Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fatty acids and epigenetics

Purpose of reviewThe purpose of this review is to assess the findings of recent studies on the effects of fatty acids on epigenetic process and the role of epigenetics in regulating fatty acid metabolism. Recent findingsThe DNA methylation status of the Fads2 promoter was increased in the liver of the offspring of mice fed an &agr;-linolenic acid-enriched diet during pregnancy. In rats, increasing total maternal fat intake during pregnancy and lactation induced persistent hypermethylation of the Fads2 promoter in the liver and aortae of their offspring. However, increased fish oil intake in adult rats induced transient, reversible hypermethylation of Fads2. High-fat feeding in rodents also altered the levels of histone methylation in placentae and in adipose tissue. Dietary docosahexaenoic acid supplementation in pregnant women induced marginal changes in global DNA methylation in cord blood leukocytes. A high fat diet altered the DNA methylation status of specific genes in skeletal muscle in young men. SummaryThere are emerging findings that support the suggestion that fatty acids, in particular polyunsaturated fatty acids, can modify the epigenome. However, there is a need for rigorous investigations that assess directly the effect epigenetic modifications induced by fatty acids on gene function and metabolism.
New approach of threshold estimation for denoising ECG signal using wavelet transform

This paper presents a new method of threshold estimation for ECG signal denoising using wavelet decomposition. In this method, threshold is computed using the maximum and minimum wavelet coefficients at each level. Using this threshold and well known Hard thresholding process, the significant wavelet coefficients from each level are selected and denoised ECG signal is reconstructed with inverse wavelet transform. The performance of this method is compared with all well know wavelet shrinkage denoising methods with bior4.4 wavelet using root mean square error (RMSE) and signal to noise ratio (SNR) on MIT-BIH ECG database. The proposed threshold estimation is simple and faster compared to all existing threshold calculation methods namely VisuShrink, SureShrink, BayesShrink, and level-dependent threshold estimation and gives better SNR and RMSE. Proposed threshold estimation process decreases data sorting and storing resources allowing low-cost and faster implementation for portable biomedical devices.
Alloantigen pretreatment induces a down‐regulation of the in vivo subsequent development of cytotoxic T lymphocytes directed against linked alloantigens

In the present study, we describe a new regulatory system that influences the in vivo development of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) and that could be related to epitopic suppression. Epitopic suppression has been previously shown to occur when carrier‐primed mice are subsequently immunized with a “new” epitope coupled to the priming carrier. The suppression specifically inhibited the antibody response to the “new” epitope without affecting the secondary antibody response to the carrier.
A Piot model to analyse case management in malaria control programmes

At the beginning of the 21st century, malaria remains one of the most important public health problems in the world. An important control strategy to address this burden is adequate case management of malaria patients. The success of this strategy, however, does not solely depend on diagnosis and treatment, but also on a sequence of steps that patients have to take when they are ill. Only when patients go through all these steps successfully will they be cured. In this paper, a model is presented in which these steps are described. The model provides a framework for analysing this type of malaria control strategy and for identifying the most critical challenges faced. Furthermore, the model is used to analyse recent literature on case management as part of malaria control programmes in order to highlight current knowledge, core issues and constraints, and to make recommendations for programme development and research.
Phonological development of two-year-old monolingual Puerto Rican Spanish-speaking children

ABSTRACT Phonetic and phonological analyses were performed on spontaneous speech samples of six 2–year–old monolingual Puerto Rican Spanish-learning children. The analyses showed a number of patterns of sound usage similar to those found in English-learning children of the same age, as well as children from other linguistic backgrounds. These findings add support to the claim that certain universal patterns exist in phonological development. However, a number of patterns were also observed which seemed to be accounted for by the target language being acquired. Similarities and differences among the individual children are also discussed.
Predictors of incorrect inhalation technique in patients with asthma or COPD: a study using a validated videotaped scoring method.

