Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mode of inheritance in families of patients with lithium‐responsive affective disorders

A better understanding of the role of genetic factors in affective disorders is likely to result from investigating more homogeneous populations. To achieve this goal, we have systematically studied patients who are excellent responders to long‐term lithium treatment and their relatives. In the families of 71 such probands, we have analyzed the mode of inheritance by comparing the observed morbidity risks with the risks expected under different genetic models. The results demonstrate major‐gene effects in the transmission of primary affective disorders; the polygenic model with sex‐specific thresholds could be rejected. Discrimination between the autosomal and X‐chromosome models was not possible, but the autosomal recessive model predicts more realistic, gender‐specific frequencies of affective disorders in the general population. These results suggest that autosomal recessive inheritance deserves serious consideration in molecular genetic investigations.
A Multi-Institutional Partnership to Build Capacity for Effective Protected Area Management in India

Protected area managers around the world are increasingly faced with complex challenges that demand a sound understanding of both social and ecological factors. The need for improved interdisciplinary approaches to build management capacity for protected areas has long been discussed in the literature and at global conservation forums including the IUCN World Parks Congress. Responding to this need can be enhanced through international partnerships that foster the sharing of institutional knowledge and experience. This paper presents a case example of a multi-institutional collaboration led by Colorado State University and the Wildlife Institute of India to enhance the technical competencies and leadership skills of protected area managers across the Indian subcontinent. A key initiative carried out under this partnership was the development and implementation of a Mid-Career Training Program for 87 Indian Forest Service officers between 2010 and 2012. An overview of protected area management challenges and capacity building needs in India is followed by a description of program elements including administrative structure and leadership, design and content, instructional methods, evaluation, and future directions.
Hospital Ownership Changes and Employers ’ Decision to Offer Insurance

This study uses 1995 1999 Contingent Workers Supplement and hospital ownership data from the American Hospital Association’s Annual Surveys to how the employer sponsored insurance market responds to changes in hospital ownership. A Nested Multinomial Logit model estimates a two dimensional choice set of availability of an employer based plan and participation in that plan. The model indicates that access to a public hospital system produces a negligible effect on insurance availability and participation for all but the lowest income workers, and the data showed no appreciable difference for not-for-profit and for-profit hospitals.
Stationarity control in the fuzzy time series and neural network algorithms

This paper investigates the role of stationarity in the fuzzy time series and neural network applications and the emergence of stationarity control in computer aided forecasting algorithms in general. The central idea behind this paper arises from the theory of forecasting and the essential function of stationarity control in the conventional forecasting approaches. Stationarity is a prerequisite for any forecasting method regardless of its nature and basis. However, it is frequently ignored in the engineering in contrast to fundamental role in the theory. Empirical studies performed in random dataset to illustrate the rationale behind the argument and results significantly indicate that stationarity must be controlled and ensured even in computer intelligence applications. Stationary data significantly improves the post-sample accuracy of forecasting applications.
A carrier-based PWM method for neutral-point ripple reduction of a 3-level inverter

The purpose of neutral-point voltage balancing algorithms in a 3L-NPC topology is to eliminate the DC and AC voltage unbalance of top- and bottom-side dc-link voltages. The DC unbalance problem can cause the output current distortion; therefore, this problem has to be solved. The AC unbalance problem means the ripple component of top- and bottom-side dc-link voltages exists. In applications using the NPC topology, a large dc-link capacitor value is required to mitigate the AC unbalance. As a result, the size and cost of applications become large and expensive. Therefore, this paper focuses on the compensation to mitigate the AC unbalance of the neutral-point voltage when a carrier based PWM method is applied. In this paper, the process of the optimal compensation value calculation is discussed and the effectiveness of the proposed compensation method is verified by using the simulation.
Considering Transcendence: Elements of a Philosophical Theology

Preface Introduction 1. Sacred Transcendence 2. Religious Discourse 3. Radical Self-Transcendence 4. The Truth about Religion 5. Religious Truth 6. Pluralism and Religious Truth 7. Aspects of the Conception of God 8. The Theory of Religion and Religious Inquiry Notes Bibliography Index
Endogenous heparin‐like activity detected by anti‐Xa assay in infected cirrhotic and non‐cirrhotic patients

