Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasma Vitamin C Modifies the Association Between Hypertension and Risk of Stroke

Background and Purpose— There are no prospective studies to determine whether plasma vitamin C modifies the risk of stroke among hypertensive and overweight individuals. We sought to examine whether plasma vitamin C modifies the association between overweight and hypertension and the risk of stroke in middle-aged men from eastern Finland. Methods— We conducted a 10.4-year prospective population-based cohort study of 2419 randomly selected middle-aged men (42 to 60 years) with no history of stroke at baseline examination. A total of 120 men developed a stroke, of which 96 were ischemic and 24 hemorrhagic strokes. Results— Men with the lowest levels of plasma vitamin C (<28.4 &mgr;mol/L, lowest quarter) had a 2.4-fold (95% CI, 1.4 to 4.3;P =0.002) risk of any stroke compared with men with highest levels of plasma vitamin C (>64.96 &mgr;mol/L, highest quarter) after adjustment for age and examination months. An additional adjustment for body mass index, systolic blood pressure, smoking, alcohol consumption, serum total cholesterol, diabetes, and exercise-induced myocardial ischemia attenuated the association marginally (relative risk, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2 to 3.8;P =0.01). Adjustment for prevalent coronary heart disease and atrial fibrillation did not attenuate the association any further. Furthermore, hypertensive men with the lowest vitamin C levels (<28.4 &mgr;mol/L) had a 2.6-fold risk (95% CI, 1.52 to 4.48;P <0.001), and overweight men (≥25 kg/m2) with low plasma vitamin C had a 2.7-fold risk (95% CI, 1.48 to 4.90;P =0.001) for any stroke after adjustment for age, examination months, and other risk factors. Conclusions— Low plasma vitamin C was associated with increased risk of stroke, especially among hypertensive and overweight men.
Selective distribution of μ‐opioid receptors in C1 adrenergic neurons and their afferents

Agonists of the μ‐opioid receptor (MOR) have profound effects on blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration that may be mediated by C1 adrenergic neurons in the rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVL). C1 neurons are sympathoexcitatory and are involved in both tonic and reflex regulation of sympathetic outflow. This study was designed to determine whether C1 neurons, or their afferents, contain MOR. C1 neurons were identified by using an antibody against the epinephrine synthesizing enzyme phenylethanolamine‐N‐methyl transferase (PNMT), whereas MOR was localized by using an antipeptide antibody that recognizes the cloned MOR, MOR1. Combined immunoperoxidase and immunogold methods were used to examine the cellular distribution of MOR1 relative to PNMT‐containing neurons in the RVL. MOR1 was found in 22% of PNMT‐containing dendrites (n = 392), whereas MOR1‐containing axons or axon terminals contacted 14% of PNMT‐containing dendrites. This distribution was heterogenous with regard to dendritic size: PNMT‐labeled dendrites containing MOR1 were usually large (60% were >1.2 μm), whereas PNMT‐containing dendrites that received MOR1‐labeled afferents were usually small (79% were <1.2 μm). Individual dendrites rarely contained MOR1 at both pre‐ and postsynaptic sites. Together these results suggest that MOR agonists may directly influence the activity of C1 neurons, as well as the activity of select afferents to these cells. Plasmalemmal membrane labeling for MOR1 was more frequent in smaller PNMT‐containing dendrites, suggesting that postsynaptic receptors are more readily available for ligand binding in small dendrites, although the receptor was more frequently detected in larger PNMT dendrites. The selective distribution of MORs to specific pre‐ and postsynaptic sites suggests the receptor may be selectively trafficked to positions where it may regulate afferent activity that is heterogeneously distributed along the dendritic tree of C1 neurons. J. Comp. Neurol. 433:23–33, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variation in Macro and Trace Elements in Progression of Type 2 Diabetes

Macro elements are the minerals of which the body needs more amounts and are more important than any other elements. Trace elements constitute a minute part of the living tissues and have various metabolic characteristics and functions. Trace elements participate in tissue and cellular and subcellular functions; these include immune regulation by humoral and cellular mechanisms, nerve conduction, muscle contractions, membrane potential regulations, and mitochondrial activity and enzyme reactions. The status of micronutrients such as iron and vanadium is higher in type 2 diabetes. The calcium, magnesium, sodium, chromium, cobalt, iodine, iron, selenium, manganese, and zinc seem to be low in type 2 diabetes while elements such as potassium and copper have no effect. In this review, we emphasized the status of macro and trace elements in type 2 diabetes and its advantages or disadvantages; this helps to understand the mechanism, progression, and prevention of type 2 diabetes due to the lack and deficiency of different macro and trace elements.
Attitude Certainty and Attitudinal Advocacy

When and why do people advocate on behalf of their attitudes? Past research suggests that attitude certainty is one important determinant. The current research seeks to provide more nuanced insight into this relationship by (a) exploring the unique roles of attitude clarity and attitude correctness, and (b) mapping clarity and correctness onto different forms of advocacy (sharing intentions and persuasion intentions). Across four studies, we find that correctness but not clarity plays an important role in promoting persuasion intentions, whereas both correctness and clarity help shape sharing intentions. Thus, this research unpacks the certainty–advocacy relation and helps identify experimental manipulations that uniquely drive persuasion and sharing intentions.
School Resources and the Academic Achievement of Canadian Students.

