Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A genome wide linkage scan for cleft lip and palate and dental anomalies

We revisited 46 families with two or more siblings affected with an orofacial cleft that participated in previous genome wide studies and collected complete dental information. Genotypes from 392 microsatellite markers at 10 cM intervals were reanalyzed. We carried out four sets of genome wide analyses. First, we ran the analysis solely on the cleft status. Second, we assigned to any dental anomaly (tooth agenesis, supernumerary teeth, and microdontia) an affection status, and repeated the analysis. Third, we ran only the 19 families where the proband had a cleft with no dental anomalies. Finally, we ran only the 27 families that had a proband with cleft and additional dental anomalies outside the cleft area. Chromosomes (1, 2, 6, 8, 16, and 19) presented regions with LOD scores >2.0. Chromosome 19 has the most compelling results in our study. The LOD scores increased from 3.11 (in the scan of all 46 families with clefts as the only assigned affection status) to 3.91 when the 19 families whose probands present with no additional dental anomalies were studied, suggesting the interval 19p13.12‐19q12 may contain a gene that contributes to clefts but not to dental anomalies. On the other hand, we found a LOD score of 3.00 in the 2q22.3 region when dental anomalies data were added to the analysis to define affection status. Our preliminary results support the hypothesis that some loci may contribute to both clefts and congenital dental anomalies. Also, adding dental anomalies information will provide new opportunities to map susceptibility loci for clefts. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Fragmentation and destruction of the superfluid due to frustration of cold atoms in optical lattices

A one-dimensional optical lattice is considered where a second dimension is encoded in the internal states of the atoms giving effective ladder systems. Frustration is introduced by an additional optical lattice that induces tunnelling of superposed atomic states. The effects of frustration range from the stabilization of the Mott insulator phase with ferromagnetic order, to the breakdown of superfluidity and the formation of a macroscopically fragmented phase.
Paleomagnetic Tests of Pacific Plate Reconstructions and Implications for Motion Between Hotspots

The plate-motion circuit through the South Pacific and Antarctica is shown to fail paleomagnetic tests of consistency. These failures imply that reconstructions of Pacific basin plates relative to surrounding plates inferred from this circuit are systematically in error and that estimates of motion between hotspots inferred from this circuit are probably too large. Therefore, the motions between hotspots remain poorly known and may be much smaller than previously estimated.
Distribution of the Glucose Transporter in the Mammalian Brain

Abstract: We used [3H]cytochalasin B as a specific ligand to study the glucose transporter of the following tissue preparations: (a) microvessels derived from the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of the rat and pig, (b) particulate fractions of the cerebral cortex and cerebellum of the rat and pig, (c) lateral, third, and fourth ventricular choroid plexus of the pig, and (d) synaptosomes from the pig cerebral cortex. Specific, D‐glucose‐displaceable binding of [3H]cytochalasin B was present in all the preparations studied. This binding was saturable and displayed the kinetics of a single class of binding sites, similar to the glucose transporter found in other mammalian tissues. The density of the glucose transporter was much higher in cerebral and cerebellar microvessels and choroid plexus than either in crude particulate fractions of the cerebrum and cerebellum or in cerebral synaptosomes. These findings agree with the physiologic function of brain microvessels that transport glucose, not only for their own use, but also for the much greater mass of the entire brain. In the pig, the density of the glucose transporter in cerebral microvessels was significantly higher than in cerebellar microvessels. Irreversible photoaffinity labeling of the glucose transporter of synaptosomal membranes with [3H]cytochalasin B followed by solubilization and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis demonstrated a single region of radioactivity that corresponded to a molecular mass of 60,000–64,000 daltons.
Isokinetic Testing in Patients with Neuromuscular Diseases: A Focused Review

