Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CYP 1 A 1 MspI Polymorphism and Cervical Carcinoma Risk in the Multi-Ethnic Population of Malaysia : a Case-Control Study

Cervical carcinoma is one of the most prominent malignancies found in females worldwide. In 2002 alone, an estimated total of at least 500,000 cases and 275,000 deaths are attributed to the carcinoma globally (Parkin et al., 2005). The lack of accessible Pap smear screening, HPV vaccination, and health education leads to a higher prevalence of cervical carcinoma in developing countries, which represents a staggering 80% of the total cervical carcinoma cases worldwide (Schiffman et al., 2007; Hoory et al., 2008). In Malaysia, a multi-ethnic developing nation in South East Asia, around 850 cases of cervical carcinoma had been reported in 2007, making up 8.4% of the total cancer incidence reported that year. The estimation puts cervical carcinoma as the third most common female malignancy in Malaysia, behind breast and colorectal carcinoma. The
Super-resolution reconstruction of cardiac MRI using coupled dictionary learning

High resolution 3D cardiac MRI is difficult to achieve due to the relative speed of motion occurring during acquisition. Instead, anisotropic 2D stack volumes are typical, and improving the resolution of these is strongly motivated by both visualisation and analysis. The lack of suitable reconstruction techniques that handle non-rigid motion means that cardiac image enhancement is still often attained by simple interpolation. In this paper, we explore the use of example-based super-resolution, to enable high fidelity patch-based reconstruction, using training data that does not need to be accurately aligned with the target data. By moving to a patch scale, we are able to exploit the data redundancy present in cardiac image sequences, without the need for registration. To do this, dictionaries of high-resolution and low-resolution patches are co-trained on high-resolution sequences, in order to enforce a common relationship between high- and low-resolution patch representations. These dictionaries are then used to reconstruct from a low-resolution view of the same anatomy. We demonstrate marked improvements of the reconstruction algorithm over standard interpolation.
The Impact of Cataract Surgery on Activities and Time-Use: Results from a Longitudinal Study in Kenya, Bangladesh and the Philippines

Background Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world, and blindness from cataract is particularly common in low-income countries. The aim of this study is to explore the impact of cataract surgery on daily activities and time-use in Kenya, Bangladesh and the Philippines. Methods/Principal Findings A multi-centre intervention study was conducted in three countries. Time-use data were collected through interview from cases aged ≥50 years with visually impairing cataract (VA <6/24) and age- and gender-matched controls with normal vision (VA≥6/18). Cases were offered free/subsidized cataract surgery. Approximately one year later participants were re-interviewed about time-use. At baseline across the three countries there were 651 cases and 571 controls. Fifty-five percent of cases accepted surgery. Response rate at follow up was 84% (303 out of 361) for operated cases, and 80% (459 out of 571) for controls. At baseline, cases were less likely to carry out and spent less time on productive activities (paid and non-paid work) and spent more time in “inactivity” compared to controls. Approximately one year after cataract surgery, operated cases were more likely to undertake productive activities compared to baseline (Kenya from 55% to 88%; Bangladesh 60% to 95% and Philippines 81% to 94%, p<0.001) and mean time spent on productive activities increased by one-two hours in each setting (p<0.001). Time spent in “inactivity” in Kenya and Bangladesh decreased by approximately two hours (p<0.001). Frequency of reported assistance with activities was more than halved in each setting (p<0.001). Conclusions/Significance The empirical evidence provided by this study of increased time spent on productive activities, reduced time in inactivity and reduced assistance following cataract surgery among older adults in low-income settings has positive implications for well-being and inclusion, and supports arguments of economic benefit at the household level from cataract surgery.
Nutrition and Physical Activity in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common liver disease worldwide and it is associated with other medical conditions such as diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, and obesity. The mechanisms of the underlying disease development and progression are not completely established and there is no consensus concerning the pharmacological treatment. In the gold standard treatment for NAFLD weight loss, dietary therapy, and physical activity are included. However, little scientific evidence is available on diet and/or physical activity and NAFLD specifically. Many dietary approaches such as Mediterranean and DASH diet are used for treatment of other cardiometabolic risk factors such as insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), but on the basis of its components their role in NAFLD has been discussed. In this review, the implications of current dietary and exercise approaches, including Brazilian and other guidelines, are discussed, with a focus on determining the optimal nonpharmacological treatment to prescribe for NAFLD.
A potentially valuable WSR-88D severe storm pre-cursor signature in highly dynamic, low CAPE, high shear environments