This study estimates the impact of schools’ physical resources and teachers’ academic press on students’ academic achievement in mathematics and reading when a number of important student variables are controlled. Academic press is defined as teachers' emphasis on academic excellence and upholding academic standards (McDill, Natriello, & Pallas, 1986). It is often argued that both school and teacher resources affect the educational achievement of students. But, the research literature has been inconsistent, which may be due to methodological issues. For this reason, this study attempts to correct two of the most important issues by using Canadian national data and multi-level modeling. The results reveal that, in Canada, at least, the physical resources and academic press evaluated by school principals do not significantly affect students’ achievement in mathematics and reading. Cette etude evalue l’impact des ressources physiques des ecoles et la rigueur academique des enseignants sur le rendement academique des eleves en mathematiques et en lecture lorsqu’on controle un certain nombre de variables importants chez les eleves. On definit la rigueur academique comme l’importance que les enseignants accordent a l’excellence academique et le maintien de normes academiques (McDill, Natriello, & Pallas, 1986). On soutient souvent que tant les ressources de l’ecole que celles des enseignants jouent un role dans le rendement academique des eleves. Les publications de recherche, par contre, sont contradictoires, peut-etre en raison de problemes methodologiques. Cette etude tente donc de rectifier deux des problemes les plus importants en employant des donnees nationales canadiennes et le modelage multiniveau. Les resultats indiquent qu’au Canada du moins, les ressources physiques et la rigueur academique telles qu’evaluees par les directeurs d’ecole n’affectent pas de facon significative le rendement des eleves en mathematiques et en lecture.
Toward a full-scale computational model of the rat dentate gyrus

Recent advances in parallel computing, including the creation of the parallel version of the NEURON simulation environment, have allowed for a previously unattainable level of complexity and detail in neural network models. Previously, we published a functional NEURON model of the rat dentate gyrus with over 50,000 biophysically realistic, multicompartmental neurons, but network simulations could only utilize a single processor. By converting the model to take advantage of parallel NEURON, we are now able to utilize greater computational resources and are able to simulate the full-scale dentate gyrus, containing over a million neurons. This has eliminated the previous necessity for scaling adjustments and allowed for a more direct comparison to experimental techniques and results. The translation to parallel computing has provided a superlinear speedup of computation time and dramatically increased the overall computer memory available to the model. The incorporation of additional computational resources has allowed for more detail and elements to be included in the model, bringing the model closer to a more complete and accurate representation of the biological dentate gyrus. As an example of a major step toward an increasingly accurate representation of the biological dentate gyrus, we discuss the incorporation of realistic granule cell dendrites into the model. Our previous model contained simplified, two-dimensional dendritic morphologies that were identical for neurons of the same class. Using the software tools L-Neuron and L-Measure, we are able to introduce cell-to-cell variability by generating detailed, three-dimensional granule cell morphologies that are based on biological reconstructions. Through these and other improvements, we aim to construct a more complete full-scale model of the rat dentate gyrus, to provide a better tool to delineate the functional role of cell types within the dentate gyrus and their pathological changes observed in epilepsy.
Diagnostic PCR of dermatophytes – an overview

The prevalence of onychomycosis is increasing steadily, sevenfold alone in the US within the last twenty years. An important aspect in this development is the demographic development of the human population of the industrial countries like Germany. A fast and accurate laboratory diagnosis is essential for successful treatment because 50% of the cases are misdiagnosed when relying on the clinical appearance only. The current diagnosis of dermatophytosis, based on direct microscopy and culture of the clinical specimen, is problematic given the lacking specificity of the former and the length of time needed for the latter. Molecular techniques can help to solve these problems. In recent years, a number of in‐house PCR assays have been developed to identify dermatophytes directly from clinical specimens. Based on the “Mikrobiologisch‐infektiologischen Qualitätsstandards (MIQ) für Nukleinsäure‐Amplifikationstechniken” and the MIQE guideline (Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real‐Time PCR Experiments) 11 studies are reviewed which were published between 2007 and 2010. The present article evaluates the quality of the PCR assays regarding false positive and false negative results due to contamination, PCR format, statistical analysis, and diagnostic performance of the studies. It shows that we are only at the beginning of providing high quality PCR diagnosis of dermatophytes.
Chronic Renal Failure in Children Admitted to Children Welfare Teaching Hospital

