Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The association of metabolic risk factors and silent brain infarctions in healthy Taiwanese.

PURPOSE Silent brain infarctions (SBI) commonly go unnoticed due to the subtlety of their neurological signs. However, there is the risk of subsequent symptomatic stroke and dementia. A better understanding of the risk factors of SBI may help accurately predict those who will require treatment. METHODS This one-year retrospective study enrolled 199 adult healthy Taiwanese. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between baseline clinical factors and the presence of SBI during the study period. RESULTS Fifteen (7.5%) healthy subjects had SBI, including 4.9% (5/103) males and 10.4% (10/96) females. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that both mean age and hypertension were independently associated with SBI, such that any increase of one year in mean age increased the SBI rate by 7.3%. CONCLUSION In the present study, there is a close relationship between elderly patients and SBI and any increase of one year in mean age increases the SBI rate by 7.3%. Aside from age, hypertension is by far the strongest modifiable risk factor identified to date. Prospective, longitudinal observational studies are warranted to evaluate the relationship between control of hypertension and SBI in this specific population to determine how to prevent subsequent symptomatic stroke.
Scientific Opinion on application (EFSA-GMO-UK-2007-49) for the placing on the market of the insect resistant and herbicide tolerant genetically modified maize Bt11xGA21 for food and feed uses, import and processing under Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 from Syngenta Seeds

This scientific opinion reports on an evaluation of a risk assessment for placing on the market the genetically modified insect resistant and herbicide tolerant maize Bt11xGA21 for food and feed uses, import and processing. Conventional breeding methods were used in the production of maize Bt11xGA21 from inbred lines of the respective parental events. The structural integrity of the inserts in the single maize events as well as the phenotypes were retained in the stacked maize event. The expression levels of the Cry1Ab, PAT and mEPSPS proteins in maize Bt11xGA21 were demonstrated to be comparable with those of the single maize events. The comparative analysis of phenotypic, agronomic and compositional characteristics of this GM maize indicated equivalence with its non-GM maize counterpart and conventional maize, except for the expression of the target proteins Cry1Ab, PAT and mEPSPS, providing resistance to certain lepidopteran pests and tolerance to glufosinate-ammonium- and glyphosate-based herbicides. The safety assessment identified no concerns regarding potential toxicity and allergenicity of maize Bt11xGA21. A feeding study on broiler chickens confirmed the nutritional equivalence of this GM maize to its non-GM maize counterpart and conventional maize. Considering the intended uses of maize Bt11xGA21, which excludes cultivation within the European Union, no scientific assessment of potential environmental effects associated with cultivation of maize Bt11xGA21 was required. In case of accidental release of viable maize Bt11xGA21 grains into the environment during transportation and processing, there are no indications of increased likelihood of establishment or survival of feral maize plants, except in the presence of glufosinte-ammonium- and/or glyphosate-based herbicides. The EFSA GMO Panel concludes that maize Bt11xGA21 is as safe as its non-GM maize counterpart with respect to effects on human and animal health and the environment, and is unlikely to have any adverse effect on human and animal health or on the environment in the context of its intended uses.
THE NATURE OF OPTICALLY DULL ACTIVE GALACTIC NUCLEI IN COSMOS

We present infrared, optical, and X-ray data of 48 X-ray bright, optically dull active galactic nuclei (AGNs) in the COSMOS field. These objects exhibit the X-ray luminosity of an AGN but lack broad and narrow emission lines in their optical spectrum. We show that despite the lack of optical emission lines, most of these optically dull AGNs are not well described by a typical passive red galaxy spectrum: instead they exhibit weak but significant blue emission like an unobscured AGN. Photometric observations over several years additionally show significant variability in the blue emission of four optically dull AGNs. The nature of the blue and infrared emission suggest that the optically inactive appearance of these AGNs cannot be caused by obscuration intrinsic to the AGNs. Instead, up to ∼70% of optically dull AGNs are diluted by their hosts, with bright or simply edge-on hosts lying preferentially within the spectroscopic aperture. The remaining ∼30% of optically dull AGNs have anomalously high fX/fO ratios and are intrinsically weak, not obscured, in the optical. These optically dull AGNs are best described as a weakly accreting AGN with a truncated accretion disk from a radiatively inefficient accretion flow.
Asymptotics of Multivariate Sequences II: Multiple Points of the Singular Variety