Background: Bacterial infections have been proposed as a trigger for portal hypertensive bleeding in cirrhotic patients. Endogenous low molecular weight heparinoids have been previously detected in vitro by heparinase‐modified thromboelastography, but it is not known what type of heparinoids they are. The aim of this study was to assay anti‐Xa concentrations to detect heparin activity in infected cirrhotics in vivo. Methods: We evaluated 30 cirrhotic patients (15 with bacterial infection, 15 not infected) and 9 non‐cirrhotic patients with bacterial infection. The anti‐Xa assay was performed at the start of infection in all patients and after resolution of infection in 8 cirrhotics (5 to 10 days after starting antibiotics); thromboelastography (native and heparinase I‐modified TEG) was performed in a subgroup of 11 cirrhotic patients with infection, 8 cirrhotics without infection and 8 non‐cirrhotics with infection. Results: Anti‐Xa activity was detected in 9 of the 15 infected cirrhotics (60%) and only in 1 of 15 non‐infected cirrhotics (6.7%) (P < 0.01). In the infected cirrhotic patients, a heparinase effect was shown in the heparinase I‐modified TEG: k time (P < 0.01), α‐angle (P < 0.01) and r time (P = 0.05), with no effect in the non‐infected cirrhotics. Four of 9 (44%) infected non‐cirrhotics were positive with the anti‐Xa assay. Conclusion: In cirrhotic patients, bacterial infections modify haemostasis by producing endogenous heparin‐like substances which can inhibit the activated clotting factor X (factor Xa). In infected non‐cirrhotics, anti‐Xa activity can also be found.
A compact miniature sensor based on a microstrip taper coupled to a metamaterial resonator

A Quasi-Lumped resonator fed through a tapered microstrip line is designed and implemented as a near field sensor for measuring the relative dielectric permittivity of low-loss unknown materials. The sensing principle is based on the shift of the resonance frequency as a function of the relative permittivity of the sample. In distinction with a related device we introduced lately, the proposed structure presents a compact geometry and it provides a higher sensitivity. Examples of operation of the sensor with four dielectric samples are presented and compared with state-of-art sensors.
How Firm Characteristics Affect Firm Capital Structure Decision – The Case of Tanzania

This study investigates on how firm characteristics affect firm capital structure decision of non financial firms listed in the Dar es Salaam stock exchange in Tanzania for the year 2005 to 2016. The study uses secondary data collected from Tanzania stock market, the annual financial reports of sampled non financial listed firms due to data availability. The data analysis employs different statistical tools including descriptive statistics, regression analysis and correlation analysis. The results show that firm profitability, size, liquidity and industry type, are significant at 5% level of confidence, having inversely relationship with both dependent variables (firm short term, and total leverage); this means, the more profitable the firms, the low the leverage they employ. Also, the more liquidity the firms, the low the leverage, and also, due to the study area’s economy, many firms use short term loans mainly bank loans; so the smaller the firm the higher the leverage. That means, big firms use bank loans in a nutshell; whereby, tangibility of assets, firm growth and economic condition of the country have found insignificant, that means they have no impact on capital structure decision for non financial listed firms in DSE. In a nutshell, firms use economic conditions as a factor for capital structure decision; whether interest rates and inflation rates are low or high, they use bank loans. Keywords: Leverage, Capital Structure, Firm Characteristics, Tanzania
National and sub-national burden of breast cancer in Iran; 1990-2013.

BACKGROUND Estimating the burden of diseases, injuries and major risk factors is necessary for adopting appropriate health policies in every country, and this paper aims to explain the study protocol of national and sub-national burden of breast cancer in Iran from 1990 to 2013. METHODS We will perform a systematic review of the confirmed databases and literature to gather data on breast cancer epidemiology in Iran. The definitions, data sources, organizing the team, methods of data gathering and data generating will be explained in this paper. The methodology of estimating the trend of prevalence, years of life lost due to premature death (YLLs), years of life lost due to disability (YLDs) and disability-adjusted life years lost (DALYs) of breast cancer by age groups, provinces and probable inequalities will be explained. We will tackle possible data problems due to the lack of data points on provinces and years and also geographical misalignment by using two advanced statistical methods, namely Bayesian autoregressive multilevel and Spatio-temporal models. Trend estimation will be reported using these two models together with uncertainty intervals. CONCLUSION This study provides a comprehensive assessment of breast cancer and its specific pattern in Iran. The results will help policy makers to know the trend of prevalence, the distribution, and the inequalities of breast cancer in Iran to allocate resources in a better way.
Big Egos in Big Science

In this paper we investigate the micro-mechanisms governing the structural evolution of a scientific collaboration. Empirical evidence indicates that we have transcended into a new paradigm with a new modus operandi where scientific discovery are not lead by so called lone ‘stars’, or big egos, but instead by collaboration among groups of researchers, from a multitude of institutions and locations, having a diverse knowledge set and capable of tackling more and more complex problems. This prose the question if big egos continues to dominate in this rising paradigm of big science. Using a dataset consisting of full bibliometric coverage from a Large Scale Research Facility, we utilize a stochastic actor oriented model (SAOM) to analyze both network endogeneous and exogeneous mechanisms driving of collaboration network evolution. Our preliminary results suggest that the selection of collaborators still is skewed, and identify a large homophily effect creating not merely a rich-gets-richer effect but even an.
Multiple Antibiotic-Resistant, Extended Spectrum-β-Lactamase (ESBL)-Producing Enterobacteria in Fresh Seafood

