Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
IQ in children with autism spectrum disorders: data from the Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP)

Background Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was once considered to be highly associated with intellectual disability and to show a characteristic IQ profile, with strengths in performance over verbal abilities and a distinctive pattern of ‘peaks’ and ‘troughs’ at the subtest level. However, there are few data from epidemiological studies. Method Comprehensive clinical assessments were conducted with 156 children aged 10–14 years [mean (s.d.)=11.7 (0.9)], seen as part of an epidemiological study (81 childhood autism, 75 other ASD). A sample weighting procedure enabled us to estimate characteristics of the total ASD population. Results Of the 75 children with ASD, 55% had an intellectual disability (IQ<70) but only 16% had moderate to severe intellectual disability (IQ<50); 28% had average intelligence (115>IQ>85) but only 3% were of above average intelligence (IQ>115). There was some evidence for a clinically significant Performance/Verbal IQ (PIQ/VIQ) discrepancy but discrepant verbal versus performance skills were not associated with a particular pattern of symptoms, as has been reported previously. There was mixed evidence of a characteristic subtest profile: whereas some previously reported patterns were supported (e.g. poor Comprehension), others were not (e.g. no ‘peak’ in Block Design). Adaptive skills were significantly lower than IQ and were associated with severity of early social impairment and also IQ. Conclusions In this epidemiological sample, ASD was less strongly associated with intellectual disability than traditionally held and there was only limited evidence of a distinctive IQ profile. Adaptive outcome was significantly impaired even for those children of average intelligence.
Joint Scheduling and Routing for QoS Guaranteed Packet Transmission in Energy Efficient Reconfigurable WDM Mesh Networks

The explosion of Internet traffic calls for quality of service (QoS)-guaranteed packet transmission in wavelength division multiplexing (WDM) networks with high energy and bandwidth efficiency. Conventional routing and wavelength assignment (RWA) algorithms focus on circuit switching, which does not well meet this requirement due to the bursty nature of IP traffic. Based on a novel traffic matrix decomposition technique, we study the joint design of traffic scheduling and routing in a reconfigurable WDM optical network to improve energy and bandwidth efficiency. Specifically, every node in the network is equipped with a set of parallel tunable lasers, each with a reconfiguration overhead. A dynamic matrix is adopted to model the traffic among the nodes and is decomposed into a set of transmission configurations (i.e., traffic scheduling). The configurations are then fulfilled by tuning the parallel lasers and routing the scheduled traffic under the topology constraint, to achieve loss-free packet transmissions with bounded delay (i.e., QoS guarantee). We reveal that a tradeoff exists between the packet delay and the required number of tunable lasers. The latter is then minimized under a given packet delay to save energy. As far as we know, this is the first work to adopt traffic matrix decomposition in WDM networks to save energy. The proposed framework is validated by extensive simulation studies.
Chromatin‐associated noncoding RNAs in development and inheritance

Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) have emerged as crucial players in chromatin regulation. Their diversity allows them to partake in the regulation of numerous cellular processes across species. During development, long and short ncRNAs act in conjunction with each other where long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) are best understood in establishing appropriate gene expression patterns, while short ncRNAs (sRNAs) are known to establish constitutive heterochromatin and suppress mobile elements. Additionally, increasing evidence demonstrates roles of sRNAs in several typically lncRNA‐mediated processes such as dosage compensation, indicating a complex regulatory network of noncoding RNAs. Together, various ncRNAs establish many mitotically heritable epigenetic marks during development. Additionally, they participate in mechanisms that regulate maintenance of these epigenetic marks during the lifespan of the organism. Interestingly, some epigenetic traits are transmitted to the next generation(s) via paramutations or transgenerational inheritance mediated by sRNAs. In this review, we give an overview of the various functions and regulations of ncRNAs and the mechanisms they employ in the establishment and maintenance of epigenetic marks and multi‐generational transmission of epigenetic traits. WIREs RNA 2017, 8:e1435. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1435
Clinical implications from daily physiotherapy examination of 131 acute hamstring injuries and their association with running speed and rehabilitation progression