It is generally recognized that isolated supercellular storms account for the majority of strong tornadoes, thunderstorm wind-related damage, and loss of life in the United States (Moller et al., 1994). However, a high percentage of severe wind and tornado events that affect areas in and around Illinois are usually not associated with isolated supercell structures. Most of these severe events are produced by bow echoes, derechoes, multicell complexes, or supercells that are embedded in Quasi-Linear Convective Systems (QLCS). Unlike the first three severe weather producing systems mentioned, QLCS-embedded severe event producing supercells can often occur in environments that include relatively low convective available potential energy (CAPE) in which dynamic forcing is significant and shear is high. In the Midwest, these conditions are most common in the cool-season. The mission of the National Weather Service (NWS) is the protection of life and property (NWS, 1999). To accomplish this mission an arsenal of technologies, conceptual models, training resources, workload models, and communication tools must be integrated successfully. As technology and our understanding of the atmosphere improve, additional tools join the armory available to the operational meteorologist. With advances in real-time WSR-88D data and temporal resolution available to the NWS warning team, along with enhancements in visualization afforded by the Advanced Weather Interactive Processing System (AWIPS) (MacDonald and Wakefield, 1996), NWS meteorologists can combine their knowledge of conceptual models with what they are observing through radar, satellite, and other remote sensing tools to produce a more accurate forecast of severe weather potential. However, the collection of tools to access the potential for severe weather in cool-season QLCS is relatively limited given the research and training focus on more “traditional” severe weather environments. One tool that has begun to be utilized by the NWS office in Lincoln Illinois (KILX) has been a radar signature that
Modelling electronic commerce transactions - A layered approach

Since electronic commerce transaction are characterised by their highly communicative character, the Language-Action-perspective proves to be very suitable to provide a deep-structure analysis because it concentrates on the essential aspects of an electronic commerce transaction rather than the form. In this paper, we present a layered pattern definition language, based on various L/A-perspective approaches. The patterns are represented by means of an extension of the Formal Language for Business Communication. Furthermore, we demonstrate by means of a case study how the notion of patterns can be applied to L/A-based analysis of electronic commerce transactions, and how this meets requirements that Electronic Commerce modelling poses.
Emergent collective decisions in a swarm of robots

A swarm robotic system is normally characterised by many individuals, each having a partial/limited knowledge about the global pattern of which it constitutes an element. In such a system, decision-making processes may be problematic. However, inspiration can be drawn from insect societies, in which self-organisation plays a crucial role in most of the decisions taken by the colony. In this work, we show how, in a swarm robotic system, a decision can be the result of a collective process: it emerges from the numerous interactions among the individuals and between individuals and environment. We present a task in which a swarm of physically connected, simulated robots has to take a decision whether to pass over a trough or change direction of motion if the gap is too wide to be bridged. We show how such a decision can be collectively taken, based only on a self-organising process.
Residual settlements detection of ocean reclaimed lands with multi-platform SAR time series and SBAS technique: a case study of Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Shanghai Pudong International airport is one of the three major international airports in China. The airport is located at the Yangtze estuary which is a sensitive belt of sea and land interaction region. The majority of the buildings and facilities in the airport are built on ocean-reclaimed lands and silt tidal flat. Residual ground settlement could probably occur after the completion of the airport construction. The current status of the ground settlement of the airport and whether it is within a safe range are necessary to be investigated. In order to continuously monitor the ground settlement of the airport, two Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) time series, acquired by X-band TerraSAR-X (TSX) and TanDEM-X (TDX) sensors from December 2009 to December 2010 and from April 2013 to July 2015, were used for analyzing with SBAS technique. We firstly obtained ground deformation measurement of each SAR subset. Both of the measurements show that obvious ground subsidence phenomenon occurred at the airport, especially in the second runway, the second terminal, the sixth cargo plane and the eighth apron. The maximum vertical ground deformation rates of both SAR subset measurements were greater than -30 mm/year, while the cumulative ground deformations reached up to -30 mm and -35 mm respectively. After generation of SBAS-retrieved ground deformation for each SAR subset, we performed a joint analysis to combine time series of each common coherent point by applying a geotechnical model. The results show that three centralized areas of ground deformation existed in the airport, mainly distributed in the sixth cargo plane, the fifth apron and the fourth apron, The maximum vertical cumulative ground subsidence was more than -70 mm. In addition, by analyzing the combined time series of four selected points, we found that the ground deformation rates of the points located at the second runway, the third runway, and the second terminal, were progressively smaller as time goes by. It indicates that the stabilities of the foundation around these points were gradually enhanced.
West Nile virus in the United States

