Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of two methods in estimating standard error of simulated moments estimators for generalized linear mixed models

We consider standard error of the method of simulated moment (MSM) estimator for generalized linear mixed models (GLMM). Parametric bootstrap (PB) has been used to estimate the covariance matrix, in which we use the estimates to generate the simulated moments. To avoid the bias introduced by estimating the parameters and to deal with the correlated observations, (Lu, 2012) proposed a multi-stage block nonparametric bootstrap to estimate the standard errors. In this research, we compare PB and nonparametric bootstrap methods (NPB) in estimating the stan-
Differentiation of Adult Hepatic Stem-Like Cells into Pancreatic Endocrine Cells

To apply cell transplantation for treatment of diabetes mellitus, a sufficient number of β-cell sources are required. In the present study, we examined whether an epithelial cell line obtained from normal adult rat liver, namely hepatic stem-like (HSL) cells, which can be converted to both hepatocytes and billiary epithelial cells, could be a potential β-cell source. The growth speed of HSL cells was rapid and these cells were easily expanded in vitro. Bipotential hepatic stem cells, HSL cells, also expressed PGP9.5, which is expressed in neurons, β-cells, and progenitor cells of the pancreatic endocrine cells as well. Sodium butyrate induced morphological changes in HSL cells and converted them into flattened cells with large cytoplasm. When HSL cells were incubated with a combination of 5 mM sodium butyrate and 1 nM betacellulin, most of the cells were converted into morphologically neuron-like cells. RT-PCR analysis revealed that a series of transcriptional factors involved in differentiation of pancreatic endocrine cells was induced by the treatment with sodium butyrate and betacellulin. mRNAs for insulin, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin were also observed. Immunoreactive pancreatic polypeptide, somatostatin, and insulin were detected in sodium butyrate and betacellulin-treated HSL cells. In conclusion, HSL cells obtained from adult normal liver also have the potential to differentiate into pancreatic endocrine cells in vitro. HSL cells may be one of the potential β-cell sources for cell transplant therapy for insulin-dependent diabetes.
A Salient Based Bag of Visual Word Model (SBBoVW): Improvements toward Difficult Object Recognition and Object Location in Image Retrieval

Object recognition and object location have always drawn much interest. Also, recently various computational models have been designed. One of the big issues in this domain is the lack of an appropriate model for extracting important part of the picture and estimating the object place in the same environments that caused low accuracy. To solve this problem, a new Salient Based Bag of Visual Word (SBBoVW) model for object recognition and object location estimation is presented. Contributions lied in the present study are two-fold. One is to introduce a new approach, which is a Salient Based Bag of Visual Word model (SBBoVW) to recognize difficult objects that have had low accuracy in previous methods. This method integrates SIFT features of the original and salient parts of pictures and fuses them together to generate better codebooks using bag of visual word method. The second contribution is to introduce a new algorithm for finding object place based on the salient map automatically. The performance evaluation on several data sets proves that the new approach outperforms other state-of-the-arts.
Moa were many

Until a few hundred years ago, New Zealand hosted several species of flightless ratite birds, collectively known as the moa. We have used mitochondrial sequence data for Dinornis, the largest of the moa, and new coalescent approaches to estimate its population size prior to human arrival ca. 1000–6000 years BP. We show that, as little as 1000 years ago, Dinornis numbered between 300 000 and 1.4 million and that the standing population of all moa species was ca. 3–12 million. This estimate is an order of magnitude larger than the accepted population estimate (ca. 159 000) for all moa species at the arrival of humans and suggests that moa numbers had already declined prior to human settlement.
Predicting Plasma Glucose From Interstitial Glucose Observations Using Bayesian Methods

