Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Association between Hypertension and Depression and Anxiety Disorders: Results from a Nationally-Representative Sample of South African Adults

Objective Growing evidence suggests high levels of comorbidity between hypertension and mental illness but there are few data from low- and middle-income countries. We examined the association between hypertension and depression and anxiety in South Africa. Methods Data come from a nationally-representative survey of adults (n = 4351). The Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to measure DSM-IV mental disorders during the previous 12-months. The relationships between self-reported hypertension and anxiety disorders, depressive disorders and comorbid anxiety-depression were assessed after adjustment for participant characteristics including experience of trauma and other chronic physical conditions. Results Overall 16.7% reported a previous medical diagnosis of hypertension, and 8.1% and 4.9% were found to have a 12-month anxiety or depressive disorder, respectively. In adjusted analyses, hypertension diagnosis was associated with 12-month anxiety disorders [Odds ratio (OR) = 1.55, 95% Confidence interval (CI) = 1.10–2.18] but not 12-month depressive disorders or 12-month comorbid anxiety-depression. Hypertension in the absence of other chronic physical conditions was not associated with any of the 12-month mental health outcomes (p-values all <0.05), while being diagnosed with both hypertension and another chronic physical condition were associated with 12-month anxiety disorders (OR = 2.25, 95% CI = 1.46–3.45), but not 12-month depressive disorders or comorbid anxiety-depression. Conclusions These are the first population-based estimates to demonstrate an association between hypertension and mental disorders in sub-Saharan Africa. Further investigation is needed into role of traumatic life events in the aetiology of hypertension as well as the temporality of the association between hypertension and mental disorders.
Anxiety, depression and PTSD in asylum-seekers: Assocations with pre-migration trauma and post-migration stressors

Background Research into the mental health of refugees has burgeoned in recent times, but there is a dearth of studies focusing specifically on the factors associated with psychiatric distress in asylum-seekers who have not been accorded residency status. Method Forty consecutive asylum-seekers attending a community resource centre in Sydney, Australia, were interviewed using structured instruments and questionnaires. Results Anxiety scores were associated with female gender, poverty, and conflict with immigration officials, while loneliness and boredom were linked with both anxiety and depression. Thirty subjects (79%) had experienced atraumatic event such as witnessing killings, being assaulted, or suffering torture and captivity, and 14 subjects (37%) met full criteria for PTSD. A diagnosis of PTSD was associated with greater exposure to pre-migration trauma, delays in processing refugee applications, difficulties in dealing with immigration officials, obstacles to employment, racial discrimination, and loneliness and boredom. Conclusions Although based on correlational data derived from a convenient'sample, our findings raise the possibility that current procedures for dealing with asylum-seekers may contribute to high levels of stress and psychiatric symptoms in those who have been previously traumatised.
Separable autoregressive moving average graph-temporal filters

Despite their widespread use for the analysis of graph data, current graph filters are designed for graph signals that do not change over time, and thus they cannot simultaneously process time and graph frequency content in an adequate manner. This work presents ARMA2D, an autoregressive moving average graph-temporal filter that captures jointly the signal variations over the graph and time. By its unique nature, this filter is able to achieve a separable 2-dimensional frequency response, making it possible to approximate the filtering specifications along both the graph and temporal frequency domains. Numerical results show that the proposed solution outperforms the state of the art graph filters when the graph signal is time-varying.
mRNA expression of steroidogenic enzymes, steroid hormone receptors and their coregulators in gastric cancer

Epidemiological and experimental findings suggest that the development of gastric cancer (GC) is regulated by steroid hormones. In postmenopausal women and older men, the majority of steroid hormones are produced locally in peripheral tissue through the enzymatic conversion of steroid precursors. Therefore, using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis, the mRNA expression of genes encoding steroidogenic enzymes, including steroid sulfatase (STS), hydroxy-delta-5-steroid dehydrogenase 3 beta- and steroid delta-isomerase 1 (HSD3B1), 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 7 and aromatase (CYP19A1), was investigated in primary tumoral and adjacent healthy gastric mucosa from 60 patients with GC. Furthermore, the mRNA levels for estrogen receptor α, estrogen receptor β (ESR2) and androgen receptor (AR), along with their coregulators, including proline, glutamate and leucine rich protein 1, CREB binding protein, nuclear receptor coactivator 1 (NCOA1), nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCOR1) and nuclear receptor subfamily 2 group F member 1 (NR2F1), were investigated. Additionally, the association between the mRNA expression of these genes and the clinicopathological features of patients with GC was examined. Significantly decreased levels of STS, HSD3B1, ESR2, AR, NCOA1 and NCOR1 mRNA, in addition to significantly increased levels of CYP19A1 mRNA were demonstrated in tumoral tissue samples compared with adjacent healthy gastric tissue samples. Deregulated expression of these genes in the analyzed tissue samples was associated with certain clinicopathological features of GC, such as age and localization of the tumor. The results of the current study suggest that all of the genes analyzed are expressed in tumoral and adjacent healthy gastric mucosa. In addition, the results indicate that abnormal expression of STS, ESR2, AR, NCOA1 and NCOR1 may serve a role in the development and progression of GC, and may be associated with specific clinicopathological features in patients with GC.
Metabolic Biomarkers of Ageing in C57BL/6J Wild-Type and Flavin-Containing Monooxygenase 5 (FMO5)-Knockout Mice

