Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wilms' Tumor and Paternal Occupation1

A case-control study was conducted to examine the relationship be tween \\ ilms"tumor and paternal occupational exposures. The case group consisted of 200 children diagnosed as having Wilms' tumor who were registered at selected National Wilms' Tumor Study institutions during the period June 1, 1984, to May 31, 1986. Disease-free controls were matched to each case using a random digit dialing procedure. The parents of cases and controls completed a self-administered questionnaire. There was no consistent pattern of increased risk for paternal occu pational exposure to hydrocarbons or lead found in this study. However, certain paternal occupations were found to have an elevated odds ratio (OR) of Wilms' tumor, including vehicle mechanics, auto body repairmen, and welders. Offspring of fathers who were auto mechanics had a 4- to 7-fold increased risk of Wilms' tumor for all 3 time periods. The largest increased odds ratio for auto mechanics was in the preconception period |OR = 7.58; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.90-63.9). Welders had a 4- to 8-fold increased odds ratio, with the strongest association during pregnancy (OR = 8.22; CI = 0.95-71.3). Although chance cannot be excluded as a possible explanation, association of Wilms' tumor with these occupations has been reported in previous studies. Further study is needed to provide data on the specific occupational exposures involved. a companion analysis, sociodemographic variables, maternal posures during pregnancy, pregnancy and childhood were studied as possible risk factors for Wilms' tumor. These factors also screened as potential confoun-ders in the analysis of paternal occupation. Household income was the only variable related to both Wilms' tumor and paternal occupational exposures.Analyses were performed to determine whether the association with paternal occupational exposures was different between the putative "hereditary" and "sporadic" subgroups of Wilms' tumor (effect modi fication). If paternal occupational exposures contribute to the genesis of Wilms' tumor through direct transmission of abnormal paternal genes, one would expect the risk to be higher in the "genetic" or hereditary subgroup which in this study was identified as patients having bilateral disease, congenital genitourinary anomalies, aniridia, or intralobar nephroblastomatosis (21). A recent study of the age distribution of Wilms' tumors (22) confirmed that patients with such features had younger age at diagnosis, as predicted by Knudson's two-stage muta-tional model We also examined the effect of age at diagnosis on the strength of the association in separate analyses.
Selection of acupoints for managing upper-extremity spasticity in chronic stroke patients

Background This study investigated the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA) in inhibiting upper-extremity spasticity in chronic stroke patients, and also in mapping a unique preliminary acupoint-selection protocol. Methods Fifteen patients were divided into two groups: patients in the control group (n=6) received minimal acupuncture (MA), and those in the experimental group (n=9) received EA. Four acupoints, which include Neiguan (PC6), Shaohai (HT3), Zeqian (Ex-UE, A32), and Shounizhu (EX-UE), were treated near the motor points of the muscles for elbow flexion, forearm pronation, and finger flexion. Both groups were treated for twelve sessions, 20 minutes per session, for 6 weeks (two sessions per week). The outcome measures in this study included angle of muscle reaction (R1), passive range of motion (R2), and dynamic component (R2–R1). Results In the experimental group, the R2–R1 of the elbow joint was significantly decreased at 1 (P=0.0079), 3 (P=0.0013), and 6 weeks (P=0.0149) after treatment compared with pretreatment levels (P<0.05). The between-group difference in the R2–R1 of the elbow joint after the 6-week treatment was statistically significant. Conclusion Combining the 6-week EA and standard rehabilitation treatment reduced the spasticity of the elbow for chronic stroke survivors. However, no significant effect was observed in the spasticity of the wrist joints. The choice of acupoints and the frequency of EA have to be taken into account to achieve a positive treatment effect. The correlation between acupoints and motor points provides a model of acupoint selection to improve spasticity.
Interpersonal Tensions and Pain Among Older Adults: The Mediating Role of Negative Mood