Aim To investigate the association of daily clinical measures and the progression of rehabilitation and perceived running effort. Methods A cohort of 131 athletes with an MRI-confirmed acute hamstring injury underwent a standardised criteria-based rehabilitation protocol. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to investigate the association between daily clinical subjective and objective measures and both the progression of rehabilitation and perceived running effort. These measures included different strength, palpation, flexibility and functional tests. Inter-rater and intrarater reliability and minimal detectable change were established for the clinical measures of strength and flexibility by examining measures taken on consecutive days for the uninjured leg. Results The progression of the daily measures was seen to be non-linear and varied according to the measure. Intra-rater reliability for the strength and flexibility measures were excellent (95% CI ≥0.85 for all measures). Strength (in the outer range position) and flexibility (in maximum hip flexion with active knee extension (MHFAKE) in supine) were best associated with rehabilitation progression and perceived running effort. Additionally, length of pain on palpation was usefully associated with rehabilitation progression. At lower perceived running effort there was a large variation in actual running speed. Conclusion Daily physical measures of palpation pain, outer range strength, MHFAKE and reported pain during daily activity are useful to inform the progression of rehabilitation. Trial registration number NCT01812564 and NCT02104258.
Association between Temperature and Emergency Room Visits for Cardiorespiratory Diseases, Metabolic Syndrome-Related Diseases, and Accidents in Metropolitan Taipei

Objective This study evaluated risks of the emergency room visits (ERV) for cerebrovascular diseases, heart diseases, ischemic heart disease, hypertensive diseases, chronic renal failure (CRF), diabetes mellitus (DM), asthma, chronic airway obstruction not elsewhere classified (CAO), and accidents associated with the ambient temperature from 2000 to 2009 in metropolitan Taipei. Methods The distributed lag non-linear model was used to estimate the cumulative relative risk (RR) and confidence interval (CI) of cause-specific ERV associated with daily temperature from lag 0 to lag 3 after controlling for potential confounders. Results This study identified that temperatures related to the lowest risk of ERV was 26 °C for cerebrovascular diseases, 18 °C for CRF, DM, and accidents, and 30 °C for hypertensive diseases, asthma, and CAO. These temperatures were used as the reference temperatures to measure RR for the corresponding diseases. A low temperature (14°C) increased the ERV risk for cerebrovascular diseases, hypertensive diseases, and asthma, with respective cumulative 4-day RRs of 1.56 (95% CI: 1.23, 1.97), 1.78 (95% CI: 1.37, 2.34), and 2.93 (95% CI: 1.26, 6.79). The effects were greater on, or after, lag one. At 32°C, the cumulative 4-day RR for ERV was significant for CRF (RR = 2.36; 95% CI: 1.33, 4.19) and accidents (RR = 1.23; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.33) and the highest RR was seen on lag 0 for CRF (RR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.01, 3.58), DM (RR = 1.69; 95% CI: 1.09, 2.61), and accidents (RR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.11, 1.27). Conclusions Higher temperatures are associated with the increased ERV risks for CRF, DM, and accidents and lower temperatures with the increased ERV risks for cerebrovascular diseases, hypertensive diseases, and asthma in the subtropical metropolitan.
Detection rate of 99mTc‐MIBI single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT in preoperative planning for patients with primary hyperparathyroidism: A meta‐analysis

Parathyroid scintigraphy using 99mTc‐MIBI single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT)/CT has been proposed as one of the most accurate localization techniques in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). The purpose of this review was to meta‐analyze published data on the detection rate of 99mTc‐MIBI SPECT/CT in the preoperative planning of patients with PHPT.
Adaptive antibody diversification through N-linked glycosylation of the immunoglobulin variable region