In the late summer of 1999, the first known cases of West Nile virus infection in the Western Hemisphere were recorded in New York City. These first cases were the hallmarks of an outbreak of West Nile virus infection that resulted in 7 deaths among 62 confirmed cases and an estimated 8200 asymptomatic to mild infections among residents and visitors in Queens, New York. This article reviews West Nile virus and its spread in the United States since its introduction in 1999.
Functional properties of a novel hybrid antimicrobial peptide NS: potent antitumor activity and efficient plasmid delivery

Antimicrobial peptides have been widely recognized as potential candidates for treating tumor, especially for defending against multidrug‐resistant cells. Previously, based on the structure of substance P, we have designed a novel class of hybrid antimicrobial peptide NS, which possesses potent antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of bacterial pathogens. In this study, we evaluated its cytotoxicity to tumor cells and studied the possible mechanism of action. We showed that NS could efficiently kill tumor cells by rapidly disrupting the tumor cell membrane and inhibiting the DNA synthesis. In addition, we also found that NS could efficiently deliver plasmids into cells and exhibit high transfection efficiency after the introduction of a stearyl moiety to its N‐terminus, like many reported cell‐penetrating peptides. Taken together, this study revealed the potential multiple functions of NS, providing fundamental support for further therapeutic application as potential antitumor agent. Copyright © 2014 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Homer1a-Dependent Crosstalk Between NMDA and Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Mouse Neurons

Background A large number of evidences suggest that group-I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1a, 1b, 1c, 5a, 5b) can modulate NMDA receptor activity. Interestingly, a physical link exists between these receptors through a Homer-Shank multi-protein scaffold that can be disrupted by the immediate early gene, Homer1a. Whether such a versatile link supports functional crosstalk between the receptors is unknown. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we used biochemical, electrophysiological and molecular biological approaches in cultured mouse cerebellar neurons to investigate this issue. We found that Homer1a or dominant negative Shank3 mutants that disrupt the physical link between the receptors allow inhibition of NMDA current by group-I mGluR agonist. This effect is antagonized by pertussis toxin, but not thapsigargin, suggesting the involvement of a G protein, but not intracellular calcium stores. Also, this effect is voltage-sensitive, being present at negative, but not positive membrane potentials. In the presence of DHPG, an apparent NMDA “tail current” was evoked by large pulse depolarization, only in neurons transfected with Homer1a. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments showed interaction between G-protein βγ subunits and NMDA receptor in the presence of Homer1a and group-I mGluR agonist. Conclusions/Significance Altogether these results suggest a direct inhibition of NMDA receptor-channel by Gbetagamma subunits, following disruption of the Homer-Shank3 complex by the immediate early gene Homer1a. This study provides a new molecular mechanism by which group-I mGluRs could dynamically regulate NMDA receptor function.
A 5-year follow-up of self-expanding metal stents in the endoscopic management of patients with benign bile duct strictures.

BACKGROUND Metal stents offer superior biliary drainage in patients with malignant bile duct obstruction, with fewer episodes of stent occlusion compared with polyethylene stents. Metal stent patency has only been studied over limited time periods in such patients with malignant disease. OBJECTIVE To assess the long-term patency of metal stents in a group of patients with benign bile duct strictures who are suitable for extended follow-up. METHODS Between May 1989 and May 1992, eight patients (median age 59.0 years; range 26-88 years) with benign biliary strictures were selected at a tertiary referral centre for insertion of a metal stent. Strictures were secondary to bile duct trauma (n = 5), chronic pancreatitis (n = 2) or idiopathic (n = 1). A long metal stent was inserted in three patients and a short metal stent in five patients. RESULTS After a median follow-up of 64.5 months (range 26-81 months, seven of the eight patients are alive. Baby scope examination at 1 year showed complete epithelialization of the metal stent in all subjects examined. Median stent patency was 35 months (range 7-72 months). Symptomatic episodes of metal stent occlusion have occurred on nine occasions in five patients (62.5%) secondary to mucosal hypertrophy (n = 3) or biliary calculi (n = 2). CONCLUSION The long-term management of selected patients with benign bile duct strictures may be significantly improved by the use of metal stents avoiding the need for frequent polyethylene stent changes.
Stochastic Trends and Economic Fluctuations

Recent developments in macroeconomic theory emphasize that transient economic fluctuations can arise as responses to changes in long run factors -- in particular, technological improvements -- rather than short run factors. This contrasts with the view that short run fluctuations and shifts in long run trends are largely unrelated. We examine empirically the effect of shifts in stochastic trends that are common to several macroeconomic series. Using a linear time series model related to a VAR, we consider first a system with GNP, consumption and investment with a single common stochastic trend; we then examine this system augmented by money and prices and an additional stochastic trend. Our results suggest that movements in the "real" stochastic trend account for one-half to two-thirds of the variation in postwar U.S. GNP.
Reduced-median-network analysis of complete mitochondrial DNA coding-region sequences for the major African, Asian, and European haplogroups.

