Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of cardiovascular disease due to renal insufficiency in male sheep following fetal unilateral nephrectomy

Background Renal insufficiency is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Objectives This study investigated whether reduced fetal renal mass resulted in renal insufficiency, hypertension, cardiac dysfunction and whether these changes progressed with age. Methods and results Fetal uninephrectomy was performed at 100-day gestation (term, 150 days) and studies performed in male sheep from 6 weeks to 24 months of age. Renal function declined with age in sham animals as demonstrated by increasing plasma creatinine levels and urinary excretion of albumin. The age-related decline in renal function was exacerbated in animals that had undergone fetal uninephrectomy. Evidence of renal insufficiency was indicated from as early as 6 weeks of age with elevations in plasma creatinine (Ptreatment < 0.001), urea (Ptreatment < 0.001) and sodium (Ptreatment < 0.05) levels in uninephrectomized lambs as compared with sham animals. At 6 months, urinary albumin excretion (P < 0.001) was increased and urinary sodium excretion (P < 0.001) decreased in the uninephrectomized animals. By 24 months, renal function had deteriorated further with significant progression of albuminuria (Ptreatment×age < 0.001). Elevation of mean arterial pressure (∼15 mmHg) was associated with significantly increased cardiac output, stroke volume and plasma volume at 6 months; arterial pressure (∼27 mmHg) had increased further in uninephrectomized animals at 24 months and was driven by increased total peripheral resistance. Cardiac functional reserve (dobutamine challenge) was reduced in uninephrectomized animals at 6 and 24 months of age (Ptreatment < 0.001), and this was associated with left ventricular enlargement (P < 0.001) and reduced fractional shortening (P < 0.01). Conclusion Fetal uninephrectomy causing a reduction in nephron endowment results in an accelerated age-related decline in renal function. This is associated with an early onset of elevated blood pressure and impairments in cardiac structure and function.
Curing regular expressions matching algorithms from insomnia, amnesia, and acalculia

The importance of network security has grown tremendously and a collection of devices have been introduced, which can improve the security of a network. Network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) are among the most widely deployed such system; popular NIDS use a collection of signatures of known security threats and viruses, which are used to scan each packet's payload. Today, signatures are often specified as regular expressions; thus the core of the NIDS comprises of a regular expressions parser; such parsers are traditionally implemented as finite automata. Deterministic Finite Automata (DFA) are fast, therefore they are often desirable at high network link rates. DFA for the signatures, which are used in the current security devices, however require prohibitive amounts of memory, which limits their practical use. In this paper, we argue that the traditional DFA based NIDS has three main limitations: first they fail to exploit the fact that normal data streams rarely match any virus signature; second, DFAs are extremely inefficient in following multiple partially matching signatures and explodes in size, and third, finite automaton are incapable of efficiently keeping track of counts. We propose mechanisms to solve each of these drawbacks and demonstrate that our solutions can implement a NIDS much more securely and economically, and at the same time substantially improve the packet throughput.
Quadruple wild-type (WT) GIST: defining the subset of GIST that lacks abnormalities of KIT, PDGFRA, SDH, or RAS signaling pathways

A subset of GISTs lack mutations in the KIT/PDGFRA or RAS pathways and yet retain an intact succinate dehydrogensase (SDH) complex. We propose that these KIT/PDGFRA/SDH/RAS‐P WT GIST tumors be designated as quadruple wild‐type (WT) GIST. Further molecular and clinicophatological characterization of quadruple WT GIST will help to determine their prognosis as well as assist in the optimization of medical management, including clinical test of novel therapies.
Role of vasa vasorum in nourishment of the aortic wall.

