Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Births : final data for 2006

Objectives—This report presents 2006 data on U.S. births according to a wide variety of characteristics. Data are presented for maternal demographic characteristics including age, live-birth order, race, Hispanic origin, marital status, and educational attainment; maternal lifestyle and health characteristics (medical risk factors, weight gain, and tobacco use); medical care utilization by pregnant women (prenatal care, obstetric procedures, characteristics of labor and/or delivery, attendant at birth, and method of delivery); and infant characteristics (period of gestation, birthweight, Apgar score, con­ genital anomalies, and multiple births). Also presented are birth and fertility rates by age, live-birth order, race, Hispanic origin, and marital status. Selected data by mother’s state of residence are shown, as well as data on month and day of birth, sex ratio, and age of father. Trends in fertility patterns and maternal and infant characteristics are described and interpreted. Methods—Descriptive tabulations of data reported on the birth certificates of the 4.3 million births that occurred in 2006 are presented. Denominators for population-based rates are postcensal estimates derived from the U.S. 2000 census. Results—In 2006, births and fertility rates increased for most states, age groups, and race and Hispanic origin groups. A total of 4,265,555 births were registered in the United States in 2006, 3 percent more than in 2005, and the largest number of births in more than four decades. The crude birth rate was 14.2, up slightly from the previous year; the general fertility rate was 68.5, up 3 percent. Birth rates increased for women in nearly all age groups, with the largest increases for teenagers and for women aged 20–24 and 40–44 years. Teenage childbearing increased, interrupting the 14-year decline from 1991– 2005. The mean age at first birth for U.S. women was down in 2006, to 25.0 years. The total fertility rate increased to 2,100.5 births per 1,000 women. All measures of unmarried childbearing reached record levels in 2006. Women were less likely to receive timely prenatal care in 2006. The cesarean delivery rate climbed to 31.1 percent, another all-time high. Preterm and low birthweight rates continued to rise; the twin birth rate was unchanged for the second consecutive year; the rate of triplet and higher order multiple births declined 5 percent. 2006 1996
T cell phenotypes in patients with common variable immunodeficiency disorders: associations with clinical phenotypes in comparison with other groups with recurrent infections

Common variable immunodeficiency disorders (CVID) are a group of heterogeneous conditions that have in common primary failure of B cell function, although numerous T cell abnormalities have been described, including reduced proliferative response and reduced regulatory T cells. This study compared the T cell phenotype of CVID patients subdivided into clinical phenotypes as well as patients with partial antibody deficiencies [immunoglobulin (Ig)G subclass deficiency and selective IgA deficiency], X‐linked agammaglobulinaemia (XLA) and healthy and disease controls. Absolute numbers of T cell subpopulations were measured by four‐colour flow cytometry: naive T cells, central and effector memory and terminally differentiated (TEM) T cells, using CD45RA and CCR7 expression. Early, intermediate and late differentiation status of T cells was measured by CD27/CD28 expression. Putative follicular T cells, recent thymic emigrants and regulatory T cells were also assessed. Significant reduction in naive CD4 T cells, with reduced total CD4 and recent thymic emigrant numbers, was observed in CVID patients, most pronounced in those with autoimmune cytopenias or polyclonal lymphoproliferation. These findings suggest a lack of replenishment by new thymically derived cells. CD8 naive T cells were reduced in CVID patients, most significantly in the autoimmune cytopenia subgroup. There was a reduction in early differentiated CD4 and CD8 T cells and increased CD8 TEM in the CVID patients, particularly autoimmune cytopenia and polyclonal lymphoproliferation subgroups, suggesting a more activated T cell phenotype, due perhaps to an antigen‐driven process. XLA patients had significantly reduced putative follicular T cells, which may depend on B cells for survival, while no significant alterations were observed in the T cells of those with IgG subclass deficiency or selective IgA deficiency.
A ring of threonines in the inner vestibule of the pore of CNGA1 channels constitutes a binding site for permeating ions

