Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
culminating in a United Nations political declaration on NCDs in September 2011 with follow‐up meeting on Political Declaration of the High‐level meeting of the General Assembly on the Prevention and Control of NCDs

DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.24018/ejers.2021. 6.1. 2321 Vol 6 | Issue 1 | January 2021 63 Abstract — This study examined the performance of the ARIMA, ARIMAX and the Single Exponential Smoothing (SES) model for the estimation of diabetes cases in Anambra State with the following specific objectives: to fit the model to the data, to determine the best fit model for estimating diabetes mellitus cases and forecast for expected cases for period of five years. The secondary data used for the study is sourced from records of Anambra state Ministry of Health. The Akaike information criterion is adopted for assessing the performance of the models. The R-software is employed for the analysis of data. The results obtained showed that the data satisfied normality and stationarity requirements. The finding of the study showed that ARIMA model has least value of AIC of 1177.92, following the ARIMAX model with value of AIC=1542.25 and SEM recorded highest value of 1595.67. The findings further revealed that the ARIMA has the least values across the measures of accuracy. More so, five years predictions of the cases of diabetes mellitus were obtained using the models under study. From the results of the findings, ARIMA model proved to be best alternative for estimating reported cases of diabetes mellitus in Anambra state. Based on the findings, we recommend there is need for medical practitioners /health planners to create awareness and inform patients about the possible related risk factors of death through early diagnosis and intervention.
The Taipei Adolescent Twin/Sibling Family Study II: Depression, Insulin Resistance, and Hormonal Factors

Abstract In this ongoing longitudinal study of adolescent twins/sibling pairs and their parents in Taipei, we aimed to investigate the genetic and environmental influences on adolescent behavioral development, metabolic risk factors, and the associations between the two. Special focus is on anxious depression, metabolic profile, and hormonal factors such as cortisol and leptin. The first wave of assessment was completed during the period of 2002 to 2005 and included 192 twin pairs, 6 triplets, 56 sibling pairs and their first-degree relatives (484 parents and 142 siblings). We are currently in the process of a second wave assessment as follow-up. Dimensional psychological assessments using self-report questionnaires, as well as categorical assessments based on semistructured clinical interviews, were performed. All subjects received a 2-hour oral glucose tolerance test at the examination site. The metabolic phenotypes including body mass index, blood pressure, levels of glucose, insulin, and lipid profile as well as related hormonal levels were measured. Zygosity was determined using DNA, except for a few twins whose DNA was not available. Such a combination of detailed psychological assessments and metabolic function tests is expected to help shed light on the interrelation of psychological well-being and metabolic functioning.
The Foetal Origins of Adult Disease: Interpreting the Evidence From Twin Studies

Abstract Twin studies have a contribution to make to the debate concerning the foetal origins of adult disease. Twins are growth retarded compared to singletons and experience post-natal catch-up growth. However, there is no evidence that twins are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Studying whether discordance in size at birth within monozygotic twin pairs is predictive of discordance in later life disease should help resolve whether the association between size at birth and later disease is due to common genetic factors. Results from studies of blood pressure in childhood and adult life looking at these within twin effects are far from conclusive. There are, however, methodological problems in the interpretation of these results, not least of which is the relatively small numbers of twin pairs studied. Studies exploring the effect of zygosity and chorion type on later disease provide may provide a useful extension of the research agenda. In summary, twin studies to date have raised more questions about the foetal origins hypothesis than they have resolved.
Genetic and Environmental Influences on the Frequency of Orgasm in Women

Abstract This study reports on genetic and environmental influences on the frequency of orgasm in women during sexual intercourse, during other sexual contact with a partner, and during masturbation. Participants were drawn from the Australian Twin Registry, and recruited from a large, partly longitudinal twin-family study. Three thousand and eighty women responded to the anonymous self-report questionnaire, including 667 complete monozygotic (MZ) pairs and 377 complete dizygotic (DZ) same-sex pairs, 366 women from complete DZ opposite-sex pairs, and 626 women whose co-twins did not participate. Significant twin correlations were found for both MZ and DZ twin pairs for all three items of interest. Age effects were statistically significant for some items. Models incorporating additive genetic, shared and nonshared environmental influences provided the best fit for Items 1 and 3, while a model with additive and nonadditive genetic influences along with nonshared envir-onment fitted the data from Item 2. While an independent pathway model fits the data most par-simoniously, a common pathway model incorporating additive genetic (A), shared environment (C), and unique environment (E) effects cannot be ruled out. Overall, genetic influences account for approximately 31% of the variance of frequency of orgasm during sexual intercourse, 37% of the variance of frequency of orgasm during sexual contact other than during intercourse, and 51% of the variance of frequency of orgasm during masturbation. Following Baker (1996), we speculate that this additive genetic variance might arise from frequency-dependent selection for a variety of female sexual strategies.
No Linkage to Obesity in Candidate Regions of Chromosome 2 and 10 in a Selected Sample of Swedish Twins