Objective This literature review aimed to study the use of isokinetic testing in patients with neuromuscular diseases (NMDs) and to identify directions for future research of isokinetic testing. Design The MEDLINE (January 1, 1965, to July 1, 2010), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health (1980 to May 2010), and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 3, 2009) electronic databases were searched. The literature search was conducted using the keywords muscle assessment, muscle strength, evaluation, isokinetic, neuromuscular diseases, muscle fatigue, functional test, rehabilitation, and literature search. Relevant references cited in the selected articles were also considered, regardless of the year of publication. Results The search strategy yielded 13 articles involving a variety of patients with known NMDs. All studies demonstrated that isokinetic dynamometry is appropriate and safe for ambulatory patients with NMDs. Isokinetic testing has proven to be reliable (intratest/intertest correlation coefficient ranged from 0.65 to 0.98), with the proximal muscles having the highest reliability, and sensitive to disease progression and to the effects of various therapeutic interventions. However, isokinetic testing has never gained wide acceptance, partly because of concerns about stabilizing the dynamometer and the subject during the test and of the lack of standardized protocols for isokinetic strength measurement. Conclusions Isokinetic testing is an important part of the comprehensive evaluation and rehabilitation of patients with NMD. Research has demonstrated its efficacy in providing clinically relevant information. When integrated with a complete history, physical examination, and functional evaluation, isokinetic testing and exercise can be a valuable tool for the clinician in the assessment, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement of patients with NMD. Such equipment, however, has several disadvantages, rendering it usually impractical in the clinical setting.
Characterization of the Pneumocystis carinii Histone Acetyltransferase Chaperone Proteins PcAsf1 and PcVps75

ABSTRACT Rtt109 is a lysine acetyltransferase that acetylates histone H3 at lysine 56 (H3K56) in fungi. This acetylation event is important for proper DNA replication and repair to occur. Efficient Rtt109 acetyltransferase activity also requires a histone chaperone, vacuolar protein sorting 75 (Vps75), as well as the major chaperone of the H3-H4 dimer, anti-silencing factor 1 (Asf1). Little is known about the role of these proteins in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Pneumocystis carinii. To investigate the functions of Asf1 and Vps75 in Pneumocystis carinii, we cloned and characterized both of these genes. Here, we demonstrate that both genes, P. carinii asf1 (Pcasf1) and Pcvps75, function in a fashion analogous to their Saccharomyces cerevisiae counterparts. We demonstrate that both P. carinii Asf1 (PcAsf1) and PcVps75 can bind histones. Furthermore, when Pcasf1 is expressed heterologously in S. cerevisiae asf1Δ cells, PcAsf1 can restore full H3 lysine acetylation. We further demonstrated that the Pcasf1 cDNA expressed in asf1Δ S. cerevisiae cells can restore growth to wild-type levels in the presence of genotoxic agents that block DNA replication. Lastly, we observed that purified PcAsf1 and PcVps75 proteins enhance the ability of PcRtt109 to acetylate histone H3-H4 tetramers. Together, our results indicate that the functions of the Rtt109-Asf1-Vps75 complex in the acetylation of histone H3 lysine 56 and in DNA damage response are present in P. carinii DNA and cell cycle progression.
Laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery for gastric submucosal tumors.

AIM To assess the feasibility, safety, and advantages of minimally invasive laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery (LECS) for gastric submucosal tumors (SMT). METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 101 consecutive patients, who had undergone partial, proximal, or distal gastrectomy using LECS for gastric SMT at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from June 2006 to April 2013. All patients were followed up by visit or telephone. Clinical data, surgical approach, pathological features such as the size, location, and pathological type of each tumor; and follow-up results were analyzed. The feasibility, safety and effectiveness of LECS for gastric SMT were evaluated, especially for patients with tumors located near the cardia or pylorus. RESULTS The 101 patients included 43 (42.6%) men and 58 (57.4%) women, with mean age of 51.2 ± 13.1 years (range, 14-76 years). The most common symptom was belching. Almost all (n = 97) patients underwent surgery with preservation of the cardia and pylorus, with the other four patients undergoing proximal or distal gastrectomy. The mean distance from the lesion to the cardia or pylorus was 3.4 ± 1.3 cm, and the minimum distance from the tumor edge to the cardia was 1.5 cm. Tumor pathology included gastrointestinal stromal tumor in 78 patients, leiomyoma in 13, carcinoid tumors in three, ectopic pancreas in three, lipoma in two, glomus tumor in one, and inflammatory pseudotumor in one. Tumor size ranged from 1 to 8.2 cm, with 65 (64.4%) lesions < 2 cm, 32 (31.7%) > 2 cm, and four > 5 cm. Sixty-six lesions (65.3%) were located in the fundus, 21 (20.8%) in the body, 10 (9.9%) in the antrum, three (3.0%) in the cardia, and one (1.0%) in the pylorus. During a median follow-up of 28 mo (range, 1-69 mo), none of these patients experienced recurrence or metastasis. The three patients who underwent proximal gastrectomy experienced symptoms of regurgitation and belching. CONCLUSION Laparoscopic-endoscopic cooperative surgery is feasible and safe for patients with gastric submucosal tumor. Endoscopic intraoperative localization and support can help preserve the cardia and pylorus during surgery.
Results of supracondylar osseous shortening in knee disarticulation