• Cyclic nucleotide‐gated (CNG) channels are multi‐ion channels showing the anomalous mole fraction effect (AMFE) in the presence of Li+ and Cs+ mixtures. • We show that Cs+ ions at the intracellular side of the membrane block the entry of Na+ ions in a voltage dependent way. • The blockage is relieved when Thr359 and Thr360 at the intracellular entrance of the selectivity filter are replaced with an alanine. Moreover, the AMFE in the presence of intracellular mixtures of Li+ and Cs+ is abolished in T360A mutant channels. • We have identified a second binding site – composed by the ring of Thr360 at the intracellular vestibule – in the selectivity filter of CNG channels controlling monovalent cations selectivity and permeation. • These results help us understand fundamental similarities and differences between the pore of CNG channels and K+ channels.
Joint two‐part Tobit models for longitudinal and time‐to‐event data

In this article, we show how Tobit models can address problems of identifying characteristics of subjects having left‐censored outcomes in the context of developing a method for jointly analyzing time‐to‐event and longitudinal data. There are some methods for handling these types of data separately, but they may not be appropriate when time to event is dependent on the longitudinal outcome, and a substantial portion of values are reported to be below the limits of detection. An alternative approach is to develop a joint model for the time‐to‐event outcome and a two‐part longitudinal outcome, linking them through random effects. This proposed approach is implemented to assess the association between the risk of decline of CD4/CD8 ratio and rates of change in viral load, along with discriminating between patients who are potentially progressors to AIDS from patients who do not. We develop a fully Bayesian approach for fitting joint two‐part Tobit models and illustrate the proposed methods on simulated and real data from an AIDS clinical study.
Cloud computing: A key enabler for higher education in Sultanate of Oman

In Sultanate of Oman, higher education institutions have devoted significant human and fiscal investments in IT to support the priorities tied to teaching and learning. However, there are still issues in current high education systems associated with high cost and inefficiency in-terms of scalability, flexibility, availability, data recovery, accessibility and security due to the growing need for IT infrastructure including servers, storage and software. Higher education institutes have to spend more on hardware and software purchasing, maintenance, upgrading and licensing. Cloud computing emerged as an Internet based solution, whereby computing resources are provided to consumers and organizations as services on demand on pay per use bases. Cloud computing provides higher education information delivery, communication and collaboration. It enables the education organizations to scale their IT infrastructure while reducing the administrative burden. Cloud computing facilitates greater levels of provisioning and automation in cost effective manner. However, still there are some issues regarding to security, privacy and trust that acts as a barrier against full adoption of cloud computing in higher education. Throughout this paper we identify the cloud offerings, issues and strategy of implementation.
Odorant molecular length: One aspect of the olfactory code

Organic acid odorants of differing carbon number produce systematically different spatial patterns of [14C]2‐deoxyglucose uptake in the glomerular layer of the olfactory bulb. Because increasing carbon number correlates with progressive increases in several molecular features, including hydrophobicity, length, and volume, we determined which of these properties was most associated with systematic changes in the location of an anterior, dorsomedial module responding to fatty acids. We exposed groups of rats to two series of organic acids that each had the same number of carbons, but differed in their hydrocarbon structures. These straight‐chained, branched, cyclic, and double‐bonded molecules differed independently in hydrophobicity, length, and volume. The only molecular property that was strongly correlated with the location of the module was molecular length, suggesting that this molecular feature is the principal determinant of the chemotopic organization of glomeruli within the module. We also found that distinct hydrocarbon structures produced large differences in spatial patterns of 2‐deoxyglucose uptake in posterior parts of the bulb. Even subtly distinct structural isomers evoked posterior responses that differed greatly. The odorant 2‐methylbutyric acid evoked much greater uptake in the posterior bulb than did its structural isomer 3‐methylbutyric acid (isovaleric acid). These data suggest that posterior portions of the bulb may encode specific steric features of odorant molecules and that some odorant features may have an inherent or acquired greater representation than do others. J. Comp. Neurol. 426:330–338, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Sociomaterial Practices in the Morphing Organization: A Multilayer Network Approach