Abstract The aim of the current study was to investigate the importance of genetic and environmental effects in the variation of body mass index, and to investigate linkage for obesity to previously reported candidate regions on chromosome 2 and 10. A sample of 1422 twin pairs from the population based Swedish Twin Registry was used in order to estimate the genetic and environmental effects in the variation of body mass index by means of structural equation modeling. A selection of those, 51 concordant and 155 discordant for obesity, was used for the linkage analysis by implementing the “combined” Haseman-Elston approach. Heritability of body mass index ranged from 59–70%, implying that genetic effects were of importance for the variation of obesity, and there were significant sex and age differences. Linkage could not be verified in candidate regions of chromosomes 2 and 10, indicating that these genetic variants have a significant effect in extreme obese populations rather than in moderately obese Caucasians. However, the results were sensitive to issues related to power, minor effects of the genes, ethnic differences and the complex mechanism underlying obesity.
Genetic Markers Data in Survival Studies of Twins: The Results of a Simulation Study

Abstract Previous longevity studies of related individuals such as twins or siblings based on the major gene model have shown that the frequency and the relative risk of mortality of a beneficial allele in the population could be estimated. If, in addition to survival data for related individuals, the genetic markers data are available, one could try to locate the longevity allele in the genome. In the case where the phenotypic trait is life span or age at onset of disease, a two-step procedure can be used. First, the parameters of bivariate survival functions must be estimated from bivariate survival data for twins without markers. The second step is focused on determining the position of longevity genes between respective markers. To calculate the joint distribution of inheritance vector and genetic markers, the hidden Markov chain technique is used. This approach is illustrated with a simulation example for one longevity gene.
Special Twin Environments, Genetic Influences and their Effects on the Handedness of Twins and their Siblings

Abstract It has been suggested that twinning may influence handedness through the effects of birth order, intra-uterine crowding and mirror imaging. The influence of these effects on handedness (for writing and throwing) was examined in 3657 Monozygotic (MZ) and 3762 Dizygotic (DZ) twin pairs (born 1893–1992). Maximum likelihood analyses revealed no effects of birth order on the incidence of left-handedness. Twins were no more likely to be left-handed than their singleton siblings (n = 1757), and there were no differences between the DZ co-twin and siblingtwin covariances, suggesting that neither intra-uterine crowding nor the experience of being a twin affects handedness. There was no evidence of mirror imaging; the co-twin correlations of monochorionic and dichorionic MZ twins did not differ. Univariate genetic analyses revealed common environmental factors to be the most parsimonious explanation of familial aggregation for the writing-hand measure, while additive genetic influences provided a better interpretation of the throwing hand data.
A Twin Study of Personality and Illicit Drug Use and Abuse/Dependence

Abstract Although personality measures such as neuroticism (N), extraversion (E) and novelty-seeking (NS) are associated with the use and abuse/dependence of illicit drugs, little is known about the degree to which these associations are due to genetic or environmental factors. The goal of this analysis was to estimate the extent of genetic and environmental overlap between three dimensions of personality (N, E and NS) and illicit psychoactive substance use and abuse/dependence. Using data from adult male and female twins from the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry, we used the structural equation modeling package Mx to perform bivariate Cholesky decompositions for personality measures of N, E and NS, individually with cannabis, cocaine, sedatives, stimulants and hallucinogens. This was done separately for use and for a polychotomous diagnosis of abuse and/or dependence. Sex differences were tested. The phenotypic relationship between personality and use and abuse/dependence of illicit drugs were moderate and most of the covariance was explained by genetic factors. Sexes could be equated for N and E but not for NS. For NS, use and abuse/dependence of illicit drugs showed greater phenotypic and genetic overlap in males than females. Of the personality measures, NS and illicit drug use and abuse/dependence were most closely related. NS was most closely related to cannabis use while N showed significant genetic overlap with sedative use. NS in males appears to be a good indicator of risk for cannabis use. This result may be useful for candidate gene studies.
Disentangling Genetic, Environmental, and Rater Effects on Internalizing and Externalizing Problem Behavior in 10-year-old Twins