A twenty-eight-year-old patient who had a knee disarticulation and used a prosthesis that could bear weight through the stump end is presented. He had cosmetic and soft tissue problems in the stump end. To solve these problems, a 7cm supracondylar shortening osteotomy was performed. The functional and cosmetic results that were obtained from the prosthesis for trans-femoral amputations but which can bear weight through the stump end, fitted 1.5 months after the surgical operation, were evaluated as very good at the end of the 26 months follow-up period.
A large common-source outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis in a hotel in Singapore, 2012

SUMMARY An outbreak of gastroenteritis affected 453 attendees (attack rate 28·5%) of six separate events held at a hotel in Singapore. Active case detection, case-control studies, hygiene inspections and microbial analysis of food, environmental and stool samples were conducted to determine the aetiology of the outbreak and the modes of transmission. The only commonality was the food, crockery and cutlery provided and/or handled by the hotel's Chinese banquet kitchen. Stool specimens from 34 cases and 15 food handlers were positive for norovirus genogroup II. The putative index case was one of eight norovirus-positive food handlers who had worked while they were symptomatic. Several food samples and remnants tested positive for Escherichia coli or high faecal coliforms, aerobic plate counts and/or total coliforms, indicating poor food hygiene. This large common-source outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis was caused by the consumption of contaminated food and/or contact with contaminated crockery or cutlery provided or handled by the hotel's Chinese banquet kitchen.
A new multilevel PWM method: a theoretical analysis

A generalization of the PWM (pulse width modulation) subharmonic method for controlling single-phase or three-phase multilevel voltage source inverters (VSIs) is considered. Three multilevel PWM techniques for VSI inverters are presented. An analytical expression of the spectral components of the output waveforms covering all the operating conditions is derived. The analysis is based on an extension of Bennet's method. The improvements in harmonic spectrum are pointed out, and several examples are presented which prove the validity of the multilevel modulation. Improvements in the harmonic contents were achieved due to the increased number of levels. <<ETX>>
DOSIMETRIC EVALUATION STUDY ON CONVENTIONAL AND 3 D CONFORMAL BRACHYTHERAPY TREATMENT OF CERVIX CANCER

The purpose of this study was to compare International Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements (ICRU, report 38) reference points, used in conventional brachytherapy planning, with Computed Tomography (CT)-based volumetric calculations of radiation doses for target volumes and organs at risk in biopsy-proven cervix carcinoma patients. All patients underwent brachytherapy using CT-compatible applicators, followed by both conventional and CT scanning. The results confirm that point A radiation dose prescription overestimates target volume coverage, meanwhile for organs at risk the dose is underestimated. This suggests that brachytherapy needs to advance from a point-based (conventional) to a volume-based concept (3D conformal).
Cytotoxicity of Ethanol Extracts of in vivo, in vitro and Biotized Grown Plants of Vernonia divergens on EAC Cell Lines

