Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extensive Population Structure in San, Khoe, and Mixed Ancestry Populations from Southern Africa Revealed by 44 Short 5-SNP Haplotypes

Abstract The San and Khoe people currently represent remnant groups of a much larger and widely distributed population of hunter-gatherers and pastoralists who had exclusive occupation of southern Africa before the arrival of Bantu-speaking groups in the past 1,200 years and sea-borne immigrants within the last 350 years. Genetic studies [mitochondrial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and Y-chromosome] conducted on San and Khoe groups revealed that they harbor some of the most divergent lineages found in living peoples throughout the world. Recently, high-density, autosomal, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-array studies confirmed the early divergence of Khoe-San population groups from all other human populations. The present study made use of 220 autosomal SNP markers (in the format of both haplotypes and genotypes) to examine the population structure of various San and Khoe groups and their relationship to other neighboring groups.
REM Sleep Imposes a Vascular Load in COPD Patients Independent of Sleep Apnea

ABSTRACT Arterial stiffness, a marker for cardiovascular risk, is increased in patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). The specific influence of both on arterial stiffness during sleep is unknown. Nocturnal arterial stiffness (Pulse Propagation Time (PPT) of the finger pulse wave) was calculated in 142 individuals evaluated for sleep apnea: 27 COPD patients (64.7 ± 11y, 31.2 ± 8 kg/m2), 72 patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD group, 58.7 ± 13y, 33.6 ± 6 kg/m2) and 43 healthy controls (HC group 49.3 ± 12y, 27.6 ± 3 kg/m2). Sleep stage related PPT changes were assessed in a subsample of COPD patients and matched controls (n = 12/12). Arterial stiffness during sleep was increased in COPD patients (i.e. shortened PPT) compared to healthy controls (158.2 ± 31 vs. 173.2 ± 38 ms, p = 0.075) and to patients with CVD (161.4 ± 41 ms). Arterial stiffening was particular strong during REM sleep (145.9 ± 28 vs. 172.4 ± 43 ms, COPD vs. HC, p = 0.003). In COPD, time SaO2 < 90% was associated with reduced arterial stiffness (Beta +1.7 ms (1.1–2.3)/10 min, p < 0.001). Sleep apnea did not affect PPT. In COPD, but not in matched controls, arterial stiffness increased from wakefulness to REM-sleep (ΔPPT-8.9 ± 10% in COPD and 3.7 ± 12% in matched controls, p = 0.021). Moreover, REM-sleep related arterial stiffening was correlated with elevated daytime blood pressure (r = −0.92, p < 0.001) and increased myocardial oxygen consumption (r = −0.88, p < 0.01). Hypoxia and REM sleep modulate arterial stiffness. In contrast to healthy controls, REM sleep imposes a vascular load in COPD patients independent of sleep apnea indices, intermittent and sustained hypoxia. The link between REM-sleep, vascular stiffness and daytime cardiovascular function suggests that REM-sleep plays a role for increased cardiovascular morbidity of COPD patients.
The left-handed wave inside natural materials

In terms of genetic algorithm (GA) and a parameter tracking scheme (PTS), the propagating constants of a waveguide filled with dissipative magnetic substances are accurately calculated and thoroughly analyzed. The practical results show the method is efficient and accurate. Moreover, it is found during the calculating that under certain conditions, the phase constant may be negative, which revealed that the wave propagating inside this waveguide possess the characteristic of that of the left-handed wave (LHW). It is of significance that the LHW may present in nature materials.
Does biofuel smoke contribute to anaemia and stunting in early childhood?