BACKGROUND Inadequate technique reduces the effects of inhalation medication. Errors in inhalation technique have been reported to range up to 85%. Not only various patients' characteristics but also the device has an effect on correct inhalation technique. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of patients' characteristics and type of inhaler device on inhalation technique in patient with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS A validated scoring method was used that consisted of triple viewing of video-recorded inhalations, using device-specific checklists. The following patient characteristics were investigated: gender, age, education level, diagnosis, treatment by a pulmonary physician, previously received inhalation instruction, exacerbation frequency, knowledge, self-management competence, pulmonary function, and use of multiple inhaler devices. Chi-square statistics were used for univariate associations between potential determinants and correctness of inhalation technique. Relevant determinants were entered into a multivariate logistic regression model. Moreover, inhalation technique errors were examined for six inhaler devices: three prefilled dry powder inhalers, one single-dose dry powder inhaler, a pressurized metered-dose inhaler (pMDI) and a pMDI with a spacer. RESULTS Overall, 40% of the patients made at least one essential mistake in their inhalation technique. Patients who never received inhalation instruction and patients who used more than one inhaler device made significantly more errors (odds ratio both 2.2). Comparison between devices showed that a correct inhalation technique most likely occurred with the use of prefilled dry powder devices. CONCLUSION Incorrect inhalation technique is common among asthma and COPD patients in a pulmonary outpatient clinic. Our study suggests that the use of prefilled dry powder inhalers as well as inhalation instruction increases correct inhalation technique. Simultaneous use of different types of inhalation devices has to be discouraged.
Title : ‘ Stand still ... , and move on ’ , a new early intervention service for cardiac arrest survivors and their caregivers : A process evaluation

1. Centre of Expertise in Rehabilitation and Audiology, Adelante, Hoensbroek, the Netherlands 2. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands 3. Department of Health Services Research, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, Maastricht, the Netherlands 4. Oxford Centre for Enablement, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford, United Kingdom 5. School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands 6. Department of Neuropsychology and Psychopharmacology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands
Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist XLIII. Ultrasonographic evaluation of shoulders and hips in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica: a systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVES Musculoskeletal ultrasonography (US) has lately been applied to patients with polymyalgia rheumatica for the examination of shoulders and hip, and included in the 2012 PMR classification criteria. We aimed to perform a comprehensive overview of the literature on this topic with a systematic review. METHODS We searched PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane library and the proceedings from EULAR and ACR congresses (2011-2012). We included studies evaluating patients with confirmed or suspected PMR, undergoing US of shoulders and/or hips. The diagnosis of PMR could be based on expert opinion or diagnostic criteria. Cohort, case-control, diagnostic accuracy studies and case-series were eligible for inclusion. The features of the included studies were presented. When available, sensitivities and specificities were calculated for primary studies. RESULTS Out of 1736 papers identified by our search, 13 articles and 1 abstract were finally included in the review. Eight studies focused on shoulder US, 1 on hip US, 4 on both. Studies were extremely variable in terms of population, US examination, reference standard and control population. In general, at the shoulder, pathological bilateral US findings in most studies were more prevalent in patients with PMR compared to controls. When sensitivity and specificity could be calculated, bilateral findings were more sensitive. Notably, less information was available on hip US. CONCLUSIONS US (especially in shoulder examination) is confirmed to be a potentially useful instrument to integrate clinical information in the management of patients with PMR. Its additional value in conjunction with the new classification criteria should be further tested.
The Moderating Role of Follower Identification in the Relationship Between Leader and Follower Visionary Leadership

The findings from this cross-sectional study on 27 corporate employees reveal relationships between leader and follower leadership behaviors and follower identity with the leader. A positive relationship was found between the leaders’ follower-centered leadership and followers’ follower-centered leadership, and the leaders’ capable manager leadership and followers’ capable manager leadership. Furthermore, correlations reveal that identification with the leader is positively related to the leaders’ self-confidence leadership, leaders’ follower-centered leadership, and leaders’ capable manager leadership. The results did not support the hypothesized role of follower identification with the leader as a moderator between leader selfconfident leadership, follower-centered leadership, and capable manager leadership, and the followers’ leadership behaviors in the same domains. Visionary leadership and follower identification in research and practice are discussed.
Construct validity of the SF-12 in three different samples.

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Studies have challenged the validity and underlying measurement model of the physical and mental component summary scores of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey in, for example the elderly and people with neurological disorders. However, it is unclear to what extent these observations translate to physical and mental component summary scores derived from the 12-item short form (SF-12) of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey. This study evaluated the construct validity of the SF-12 in elderly people and people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and stroke. METHODS SF-12 data from a general elderly (aged 75+) population (n = 4278), people with PD (n = 159) and stroke survivors (n = 89) were analysed regarding data quality, reliability (coefficient alpha) and internal construct validity. The latter was assessed through item-total correlations, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. RESULTS Completeness of data was high (93-98.8%) and reliability was acceptable (0.78-0.85). Item-total correlations argued against the suggested items-to-summary scores structure in all three samples. Exploratory factor analyses failed to support a two-dimensional item structure among elderly and stroke survivors, and cross-loadings of items were seen in all three samples. Confirmatory factor analyses showed lack of fit between empirical data and the proposed items-to-summary measures structure in all samples. CONCLUSIONS These observations challenge the validity and interpretability of SF-12 scores among the elderly, people with PD and stroke survivors. The standard orthogonally weighted SF-12 scoring algorithm is cautioned against. Instead, when the assumed two-dimensional structure is supported in the data, oblique scoring algorithms appear preferable. Failure to consider basic scoring assumptions may yield misleading results.
Social capital, economic growth and regional development