The present study was attempted to enhance the anticancer activities in in vitro grown medicinal plant, Vernonia divergens, generated under the stress of a fungus, Piriformospora indica and to evaluate the effect of such biotization against EAC cell lines using standard MTT assay. The effect of adenine sulphate in addition to the phytohormones was assessed for micropropagation of V. divergens from shoot tip explants. The regenerated plantlets were biotized with a fungus, P. indica through soil drenching method. After acclimatization of 30 days, the ethanol extracts of these regenerants were screened for their inhibitory action against EAC mouse cell lines at different concentrations for 72 hours of treatment and compared with that of the inhibitory action of both in vivo and in vitro (non-biotized) generated plants. The combination of adenine sulphate and phytohormones sufficiently increased the number of shoots and roots per explants. Biotization of micropropagated plantlets not only enhanced the survival rate and growth of root, shoot and leaf of the regenerated plants but it also increased the anticancer potentiality. The level of inhibition of ethanol extract against EAC cell lines of these regenerated plants was found to be low as compared with that of the natural garden plants but the stress of biotization with this fungus helped the regenerants to regain the inhibitory action against the cell lines. Thus, biotization with the fungus, P. indica is vital not only in the growth promotion of plants but also demonstrated enhanced anticancer potentialities in micropropagated plants, grown under stress.
Enhanced Spatial Performance following 10 Minutes Exposure to Music: A Replication

Previous research has demonstrated that 10 min. exposure to classical music can influence performance on a spatial task. The effect, however, has not been robust, suggesting a sensitivity to individual differences and task operationalization. The present study involved a further replication of this effect. 16 female and 16 male undergraduates completed two equivalent spatial tests, one following a control procedure and one following the presentation of Mozart's Sonata for two pianos in D major. Performance showed a small but significant improvement immediately following presentation of the music.
Immunogenic peptide comprising a mouse hepatitis virus A59 B-cell epitope and an influenza virus T-cell epitope protects against lethal infection

The coronavirus spike protein S is responsible for important biological activities including virus neutralization by antibody, cell attachment, and cell fusion. Recently, we have elucidated the amino acid sequence of an S determinant common in murine coronaviruses (W. Luytjes, D. Geerts, W. Posthumus, R. Meloen, and W. Spaan, J. Virol. 63:1408-1412, 1989). A monoclonal antibody directed to this determinant (MAb 5B19.2) protected mice against acute fatal infection. In this study, BALB/c mice were immunized with a synthetic peptide of 13 amino acids corresponding to the binding site of MAb 5B19.2, which was either extended with an amino acid sequence of influenza virus hemagglutinin or conjugated to keyhole limpet hemocyanin. Both immunogens induced S-specific antibodies in mice, but only the hemagglutinin-peptide construct protected them against lethal challenge. In contrast to mouse hepatitis virus type 4 (MHV-4), MHV-A59 was not neutralized in vitro by MAb 5B19.2. Neither MHV-A59 nor MHV-4 was neutralized in vitro by antibodies comprising by the synthetic peptides. Our results demonstrated that antibodies elicited with a synthetic peptide comprising a B-cell epitope and a T-helper cell determinant can protect mice against an acute fetal mouse hepatitis virus infection.
Action recognition algorithm based on optical flow and RANSAC in frequency domain

This paper proposes a novel approach towards human action recognition based on optical flow and random sample consensus (RANSAC) by utilizing frequency domain feature extraction. Action representations can be considered as image templates, which can be useful for understanding various actions or gestures as well as for recognition and analysis. Optical flow is the pattern of apparent motion of objects, surfaces, and edges in a visual scene caused by the relative motion between an observer (an eye or a camera) and the scene. Additionally, RANSAC is an iterative method to estimate parameters of a mathematical model from a set of observed data, which contains inliers and outliers. The proposed scheme employs optical flow to determine the motion of humans. Human motions are further localized and identified using RANSAC. Feature extraction for the purpose of action recognition is performed in frequency domain. It has been shown that the use of frequency domain features enhances the distinguishability of different actions and certain undesirable phenomena, such as camera movement and change in camera distance from the subject, are less severe in the frequency domain. Principal component analysis is performed to further reduce the dimensionality of the feature space. Extensive experimentations have been carried out upon some standard motion databases. It is found that the proposed method offers not only computational savings but also a very high degree of accuracy.
The Impact of an Ultrathin Y2O3 Layer on GeO2 Passivation in Ge MOS Gate Stacks

