Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sexual self-acceptance, communication with partner, and contraceptive use among adolescent females: a longitudinal study.

A longitudinal study examined the emotional and interpersonal processes involved in contraceptive behavior among 201 sexually active female adolescents 14-19 years of age recruited from adolescent medicine clinics in San Francisco, California (US). At study entry, adolescents completed questionnaires regarding sociodemographics, sexual and reproductive history, sexual self-acceptance, sexual communication with partners, and current contraceptive use. At a 6-month follow-up interview, participants reported on all sexual activity and contraceptive use since study enrollment. Path analysis indicated greater sexual self-acceptance was significantly related to more sexual communication and more contraceptive communication. Contraceptive communication, in turn, was associated with more frequent and more effective contraceptive use. Higher levels of contraceptive communication predicted both more frequent and more effective contraceptive use at the 6-month follow-up even when the effects of baseline contraceptive use were controlled. When the association between sexual self-acceptance and subsequent contraceptive behavior was examined apart from communication about sexuality and contraception, sexual self-acceptance directly predicted contraceptive effectiveness but not frequency. These findings underscore the importance of interpersonal processes in sexual and contraceptive behavior and suggest the utility of interventions that provide adolescents with skills for discussing contraception.
Neurotrophic factors in serum following ECT: A pilot study

We examined changes in serum levels of a selection of neurotrophic factors, TSH, HGH and cortisol in conjunction with ECT treatment. Fifteen patients suffering from affective disorders were included, all were treated with antidepressants and psychotherapy and 10 also with ECT. The patients were examined clinically and with blood samples during treatment. Serum levels of cortisol, thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neurotrophin-3 (NT3), neuropetide Y (NPY) and human growth hormone (HGH) were studied. No significant changes were found in levels of NGF, BDNF, NT3, HGH and TSH. A change in NPY levels was statistically significant, but of uncertain clinical value as it affected only two patients. Levels of cortisol rose significantly during treatment. We did find significant correlations between the base values of NGF and HAM-D scores at inclusion and between the end-values of NT3 and NPY and the HAM-D scores prior to discharge. We were unable to reproduce findings from animal studies suggesting that a range of neurotrophic factors rise during ECT treatment. This may be because of physiological differences between animals and humans or, possibly, a result of the small number of patients included in this pilot study.
An HLA‐A*02:01‐B*13:01‐DRB1*14:01:03 haplotype conserved in Taiwanese and a possible close relationship between DRB1*14:01:03 and DRB1*14:54

We here report sequence confirmation and analysis of the variant HLA‐DRB1*14:01:03 on three voluntary bone marrow donors and the conserved haplotype carrying DRB1*14:01:03 allele in Taiwanese population. In exon 2, the DNA sequence of DRB1*14:01:03 is identical to HLA‐DRB1*14:01:01 except a silent nucleotide substitution at position 192. However, sequence specific primer (SSP) reaction pattern of DRB1*14:01:03 matched with the pattern of DRB1*14:54 instead of DRB1*14:01:01, 14:01:02 or 14:01:03. In exon 3, at position 421, DRB1*14:01:03 has an identical nucleotide as DRB1*14:54 but differs from DRB1*14:01:01. We think the discrepancy of the allele assignment by SSP typing protocol and by sequence‐specific oligonucleotide probe (SSO) and sequence‐based typing methods should be addressed. We assume DRB1*14:54 is probably the parental allele for DRB1*14:01:03.
Glycophorin C (Gerbich antigen blood group) and band 3 polymorphisms in two malaria holoendemic regions of Papua New Guinea