Let $F(\b{z})=\sum_\b{r} a_\b{r}\b{z^r}$ be a multivariate generating function that is meromorphic in some neighbourhood of the origin of $\mathbb{C}^d$, and let $\sing$ be its set of singularities. Effective asymptotic expansions for the coefficients can be obtained by complex contour integration near points of $\sing$. In the first article in this series, we treated the case of smooth points of $\sing$. In this article we deal with multiple points of $\sing$. Our results show that the central limit (Ornstein–Zernike) behaviour typical of the smooth case does not hold in the multiple point case. For example, when $\sing$ has a multiple point singularity at $(1, \ldots, 1)$, rather than $a_\b{r}$ decaying as $|\b{r}|^{-1/2}$ as $|\b{r}| \to \infty$, $a_\b{r}$ is very nearly polynomial in a cone of directions.
Early growth response gene 2 (Egr-2) controls the self-tolerance of T cells and prevents the development of lupuslike autoimmune disease

Maintaining tolerance of T cells to self-antigens is essential to avoid autoimmune disease. How self-reactive T cells are kept functionally inactive is, however, unknown. In this study, we show that early growth response gene 2 (Egr-2), a zinc-finger transcription factor, is expressed in CD44high T cells and controls their proliferation and activation. In the absence of Egr-2, CD44high, but not CD44low T cells, are hyperreactive and hyperproliferative in vivo. The accumulation of activated CD4+CD44high T cells leads to the development of a late onset lupuslike autoimmune disease characterized by the accumulation of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-17–producing CD4+ T cells, loss of tolerance to nuclear antigens, massive infiltration of T cells into multiple organs and glomerulonephritis. We found that the expression of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21cip1 was impaired in Egr-2–deficient T cells, whereas the expression of IFN-γ and IL-17 in response to T cell receptor ligation was significantly increased, suggesting that Egr-2 activates the expression of genes involved in the negative regulation of T cell proliferation and inflammation. These results demonstrate that Egr-2 is an intrinsic regulator of effector T cells and controls the expansion of self-reactive T cells and development of autoimmune disease.
Vancomycin resistance among methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates from intensive care units of tertiary care hospitals in Hyderabad

Background & objectives: Multidrug resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of nosocomial and community acquired infections and is on the rise. The glycopeptide vancomycin has been proposed as the drug of choice for treating such infections. The present study aimed at identifying the vancomycin resistance both phenotypically and genotypically among the MRSA isolates from two tertiary care hospitals in Hyderabad, south India. Methods: MRSA were isolated and identified from different clinical samples collected from ICUs of tertiary care hospitals in Hyderabad using conventional methods. Antibiogram of the isolates and vancomycin MIC were determined following CLSI guidelines. vanA was amplified by PCR using standard primers. Results: All vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA) isolates were MRSA. The VRSA isolates were positive for vanA gene, except one which was negative. All VRSA had a vancomycin MIC in the range of 16-64 mg/l. Interpretation & conclusions: The increase in vancomycin resistance among MRSA and excessive use of antimicrobial agents have worsened the sensitivity. Larger studies need to be done in various geographical regions of the country to better define the epidemiology, mechanism of vancomycin resistance in S. aureus and its clinical implications.
Mutant Alpha-Synuclein Causes Age-Dependent Neuropathology in Monkey Brain