BACKGROUND Reliance on biomass fuels for cooking and heating exposes many women and young children in developing countries to high levels of air pollution indoors. Exposure to biomass smoke has been linked to reduced birth weight, acute respiratory infections, and childhood mortality. This study examines the association between household use of biofuels (wood, dung, and crop residues) for cooking and heating and prevalence of anaemia and stunting in children. METHODS Data are from a 1998-99 national family health survey in India, which measured height, weight, and blood haemoglobin of 29 768 children aged 0-35 months in 92 486 households. Multinomial logistic regression is used to estimate the effects of biofuel use on prevalence of anaemia and stunting, controlling for exposure to tobacco smoke, recent episodes of illness, maternal education and nutrition, and other potentially confounding factors. RESULTS Analysis shows that prevalence of moderate-to-severe anaemia was significantly higher among children in households using biofuels than among children in households using cleaner fuels (RRR = 1.58; 95% CI: 1.28, 1.94), independent of other factors. Prevalence of severe stunting was also significantly higher among children in biofuel-using households (RRR = 1.84; 95% CI: 1.44, 2.36). Thirty-one per cent of moderate-to-severe anaemia and 37% of severe stunting among children aged 6-35 months in India may be attributable to exposure to biofuel smoke. Effects on mild anaemia and moderate stunting were smaller, but positive and statistically significant. Effects of exposure to tobacco smoke on anaemia and stunting were small and not significant. CONCLUSIONS The study provides a first evidence of the strong association between biofuel use and risks of anaemia and stunting in children, suggesting that exposure to biofuel smoke may contribute to chronic nutritional deficiencies in young children.
A comparative perspective on lipid storage in animals

Summary Lipid storage is an evolutionary conserved process that exists in all organisms from simple prokaryotes to humans. In Metazoa, long-term lipid accumulation is restricted to specialized cell types, while a dedicated tissue for lipid storage (adipose tissue) exists only in vertebrates. Excessive lipid accumulation is associated with serious health complications including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Thus, significant advances have been made over the last decades to dissect out the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in adipose tissue formation and maintenance. Our current understanding of adipose tissue development comes from in vitro cell culture and mouse models, as well as recent approaches to study lipid storage in genetically tractable lower organisms. This Commentary gives a comparative insight into lipid storage in uni- and multi-cellular organisms with a particular emphasis on vertebrate adipose tissue. We also highlight the molecular mechanisms and nutritional signals that regulate the formation of mammalian adipose tissue.
Design of neural network controller for a class of nonlinear systems with input saturation

In actual systems, actuator saturation is a common phenomenon, which often severely restricts system dynamic performance and gives rise to instability. In order to reduce the effects of saturation, this paper presents an adaptive control method based on neural networks (NN) for a class of uncertain nonlinear systems with Brunovsky canonical form and input saturation. This controller is composed of a tracking controller and a saturation compensator. The saturation compensator is designed by RBF neural networks. The adaptation laws are derived in the sense of Lyapunov function and Barbalat's lemma. The closed-loop system is uniformly ultimately bounded, which is proved by Lyapunov theory. The simulation example is given to illustrate the effectiveness of this method.
Special Sm Core Complex Functions in Assembly of the U2 Small Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein of Trypanosoma brucei

ABSTRACT The processing of polycistronic pre-mRNAs in trypanosomes requires the spliceosomal small ribonucleoprotein complexes (snRNPs) U1, U2, U4/U6, U5, and SL, each of which contains a core of seven Sm proteins. Recently we reported the first evidence for a core variation in spliceosomal snRNPs; specifically, in the trypanosome U2 snRNP, two of the canonical Sm proteins, SmB and SmD3, are replaced by two U2-specific Sm proteins, Sm15K and Sm16.5K. Here we identify the U2-specific, nuclear-localized U2B″ protein from Trypanosoma brucei. U2B″ interacts with a second U2 snRNP protein, U2-40K (U2A′), which in turn contacts the U2-specific Sm16.5K/15K subcomplex. Together they form a high-affinity, U2-specific binding complex. This trypanosome-specific assembly differs from the mammalian system and provides a functional role for the Sm core variation found in the trypanosomal U2 snRNP.
Benidipine persistently inhibits delayed rectifier K+-channel currents in murine thymocytes

