Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Circulating leukocyte counts, activation, and degranulation in Dahl hypertensive rats.

Previous evidence has shown that rats with spontaneous hypertension have on average about twice as many circulating leukocytes in comparison with their normotensive counterparts, the Wistar-Kyoto rats. Since such high levels of leukocytes may increase the risk for vascular complications for hypertensive animals, it is useful to ascertain whether a comparable derangement is present in other forms of hypertension. The present study deals with the properties of the circulating leukocytes in rats exhibiting another form of experimental hypertension; Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl-S) hypertensive rats were compared with Dahl salt-resistant (Dahl-R) control rats. Measurements were performed to determine the following: circulating hematocrit levels, leukocyte counts, differential counts, number of activated leukocytes (by means of nitro blue tetrazolium [NBT] reduction), leukocyte adhesion in vitro and neutrophil CD-18 expression, alkaline phosphatase activity in individual neutrophils and in the plasma, and myeloperoxidase activity in neutrophils. The experimental cohort consisted of Dahl-S and Dahl-R rats maintained for a 6-week period on a 6% NaCl diet. The results show a highly significant elevation in the number of total leukocytes, neutrophil and monocyte counts, and NBT-positive neutrophils and monocytes in Dahl-S but not Dahl-R rats. There was a significant loss of alkaline phosphatase and myeloperoxidase activity in the neutrophils of the salt-treated Dahl-S rats but not in the neutrophils of the untreated Dahl-S or Dahl-R rats. No significant differences were found in neutrophil adhesion under in vitro test conditions between the two strains maintained on the salt diet. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Epidemiologic and microbiologic correlates of Chlamydia trachomatis infection in sexual partnerships.

OBJECTIVES To determine the frequency of Chlamydia trachomatis genital infection within sexual partnerships using highly sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and to identify the variables that might modify transmission. DESIGN Cross-sectional study of sexual partnerships comparing in vitro culture and PCR amplification for C trachomatis. SETTING Two outpatient sexually transmitted disease clinics. PARTICIPANTS Four hundred ninety-four people in sexual partnerships attending sexually transmitted disease clinics. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Genital infection with C trachomatis. METHODS DNA sequencing was performed to examine specific genotypes within and between partnerships. Cross-sectional analysis was performed to determine characteristics associated with concordance or discordance of infection with partnerships. RESULTS Cultures were positive for C trachomatis in 8.5% of males and 12.9% of females (P=.03). Using PCR, more infections were identified both in males (14.2%) and in females (15.8%), and the difference in infection rates analyzed by sex was no longer significant. In 20.4% of 494 couples, at least 1 partner had PCR results positive for C trachomatis, with a concordant infection rate of 10.7%, significantly higher than the 5.5% concordant infection rate demonstrable by culture (P<.01). Male-female and female-male transmission frequencies were equal (68%). The nucleotide sequences of the major outer membrane protein gene products were identical and unique for each of 15 culture-negative, PCR-positive concordant partnerships. In concordant infections, factors associated with infection in female partners were age less than 20 years, more than 1 partner in the past 6 months, and cervical ectopy greater than 25%. CONCLUSIONS Using PCR, the frequency of chlamydia transmission by infected males and females was nearly identical. The high rate of concordant infection, high frequency of infection among asymptomatic individuals, and high frequency of transmission regardless of sex underscore the importance of routine screening for chlamydia in both males and females, along with provision of treatment to all sexual partners of chlamydia-infected individuals.
Cooking in prison--from crook to cook.

PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse the principle and practice of self-catering system in a Danish prison. Self-catering is a reflection of the Danish correctional principle of normalisation between prison and community life. Unlike some other jurisdiction, issues of control in meal preparation are subordinate to prisoners' right to choose and prepare their own food. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH Findings are derived from 13 months of ethnographic fieldwork in a Danish maximum security prison for men, including in-depth interviews with 68 prisoners. FINDINGS Overall findings showed that thinking about meals and their preparation is time consuming for prisoners who tend to be positive about the system making connections with their ability to exercise responsibility for making healthily choices. The research concludes that prisoners' possibility for developing cooking competences during incarceration could support prisoners change in social identity from crook to cook. ORIGINALITY/VALUE Food is a fundamental need and the ability to choose what to eat and to prepare one's own food should be a right for all people, including prisoners. This research shows that Danish prisoners are very pleased about the system of self-catering. Most prisoners are concerned about preparing their own meals according to their taste and cultural diversity. If the prison offers the opportunity to train as a chef during imprisonment it could support the prisoner's change in social identity from crook to cook on the outside.
Effect of Fertilizer on Palisadegrass Seeds Pathogens