It was recently demonstrated in mice that knockout of the flavin-containing monooxygenase 5 gene, Fmo5, slows metabolic ageing via pleiotropic effects. We have now used an NMR-based metabonomics approach to study the effects of ageing directly on the metabolic profiles of urine and plasma from male, wild-type C57BL/6J and Fmo5−/− (FMO5 KO) mice back-crossed onto the C57BL/6J background. The aim of this study was to identify metabolic signatures that are associated with ageing in both these mouse lines and to characterize the age-related differences in the metabolite profiles between the FMO5 KO mice and their wild-type counterparts at equivalent time points. We identified a range of age-related biomarkers in both urine and plasma. Some metabolites, including urinary 6-hydroxy-6-methylheptan-3-one (6H6MH3O), a mouse sex pheromone, showed similar patterns of changes with age, regardless of genetic background. Others, however, were altered only in the FMO5 KO, or only in the wild-type mice, indicating the impact of genetic modifications on mouse ageing. Elevated concentrations of urinary taurine represent a distinctive, ageing-related change observed only in wild-type mice.
Fruit, vegetables, and colorectal cancer risk: the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

BACKGROUND A high consumption of fruit and vegetables is possibly associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the findings to date are inconsistent. OBJECTIVE We examined the relation between self-reported usual consumption of fruit and vegetables and the incidence of CRC. DESIGN In the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), 452,755 subjects (131,985 men and 320,770 women) completed a dietary questionnaire in 1992-2000 and were followed up for cancer incidence and mortality until 2006. A multivariate Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs. RESULTS After an average follow-up of 8.8 y, 2,819 incident CRC cases were reported. Consumption of fruit and vegetables was inversely associated with CRC in a comparison of the highest with the lowest EPIC-wide quintile of consumption (HR: 0.86; 95% CI: 0.75, 1.00; P for trend = 0.04), particularly with colon cancer risk (HR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.63, 0.91; P for trend < 0.01). Only after exclusion of the first 2 y of follow-up were these findings corroborated by calibrated continuous analyses for a 100-g increase in consumption: HRs of 0.95 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.00; P = 0.04) and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89, 0.99; P = 0.02), respectively. The association between fruit and vegetable consumption and CRC risk was inverse in never and former smokers, but positive in current smokers. This modifying effect was found for fruit and vegetables combined and for vegetables alone (P for interaction < 0.01 for both). CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that a high consumption of fruit and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of CRC, especially of colon cancer. This effect may depend on smoking status.
Enrichment of Root Endophytic Bacteria from Populus deltoides and Single-Cell-Genomics Analysis

ABSTRACT Bacterial endophytes that colonize Populus trees contribute to nutrient acquisition, prime immunity responses, and directly or indirectly increase both above- and below-ground biomasses. Endophytes are embedded within plant material, so physical separation and isolation are difficult tasks. Application of culture-independent methods, such as metagenome or bacterial transcriptome sequencing, has been limited due to the predominance of DNA from the plant biomass. Here, we describe a modified differential and density gradient centrifugation-based protocol for the separation of endophytic bacteria from Populus roots. This protocol achieved substantial reduction in contaminating plant DNA, allowed enrichment of endophytic bacteria away from the plant material, and enabled single-cell genomics analysis. Four single-cell genomes were selected for whole-genome amplification based on their rarity in the microbiome (potentially uncultured taxa) as well as their inferred abilities to form associations with plants. Bioinformatics analyses, including assembly, contamination removal, and completeness estimation, were performed to obtain single-amplified genomes (SAGs) of organisms from the phyla Armatimonadetes, Verrucomicrobia, and Planctomycetes, which were unrepresented in our previous cultivation efforts. Comparative genomic analysis revealed unique characteristics of each SAG that could facilitate future cultivation efforts for these bacteria. IMPORTANCE Plant roots harbor a diverse collection of microbes that live within host tissues. To gain a comprehensive understanding of microbial adaptations to this endophytic lifestyle from strains that cannot be cultivated, it is necessary to separate bacterial cells from the predominance of plant tissue. This study provides a valuable approach for the separation and isolation of endophytic bacteria from plant root tissue. Isolated live bacteria provide material for microbiome sequencing, single-cell genomics, and analyses of genomes of uncultured bacteria to provide genomics information that will facilitate future cultivation attempts.
Ignoring individual differences in times of assessment in growth curve modeling