Lymphocytes predominantly express delayed rectifier K+-channels (Kv1.3) in their plasma membranes, and the channels play crucial roles in the lymphocyte activation and proliferation. Since 1,4-dihydropyridine (DHP) Ca2+ channel blockers (CCBs), which are highly lipophilic, exert relatively stronger immunomodulatory effects than the other types of CCBs, they would affect the Kv1.3-channel currents in lymphocytes. In the present study, employing the standard patch-clamp whole-cell recording technique in murine thymocytes, we examined the effects of benidipine, one of the most lipophilic DHPs, on the channel currents and the membrane capacitance and compared them with those of nifedipine. Both drugs significantly suppressed the peak and the pulse-end currents of the channels with significant decreases in the membrane capacitance. However, the effects of benidipine were more marked than those of nifedipine and were irreversible after the drug withdrawal. This study demonstrated for the first time that DHP CCBs, such as nifedipine and benidipine, exert inhibitory effects on thymocyte Kv1.3-channel currents. The persistent effect of benidipine was thought to be associated with its sustained accumulation in the plasma membranes as detected by the long-lasting decrease in the membrane capacitance.
Connecting Problem-Solving Style to Peer Evaluations of Performance in Secondary Cooperative Learning Projects.

With an evolving and expanding agricultural industry, it is crucial to provide future professionals with valuable experiences and skills in problem solving, communication, and teamwork. Agricultural summer programs for secondary students, which provide cooperative learning experiences with a focus on group work and problem solving, aim to help meet the current demand of employment in the various disciplines within agriculture. Many of these summer programs offer secondary students opportunities to learn more about agriculture, and gain experiences as they work in teams to consider the agricultural issues they may face upon entering the workforce. While adaption-innovation theory has been used in agribusinesses across the world to provide explanation to how people work together in teams to solve complex ill-defined problems, little is known regarding the degree the theory applies to secondary student learning in groups. This study utilized a quantitative, quasi-experimental design to further explore how high school students’ problem-solving styles impact their perceptions of group members in a cooperative learning experience while participating in the Virginia’s Summer Residential Governor’s School for Agriculture program. The findings and recommendations can assist instructors in providing cooperative learning experiences to their students and further maximize high school student’s experiences in working in teams and solving complex ill-defined problems associated with agricultural issues.
A Community-Engaged Art Program for Older People: Fostering Social Inclusion*

RÉSUMÉ L’inclusion sociale est un facteur important pour promouvoir la santé optimale et le bien-être des personnes âgées. Les arts communautaires engagés (ACE) ont été promus comme moyen de soutenir l’inclusion sociale des personnes âgées, mais peu de preuves empiriques ont été rapportées. Le but de cette étude était d’explorer le rôle d’un programme de l’ACE dans la promotion de l’inclusion sociale des personnes âgées résidant dans la communauté. Seize heures d’observation des participants, neuf entretiens et des analyses de documents ont été menées auprès de 20 aînés au programme Arts, Santé et Aînés (ASA) Projet de Vancouver. Les résultats ont indiqué que le programme a soutenu la capacité des personnes âgées à développer des relations dans la communauté par de nouveaux moyens en les aidant à nouer des liens au-delà du centre pour personnes âgées. Les participants ont également développé un sentiment plus fort d’appartenance à la communauté grâce à la collaboration en tant que groupe, travaillant ensemble sur le projet artistique pour produire une présentation finale à l’ensemble de la communauté. Les résultats suggèrent que l’ACE contribue à l’inclusion sociale des personnes âgées. ABSTRACT Social inclusion is an important factor in promoting optimum health and wellness for older adults. Community-engaged arts (CEA) have been promoted as a means to support social inclusion for this population, but little empirical evidence has been reported. The objective of this study was to explore the role of a CEA program in the social inclusion of older, community-dwelling adults. Sixteen hours of participant observation, nine interviews, and document analyses were conducted with 20 older adults participating in the Arts, Health and Seniors (AHS) Program in Vancouver. Results indicated that the program supported seniors’ capacity to connect to community in new ways by helping them forge connections beyond the seniors centre. Participants also developed a stronger sense of community through collaboration as a group, working together on the arts project towards a final demonstration to the larger community. The results suggest that CEA programs contribute to social inclusion for older people.
Issues in flow and oxygenation dependent contrast (FLOOD) imaging of tumours