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the contact of Brachiaria seeds with the fertilizer 05-25-15 on the sanitary quality of the seeds. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a (2x5) factorial design, with four replications. The treatments consisted of five contact times (0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 hours) of the fertilizer with seeds of ruziziensis grass and marandu grass. After the contact times of the Brachiaria seeds with the fertilizer, the seeds from each species were separated and the following analyses were performed: water content, germination, seed health ("Blotter Test"), and accelerated aging, with later germination test and sanitary analysis of seeds. Data were analysed for variance and regression analysis at the significance level of 5% and descriptive analysis was used for the results of the sanitary analysis. The contact time reduces the incidence of pathogens in the seeds of ruziziensis grass and marandu grass treated with the fertilizer due to the salinity and acid pH of the fertilizer. The fungi related to the reduction in germination were Aspergillus sp. and Fusarium sp. The disinfestation process increased the incidence of Fusarium sp. , under high internal infestation of this fungus in palisadegrass seeds.
Polarization-based decorrelation of transparent layers: The inclination angle of an invisible surface

When a transparent surface is present between an observer and an object, an image reflected by the surface may be superimposed on the image of the observed object. We present a new approach to recover the scenes (layers) and to classify which is the reflected/transmitted one, based on imaging through a polarizing filter at two orientations. Estimates of the separate layers are obtained by weighted pixel-wise differences of these images, inverting the image formation process. However the weights depend on the angle of incidence, hence on the inclination of the transparent (invisible) surface. This angle is estimated by seeking the angle-value which (through the weights) leads to decorrelation of the estimated layers. Experimental results, obtained using real photos of actual objects, demonstrate the success of angle estimation and consequent layer separation and labeling. The method is shown to be superior to earlier methods where only raw optical data was used.
Correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder in adults with congenital heart disease

OBJECTIVE The aims of this study were to compare the level of posttraumatic stress disorder between adults with and without congenital heart disease, and to examine the correlates of posttraumatic stress disorder (e.g., sociodemographics). DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Two university-affiliated heart hospitals in Tehran, Iran. PATIENTS A sample of 347 adults with congenital heart disease aged 18-64 years (52% women), and 353 adults without congenital heart disease matched by sex and age (±2 years) was recruited. OUTCOME MEASURES The PTSD Scale: Self-report version was used to assess the diagnosis and severity of posttraumatic stress disorder. Hierarchical multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore correlates of likely posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis among each group of participants. RESULTS The posttraumatic stress disorder in the patients was comparable to those of the control group, except for increased arousal (P = .027) which was scored higher among the patients. Over 52% of adults with congenital heart disease met the criteria for a likely posttraumatic stress disorder diagnosis compared with 48% of adults without congenital heart disease. The regression analyses among patients revealed that elevated depressive symptoms (OR = 1.27) and a positive history of cardiac surgery (OR = 2.02) were significantly associated with posttraumatic stress disorder. The model could explain 29% of the variance in posttraumatic stress disorder. CONCLUSIONS The high and comparable prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder among patients and nonpatients highlight the significance of the context in which adults with congenital heart disease may face other/additional stressors than disease-related ones, an issue that clinicians need also take into account. Furthermore, the association of posttraumatic stress disorder with elevated depressive symptoms warrant a comprehensive psychological assessment and management of adults with congenital heart disease, in particular among those with a history of invasive procedures.
Stabilin-1 expression defines a subset of macrophages that mediate tissue homeostasis and prevent fibrosis in chronic liver injury

Significance Organ fibrosis is a major cause of global morbidity and mortality. It is driven by chronic inflammation and associated oxidative stress with depletion of cellular antioxidant defenses. We demonstrate a pathway in which the evolutionarily conserved receptor stabilin-1 on tissue-infiltrating macrophages provides a second-line defense to prevent tissue damage from oxidative stress. Stabilin-1+ monocytes take up malondialdehyde-LDL (MDA-LDL), a major product of oxidative lipid peroxidation, to form ceroid-laden macrophages. Through the uptake of MDA-LDL, stabilin-1 suppresses production of the profibrogenic chemokine CCL3 and prevents excessive collagen deposition in experimental models of liver fibrosis. We propose that macrophage stabilin-1 is a critical defense against oxidative tissue damage and thereby maintains tissue homeostasis. Macrophages are key regulators of fibrosis development and resolution. Elucidating the mechanisms by which they mediate this process is crucial for establishing their therapeutic potential. Here, we use experimental models of liver fibrosis to show that deficiency of the scavenger receptor, stabilin-1, exacerbates fibrosis and delays resolution during the recovery phase. We detected a subset of stabilin-1+ macrophages that were induced at sites of cellular injury close to the hepatic scar in mouse models of liver fibrosis and in human liver disease. Stabilin-1 deficiency abrogated malondialdehyde-LDL (MDA-LDL) uptake by hepatic macrophages and was associated with excess collagen III deposition. Mechanistically, the lack of stabilin-1 led to elevated intrahepatic levels of the profibrogenic chemokine CCL3 and an increase in GFAP+ fibrogenic cells. Stabilin-1−/− macrophages demonstrated a proinflammatory phenotype during liver injury and the normal induction of Ly6Clo monocytes during resolution was absent in stabilin-1 knockouts leading to persistence of fibrosis. Human stabilin-1+ monocytes efficiently internalized MDA-LDL and this suppressed their ability to secrete CCL3, suggesting that loss of stabilin-1 removes a brake to CCL3 secretion. Experiments with cell-lineage–specific knockouts revealed that stabilin-1 expression in myeloid cells is required for the induction of this subset of macrophages and that increased fibrosis occurs in their absence. This study demonstrates a previously unidentified regulatory pathway in fibrogenesis in which a macrophage scavenger receptor protects against organ fibrosis by removing fibrogenic products of lipid peroxidation. Thus, stabilin-1+ macrophages shape the tissue microenvironment during liver injury and healing.
A national survey of early adopters of e-book reading in Sweden