Background: One way of constructing a control algorithm for an artificial pancreas is to identify a model capable of predicting plasma glucose (PG) from interstitial glucose (IG) observations. Stochastic differential equations (SDEs) make it possible to account both for the unknown influence of the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and for unknown physiological influences. Combined with prior knowledge about the measurement devices, this approach can be used to obtain a robust predictive model. Method: A stochastic-differential-equation-based gray box (SDE-GB) model is formulated on the basis of an identifiable physiological model of the glucoregulatory system for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients. A Bayesian method is used to estimate robust parameters from clinical data. The models are then used to predict PG from IG observations from 2 separate study occasions on the same patient. Results: First, all statistically significant diffusion terms of the model are identified using likelihood ratio tests, yielding inclusion of σ I s c , σ G p , and σ G s c . Second, estimates using maximum likelihood are obtained, but prediction capability is poor. Finally a Bayesian method is implemented. Using this method the identified models are able to predict PG using only IG observations. These predictions are assessed visually. We are also able to validate these estimates on a separate data set from the same patient. Conclusions: This study shows that SDE-GBs and a Bayesian method can be used to identify a reliable model for prediction of PG using IG observations obtained with a CGM. The model could eventually be used in an artificial pancreas.
DIFFERENTIATION COMPETENCE IN TEACHING , ILLUSTRATED BY A FICTIONAL FILM ON REGULATING CLOSENESS AND DISTANCE IN THE TEACHER – STUDENT RELATIONSHIP

Relational competence has proven to be an important component in teacher professionalism. The overall purpose of this article is to adopt a social psychological perspective and discuss aspects of teachers’ relational competence. More specifically, the article aims to construct a theoretical concept for understanding the aspects of relational competence that concern regulating closeness and distance in the teacherstudent relationship. In the concluding section, the result is presented in terms of “differentiation competence”. This concept labels a communication pattern characterized by fine-tuned regulation of closeness and distance in the teacher– student relationship and by ongoing coordination of verbal and nonverbal behavior. The emerging concept is illustrated by verbal and nonverbal communication in a classroom setting as portrayed in an episode from a fictional film, including detailed transcription, and interpretation.
A Scheme for the Evaluation of Diagnostic Kits

with any confidence whether or not two products differ in their performance. Finally, it must be admitted that strict adherence to this scheme will involve a considerable amount of work. It may not always be possible for reasons of economy, staff, or time for an evaluator to complete it all. In this case his report must inevitably fall further short of the ideal than would otherwise be the case, but he must use his scientific judgement about which parts of the scheme are less useful for his purpose. General introduction
Isolation and characterization of the Schizosaccharomyces pombe gene encoding transcript elongation factor TFIIS

A gene designated tfs1 has been isolated from Schizosaccharomyces pombe based on its similarity to genes encoding transcription elongation factor TFIIS. The nucleotide sequence of the tfs1 gene predicts a polypeptide with similarity to mammalian, Drosophila and Saccharomyces cerevisiae TFIIS. A haploid Sz. pombe strain with tfs1 deleted from the genome is viable. Thus, tfs1 is not essential for viability. However, deletion of tfs1 results in slow growth and increased sensitivity to the drug 6‐azauracil, a phenotype similar to that of a S. cerevisiae strain deleted for the gene encoding TFIIS. The DNA sequence of tfs1 has been deposited in GenBank under Accession Number U20526.
Early-Onset Dementia: Frequency and Causes Compared to Late-Onset Dementia

Background: Research on the epidemiology of dementia has focused on the elderly. Few investigations have studied differences in etiologic frequencies between early-onset dementia (EOD), with onset at an age of less than 65 years old, and the more common late-onset disorder. Objectives: To determine relative frequencies and characteristics of EOD versus late-onset dementia (LOD; age of onset ≧65 years) diagnosed in a large memory disorders program over a 4-year period. Methods: We reviewed medical records, including an extensive neurobehavioral and neurological evaluation, of all patients seen at a large Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center Memory Disorders clinic between 2001 and 2004 and assessed demographic variables, final diagnoses, presence of dementia, and differential diagnosis of dementing illnesses. Results: Among 1,683 patients presenting for evaluation of an acquired decline in memory or cognition, 948 (56%) met established clinical criteria for a dementing illness. About 30% (n = 278) of these had an age of onset of <65 years, compared to 670 with LOD. Patients were predominantly male (98%). Compared to the late-onset group, the EOD patients were less severely impaired on presentation, but they did not differ in gender distribution or educational background. The EOD group had significantly more dementia attributed to traumatic brain injury, alcohol, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and frontotemporal lobar degeneration compared to the LOD patients. In contrast, the LOD group had significantly more Alzheimer’s disease compared to the EOD group. Conclusions: This study, conducted at a Veterans Affairs Hospital, is the largest series to date on EOD, and found a previously unexpectedly large number of patients below the age of 65 with cognitive deficits and impaired functioning consequent to head trauma, alcohol abuse, and HIV. These findings highlight the differential distribution and importance of preventable causes of dementia in the young.
Fermentation of various glycolytic intermediates and other compounds by rumen micro-organisms, with particular reference to methane production

