Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preventive effects of green tea on renal stone formation and the role of oxidative stress in nephrolithiasis.

PURPOSE Urinary stones are similar to arteriosclerosis in epidemiology, mechanism, calcification composition and age at frequent occurrence. The calcification that occurs in arteriosclerosis is inhibited by antioxidants. Green tea leaves contain approximately 13% catechins, which have been shown to have antioxidant effects. We investigated the inhibitory, antioxidative effects of green tea on calcium urinary stone formation. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 120 Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups, namely group 1-control rats receiving saline, group 2-stone group rats administered ethylene glycol (EG) and vitamin D3, group 3-drink group rats administered EG, vitamin D3 and green tea given as drinking water, and group 4-powder group rats administered EG, vitamin D3 and 2.5% powdered green tea leaves mixed in a powder diet. Pooled 24-hour urine samples and blood samples were collected and the 2 kidneys were excised 7, 14 and 21 days after administration, respectively. One kidney was used for immunohistological examination of osteopontin, superoxide dismutase (SOD), p65, p53 and bcl-2 expression, in situ hybridization of osteopontin and detection of apoptosis, while the other was used for quantitative analysis of SOD activity. RESULTS Green tea treatment decreased urinary oxalate excretion and calcium oxalate deposit formation. Green tea treatment increased SOD activity compared with the stone group. The degree of apoptosis in the stone group was significantly increased compared with the drink and powder groups. CONCLUSIONS The inhibitory effect of green tea on calcium oxalate urolithiasis is most likely due to antioxidative effects.
Effects of Canola-Wheat Intercrops on Delia spp. (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) Oviposition, Larval Feeding Damage, and Adult Abundance

ABSTRACT Reductions in oviposition and subsequent damage by root maggots (Diptera: Antho-myiidae, Delia spp.) to brassicaceous crops in the presence of nonhost plants has been demonstrated, but such investigations have not been conducted using intercrops of species commonly grown in the large-scale agricultural production systems of western Canada. A field experiment was conducted at three sites in Alberta, Canada, in 2005 and 2006 to determine interactions between root maggots and the various proportions of canola (Brassica napus L.) making up the total crop plant populations in intercrops with wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The effect of a neonicotinoid seed treatment also was investigated. Root maggot damage to canola taproots decreased with increasing proportions of wheat in the intercrops. The presence of wheat in the intercrops had little effect on root maggot adult abundance in any single site-by-year combination or when data were combined over all sites and years, with different Delia species and sexes responding differently. Similarly, per plant root maggot egg populations were unaffected by intercropping, although egg populations were reduced on a per unit land area basis in intercrops compared with monocultures. Insecticidal seed treatment did not affect root maggot egg populations or canola root damage. Variable abundances and phenologies of the principal root maggot species infesting canola at different sites and years may influence their responses to canola-wheat intercrops. Intercropping canola and wheat may provide an opportunity for reducing crop damage from root maggot attack without compromising environmental sustainability.
Coparenting in fragile families: Understanding how parents work together after a nonmarital birth.

Introduction Nonmarital childbearing has increased dramatically in the U.S. since the early 1960s, rising from 6% of all births in 1960 to fully 41% in 2008 (Hamilton, Martin, & Ventura, 2010). Whereas similar trends have occurred in many developed nations, the U.S. stands out in the extent to which such births are associated with socioeconomic disadvantage and relationship instability. This has given rise to a new term ‘fragile families,’ which we define as unmarried couples who have a child together. The increase in fragile families reflects changes not only in the initial context of births but also in the fundamental nature and patterns of childrearing. While much of the recent literature on coparenting has focused on married, coresident parents with children, most unmarried couples will break up within only a few years of a new child’s birth (McLanahan, 2009). Therefore, for many unmarried parents, coparenting will occur across households and may be more similar to coparenting among divorced parents than among married parents. However, given the disadvantaged characteristics of unmarried parents, coparenting in this context may be even more complicated than it is after a legal divorce. In this chapter, we provide an overview of coparenting in fragile families, focusing particularly on what has been learned from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. We
Analyst Underreaction to Past Information About Earnings: reporting, processing or plain old misspecification bias?

