Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Effects of NOD2 Variants on Crohn's Disease Risk and Phenotype in Diverse Populations: A Metaanalysis

OBJECTIVES:Three variants of the CARD15/NOD2 gene (SNP8, SNP12, and SNP13) have been associated with Crohn's disease (CD). We assessed the impact of NOD2 variants on the CD risk across diverse populations and examined possible associations with disease phenotype.METHODS:We performed a metaanalysis searching MEDLINE and EMBASE (last search 05/2004) and contacting field experts.RESULTS:Forty-two eligible studies contributed data on 206 comparisons. No variants were detected in Asians. In non-Jewish descent Caucasians carriage of SNP8, SNP12, or SNP13 had an odds ratio (OR) for CD of 2.20 (95% CI: 1.84–2.62), 2.99 (95% CI: 2.38–3.74), and 4.09 (95% CI: 3.23–5.18), respectively. For Jewish descent patients the corresponding ORs were 1.74, 1.93, and 2.45, respectively. The OR in carriers of at least two alleles was 17.1 (95% CI: 10.7–27.2). Large studies tended to yield more conservative estimates than smaller studies, so publication or other bias cannot be excluded. Among CD patients, carrying at least one high-risk variant increased slightly the risk for familial disease (OR = 1.49, (95% CI: 1.18–1.87)), modestly the risk of stenosing CD (OR = 1.94, (95% CI: 1.61–2.34)), and more prominently the risk of small bowel involvement (OR = 2.53, (95% CI: 2.01–3.16)). CONCLUSIONS:SNP8, SNP12, and SNP13 have differential effects on CD risk, with SNP13 having the strongest genetic effect. These NOD2 variants are also significant risk factors for CD phenotype, in particular ileal location.
On Tendon-Driven Robotic Mechanisms with Redundant Tendons

In this paper, several basic issues are discussed regarding tendon redundancy and joint stiffness adjustability for a robotic mechanism driven with redundant tendons. After briefly discussing tendon- controllability, the authors define local maximum sets of tendons that are redundant simultaneously (local maximum redundant tendon sets) and obtain an irreducible description of a redundant tendon in terms of the others. The authors obtain conditions under which the joint stiffness is adjustable using the tendons' nonlinear elasticity.
Influence of apoA-V gene variants on postprandial triglyceride metabolism: impact of genders⃞ Published, JLR Papers in Press, February 8, 2008.

Although apolipoprotein A-V (apoA-V) polymorphisms have been consistently associated with fasting triglyceride (TG) levels, their impact on postprandial lipemia remains relatively unknown. In this study, we investigate the impact of two common apoA-V polymorphisms (−1131 T>C and S19W) and apoA-V haplotypes on fasting and postprandial lipid metabolism in adults in the United Kingdom (n = 259). Compared with the wild-type TT, apoA-V −1131 TC heterozygotes had 15% (P = 0.057) and 21% (P = 0.002) higher fasting TG and postprandial TG area under the curve (AUC), respectively. Significant (P = 0.038) and nearly significant (P = 0.057) gender × genotype interactions were observed for fasting TG and TG AUC, with a greater impact of genotype in males. Lower HDL-cholesterol was associated with the rare TC genotype (P = 0.047). Significant linkage disequilibrium was found between the apoA-V −1131 T>C and the apoC-III 3238 C>G variants, with univariate analysis indicating an impact of this apoC-III single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) on TG AUC (P = 0.015). However, in linear regression analysis, a significant independent association with TG AUC (P = 0.007) was only evident for the apoA-V −1131 T>C SNP, indicating a greater relative importance of the apoA-V genotype.
Treatment of Stroke With Erythropoietin Enhances Neurogenesis and Angiogenesis and Improves Neurological Function in Rats