Objectives: To examine whether (a) negative social encounters and physical pain are linked throughout the day, (b) negative mood mediates these associations, and (c) these associations vary by closeness with social partners. Method: Adults aged 65+ (n = 313) completed ecological momentary assessments and reported their negative social encounters, physical pain, and mood every 3 hr throughout the day for 5–6 days. Results: Multilevel models revealed that negative social encounters were associated with greater pain at each 3-hr interval and that this association was mediated by negative mood during the same interval. Negative encounters with less close partners were associated with pain, but negative encounters with close partners were not. Discussion: Regulating older adults’ negative emotions may be crucial to improving their daily pain. Further, interventions focusing on negative encounters with less close partners in daily life may help mitigate older adults’ experiences of pain throughout the day.
Hassallia littoralis sp. nov. (Cyanobacteria, Microchaetaceae) from Mexico’s marine supralittoral based on morphological and molecular evidence

A new species of Hassallia (Cyanobacteria, Nostocales, Microchaetaceae) from a supralittoral tropical marine biotope is described. Hassallia littoralis is a false-branched nostocalean cyanobacterium with caespitose free filaments or with fasciculated individual filaments not in a common sheath. Filaments are mainly heteropolar, bearing mono- and bi-pored heterocysts and isopolar or heteropolar hormogonia. The sheath is often widening, with pronounced rounded terminals. This new species is defined according to molecular, morphological and ecological criteria, considering data from different stages of its life cycle as well as the 16S rRNA partial gene sequence.
Effects of ball-milling on PLGA polymer and its implication on lansoprazole-loaded nanoparticles

PLGA is a biodegradable polymer utilised widely in pharmaceutical research for the encapsulation of a wide range of drugs as nano particulate systems. This study investigates the impact of rotary ball milling on the physical properties of PLGA and its influence on nanoparticle formation prepared using the solvent displacement technique. By applying mechanical stress to the polymer and altering its physical appearance and molecular weight, the loading of lansoprazole within the nanoparticles was increased to 96%, with a reduction in particle size. The results indicate that rotary ball milling significantly reduces particle size, increases lansoprazole loading and improves the release profile for lansoprazole loaded PLGA nanoparticles
Lucas meets Baumol and Tobin

Many issues that were traditionally analyzed using the Baumol-Tobin model can also be analyzed, perhaps more easily, using the Lucas (1980) cash-in-advance model where money serves both as a medium of exchange and as a store of value. This is illustrated by three examples (implications) of the Lucas model: (i) the velocity of money is time varying, volatile, and ination-dependent; (ii) transitory money injections have expansionary real e¤ects on output and employment; and (iii) the welfare cost of anticipated ination is a couple of orders larger than the conventional estimates.
A simple proof of a theorem of Jean Bourgain

We give a simple proof of Bourgain's disc algebra version of Grothendieck's theorem, i.e. that every operator on the disc algebra with values in $L_1$ or $L_2$ is 2-absolutely summing and hence extends to an operator defined on the whole of $C$. This implies Bourgain's result that $L_1/H^1$ is of cotype 2. We also prove more generally that $L_r/H^r$ is of cotype 2 for $0
Evaluation of speech perception in noise in Kurd-Persian bilinguals

Background and Aim: In most everyday sett­ings, speech is heard in the presence of com­peting sounds and speech perception in noise is affected by various factors, including cognitive factors. In this regard, bilingualism is a pheno­menon that changes cognitive and behavioral processes as well as the nervous system. This study aimed to evaluate speech perception in noise and compare differences in Kurd-Persian bilinguals versus Persian monolinguals. Methods: This descriptive-analytic study was performed on 92 students with normal hearing, 46 of whom were bilingual Kurd-Persian with a mean (SD) age of 22.73 (1.92) years, and 46 other Persian monolinguals with a mean (SD) age of 22.71 (2.28) years. They were examined by consonant-vowel in noise (CV in noise) test and quick speech in noise (Q-SIN) test. The obtained data were analyzed by SPSS 21. Results: The comparison of the results showed differences in both tests between bilingual and monolingual subjects. In both groups, the reduc­tion of signal-to-noise ratio led to lower scores, but decrease in CV in noise test in bilinguals was less than monolinguals (p < 0.001) and in the Q-SIN test, the drop in bilinguals’ score was more than monolinguals (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Kurd-Persian bilinguals had a bet­ter performance in CV in noise test but had a worse performance in Q-SIN test than Persian monolinguals.
The Use of Senior Volunteers in the Care of Discharged Geriatric Patients