Vasa vasorum are present in the middle and outer layers of media in the thoracic aorta of dogs and humans. To examine the role of vasa vasorum in nourishment of the aorta, we ligated four contiguous pairs of intercostal arteries in anesthetized dogs. These arteries are the source of vasa to the descending aorta but not the aortic arch. Blood flow through vasa vasorum was measured with microspheres. Acute intercostal ligation did not reduce conductance in the aortic arch but reduced conductance in the middle third of the descending aorta from 7 +/- 1 to 3 +/- 0.7 (SE) ml.min-1.100 g-1.mmHg-1 (P less than 0.05). After intercostal ligation, infusion of adenosine (5 mumol.kg-1.min-1 iv) increased conductance in the aortic arch 3- to 4-fold but did not increase conductance in the descending aorta. Six to ten days after intercostal ligation, conductance in the middle third of the descending aorta remained low. Vasodilator capacity was partially restored in outer layers of the descending aorta, probably by collateral vessels or formation of new vessels. Morphological changes ranged from broad bands of necrosis to patchy areas of cell loss, primarily in middle layers of descending aorta. We conclude that vasa vasorum are critical in nourishment of aortic media.
Shared Governance and Empowerment in Registered Nurses Working in a Hospital Setting

Empowerment of registered nurses through professional practice models inclusive of shared governance has been proposed as essential to improve quality patient care, contain costs, and retain nursing staff. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between perceptions of governance and empowerment among nurses working in acute care hospital units in which a shared governance model had been in place for 6 to 12 months. The 158 nurses who participated perceived themselves to be moderately empowered and in an early implementation stage of shared governance. There was a statistically significant positive relationship between perceptions of shared governance and empowerment. Recommendations for professional practice and future research are included.
Brain permeability of inhaled corticosteroids

The aim of this study was to evaluate if the permeability of inhaled corticosteroids entering the brain is reduced and if P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) transporters are involved. Currently employed inhaled corticosteroids were given intravenously and intratracheally to rats at a dose of 100 μg kg−1. An ex‐vivo receptor binding assay was used to monitor over 12 h the glucocorticoid receptor occupancy in the brain and a systemic reference organ (kidney). The involvement of P‐gp in the brain permeability of triamcinolone acetonide was assessed in wild‐type mice and mdr1a(‐/‐) knockout mice (mice lacking the gene for expressing P‐gp). After both forms of administration, the average brain receptor occupancies were 20–56% of those of the reference organ, with the more lipophilic drugs showing a more pronounced receptor occupation. While the receptor occupancies in the liver of wild‐type and mdr1a(‐/‐) mice were similar after administration of triamcinolone acetonide, brain receptor occupancies in mdr1a(‐/‐) mice were significantly greater (mdr1a(‐/‐): 47.6%, 40.2–55.0%, n = 2; wild‐type: 11.5±33.0%, n = 3). Penetration into the brain for inhaled corticosteroids (especially those of lower lipophilicity) is reduced. Experiments in mdr1a(‐/‐) mice confirmed the involvement of P‐gp transporters. Further studies are needed to assess whether potential drug interactions at the transporter level are of pharmacological significance.
Social Goals and Well-Being

ABSTRACT Students have various social reasons for doing well in school (social-academic goals). However, most studies have focused on competence-oriented achievement goals with little attention paid to social-academic goals. This study aims to examine the role of social-academic goals in students' general well-being (Study 1) and socioemotional functioning in school (Study 2). High school students from the Philippines (n = 588 for Study 1; n = 1,147 for Study 2) were invited to participate in the study. Results of Study 1 showed that social concern goals were associated with higher levels of well-being. Study 2 showed that social responsibility goals were negatively associated with withdrawal, aggression, and resistance in school. Implications are discussed.
Resting heart rate on the decline: the Tromsø Study 1986-2007.