Researchers often collect longitudinal data to model change over time in a phenomenon of interest. Inevitably, there will be some variation across individuals in specific time intervals between assessments. In this simulation study of growth curve modeling, we investigate how ignoring individual differences in time points when modeling change over time relates to convergence and admissibility of solutions, bias in estimates of parameters, efficiency, power to detect change over time, and Type I error rate. We manipulated magnitude of the individual differences in assessment times, distribution of assessment times, magnitude of change over time, number of time points, and sample size. In contrast to the correct analysis, ignoring individual differences in time points frequently led to inadmissible solutions, especially with few time points and small samples, regardless of the specific magnitude of individual differences that were ignored. Mean intercept and slope were generally estimated without bias. Ignoring individual differences in time points sometimes yielded overestimated intercept and slope variances and underestimated intercept–slope covariance and residual variance. Parameter efficiency as well as power and Type I error rates for the linear slope were unaffected by the type of analysis.
Evidence for source–sink dynamics in a regional population of arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii plesius)

Abstract Context. Variable demographic rates can manifest themselves between habitat types in the form of source–sink dynamics where populations in sink habitats would not exist without the addition of migrants from source habitats. Aims. Arctic ground squirrels (Urocitellus parryii pleisus (Osgood, 1900)) occupy a large geographic area in northern Canada and live in a variety of habitat types, including boreal forest, low-elevation meadows and alpine meadows, providing an opportunity to investigate the possible existence of source–sink dynamics. Methods. We hypothesised that arctic ground squirrels in the south-western Yukon exhibit demographic characteristics indicative of source–sink dynamics. Boreal forest habitat could be a sink in spite of previous high squirrel densities, whereas meadows could be a source. We investigated this by mark–recapture live-trapping and radio-telemetry. Key Results. In the boreal forest in the Kluane region, we found reduced recruitment, reduced population growth rates (λ), and reduced survivorship for radio-collared individuals that moved from low-elevation meadows into the boreal forest. There was no evidence from radio-collared juveniles of dispersal from high-density ground squirrel populations in alpine meadows down into boreal forest. Conclusions. Boreal forest is a sink habitat for arctic ground squirrels. Source–sink dynamics observed between low-elevation meadow and boreal forest habitats appear to result from increased predation pressure in the boreal forest. The result has been a near extirpation of boreal forest arctic ground squirrels in the Kluane region since 1998. Implications. Because the source areas of low-elevation meadows occupy only 7–9% of the lowland habitat, recolonisation of boreal forest sites has been very slow. Whereas alpine populations remain high in 2011, boreal forest populations remain near zero. Alpine populations do not appear to be a source for the boreal forest.
Global Perspectives on Peer Sex Education for College Students

According to the World Health Organization, sexually transmitted diseases and infections continue to be a public health problem across the globe, with most infected persons being between the ages of 15 and 49. A large percentage of those affected by AIDS are 15-24 year olds, an age group which includes college students. Peer sex education is being espoused by non-governmental organizations and administrators as a viable solution to this problem. Peer education strategies and approaches to evaluation differ across programs. Some programs report increased efficacy for educators and trainees while other programs report increases in knowledge and changes in attitudes. Perceptions of peer education and resulting benefits vary based on cultural perspectives. Developers of peer education programs need to critically deconstruct current models and customize programs for particular settings, as demonstrated in several programs. Further research is needed on the effects of peer education on the educator and cultural implications.
The promise of epigenomic therapeutics in pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is often viewed to arise primarily by genetic alterations. However, today we know that many aspects of the cancer phenotype require a crosstalk among these genetic alterations with epigenetic changes. Indeed, aberrant gene expression patterns, driven by epigenetics are fixed by altered signaling from mutated oncogenes and tumor suppressors to define the PDAC phenotype. This conceptual framework may have significant mechanistic value and could offer novel possibilities for treating patients affected with PDAC. In fact, extensive investigations are leading to the development of small molecule drugs that reversibly modify the epigenome. These new ‘epigenetic therapeutics’ discussed herein are promising to fuel a new era of studies, by providing the medical community with new tools to treat this dismal disease.
Glass Difractive Optical Elements (DOEs) with complex modulation DLC thin film coated