We revisit the debate concerning the interpretation given to prior year’s earnings changes in predicting future earnings as discussed by Abarbanell & Bernard (1992), Francis & Philbrick (1993) and Easterwood and Nutt (1999). We advance a new specification of this relationship which distinguishes between earnings reversion and momentum. On a large UK dataset, we find there is substantial underreaction, particularly in situations of earnings momentum, approximately six times as large as that identified by Abarbanell & Bernard. This suggests that analysts behaviour is still a candidate to explain post earnings announcement drift. We also show that our model performs well relative to a specification recently proposed by Easterwood and Nutt (1999).
The effects of estrone, estradiol and estriol on platelet aggregation induced by adrenaline and adenosine diphosphate

The impact of estrogens on the cardiovascular system and their ability to regulate platelet functions remains controversial. Changes in platelet functions could contribute to thrombotic risk associated with estrogen treatments. Here, we investigated the effects of various forms of estrogen, including estrone (E1), estradiol (E2) and estriol (E3), on platelet aggregation induced by standard agonists (adrenaline and adenosine diphosphate). Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) was prepared from citrated blood donated by 25 normal volunteers. The study on platelet aggregation was carried out in 96-well flat-bottom microtitre plates and assessed using a microplate reader. For studying the effects of each estrogen, PRP was preincubated with 1, 10 and 100 nM of E1, E2 and E3 at 37°C for 20 min, and then coincubated with normal saline (control untreated PRP), adrenaline (ADR) or adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in the microplate. Platelet aggregation was then measured every minute for 8 min. None of the estrogens (E1, E2 and E3) affected platelet aggregation in untreated PRP. Interestingly, only E1 and E3 can synergize the increased platelet aggregation by either ADR or ADP, while the effects of E2 on the increased platelet aggregation by either ADR or ADP depended on internal factors such as endogenous estradiol and platelet aggregated state. Thus, for the rational use of these internal factors for estrogen use, especially E2, in clinical applications, such as hormone replacement therapy, may need evaluation of thrombotic risk.
SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN HAPTOGLOBIN IN MAMMALS AND PIT 54 IN POULTRY – A REVIEW

The acute phase response (APR) is a natural systemic reaction raised to neutralize the effect of challenging agents (infections, traumas, neoplasms, immune disorders) that impair the homeostasis. Acute phase proteins (APP) are a component of APR. The purpose of the present review is to summarize the available information about haptoglobin (Нр) in mammals and its analogue PIT 54 in Gallus gallus domesticus. Hp is a major APP in ruminants and a representative of moderate APP in men, carnivores, horses and rabbits. Chicken PIT 54 is a soluble mеmber of the so-called scavenger receptor cystein rich proteins family. Нр is an α2-glycoprotein that belongs to transport (metal-binding) conjugated proteins. The primary function of Hp is to bind free haemoglobin and thus, to protect the organism from losing iron. The peroxidase activity of Hb is at the basis of assay methods for this protein. The review presents data about the development of knowledge about mammalian Hp and analysis of its biochemical properties. A special attention is paid on the information relation to biosynthesis and properties of mammalian Hp and the avian haemoglobin-binding protein called PIT 54. The investigation of the latter is essential for the timely detection of subclinical infections.
Gamma Knife radiosurgery for vestibular schwannoma: clinical results at long-term follow-up in a series of 379 patients.