In this position paper we propose a novel approach for the study and understanding of sociomaterial practices within the complex settings of morphing organizations, which has its theoretical foundations on Network Science and more specifically on the concept of Multilayer Network Analysis. By attending to the ontological dichotomy between the physicality of material objects and the conceptual nature of discourses, routines, and institutions, we conceptualize the social and material as separate layers of a multilayer network with intra-layer connections representing the processual dynamics emerging in organizational settings. Our work contributes to the broader organizational studies literature, and more specifically to the literature on sociomateriality by providing a positivistic methodological lens for the study of the concept. Moreover it contributes to the Network Science literature by providing a novel application setting for Multilayer Network Analysis.
GFAP‐positive and myelin marker‐positive glia in normal and pathologic environments

The data herein demonstrate that in addition to the well‐characterized myelin marker‐positive, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐negative, membrane sheet‐bearing oligodendrocytes, another type of myelin marker‐positive, process‐bearing glia exists in normal and pathologic conditions. This second type of myelin marker‐positive glia expresses GFAP, and therefore these cells have been referred to as mixed phenotype glia. Although mixed phenotype glia have been documented previously, their identity and function have remained a mystery. The goal of this immunocytochemical study was to further characterize these cells. Using the MBPlacZ transgenic mouse in which β‐galactosidase is under the control of the myelin basic protein (MBP) gene promoter, GFAP‐positive/β‐galactosidase‐positive and myelin/oligodendrocyte‐specific protein (MOSP)‐positive/β‐galactosidase‐positive cells were detected in subcortical white matter and in perivascular locations within cerebral white and gray matter. In cultures prepared from highly enriched myelin marker‐positive immature glia, mixed phenotype glia were detected that were GFAP‐positive and either MOSP‐ , MBP‐ , O1‐ , and O4‐positive. The expression of multiple myelin markers by mixed phenotype glia may suggest that these cells are of oligodendrocyte origin. Increased numbers of MOSP‐positive/GFAP‐positive mixed phenotype glia were detected in sections from adult hypomyelinated brain from shiverer, quaking, and PKU mice compared to myelinated control adult mouse brain. Similarly, cultures from control brain exposed to elevated pH for 2–3 weeks showed dramatically increased numbers of mixed phenotype glia (80%) compared to control (<10%). Increased numbers of mixed phenotype glia also were detected in shiverer cultures (40%). Since increases in the number of mixed phenotype glia occur in shiverer, quaking, and PKU mouse brain, these data suggest that mixed phenotype glia contribute to gliosis in pathologic white matter. J. Neurosci. Res. 60:412–426, 2000 © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Narratives of Settling in Contexts of Mobility: A Comparative Analysis of Irish and Polish Highly Qualified Women Migrants in London

Adopting a spatio-temporal lens, this article explores how highly qualified migrant women negotiate relationships and career motivations in specific socio-structural contexts. Comparing migration experiences of Irish and Polish women in London, I explore similarities within and differences between these groups. Having joined the EU in 1973, Ireland can be regarded as part of “old EU”, while Poland joining in 2004 is part of the “new” wave of EU members. Migration from old and new member states is often discussed separately using different framing. This article contributes to understanding migration in three ways. Firstly, by developing comparative analysis, which goes beyond narrow and static migrant categories. Secondly, by challenging the temporary/transient versus permanence/integration dichotomy to explore a “sliding scale” of migrant trajectories. Thirdly, by illustrating how evolving relationships, through the life cycle, may enable but also hinder migrant women's opportunities for settling in or moving on.
BASAL LEVELS OF DNA STRAND BREAKS IN HUMAN LEUKOCYTES DETERMINED BY COMET ASSAY

