Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pivotal role of α2 Na+ pumps and their high affinity ouabain binding site in cardiovascular health and disease

Reduced smooth muscle (SM)‐specific α2 Na+ pump expression elevates basal blood pressure (BP) and increases BP sensitivity to angiotensin II (Ang II) and dietary NaCl, whilst SM‐α2 overexpression lowers basal BP and decreases Ang II/salt sensitivity. Prolonged ouabain infusion induces hypertension in rodents, and ouabain‐resistant mutation of the α2 ouabain binding site (α2R/R mice) confers resistance to several forms of hypertension. Pressure overload‐induced heart hypertrophy and failure are attenuated in cardio‐specific α2 knockout, cardio‐specific α2 overexpression and α2R/R mice. We propose a unifying hypothesis that reconciles these apparently disparate findings: brain mechanisms, activated by Ang II and high NaCl, regulate sympathetic drive and a novel neurohumoral pathway mediated by both brain and circulating endogenous ouabain (EO). Circulating EO modulates ouabain‐sensitive α2 Na+ pump activity and Ca2+ transporter expression and, via Na+/Ca2+ exchange, Ca2+ homeostasis. This regulates sensitivity to sympathetic activity, Ca2+ signalling and arterial and cardiac contraction.
Sinais e sintomas da disfunção autônoma em indivíduos disfônicos

OBJETIVO: Verificar a ocorrencia de sinais e sintomas da disfuncao do sistema nervoso autonomo em individuos com disfonia comportamental e compara-la com resultados obtidos por individuos sem queixa vocal. METODOS: Participaram 128 individuos adultos, com idades entre 14 e 74 anos, que foram divididos em dois grupos: disfonia comportamental (61 sujeitos) e sem queixa vocal (67 sujeitos). Foi aplicado o Protocolo de Disfuncao Autonoma contendo 46 questoes, sendo 22 relacionadas ao sistema nervoso autonomo e sem relacao direta com a voz, 16 relacionadas tanto ao sistema nervoso autonomo quanto a voz, seis questoes nao-relevantes e duas questoes de confiabilidade. RESULTADOS: Nas questoes relacionadas a voz, como pigarros constantes, necessidade de engolir frequentemente, cansaco ao falar e dor de garganta, houve maior ocorrencia de alteracoes neurovegetativas no grupo com disfonia comportamental. Nas questoes sem relacao direta com a voz, os individuos disfonicos apresentaram maior ocorrencia de tres dos 22 sintomas: gases, zumbido e engole ar enquanto fala. Os dois grupos apresentaram resultados semelhantes nas questoes consideradas nao relevantes ao sistema nervoso autonomo. As questoes de confiabilidade necessitaram de reformulacao. CONCLUSAO: Individuos com disfonia comportamental apresentam maior ocorrencia de sintomas neurovegetativos, principalmente daqueles que possuem relacao direta com a voz. Tais resultados indicam maior labilidade do sistema nervoso autonomo nesses individuos.
Methamphetamine dependence increases risk of neuropsychological impairment in HIV infected persons

Both HIV infection and methamphetamine dependence can be associated with brain dysfunction. Little is known, however, about the cognitive effects of concurrent HIV infection and methamphetamine dependence. The present study included 200 participants in 4 groups: HIV infected/methamphetamine dependent (HIV+/METH+), HIV negative/methamphetamine dependent (HIV−/METH+), HIV infected/methamphetamine nondependent (HIV+/METH−), and HIV negative/methamphetamine nondependent (HIV−/METH−). Study groups were comparable for age, education, and ethnicity, although the HIV−/METH− group had significantly more females. A comprehensive, demographically corrected neuropsychological battery was administered yielding a global performance score and scores for seven neurobehavioral domains. Rates of neuropsychological impairment were determined by cutoff scores derived from performances of a separate control group and validated with larger samples of HIV+ and HIV− participants from an independent cohort. Rates of global neuropsychological impairment were higher in the HIV+/METH+ (58%), HIV−/METH+ (40%) and HIV+/METH− (38%) groups compared to the HIV−/METH− (18%) group. Nonparametric analyses revealed a significant monotonic trend for global cognitive status across groups, with least impairment in the control group and highest prevalence of impairment in the group with concurrent HIV infection and methamphetamine dependence. The results indicate that HIV infection and methamphetamine dependence are each associated with neuropsychological deficits, and suggest that these factors in combination are associated with additive deleterious cognitive effects. This additivity may reflect common pathways to neural injury involving both cytotoxic and apoptotic mechanisms. (JINS, 2004, 10, 1–14.)Note: Dr. Erin D. Bigler served as action editor during the course of this review.
Graduate students’ geropsychology training opportunities and perceived competence in working with older adults.