Significance Structural variation of antibodies is generally defined in terms of amino acid composition, neglecting posttranslational modifications such as N-linked glycosylation. Little is known about the role of the glycans that are present in about 15% of variable domains. However, recent studies suggest that variable domain glycans exhibit distinct patterns according to (patho)physiological conditions, and can have immunomodulatory effects. Here we highlight a physiological role for variable domain glycans that is predetermined in the germline antibody repertoire: We show that variable domain N-linked glycans are acquired during somatic hypermutation at positions predisposed in the germline and may be positively selected during affinity maturation, representing an additional mechanism of secondary antibody diversification that contributes to the extent of the B-cell antibody repertoire. A hallmark of B-cell immunity is the generation of a diverse repertoire of antibodies from a limited set of germline V(D)J genes. This repertoire is usually defined in terms of amino acid composition. However, variable domains may also acquire N-linked glycans, a process conditional on the introduction of consensus amino acid motifs (N-glycosylation sites) during somatic hypermutation. High levels of variable domain glycans have been associated with autoantibodies in rheumatoid arthritis, as well as certain follicular lymphomas. However, the role of these glycans in the humoral immune response remains poorly understood. Interestingly, studies have reported both positive and negative effects on antibody affinity. Our aim was to elucidate the role of variable domain glycans during antigen-specific antibody responses. By analyzing B-cell repertoires by next-generation sequencing, we demonstrate that N-glycosylation sites are introduced at positions in which glycans can affect antigen binding as a result of a specific clustering of progenitor glycosylation sites in the germline sequences of variable domain genes. By analyzing multiple human monoclonal and polyclonal (auto)antibody responses, we subsequently show that this process is subject to selection during antigen-specific antibody responses, skewed toward IgG4, and positively contributes to antigen binding. Together, these results highlight a physiological role for variable domain glycosylation as an additional layer of antibody diversification that modulates antigen binding.
Optimizing Scoring and Sampling Methods for Assessing Built Neighborhood Environment Quality in Residential Areas

Optimization of existing measurement tools is necessary to explore links between aspects of the neighborhood built environment and health behaviors or outcomes. We evaluate a scoring method for virtual neighborhood audits utilizing the Active Neighborhood Checklist (the Checklist), a neighborhood audit measure, and assess street segment representativeness in low-income neighborhoods. Eighty-two home neighborhoods of Washington, D.C. Cardiovascular Health/Needs Assessment (NCT01927783) participants were audited using Google Street View imagery and the Checklist (five sections with 89 total questions). Twelve street segments per home address were assessed for (1) Land-Use Type; (2) Public Transportation Availability; (3) Street Characteristics; (4) Environment Quality and (5) Sidewalks/Walking/Biking features. Checklist items were scored 0–2 points/question. A combinations algorithm was developed to assess street segments’ representativeness. Spearman correlations were calculated between built environment quality scores and Walk Score®, a validated neighborhood walkability measure. Street segment quality scores ranged 10–47 (Mean = 29.4 ± 6.9) and overall neighborhood quality scores, 172–475 (Mean = 352.3 ± 63.6). Walk scores® ranged 0–91 (Mean = 46.7 ± 26.3). Street segment combinations’ correlation coefficients ranged 0.75–1.0. Significant positive correlations were found between overall neighborhood quality scores, four of the five Checklist subsection scores, and Walk Scores® (r = 0.62, p < 0.001). This scoring method adequately captures neighborhood features in low-income, residential areas and may aid in delineating impact of specific built environment features on health behaviors and outcomes.
CHLORIDE AND SODIUM UPTAKE POTENTIAL OVER AN ENTIRE ROTATION OF POPULUS IRRIGATED WITH LANDFILL LEACHATE

There is a need for information about the response of Populus genotypes to repeated application of high-salinity water and nutrient sources throughout an entire rotation. We have combined establishment biomass and uptake data with mid- and full-rotation growth data to project potential chloride (Cl−) and sodium (Na+) uptake for 2- to 11-year-old Populus in the north central United States. Our objectives were to identify potential levels of uptake as the trees developed and stages of plantation development that are conducive to variable application rates of high-salinity irrigation. The projected cumulative uptake of Cl− and Na+ during mid-rotation plantation development was stable 2 to 3 years after planting but increased steadily from year 3 to 6. Year six cumulative uptake ranged from 22 to 175 kg Cl− ha−1 and 8 to 74 kg Na+ ha−1, while annual uptake ranged from 8 to 54 kg Cl− ha−1 yr−1 and 3 to 23 kg Na+ ha−1 yr−1. Full-rotation uptake was greatest from 4 to 9 years (Cl−) and 4 to 8 years (Na+), with maximum levels of Cl− (32 kg ha−1 yr−1) and Na+ (13 kg ha−1 yr−1) occurring in year six. The relative uptake potential of Cl− and Na+ at peak accumulation (year six) was 2.7 times greater than at the end of the rotation.
Concentration of Salmonella pullorum antigen and the immunosuppressive effect of adrenocorticotropin in growing chickens.