Background and Purpose— Erythropoietin (EPO) promotes proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors and the survival of maturing erythroid cells. Here, we investigated the role of EPO in brain repair after stroke. Methods— Rats were treated with recombinant human EPO (rhEPO) at 24 hours after the onset of embolic stroke. An array of behavior tests was performed. Rats were euthanized 28 days after stroke for measurements of infarct volume, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis. In vitro, neurospheres derived from the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the rat and cerebral endothelial cells derived from the mouse were treated with rhEPO. Capillary-like tube formation and neuronal differentiation were measured. Results— Treatment with rhEPO significantly improved functional recovery, along with increases in density of cerebral microvessels at the stroke boundary and numbers of BrdU, doublecortin, and nestin immunoreactive cells in the SVZ. rhEPO treatment significantly increased brain levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In vitro, rhEPO enhanced capillary tube formation of cerebral endothelial cells, which was inhibited by a specific VEGF receptor 2 antagonist (SU1498). Incubation of neurospheres derived from stroke SVZ with anti-EPO neutralizing antibody inhibited neurogenesis, whereas incubation of stroke-derived neurospheres with rhEPO enhanced neurogenesis. Conclusion— Our data suggest that EPO-increased VEGF and BDNF may be involved in angiogenesis and neurogenesis, which could contribute to functional recovery.
Repeated pulse feeding induces functional stability in anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion is an environmental key technology in the future bio‐based economy. To achieve functional stability, a minimal microbial community diversity is required. This microbial community should also have a certain ‘elasticity’, i.e. the ability to rapidly adapt to suboptimal conditions or stress. In this study it was evaluated whether a higher degree of functional stability could be achieved by changing the feeding pattern, which can change the evenness, dynamics and richness of the bacterial community. The first reactor (CSTRstable) was fed on daily basis, whereas the second reactor (CSTRdynamic) was fed every 2 days. Average biogas production was 0.30 l CH4 l−1 day−1 in both reactors, although daily variation was up to four times higher in the CSTRdynamic compared with the CSTRstable during the first 50 days. Bacterial analysis revealed that this CSTRdynamic had a two times higher degree of bacterial community dynamics. The CSTRdynamic also appeared to be more tolerant to an organic shock load of 8 g COD l−1 and ammonium levels up to 8000 mg TAN l−1. These results suggest that the regular application of a limited pulse of organic material and/or a variation in the substrate composition might promote higher functional stability in anaerobic digestion.
Psychopathology: A Simple Twist of Fate or a Meaningful Distortion of Normal Development? Toward an Etiologically Based Alternative for the DSM Approach

In this comment, I focus on a central issue that spans the entirety of Sidney Blatt's research career, namely his contributions to the development of a theoretically consistent and clinically relevant classification system of psychopathology. First, I discuss empirical evidence concerning the key assumptions underlying the currently dominant classification system of mental disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Second, I compare these assumptions with assumptions underlying Blatt's categorization of psychopathology based on his distinction between two developmental lines, that is, self-definition and relatedness, together with a discussion of recent research on these two developmental lines in the context of the development of a more etiologically based classification system of depression and other disorders. Finally, I argue that research concerning Blatt's model of normal and pathological development—aside from direct contributions—may also inform empirically derived criteria for the development of a theoretically consistent and clinically useful way of classifying psychopathology.
Symmetrical hybrid multilevel inverter concept based on multi-state switching cells

This paper presents a novel symmetrical hybrid multilevel inverter for applications aiming at high power densities and high resolution of the output voltages. This proposal is the connection of a given number N of switching three levels cells consisting of semiconductor devices connected in parallel through multi-interphase transformers. This arrangement provides a balanced distribution of currents, thus, increasing the power density and providing an output voltage with high number of voltage levels. Therefore, the harmonic contents of the voltages applied to a given load are small. The achieved output voltages are analyzed by means of the Fourier series for a given number N of cells connected in parallel. Simulation results illustrate the operational principles of the proposed converter concept.
Models, Measures, and Methods: Variability in Aging Research

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to review the models and measurement strategies used in studies evaluating the predictors of nursing home placement, hospitalization, functional impairment and mortality. To do so we examine 167 multivariate equations abstracted from 78 longitudinal studies published between 1985 and 1998 that assess the risk factors of one or more adverse outcomes. We find that both comparatively straightforward concepts such as age and income and widely used scales such as activities of daily living and the short-portable mental status questionnaire display considerable variability in operationalization and coding. We also find that few researchers employ explicit conceptual models to assist with variable choice, while some predictors–demographics, physical and cognitive functioning–were studied much more frequently than others–service, market, and policy characteristics. Variability in measurement highlights the lack of standardization in this area of aging research and leaves room for improvements in validity and reliability. Limited use of conceptual models has led researchers to include some predictors in their analyses to the exclusion of others.
Intranasal Antibody Prophylaxis for Protection against Viral Disease

SUMMARY For more than a century, antibody has been used for passive parenteral immunization against viral and bacterial pathogens. This approach has been successful for prevention of viral respiratory infection and has led to testing of intranasal or aerosol delivery of antibody to passively immunize the respiratory tract mucosal surface. Mucosal delivery may be advantageous because it allows the antibody to neutralize the virus particles before they initiate infection and because it concentrates the antibody where viral replication takes place. Animal studies have shown the feasibility of passive intranasal immunization against a number of respiratory tract viruses. Development of nasal antibody treatments for humans is under way, and early clinical studies have confirmed that this approach is safe and can be used to prevent respiratory tract disease. Polyclonal human immunoglobulin from pooled plasma preparations can be used to provide broad protection against a number of different pathogens, while monoclonal antibodies or their fragments can be used to target specific viruses.
Hypertension in Chronic Kidney Disease Part 1: Out-of-Office Blood Pressure Monitoring Methods, Thresholds, and Patterns