This article reports on a project that utilized senior volunteers in the role of health advocates for geriatric patients discharged from a hospital. The project was evaluated to determine if healthy and active seniors could make a contribution to the health and social welfare of such discharged elderly persons. The study was conducted in Montreal, Canada and funded by a federal grant from Health Canada. The research collaborators came from a 414-bed secondary care university-affiliated community hospital, a community social service agency with a mandate to respond to the needs of its frail elderly constituents, and a university-based research centre that works with health professionals in various settings to develop and evaluate service programs addressing the needs of disadvantaged families and individuals.
Intra-uterine and genetic influences on the relationship between size at birth and height in later life: analysis in twins.

Epidemiological studies have consistently shown a positive association between size at birth (i.e. birth weight or birth length) and height in children, adolescents and adults. To examine whether this association is explained by genetic or nongenetic (intra-uterine) factors, we investigated birth weight, birth length and height in 60 dizygotic and 68 monozygotic adolescent twin pairs still living with their parents. Birth weight of the twins was obtained from their mothers. Height was measured in a standardised way. The mean age was 17+/-1.7 years for the dizygotic twins and 16+/-1.8 years for the monozygotic twins. Both dizygotic and monozygotic twins with the lowest birth weight from each pair had a height that was lower compared to their co-twins with the highest birth weight (dizygotic twins: 172.2+/-7.9 vs. 173.8+/-9.4 cm [p = 0.05]; monozygotic twins: 171.1+/-9.4 vs. 171.8+/-9.5 cm [p = 0.01]). Similarly, both dizygotic and monozygotic twins with the shortest birth length from each pair had a height that was lower compared to their co-twins with the longest birth length (dizygotic twins: 172.3+/-7.9 vs. 174.9plus minus9.7 cm [p < 0.05]; monozygotic twins: 168.9+/-10.6 vs. 169.9+/-10.2 cm [p < 0.01]). In addition, intra-pair differences in birth weight and birth length were significantly associated with differences in height in both dizygotic twins (regression coefficient: 4.3 cm/kg [95% confidence interval: 1.0 to 7.5] and 0.96 cm/cm [0.17 to 1.74], respectively) and monozygotic twins (2.8 cm/kg [1.4 to 4.1] and 0.73 cm/cm [0.40 to 1.06], respectively). These associations were stronger in dizygotic than in monozygotic twins, but this difference was not statistically significant (for birth weight p = 0.4; and for birth length p = 0.6). However, genetic model fitting indicated that models incorporating a genetic source of the covariance gave a better description of the observed association of birth weight and length with height in later life than models not incorporating this genetic source. The results were similar for data on adult height after 12 years of follow-up in a subgroup of these twin pairs. These data suggest that the association between size at birth and height in later life is influenced by non-genetic intra-uterine and by genetic factors.
Haemolysis during Sample Preparation Alters microRNA Content of Plasma

The presence of cell-free microRNAs (miRNAs) has been detected in a range of body fluids. The miRNA content of plasma/serum in particular has been proposed as a potential source of novel biomarkers for a number of diseases. Nevertheless, the quantification of miRNAs from plasma or serum is made difficult due to inefficient isolation and lack of consensus regarding the optimal reference miRNA. The effect of haemolysis on the quantification and normalisation of miRNAs in plasma has not been investigated in great detail. We found that levels of miR-16, a commonly used reference gene, showed little variation when measured in plasma samples from healthy volunteers or patients with malignant mesothelioma or coronary artery disease. Including samples with evidence of haemolysis led to variation in miR-16 levels and consequently decreased its ability to serve as a reference. The levels of miR-16 and miR-451, both present in significant levels in red blood cells, were proportional to the degree of haemolysis. Measurements of the level of these miRNAs in whole blood, plasma, red blood cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells revealed that the miRNA content of red blood cells represents the major source of variation in miR-16 and miR-451 levels measured in plasma. Adding lysed red blood cells to non-haemolysed plasma allowed a cut-off level of free haemoglobin to be determined, below which miR-16 and miR-451 levels displayed little variation between individuals. In conclusion, increases in plasma miR-16 and miR-451 are caused by haemolysis. In the absence of haemolysis the levels of both miR-16 and miR-451 are sufficiently constant to serve as normalisers.
On the minimal number of ramified primes in some solvable extensions of Q