OBJECT Since the 1990 s, Gamma Knife radiosurgery (GKRS) has become the first-line treatment option for small- to medium-size vestibular schwannomas (VSs), especially in patients without mass effect-related symptoms and with functional hearing. The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of GKRS, in terms of tumor control, hearing preservation, and complications, in a series of 379 consecutive patients treated for VS. METHODS Of 523 patients treated at the authors' institution for VS between 2001 and 2010, the authors included 379 who underwent GKRS as the primary treatment. These patients were not affected by Type 2 neurofibromatosis and had clinical follow-up of at least 36 months. Clinical follow-up (mean and median 75.7 and 69.5 months, respectively) was performed for all patients, whereas audiometric and quantitative radiological follow-up examinations were obtained for only 153 and 219 patients, respectively. The patients' ages ranged from 23 to 85 years (mean 59 years). The mean tumor volume was 1.94 ± 2.2 cm(3) (median 1.2 cm(3), range 0.013-14.3 cm(3)), and the median margin dose was 13 Gy (range 11-15 Gy). Parameters considered as determinants of the clinical outcome were long-term tumor control, hearing preservation, and complications. A statistical analysis was performed to correlate clinical outcomes with the radiological features of the tumor, dose-planning parameters, and patient characteristics. RESULTS Control of the tumor with GKRS was achieved in 97.1% of the patients. In 82.7% of the patients, the tumor volume had decreased at the last follow-up, with a mean relative reduction of 34.1%. The rate of complications was very low, with most consisting of a transient worsening of preexisting symptoms. Patients who had vertigo, balance disorders, or facial or trigeminal impairment usually experienced a complete or at least significant symptom relief after treatment. However, no significant improvement was observed in patients previously reporting tinnitus. The overall rate of preservation of functional hearing at the long-term follow-up was 49%; in patients with hearing classified as Gardner-Robertson (GR) Class I, this value was 71% and reached 93% among cases of GR Class I hearing in patients younger than 55 years. CONCLUSIONS Gamma Knife radiosurgery is a safe and effective treatment for VS, achieving tumor control in 97.1% of cases and resulting in a very low morbidity rate. Younger GR Class I patients had a significantly higher probability of retaining functional hearing even at the 10-year follow-up; for this reason, the time between symptom onset, diagnosis, and treatment should be shortened to achieve better outcomes in functional hearing preservation.
The Chinese Currency: How Undervalued and How Much Does It Matter?

The size of the imbalance in China’s external payments suggests that the RMB is significantly undervalued. This does not appear to have had significant adverse effects on the Chinese economy to date, but the costs of holding down the exchange rate are likely to rise in the future. While the contribution of the RMB to external imbalances is often exaggerated, currency adjustment will be a necessary element of the adjustment process. A more flexible exchange rate is in China's medium-term interests, but the pace of adjustment and its sequencing with other reforms will need to be carefully managed. Precipitate moves could be costly both to China and to global markets.
War and the Economic Growth of Major Powers

As part of an ongoing analysis of the expansion of the international system's major powers, this study examines the net impact of warfare on the economic growth of five of the system's leading state actors since 1700. A review of earlier efforts suggests the technical utility of Box-Tiao intervention techniques. It is also important to distinguish between the historical impacts of global and interstate wars. As hypothesized, the impact of war on economic growth is primarily temporary. However, the effects of interstate wars are statisticaly insignificant while global wars tend to create significant impacts. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the lack of attention allocated to war consequences, the theoretical reluctance to differentiate between types of warfare, and the longer term relationships between economic and political effects of warfare.
Postoperative change of the psoas muscle area as a predictor of survival in surgically treated esophageal cancer patients.