Experiments with a small-scale artificial rumen have shown that of forty-two compounds tested the majority were fermented, as judged by the production of volatile fatty acids, but methane production was associated only with the fermentation of formate, certain hydroxy-acids, pyruvic acid, primary alcohols (methanol, ethanol, propanol and butanol), glycerol and methyl compounds. With primary alcohols there was a stoichiometric relationship between methane production and the oxidation of the alcohols to the corresponding acids. The fermentation of rhamnose and 1,2-propanediol was studied in detail. With both compounds there was a temporary accumulation of lactic acid and a continuous net production of propionic acid. The initial rate of acetate production was rapid with rhamnose but decreased subsequently, whereas propionate continued to increase. With propanediol the net rate of production of acetate was slow at first and then increased. There was no increase in the production of butyric acid with either rhamnose or propanediol, and the endogenous methane production was inhibited by 20–40%. There was evidence for the formation of an unidentified compound during fermentation of rhamnose and propanediol.
Caspase inhibitors prevent cisplatin‐induced apoptosis of auditory sensory cells

IN VITRO studies tested the efficacy of three caspase inhibitors, Ac-VAD-cmk (caspase-1 inhibitor), z-DEVD-fmk (caspase −3 inhibitor) and B-D-fmk (BOCDFK, a general inhibitor), for protecting auditory sensory cells from cisplatin-damage induced loss. Treatment of 3-day-old rat organ of Corti explants with these caspase inhibitors protected > 80% of the auditory hair cells from cisplatin-damage initiated apoptosis. Dissociated cell cultures of 3-day-old rat spinal ganglia treated with any of these three caspase inhibitors in addition to exogenous neurotrophin have highly significant increases in neuronal survival following cisplatin exposure. These results indicate that loss of auditory sensory cells as a result of cisplatin-induced damage involves apoptosis and that blocking of this cell death pathway at the caspase level effectively rescues both hair cells and neurons.
Obstetric complications in histories of monozygotic twins discordant and concordant for schizophrenia

Histories of obstetric complications (OCs) during pregnancy, labor‐delivery and the neonatal period were investigated by detailed maternal report for 23 monozygotic (MZ) twin pairs discordant for schizophrenia, 10 MZ twin pairs concordant for schizophrenia and 7 normal MZ control pairs. Statistically significant differences in OC rates were found across these 3 groups, OCs being most frequent in discordant pairs and least frequent in normal control pairs. Labor complications were significantly more frequent in discordant than concordant pairs. Oc rates were equivalent in sick and well discordant twins. The results provide evidence for the role of OCs in the development of schizophrenia, complications at the time of birth being especially associated with the development of schizophrenia in discordant twins.
Migration and relationship power among mexican women

Our study drew on original data collected in Durham, NC, and four sending communities in Mexico to examine differences in women’s relationship power that are associated with migration and residence in the United States. We analyzed the personal, relationship, and social resources that condition the association between migration and women’s power and the usefulness of the Relationship Control Scale (RCS) for capturing these effects. We found support for perspectives that emphasize that migration may simultaneously mitigate and reinforce gender inequities. Relative to their nonmigrant peers, Mexican women in the United States average higher emotional consonance with their partners, but lower relationship control and sexual negotiation power. Methodologically, we found that the RCS is internally valid and useful for measuring the impact of resources on women’s power. However, the scale appears to combine diverse dimensions of relationship power that were differentially related to migration in our study.
Erythropoiesis and Myocardial Energy Requirements Contribute to the Hypermetabolism of Childhood Sickle Cell Anemia

