Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Naturalistically observed conflict and youth asthma symptoms.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the links between naturalistically observed conflict, self-reported caregiver-youth conflict, and youth asthma symptoms. METHOD Fifty-four youth with asthma (age range: 10-17 years) wore the Electronically Activated Recorder (EAR) for a 4-day period to assess interpersonal conflict and caregiver-youth conflict as they occur in daily life. Conflict also was assessed with baseline self-report questionnaires and daily diaries completed by youth participants and their caregivers. Asthma symptoms were assessed using daily diaries, baseline self-reports, and wheezing, as coded from the EAR. RESULTS EAR-observed measures of conflict were strongly associated with self-reported asthma symptoms (both baseline and daily diaries) and wheezing coded from the EAR. Further, when entered together in regression analyses, youth daily reports of negative caregiver-youth interactions and EAR-observed conflict uniquely predicted asthma symptoms; only EAR-observed conflict was associated with EAR-observed wheezing. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate the potential impact of daily conflict on youth asthma symptoms and the importance of assessing conflict as it occurs in everyday life. More broadly, they point to the importance of formulating a clear picture of family interactions outside of the lab, which is essential for understanding how family relationships "get under the skin" to affect youth health.
The Anti-Inflammatory and Antibacterial Basis of Human Omental Defense: Selective Expression of Cytokines and Antimicrobial Peptides

Background The wound healing properties of the human omentum are well known and have extensively been exploited clinically. However, the underlying mechanisms of these effects are not well understood. We hypothesize that the omentum tissue promotes wound healing via modulation of anti-inflammatory pathways, and because the omentum is rich in adipocytes, the adipocytes may modulate the anti-inflammatory response. Factors released by human omentum may affect healing, inflammation and immune defense. Methodology Six human omentum tissues (non obese, free from malignancy, and any other systemic disorder) were obtained during diagnostic laparoscopies having a negative outcome. Healthy oral mucosa (obtained from routine oral biopsies) was used as control. Cultured adipocytes derived from human omentum were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1–50 ng/mL) for 12–72 hours to identify the non-cytotoxic doses. Levels of expression (mRNA and protein) were carried out for genes associated with pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine responses and antibacterial/antimicrobial activity using qRT-PCR, western blotting, and cell-based ELISA assays. Results The study shows significant higher levels of expression (mRNA and protein) of several specific cytokines, and antibacterial peptides in the omentum tissues when compared to oral sub-mucosal tissues. In the validation studies, primary cultures of adipocytes, derived from human omentum were exposed to LPS (5 and 10 ng/mL) for 24 and 48 h. The altered expressions were more pronounced in cultured adipocytes cells when exposed to LPS as compared to the omentum tissue. Conclusions/Significance Perhaps, this is the first report that provides evidence of expressional changes in pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and antibacterial peptides in the normal human omentum tissue as well as adipocytes cultured from this tissue. The study provides new insights on the molecular and cellular mechanisms of healing and defense by the omentum, and suggests the potential applicability of cultured adipocytes derived from the omentum for future therapeutic applications.
Composition of Atlantic forest in northern Carpathian foothills, from a charcoal record from a Neolithic domestic site at Żerków (Poland): The relevance of oak and hazel

A study of firewood remains from the foothills of the Western Carpathians in Poland yielded information about the history of forest communities growing in the vicinity of human settlements in the Atlantic period. The anthracological material was collected at Żerków, a Neolithic site of the Linear Band Pottery culture, situated on the highest parts of a hill covered by fertile soil. The anthracological assemblage was dominated by Quercus and Corylus avellana, followed by Acer and Maloideae, suggesting that those taxa probably were significant constituents of the local forest during the Atlantic period. Based on the ecological requirements of the identified taxa, such communities occupied areas of more open canopy, but it is unclear whether the material reflects the composition of the primeval forest or rather the presence of open canopy created by human impacts on local ecosystems during the period of settlement.
GALAXY ZOO: OBSERVING SECULAR EVOLUTION THROUGH BARS