Hypertension is highly prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD), particularly in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) receiving hemodialysis.1,2 The identification and treatment of hypertension in CKD has to face peculiar problems because of the marked alterations in 24-hour blood pressure (BP) profile, in particular of a reduced BP dipping at night, and the high prevalence of specific hypertension phenotypes, such as white coat (WCH) and masked hypertension (MH). Moreover, the ebb and flow of fluid volume in hemodialysis patients makes a proper assessment and achievement of BP control even more difficult. Although conventional BP measurements (CBP), performed in the office or in the dialysis unit by healthcare personnel, are currently recommended and applied for the diagnosis and management of hypertension in patients with CKD, including those on dialysis, these metrics are intrinsically inaccurate.3,4 CBP measurements are known to fail providing reliable estimates of the actual BP burden in several clinical conditions, and this is even more so in CKD and in hemodialysis patients. Thus, in addition to CBP measurements, proper assessment and management of hypertension in these patients should be ideally based also on out-of-office BP measurements, including ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) and home BP monitoring (HBPM), as acknowledged by a consensus document by the American Society of Hypertension and the American Society of Nephrology.5 In this article, we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of out-of-office BP monitoring for the management of arterial hypertension in these conditions, based on a thorough literature search through classical engines, such as Pubmed and Web of Science, supplemented by the authors' own expertise. The thresholds to define hypertension and BP targets for antihypertensive treatment in CKD patients are debated.6,7 The recommendation to lower office BP to <130/80 mm Hg in CKD provided by …
Responses of fast and slow growth broilers fed all vegetable diets with variable ideal protein profiles

One thousand eight hundred and ninety male broilers of two strain crosses (fast and slow initial growth) were fed different ideal protein profiles in four-phase feed programs: 1 to 7, 8 to 21, 22 to 34 and 35 to 40 days of age. All vegetable, corn-soybean meal feeds were formulated to maintain the Met+Cys:Lys and Thr:Lys relationships at 75 and 65%, respectively, on true digestible basis. Three ideal protein profiles were used: low, medium and high. From 1 to 21 days of age, half of the birds fed low and high diets were changed to high and low diets, respectively. Birds on the medium diet were kept on the same diet until the end of the study. A 3 × 2 (ideal protein profile x strain cross) factorial design was used for the period from 1 to 21 days and a 5 × 2 design thereafter. Carcass and commercial cuts were performed at 34 and 40 days of age to determine corresponding live weight and carcass yields. In general, the fast strain growth was superior in comparison to the low one when live performance and carcass and commercial cuts were evaluated. Live performance was positively affected by the increases in the dietary protein profiles; however, processing yield parameters could not be related with the dietary parameters. The low diets, which have similar protein contents to those used in some integrations, were shown to produce poor responses and, therefore are not recommended for broilers from 1 to 40 days of age. Alternating low and high ideal protein profiles at 21 days could result in similar feed conversions, and therefore, can lead to production cost reduction.
Girl fights: exploring females’ resistance to educational structures

This article looks at girls who fight in order to evaluate theories of education for marginalized girls. As oppositional culture and educational resistance theories suggest for boys’ misconduct in school, girl fights are found to be a product of deindustrialization, family expectations, and peer culture. Within peer groups of marginalized students an oppositional culture develops such that girls gain respect from their peers by fighting because they demonstrate a necessary toughness. Girls who fight have a complicated relationship to education. Contrary to oppositional culture theory, these girls value educational achievement. However, the girls’ relationships with teachers are strained. Teachers do not appreciate “tough” girls. Race, class, and gender together construct a student culture that produces girls who fight in school.
An electric energy consumer characterization framework based on data mining techniques

This paper presents an electricity consumer characterization framework based on a knowledge discovery in databases (KDD) procedure, supported by data mining (DM) techniques, applied on the different stages of the process. The core of this framework is a data mining model based on a combination of unsupervised and supervised learning techniques. Two main modules compose this framework: the load profiling module and the classification module. The load profiling module creates a set of consumer classes using a clustering operation and the representative load profiles for each class. The classification module uses this knowledge to build a classification model able to assign different consumers to the existing classes. The quality of this framework is illustrated with a case study concerning a real database of LV consumers from the Portuguese distribution company.
Positioning Accountability in European Governance: An Introduction

The special issue of which this paper forms the introduction takes as its central focus one particular aspect of democratic governance: accountability. It attempts to position a broad understanding of the notion of accountability within the overall context of the evolving political system of governance in Europe and in particular of the European Union. With accountability at the centre, we consider its relationship to a fairly wide range of other themes in any given political system. This introduction first looks to the concept of accountability as it stands alongside and within other major themes of contemporary political systems. The issue of accountability beyond the national democratic state is then considered, and in particular within what Sbragia has termed the ‘ecology’ of governance. The introduction concludes with summaries of the papers included in the special issue.
Project MATCH Client Impressions About Alcoholics Anonymous