Parkinson's disease (PD) is an age-dependent neurodegenerative disease that often occurs in those over age 60. Although rodents and small animals have been used widely to model PD and investigate its pathology, their short life span makes it difficult to assess the aging-related pathology that is likely to occur in PD patient brains. Here, we used brain tissues from rhesus monkeys at 2–3, 7–8, and >15 years of age to examine the expression of Parkin, PINK1, and α-synuclein, which are known to cause PD via loss- or gain-of-function mechanisms. We found that α-synuclein is increased in the older monkey brains, whereas Parkin and PINK1 are decreased or remain unchanged. Because of the gain of toxicity of α-synuclein, we performed stereotaxic injection of lentiviral vectors expressing mutant α-synuclein (A53T) into the substantia nigra of monkeys and found that aging also increases the accumulation of A53T in neurites and its associated neuropathology. A53T also causes more extensive reactive astrocytes and axonal degeneration in monkey brain than in mouse brain. Using monkey brain tissues, we found that A53T interacts with neurofascin, an adhesion molecule involved in axon subcellular targeting and neurite outgrowth. Aged monkey brain tissues show an increased interaction of neurofascin with A53T. Overexpression of A53T causes neuritic toxicity in cultured neuronal cells, which can be attenuated by transfected neurofascin. These findings from nonhuman primate brains reveal age-dependent pathological and molecular changes that could contribute to the age-dependent neuropathology in PD.
Utilization of xylooligosaccharides by selected ruminal bacteria

The ability of ruminal bacteria to utilize xylooligosaccharides was examined. Xylooligosaccharides were prepared by partially hydrolyzing oat spelt xylan in phosphoric acid. This substrate solution was added (0.2%, wt/vol) to a complex medium containing yeast extract and Trypticase that was inoculated with individual species of ruminal bacteria, and growth and utilization were monitored over time. All of the xylanolytic bacteria examined were able to utilize this oligosaccharide mixture as a growth substrate. Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, Eubacterium ruminantium, and Ruminococcus albus used xylooligosaccharides and whole, unhydrolyzed xylan to similar extents, while Prevotella ruminicola used twice as much xylooligosaccharides as xylan (76 versus 34%). Strains of Selenomonas ruminantium were the only nonxylanolytic species that were able to grow on xylooligosaccharides. The ability of individual S. ruminantium strains to utilize xylooligosaccharides was correlated with the presence of xylosidase and arabinosidases activities.
Cowles Foundation for Research in Economics at Yale University Cowles Foundation Discussion Paper No . 1666 ROBUST IMPLEMENTATION IN GENERAL MECHANISMS

A social choice function is robustly implemented if every equilibrium on every type space achieves outcomes consistent with it. We identify a robust monotonicity condition that is necessary and (with mild extra assumptions) su¢ cient for robust implementation. Robust monotonicity is strictly stronger than both Maskin monotonicity (necessary and almost su¢ cient for complete information implementation) and ex post monotonicity (necessary and almost su¢ cient for ex post implementation). It is equivalent to Bayesian monotonicity on all type spaces. Keywords: Mechanism Design, Implementation, Robustness, Common Knowledge, Interim Equilibrium, Dominant Strategies. Jel Classification: C79, D82 This research is supported by NSF Grants #CNS-0428422 and #SES-0518929. The rst author gratefully acknowledges support through a DFG Mercator Research Professorship at the Center of Economic Studies at the University of Munich. We thank Matt Jackson and Andy Postlewaite for helpful discussions and Richard van Weelden for research assistance. This paper supersedes and incorporates results reported earlier in Bergemann and Morris (2005a). yDepartment of Economics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, dirk.bergemann@yale.edu zDepartment of Economics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, smorris@princeton.edu
Which factors differentiate athletes with hip/groin pain from those without? A systematic review with meta-analysis