In this paper, we use the Galaxy Zoo 2 data set to study the behavior of bars in disk galaxies as a function of specific star formation rate (SSFR) and bulge prominence. Our sample consists of 13,295 disk galaxies, with an overall (strong) bar fraction of 23.6% ± 0.4%, of which 1154 barred galaxies also have bar length (BL) measurements. These samples are the largest ever used to study the role of bars in galaxy evolution. We find that the likelihood of a galaxy hosting a bar is anticorrelated with SSFR, regardless of stellar mass or bulge prominence. We find that the trends of bar likelihood and BL with bulge prominence are bimodal with SSFR. We interpret these observations using state-of-the-art simulations of bar evolution that include live halos and the effects of gas and star formation. We suggest our observed trends of bar likelihood with SSFR are driven by the gas fraction of the disks, a factor demonstrated to significantly retard both bar formation and evolution in models. We interpret the bimodal relationship between bulge prominence and bar properties as being due to the complicated effects of classical bulges and central mass concentrations on bar evolution and also to the growth of disky pseudobulges by bar evolution. These results represent empirical evidence for secular evolution driven by bars in disk galaxies. This work suggests that bars are not stagnant structures within disk galaxies but are a critical evolutionary driver of their host galaxies in the local universe (z < 1).
THE EFFECT OF GLYPHOSATE TREATMENT ON THE GERMINATION POTENTIAL OF RESULTANT CROPS

The use of glyphosate in barley crops has increased by 275% in the last three seasons and this has been accompanied by an increase in the number of samples showing reduced germination with negatively geotropic seedlings. Experimental preharvest treatment of Derkado barley crops with glyphosate resulted in decreased levels of germination. The decrease was greatest in paper towelling medium. Germination in potting compost reduced the levels of glyphosate-induced abnormalities. Reductions in seed germination due to preharvest glyphosate treatments was related to rainfall experienced in the period after spraying and this masked any effect due to crop maturity.
EFFECT OF β-1,3/1,6-D-GLUCAN ON THE PHAGOCYTIC ACTIVITY AND OXIDATIVE METABOLISM OF PERIPHERAL BLOOD GRANULOCYTES AND MONOCYTES IN RATS

The experiment was performed on 20 adult Wistar rats aged 12 weeks, divided into two equal groups (control and experimental), each comprised of five males and five females. From the first day of the experiment, the experimental group rats were fed Murigran feed supplemented with β-1,3/1,6-D-glucan at a dosage of 12-19 mg/rat/d, subject to body weight, while the controlgroup was administered the same feed without any additives. At the beginning of the experiment and then after 14 days, arterial blood samples were collected from the rats and diluted with heparin to measure and compare the phagocytic activity and oxidative metabolism of peripheral blood granulocytes and monocytes by flow cytometry. Statistically higher levels of the activity were observed in the group of rats administered glucan than in controls, expressed in terms of the percentage of phagocytic cells as well as average fluorescence intensity. β-1,3/1,6-D-glucan also had a positive effect on the oxidative metabolism of both granulocytes and monocytes after stimulation with E. coli, and on the oxidative metabolism of granulocytes after stimulation with PMA.
X-ray phase contrast with injected gas for tumor microangiography

We show that the microvasculature of mouse tumors can be visualized using propagation-based phase-contrast x-ray imaging with gas as the contrast agent. The large density difference over the gas–tissue interface provides high contrast, allowing the imaging of small-diameter blood vessels with relatively short exposure times and low dose using a compact liquid-metal-jet x-ray source. The method investigated is applied to tumors (E1A/Ras-transformed mouse embryonic fibroblasts) grown in mouse ears, demonstrating sub-15-µm-diameter imaging of their blood vessels. The exposure time for a 2D projection image is a few seconds and a full tomographic 3D map takes some minutes. The method relies on the strength of the vasculature to withstand the gas pressure. Given that tumor vessels are known to be more fragile than normal vessels, we investigate the tolerance of the vasculature of 12 tumors to gas injection and find that a majority withstand 200 mbar pressures, enough to fill 12-µm-diameter vessels with gas. A comparison of the elasticity of tumorous and non-tumorous vessels supports the assumption of tumor vessels being more fragile. Finally, we conclude that the method has the potential to be extended to the imaging of 15 µm vessels in thick tissue, including mouse imaging, making it of interest for, e.g., angiogenesis research.
Fluid mechanics of the descemet's membrane detachment with spontaneous reattachment