The geographic overlap between the prevalence of erythrocyte polymorphisms and malaria endemicity is thought to be an example of natural selection on human populations. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Gerbich‐negative phenotype is caused by an exon 3 deletion in the glycophorin C gene (GYPCΔex3) while heterozygosity for a 27‐base pair deletion in the SLC4A1 gene (anion exchanger 1 or erythrocyte membrane protein, band 3), SLC4A1Δ27, results in Southeast Asian ovalocytosis. Two geographically and ethnically distinct malaria endemic regions of PNG (the Wosera [East Sepik Province] and Liksul [Madang Province]) were studied to illustrate the distribution of two prominent deletion polymorphisms (GYPCΔex3 and SLC4A1Δ27) and to determine if the genetic load associated with SLC4A1Δ27 would constrain independent assortment of GYPCΔex3 heterozygous and homozygous genotypes. The frequency of the GYPCΔex3 allele was higher in the Wosera (0.463) than Liksul (0.176) (χ2; P < 0.0001). Conversely, the frequency of the SLC4A1Δ27 allele was higher in Liksul (0.0740) than the Wosera (0.0005) (χ2; P < 0.0001). No individuals were homozygous for SLC4A1Δ27. In 355 Liksul residents, independent assortment of these two deletion polymorphisms resulted in 14 SLC4A1Δ27 carriers heterozygous for GYPCΔex3 and one SLC4A1Δ27 carrier homozygous for GYPCΔex3 (Fisher's exact test; P = 0.8040). While homozygosity for SLC4A1Δ27 appears to be nonviable, the GYPCΔex3 allele is not lethal when combined with SLC4A1Δ27. Neither mutation was associated with altered susceptibility to asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum or P. vivax infection. While these erythrocyte polymorphisms apparently have no effect on blood‐stage malaria infection, their contribution to susceptibility to clinical malaria morbidity requires further study. Am. J. Hematol. 75:1–5, 2004. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relation between Clinically Measured Tonic Accommodation and Refractive Status in 6- to 14-Year-Old Children

Previous studies have shown a relation between refractive status and tonic accommodation (TA), with corrected hyperopes displaying a significantly higher TA than corrected myopes. TA measurements in those studies were made on adult subjects, under laboratory conditions with an infrared or laser optometer. The study reported here used a different measurement method and younger subjects. The TA of 113 (19 hyperopic, 61 emmetropic, 33 myopic) children, ages 6 to 14 years, was measured by a clinical method described earlier. Analysis of variance indicated significant (p<0.25) between-group mean differences similar to the adult-subject data cited above. Clinical implications of the data and the measurement method are discussed.
Individual Differences in Visual Search: Relationship to Autistic Traits, Discrimination Thresholds, and Speed of Processing

Enhanced visual search is widely reported in autism. Here we note a similar advantage for university students self-reporting higher levels of autism-like traits. Contrary to prevailing theories of autism, performance was not associated with perceptual-discrimination thresholds for the same stimuli, but was associated with inspection-time threshold—a measure of speed of perceptual processing. Enhanced visual search in autism may, therefore, at least partially be explained by faster speed of processing.
Large-Scale Evaluation of Genetic Variants in Candidate Genes for Colorectal Cancer Risk in the Nurses' Health Study and the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study

Advances in genomics offer new strategies for assessing the association of common genetic variations at multiple loci and risk of many diseases, including colorectal cancer. Low-penetrance alleles of genes in many biological pathways, such as DNA repair, metabolism, inflammation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and Wnt signaling, may influence the risk of nonfamilial colorectal cancer. To identify susceptibility genes for colorectal cancer, we designed a large-scale case-control association study nested within the Nurses' Health Study (190 cases and 190 controls) and the Health Professionals' Follow-up Study (168 cases and 168 controls). We used a custom GoldenGate (Illumina) oligonucleotide pool assay including 1,536 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) selected in candidate genes from cancer-related pathways, which have been sequenced and genotyped in the SNP500Cancer project; 1,412 of the 1,536 (92%) of the SNPs were genotyped successfully within 388 genes. SNPs in high linkage disequilibrium (r2 ≥ 0.90) with another assayed SNP were excluded from further analyses. As expected by chance (and not significant compared with a corrected Bonferroni P = 0.00004), in the additive model, 11 of 1,253 (0.9%) SNPs had a Ptrend < 0.01 and 38 of 1,253 (3.0%) SNPs had a Ptrend ≥ 0.01 and Ptrend < 0.05. Of note, the MGMT Lys178Arg (rs2308237) SNP, in linkage disequilibrium with the previously reported MGMT Ile143Val SNP, had an inverse association with colorectal cancer risk (MGMT Lys178Arg: odds ratio, 0.52; 95% confidence interval, 0.35-0.78; unadjusted Ptrend = 0.0003 for the additive model; gene-based test global P = 0.00003). The SNP500Cancer database and the Illumina GoldenGate Assay allowed us to test a larger number of SNPs than previously possible. We identified several SNPs worthy of investigation in larger studies. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(2):311–9)
User-preferred color temperature conversion for video on TV or PC

