Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Race, iris color, and age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE While most observers agree that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is much more common in white persons than in persons of black African ancestry, the influence of iris color has been more controversial. We reexamined relationships between race, iris color, and AMD in a series of patients from our retina clinic. METHODS We evaluated, in masked fashion, stereoscopic photographs of the retinas and irides in 306 sequential patients 60 years of age or older from our retina clinics. Four readers judged whether AMD was present, absent, or questionable in the retinal photographs and labeled iris color as blue, hazel, or brown. Presence or absence of AMD and presence and severity of the various macular lesions were determined by "majority vote" of the readers. We evaluated inter-rater agreement using the kappa statistic. We compared the prevalence of AMD and of specific AMD lesions as a function of race, sex, and iris color by contingency table analysis. RESULTS The kappa statistic showed good inter-observer agreement, being 0.466 (P < 10(-6)) for definite or questionable AMD and ranging from 0.185 to 0.522 (P = 0.0047 to P < 10(-6)) for most lesions. We found significantly more AMD in white patients than in black patients (X2 = 27.54, P < 10(-4)). There was no significant difference in AMD prevalence by sex. In white patients, AMD was significantly more prevalent in individuals with blue or hazel irides than in those with brown irides (X2 = 15.04, P = .02). CONCLUSIONS We confirm previous findings of a higher prevalence of AMD in white persons than in black persons. We also agree with those observers who claim that white subjects with light-colored irides have a higher prevalence of AMD than those with dark-colored irides. We suggest that differences in the association between iris pigmentation and AMD in different studies using different research methods may reflect genetic difference in the groups being studied.
Preliminary survey of ochratoxin A in millet, maize, rice and peanuts in Côte d'Ivoire from 1998 to 2002

In a preliminary study, samples of millet (n=33) maize (n=41), rice (n=10) and peanuts (n=10) from Côte d'Ivoire were analysed for ochratoxin A (OTA) by HPLC with fluorimetric detection, followed by confirmation by cleavage of the OTA molecule using carboxypeptidase with HPLC separation and fluorimetric quantification of the released ochratoxin alpha (OTα). With the exception of four samples of peanuts, all samples showed OTA contamination, ranging from 3 to 1738 μg/kg. All cereals were contaminated and the OTA concentrations were in the range of 17-204 μg/kg for millet, 3-1738 μg/kg for maize, 9-92 μg/kg for rice and 0.6-64 μg/kg for peanuts, depending on the year of harvest. Most of the samples would not be accepted according to the EU regulatory limits for this mycotoxin. Following this survey, research for other mycotoxins and the evaluation of the exposure of the population is under-way.
Characterization of the mitochondrial genome of Analcellicampa xanthosoma gen. et sp. nov. (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae)

A new genus with a new species of the tribe Hoplocampini of Hoplocampinae was described from China: Analcellicampa xanthosoma Wei & Niu, gen. et sp. nov. Hoplocampa danfengensis G. Xiao 1994 was designated as the type species of the new genus. The characters of Analcellicampa danfengensis (G. Xiao) comb. nov. were briefly discussed. A key to the tribes and known genera of Hoplocampinae was provided. The nearly complete mitochondrial genome of A. xanthosoma was characterized as having a length of 15,512 bp and containing 37 genes (22 tRNAs, 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), and 2 rRNAs). The gene order of this new specimen was the same as that in the inferred insect ancestral mitochondrial genome. All PCGs were initiated by ATN codons and ended with TAA or T stop codons. All tRNAs had a typical cloverleaf secondary structure, except for trnS1. Remarkably, the helices H991 of rrnS and H47 of rrnL were redundant, while helix H563 of rrnL was highly conserved. A phylogeny based on previously reported symphytan mitochondrial genomes showed that A. xanthosoma is a sister group to Monocellicampa pruni, with high support values. We suggest that A. xanthosoma and M. pruni belong to the tribe Hoplocampini of Hoplocampinae.
Activation of brain endothelium by pneumococcal neuraminidase NanA promotes bacterial internalization

Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPN), the leading cause of meningitis in children and adults worldwide, is associated with an overwhelming host inflammatory response and subsequent brain injury. Here we examine the global response of the blood–brain barrier to SPN infection and the role of neuraminidase A (NanA), an SPN surface anchored protein recently described to promote central nervous system tropism. Microarray analysis of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (hBMEC) during infection with SPN or an isogenic NanA‐deficient (ΔnanA) mutant revealed differentially activated genes, including neutrophil chemoattractants IL‐8, CXCL‐1, CXCL‐2. Studies using bacterial mutants, purified recombinant NanA proteins and in vivo neutrophil chemotaxis assays indicated that pneumococcal NanA is necessary and sufficient to activate host chemokine expression and neutrophil recruitment during infection. Chemokine induction was mapped to the NanA N‐terminal lectin‐binding domain with a limited contribution of the sialidase catalytic activity, and was not dependent on the invasive capability of the organism. Furthermore, pretreatment of hBMEC with recombinant NanA protein significantly increased bacterial invasion, suggesting that NanA‐mediated activation of hBMEC is a prerequisite for efficient SPN invasion. These findings were corroborated in an acute murine infection model where we observed less inflammatory infiltrate and decreased chemokine expression following infection with the ΔnanA mutant.
The effects of graded forward and backward walking on heart rate and oxygen consumption.

STUDY DESIGN Single-group repeated-measures design. OBJECTIVES To compare the effects of forward walking (FW) and backward walking (BW) on heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption (VO2) at treadmill grades of 5%, 7.5%, and 10%. BACKGROUND Previous studies of locomotion by humans on a treadmill have reported larger cardiovascular exertion and potential biomechanical benefits of BW as compared to FW for treadmill grades ranging from 0% to 5%. The present study extends these findings by examining the cardiovascular effects of BW and FW at treadmill grades greater than 5%. METHODS AND MEASURES Twenty-nine volunteers participated in this study. Two subjects were excluded, leaving 27 study subjects (15 females, 12 males; mean age +/- SD, 24.0 +/- 3.4 years). VO2 and HR were measured using open-circuit calorimetry and electrocardiogram, respectively. For both forward and backward walking, subjects performed each of the 3 grades for 6 minutes, during which HR and VO2 were measured. Two-way repeated-measures ANOVAs were employed for inferential statistical analysis. RESULTS Percent maximum heart rate (HR(max)) and percent maximum oxygen consumption (VO2(max)) increased incrementally for treadmill grades of 5% to 7.5% to 10% for both FW and BW (P < .00001). For each of the 3 treadmill grades, percent HR(max) and percent VO2(max) was 17% to 20% higher for BW than for FW (P < .00001). No statistically significant interactions were detected between direction of walking and treadmill grade. CONCLUSIONS Backward walking on a treadmill at 67.0 m/min (2.5 mph) and grades of 5%, 7.5%, and 10% elicits a greater percent HR(max) and percent VO2(max) than does forward walking under the same conditions and, if incorporated into sustained training regimens, would be expected to improve aerobic endurance.
Eukaryotic picoplankton in surface oceans.

The eukaryotic picoplankton is a heterogeneous collection of small protists 1 to 3 ? m in size populating surface oceans at abundances of 10(2) to 10(4) cells ml(-1). Pigmented cells are important primary producers that are at the base of food webs. Colorless cells are mostly bacterivores and play key roles in channeling bacteria to higher trophic levels as well as in nutrient recycling. Mixotrophy and parasitism are relevant but less investigated trophic paths. Molecular surveys of picoeukaryotes have unveiled a large phylogenetic diversity and new lineages, and it is critical to understand the ecological and evolutionary significance of this large and novel diversity. A main goal is to assess how individuals are organized in taxonomic units and how they participate in ecological processes. Picoeukaryotes are convincingly integral members of marine ecosystems in terms of cell abundance, biomass, activity, and diversity and they play crucial roles in food webs and biogeochemical cycles.
Why Track Inefficiency?