Introduction. Reading literature is believed to be a cornerstone of democracy and good citizenship. With a decline in book reading and an increasing e-book market, it is of importance to follow the diffusion of e-book reading. Method. Data were collected in a large-scale, mail survey of the Swedish population aged 16 to 85 years conducted in 2012. Analysis. Bivariate analysis was used to reveal groups of users with regard to demographics, book reading habits and the frequency of reading digital texts other than e-books. A multivariate analysis was conducted to reveal the explanatory power of the model. Results. The small number of e-book readers found in the study indicates that we are at the beginning of the diffusion process. A limited number of demographic and other variables account for a significant part of the variation in ebook reading. The demographics of e-book readers differ both from traditional book readers and readers of digital newspapers and blogs. Conclusion.The penetration of reading devices in Sweden is high, which indicates a potential for e-book reading to expand and reach beyond the group of early adopters. But the development is also a question of available Swedish titles, not least in public libraries, currently the main channel for distribution to users.
Verb movement and subject placement in the acquisition of word order: Pragmatics or structural economy?

This chapter reports on a study investigating three children acquiring a dialect of Norwegian (Tromso). It is shown that, although verb-second (V2) word order is attested early in non-subject-initial declaratives and questions, the children produce non-target-consistent word order in these constructions at an early stage, failing to move pronominal subjects past negation or an adverb. This is analyzed within a split-CP model which also assumes the existence of two subject positions in the IP domain, a high one for informationally given subjects and a lower one for subjects conveying new information. A pragmatic account of the child data is considered, but rejected in favour of an economy-based analysis which includes factors such as input frequency and complexity.
Relationship between VO(2max) and repeated sprint ability using non-motorised treadmill ergometry.

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between maximal oxygen uptake (Vo(2max)) and repeated sprint ability (RSA) using non-motorised treadmill ergometry. METHODS Ten male participants (mean [standard deviation] VO(2max): 57.5 [2.1] mL x kg(-1). min(-1)) completed a RSA test (10, 6-s sprints with 34-s recovery) on a non-motorised treadmill. Oxygen consumption (VO(2)) and heart rate (HR) were measured during the RSA test and the decrement of performance fatigue (%(d)) was calculated for the performance indices mean maximal speed (MxSp) and average power output (AvPO). RESULTS There were significant relationships between VO(2max) and the %(d) MxSp (r=-0.75, P<0.05) and VO(2max) and the %(d) AvPO (r=-0.69, P<0.05). There were also significant relationships between VO(2max) and HR recovery (r=0.56, P<0.05) and VO(2max) and VO(2) recovery (r=0.7, P<0.01). However, while no significant relationships were reported between HR recovery and %(d) MxSp (r= 0.45, P>0.05) and HR recovery and %(d) AvPO (r=-0.52, P>0.05), significant relationships were observed between VO(2) recovery and %(d) MxSp (r=-0.75, P<0.05) and between VO(2) recovery and %(d) AvPO (r=-0.77, P<0.05). CONCLUSION The findings of this study suggest that VO(2max) may be an important factor determining RSA during repeated, high-intensity running-based exercise, such as field hockey, rugby and soccer.
SLC1A2 Variant Is Associated with Essential Tremor in Taiwanese Population