Objectives: We hypothesized that an elevated hemoglobin synthesis rate (SynHb) and myocardial oxygen consumption (MVO2) contribute to the excess protein and energy metabolism reported in children with sickle cell anemia. Patients and Methods: Twelve children (6–12 years old) with asymptomatic sickle cell and 9 healthy children matched for age and sex were studied. Measurements were whole-body protein turnover by [1-13C]leucine, SynHb by [15N]glycine, resting energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry and the systolic blood pressure–heart rate product used as an index of MVO2. Protein energy cost was calculated from protein turnover. Statistical analysis included Spearman correlations and partial correlation analyses. Results: Although body mass index was significantly lower for sickle cell versus controls (P < 0.02), children with asymptomatic sickle cell had 52% higher protein turnover (P < 0.0005). Proportional reticulocyte count, SynHb, MVO2 and resting energy expenditure were also significantly higher in children with sickle cell (P < 0.01). Protein turnover correlated significantly with both SynHb (r = 0.63, P < 0.01) and reticulocyte percentage (r = 0.83, P < 0.0001). Partial correlation of these 3 variables showed reticulocyte percentage as the only variable to be significantly associated with protein turnover, even after adjusting for sickle cell anemia (P = 0.03). Partial correlation of log resting energy expenditure on MVO2 was significant, controlling for protein energy cost, sex and age (P = 0.03). Conclusion: These results indicate that metabolic demands of increased erythropoiesis and cardiac energy consumption account for much of the excess protein and energy metabolism in children with sickle cell anemia.
Alpha‐2a‐interferon/melphalan/prednisone versus melphalan/prednisone in previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma

Alpha‐2a‐interferon (IFN) has demonstrable activity in advance and refractory multiple myeloma (MM), because of the in vitro synergism between IFNs and cytotoxic agents we report the preliminary results of a therapeutic trial of 50 patients with MM. Twenty‐eight patients were randomized to receive melphalan plus prednisone (MP) and 22 were randomized to receive IFN plus MP (IFN‐MP). Criteria for response, progression and relapse were those of the South‐western Oncology Group. 95% of the patients receiving IFN‐MP responded to therapy as opposed to 68% of the patients receiving MP (P<0·05). Response was independent of M‐component immunoglobulin class but in stage III it was higher in the IFN‐MP group than in the MP group (P<0·05). The combination IFN‐MP was well tolerated without unusual or unexpected toxic effects. The response duration time was longer in the IFN‐MP group than in the MP group (P<0·025). The median survival was 80 weeks in the MP group and in the IFN‐MP group the 93% of patients were still alive after 90 weeks (P<0·025). Our results show that the use of the IFN as an adjuvant to MP improves the percentage of responders, the response duration time and the median survival of untreated patients with MM.
Two-point similarity in temporally evolving plane wakes

The governing equations for the two-point correlations of the turbulent fluctuating velocity in the temporally evolving wake were analysed to determine whether they could have equilibrium similarity solutions. It was found that these equations could have such solutions for a finite-Reynolds-number wake, where the two-point velocity correlations could be written as a product of a time-dependent scale and a function dependent only on similarity variables. It is therefore possible to collapse the two-point measures of all the scales of motions in the temporally evolving wake using a single set of similarity variables. As in an earlier single-point analysis, it was found that the governing equations for the equilibrium similarity solutions could not be reduced to a form that was independent of a growth-rate dependent parameter. Thus, there is not a single ‘universal’ solution that describes the state of the large-scale structures, so that the large-scale structures in the far field may depend on how the flow is generated. The predictions of the similarity analysis were compared to the data from two direct numerical simulations of the temporally evolving wakes examined previously. It was found that the two-point velocity spectra of these temporally evolving wakes collapsed reasonably well over the entire range of scales when they were scaled in the manner deduced from the equilibrium similarity analysis. Thus, actual flows do seem to evolve in a manner consistent with the equilibrium similarity solutions.
Validation of the Mexican–Spanish version of the EORTC QLQ‐C15‐PAL questionnaire for the evaluation of health‐related quality of life in patients on palliative care