The sensitivity of blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) contrast techniques to changes to tumour deoxyhaemoglobin concentration is of relevance to many strategies in cancer treatments. In the context of tumour studies, which frequently involve the use of agents to modify blood flow, there are underlying physiological changes different to those of BOLD in the brain. Hence we use the term, flow and oxygenation dependent (FLOOD) contrast, to emphasize this difference and the importance of flow effects. We have measured the R2* changes in a prolactinoma tumour model for a variety of vasoactive challenges [carbogen, 100% oxygen and 100% nitrogen as different breathing gases, and administration of tumour blood flow modifiers such as calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP), hydralazine and nicotinamide]. In addition we have measured other relevant physiological parameters, such as bioenergetic status from 31P MRS, and blood pH and glucose, that may change during a vasoactive challenge. Here we discuss how they relate to our understanding of FLOOD contrast in tumours. We frequently observe R2* changes that match the expected action of the vascular stimulus: R2* decreases with agents expected to improve tumour oxygenation and blood flow, and increases with agents designed to increase tumour hypoxia. Unlike most normal tissues, tumours have a chaotic and poorly regulated blood supply, and a mix of glycolytic and oxidative metabolism; thus the response to a vasoactive challenge is not predictable. Changes in blood volume can counteract the effect of blood oxygenation changes, and changes in blood pH and glucose levels can alter oxygen extraction. This can lead to R2* changes that are smaller or the reverse of those expected. To properly interpret FLOOD contrast changes these effects must be accounted for. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Prediction of Secondary Caries around Tooth-colored Restorations: A Clinical and Microbiological Study

Caries at the margins of restorations is difficult to diagnose, and the relevance of staining and ditching around tooth-colored fillings is unclear. This clinical study questions the relevance of marginal color change and marginal ditching to the level of infection of the dentin beneath the margins of tooth-colored restorations. Clinically visible sites (197) on the tooth/restoration margin were selected in 113 teeth. The filling margin and the enamel adjacent to each site were noted as stained or stain-free, and sites were graded as intact, having a narrow ditch, or having a wide ditch. Thirty sites with frankly carious lesions were also included. Plaque was sampled at the toothrestoration margin and the filling removed. The enamel-dentin junction (EDJ) at each sample site was noted as hard or soft when probed, and the dentin was sampled. Samples were vortexed, diluted, and cultured for total anaerobic counts, mutans streptococci, and lactobacilli. There were more bacteria in the plaque over frankly carious cavities, and the dentin was soft and heavily infected. Only 38 out of 167 sites without frankly carious cavities had soft dentin at the EDJ. Both the plaque and dentin in these sites harbored more micro-organisms. However, none of the clinical criteria chosen would reliably predict the presence of this soft dentin. In this study, only a frankly carious lesion at the margin of the filling constituted a reliable diagnosis of secondary caries.
Frequency of progression from acute to chronic pancreatitis and risk factors: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND & AIM Acute pancreatitis (AP) and chronic pancreatitis (CP) traditionally have been thought to be distinct diseases, but there is evidence that AP can progress to CP. Little is known about the mechanisms of pancreatitis progression. We performed a meta-analysis to quantify the frequency of transition of AP to CP and identify risk factors for progression. METHODS We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Embase for studies of patients with AP who developed CP, published from 1966 through November 2014. Pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for these outcomes, and sensitivity, subgroup, and meta-regression analyses were conducted. RESULTS We analyzed 14 studies, which included a total of 8492 patients. The pooled prevalence of recurrent AP was 22% (95% CI, 18%-26%), and the pooled prevalence of CP was 10% (95% CI, 6%-15%). Sensitivity analyses yielded a pooled prevalence of CP of 10% (95% CI, 4%-19%) and 36% (95% CI, 20%-53%) in patients after the first occurrence and recurrent AP, respectively. Subgroup analyses found alcohol use and smoking to be the largest risk factors for the development of CP, with pooled prevalence values of 65% (95% CI, 48%-56%) and 61% (95% CI, 47%-73%), respectively. Meta-regression analysis found that men were more likely than women to transition from AP to CP. CONCLUSIONS Ten percent of patients with a first episode of AP and 36% of patients with recurrent AP develop CP; the risk is higher among smokers, alcoholics, and men. Prospective clinical studies are needed to study pancreatitis progression.
Novel full-automatic approach for segmentation of epiretinal membrane from 3D OCT images