The term "color temperature" represents the color of light source or the white point of image displaying devices such as TV and PC monitor. By controlling the color temperature, we can convert the reference white color of images. This is equivalent to the illuminant change, which alters all colors in the scene. In this paper, our goal is to find an appropriate method of converting the color temperature in order to reproduce the user-preferred color temperature in video displaying devices. It is essential that the relative difference of color temperature between successive image frames should be well preserved as well as the appearance of images should seem natural after applying the user-preferred color temperature. In order to satisfy these conditions, we propose an adaptive color temperature conversion method that estimates the color temperature of an input image and determines the output color temperature in accordance with the value of the estimated one.
Epidemiological Analysis of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates From Adult Patients With Cystic Fibrosis

Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, we genotyped 21 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from patients attending an adult cystic fibrosis unit. Eleven patients exhibited pulsotypes related to 2 locally endemic strains. Eleven chronically colonized patients were assessed over a period of up to 2 years, and all demonstrated a retention of strain type.
Source of Parental Reports of Child Height and Weight during Phone Interviews and Influence on Obesity Prevalence Estimates among Children Aged 3–17 Years

Objective. We compared parental reports of children's height and weight when the values were estimated vs parent-measured to determine how these reports influence the estimated prevalence of childhood obesity. Methods. In the 2007 and 2008 North Carolina Child Health Assessment and Monitoring Program surveys, parents reported height and weight for children aged 3–17 years When parents reported the values were not measured (by doctor, school, or home), they were asked to measure their child and were later called back. We categorized body mass index status using standard CDC definitions, and we used Chi-square tests and the Stuart-Maxwell test of marginal homogeneity to examine reporting differences. Results. About 80% (n=509) of the 638 parents who reported an unmeasured height and/or weight participated in a callback and provided updated measures. Children originally classified as obese were subsequently classified as obese (67%), overweight (13%), and healthy weight (19%) An estimated 28% of younger children (<10 years of age) vs. 6% of older children (aged ≥10 years) were reclassified on callback. Having parents who guessed the height and weight of their children and then reported updated values did not significantly change the overall population estimates of obesity. Conclusion. Our findings demonstrate that using parent-reported height and weight values may be sufficient to provide reasonable estimates of obesity prevalence Systematically asking the source of height and weight information may help improve how it is applied to research of the prevalence of childhood obesity when gold-standard measurements are not available.
Improved Intact Soil-Core Carbon Determination Applying Regression Shrinkage and Variable Selection Techniques to Complete Spectrum Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS)

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) provides a potential method for rapid, in situ soil C measurement. In previous research on the application of LIBS to intact soil cores, we hypothesized that ultraviolet (UV) spectrum LIBS (200–300 nm) might not provide sufficient elemental information to reliably discriminate between soil organic C (SOC) and inorganic C (IC). In this study, using a custom complete spectrum (245–925 nm) core-scanning LIBS instrument, we analyzed 60 intact soil cores from six wheat fields. Predictive multi-response partial least squares (PLS2) models using full and reduced spectrum LIBS were compared for directly determining soil total C (TC), IC, and SOC. Two regression shrinkage and variable selection approaches, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and sparse multivariate regression with covariance estimation (MRCE), were tested for soil C predictions and the identification of wavelengths important for soil C prediction. Using complete spectrum LIBS for PLS2 modeling reduced the calibration standard error of prediction (SEP) 15 and 19% for TC and IC, respectively, compared to UV spectrum LIBS. The LASSO and MRCE approaches provided significantly improved calibration accuracy and reduced SEP 32–55% over UV spectrum PLS2 models. We conclude that (1) complete spectrum LIBS is superior to UV spectrum LIBS for predicting soil C for intact soil cores without pretreatment; (2) LASSO and MRCE approaches provide improved calibration prediction accuracy over PLS2 but require additional testing with increased soil and target analyte diversity; and (3) measurement errors associated with analyzing intact cores (e.g., sample density and surface roughness) require further study and quantification.
Sample-and-hold amplifiers performing internal antialiasing filtering and their applications in digital receivers