The current study surveyed clinical and counseling graduate students in the United States (n = 380), Canada (n = 211), Australia (n = 117), and New Zealand (n = 20) to assess geropsychology training opportunities and perceived competency in working with older adults. More geropsychology opportunities were available to participants from the United States and Australia/New Zealand than from Canada. Participants not enrolled in programs with specialty geropsychology tracks reported a lower proportion of faculty doing research, F(1, 537) = 182.13, p < . 001 and clinical work, F(1, 452) = 36.13, p < . 001 with older adults, lower perceived level of interest among faculty in increasing aging content, F(1, 584) = 59.98, p < . 001, fewer aging courses taken, F(1, 582) = 46.91, p < . 001, and fewer total practicum hours with older adult clients, F(1, 313) = 10.88, p = . 001. For participants enrolled in a program with a specialty track, higher levels of perceived competency were associated with higher levels of perceived interest among faculty in increasing aging content (beta = 0.29, p = .045) and more courses that included geropsychology topics (beta = 0.42, p = .020). Significant associations were similar for participants not enrolled in a program with a specialty track, except that more practicum sites with older adults (beta = 0.19, p = .002) and more total practicum hours with older adults (beta = 0.31, p < .001) were also associated with ratings of perceived competency. Participants anticipated working with older adults in their future careers via seeing a wide age range of clients in independent practice, working in a specialty that includes older adults (neuropsychology), or including older family members in services.
Charisma: An Ill-Defined and Ill-Measured Gift

We take historical stock of charisma, tracing its origins and how it has been conceptualized in the sociological and organizational sciences literatures. Although charisma has been intensely studied, the concept is still not well understood and much of the research undertaken cannot inform policy. We show that the major obstacles to advancing our understanding of charisma have included issues with its definition, its confusion with transformational leadership, the use of questionnaire measures, and that it has not been studied using correctly specified causal models. To help spawn a new genre of research on charisma, we use signaling theory to provide a general definition of charisma, and make suggestions about how charisma should be conceptualized, operationalized, and modeled. We also describe trends and patterns in articles we reviewed, using cocitation as well as bibliometric analyses, and discuss the practical implications of our findings.
Are Hill's criteria for causality satisfied for vitamin D and periodontal disease?

There is mounting evidence that periodontal disease (PD) is linked to low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations in addition to recognized risk factors like diet and smoking. This paper reviews this evidence using Hill's criteria for causality in a biological system. Evidence for strength of association, consistency, cohesion and 'dose-effects' [biological 'gradients'] include strong inverse correlations between serum 25(OH) and both PD cross-sectionally and that PD is consistently more prevalent in darker vs. lighter skinned people and increases at higher latitudes with analogy for gingivitis and for disorders associated with PD whose risks increase with hypovitaminosis D. Evidence for plausibility includes that vitamin D increases calcium absorption and protects bone strength; induces formation of cathelicidin and other defensins that combat bacterial infection; reduces tissue production of destructive matrix metalloproteinases actively associated with PD and that prevalence of PD varies with common vitamin D receptor polymorphisms. Experimental evidence from limited supplementation studies [using calcium and vitamin D] shows that supplementation reduces tooth loss. Thus, existing evidence for hypovitaminosis D as a risk factor for PD to date meets Hill's criteria for causality in a biological system. Further experimental evidence for effectiveness and temporality, preferably from randomized controlled trials of vitamin D supplementation [adjusting for other PD risk factors including diet and smoking to reduce confounding] are necessary to confirm causality. If confirmed, dentists and periodontists could perform a valuable service to their patients by discussing the importance of adequate vitamin D status and on how to avoid deficiency.
The Assessment Of The Attitude Toward Target Language Of High School Students Learning Turkish As A Foreign Fanguage In Turkey In Term Of Certain Variables

The purpose of this study is to assessment in terms of certain variables the attitude connected with target language of the high school students who teaching Turkish as a foreign language. At the study was used Foreign Language Attitude Scale that was developed by Briem (1974) and was made validity and reliability by Corbin and Chiachiere (1995) as a data collection instrument. The scale has been translated into Turkish and alpha reliability coefficient of this scale has been found as . 88. The participant are 314 students (from 27 countries) who learning Turkish in Germirli İmam Hatip High School in Kayseri-Turkey. 314 students’ responses were studied. The data were analysed using means, standard deviation, Tukey and t-test. Also the success situation of the students was defined according to mean of marks in the Turkish Language at the end of semester. According to the space of 0-44 was accepted ‘not success’; the space of 45-100 was accepted ‘success’. This study showed that students’ who take Turkish as a foreign language attitude differ in term of nationality, the purpose of learning Turkish, and success status in Turkish language, but there is difference their degree.
Using Association Mapping in Teosinte to Investigate the Function of Maize Selection-Candidate Genes