For each finite solvable group G, there is a minimal positive integer ram(G) (resp. ram t (G)) such that G appears as the Galois group of an extension of Q (resp. a tamely ramified extension of Q) ramified at only ram(G) (resp. ram t (G)) finite primes. We obtain bounds for ram(G) and ram t (G), where G is either a nilpotent group of odd order or a generalized dihedral group.
Automatic Arabic digit speech recognition and formant analysis for voicing disordered people

In this paper, analysis of speech from voice disordered people is performed from automatic speech recognition (ASR) point of view. Six different types of voicing disorder (pathological voice) are analyzed to show the difficulty of automatically recognizing their corresponding speech. As a case study, Arabic spoken digits are taken as input. The distribution of first four formants of vowel /a/ is extracted to show a significant deviation of formants from the normal speech to disordered speech. Experiment result reveals that current ASR technique is far from reliable performance in case of pathological speech, and thereby we need attention to this.
Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Subclinical Cardiovascular Disease: The Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Background Few studies have evaluated the association between secondhand smoke (SHS) and subclinical cardiovascular disease among ethnically diverse populations. This study assesses the impact of SHS on inflammation and atherosclerosis (carotid intima‐media thickness, coronary artery calcification, and peripheral arterial disease). Methods and Results We examined 5032 nonsmoking adults aged 45 to 84 years without prior cardiovascular disease participating in the Multi‐Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) from 2000 to 2002. SHS exposure was determined by self‐report, and urinary cotinine was measured in a representative subset (n=2893). The multi‐adjusted geometric mean ratios (95% CIs) for high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein and interleukin‐6 comparing 407 participants with SHS ≥12 h/wk versus 3035 unexposed participants were 1.13 (1.02–1.26) and 1.04 (0.98–1.11), respectively. The multi‐adjusted geometric mean ratio for carotid intima‐media thickness was 1.02 (0.97–1.07). Fibrinogen and coronary artery calcification were not associated with SHS. The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (ankle‐brachial index ≤0.9 or ≥1.4) was associated with detectable urinary cotinine (odds ratio, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.09–4.04) but not with self‐reported SHS. Urinary cotinine was not associated with inflammation or carotid intima‐media thickness. Conclusions Despite limited exposure assessment, this study supports the association of SHS exposure with inflammation and peripheral arterial disease.
Differential or deferential to media? The effect of prejudicial publicity on judge or jury

Australian jurisdictions have increasingly moved to facilitate trial by judge alone in cases which are the subject of significant prejudicial publicity. These moves have been predicated upon the assumption that the ordering of a trial by judge alone is an effective means of reducing the risk of prejudice in cases of this kind. This article has two objects. First, it investigates the principles underpinning the availability of trial by judge alone in cases of serious prejudicial publicity, and the different legislative frameworks that have evolved in different Australian jurisdictions. Second, it critiques these principles by analysis of a line of psycho-legal research which examines the comparative abilities of judges and jurors to disregard prejudicial publicity. The article interrogates the reformist assumption that a trial by judge alone will be fairer to an accused who is the subject of significant prejudicial publicity.
Isomorphism of lattices of recursively enumerable sets

Let w = {0,1,2,. }. , and for A C w, let EA be the lattice of subsets of w which are recursively enumerable relative to the "oracle" A. Let (EA)* be EA/_, where I is the ideal of finite subsets of w. It is established that for any A, B C w, (EA)* is effectively isomorphic to (EB)* if and only if A' = T B', where A' is the Turing jump of A. A consequence is that if A' =T B', then EA EB. A second consequence is that (EA)* can be effectively embedded into (EB)* preserving least and greatest elements if and only if A'
‘It’s so scary how common this is now:’ frames in media coverage of the opioid epidemic by Ohio newspapers and themes in Facebook user reactions