It is shown that a multichannel sample-and-hold amplifier with weighted integration can perform internal antialiasing filtering when its weight function and the number of channels are properly selected. The advantages of internal antialiasing filtering, which allows the removal of a conventional antialiasing filter, are especially significant in digital receivers.
Regulation of Glucose Transport and c-fos and egr-1 Expression in Cells with Mutated or Endogenous Growth Hormone Receptors.

To identify mechanisms by which GH receptors (GHR) mediate downstream events representative of growth and metabolic responses to GH, stimulation by GH of c-fos and egr-1 expression and glucose transport activity were examined in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells expressing mutated GHR. In CHO cells expressing wild-type GHR (GHR1–638), GH stimulated the expression of c-fos and egr-1, and stimulated 2-deoxyglucose uptake, responses also mediated by endogenous GHR in 3T3-F442A cells. Deletion of the proline-rich box 1 of GHR (GHRΔP) abrogated all of these responses to GH, indicating that box 1, a site of association of GHR with the tyrosine kinase JAK2, is crucial for these GH-stimulated responses. As the C-terminal half of the cytoplasmic domain of GHR is required for GH-stimulated calcium flux and for stimulation of spi-2.1 transcription, GHR lacking this sequence (GHR1–454) were examined. Not only did GHR1–454 mediate stimulation of c-fos and egr-1 expression and 2-deoxyglucose uptake, but they also media.
H I clouds in the proximity of M 33

Aims. Neutral hydrogen clouds are found in the Milky Way and Andromeda halo both as large complexes and smaller isolated clouds. Here we present a search for Hi clouds in the halo of M 33, the third spiral galaxy of the Local Group. Methods. We have used two complementary data sets: a 3° x 3° map of the area provided by the Arecibo Legacy Fast ALFA (ALFALFA) survey and deeper pointed observations carried out with the Arecibo telescope in two fields that permit sampling of the northeastern and southwestern edges of the HI disc. Results. The total amount of HI around M 33 detected by our survey is about 10 7 M ⊙ . At least 50% of this mass is made of Hi clouds that are related both in space and velocity to the galaxy. We discuss several scenarios for the origin of these clouds focusing on the two most interesting ones: (a) dark-matter dominated gaseous satellites, (b) debris from filaments flowing into M 33 from the intergalactic medium or generated by a previous interaction with M 31. Both scenarios seem to fit with the observed cloud properties. Some structures are found at anomalous velocities, particularly an extended Hi complex previously detected by Thilker et al. (2002). Even though the ALFALFA observations seem to indicate that this cloud is possibly connected to M 33 by a faint gas bridge, we cannot firmly establish its extragalactic nature or its relation to M 33. Conclusions. Taking into account that the clouds associated with M 33 are likely to be highly ionised by the extragalactic ultraviolet (UV) radiation, we predict that the total gas mass associated with them is >5 × 10 7 M ⊙ . If the gas is steadily falling towards the M 33 disc it can provide the fuel needed to sustain a current star formation rate of 0.5 M ⊙ yr -1 .
cDNA Cloning of Na+,K+-ATPase &agr;-Subunit from Embryos of the Sea Urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus

Abstract Na+, K+-ATPase &agr;-subunit cDNA of the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, was obtained by twice screening prism and gastrula &lgr;gt10 cDNA libraries using an oligonucleotide probe derived from a mostly conserved region, FSBA (5′-p-(fluorosulfonyl)-benzoyladenosine) binding site of cation transport ATPases. The 5′-end of the non-coding region was determined by primer extension and the region was amplified by 5′-RACE method. The sea urchin &agr;-subunit cDNA consists of 4401 nucleotides and encodes 1038 amino acid residues (MW, 114 kDa). The predicted primary structure, except N-terminal region, has similar degree of high homology to various metazoan Na+, K+-ATPase &agr;-subunits. Alignment of amino acid sequence and a hydropathy profile also predicts eight putative transmembrane segments at least. The phylogenetic tree suspected from alignment of amino acid sequences of 21 species suggests that sea urchin and vertebrate Na+, K+-ATPase &agr;-subunits seem to have evolved from a common origin, before vertebrate &agr;-subunit divided into three isoforms.
Using linkage information to improve the detection of relevant comment in social media