Abstract Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is the most popular mutual-help program for individuals with alcohol-related problems, and most treatment programs encourage AA attendance during and after treatment. As part of a larger study (Project MATCH, 1997; 1998), this study examined aftercare (n = 621) and outpatient (n = 415) client subjective impressions about AA. As predicted, client ratings of the helpfulness of AA, the importance of encouragement to attend AA, spiritual experiences, and God consciousness were positively related with AA meeting attendance and practicing of prescribed AA-related behaviors, such as having a sponsor. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that commitment to AA-related practices, AA meeting attendance, and subjective impressions about AA formed a single latent construct depicting how individuals experience AA. Increased engagement in AA-related practices and beliefs was predictive of statistically significantly more abstinence and less intense drinking when drinking occurred.
Linear Quadratic Optimal Control Problem of Stochastic Switching Systems

Switched systems have numerous applications in control of real systems as mechanical systems, automotive industry, aircraft and air traffic control, switching power converters, and many other fields. Optimal control problems of switching systems require the decision of both the optimal solutions and switching sequences. The stochastic optimal control problem of linear switching systems with quadratic cost function is investigated. The contribution of this paper is to present a necessary and sufficient condition of optimality for considered switching systems. 
Synchrophasor standards and guides for the smart grid

Synchrophasor measurement has evolved from a concept in the 1980's to a significant enabler of transmission and grid integration. It is a key ingredient to wide area monitoring, enabling operators to observe the increasing complexity brought about by increased integration of systems and high penetration of renewables. The IEEE has kept pace by sponsoring development of standards and guides for synchrophasor technology to assure smooth integration of equipment. This paper outlines four recently developed or updated standards and guides sponsored by the Power System Relaying Committee. The first standard was the IEEE Standard 1344, published in 1995. This has evolved into the current standards: C37.118. 1-2011 for performance of synchrophasor measurements and C37.118. 2-2011 for transfer of synchrophasor data. In addition we now have C37.242-2012 a guide for timing, and testing synchrophasor systems and C37.242-2012 a guide for phasor data concentrators (PDC).
Unperturbed Posttranscriptional Regulatory Rev Protein Function and HIV-1 Replication in Astrocytes

Astrocytes protect neurons, but also evoke proinflammatory responses to injury and viral infections, including HIV. There is a prevailing notion that HIV-1 Rev protein function in astrocytes is perturbed, leading to restricted viral replication. In earlier studies, our finding of restricted viral entry into astrocytes led us to investigate whether there are any intracellular restrictions, including crippled Rev function, in astrocytes. Despite barely detectable levels of DDX3 (Rev-supporting RNA helicase) and TRBP (anti-PKR) in primary astrocytes compared to astrocytic cells, Rev function was unperturbed in wild-type, but not DDX3-ablated astrocytes. As in permissive cells, after HIV-1 entry bypass in astrocytes, viral-encoded Tat and Rev proteins had robust regulatory activities, leading to efficient viral replication. Productive HIV-1 infection in astrocytes persisted for several weeks. Our findings on HIV-1 entry bypass in astrocytes demonstrated that the intracellular environment is conducive to viral replication and that Tat and Rev functions are unperturbed.
What is Positive Youth Development?

This article explores the recent approach to youth research and practice that has been called positive youth development. The author makes the case that the approach grew out of dissatisfaction with a predominant view that underestimated the true capacities of young people by focusing on their deficits rather than their developmental potentials. The article examines three areas of research that have been transformed by the positive youth approach: the nature of the child; the interaction between the child and the community; and moral growth. It concludes with the point that positive youth development does not simply mean an examination of anything that appears to be beneficial for young people. Rather, it is an approach with strong defining assumptions about what is important to look at if we are to accurately capture the full potential of all young people to learn and thrive in the diverse settings where they live.
Determinants of Unemployment and Economic Hardship of Welfare Leavers Who Have Reached Their Lifetime Limits

ABSTRACT A cross-sectional survey design is used to explore the determinants of unemployment and economic hardship among former welfare recipients who have reached their 5-year lifetime limits in a sample of 276 former WV WORKS recipients in West Virginia. The findings of the study indicate that respondents with mental problems; physical disabilities; or without a high school diploma, child care, or transportation were more likely than others to be unemployed. In addition, either mental health problems or a lack of transportation were significantly associated with the economic hardships of the welfare leavers. Policy implications suggest that the lifetime-limit policy be exempted for those with mental problems or physical disabilities, or extended for those who have children under age 2 and comply with mandatory work requirements.