Benchmarks play an important role in assessing performance as a part of the investment process. Modern portfolio theory suggests that the benchmark of the true market portfolio on the efficient frontier is unknown. However, the S&P 500 Index is often used as a proxy for the U.S. domestic equity market portfolio. In this study, the authors examine the efficiency of the S&P 500.The results imply that more efficient subsets of the S&P 500 are easily constructed by randomly selecting stocks across industry sectors within the S&P 500. The implications of the study suggest portfolios consisting of fewer stocks equally weighted across industries are more efficient than the S&P 500 Index.
Feature selection based image clustering using local discriminant model and global integration

It is well known that parameter optimization and dimension reduction strategies play an important role in improving the performance of clustering algorithms. Recently, Yang et at. (2011) proposed an interesting and effective local discriminant model and global integration (LDMGI) clustering algorithm for image databases. We observed this LDMGI approach suffers from the curse of dimensionality. We then show that the effectiveness of this approach could be substantially enhanced with parameter selection and dimensionality reduction approach. We thus experimentally observed the enhanced performance of LDMGI algorithm in terms of clustering accuracy (ACC) and normalized mutual information (NMI). In the first stage, the optimal values of the clustering parameters, nearest neighbours (k) and regularization parameter (λ) are computed. In the second stage, minimum Redundancy and maximum-Relevance (mRMR) technique is utilized to select discriminant image features. During simulation, mRMR based LDMGI model have given an overall 18.7% (ACC) and 11.8% (NMI) higher performance than LDMGI model.
The DEAD-box protein DDX43 (HAGE) is a dual RNA-DNA helicase and has a K-homology domain required for full nucleic acid unwinding activity

The K-homology (KH) domain is a nucleic acid-binding domain present in many proteins but has not been reported in helicases. DDX43, also known as HAGE (helicase antigen gene), is a member of the DEAD-box protein family. It contains a helicase core domain in its C terminus and a potential KH domain in its N terminus. DDX43 is highly expressed in many tumors and is, therefore, considered a potential target for immunotherapy. Despite its potential as a therapeutic target, little is known about its activities. Here, we purified recombinant DDX43 protein to near homogeneity and found that it exists as a monomer in solution. Biochemical assays demonstrated that it is an ATP-dependent RNA and DNA helicase. Although DDX43 was active on duplex RNA regardless of the orientation of the single-stranded RNA tail, it preferred a 5′ to 3′ polarity on RNA and a 3′ to 5′ direction on DNA. Truncation mutations and site-directed mutagenesis confirmed that the KH domain in DDX43 is responsible for nucleic acid binding. Compared with the activity of the full-length protein, the C-terminal helicase domain had no unwinding activity on RNA substrates and had significantly reduced unwinding activity on DNA. Moreover, the full-length DDX43 protein, with single amino acid change in the KH domain, had reduced unwinding and binding activates on RNA and DNA substrates. Our results demonstrate that DDX43 is a dual helicase and the KH domain is required for its full unwinding activity.
Detection of Microglial Activation in an Acute Model of Neuroinflammation Using PET and Radiotracers 11C-(R)-PK11195 and 18F-GE-180

It remains unclear how different translocator protein (TSPO) ligands reflect the spatial extent of astrocyte or microglial activation in various neuroinflammatory conditions. Here, we use a reproducible lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced model of acute central nervous system inflammation to compare the binding performance of a new TSPO ligand 18F-GE-180 with 11C-(R)-PK11195. Using immunohistochemistry, we also explore the ability of the TSPO ligands to detect activated microglial cells and astrocytes. Methods: Lewis rats (n = 30) were microinjected with LPS (1 or 10 μg) or saline (1 μL) into the left striatum. The animals were imaged in vivo at 16 h after the injection using PET radiotracers 18F-GE-180 or 11C-(R)-PK11195 (n = 3 in each group) and were killed afterward for autoradiography of the brain. Immunohistochemical assessment of OX-42 and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was performed to identify activated microglial cells and reactive astrocytes. Results: In vivo PET imaging revealed an increase in the ipsilateral TSPO binding, compared with binding in the contralateral hemisphere, after the microinjection of 10 μg of LPS. No increase was observed with vehicle. By autoradiography, the TSPO radiotracer binding potential in the injected hemisphere was increased after striatal injection of 1 or 10 μg of LPS. However, the significant increase was observed only when using 18F-GE-180. The area of CD11b-expressing microglial cells extended beyond that of enhanced GFAP staining and mapped more closely to the extent of 18F-GE-180 binding than to 11C-(R)-PK11195 binding. The signal from either PET ligand was significantly increased in regions of increased GFAP immunoreactivity and OX-42 colocalization, meaning that the presence of both activated microglia and astrocytes in a given area leads to increased binding of the TSPO radiotracers. Conclusion: 18F-GE-180 is able to reveal sites of activated microglia in both gray and white matter. However, the signal is increased by the presence of activated astrocytes. Therefore, 18F-GE-180 is a promising new fluorinated longer-half-life tracer that reveals the presence of activated microglia in a manner that is superior to 11C-(R)-PK11195 due to the higher binding potential observed for this ligand.
Muscle power in “high‐risk” preterm infants at 12 and 24 weeks corrected age: a measure for early detection