Descemet membrane detachment (DMD) often happen during catatact surgery. DMD is developed when the membrane separate from the stroma. The separation occur,is due to the flow of aqueous humour (AH) from the aqueous chamber into the descrement membrance (DM) space through a break. A mathematical model of buoyancy driven AH flow is developed to explain the mechanisms of the fluid. The exisiing of temperature different between the comea and the pupil will drive the fluid to flow due to tuoyancy force. The effect of the fluid flow to the deformation of the detach membrane is analyzed. The phenomena of spontaneous reattachment of the DMD will be studied. Numerically, the relevant variables will be computed using finite element method with the aiding of COMSOL Multiphysics. The results have shown that the flowing of AH affect the displacement of the detach membrane and the spontaneous reattachment may indeed occur under certain conditions.
The effects of a nurse case manager and a community health worker team on diabetic control, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations among urban African Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Although African American adults bear a disproportionate burden from diabetes mellitus (DM), few randomized controlled trials have tested culturally appropriate interventions to improve DM care. METHODS We randomly assigned 542 African Americans with type 2 DM enrolled in an urban managed care organization to either an intensive or minimal intervention group. The intensive intervention group consisted of all components of the minimal intervention plus individualized, culturally tailored care provided by a nurse case manager (NCM) and a community health worker (CHW), using evidence-based clinical algorithms with feedback to primary care providers (eg, physicians, nurse practitioners, or physician assistants). The minimal intervention consisted of mailings and telephone calls every 6 months to remind participants about preventive screenings. Data on diabetic control were collected at baseline and at 24 months by blind observers; data emergency department (ER) visits and hospitalizations were assessed using administrative data. RESULTS At baseline, participants had a mean age of 58 years, 73% were women, and 50% were living in poverty. At 24 months, compared with the minimal intervention group, those in the intensive intervention group were 23% less likely to have ER visits (rate difference [RD], -14.5; adjusted rate ratio [RR], 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59-1.00). In on-treatment analyses, the rate reduction was strongest for patients who received the most NCM and CHW visits (RD, -31.0; adjusted RR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.43-1.00; rate reduction downward arrow 34%). CONCLUSION These data suggest that a culturally tailored intervention conducted by an NCM/CHW team reduced ER visits in urban African Americans with type 2 DM. TRIAL REGISTRATION clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT00022750.
A randomised comparison of melphalan with prednisone or dexamethasone as induction therapy and dexamethasone or observation as maintenance therapy in multiple myeloma: NCIC CTG MY.7

The effectiveness of melphalan plus dexamethasone (M‐Dex) with melphalan plus prednisone (MP) as induction therapy and dexamethasone with observation as maintenance therapy was compared in 585 older patients with multiple myeloma. Randomization to the M‐Dex arm was stopped as a result of an analysis performed which met a predetermined event‐related criterion. Of 466 patients randomised to MP or M‐Dex, no differences were detected in the respective median progression‐free survivals (PFS) [1·8 vs. 1·9 years; Hazard Ratio (HR) = 0·88, 95% CI 0·72–1·07; P = 0·2] or overall survivals (OS) (2·5 vs. 2·7 years; HR = 0·91, 95% CI 0·74–1·11; P = 0·3). Of the initial 585 patients, 292 remained evaluable for maintenance therapy. Patients randomised to maintenance dexamethasone had a superior median PFS (2·8 years vs. 2·1 years; HR = 0·61, 95% CI 0·47–0·79; P = 0·0002). No difference in median OS was detected (4·1 years vs. 3·8 years; HR = 0·88, 95% CI 0·65–1·18; P = 0·4). The maintenance therapy results were robust when analysed by using two additional methodologies. Dexamethasone did not improve clinical outcome when combined with melphalan during induction; maintenance dexamethasone improved PFS, but this did not translate into a detectable survival advantage.
Tocilizumab for the treatment of giant cell arteritis