The vector space retrieval model relies on the notion of each comment is independence where the keywords influence to the document topic. However, such notion might not fit enough in the social media document called `comment'. In social media comment, the occurrence of keywords does not guarantee the topic relevancy. Moreover, the absence of keywords does not guarantee the topic non-relevancy. These circumstances effect to the model accuracy because the social media language is relatively informal. Thus, people do not necessary to strict with the word usage in the proper meaning with respect to the conventional dictionary. We use the linkage information to create an augmented algorithm which improves the accuracy of the vector space retrieval model. Our experiment shows that our algorithm enhances the accuracy of the traditional vector space retrieval.
An Improved Bi-Level Integrated System Collaborative Optimization method for multidisciplinary design optimization

Bi-Level Integrated System Collaborative Optimization (BLISCO) is a recently developed hierarchical multidisciplinary design optimization (MDO) methodology, owning good convergence property, accuracy and robustness. However, the subsystem objective functions in existing BLISCO methods may be mutually coupled again caused by the step of calculating partial derivatives of the original objective with respective to the shared coupled variables, and thus prevent the parallelization of the subsystem optimization. In this paper, the quasi-separable MDO problem form is introduced and an improved BLISCO method based on this form is proposed to tackle this problem. At last, one mathematical example and one engineering problem are used to test the feasibility, accuracy and efficiency of the improved BLISCO method.
Thoracic origin of a sympathetic supply to the upper limb: the ‘nerve of Kuntz’ revisited

An understanding of the origin of the sympathetic innervation of the upper limb is important in surgical sympathectomy procedures. An inconstant intrathoracic ramus which joined the 2nd intercostal nerve to the ventral ramus of the 1st thoracic nerve, proximal to the point where the latter gave a large branch to the brachial plexus, has become known as the ‘nerve of Kuntz’ (Kuntz, 1927). Subsequently a variety of sympathetic interneuronal connections down to the 5th intercostal space were reported and also described as the nerve of Kuntz. The aim of this study was to determine: (1) the incidence, location and course of the nerve of Kuntz; (2) the relationship of the nerve of Kuntz to the 2nd thoracic ganglion; (3) the variations of the nerve of Kuntz in the absence of a stellate ganglion; (4) to compare the original intrathoracic ramus with sympathetic variations at other intercostal levels; and (5) to devise an appropriate anatomical classification of the nerves of Kuntz.
Role of the C-Terminal Domain of RNA Polymerase II in U2 snRNA Transcription and 3′ Processing

ABSTRACT U small nuclear RNAs (snRNAs) and mRNAs are both transcribed by RNA polymerase II (Pol II), but the snRNAs have unusual TATA-less promoters and are neither spliced nor polyadenylated; instead, 3′ processing is directed by a highly conserved 3′ end formation signal that requires initiation from an snRNA promoter. Here we show that the C-terminal domain (CTD) of Pol II is required for efficient U2 snRNA transcription, as it is for mRNA transcription. However, CTD kinase inhibitors, such as 5,6-dichloro-1-β-d-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB) and 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7), that block mRNA elongation do not affect U2 transcription, although 3′ processing of the U2 primary transcript is impaired. We show further that U2 transcription is preferentially inhibited by low doses of UV irradiation or actinomycin D, which induce CTD kinase activity, and that UV inhibition can be rescued by treatment with DRB or H7. We propose that Pol II complexes transcribing snRNAs and mRNAs have distinct CTD phosphorylation patterns. mRNA promoters recruit factors including kinases that hyperphosphorylate the CTD, and the CTD in turn recruits proteins needed for mRNA splicing and polyadenylation. We predict that snRNA promoters recruit factors including a CTD kinase(s) whose snRNA-specific phosphorylation pattern recruits factors required for promoter-coupled 3′ end formation.