A group of 72 “high‐risk” preterm infants was studied at the corrected ages of 12 and 24 wk. Only infants with a high risk for developmental deviance with gestational ages below 32 wk and/or birthweights of less than 1500 g were included in the study. In addition, the infants were categorized according to their medical history, as confirmed by the “Neonatal Medical Index” (NMI I to V), with category I describing infants with few medical problems and V characterizing those with the most serious complications. In this study we included only “high‐risk” infants as categorized in NMI III to V, since infants with a “low risk” have been described earlier. Apart from the standard paediatric follow‐up, an age‐adequate neurological assessment was made, with special emphasis on the relationship between active and passive muscle power. When development is optimal, these two components of muscle power should be in balance in order to create a stable posture and fluent motility. We compared muscle power at the corrected ages of 12 and 24 wk to determine whether the method employed to assess muscle power could enhance early detection of deviant development. At 12 wk of age, only 5 infants showed overall optimal muscle power, while at 24 wk this figure had increased to 27. Significantly more infants in NMI III had optimal outcomes at 24 wk of age. When muscle power in the different parts of the body was studied separately at 24 wk, outcomes in shoulders and trunk still showed significant discrepancies in all NMI groups. At this age, fewer asymmetries were found compared to outcomes at 12 wk.
Training funds and the incidence of training: the case of Mauritius

Training funds are used to incentivize training in developing countries, but the funds are based on payroll taxes that lower the return to training. In the absence of training funds, larger, high-wage and more capital-intensive firms are the most likely to offer training unless they are liquidity constrained. If firms are not liquidity constrained, the fund could lower training investments. Using an administrative data set on the Mauritius training fund, we find that the firms most likely to train pay more in taxes than they gain in subsidies. The smallest firms receive more benefits than they pay in taxes.
The Carbon Footprint of Norwegian Household Consumption 1999–2012

Environmentally extended input‐output analysis is the prevailing method for national environmental footprint accounting; however, its practical usefulness for consumers and policy makers suffers from lack of detail. Several extensive global multiregional input‐output (MRIO) databases have recently been released. A standard framework for linking such databases with the highly detailed household expenditure surveys that are conducted regularly by national statistics offices has the potential of providing analysts in countries worldwide with a powerful tool for in‐depth analyses of their national environmental footprints. In this article, we combine the Norwegian consumer expenditure survey with a global MRIO database to assess the carbon footprint (CF) of Norwegian household consumption in 2012, as well as its annual development since 1999. We offer a didactic account of the practical challenges associated with the combination of these types of data sets and the approach taken here to address these, and we discuss what barriers still remain before such analyses can be practically conducted and provide reliable results. We find a CF of 22.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents per household in 2012, a 26% increase since 1999. Transport, housing, and food were the expenditures contributing the most toward the total footprint. CF per unit of expenditure increased with overall expenditure levels (elasticity: 1.14), notably owing to the correlation between overall household expenditure and transport activities (elasticity: 1.48). Household energy use, which is generally inelastic, is, in Norway, largely based on hydropower and hence contributes comparatively little to the overall expenditure elasticity of household CF.
African Countries’ Agricultural Trade Value Chain Assessment Case study: Tanzania (Cashew nut exports)