Background Large-scale screens of the maize genome identified 48 genes that show the putative signature of artificial selection during maize domestication or improvement. These selection-candidate genes may act as quantitative trait loci (QTL) that control the phenotypic differences between maize and its progenitor, teosinte. The selection-candidate genes appear to be located closer in the genome to domestication QTL than expected by chance. Methods and Findings As a step toward defining the traits controlled by these genes, we performed phenotype-genotype association mapping in teosinte for 32 of the 48 plus three other selection-candidate genes. Our analyses assayed 32 phenotypic traits, many of which were altered during maize domestication or improvement. We observed several significant associations between SNPs in the selection-candidate genes and trait variation in teosinte. These included two associations that surpassed the Bonferroni correction and five instances where a gene significantly associated with the same trait in both of our association mapping panels. Despite these significant associations, when compared as a group the selection-candidate genes performed no better than randomly chosen genes. Conclusions Our results suggest association analyses can be helpful for identifying traits under the control of selection-candidate genes. Indeed, we present evidence for new functions for several selection-candidate genes. However, with the current set of selection-candidate genes and our association mapping strategy, we found very few significant associations overall and no more than we would have found with randomly chosen genes. We discuss possible reasons that a large number of significant genotype-phenotype associations were not discovered.
Pronouns of address in Swedish: social class semantics and a changing system

One who has lived soon an entire century must learn to change all her habits, and habits of address surely are not the easiest. What comes simply and naturally in one place is wrong and ill-mannered in another (Former servant-girl, informant KU 2849). Even an ordinary simple worker has today became aware of the fact that he also is a human being, and that the great machinery would not function if he did not play his part. An old conservative postmaster's wife said once to my mother, who was the simple wife of a worker: ‘I think things now are not the way they should be; the workers' conditions are so good that they dress so well that nowadays one cannot tell the difference between workers and fine folk. ’ This utterance from a woman who believed she belonged to the fine folk my mother never forgot, and I myself have also remembered it (Retired railroad worker, informant KU 2768)
Neuropsychological Practice Effects x Age: A Brief Note

This is a brief review of some literature on practice effects and age on neuropsychological testing. Research suggests that younger subjects show greater improvement when retested on intelligence tests than older persons. The implication is that the effects of neuropsychological practice may vary with the age of the person assessed. Suggestions for further research are discussed.
Predicting worsening asthma control following the common cold

The asthmatic response to the common cold is highly variable, and early characteristics that predict worsening of asthma control following a cold have not been identified. In this prospective multicentric cohort study of 413 adult subjects with asthma, the mini-Asthma Control Questionnaire (mini-ACQ) was used to quantify changes in asthma control and the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey-21 (WURSS-21) to measure cold severity. Univariate and multivariable models were used to examine demographic, physiological, serological and cold-related characteristics for their relationship to changes in asthma control following a cold. Clinically significant worsening of asthma control was observed following a cold (mean±sd increase in mini-ACQ score of 0.69±0.93). Univariate analysis demonstrated that season, centre location, cold duration and cold severity measurements were all associated with a change in asthma control. Multivariable analysis of the covariates available within the first 2 days of cold onset revealed that the day 2 and cumulative sum of day 1 and 2 WURSS-21 scores were significant predictors of the subsequent changes in asthma control. In asthmatic subjects, cold severity within the first 2 days can be used to predict subsequent changes in asthma control. This information may help clinicians prevent deterioration in asthma control following a cold.
OPTIMIZING KNOWLEDGE TESTS FOR INFERRING LEARNING ACQUISITION LEVELS IN SINGLE GROUP TRAINING EVALUATION DESIGNS: THE INTERNAL REFERENCING STRATEGY

Training evaluation is a process designed to measure the degree of trainee changes (on learning as well as on other dimensions) that training programs cause. Whereas many experimental and correlational designs permitting such inferences exist, they are rarely used, principally for practical reasons. This paper evaluates an operationally simple procedure for estimating effectiveness of training in improving trainee knowledge–the Internal Referencing Strategy (IRS). It identifies and tests the implicit training evaluation notion that training-relevant content should show more change (pre-post) than training-irrelevant content. An empirical evaluation study conducted with 66 managers enrolled in a training course compares the inferences produced by the IRS versus a more traditional experimental evaluation. The results indicate that the IRS approach may permit inferences that mirror those obtained by the more complex design. The paper closes with a discussion of the limits and possible uses of this design.
Understanding and Learning Statistics by Computer

This textbook provides an introduction to statistics for computer users or computer science undergraduates. The main emphasis here is on how to use the computer to understand statistics and to facilitate statistical computation. Since the Stress is on the basic concepts, the mathematics is kept as simple as possible. Programming exercises are included in every chapter which can be run on any present-day microcomputer. This book provides a prerequisite for more complicated statistical procedures or individual special applications.
Bioinformatics analysis of two microarray gene-expression data sets to select lung adenocarcinoma marker genes.