ABSTRACT Introduction: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is the most frequent type of vasculitis, occurring in people older than 50 years. So far, treatment has been limited to corticosteroids and methotrexate only. Areas covered: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a role in the pathophysiology of GCA. This review covers recent advances in the treatment of GCA with tocilizumab (TCZ), which specifically binds to both soluble and membrane-bound IL-6R and inhibits IL-6R-mediated signaling. Expert commentary: Two randomized controlled trials recently showed the efficacy of the IL-6 receptors inhibitor monoclonal antibody TCZ for the induction and maintenance of remission in patients with new-onset and relapsing GCA. Furthermore, addition of TCZ to prednisone led to a reduction in the cumulative prednisone doses required to control GCA. The profile of adverse events was balanced across treatment groups and no safety concerns were raised during the trial.
Using machine learning on cardiorespiratory fitness data for predicting hypertension: The Henry Ford ExercIse Testing (FIT) Project

This study evaluates and compares the performance of different machine learning techniques on predicting the individuals at risk of developing hypertension, and who are likely to benefit most from interventions, using the cardiorespiratory fitness data. The dataset of this study contains information of 23,095 patients who underwent clinician- referred exercise treadmill stress testing at Henry Ford Health Systems between 1991 and 2009 and had a complete 10-year follow-up. The variables of the dataset include information on vital signs, diagnosis and clinical laboratory measurements. Six machine learning techniques were investigated: LogitBoost (LB), Bayesian Network classifier (BN), Locally Weighted Naive Bayes (LWB), Artificial Neural Network (ANN), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Random Tree Forest (RTF). Using different validation methods, the RTF model has shown the best performance (AUC = 0.93) and outperformed all other machine learning techniques examined in this study. The results have also shown that it is critical to carefully explore and evaluate the performance of the machine learning models using various model evaluation methods as the prediction accuracy can significantly differ.
80SiO2‐20LaF3 oxyfluoride glass ceramic coatings doped with Nd3+ for optical applications

This work was supported by MINECO sunder Projects No. MAT2013‐48246‐C2‐1‐P and MAT2013‐48246‐C2‐2‐P and Basque Country University PPG17/07. J.J. Velazquez also acknowledges MINECO under Grant FPDI‐2013‐16895.
Microscopic evidence of the connection between liquid-liquid transition and dynamical crossover in an ultraviscous metallic glass former

Liquid-liquid transitions are interesting to many researchers since they occur in systems as diverse as monoatomic liquids, multicomponent oxides, and metallic glass formers. In some cases, the crossover is accompanied by changes in the dynamical properties. By combining state-of-the-art synchrotron techniques, we followed the structure and atomic motion during quasistatic cooling of the Au49Cu26.9Si16. 3Ag5.5Pd2. 3 metallic glass former from the low-temperature supercooled liquid. With this thermal protocol, we were able to lower the glass transition temperature far enough to reveal a liquid-liquid crossover between two amorphous structures corresponding to two ultraviscous liquids with different kinetic behavior. This transition is in competition with vitrification, which occurs at conventional cooling rates, and is accompanied by structural changes not affecting the average density. Our results provide a direct connection between polyamorphism and dynamical crossover, and an alternative case to add to the highly debated topic on the low-temperature divergence of the dynamics in supercooled liquids.
Preferential transport of nitrate to a tile drain in an intermittent‐flood‐irrigated field: Model development and experimental evaluation