BACKGROUND Although a decrease in the psoas muscle area (PMA) has been reported as a risk factor for survival after esophagectomy in esophageal cancer, no previous studies have focused on the change in the PMA after surgery. We investigated the prognostic role of PMA changes in patients with surgically treated esophageal cancer. METHODS Fifty-eight patients with esophageal cancer who underwent surgical resection and complete lymph node dissection were reviewed retrospectively. The PMA was measured at the level of the L3 vertebrae on preoperative and one-year postoperative follow-up computed tomography images. The percentage change of the PMA was calculated as follows: delta (%) = (postoperative PMA - preoperative PMA) / (preoperative PMA × 100). RESULTS The study patients included 54 (93.1%) males and 4 females (mean age, 60.59±9.16 years), of whom 17 (29.3%) were pathological Stage I, 18 (31.0%) were Stage II, and 23 (39.7%) were Stage III. The mean change of the PMA was -10.17% and the postoperative PMA was decreased significantly compared with the preoperative PMA (P<0.001). The PMA was increased in 13 (22.4%) patients, whereas it was decreased in 45 (77.6%). Multivariate analysis revealed that the change of the PMA (hazard ratio, HR =0.688; P=0.001) and the pathologic stage (Stage III vs. Stage I, HR =3.388; P=0.016) were risk factors for overall survival (OS). The 3-year OS in patients with a PMA decrease of more than 10%, and those with a PMA decrease of less than 10% or an increase, were 18.9% and 59.5%, respectively (P=0.049). CONCLUSIONS The decrease in the PMA had a negative prognostic effect on OS in patients with surgically treated esophageal cancer.
A multiple-antenna diversity scheme for reception of fading signals in noise

Multiple-antenna diversity systems employ several antennas and a digital central receiver using diversity combiner to mitigate the effects of multipath fading. The multiple-antenna observations are processed at individual receivers and sent to a central receiver. The central receiver combines all the individual receiver information to form global information on which symbol was transmitted. In this paper, a multiple-antenna diversity scheme for digital communication is proposed. Each antenna observation is represented by course resolution information rather than high-resolution information. The proposed scheme is described for the case of noncoherent frequency-shift keying in slow Rayleigh fading and additive Gaussian noise. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated and compared to that of the optimum low-resolution and high-resolution schemes. Results indicate that the proposed scheme is cost effective and efficient. Results also indicate that the proposed scheme can be used instead of high-resolution scheme without noticeable loss in performance which simplifies receiver design and construction.
Defining the Tipping Point in Surgical Performance for Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy Among Transplant Surgery Fellows: A Risk‐Adjusted Cumulative Summation Learning Curve Analysis

The United Network for Organ Sharing recommends that fellowship‐trained surgeons participate in 15 laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (LDN) procedures to be considered proficient. The American Society of Transplant Surgeons (ASTS) mandates 12 LDNs during an abdominal transplant surgery fellowship. We performed a retrospective intraoperative case analysis to create a risk‐adjusted cumulative summation (RACUSUM) model to assess the learning curve of novice transplant surgery fellows (TSFs). Between January 2000 and December 2014, 30 novice TSFs participated in the organ procurement rotation of our ASTS‐approved abdominal transplant surgery fellowship. Measures of surgical performance included intraoperative time, estimated blood loss, and incidence of intraoperative complications. The performance of senior TSFs was used to benchmark novice TSF performance. Scores were tabulated in a learning curve model, adjusting for case complexity and prior TSF case volume. Rates of adverse surgical events were significantly higher for novice TSFs than for senior TSFs. In univariable analysis, multiple renal arteries, high BMI, prior abdominal surgery, male donor, and nephrolithiasis were correlated with higher incidence of adverse surgical events. Based on the RACUSUM model, high intraoperative time is mitigated after 28 procedures, incidence of intraoperative complications tends to diminish after 24 procedures, and improvement in estimated blood loss did not remain consistent. TSFs exhibit a tipping point in LDN performance by 24–28 cases and proficiency by 35–38 cases.
Pyrin and ASC Co-Localize to Cellular Sites that Are Rich in Polymerizing Actin