BACKGROUND: Chroic renal failure (CRF) is a devastating medical, psychological, social and economic problem for patients and their families. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to determine the etiology, clinical presentations and highlight treatment modalities used for patients with CRF admitted to children welfare teaching hospital. PATIENTS' AND METHODS: A Retrospective study of all children with CRF admitted to children welfare teaching hospital during the period from 1 st of jan.2002 to 1 st of jan.2007 were included in the study . CRF was defined as having glomerular filtration rate less than 80m1 /min/1.73m2. RESULTS: The study group included 50 patients with CRF below 17 years of age,29(58%) males and 21(42%) females. Male: female ratio 1.38:1 Their age ranged between (1m -17 year). Twenty (40%) patients were above 10 years of age. In this study the mean glomerular Filtration rate was (29.5 + 18.5m1 /min/1.73m2). Congenital abnormalities were the major cause of CRF, it was found in 18 patients (36%), followed by hereditary conditions in 14 (28%) patients and glomerular diseases in 13 (26%) patients. The most common presenting symptom was anemia. It was found in 16(32%) patients followed by hypertension in 12 patients (24%) and failure to thrive in 12(24%) patients. Twenty-one patients (42%) received peritoneal dialysis, four (8%) received hemodialysis. Renal transplant was done to 3 patients (6%). CONCLUSION: Congenital abnormalities was to the most common cause of CRF in our patients. Establishing registry system that provide detailed information concerning the incidence, causes, and overall outcomes of mild to severe renal functional impairment acquired during developmental age can clarify further the natural history of the disease and the factors that influence its course.
Human group C rotaviruses identified in Kenya.

BACKGROUND Rotavirus is associated with acute infantile gastro-enteritis in infants and young children worldwide. Rotavirus is associated with the high cases of morbidity and mortality and it is estimated that up to 650,000 deaths in young children occur annually in the less developed countries. Approximately a quarter of these deaths occur in African children yet minimal data exist on the circulating rotavirus strains in Africa. OBJECTIVE To characterise the circulating rotavirus strains in Kenya. DESIGN A prospective study to investigate rotavirus infection in infants and young children with acute diarrhoea in different areas of Kenya. Between September 2001 and February 2002, 119 faecal specimens were collected from children aged between 1 and 60 months with acute infantile gastro-enteritis. SETTING Faecal samples were collected from clinics around Nairobi and its suburbs including Karen, Ngong, Ongata Rongai. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Faecal samples were collected from 119 infants and young children with diarrhoea and were analysed by commercial ELISA and polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to identify possible non-group A rotaviruses. Extraction of any potential rotavirus double-stranded RNA from faeces and characterisation by SDS-PAGE showed the presence of human group C rotaviruses. RESULTS Examination of these samples with a commercial ELISA assay for the presence of group A rotavirus antigen showed that 13 specimens (11%) were positive. An analysis of all stool specimens was performed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to identify possible non-group A rotaviruses. Extraction of any potential rotavirus double-stranded RNA from faeces and characterisation by SDS-PAGE showed the presence of human group C rotaviruses. CONCLUSION This is the first report of group C rotaviruses in Kenya. Further studies are underway to continue the surveillance of rotavirus strains in Kenya; as this information will be useful in planning rotavirus vaccine trials in Africa.
Influence of psychopathology on the perpetration of child-to-parent violence: differences as a function of sex

The aim of the present study was to analyze the role of the psychopathologic symptomatology of participants on the perpetration of child-to-parent violence (CPV), as well as to test the moderator role of the participant sex on the psychopathology. The sample comprised 855 students from middle school, high school and vocational education (399 boys and 456 girls). Age range varies among 13-21 years old ( M = 16.09; DT = 1.34), being 307 (35.9%) among 13-15, 501 (58.6%) 16-18 and 47 (5.5%) 19-21. Most of them (91%) had Spanish citizenship. Psychopathology was assessed with the Symptom Checklist 90 Revised, whereas CPV perpetration was assessed employing the Child-to-Parent Aggression Questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses showed that the most important psychopathologic symptoms were hostility, paranoid ideation and depression, being related higher scores on hostility and paranoid ideation, and lower on depression, with the perpetration of CPV. Interaction analyses showed a moderator role of the participant sex with the interpersonal sensitivity and obsessive-compulsive in the case of CPV to the father, and interpersonal sensitivity, obsessive-compulsive and paranoid ideation in the case of CPV to the mother. Results confirm the idea that the existence of psychopathologic symptomatology by the minors has an effect on the probability of perpetration CPV, being this effect different depending on the sex of the perpetrator.
Mild cognitive impairment: effect of education on the verbal and nonverbal tasks performance decline