BACKGROUND We examined secular changes in resting heart rate (RHR) and their relationship with changes in other cardiovascular risk factors in adult men and women over a 22-year period. METHODS A single-centre population-based longitudinal study comprised 30,699 men and women aged 30-89 years who participated in at least one of the 1986, 1994, 2001 and 2007 surveys of the Tromsø Study, Tromsø, Norway. RESULTS During the study period, the age-adjusted means of RHR declined from 73.4 to 64.7 beats per minute (b.p.m.) in men, and from 78.3 to 66.4 b.p.m. in women. The decline was persistent from one survey to the next and was of similar size in both sexes and for all age groups and birth cohorts. RHR declined gradually over time for different levels of cardiovascular risk factors, and it declined more in those who moved from adverse to favourable values or categories of blood pressure, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, body mass index, smoking and physical activity, and those who started to take blood pressure medication. The strongest predictors of individual decline in RHR were decrease in systolic blood pressure and triglycerides, increase in physical activity, taking blood pressure treatment and smoking cessation. CONCLUSION A considerable decline in RHR has occurred in Tromsø over the past two decades in men and women of all ages. The decline is partly related to changes in several cardiovascular risk factors, and reasons behind this need to be further elucidated. The findings suggest that new definitions of normal RHR may be needed.
Secondary abdominal compartment syndrome: an underappreciated manifestation of severe hemorrhagic shock.

OBJECTIVE Abdominal compartment syndrome (ACS) has multiple well-described etiologies, but almost no attention has focused on ACS in the absence of abdominal injury. This study describes a secondary ACS that occurs after severe hemorrhagic shock with no evidence of abdominal injury. METHODS The trauma registry at a Level I trauma center was reviewed for a 13-month period beginning July 1, 1997. RESULTS During the study period, there were 46 of 1,216 intensive care unit admissions (4%) who required laparotomy and mesh closure of the abdominal wall because of visceral edema. In that subgroup, six patients (13% of mesh closures, 0.5% intensive care unit admissions) had hemorrhagic shock (5/1, blunt/penetrating trauma) but no evidence of intra-abdominal injury. Associated extremity compartment syndrome developed in two of six (33%). Overall mortality was four of six (67%), secondary to sepsis (n = 3), and head injury (n = 1). Time from admission to decompression averaged 3 hours in survivors and 25 hours in nonsurvivors (overall average = 18+/-9 hours). Resuscitation volume before abdominal decompression averaged 19+/-5 liters of crystalloid and 29+/-10 units of packed red blood cells. Bladder pressure averaged 33+/- 3 mm Hg. Decompression significantly improved peak inspiratory pressure (p < 0.003) and base deficit (p < 0.003). CONCLUSION ACS can occur with no abdominal injury; The incidence of secondary ACS was 0.5% in this cohort trauma intensive care unit patients, so it probably occurs more frequently than is currently appreciated. Because survivors were decompressed 20 hours before nonsurvivors, early recognition might improve outcomes. On the basis of these observations, we recommend that bladder pressures should be routinely checked and acted on appropriately when resuscitation volumes approach 10 liters of crystalloid or 10 units of packed red cells.
No Crime Left Behind: Exposure to Neighborhood Violence and School Performance in New York City

No Crime Left Behind: Exposure to Neighborhood Violence and School Performance in New York City Jondou Chase Chen Educational policy has increasingly focused on holding teachers and schools accountable for student performance. Yet popular and academic writers have long connected exposure to neighborhood violence to poor student performance. Newly available datasets, statistical methods and computer technology allow for greater power and additional control in analyzing this relation. Using school and neighborhood data (N = 792,374 students from 1,240 school neighborhoods) from New York City between 2006 and 2010, multilevel models were used to test whether exposure to violence in the school neighborhood (the number of police-reported felony assaults, homicides, rapes and robberies) predicts student performance (scaled scores on annual English and math tests). Violent crime is significantly associated with negative students outcomes controlling for a host of student and school neighborhood level variables including poverty and prior violent crime. Effect sizes were larger when predicting math outcomes than English, and for students in middle school as opposed to elementary school. These findings suggest that educational policymakers must distinguish exposure to violence from teacher and school effects and that neighborhood violence must be addressed by stakeholders of child development whether in schools or in society at large.
A Quantitative Theory of Early Skills Formation and Parental Choices