The role of antigen concentration on the immunosuppressive effect of adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) was tested in 6-week-old White Rock chickens that were immunized i.v. with 1 ml of heat-treated Salmonella pullorum at packed cell volume concentrations of . 06 to . 00015%, At 16 and 10 hr before the antigen (Ag) injection, the birds received either 4 IU . 100 g body wt-1 of ACTH i.m. , or the gelatin (Gel) vehicle. Total, 2-mercaptoethanol sensitive (2-MES), and 2-mercaptoethanol resistant (2-MER) agglutinin antibody titers were determined. The ACTH significantly suppressed total agglutinin titers with the lower Ag concentrations (.0015 and .00015%) but not with the higher Ag concentrations. The ACTH significantly suppressed 2-MES titers only when Ag concentrations were low but suppressed 2-MER titers regardless of Ag concentration. The results indicated that there may be critical Ag concentrations capable of inducing maximal humoral antibody responses in moderate environments but which allow these responses to be suppressed by environments that stimulate increased pituitary-adrenal activity.
Interventions to Improve Follow-Up of Laboratory Test Results Pending at Discharge: A Systematic Review

Failure to follow up test results pending at discharge (TPAD) from hospitals or emergency departments is a major patient safety concern. The purpose of this review is to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to improve follow-up of laboratory TPAD. We conducted literature searches in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, and EMBASE using search terms for relevant health care settings, transition of patient care, laboratory tests, communication, and pending or missed tests. We solicited unpublished studies from the clinical laboratory community and excluded articles that did not address transitions between settings, did not include an intervention, or were not related to laboratory TPAD. We also excluded letters, editorials, commentaries, abstracts, case reports, and case series. Of the 9,592 abstracts retrieved, eight met the inclusion criteria and reported the successful communication of TPAD. A team member abstracted predetermined data elements from each study, and a senior scientist reviewed the abstraction. Two experienced reviewers independently appraised the quality of each study using published Laboratory Medicine Best Practices (LMBP™) A-6 scoring criteria. We assessed the body of evidence using the A-6 methodology, and the evidence suggested that electronic tools or one-on-one education increased documentation of pending tests in discharge summaries. We also found that automated notifications improved awareness of TPAD. The interventions were supported by suggestive evidence; this type of evidence is below the level of evidence required for LMBP™ recommendations. We encourage additional research into the impact of these interventions on key processes and health outcomes.
Optimal Stand Management: Traditional and Neotraditional Solutions

The traditional Faustmann (1849) model has served as the foundation of economic theory of the firm for the forestry production process. Since its introduction over 150 years ago, many variations of the Faustmann have been developed which relax certain assumptions of the traditional model, including constant prices, risk neutrality, zero production and management costs, and the single management objective. We describe the traditional Faustmann and provide an overview of the neotraditional Faustmann and Hartman (1976) models. We then use the neotraditional Hartman model to develop testable hypotheses regarding harvest response to timber, land, and amenity values from forests. Using data from the North Carolina coastal plain, we test for inclusion of several often omitted variables in models of industrial and nonindustrial harvest behavior.
Systems medicine approaches for peptide array-based protein kinase profiling: progress and prospects