Abstract Previous studies have emphasized the importance of rater issues in studying the etiology of variation in internalizing and externalizing problems in children. Earlier results indicate only moderate agreement between parents, and assume that parents assess a specific aspect of their child's behavior. In comparable samples of younger children, additive genetic effects are the main factor explaining individual differences in both internalizing and externalizing behavior. It is unknown whether this pattern of rater influences and variance decomposition will be consistent in older children. Child Behavior Checklists (Achenbach, 1991), completed by both parents, were collected in a sample of 2956 Dutch 10-year-old twin pairs. The etiology of individual differences in internalizing and externalizing syndromes was examined using a model that corrected for possible rater bias, rater-specific effects and unreliability. The best fitting model suggested that disagreement between the parents is not merely the result of unreliability and/or rater bias, but each parent also provides specific information from his/her own perspective on the child's behavior. Significant influences of additive genetic, shared environmental and unique environmental factors were found for internalizing and externalizing syndromes.
Perinatal and Early Childhood Outcomes of Twins Versus Triplets

Abstract The purpose of this prospective cohort study of twins and triplets was to evaluate perinatal and early childhood outcomes through 18 months of age. The study population included 141 twin pregnancies (282 twin children) and 8 triplet pregnancies (24 triplet children) recruited between May, 1996 and June, 2001. Mothers of triplets versus twins were significantly more likely to have infertility treatments, to be overweight or obese before conception, to be admitted antenatally, and to deliver by cesarean section. Length of gestation for triplets was significantly shorter (–2.31 weeks, p < .0001), and more likely to be less than 35 weeks (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] 9.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.22–27.29). Average birthweight for triplets was significantly lighter (–495 grams, p < .0001), and more likely to be low birthweight (AOR 11.38, 95% CI 3.11–41.61). Triplets were also more likely to be admitted to neonatal intensive care (AOR 7.97, 95% CI 2.13–29.77), to require mechanical ventilation (AOR 5.67, 95% CI 2.05–15.65), to develop respiratory distress syndrome (AOR 12.50, 95% CI 3.89–40.20), or a major morbidity (retinopathy of prematurity, necrotizing enterocolitis, ventilator support, or grade III or IV intraventricular hemorrhage, AOR 5.67, 95% CI 2.05–15.65). Weight, length, and head circumference was significantly smaller at birth for triplets compared to twins, and these differences remained through 18 months of age, along with lower mental developmental scores at the oldest age. Compared to twins, triplets have greater neonatal morbidity, and through 18 months of age lower mental and motor scores, slower postnatal growth and more residual stunting, particularly of length and head circumference.
The Contribution of Risk Factors to Blood Pressure Heritability Estimates in Young Adults: The East Flanders Prospective Twin Study

Abstract The heritability of blood pressure estimated in previous studies may be confounded by the influence of potential blood pressure risk factors. We applied the classical twin design to estimate the contribution of these covariates to blood pressure heritability. The study consisted of 173 dizygotic and 251 monozygotic twin pairs aged 18–34 years, randomly selected from the East Flanders Prospective Twin Survey. In a standardized examination, blood pressure and anthropometry was measured, a questionnaire was completed, and a fasting blood sample was taken. In univariate and bivariate modeling, diastolic and systolic heritability were estimated both unadjusted and adjusted for potential risk factors. Also, covariate interaction was modeled. Bivariate analysis gave heritability estimates of 0.63 (95%CI 0.55–0.59), 0.74 (95%CI: 0.68–0.79), and 0.78 (95%CI: 0.70–0.84) for diastolic, systolic, and cross-trait heritability, respectively. The remaining variances could be attributed to unique environmental influences. These heritability estimates did not change substantially in univariate analyses or after adjustment for risk factors. A sex-limitation model showed that the heritability estimates for women were significantly higher than for men, but the same genetic factors were operating across sexes. Sex and cigarette smoking appeared to be statistically significant interaction terms. The heritability of blood pressure is relatively high in young adults. Potential risk factors of blood pressure do not appear to confound the heritability estimates. However, gene by sex by smoking interaction is indicated.
Genetic Correlations Between Brain Volumes and the WAIS-III Dimensions of Verbal Comprehension, Working Memory, Perceptual Organization, and Processing Speed

Abstract We recently showed that the correlation of gray and white matter volume with full scale IQ and the Working Memory dimension are completely mediated by common genetic factors (Posthuma et al., 2002). Here we examine whether the other WAIS III dimensions (Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organization, Processing Speed) are also related to gray and white matter volume, and whether any of the dimensions are related to cerebellar volume. Two overlapping samples provided 135 subjects from 60 extended twin families for whom both MRI scans and WAIS III data were available. All three brain volumes are related to Working Memory capacity (r = 0.27). This phenotypic correlation is completely due to a common underlying genetic factor. Processing Speed was genetically related to white matter volume (rg = 0.39). Perceptual Organization was both genetically (rg = 0.39) and environmentally (re= −0.71) related to cerebellar volume. Verbal Comprehension was not related to any of the three brain volumes. It is concluded that brain volumes are genetically related to intelligence which suggests that genes that influence brain volume may also be important for intelligence. It is also noted however, that the direction of causation (i.e., do genes influence brain volume which in turn influences intelligence, or alternatively, do genes influence intelligence which in turn influences brain volume), or the presence or absence of pleiotropy has not been resolved yet.
Genetic and Environmental Influences on Migraine: A Twin Study Across Six Countries