Essential tremor (ET), which is one of the most common movement disorders, may lead to severe interference in quality of life. The first genome-wide association study (GWAS) has identified an association of the LINGO1 variant (rs9652490) with ET in Americans and Europeans. Recently, a second GWAS that was performed in a European population has discovered a new variant (rs3794087) of the main glial glutamate transporter (SLC1A2) that increases the risk of ET with an odds ratio of about 1.4. SLC1A2 encodes for the major glial high-affinity glutamate reuptake transporter in the brain and is a potential ET susceptibility gene. Because replication in a different ethnic population is important for validating a finding, we conducted a case-control study to investigate the SLC1A2 variant in an Asian cohort with ET in Taiwan. A total of 542 subjects (273 ET patients and 269 controls) were included. The results showed that rs3794087 was associated with ET among the Taiwanese. The odds ratio was 1.37. Our results were similar to those of the second GWAS of ET in Europeans, and this confirms that SLC1A2 may be a good functional candidate gene for ET. A replication study in another independent population is of importance to validate this association.
Emergent Construction of melodic pitch and hierarchy through agents communicating emotion without melodic intelligence

A multi-agent system is presented which generates melody pitch sequences with a hierarchical structure. The system has no explicit melodic intelligence and generates the pitches as a result of emotional influence and communication between agents, and the hierarchical structure is a result of the emerging agent social structure. Another key element is that the system is not a mapping from multi-agent interaction onto musical features, but actually utilizes music for the agents to communicate emotions. Each agent in the society learns its own growing tune during the interaction process.
Diabetes as a predictor of mortality in a cohort of blind subjects.

BACKGROUND There is only a little information about survival in newly registered blind subjects. METHODS A closed cohort of blind subjects (n = 2680, 1803 of them women), newly registered between 1990 and 1993 in the district of Württemberg-Hohenzollern, Germany, was observed for up to 48 months. Mortality was compared to that of the general population. Predictors of mortality within that cohort were identified by Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. RESULTS Before 1 February 1994, 582 of the subjects had died. Diabetes had been diagnosed in 772 of the subjects, 226 of them died. The overall incidence rate of death was 12179 per 100,000 per year. The probability of survival after 47 months was 0.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.59-0.70) in the non-diabetic, and 0.46 (95% CI: 0.37-0.55) in the diabetic subjects. Predictors of mortality in the regression model were age (risk ratio [RR] per year of age 1.047), sex (RR for men 1.247) and diabetes (RR when blindness was unrelated to diabetes: 1,448, RR when diabetes was the only cause of blindness: 2,253). Compared with the entire population, mortality was considerably increased in the blind cohort (comparative mortality figure [CMF] 4.79), particularly in individuals with diabetes (CMF = 6.55). The relative risks decreased with increasing age. CONCLUSIONS Overall mortality in this cohort was high, even higher than in previous studies on the mortality of the blind. Diabetes increased the risk of death. In addition, the cause of blindness in diabetic individuals was a major predictor of mortality.
The Effects of Socioeconomic Characteristics of Students on Their Academic Achievement in Higher Education

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of the socioeconomic status of higher education students on their academic achievement and the relationship between these determinants. The study is conducted on the 691 undergraduate senior students being trained at the University of Suleyman Demirel who were chosen by their Weighted Quantitative Composite scores in the Student Selection Examination. In the study, student' Student Selection Examination Weighted Quantitative Composite scores which were taken into account when they were - accepted for their departments and their average grade of the academic scores until their final year are used as the dependent variables. Average grade point of the academic scores is the overall mean scores that the students have until the beginning of the final year in their departments. As for the independent variables, parents' educational status, family income, the settlement where the family lives, the status of the fathers' workplace, number of siblings and the educational background of the student before the Student Selection Examination are taken into consideration in the study. Obtained data has been analyzed by using correlation, regression and two-way variable analysis methods. The results of the study indicate that the high school type from which the students have been graduated can be said as an essential predicator for the students' academic achievement. The variables related to the family are not strong predicators. That education institutions prior to the higher education also accept students with a national exam has increased the homogeneity of the higher education student profile.
Inline Skating for Balance and Strength Promotion in Children during Physical Education

Deficiencies in balance and strength are common in children and they may lead to injuries. This study investigated the effects of inline skating exercise on balance and strength performance in healthy children. Twenty 11–12-year-old children (8 girls, 12 boys) were assigned to an intervention (n = 10) or a control (n = 10) group. Participants in the intervention group underwent a 4-week inline skating program (2 times/week, 90 min. each) integrated in their physical education lessons. Balance and strength were measured using the Star Excursion Balance test and the countermovement jump test. As compared to the control group, the intervention group significantly improved balance (17–48%, Cohen's d = 0.00–1.49) and jump height (8%, Cohen's d = 0.48). In children, inline skating is a safe, feasible (90% adherence rate), and effective program that can be integrated in physical education lessons to promote balance and strength.