In order to determine background levels of DNA strand breaks, we examined 80 healthy individuals by comet assay considering age, sex, and smoking as confounding factors. Only age was found to have a significant effect on basal levels. One thousand cells of each donor were graded by eye into 5 categories according to the amount of DNA in the tail: classification group A (no damage) <5%, B (low damage) 5-20%, C (medium damage) 20-40%, D (high damage) 40-95%, and group E (total damage) >95%. The interpretation of the comet assay was modified to achieve a tail factor, which represents the DNA damage of 1000 scored cells as a single number, without the need of an image analysis software package. Hydrogen peroxide and bleomycin used for in vitro exposure of lymphocytes, produced clear dose-related responses in the comet assay. Our data encourage the application of the used classification model for a sensitive and fast quantification of DNA damage. Results in this study are in agreement with most of the earlier investigations.
Psychometric properties of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist in preschool children in Serbia.

AIM To demonstrate the use of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC) as a tool for screening problems in psychosocial development in preschool children in Serbia. METHODS The form was filled out by parents to 269 children. The statistical and metric characteristics of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist were analyzed, while cut-off values were compared with the values reported from other countries. RESULTS The PSC scale filled out by parents was found to have acceptable reliability in our sample of preschool children. A high level of reliability of the scale was achieved (á = 0.86). Average values on the scale were lower than in other analyses. There was no statistically significant difference in behavioral traits in regards to children's gender (p=0.53). Factor analysis of the Pediatric Symptom Checklist scale (promax solution) established an existence of a general factor. This general factor is structured with internal and external behavioral traits, as well as with impulsiveness and attention deficit in preschool children. Based on our cut-off value, the need of further follow up was established in 10.4% of study children (n=28, 17 male and 11 female). CONCLUSIONS The study revealed that the PSC filled out by parents is a good tool for early and rapid identification of potential problems of psychosocial functioning of preschool children. It should be noted that a positive PSC score was not a diagnosis but an indication for additional analysis and assessment of the children and their families.
Arabinogalactan proteins and pectin distribution during female gametogenesis in Quercus suber L.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Quercus suber L. (cork oak) is one of the most important monoecious tree species in semi-arid regions of Southern Europe, with a high ecological value and economic potential. However, as a result of its long reproductive cycle, complex reproductive biology and recalcitrant seeds, conventional breeding is demanding. In its complex reproductive biology, little is known about the most important changes that occur during female gametogenesis. Arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and pectins are the main components of plant cell walls and have been reported to perform common functions in cell differentiation and organogenesis of reproductive plant structures. AGPs have been shown to serve as important molecules in several steps of the reproductive process in plants, working as signalling molecules, associated with the sporophyte-gametophyte transition, and pectins have been implicated in pollen-pistil interactions before double fertilization. In this study, the distribution of AGP and pectin epitopes was assessed during female gametogenesis. METHODS Immunofluorescence labelling of female flower cells was performed with a set of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) directed to the carbohydrate moiety of AGPs (JIM8 and JIM13) and pectic homogalacturonans (HGs) (mAbs JIM5 and JIM7). KEY RESULTS The selective labelling obtained with AGP and pectin mAbs JIM8, JIM13, JIM5 and JIM7 during Q. suber female gametogenesis shows that AGPs and pectic HG can work as markers for mapping gametophytic cell differentiation in this species. Pectic HG showed different distribution patterns, depending on their levels of methyl esterification. Methyl-esterified HGs showed a uniform distribution in the overall female flower cells before fertilization and a more specific pattern after fertilization. A low methyl-ester pectin distribution pattern during the different developmental stages appears to be related to the pathway that pollen tubes follow to reach the embryo sac. AGPs showed a more sparse distribution in early stages of development, but specific labelling is shown in the synergids and their filiform apparatus. CONCLUSIONS The labelling obtained with anti-AGP and anti-pectin mAbs in Q. suber female flower cells showed a dynamic distribution of AGPs and pectic HGs, which may render these molecules useful molecular markers during female gametogenesis. Changes occurring during development will be determined in order to help describe cork oak ovule structural properties before and after fertilization, providing new insight to better understand Q. suber female gametogenesis.
An Attempt to Position the German Political Parties on a Tree for 2013 and 2017