We sought to longitudinally evaluate the potential association of educational level with performance on verbal and nonverbal tasks in individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We evaluated patients with MCI, age >50 years, no medication intake, absent vascular risk factors, and no lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Each patient underwent a clinical assessment packet and a series of neuropsychological tests of the language and constructional praxis subtests of Cambridge Cognitive Examination (CAMGOG) and the Boston naming test (BNT), at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Educational levels were defined taking into account the total years of education, the school level, and diplomas. MCI patients with low education level showed a stepwise reduction in scores of naming objects (NO; P = 0.009), definition (DF; P = 0.012), language (LT; P = 0.021), constructional praxis (CD; P = 0.022), confrontation naming skills (BXB; P = 0.033), phonemic help (BFB; P = 0.041), and BNT (P = 0.002). Analysis of covariance, controlling for baseline scores, showed that education was associated with NO score (P = 0.002), DF score (P = 0.005), LT (P = 0.008), CD score (P = 0.008), BXB score (44.36 ± 1.84, P = 0.0001), BFB (P = 0.022), and BNT (P = 0.004). Our findings indicate that education appeared to affect verbal and nonverbal task performance in MCI patients. Despite the fact that higher educated patients are more acquainted with the tasks, slower deterioration in consecutive follow‐up examinations could be explained by the cognitive reserve theory. The potential association of this protective effect with delayed onset of symptoms deserves further investigation.
Thermoelectric generator based on carbon nanotubes

Thermoelectric (TE) materials are used within devices that can be used to convert heat energy directly into electrical energy. When a temperature gradient is applied across a TE device, it is observed that an electrical potential is established. An efficient TE device requires a high figure of merit (ZT) which means a high power factor and a low thermal conductivity are necessary. In this project, Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) were selected for investigation as an alternative to commercial TE devices made from Bismuth Telluride, mainly due to their availability, low carbon foot print, high design capability, mechanical flexibility, low manufacturing cost and potential for better device performance. This work includes the fabrication process of CNT films which has been explored as well as doping them to n-type and p-type semiconductors. It also compares the effect of seven surfactants: Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonates (SDBS), Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), Pluronic F-127, Brij 58, Tween 80, Triton X-405 and Benzalkonium chloride (ADBAC). These surfactants are categorised depending on their hydrophilic group polarity (anionic, non-ionic and cationic). Samples exposed to ambient oxygen were found to exhibit p-type behaviour, while the inclusion of Polyethylenimine (PEI) results in n-type behaviour. The highest output power from the TE devices made of a single pair of p and n-type elements was measured to be as high as 1.5 nW/K (67 nW for a 45K temperature gradient), which is one of the highest obtained. This was achieved with Triton X-405. In addition, the electrical data obtained revealed that Triton X-405 has the highest Seebeck coefficient with 81 µV/K and a conductivity of 3.7E+03 S/m due to its short hydrophobic end and non-polar hydrophilic tail which constitutes one of the novelties of this PhD. On the other hand, the anionic surfactant SDBS with its positive end showed a 55 µV/K but a significantly higher electrical conductivity at around 2.6E+4 S/m which is believed to be due to the contribution of additional carriers (sodium ions) from the surfactant. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) conducted on the surfactants confirm the maximum operating temperature of each surfactant by showing their thermal degradation points. With this, it was observed that Triton X-405 and Tween 80 indicated a thermal degradation point around 364 ˚C and very low residue left of around 0.12% compared to 33% and 25% for SDBS and SDS respectively. In regard to the thermal behaviour of the CNT samples, it was revealed that CNT films with lengths above 1 cm showed heat losses due to emissivity, therefore, making longer films was deemed inefficient. Finally, a TE device is made from the best performing surfactant (Triton X-405) because of its optimum power factor, with 6 pairs of p and n type semiconducting CNT films. This device was used for a motorcycle exhaust in order to simulate heat waste harvesting which resulted in a ~ 42 mV output voltage at ~ 87 ⁰C temperature difference. This means that many alternating pairs of p-n devices are required to achieve a high output power.
Chronological appearance of alkaline phosphatase activity in virus-induced thymic lymphomas of C57BL-6 mice.

Summary Mice of the C57BL/6 strain were inoculated with two different radiation leukemia viruses, and chronological changes in the alkaline phosphatase levels of the thymus, the spleen, the mesenteric lymph nodes, the liver, and the kidney were measured. The two radiation leukemia viruses used, one of which produces a lymphoma incidence of 80 to 100% after inoculation followed by X-irradiation and the other of which induces lymphatic leukemia in 80 to 100% of the inoculated mice without the need for further exposure to irradiation, were injected directly into one thymus lobe of adult mice, and at predetermined time intervals the alkaline phosphatase levels were measured. Elevation of the alkaline phosphatase activity occurred in the “target” tissue, the thymus, simultaneously or, more likely, prior to the development of the disease. The elevation of the alkaline phosphatase levels in the other tissues studied occurred only after dissemination had started.