Background Hip and groin injuries are common in many sports. Understanding the factors differentiating athletes with hip/groin pain from those without these injuries could facilitate management and prevention. Objective Conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of the literature on factors differentiating athletes with and without hip/groin pain. Methods The review was registered as PROSPERO CRD42014007416 and a comprehensive, systematic search was conducted in June 2014. Inclusion criteria were: cross-sectional, cohort or case–control study designs of n>10 that examined outcome measures differentiating athletes with and without hip/groin pain. Two authors independently screened search results, assessed study quality, and performed data extraction. Methodological heterogeneity was determined and data pooled for meta-analysis when appropriate. A best evidence synthesis was performed on the remaining outcome measures. Results Of 2251 titles identified, 17 articles were included of which 10 were high quality. Sixty two different outcome measures were examined, 8 underwent meta-analysis. Pooled data showed strong evidence that athletes with hip/groin pain demonstrated: pain and lower strength on the adductor squeeze test, reduced range of motion in hip internal rotation and bent knee fall out; however, hip external rotation range was equivalent to controls. Strong evidence was found that lower patient-reported outcome (PRO) scores, altered trunk muscle function, and moderate evidence of bone oedema and secondary cleft sign were associated with hip/groin pain. Conclusions PROs, pain and reduced strength on the adductor squeeze test, reduced range of motion in internal rotation and bent knee fall out are the outcome measures that best differentiate athletes with hip/groin pain from those without this pain.
The Mammalian Target of Rapamycin Signaling Pathway Mediates Epileptogenesis in a Model of Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Understanding molecular mechanisms mediating epileptogenesis is critical for developing more effective therapies for epilepsy. We recently found that the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway is involved in epileptogenesis, and mTOR inhibitors prevent epilepsy in a mouse model of tuberous sclerosis complex. Here, we investigated the potential role of mTOR in a rat model of temporal lobe epilepsy initiated by status epilepticus. Acute kainate-induced seizures resulted in biphasic activation of the mTOR pathway, as evident by an increase in phospho-S6 (P-S6) expression. An initial rise in P-S6 expression started ∼1 h after seizure onset, peaked at 3–6 h, and returned to baseline by 24 h in both hippocampus and neocortex, reflecting widespread stimulation of mTOR signaling by acute seizure activity. After resolution of status epilepticus, a second increase in P-S6 was observed in hippocampus only, which started at 3 d, peaked 5–10 d, and persisted for several weeks after kainate injection, correlating with the development of chronic epileptogenesis within hippocampus. The mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, administered before kainate, blocked both the acute and chronic phases of seizure-induced mTOR activation and decreased kainate-induced neuronal cell death, neurogenesis, mossy fiber sprouting, and the development of spontaneous epilepsy. Late rapamycin treatment, after termination of status epilepticus, blocked the chronic phase of mTOR activation and reduced mossy fiber sprouting and epilepsy but not neurogenesis or neuronal death. These findings indicate that mTOR signaling mediates mechanisms of epileptogenesis in the kainate rat model and that mTOR inhibitors have potential antiepileptogenic effects in this model.
The effects of life assurance and pension funds on other savings: the postwar UK experience.

The main purpose of this paper is to test the substitution hypothesis of saving for the case of Life Assurance and Pension Funds (LAPF) on the one hand, and other (personal and corporate) savings on the other. The focus is the postwar U.K. period. Earlier U.K. findings on this issue rejected the substitution hypothesis. Most, in particular time series studies though, are subject to various limitations : that is, they focused on a very short period of time : made an uncritical use of the official data, that may cast doubt on their results : estimated consumption functions, which do not explicitly allow the testing of the effects of LAPF on other than personal savings too, such as corporate retentions : finally, confined their attention to - in most cases - one specification of the consumption function. (This abstract was borrowed from another version of this item.)
On Parsing Binary Dependency Structures Deterministically in Linear Time

In this paper we demonstrate that it is possible to parse dependency structures deterministically in linear time using syntactic heuristic choices. We in'st prove theoretically that deterministic, linear parsing of dependency structures is possible under certain conditions. We then discuss a fully implemented parser and argue that those conditions hold for at least one natural language. Empirical data demonstrates that the parsing time is indeed linear. The present quality of the parser in terms of finding the right dependency structure for sentences is about 85%.
Transgenic mice overexpressing glia maturation factor-β, an oxidative stress inducible gene, show premature aging due to Zmpste24 down-regulation