Iyer S. , Kitson M. and Toh B. (2005) Social capital, economic growth and regional development, Regional Studies 39 , 1015–1040. This paper examines the relationships between social capital, economic performance and regional development, and it stresses the complexity and variability across space of such relationships. In contrast to the conventional macroeconomic approach of using indicators of social capital in formal growth models, what is required is a more nuanced analysis that evaluates the impact of social capital by region. To support this argument, the paper examines social capital data from the Social Capital Community Benchmark Survey 2000, which provides social capital data for more than 24 000 individuals living in 40 communities, grouped into nine regions, in the USA. These data show remarkable diversity of social capital by region. Multivariate analysis is used to examine the impact of economic and social determinants of social capital and shows that education is important for nearly all indicators of social capital, and that ethnic diversity is associated with lower levels of social capital. Furthermore, analysis indicates the need to distinguish between local and non‐local forms of social capital. The paper concludes by suggesting that future analysis of social capital will benefit from a more region‐specific approach towards examining its development and impacts.
Achievement Goals and Intrinsic Motivation: A Meta-Analytic Review

This article presents a meta-analysis of the experimental literature that has examined the effect of performance and mastery achievement goals on intrinsic motivation. Summary analyses provided supportfor the hypothesis that the pursuit ofperformance goals has an undermining effect on intrinsic motivation relative to the pursuit of mastery goals. Moderator analyses were conducted in an attempt to explain significant variation in the magnitude and direction of this effect across studies. Results indicated that the undermining effect ofperformance goals relative to mastery goals was contingent on whether participants received confirming or nonconfirming competence feedback, and on whether the experimental procedures induced a performance-approach or performance-avoidance orientation. These findings provide conceptual clarity to the literature on achievement goals and intrinsic motivation and suggest numerous avenues for subsequent empirical work.
Type III IFNs in Pteropid Bats: Differential Expression Patterns Provide Evidence for Distinct Roles in Antiviral Immunity

Bats are known to harbor a number of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic viruses, many of which are highly pathogenic in other mammals but result in no clinical symptoms in bats. The ability of bats to coexist with viruses may be the result of rapid control of viral replication early in the immune response. IFNs provide the first line of defense against viral infection in vertebrates. Type III IFNs (IFN-λs) are a recently identified IFN family that share similar antiviral activities with type I IFNs. To our knowledge, we demonstrate the first functional analysis of type III IFNs from any species of bat, with the investigation of two IFN-λ genes from the pteropid bat, Pteropus alecto. Our results demonstrate that bat type III IFN has similar antiviral activity to type I and III IFNs from other mammals. In addition, the two bat type III IFNs are differentially induced relative to each other and to type I IFNs after treatment or transfection with synthetic dsRNA. Infection with the bat paramyxovirus, Tioman virus, resulted in no upregulation of type I IFN production in bat splenocytes but was capable of inducing a type III IFN response in three of the four bats tested. To our knowledge, this is the first report to describe the simultaneous suppression of type I IFN and induction of type III IFN after virus infection. These results may have important implications for the role of type III IFNs in the ability of bats to coexist with viruses.
RNA Tectonics (tectoRNA) for RNA nanostructure design and its application in synthetic biology

RNA molecules are versatile biomaterials that act not only as DNA‐like genetic materials but also have diverse functions in regulation of cellular biosystems. RNA is capable of regulating gene expression by sequence‐specific hybridization. This feature allows the design of RNA‐based artificial gene regulators (riboregulators). RNA can also build complex two‐dimensional (2D) and 3D nanostructures, which afford protein‐like functions and make RNA an attractive material for nanobiotechnology. RNA tectonics is a methodology in RNA nanobiotechnology for the design and construction of RNA nanostructures/nanoobjects through controlled self‐assembly of modular RNA units (tectoRNAs). RNA nanostructures designed according to the concept of RNA tectonics are also attractive as tools in synthetic biology, but in vivo RNA tectonics is still in the early stages. This review presents a summary of the achievements of RNA tectonics and its related researches in vitro, and also introduces recent developments that facilitated the use of RNA nanostructures in bacterial cells. WIREs RNA 2013, 4:651–664. doi: 10.1002/wrna.1185
Generation of hydroxytrimethyllysine from trimethyllysine limits the carnitine biosynthesis in premature infants

