S100A9); secretory leukoprotease inhibitor (SLPI); beta(2)-microglobulin (B2M); ferritin, heavy-chain polypeptide 1 (FTH1); and S100 calcium-binding protein A8 (S100A8) were expressed at significantly higher levels in the NTHi-infected library. Calcium-binding proteins S100A9 and S100A8 serve as markers for inflammation and have antibacterial effects. Secretory leukoprotease inhibitor is an antibacterial protein that inhibits stimuli-induced MUC1, MUC2, and MUC5AC production. CONCLUSIONS A number of genes demonstrate changes during the pathogenesis of OM, including SLPI, which has an impact on mucin gene expression; this expression is known to be an important regulator in OM. The techniques described herein provide a framework for future investigations to more thoroughly understand molecular changes in the middle ear, which will likely be important in developing new therapeutic and intervention strategies.