Members of the family Enterobacteriaceae include several human pathogens that can be acquired through contaminated food and water. In this study, the incidence of extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing enterobacteria was investigated in fresh seafood sold in retail markets. The ESBL-positive phenotype was detected in 169 (78.60%) isolates, with Escherichia coli being the predominant species (53), followed by Klebsiella oxytoca (27), and K. pneumoniae (23). More than 90% of the isolates were resistant to third generation cephalosporins, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, and cefpodoxime. Sixty-five percent of the isolates were resistant to the monobactam drug aztreonam, 40.82% to ertapenem, and 31.36% to meropenem. Resistance to at least five antibiotics was observed in 38.46% of the isolates. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis of ESBL-encoding genes detected blaCTX, blaSHV, and blaTEM genes in 76.92%, 63.3%, and 44.37% of the isolates, respectively. Multiple ESBL genes were detected in majority of the isolates. The recently discovered New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase gene (blaNDM-1) was detected in two ESBL+ isolates. Our study shows that secondary contamination of fresh seafood with enteric bacteria resistant to multiple antibiotics may implicate seafood as a potential carrier of antibiotic resistant bacteria and emphasizes an urgent need to prevent environmental contamination and dissemination of such bacteria.
Acceptability of a novel vaginal microbicide during a safety trial among low-risk women.

CONTEXT The increasing recognition that women who are unable or unwilling to discuss or use condoms with their sexual partners need female-controlled methods for preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV, has led to considerable focus on the development of vaginal microbicides. While many such products are being tested for safety and effectiveness, clinical trials generally overlook another key factor in a product's impact on infection rates-its acceptability to users. METHODS A Phase I clinical trial of a microbicidal gel included an assessment of the product's acceptability among 27 low-risk participants. Information on acceptability was gathered from structured interviews, participants' daily diaries and unstructured exit interviews. RESULTS Participants reported only minor side effects of product use, such as itching, burning and difficulty urinating; two women developed candida infections while participating in the study. None of the side effects could be conclusively linked to use of the gel. Some women noted product discharge and messiness as drawbacks of the method, but this experience varied according to how often the women applied the gel. For example, one-third of those who used it once daily said that at least some of the time, it was too "wet or drippy," compared with two-thirds of women who inserted the gel twice a day. However, participants considered these "nuisance factors" that could be outweighed by the potential protective characteristics of the product. The majority reported that they would use the product if it were available and proven efficacious, and if they perceived that they were at risk of STD infection. CONCLUSIONS Additional testing of this product is urgently needed. Furthermore, as other products approach Phase I testing, acceptability assessments should be a key component of clinical trials.
Chewing stress developed in upper anterior teeth with root end resection. a finite element analysis study.

AIM Because pulpless teeth have a higher risk of vertical root fracture, the present study investigated the additional effect of root end resection upon their mechanical resistence. METHODS Finite element analysis (FEA) was used to evaluate the stress and deformations of upper anterior teeth after root end resection while loading them at 100N and 300N. RESULTS Loading teeth with root end resection at 100N generates a mild increase of dentin stress. Even though von Misses stress is within the elastic range the whole toothbone structure is stressed while chewing. At higher load of300N the vertical and mesiodistal deformations cannot beany longer neglected. The highest stress occurs in vertical direction and involves the whole labial surface of the tooth crown. It is expressed as a compression stress (SY = 2.8 x 109N/m2) and comes close to the value of dentine Young’s modulus. CONCLUSION Loading the upper anterior teeth with root end resection at 100N lowers in a mild manner their mechanical resistance. A load of 300 N induces tooth deformations and a risky stress, mostly focused at tooth cervical area. The stress in the alveolar ridge bone is under the risk threshold of Young’s modulus.
Human forces in hands free interaction: a new paradigm for immersive virtual environments

A recent trend in virtual environments aims at making the user free of devices or limitations in its motion, at the benefit of immersiveness and interactivity. This work introduces an interaction paradigm that goes beyond motion based interaction, by making use of measured real forces exerted by the user in free space. The sensation of touch with virtual object is obtained by vibrotactile stimulation combining virtual contact information with measured forces. In this way the user has an additional dimension of interactivity at the benefit of immersivity, without incurring in the reduction of sense of presence introduced by grounded haptic interfaces. This paradigm is presented and discussed in particular in the context of a boxing training simulation, as one of the possible application scenarios.
Fish Marketing in Chaur Areas of Bihar - A Study of Disposal Pattern, Price Spread and Marketing Efficiency