ε‐N‐Trimethyl‐L‐lysine (TML) was given orally for 1 day to two groups of premature infants. There was no change in the output or plasma levels of carnitine at a dose of 100μmol/day; however, the urinary TML increased 17‐fold. In the second group, administration of 1 mmol TML increased the plasma levels and urinary output of carnitine; the output of TML increased 62‐fold. During a search of the metabolites of carnitine biosynthesis by 1H NMR analysis of urine, only one new resonance (corresponding to the TML) could be identified in both groups. Fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FAB‐MS) analysis of urine samples indicated an increase in TM L in the treated patients; no changes were found in the relative abundance of any other precursors. These data show that a significant limitation of the conversion of hydroxy‐TML to carnitine is not likely; rather, the conversion of TML to hydroxy‐TML is regulatory in neonatal carnitine biosynthesis.
Arterial stiffness is independently associated with emphysema severity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

RATIONALE More patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) die of cardiovascular causes than of respiratory causes, and patients with COPD have increased morbidity and mortality from stroke and coronary heart disease. Arterial stiffness independently predicts cardiovascular risk, is associated with atheromatous plaque burden, and is increased in patients with COPD compared with control subjects matched for cardiovascular risk factors. Elastin fragmentation and changes in collagen are found in the connective tissue of both emphysematous lungs and stiff arteries, but it is not known whether the severity of arterial stiffness in patients with COPD is associated with the severity of emphysema. OBJECTIVES To identify whether the extent of arterial stiffness is associated with emphysema severity. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional study in 157 patients with COPD. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We measured pulse wave velocity (a validated measure of arterial stiffness), blood pressure, smoking pack-years, glucose, cholesterol, and C-reactive protein in 157 patients with COPD. We assessed emphysema using quantitative computed tomography scanning in a subgroup of 73 patients. We found that emphysema severity was associated with arterial stiffness (r = 0.471, P < 0.001). The association was independent of smoking, age, sex, FEV(1)% predicted, highly sensitive C-reactive protein and glucose concentrations, cholesterol-high-density lipoprotein ratio, and pulse oximetry oxygen saturations. CONCLUSIONS Emphysema severity is associated with arterial stiffness in patients with COPD. Similar pathophysiological processes may be involved in both lung and arterial tissue and further studies are now required to identify the mechanism underlying this newly described association.
An improved inertia matrix identification method for nonlinear spacecraft model

The mass properties information is important for the control, state estimation and fault diagnosis of the spacecraft, however, it is often difficult to be accurately measured or calculated on ground and may also change in space due to the fuel consumption or structure changes. This paper proposes an improved inertia matrix identification method using the control torque input and attitude angular velocity output of the spacecraft attitude dynamic systems, which is independent of the controller form, and does not require specific command signals. Compared with the existing method, the proposed method can work well when the spacecraft rotates both slowly and fast. A numerical simulation example is presented to show the effectiveness of the method.
Targeted disruption of mouse Dach1 results in postnatal lethality

Mouse Dach1 is a nuclear factor that is expressed during development in restricted areas of the central nervous system, neural crest, and limb buds. Its Drosophila homologue dachshund plays a role in differentiation of the eye imaginal disc, in leg morphogenesis, and in controlling neural differentiation in the mushroom bodies of the insect brain. Mouse Dach1 null homozygous survive pregnancy but become cyanotic after birth and subsequently die within 24 hr. In this report, the brain of Dach1 mutants was analyzed. Examination of mRNA expression of the central neuropeptides oxytocin, vasopressin, thyrotropin‐releasing hormone, growth hormone releasing hormone, and somatostatin revealed no difference between wild‐type and mutant newborn brains. Furthermore, no significant difference in cell proliferation as well as in the distribution of neurons, glia, radial glia, and neuronal progenitors was detected in the developing forebrain. Dach1‐positive cells, which were visualized with Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP), show similar distribution and axonal projections in the cortex and hippocampus in mutants and wild‐type controls. Neural stem cells derived from mutant and wild‐type newborn brains display similar growth kinetics when cultivated in vitro. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Spam goes mobile: Filtering unsolicited SMS traffic

The wide proliferation of mobile devices has attracted the attention of cyber-criminals, who exploit their functionality for malevolent purposes. One of the most popular approaches is the exploitation of sms for generating unsolicited electronic messages, also known as spam. The paper describes the peculiarities of the mobile unsolicited message traffic and proposes an sms spam detection algorithm for mobile devices. The developed prototype can be quite an effective method for fighting SMS spam.