The evolution of the human mitochondrial genome is characterized by the emergence of ethnically distinct lineages or haplogroups. Nine European, seven Asian (including Native American), and three African mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups have been identified previously on the basis of the presence or absence of a relatively small number of restriction-enzyme recognition sites or on the basis of nucleotide sequences of the D-loop region. We have used reduced-median-network approaches to analyze 560 complete European, Asian, and African mtDNA coding-region sequences from unrelated individuals to develop a more complete understanding of sequence diversity both within and between haplogroups. A total of 497 haplogroup-associated polymorphisms were identified, 323 (65%) of which were associated with one haplogroup and 174 (35%) of which were associated with two or more haplogroups. Approximately one-half of these polymorphisms are reported for the first time here. Our results confirm and substantially extend the phylogenetic relationships among mitochondrial genomes described elsewhere from the major human ethnic groups. Another important result is that there were numerous instances both of parallel mutations at the same site and of reversion (i.e., homoplasy). It is likely that homoplasy in the coding region will confound evolutionary analysis of small sequence sets. By a linkage-disequilibrium approach, additional evidence for the absence of human mtDNA recombination is presented here.
Exploring FPGA‐Based Lock‐In Techniques for Brain Monitoring Applications

Functional near‐infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) systems for e‐health applications usually suffer from poor signal detection, mainly due to a low end‐to‐end signal‐to‐noise ratio of the electronics chain. Lock‐in amplifiers (LIA) historically represent a powerful technique helping to improve performance in such circumstances. In this work a digital LIA system, based on a Zynq® field programmable gate array (FPGA) has been designed and implemented, in an attempt to explore if this technique might improve fNIRS system performance. More broadly, FPGA‐based solution flexibility has been investigated, with particular emphasis applied to digital filter parameters, needed in the digital LIA, and its impact on the final signal detection and noise rejection capability has been evaluated. The realized architecture was a mixed solution between VHDL hardware modules and software modules, running within a microprocessor. Experimental results have shown the goodness of the proposed solutions and comparative details among different implementations will be detailed. Finally a key aspect taken into account throughout the design was its modularity, allowing an easy increase of the input channels while avoiding the growth of the design cost of the electronics system.
Costs of Intimate Partner Violence Against Women in the United States is a publication of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control , part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Acknowledgments We acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of several CDC colleagues: Background Although most people believe intimate partner violence (IPV) is a substantial public health problem in the United States, few agree on its magnitude. Recognizing the need to better measure both the scope of the problem of IPV as well as resulting economic costs—in particular, those related to health care—Congress funded the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to conduct a study to obtain national estimates of the occurrence of IPV-related injuries, to estimate their costs to the health care system, and to recommend strategies to prevent IPV and its consequences.
Immunopathogenesis of simian immunodeficiency virus infection in nonhuman primates

Purpose of reviewSoon after the discovery of HIV-infected humans, rhesus macaques in a colony at the New England Primate Research Center showed similar signs of a progressive immune suppression. The discovery of the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)-associated disease opened the door to study an AIDS-like illness in nonhuman primates (NHP). Even after 3 decades, this animal model remains an invaluable tool to provide a greater insight into HIV immunopathogenesis. In this review, recent progress in deciphering pathways of immunopathogenesis in SIV-infected NHP is discussed. Recent findingsThe immense diversity of mutations in SIV stocks prepared at different laboratories has recently been realized. The massive expansion of the enteric virome is a key finding in SIV-induced immunopathogenesis. Defining the function of host restriction factors, like the recently discovered SAMHD1, helps to evaluate the impact of the innate immune responses on virus replication. Utilization of pyrosequencing and defining molecular mechanisms of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I restriction helps to understand how the virus evades CD8+ T-cell responses. The definition of MHC class I molecules in different NHP species provides new animal models to study SIV immunopathogenesis. T follicular helper cells have gained major interest in characterizing humoral immune responses in SIV infection and AIDS vaccine strategies. The ability of natural hosts to remain disease-free despite ongoing replication of SIV is continuing to puzzle the field. SummaryThe HIV research field continues to realize the immense complexity of the host virus interaction. NHP present an invaluable tool to make progress towards an effective AIDS vaccine.