The scientific objective of the research presented in this paper was to develop a new OCT-based method for investigation of epiretinal membrane (ERM) pathology in human eyes. We propose a new approach for the automatic assessment of the ERM thickness and the space between the ERM and the retina surface. The experiments were conducted using volumetric data acquired from a set of patients with ERM. OCT cross-sections were processed frame-by-frame. The utilized advanced digital imaging algorithms included anisotropic diffusion method for denoising, graph analysis approach for ERM surface segmentation, and region growing and thresholding technique for under-ERM space segmentation. We were able to segment and quantify ERMs in all subjects with good precision. The calculated information is presented in the form of depth maps.
Human Bocavirus: A Novel Parvovirus Epidemiologically Associated with Pneumonia Requiring Hospitalization in Thailand

Abstract Background. We detected human bocavirus (HBoV) infection in 4.5% of hospitalized patients with pneumonia in rural Thailand. However, the role of HBoV as a pathogen is unclear. Methods. We compared HBoV infection in patients with pneumonia with that in asymptomatic control patients enrolled between 1 September 2004 and 31 August 2005 in the same hospitals in Thailand.We examined outpatients with influenza-like illness for HBoV infection and tested for 13 additional respiratory viruses. Epidemiologic and clinical characteristics of HBoV infection are described. Results. HBoV infection was detected in 20 (3.9%) of 512 outpatients and 3 (1%) of 280 control patients. Coinfection with other viruses was detected in 83% of patients with pneumonia and in 90% of outpatients. Compared with control patients, HBoV infection was significantly associated with pneumonia requiring hospitalization (adjusted odds ratio, 3.56 [95% confidence interval, 1.06–11.91]; P = .04). Eighty-three percent of HBoV infections were detected in patients with pneumonia who were <5 years old. More patients with pneumonia associated with HBoV—respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) or human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) coinfections had wheezing than patients with RSV and HPIV infections alone (9 [53%] of 17 vs. 32 [23%] of 138]; P = .01). Conclusions. HBoV infection was epidemiologically associated with pneumonia among young children in rural Thailand, but infection and illness may be dependent on coinfection with other viruses.
A λ1 transgene under the control of a heavy chain promoter and enhancer does not undergo somatic hypermutation

To identify cis‐acting elements responsible for targeting somatic hypermutation to immunoglobulin variable regions, we generated transgenic mice which carry a rearranged λ1 gene regulated by the heavy chain intron enhancer, Eμ, and the heavy chain promoter PH186.2 from the VH186.2 variable region. C57BL/6 × SJL founders were bred with C57BL/6 mice to establish a line carrying a single copy of the transgene. Somatic hypermutation was studied by generating hybridoma cell lines from mice immunized with the hapten (4‐hydroxy‐3‐nitrophenyl)acetyl (NP) coupled to chicken gamma globulin. The immune response in this transgenic line was dominated by the endogenous VH186.2 heavy chain variable region and the transgenic λ1 light chain, and the transgene was actively expressed in all hybridomas analyzed. In this work we show that the transgenic Vλ1 regions do not undergo hypermutation, despite high levels of expression, while the expressed heavy chain V regions accumulate mutations at a rate typical of the NP response in C57BL/6 mice. Thus, within the same B cell, the PH186.2 promoter in connection with Eμ drives efficient expression of both a VH and a Vλ region, but only the VH is a target for somatic hypermutation. Our observations show that cis‐acting sequences that activate immunoglobulin gene transcription are not sufficient to target somatic hypermutation.