We developed a complex (amplitude and phase) modulation Diffractive Optical Element (DOE) with four phase levels, which is based in a glass substrate coated with DLC (Diamond Like Carbon) thin film as the amplitude modulator. The DLC film was deposited by magnetron reactive sputtering with a graphite target and methane gas in an optical glass surface. The glass and DLC film roughness were measured using non destructive methods, such as a high step meter, Atomic Force Microscopy and Diffuse Reflectance. Other properties, such as refractive index of both materials were measured. The DOEs were tested using 632.8 nm HeNe laser.
Activation of corticotropin-releasing factor receptor 1 aggravates dextran sodium sulphate-induced colitis in mice by promoting M1 macrophage polarization

The corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) family is involved in modulating gastrointestinal motility, sensitivity and inflammation. CRF signalling exerts an important role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), predominantly by activating CRF receptors. The aim of the present study was to investigate the function of CRF receptor 1 (CRF-R1) in the development of mucosal inflammation induced by dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) and the underlying mechanism. Consecutive administration of CRF or CP154526 was used to activate or block the CRF-R1 in DSS-treated mice. Colonic inflammation was evaluated by determining the Disease Activity Index (DAI) and histology score. CRF-R1 expression was proportional to the DAI, the histology score and the number of macrophages. Activation of CRF-R1 aggravated mucosal inflammation by activating nuclear factor (NF)-κB and subsequently increasing the expression levels of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6. Inhibition of CRF-R1 decreased the expression level of CRF-R1, macrophage infiltration, NF-κB activation, and TNF-α and IL-6 expression levels, ultimately alleviating the mucosal inflammation. Thus, CRF-R1 expression was proportional to the severity of DSS-induced colitis. Activation of CRF-R1 increased the DAI and histological scores of the colons from DSS-treated mice by promoting M1 macrophage polarization, demonstrated as increased NF-κB activation, and TNF-α and IL-6 release. These results provide evidence of the pro-inflammatory role of CRF-R1 in a DSS-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) model and a possible underlying mechanism, which may facilitate the elucidation of potential treatment approaches for UC.
A Candidate for a Strong Separation of Information and Communication

The weak interactive compression conjecture asserts that any two-party communication protocol with communication complexity C and information complexity I can be compressed to a protocol with communication complexity poly(I)polylog(C). We describe a communication problem that is a candidate for refuting that conjecture. Specifically, while we show that the problem can be solved by a protocol with communication complexity C and information complexity I = polylog(C), the problem seems to be hard for protocols with communication complexity poly(I)polylog(C) = polylog(C). 1998 ACM Subject Classification F.2 Analysis of Algorithms and Problem Complexity
The colonic epithelium plays an active role in promoting colitis by shaping the tissue cytokine profile

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition driven by loss of homeostasis between the mucosal immune system, the commensal gut microbiota, and the intestinal epithelium. Our goal is to understand how these components of the intestinal ecosystem cooperate to control homeostasis. By combining quantitative measures of epithelial hyperplasia and immune infiltration with multivariate analysis of inter- and intracellular signaling, we identified epithelial mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling as a potential driver of inflammation in a mouse model of colitis. A kinetic analysis of mTOR inhibition revealed that the pathway regulates epithelial differentiation, which in turn controls the cytokine milieu of the colon. Consistent with our in vivo analysis, we found that cytokine expression of organoids grown ex vivo, in the absence of bacteria and immune cells, was dependent on differentiation state. Our study suggests that proper differentiation of epithelial cells is an important feature of colonic homeostasis because of its effect on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines.
A performance comparison of Mobile IPv6, Hierarchical Mobile IPv6, fast handovers for Mobile IPv6 and their combination

Mobile IP, the current IETF proposal for IP mobility support, represents a key element for future All-IP wireless networks to provide service continuity while on the move within a multi-access environment. We conducted a performance evaluation of Mobile IPv6 and its proposed enhancements, i.e., Fast Handovers for Mobile IPv6, Hierarchical Mobile IPv6 and our proposed combination of them, using the network simulator ns-2 for the case of a 'hot spot' deployment scenario. The simulation scenario comprises four access routers and up to 50 mobile nodes that communicate in accordance with the IEEE 802.11 wireless LAN standard. The study provides quantitative results of the performance improvements obtained by the proposed enhancements as observed by a single mobile user with respect to handoff latency, packet loss rate and achieved bandwidth per station. As a complementary part of the study, the signaling load costs associated with the performance improvements provided by the enhancements has been analyzed. The simulation environment allowed us also to investigate the behavior of the protocol in extreme cases, e.g., under channel saturation conditions and considering different traffic sources: CBR, VoIP, Video and TCP transfers. While some simulation results corroborate the intention of the protocols specifications, other results give insights not easily gained without performing simulations. This study provides a deep understanding of the overall performance of the various protocols and supports the design process of a Mobile IPv6-based network when a decision of whether it is appropriate to implement any of the proposed Mobile IPv6 enhancements has to be made.