Abstract Migraine is a common neurovascular brain disorder that is manifested in recurrent episodes of disabling headache. The aim of the present study was to compare the prevalence and heritability of migraine across six of the countries that participate in GenomEUtwin project including a total number of 29,717 twin pairs. Migraine was assessed by questionnaires that differed between most countries. It was most prevalent in Danish and Dutch females (32% and 34%, respectively), whereas the lowest prevalence was found in the younger and older Finnish cohorts (13% and 10%, respectively). The estimated genetic variance (heritability) was significant and the same between sexes in all countries. Heritability ranged from 34% to 57%, with lowest estimates in Australia, and highest estimates in the older cohort of Finland, the Netherlands, and Denmark. There was some indication that part of the genetic variance was non-additive, but this was significant in Sweden only. In addition to genetic factors, environmental effects that are non-shared between members of a twin pair contributed to the liability of migraine. After migraine definitions are homogenized among the participating countries, the GenomEUtwin project will provide a powerful resource to identify the genes involved in migraine.
The Heritability of CHD Mortality in Danish Twins After Controlling for Smoking and BMI

Abstract Cause-specific mortality data on Danish monozygotic and dizygotic twins are used to analyze heritability estimates of susceptibility to coronary heart disease (CHD) after controlling for smoking and Body Mass Index (BMI). The sample includes 1209 like-sexed twin pairs born between 1890 and 1920, where both individuals were still alive in 1966. The participants completed a questionnaire in 1966 which included questions on smoking, height and weight. The analysis was conducted with both sexes pooled due to the relatively small number of twin pairs. Follow-up was conducted from January 1, 1966 to December 31, 1993. The correlated gammafrailty model with observed covariates was used for the genetic analysis of frailty to account for censoring and truncation in the lifetime data. During the follow-up, 1437 deaths occurred, including 435 deaths due to CHD. Proportions of variance of frailty attributable to genetic and environmental factors were analyzed using the structural equation model approach. Different standard biometric models are fitted to the data to evaluate the magnitude and nature of genetic and environmental factors on mortality. Using the best-fitting model without covariates, heritability of frailty to CHD was found to be 0.45 (0.11). This result changes only slightly to 0.55 (0.13) in a DE model after controlling for smoking and BMI. This analysis underlines the existence of a substantial genetic influence on individual frailty associated with mortality caused by CHD.
Ion Pair Formation in Pig Heart Lipoamide Dehydrogenase

In this paper, we present rapid reaction kinetic data which provides additional evidence for the participation of a base in the active center of lipoamide dehydrogenase. We propose that this base deprotonates dihydrolipoamide, the substrate, activating it for nucleophilic attack on the enzyme active center disulfide. This mechanism for substrate activation predicts pH-independent rates of reduction of the enzyme by dihydrolipoamide at pH values above the pK of the base on oxidized enzyme. These rates (extrapolated to infinite dihydrolipoamide concentration) are found to be constant from pH 5.5 to pH 8.1. We have shown previously that although reduction of lipoamide dehydrogenase by dihydrolipoamide requires transfer of 2 protons as well as 2 electrons in the pH range from 5.5 to 7.6, the pH dependence of the spectrum of 2-electron-reduced enzyme indicates that only 1 of these protons is present in the reduced active center disulfide (Matthews, R. G., and Williams, C. H., Jr. (1976) J. Biol. Chem. 251, 3956-3964). These results were consistent with the formation of a thiollbase ion pair on reduction of the enzyme active center disulfide. In this paper, we present evidence that one of the oxidation-reduction protons dissociates with a pK of 7.9 on 2-electron-reduced enzyme, and that at pH values above this pK, the rate of reoxidation of 2electron-reduced enzyme by lipoamide (extrapolated to infinite lipoamide concentration) decreases. This decrease would be expected since microscopic reversibility implies that 2-electron-reduced enzyme must transfer both oxidation-reduction protons to lipoamide. Between pH 5.5 and pH 7.0, the rate of reoxidation of enzyme by lipoamide shows a plateau. The rate of alkylation of one of the active center thiols by iodoacetamide shows a similar pH profile, and suggests analogies with papain and other enzymes thought to contain a thiolatelimidazolium ion pair at the active center. We conclude that the base involved in ion pair formation in lipoamide dehydrogenase is required to be in its protonated form for enzymatic reduction of lipoamide and also for maximal reactivity of 2-electron-reduced enzyme with iodoacetamide.