Abstract We try to calculate the position of the six largest German political parties to each other in 2013 and 2017, based on data of Wahl-O-Mat, a German Voting Advice Application. Different to other existing approaches, we do not try to locate these parties in an Euclidean space, but rather on topological trees (with the straight line, the usual left-right model, being the simplest one). This approach has the advantage that – different to two- or higher dimensional spaces – our model allows betweenness information, keeping the parties linearly ordered at least at parts of the tree, with possible conclusions about center or periphery of the political landscape, and possible coalitions. We do not focus primarily on distance but after the topological model is found, we attempt to approximate these distances, in a second step.
Impact of alcohol on the histological and clinical progression of Hepatitis C infection

In patients infected with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), 20% to 30% will progress to cirrhosis in over two to three decades. Viral and host factors that are important in the clinical and histologic progression of HCV infection are not entirely certain. It has been suggested that liver disease is worse in alcoholics infected with HCV. In the present retrospective study, we examined the effect of moderate alcohol intake on the histologic and clinical progression of HCV infection and assessed whether other variables such as gender, length of exposure, mode of exposure, HCV RNA levels, and ferritin levels also independently impacted disease progression. Liver biopsies were analyzed for the degree of fibrosis, presence of cirrhosis, and histologic activity by using the Histologic Activity Index of Knodell. Patients were divided into two groups based on whether their alcohol intake was significant or not significant. Significant alcohol intake was defined as >40 g alcohol/day in women and >60 g of alcohol/day in men for >5 years. Groups were further divided based on the decades of exposure to HCV. There was no difference in the age or length of exposure to HCV in the alcohol and the alcohol‐free group. HCV RNA serum levels, ferritin levels, and viral genotypes were similar in both groups. There was a two‐ to threefold greater risk of liver cirrhosis and decompensated liver disease in the alcohol group. Also, the rate to which subjects developed cirrhosis was faster in the alcohol group with 58% being cirrhotic by the second decade as opposed to 10% being cirrhotic in the nonalcohol group by the second decade. The histologic and clinical acceleration of liver disease was independent of the mode of exposure or sex. In summary, alcohol intake is an independent risk factor in the clinical and histologic progression of HCV infection.
Patterns in the conservation and use of traditional vegetables from the New Guinean biodiversity hotspot

ABSTRACT In this paper, we survey traditional leafy vegetables linked to the New Guinea biodiversity hotspot. More than 30 species were identified, and data on occurrences and global genebank holdings were retrieved. The result revealed that traditional vegetables from this hotspot are highly under-represented in the global conservation system for plant genetic resources. Among targeted perennial tree or shrub species, no single accessions were reported as conserved in genebanks. We argue for the importance of safeguarding crop diversity for future generations and for promoting the traditional knowledge linked to cultivation and use of such nutritional plants.
Equine herpesvirus 1 and 4 infections: An update

Summary Equine herpesvirus 1 (EHV1) and equine herpesvirus 4 (EHV4) are important ubiquitous equine pathogens, causing much damage to the viral horse industry. EHV1 strains are associated with respiratory disease, abortion, and paresis/paralysis, whereas EHV4 strains are predominantly associated with respiratory disease. In the past decades much research effort has been put into improving knowledge about these viruses. In this paper the current state of knowledge of these viruses and the most important aspects of these virus infections, e.g. epidemiology, clinical aspects, pathogenesis and pathology, immunity, diagnosis, preventive management and management in the course of an outbreak and vaccination, is reviewed. Because we performed some research ourselves in the areas of diagnosis, epidemiology and vaccinology these aspects are reviewed in more depth than the other aspects. Still many questions have remained and new questions have risen. Consequently, research priorities should be made in an attempt to answer these questions. Therefore, this review ends with some personal recommendations for important priorities for future research.