This paper investigates the impact of an atomic layer-deposited Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> dielectric on the passivation of a GeO<sub>2</sub> layer in GeO<sub>2</sub>-based Ge gate stacks. The equivalent oxide thickness scalability and thermal stability of the ultrathin Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> layer are evaluated at different Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> thicknesses and annealing conditions in detail. Experimental results show that a Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> layer thickness of 1.0 nm is required to serve as a GeO<sub>2</sub> passivation layer while retaining gate-stack performance at 400 °C postdeposition annealing. However, at a higher annealing temperature of 500 °C, the barrier property deteriorates and allows GeO desorption. The proposed gate-stack implies the applicability of a Y<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> passivation method for further scaled GeO<sub>2</sub>-based Ge gate stacks.
Palliative care by family physicians in the 1990s. Resilience amid reform.

OBJECTIVE To explore issues family physicians face in providing community-based palliative care to their patients in the context of a changing health care system. DESIGN Focus groups. SETTING Small (< 10,000 population), medium-sized (10,000 to 50,000), and large (> 50,000) communities in Nova Scotia. PARTICIPANTS Twenty-five men and women physicians with varying years of practice experience in both solo and group practices. METHOD A semistructured approach was used, asking physicians to reflect on recent palliative care experiences in order to explore issues of care. MAIN FINDINGS Five themes emerged from the discussions: resources needed, availability of family support, time and money supporting physicians' activities, symptom control for patients, and physicians' emotional reactions to caring for dying patients. CONCLUSION With downsizing of hospitals and greater emphasis on community-based care, the issues identified in this study will need attention, particularly in designing an integrated service delivery model for palliative care.
Predictors of Loneliness Among Students and Nuns in Angola and Portugal

Abstract The authors conducted 2 studies to examine the relationship between loneliness and psychosocial variables among people from Angola and Portugal. In the 1st study, the participants were 129 college students from Angola and 122 from Portugal, and in the 2nd study participants were 105 nuns from Angola and 74 from Portugal. The following instruments were administered to all participants in both studies: the Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (D. Russell, L. Peplau, & C. Cutrona, 1980), the Neuroticism Scale (J. Barros, 1999), the Optimism Scale (J. Barros, 1998), and the Satisfaction With Life Scale (E. Diener, R. Emmons, R. Larsen, & S. Griffin, 1985). Ethnic differences were found in loneliness. The Angolan participants recorded higher scores for loneliness than did the Portuguese participants. For both samples the most prominent predictors of loneliness were neuroticism and dissatisfaction with life.
A twin study of anxiety-related behaviours in pre-school children.

BACKGROUND From middle childhood onwards, substantial evidence points to phenotypic differentiation between anxiety diagnostic categories such as generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, specific phobia, and obsessive-compulsive disorders. However, little is known about the genetics of these categories and especially about the phenotypic and genetic structure of related behaviours in pre-school children. METHODS We examined the phenotypic differentiation and genetics of mother-reported anxiety-related behaviours in 4,564 four-year-old twin pairs, from a population-based sample. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analyses provided support for five correlated factors: General Distress, Separation Anxiety, Fears, Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviours, and Shyness/Inhibition. Genetic influences were found on all five factors, but the pattern of influences differed considerably across them, with particularly high heritability estimates for Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviours and Shyness/Inhibition, and substantial shared environmental influence on Separation Anxiety. Multivariate genetic analyses revealed moderate genetic correlations between the five factors. Genetic overlap was particularly pronounced between General Distress and the other anxiety-related behaviours, accounting for about half of their covariance. Genetic variance on Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviours was the least correlated with the other scales. The shared environmental influences correlated highly across the factors, accounting for the greatest proportion of covariation between Separation Anxiety, Fears and Obsessive-Compulsive Behaviours. The non-shared environment influences were largely variable specific. CONCLUSIONS These data provide evidence for phenotypic and genetic overlap as well as differentiation between aspects of anxiety-related behaviours in young children. We conclude that research with young children will benefit from more specific assessments of anxiety-related behaviours in addition to less differentiated assessments of 'internalising' symptoms.