ABSTRACT Deaths from opioid overdose in the US have increased five-fold since 1999. Ohio ranks second among states in drug overdose deaths, with more than 39 deaths for every 100,000 people. In light of this, opioid addiction and related issues have garnered substantial media attention. However, few studies have examined the content and framing of opioid-related media coverage or explored ways that audiences react to coverage of the crisis within their communities. This study attempts to fill this gap through an analysis of opioid-related posts and comments on the public-facing Facebook pages of 42 Ohio newspapers between 2013 and 2017 (N = 397). Content analysis was used to identify frames in posted newspaper content and themes in comments. Four frames were identified in posted stories: (1) Awareness of the Opioid Epidemic and Affected Populations (34.0% of all posted content; n = 135); (2) Programs, Policies, and Interventions (29.5%; n = 117); (3) Crime, Punishment, Legal Cases, and Law Enforcement (28.2%; n = 112); and (4) Narratives of Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery (8.3%; n = 33). Analyses of Facebook user comments on posted newspaper content revealed five themes: Emotion and Support, Choice and Responsibility, Disease and Treatment, Worthiness, and Attention and Action. Findings indicate both the intensive and diverse efforts of newspapers to cover the epidemic as well as the varied reactions of community members to opioid use and addiction.
Endogenous Hydrogen Peroxide Regulates the Excitability of Midbrain Dopamine Neurons via ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels

ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channels link metabolic state to cell excitability. Here, we examined regulation of KATP channels in substantia nigra dopamine neurons by hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which is produced in all cells during aerobic metabolism. Blockade of KATP channels by glibenclamide (100 nm) or depletion of intracellular H2O2 by including catalase, a peroxidase enzyme, in the patch pipette increased the spontaneous firing rate of all dopamine neurons tested in guinea pig midbrain slices. Using fluorescence imaging with dichlorofluorescein to visualize intracellular H2O2, we found that moderate increases in H2O2 during partial inhibition of glutathione (GSH) peroxidase by mercaptosuccinate (0.1-0.3 mm) had no effect on dopamine neuron firing rate. However, with greater GSH inhibition (1 mm mercaptosuccinate) or application of exogenous H2O2, 50% of recorded cells showed KATP channel-dependent hyperpolarization. Responsive cells also hyperpolarized with diazoxide, a selective opener for KATP channels containing sulfonylurea receptor SUR1 subunits, but not with cromakalim, a selective opener for SUR2-based channels, indicating that SUR1-based KATP channels conveyed enhanced sensitivity to elevated H2O2. In contrast, when endogenous H2O2 levels were increased after inhibition of catalase, the predominant peroxidase in the substantia nigra, with 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole (1 mm), all dopamine neurons responded with glibenclamide-reversible hyperpolarization. Fluorescence imaging of H2O2 indicated that catalase inhibition rapidly amplified intracellular H2O2, whereas inhibition of GSH peroxidase, a predominantly glial enzyme, caused a slower, smaller increase, especially in nonresponsive cells. Thus, endogenous H2O2 modulates neuronal activity via KATP channel opening, thereby enhancing the reciprocal relationship between metabolism and excitability.
Impact of the Safe Routes to School Program on Walking and Bicycling

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Increasing walking and bicycling to school has been a national policy goal since Congress created the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. While previous research has suggested positive program impacts, there have been no large-scale studies with strong research designs. Here we study 801 schools in the District of Columbia, Florida, Oregon, and Texas to assess how the proportion of students walking and bicycling to school changed after the introduction of SRTS programs. By including schools with and without SRTS programs and analyzing data collected over time (2007–2012), we are able to distinguish SRTS impacts from secular trends. We find increases in walking and bicycling after schools implemented SRTS programs. Engineering improvements are associated with an 18% relative increase in walking and bicycling, and the effects of education and encouragement programs are cumulative. Over the course of five years, these education and encouragement programs could lead to a 25% relative increase in walking and bicycling. Takeaway for practice: Planners should work to prioritize capital improvements that improve non-motorized access to school and revise comprehensive plans and subdivision regulations to ensure that new development supports access to school.