Time use surveys show that households with very young children spend more time in child care and work less. Also, college-educated parents spend more time with their offsprings. Finally, cognitive test scores are intergenerationally correlated. I build a model of parental choices and both cognitive/noncognitive skills development, embedding the skills formation technology of Cunha, Heckman and Schennach (2010). I find that the model, jointly with properties of the technology, can account for the bulk of such patterns. Simulations show that applying the German child allowances policy to the US would have little effect on the intergenerational persistence of skills.
Steady-State Mathematical Modeling of a Five-Phase Induction Machine With a Combined Star/Pentagon Stator Winding Connection

This paper presents the steady-state mathematical model of a five-phase induction machine with a combined star/pentagon connection. The connection splits the stator winding into two five-phase windings displaced in space by $\pi$/10 and connected in a combined star/pentagon configuration. Recent work limited to an experimental investigation demonstrated that the connection possesses improved fault tolerance when compared to a conventional star-connected stator, as well as avoids the pentagon connection problems. Although the machine has five-phase terminals, it is intrinsically an asymmetrical ten-phase machine, which introduces additional subspaces in the machine's mathematical model. In order to theoretically investigate and thoroughly assess this connection against conventional connections, this paper introduces the steady-state mathematical model based on vector space decomposition and symmetrical component theory. Finite-element analysis is first used to investigate the different harmonic current components induced in the cage rotor circuit, upon which the effect of different subspaces can be clarified and the required transformation matrix from phase variables to their sequence components can be derived. The model is verified using a 1-kW prototype five-phase induction machine.
Attentional modulation in layer 4 of the visual cortex could be mediated by interneurons with complex receptive field characteristics

Many neurons in the visual cortex are orientation-selective, increase their firing rate with contrast and are modulated by attention. What is the cortical circuit that underlies these computations? We examine how synchrony can be modulated by the excitability of interneurons, in a model layer 4 network displaying contrast-invariant orientation-tuning. We did not find parameter settings for which the standard ring model (Somers et al, 1995), which contains only cells with simple receptive fields (RF), behaved appropriately. Only when interneurons with complex receptive fields were included, similar to those found recently in cat primary visual cortex (Hirsch et al, 2003), did the network behave appropriately. A critical feature in the model was that complex interneurons projected to simple interneurons but the simple interneurons did not project back to them. The network was switched from the non-attended state to the attended state by increasing the depolarization of the complex interneurons. In addition to contrast-invariant orientation tuning, the model reproduced the following experimental results: (1) the gamma-frequency range coherence between the estimated local field potential (eLFP) and spike trains of excitatory cells was higher in the attended state than in the non-attended state, but the firing rates of the excitatory cells did not vary between states; (2) the gamma-frequency-range power in the eLFP increased with contrast. The model predicts that there are two populations of inhibitory cells, one with complex RF characteristics whose firing rate increases with attention and the other with simple RF characteristics whose firing rate decreases with attention.
Biochemistry of Mitochondrial Nitric-oxide Synthase*

We reported that the generation of nitric oxide by mitochondria is catalyzed by a constitutive, mitochondrial nitric-oxide synthase (mtNOS). Given that this production may establish the basis for a novel regulatory pathway of energy metabolism, oxygen consumption, and oxygen free radical production, it becomes imperative to identify unequivocally and characterize this enzyme to provide a basis for its regulation. The mitochondrial localization of mtNOS was supported by following the hepatic distribution of mtNOS, immunoblotting submitochondrial fractions, and immunohistochemistry of liver tissues. mtNOS was identified as brain NOSα by various methods (mass spectrometry of proteolytic fragments, amino acid analysis, molecular weight, pI, and analysis of PCR fragments), excluding the occurrence of a novel isoform or other splice variants. Distribution of mtNOS transcript indicated its occurrence in liver, brain, heart, muscle, kidney, lung, testis, and spleen. In contrast to brain NOS, mtNOS has two post-translational modifications: acylation with myristic acid and phosphorylation at the C terminus. The former modification is a reversible and post-translational process, which may serve for subcellular targeting or membrane anchoring. The latter modification could be linked to enzymatic regulation. These results are discussed in terms of the role that nitric oxide may have in cellular bioenergetics.
Broad Cross-Clade T-Cell Responses to Gag in Individuals Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Non-B Clades (A to G): Importance of HLA Anchor Residue Conservation