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autoinflammatory disease caused by mutations in the MEFV locus, which encodes the protein pyrin. While it is known that pyrin is expressed in myeloid cells and several fibroblastic cell types, the exact function of pyrin in these cells and the mechanism underlying the pathological effect of pyrin mutations have yet to be revealed. Here, we document that in migrating human monocytes, pyrin protein is dramatically polarized at the leading edge, where it co-localizes with polymerizing actin. ASC (Apoptosis-associated Speck protein with CARD domain), a known pyrin-interacting protein and a critical component of the inflamma-some, is also located at the leading edge in migrating monocytes. Similarly, both pyrin and ASC concentrate in dynamically polymerizing actin-rich tails generated by Listeria monocytogenes. Pyrin’s B-box and coiled-coil region is required for its association with Listeria tails. Pyrin also binds, with low affinity and via the same domains, to actin, VASP, and Arp3. Though disease-causing mutations in pyrin do not appear to alter its localization to the leading edge or to Listeria rocket tails, they could potentially have important functional consequences in the context of processes such as migration and cell synapse formation. The co-localization of pyrin and ASC together at such sites may provide an important link between cytoskeletal signaling and inflammasome function.
Differential regulation of the expression of neurotrophin receptors in rat extraocular motoneurons after lesion

Neurotrophins acting through high‐affinity tyrosine kinase receptors (trkA, trkB, and trkC) play a crucial role in regulating survival and maintenance of specific neuronal functions after injury. Adult motoneurons supplying extraocular muscles survive after disconnection from the target, but suffer dramatic changes in morphological and physiological properties, due in part to the loss of their trophic support from the muscle. To investigate the dependence of the adult rat extraocular motoneurons on neurotrophins, we examined trkA, trkB, and trkC mRNA expression after axotomy by in situ hybridization. trkA mRNA expression was detectable at low levels in unlesioned motoneurons, and its expression was downregulated 1 and 3 days after injury. Expression of trkB and trkC mRNAs was stronger, and after axotomy a simultaneous, but inverse regulation of both receptors was observed. Thus, whereas a considerable increase in trkB expression was seen about 2 weeks after axotomy, the expression of trkC mRNA had decreased at the same post‐lesion period. Injured extraocular motoneurons also experienced an initial induction in expression of calcitonin gene‐related peptide and a transient downregulation of cholinergic characteristics, indicating a switch in the phenotype from a transmitter‐specific to a regenerative state. These results suggest that specific neurotrophins may contribute differentially to the survival and regenerative responses of extraocular motoneurons after lesion. J. Comp. Neurol. 519:2335–2352, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Politics of Envy and Esteem in Two Democracies

Implicitly or explicitly, research on democratic politics often assumes that citizens seek primarily to maximize their material wealth or power. By contrast, drawing on insights from social psychology and behavioral economics, this dissertation argues that individuals also care deeply about their relative positions within groups, particularly vis-à-vis neighbors and co-ethnics. High within-group status is pleasurable in itself, and under certain circumstance citizens pursue it at the expense of their material interests. The innovation of the dissertation is to highlight the importance of within-group status concerns (envy, spite, the desire for esteem) for understanding real-world political behavior. The core of the dissertation uses within-group status concerns to address three important puzzles. First, I ask why democracies sometimes fail to meet the needs of their citizens. Specifically, I look at instances of Pareto-improving policies that, despite promising to make no one materially worse off, often go unimplemented. I show that citizens’ concerns for within-group status give rise to public opposition to such policies when, though Paretoimproving, the policies make some citizens better off than others. Second, I consider puzzles about preferences over government redistribution. Why, despite conventional wisdom, do citizens sometimes vote for redistribution schemes that would make them materially worse off? I show that citizens do so when policies promise them status benefits instead. Finally, I explore the classic collective action dilemma. When and why do ordinary citizens choose to participate in protests and other forms of political collective action given that they could reap the benefits and bear none of the costs if they abstain? I show that the promise of higher within-group status can act as a powerful selective incentive for citizens to participate. In
4‐Methyl‐5‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydrooxazol‐2‐amine (4,4′‐DMAR, 4,4′‐dimethylaminorex): availability, prevalence of use, desired effects and acute toxicity

4‐Methyl‐5‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐4,5‐dihydrooxazol‐2‐amine (4,4′‐dimethylaminorex (4,4′‐DMAR)) is a derivative of the controlled substances aminorex and 4‐methylaminorex marketed as a potential novel psychoactive substance. This paper brings together the published scientific and ‘grey’ literature to understand 4,4′‐DMAR as a novel psychoactive substance.