Sub-Saharan Africa lost its status as a net exporter of agricultural products in the early 1980s when prices for raw commodities fell and local production stagnated. Since then, agricultural imports have grown faster than agricultural exports. In order to get to the bottom of this critical issue, UNIDO in partnership with the AU, IFAD, AfDB, FAO, and UNECA, developed the African Agribusiness and Agro-Industries Development Initiative (3ADI). The major objective of the 3ADI is to increase private sector investment flows going into the agriculture sector in Africa by mobilizing resources for agribusiness and agro-industrial development from the domestic, regional or international financial systems. This formed the basis of research with the objective of assessing the value addition chain for some vital agricultural commodities in the 3ADI focus countries. UNIDO is developing several action plans in a few African countries – one of them is Tanzania. In the case of Tanzania, the findings show the potential in cashew nuts. The paper’s main goal is to propose a plan or set of steps leading to the improvement of added value generation in the area of agricultural trade in Tanzania. The paper is focused on one commodity Cashew-nuts. Tanzania boosts high volumes of local supply of this commodity, which is the key prerequisite for the value addition chain through local processing. The results from the analysis prove significant economic losses related to the current structure of Tanzanian trade in cashew nuts. The main problem of the current cashew nut trade activities is the very low added value of exported cashew nuts. The paper analyses the structure of value added activities related to the cashew nut trade and proposes a plan for increasing the share of processed cashew nuts at a much higher unit price in comparison to raw cashew nuts. The simulated development in the cashew sector in Tanzania to the year 2030 is based on two expectations a 5% increase of evaluation of particular steps and a 5% growth of processed cashew nuts export volume resulting in significant growth of export incomes and provides an important material stimulating discussion related to the importance of the transformation of the export structure from unprocessed raw products to processed – finalized products.
Circadian rhythms and sleep have additive effects on respiration in the rat

1 We tested two hypotheses: that respiration and metabolism are subject to circadian modulation in wakefulness, non‐rapid‐eye‐movement (NREM) sleep and rapid‐eye‐movement (REM) sleep; and that the effects of sleep on breathing vary as a function of time of day. 2 Electroencephalogram (EEG), neck electromyogram (EMG) and abdominal body temperature (Tb) were measured by telemetry in six male Sprague‐Dawley rats. The EEG and EMG were used to identify sleep‐wake states. Ventilation (V̇I) and metabolic rate (V̇CO2) were measured by plethysmography. Recordings were made over 24 h (12:12 h light:dark) when rats were in established states of wakefulness, NREM sleep and REM sleep. 3 Statistically significant circadian rhythms were observed in V̇I and V̇CO2 in each of the wakefulness, NREM sleep and REM sleep states. Amplitudes and phases of the circadian rhythms were similar across sleep‐wake states. 4 The circadian rhythm in V̇I was mediated by a circadian rhythm in respiratory frequency (fR). Tidal volume (VT) was unaffected by time of day in all three sleep‐wake states. 5 The 24 h mean V̇I was significantly greater during wakefulness (363.5 ± 18.5 ml min−1) than during NREM sleep (284.8 ± 11.1 ml min−1) and REM sleep (276.1 ± 13.9 ml min−1). V̇CO2 and VT each significantly decreased from wakefulness to NREM sleep to REM sleep. fR was significantly lower in NREM sleep than in wakefulness and REM sleep. 6 These data confirm that ventilation and metabolism exhibit circadian rhythms during wakefulness, and NREM and REM sleep, and refute the hypothesis that state‐related effects on breathing vary as a function of time of day. We conclude that the effects of circadian rhythms and sleep‐wake state on respiration and metabolic rate are additive in the rat.
La fiscalidad del ahorro en la nueva Ley del IRPF: ¿Un paso hacia la neutralidad?

En este articulo analizamos la neutralidad del sistema tributario ante diversos activos financieros con tratamiento fiscal diferenciado, en el contexto de la reciente reforma del IRPF. Para ello, se modeliza la incidencia de la fiscalidad en cada activo, incluyendo las variables e impuestos que se considera significativos (p.e. el Impuesto sobre el Patrimonio) y dejando de lado otras menos relevantes (pe. las retenciones). Tras la modelizacion se compara la fiscalidad de los diversos activos desde el punto de vista de la planificacion fiscal, y se estudian los efectos de la reforma del IRPF recientemente llevada a cabo. Las conclusiones alcanzadas pueden ser utiles tanto para las autoridades tributarias como para los ciudadanos que quieran reducir su carga fiscal.