ABSTRACT We aimed to identify cross-clade human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) specific T-cell responses among 10 HLA-typed individuals who were infected with non-B HIV-1 strains (A, AG, C, D, G, or F) and to correlate these responses with genetic variation in documented T-cell epitopes. T-cell reactivity was tested against peptide pools spanning clade B Gag, Pol, Nef, Rev, and Tat consensus, with Gag and Nef providing the highest responses. Nine individuals who responded to clade B Gag demonstrated cross-reactive T-cell responses against clade A and C Gag pools, while six of seven responders to Nef-B reacted to clade A and C Nef pools. An inverse correlation between the height of the T-cell responses and the sequence divergence of the HLA class I-restricted epitopes was identified when we compared autologous Gag and Nef sequences with the reactive consensus pools. This could be explained for the Gag sequences through observed variations in the HLA anchor residues. Through mapping of 30 amino acid cross-clade-reactive regions using Gag-B pools, we were able to link 58% (14/24) of the T-cell responses to regions containing previously described HLA class I-restricted epitopes. Forty-two percent (10/24) of the responses were directed to regions containing new epitopes, for which predicted HLA class I motifs could be recognized in 70% (7/10) of individuals. We demonstrate here that cross-clade T-cell responses are frequently induced in individuals infected with distinct HIV-1 clades, suggesting that interclade variation outside of HLA anchor residues may have less impact on vaccine-induced T-cell reactivity than previously thought.
Channel Pass-Through of Trade Promotions

Packaged goods manufacturers spend in excess of $75 billion annually on trade promotions, even though their effectiveness has been hotly debated by academics and practitioners for decades. One reason for this ongoing debate is that empirical research has been limited mostly to case studies, managerial surveys, and data from one or two supermarket chains in a single market. In this paper, we assemble a unique data set containing information on prices, quantities, and promotions throughout the entire channel in a category. Our study extends the empirical literature on pass-through in three important ways. First, we investigate how pass-through varies across more than 1,000 retailers in over 30 states. Second, we study pass-through at multiple levels of the distribution channel. Third, we show how the use of accounting metrics, such as average acquisition cost, rather than transaction cost, yields biased estimates of pass-through and therefore overstates the effectiveness of trade promotions. We find that mean pass-through elasticities are 0.71, 0.59, and 0.41, for the wholesaler, retailer, and total channel, respectively. More importantly, at each level of the channel we observe large variances in pass-through estimates that we explain using various measures of cost and competition. Surprisingly, we find that market structure and competition have a relatively small impact on pass-through. We conclude by showing how the profitability of manufacturer and wholesaler deals can be improved by utilizing detailed effectiveness estimates. For example, a manufacturer using an inclusive trade promotion strategy might offer a 10% off invoice deal to all retailers on every product. This strategy would decrease manufacturer and wholesaler profits for 56% of product/store combinations, whereas retailers experience a profit boost in 96% of cases. Manufacturers and wholesalers can avoid unprofitable trade deals for specific products and retailers by utilizing estimates of pass-through, consumer price elasticity, and margins. Compared to the inclusive strategy, such a selective trade promotion strategy would improve deal profitability by 80% and reduce costs by 40%.
Bilingual Word Embeddings for Cross-Lingual Personality Recognition Using Convolutional Neural Nets

We propose a multilingual personality classifier that uses text data from social media and Youtube Vlog transcriptions, and maps them into Big Five personality traits using a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). We first train unsupervised bilingual word embeddings from an English-Chinese parallel corpus, and use these trained word representations as input to our CNN. This enables our model to yield relatively high cross-lingual and multilingual performance on Chinese texts, after training on the English dataset for example. We also train monolingual Chinese embeddings from a large Chinese text corpus and then train our CNN model on a Chinese dataset consisting of conversational dialogue labeled with personality. We achieve an average F-score of 66.1 in our multilingual task compared to 63.3 F-score in cross-lingual, and 63.2 F-score in the monolingual performance.