Chaurs are the flood plains or the shallow transitional lands in Northern Bihar, which act as nurturing grounds for large amount of fish resources. Both culture and capture fisheries are practiced in this area. The study was intended to identify prevailing marketing channels as well as to estimate the price spread and marketing efficiency of the channels. Three marketing channels operate in disposing of fish from chaur areas. The channelfirst, which involves direct marketing of fish from producers to consumers, was the shortest and most efficient with market efficiency of 69.7 and price spread of Rs.2. 12 kg. Most of the catch (90.7%) of culture fishery and 52.6% of capture fisheries were disposed of through the channel-II, where vendors act as intermediaries. Only 3.5% of cultured fish was sold in distant wholesale market through channelIII. Channel-III was found to be the least efficient. Distant markets have higher disposal capacity and price realisation better this marketing channel and hence needs to be tapped by organising producers in the form of marketing cooperatives.
Scheduling data reads and writes using feedback control on a weakly connected environment

A database is maintained at the server and broadcast to mobile clients. While data are broadcast, many resources are updating data at the server. Such concurrent transactions must be controlled to maintain consistency and currency of data received by the mobile clients. Through client side caching, feedback control mechanism and careful network management, it is possible to provide acceptable performance in mobile environment for read requests and write updates, even with low bandwidth connection. This paper describes sharing of weak network connections between read and write data traffic, controlling concurrency between update and broadcast transactions to maintain consistency and currency.
An Inducible TGF-β2-TGFβR Pathway Modulates the Sensitivity of HNSCC Cells to Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors Targeting Dominant Receptor Tyrosine Kinases

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is overexpressed in approximately 90% of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), and molecularly targeted therapy against the EGFR with the monoclonal antibody cetuximab modestly increases overall survival in head and neck cancer patients. We hypothesize that co-signaling through additional pathways limits the efficacy of cetuximab and EGFR-specific tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in the clinical treatment of HNSCC. Analysis of gene expression changes in HNSCC cell lines treated 4 days with TKIs targeting EGFR and/or fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFRs) identified transforming growth factor beta 2 (TGF-β2) induction in the three cell lines tested. Measurement of TGF-β2 mRNA validated this observation and extended it to additional cell lines. Moreover, TGF-β2 mRNA was increased in primary patient HNSCC xenografts treated for 4 weeks with cetuximab, demonstrating in vivo relevance of these findings. Functional genomics analyses with shRNA libraries identified TGF-β2 and TGF-β receptors (TGFβRs) as synthetic lethal genes in the context of TKI treatment. Further, direct RNAi-mediated silencing of TGF-β2 inhibited cell growth, both alone and in combination with TKIs. Also, a pharmacological TGFβRI inhibitor similarly inhibited basal growth and enhanced TKI efficacy. In summary, the studies support a TGF-β2-TGFβR pathway as a TKI-inducible growth pathway in HNSCC that limits efficacy of EGFR-specific inhibitors.
In vivo measurement of fluorescence emission in the human prostate during photodynamic therapy

Among the challenges to the clinical implementation of photodynamic therapy (PDT) is the delivery of a uniform photodynamic dose to induce uniform damage to the target tissue. As the photodynamic dose depends on both the local sensitizer concentration and the local fluence rate of treatment light, knowledge of both of these factors is essential to the delivery of uniform dose. In this paper, we investigate the distribution and kinetics of the photosensitizer motexafin lutetium (MLu, Lutrin) as revealed by its fluorescence emission. Our current prostate treatment protocol involves interstitial illumination of the organ via cylindrical diffusing fibers (CDF’s) inserted into the prostate though clear catheters. For planning and treatment purposes, the prostate is divided into 4 quadrants. We use one catheter in each quadrant to place an optical fiber-based fluorescence probe into the prostate. This fiber is terminated in a beveled tip, allowing it to deliver and collect light perpendicular to the fiber axis. Excitation light is provided by a 465 nm light emitting diode (LED) source coupled to a dichroic beamsplitter, which passes the collected fluorescence emission to a CCD spectrograph. Spectra are obtained before and after PDT treatment in each quadrant of the prostate and are analyzed via a linear fitting algorithm to separate the MLu fluorescence from the background fluorescence originating in the plastic catheter. A computer-controlled step motor allows the excitation/detection fiber to be moved along the catheter, building up a linear profile of the fluorescence emission spectrum of the tissue as a function of position. We have analyzed spectral fluorescence profiles obtained in 4 patients before and after MLu-mediated PDT. We find significant variation both within individual prostates and among patients. Within a single quadrant, we have observed the fluorescence signal to change by as much as a factor of 3 over a distance of 2 cm. Comparisons of pre- and post-PDT spectra allow a quantification treatment-induced photobleaching. Like the drug distribution, the extent of photobleaching varies widely among patients. In two cases, we observed bleaching of approximately 50% of the drug, while others exhibited negligible photobleaching.