A comprehensive field experiment was conducted near Las Nutrias, New Mexico, to study field‐scale flow and transport in the vadose zone. The field data were analyzed in terms of a two‐dimensional numerical model based on the Richards equation for variably saturated water flow, convection‐dispersion equations with first‐order chemical decay chains for solute transport, and bimodal piecewise‐continuous unsaturated hydraulic functions to account for preferential flow of water and nitrate‐nitrogen (NO3‐N; loosely used as NO3‐) following flood irrigation events at the experimental site. The model was tested against measured NO3‐ flux concentrations in a subsurface tile drain, several monitoring wells and nested piezometers, and against resident NO3‐ concentrations in the soil profile (obtained at 52 spatial locations and four depths along a transect). NO3‐ transport at the field site could be described better with the bimodal hydraulic functions than using the conventional approach with unimodal van Genuchten‐Mualem type hydraulic functions. Average resident nitrate concentrations measured across the soil profile were predicted reasonably well. However, NO3‐ flux concentrations in the subsurface tile drain and piezometers at the field site were occasionally underestimated or overestimated depending upon the irrigation sequence in three field benches, probably reflecting unrepresented three‐dimensional regional flow/transport processes. Limiting the capture zone to a region closer to the tile drain did lead to a better match with observed sharp increases and decreases in predicted NO3‐ flux concentrations during the irrigation events. On the basis of this result we inferred that the preferential flow intercepted by the tile drain was generated in close proximity of the drain and essentially oriented vertically. In summary, our study suggests that irrigation scheduling in adjacent field plots, drainage design (e.g., spacing between tiles, drain depth, drain diameter) and effectiveness (e.g., drain blockage), preferential flow in (horizontal) surface‐opened shallow cracks and (vertical) macropores, and transient regional groundwater flow can add significant uncertainty to the predictions of (local‐scale) flow and transport to a tile drain.
Determination of mechanical properties and water susceptibility of low-noise road surfaces

Nowadays, there is a need to reduce noise pollution due to the tyre-pavement interaction, especially in densely-populated areas, such as the Netherlands, where noise pollution is a major concern. A solution to this problem is the development of pavement surfaces with improved noise reduction characteristics. Previous attempts to develop low-noise pavement surfaces were not successful, mainly due to their poor mechanical performance and low durability. In this research the mechanical performance of three different low-noise pavement surface materials is investigated. The study was part of the Ultrastil Wegdek (USW) project in the Netherlands. The materials were evaluated with respect to their moisture susceptibility, stiffness, cohesive strength and bonding with the underlying layer. For three different low-noise road surfaces (LNRS), the stiffness was evaluated by means of dynamic modulus tests. Furthermore, indirect and direct tensile tests were carried out after long- and short-term moisture conditioning to estimate strength degradation. The interlayer bond strength was determined using uniaxial tension tests at dry and wet conditions. To evaluate the bond characteristics, also two-layer porous asphalt systems were tested as reference materials. The results show high difference in their properties as a result of the mixture composition. Especially, considering the effect of moisture is of paramount importance for these highly open-graded mixtures.
Diagnostic accuracy of inflammatory markers for distinguishing malignant and benign ovarian masses

Objective: To evaluate the role of inflammatory markers for distinguishing malignant and benign ovarian masses. Methods: Preoperative demographic, clinicopathologic, and laboratory variables were reviewed in patients with an ovarian mass that was subsequently diagnosed as either epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) or a benign ovarian mass on histologic analysis. The differences between variables of the two groups were further evaluated. Logistic regression analysis was applied to evaluate variables to predict the presence of EOC. Results: According to the analysis of 229 patients with EOC, 120 (52.4%) patients had serous adenocarcinoma. Of the 229 patients, 110 (48.1%) patients had stage I or II disease and 119 (52.0%) had stage III or IV disease. There was a significant difference between EOC and benign ovarian mass in median values of variables such as age, white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, cancer antigen 125 (CA125) levels, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio (LMR) (all P < 0.001, except for WBC count [P = 0.009]). In addition, there was significant difference in median values of these continuous variables among early-stage EOC, advanced-stage EOC, and benign ovarian mass (P < 0.001 for all variables). On multivariate logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] = 4.14, P < 0.001), CA125 levels (OR = 9.87, P < 0.001), NLR (OR = 1.76, P = 0.049), PLR (OR = 2.41, P = 0.004), and LMR (OR = 0.51, P = 0.024) were found to significantly predict the presence of EOC. Conclusion: The three LMR, NLR, and PLR markers were found to be predictors for the presence of EOC. Further prospective studies to assess these markers as screening tools for the presence of EOC are required.