Glia Maturation Factor-β (GMF), a brain specific protein, is induced by proteinuria in renal tubules. Ectopic GMF overexpression causes apoptosis in vitro via cellular vulnerability to oxidative stress. In order to examine the roles of GMF in non-brain tissue, we constructed transgenic mice overexpressing GMF (GMF-TG). The GMF-TG mice exhibited appearance phenotypes associated with premature aging. The GMF-TG mice also demonstrated short lifespans and reduced hair regrowth, suggesting an accelerated aging process. The production of an abnormal lamin A, a nuclear envelope protein, plays a causal role in both normal aging and accelerated aging diseases, known as laminopathies. Importantly, we identified the abnormal lamin A (prelamin A), accompanied by a down-regulation of a lamin A processing enzyme (Zmpste24) in the kidney of the GMF-TG mice. The GMF-TG mice showed accelerated aging in the kidney, compared with wild-type mice, showing increased TGF-β1, CTGF gene and serum creatinine. The gene expression of p21/waf1 was increased at an earlier stage of life, at 10 weeks, which was in turn down-regulated at a later stage, at 60 weeks. In conclusion, we propose that GMF-TG mice might be a novel mouse model of accelerated aging, due to the abnormal lamin A.
Occurrence of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster in exotic birds.

Avian gastric yeast (Macrorhabdus ornithogaster) is a microorganism that infects aviary birds worldwide, both captive and wild. A total number of 352 birds, belonging to 18 avian species, were examined from 2019 to 2022 for M. ornithogaster, using fecal smears of live birds or cytological samples of the proventriculus taken at necropsy. These cytological samples were taken from birds that died from different causes. Some of the birds exhibited symptoms such as lethargy, regurgitation, weight loss and anorexia. Faecal samples were collected from all the birds and analysed for gastric yeast using a direct smear and Gram-staining method. The microorganism was diagnosed most frequently in budgerigars (55.5%), the African gray parrot (33.3%), and nymphs (34.3%). The prevalence of M. ornithogaster in canaries was 10%. The infection was detected in 31% of the examined birds, which shows that the occurrence of M. ornithogaster in exotic birds is common. No clinical signs were observed in the vast majority of birds that tested positive for gastric yeast.
Perfluorocarbons attenuate oxidative lung damage

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of tidal liquid ventilation (TLV) compared to conventional mechanical ventilation (CMV) on oxidative lung damage in the setting of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). After repeated lung lavages, 10 minipigs were treated with CMV or TLV for 4 hr before the animals were sacrificed. Samples for blood gas analysis and bronchial aspirate samples were withdrawn before the induction of lung injury, and at 10 min, 2 hr, and 4 hr after the beginning of ventilatory support. To assess lung oxidative damage, total hydroperoxide (TH) and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) concentrations were measured in bronchial aspirate samples. After 2 and 4 hr of ventilatory support, partial oxygen tension (PaO2) and base excess (BE) were significantly higher in the TLV group than in the CMV group, while PaCO2 was slightly higher, but with no statistical significance. In the CMV group, the AOPP level was significantly higher at 4 hr than at baseline. TH and AOPP bronchial aspirate concentrations were higher in the CMV group than in the TLV group at 2 and 4 hr of ventilation. We conclude that animals treated with TLV showed lower oxidative lung damage compared to animals treated with CMV. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2003; 36:322–329. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CMOS Biosensor IC Focusing on Dielectric Relaxations of Biological Water With 120 and 60 GHz Oscillator Arrays

In this paper, a CMOS biosensor integrated circuit (IC) focusing on dielectric relaxations of biological water with 120 and 60 GHz oscillator arrays is proposed. To realize label-free biosensing, we focus on frequencies around 100 GHz where changes in the dielectric constant of water become prominent as many a water molecule is bound to biomolecules. To detect the state of the biological water, sensing elements based on LC-oscillators operating at 120 and 60 GHz are realized using the 65 nm CMOS process. The sizes of the sensing elements are significantly smaller than the wavelengths of the operating frequencies, therefore 2-D arrays can be implemented in a chip. The trial chip enables us to obtain spatial distributions of the targets. In this paper, the cultivated bacterial colony growth is monitored and other biosensing applications are explained, which showcase possibilities for using the biosensor IC.