BACKGROUND Lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) is the most frequent histologic type of lung cancer and rates of adenocarcinoma are increasing in most countries. Recently, several molecular markers have been identified to predict LAC. However, more prognostic makers and the underlying role of those makers are still imperative. AIM In this study, our objective was to identify a set of discriminating genes that can be used for characterization and prediction of response to LAC. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using the bioinformatics analysis method, we merged two LAC datasets-GSE2514 and GSE7670 to find novel target genes and pathways to explain the pathogenicity. RESULTS The results showed that EDNRB (endothelin receptor type B), ADRB2 (beta-adrenergic receptor), S1PR1 (sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1), P2RY14 (PsY purinoceptor 14), LEPR (leptin-receptor), GHR (growth hormone receptor), PPM1D (protein phosphatase-1D), and GADD45B (growth arrest and DNA-damage-inducible, beta) have high degrees in response to LAC. Additionally, EDNRB, ADRB2, S1PR1, P2RY14, LEPR, and GHR may be involved in LAC through Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, but PPM1D and GADD45B may be through p53 signaling pathway. Some of our prediction had been demonstrated by previous reports, such as ADRB2, S1PR1, GHR, PPM1D, and GADD45B. Therefore, we hope our study could lay a basis for further study of other target genes, such as EDNRB, P2RY14, and LEPR. CONCLUSIONS It is effective to identify potential molecular marker for LAC and predict their underlying functions by bioinformatics analysis and graph clustering method. However, further experiments are still indispensable to confirm our conclusion.
Lessons Learnt from Carotid Artery Trials

Abstract The objective of the authors is to assess the natural history of carotid artery disease and the role of carotid intervention in preventing ipsilateral stroke. The development of endovascular techniques for correction of carotid artery stenoses made this less invasive technique very popular, with an inherent risk of unregulated overuse by a variety of medical specialists, who are not always well informed on the natural history of carotid artery disease. It re-opened the discussion on the value of carotid endarterectomy for stroke prophylaxis. This ongoing debate offers the opportunity to distil evidence-based guidelines for the management of extracranial carotid artery stenoses. In recent papers, some authors expressed doubts on the validity and general applicability of the results of the pivotal randomised trials of carotid endarterectomy. The excellent results in terms of operative outcome and long term stroke prevention would, according to certain comments, not be attainable in routine practice. Another criticism of carotid endarterectomy is its higher operative morbidity in terms of cranial nerve lesions and myocardial infarctions, compared to endovascular procedures. This consideration is, for some authors, the main reason to espouse carotid artery stenting as a better alternative to carotid endarterectomy. Any evidence supporting this point of view is missing. The supposed equivalence or non-inferiority of carotid artery stenting is purely speculative. The aim of this review paper is to summarize the crude data of carotid surgery trials. The authors aim to answer four questions. For which lesions is carotid endarterectomy most beneficial ? Are the results of randomised carotid surgery trials biased by the selection of patients ? Is operative morbidity, other than stroke, under-estimated ? Is carotid artery stenting safe and efficacious ? An in-depth review with a critical analysis is made of recently published and on-going trials, comparing carotid surgery with percutaneous carotid angioplasty.
Tetrahydrobiopterin contributes to the proliferation of mesangial cells and accumulation of extracellular matrix in early‐stage diabetic nephropathy

Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in the progression of early‐stage diabetic nephropathy (DN), which is found to contribute to extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in mesangial cells (MCs). As a cofactor for NO production, tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4), a folacin analogue, may be responsible for the ECM accumulation and proliferation of MCs. This study was to investigate the effects of BH4 on glomerulosclerosis in early‐stage DN.
A hybrid method for video stabilization and retargeting

Both video stabilization and retargeting are important post processing techniques for film production. In many cases, we need to stabilize the shaky handhold video and adapt it to target displays with different resolutions and aspect ratios. Video stabilization and retargeting are computationally costly and both require a large amount of memory. If we stabilize and retarget a video serially, the time cost will be the sum of two separate operation's spending. To obtain the result with high quality in both stabilization and retargeting, we hope we can use recent outstanding stabilization and retargeting techniques, but no matter which operation we do first, previous operation will cause that the latter operation can not proceed or fail; Can we integrate video stabilization and retargeting in one routine? In this paper, we present an integrated approach which can solve video stabilization and retargeting at one time. The central component of our approach is a least square minimization which warps video to the target resolution and achieves high quality camera motion for a wide range of videos. Retargeting problem was solved by employing motion information and by distributing distortion in both spatial and temporal dimensions, and stabilization problem was solved by smoothing camera motion and frame homography. Experimental results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed approach.