Background: Health‐related quality of life (HRQL) is an important outcome in oncology, particularly in the palliative care setting. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) QLQ‐C15‐PAL questionnaire is a brief version of QLQ‐C30. Our aim is to validate the Mexican–Spanish version of the QLQ‐C15‐PAL questionnaire to measure HRQL in patients with terminal cancer.
Cloning and Expression of the dnaK Gene of Campylobacter jejuni and Antigenicity of Heat Shock Protein 70

ABSTRACT Campylobacter jejuni is a leading cause of infectious diarrhea throughout the world. In addition, there is growing evidence that Guillain-Barré syndrome, an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the peripheral nervous system, is frequently preceded byC. jejuni infection. In the present study, thehrcA-grpE-dnaK gene cluster of C. jejuni was cloned and sequenced. The dnaK gene consists of an open reading frame of 1,869 bp and encodes a protein with a high degree of homology to other bacterial 70-kDa heat shock proteins (HSPs). The overall percentages of identity to the HSP70 proteins ofHelicobacter pylori, Borrelia burgdorferi,Chlamydia trachomatis, and Bacillus subtiliswere calculated to be 78.1, 60.5, 57.2, and 53.8%, respectively. Regions similar to the Escherichia coli ς70promoter consensus sequence and to a cis-acting regulatory element (CIRCE) are located upstream of the hrcA gene. Following heat shock, a rapid increase of dnaK mRNA was detectable, which reached its maximum after 20 to 30 min. A 6-His-tagged recombinant DnaK protein (rCjDnaK-His) was generated inE. coli, after cloning of the dnaK coding region into pET-22b(+), and purified by affinity and gel filtration chromatography. Antibody responses to rCjDnaK-His were significantly elevated, compared to those of healthy individuals, in about one-third of the serum specimens obtained from C. jejuni enteritis patients.
Those deceptively simple postulates of Professor Robert Koch.

John Lennox John Lennox is an assistant professor of molecular and cell biology at Pennsylvania State Univ., Altoona, PA 16603. He received his B.S. from Indiana Univ. of Pennsylvania and his M.S. and Ph.D. from the Univ. of Chicago. He holds memberships in the American Society for Microbiology, the Allegheny Branch of the A.S. M. , Sigma Xi, NSTA, and NABT. In 1984, he was presented the Amoco Foundation Award for Excellence in Teaching Performance.
Sumset inequalities for differential entropy and mutual information

The Plünnecke-Ruzsa sumset theory gives bounds connecting the cardinality of the sumset A + B defined as {a + b; a ϵ A, b ϵ B} with the cardinalities of the original sets A, B. For example, the sum-difference bound states that, |A+B| |A| |B| ≤ |A-B|3, where A-B = {a-b; a ϵ A, b ϵ B}. Interpreting the differential entropy h(X) as (the logarithm of) the size of the effective support of X, the main results here are a series of natural information-theoretic analogs for these bounds. For example, the sum-difference bound becomes the new inequality, h(X + Y) + h(X) + h(Y) ≤ 3h(X - Y), for independent X, Y. Our results include differential-entropy versions of Ruzsa's triangle inequality, the Plünnecke-Ruzsa inequality, and the Balog-Szemerédi-Gowers lemma. Versions of most of these results for the discrete entropy H(X) were recently proved by Tao, relying heavily on a strong, functional form of the submodularity property of H(X). Since differential entropy is not functionally submodular, in the continuous case many of the corresponding discrete proofs fail, in several cases requiring substantially new proof strategies. The basic property that naturally replaces functional submodularity is the data processing property of mutual information.