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pharmacological manipulation of signalling pathways is becoming an increasingly important avenue for the rational clinical management of disease but is hampered by a lack of technologies that allow the generation of comprehensive descriptions of cellular signalling. Areas covered: Herein, the authors discuss the potential of peptide array-based kinome profiling for evaluating cellular signalling in the context of drug discovery. Expert commentary: Genomic and proteomic approaches have been of significant value to our elucidation of the molecular mechanisms that govern physiology. However, an equally, if not more important goal, is to define those proteins that participate in signalling pathways that ultimately control cell fate, especially kinases. Traditional genetic and biochemical approaches can certainly provide answers here, but for technical and practical reasons, are typically pursued one gene or pathway at a time. A more comprehensive approach is one in which peptide arrays of kinase-specific substrates are incubated with cell lysates and 33P-ATP generating comprehensive descriptions, or where arrays are interrogated with phosphospecific antibodies. Both approaches allow analysis of cellular signalling without a priori assumptions to possibly influenced pathways.
Soft Triboelectric Band for Sensing of and Energy Scavenging From Body Motion

We manifest a new method of developing wearable triboelectric band for self-powerd gesture sensing and power generating. Film casting technique, that is easily scalable, was used to patterned soft stretchable elastomers and conductive carbon based composites. The developed triboelectric band showed the capabilities of detecting locomotion of elbow and knee movement and provides electrical signal in response. The rms voltage, current and power of 2.9 V, 0.3 μA and 1.6 μW for elbow stretching, and 1.1 V, 0.11 μA and 0.22 μW for knee stretching was obtained for the optimum load of 10.1 MΩ at operational frequency of 1 ± 0.1 Hz.
A stayed location estimation method for sparse GPS positioning information

Cell phones with GPS function as well as GPS loggers are widely used and we can easily obtain users' geographic information. However, still battery consumption in these mobile devices is main concern and then we are not allowed to obtain GPS positioning data so frequently. In this paper, we propose a stayed location estimation method for sparse GPS positioning data. After generating initial clusters from a sequence of measured positions, we set the effective radius for every cluster based on positioning accuracy and merge the clusters effectively using it. After that, we temporarily remove short-time clusters but do not remove measured positions included in them. Then we merge the clusters again, taking all the measured positions into consideration. We perform this process twice, i.e, we perform two-stage short-time cluster removal, and finally realize accurate stayed location estimation even when the GPS positioning interval is five minutes or more. Experiments demonstrate that the total distance error between the estimated stayed location and the true stayed location is reduced by more than 50% compared to a conventional state-of-the-art method.
Role of macrophages in avian health and disease.

Received for publication July 10, 1996. Accepted for publication February 17, 1998. 1The use of trade name in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service, nor criticism of similar products not mentioned. 2To whom correspondence should be addressed. Abbreviation Key: IL = interleukin; NOS = nitricoxide synthases; RNI = reactive nitrogen intermediates; ROI = reactive oxygen intermediates; TNF = tumor necrosis factor. Role of Macrophages in Avian Health and Disease1
Effects of packaging systems on the natural microflora and acceptability of chicken breast meat.

The effect of 3 packaging systems on the spoilage microflora, objective color, and sensory characteristics of fresh commercial broiler chicken breast meat was investigated. Fresh skinless and boneless chicken broiler breasts were purchased from a local poultry processing plant and packaged in either (1) a conventional Styrofoam tray with polyvinyl chloride overwrap and absorbent pad, (2) a Styrofoam tray with polyvinyl chloride overwrap minus absorbent pad, or (3) a Fresh-R-Pax (FRP) container equipped with an absorbent liner-gel system. All packages were heat sealed and stored at 1.2 +/- 1 degrees C for 8 d. At each sampling period (0, 2, 4, 6, and 8 d), packages from each treatment were analyzed for Pseudomonas spp. , psychrotrophic organisms, objective color, and sensory characteristics. In general, Pseudomonas spp. and psychrotrophic counts increased as storage time increased for all packaging systems. Color and overall appearance were similar (P >0.05) for all packaging systems. Although not significant, the off-odor scores for breast meat packaged in FRP were higher (P >0.05) after 6 and 8 d when compared with the breast meat packaged in a Styrofoam tray with polyvinyl chloride overwrap with or without an absorbent pad. Although the absorbent pad did not control microbial growth, it maintained aesthetic appeal by absorbing all visible moisture released from the meat during storage.