Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
LEUCINE ACUTELY REVERSES BURN-INDUCED ALTERATIONS IN TRANSLATION INITIATION IN HEART

Myocardial dysfunction is a common manifestation of thermal injury, the etiology of which appears to be multifactorial. We have previously demonstrated that burn injury impairs cardiac protein synthesis at the level of translation initiation. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether oral administration of leucine, which is known to stimulate translation initiation in skeletal muscle, can ameliorate burn-induced changes in signal transduction pathways known to regulate protein synthesis in cardiac muscle. To address this aim, thermal injury was produced by a 40% total body surface area full-thickness scald burn in anesthetized rats, and the animals were studied in the fasted condition 24 h later; appropriate time-matched nonburned control rats were also included. Separate groups of control and burn rats also received an oral gavage of leucine. To identify potential mechanisms responsible for regulating mRNA translation in cardiac muscle, several eukaryotic initiation factors (eIFs) were examined using immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting techniques. Hearts from burned rats demonstrated a redistribution of eIF4E as evidenced by the increased binding of the translational repressor 4E-BP1 with eIF4E, a decreased amount of eIF4E bound with eIF4G, and a decreased amount of the hyperphosphorylated γ-isoform of 4E-BP1. Furthermore, constitutive phosphorylation of mTOR, the ribosomal protein S6, and eIF4G was also decreased in hearts from burned rats. In control rats, leucine failed to alter eIF4E distribution but did increase the phosphorylation of S6K1 and S6. However, in hearts from burn rats, leucine acutely reversed the alterations in eIF4E distribution as well as the changes in S6, eIF4G, and mTOR phosphorylation. These data suggest that oral administration of leucine can acutely reverse multiple defects in cardiac translation initiation produced by thermal injury.
There Are a Few Things You Did Not Ask About My Pain: Writing on the Margins of a Survey Questionnaire

&NA; This qualitative study is a secondary analysis of comments written on survey questionnaires about pain mailed to community‐dwelling persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) or amputation. Narrative comments were added by 54.1% of 797 respondents. The purpose of this study was to determine the characteristics of those who wrote comments and to understand what was being communicated in their comments. A qualitative content analysis was used to identify the major themes, subthemes, and thematic categories in the unsolicited comments. The overarching theme was desiring dialogue with the researcher. Presenting themselves as experts on living with pain because of a chronic disabling condition, respondents described personal experiences of living with pain, coping with pain, and educating others about pain. Examining comments and narratives written in the margins of quantitative survey questionnaires can add value to and extend understanding of survey findings and implications.
Endogenous ganglioside GM1 modulates L-type calcium channel activity in N18 neuroblastoma cells

Digital imaging fluorescence microscopy was used to investigate the effect of the B subunit of cholera toxin on calcium homeostasis in neuroblastoma N18 cells. The B subunit, which binds specifically to ganglioside GM1 in the outer leaflet of the cell membrane, was found to induce a sustained increase of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). The increase in [Ca2+]i was not observed in the absence of extracellular calcium, or in the presence of the calcium chelator EGTA, and was blocked by nickel. The B subunit was also found to induce an influx of manganese ions, as indicated by a quench of the intracellular fura-2 fluorescence. These data suggest that the B subunit induces an increase in calcium influx in N18 cells. Potassium-induced depolarization also stimulated manganese influx; however, after the onset of depolarization-induced influx, the B subunit had no further effect. This occlusion suggests involvement of voltage-dependent calcium channels. Treatment with BayK8644, a dihydropyridine agonist selective for L-type calcium channels, induced manganese influx that was not altered by the B subunit and apparently blocked the effect of the B subunit itself. Furthermore, the dihydropyridine L-type channel antagonists niguldipine or nicardipine completely inhibited B subunit- induced manganese influx. Thus, the B subunit-induced manganese influx is likely due to activation of an L-type voltage-dependent calcium channel. Spontaneous influx of manganese ions was also inhibited by nicardipine or niguldipine and by exogenous gangliosides. Ganglioside GM1 was more potent than GM3, but globoside had no significant effect. The modulation of L-type calcium channels by endogenous ganglioside GM1 has important implications for its role in neural development, differentiation, and regeneration and also for its potential function in the electrical excitability of neurons.
Understanding the Gap Between Good Processes of Diabetes Care and Poor Intermediate Outcomes: Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes (TRIAD)

Background:Performance of diabetes clinical care processes has improved recently, but control of hemoglobin A1c (A1c) and other vascular disease risk factors has improved more slowly. Objectives:To identify patient factors associated with control of vascular disease risk factors among diabetes patients receiving recommended care processes. Population:Managed care enrollees who participated in the TRIAD (Translating Research into Action for Diabetes) Study and received at least 5 of 7 recommended care processes during the 12 months before the second survey (2002–2003). Methods:Comparison of 1003 patients with good control of A1c (<8%), systolic blood pressure (<140 mm Hg) and LDL-cholesterol (<130 mg/dL) versus 812 patients with poor control for at least 2 of these factors. Results:Poorly controlled patients were younger, more frequently female, African American, with lower education and income (P < 0.001 for each). General health status was lower, body mass index higher, and insulin treatment more frequent; history of prior coronary heart disease was less frequent. They were more likely to indicate depression and hopelessness and to identify costs as a barrier to self-care; less likely to report trust in their regular physician; and more likely to smoke cigarettes and be physically inactive. Adjusting for demographic and clinical variables, concerns about costs, low trust in one's physician, current smoking, and physical inactivity remained associated with poor control. However, inclusion of these 4 variables in a single model did not diminish associations of race/ethnicity or education with control. Conclusions:Clinical, socioeconomic, psychosocial, and behavioral factors were independently associated with poor control. However, these factors did not fully explain observed racial and socioeconomic disparities in control.
Motion deblurring from a single image using multi-layer statistics priors

In order to remove camera shake from a single photograph, we present a new deconvolution approach based on multi-layer statistics priors. Our approach is based on the three observations: the estimation of image gradients distribution can affect the deblurring quality; homogeneity region of the blurred image can serve to reduce ringing artifacts; regions with different homogeneities are with different statistics even for a single scene. Based on these observations we propose a multilayer deblurring model and the experimental results show that our model can reduce ringing while improve deblurring quality.
The Romeyka infinitive: continuity, contact and change in the Hellenic varieties of Pontus

One Pontic Greek variety, Romeyka of Of, Turkey, today preserves a robust infinitive usage. Comparing the current infinitival distribution in Romeyka with previous stages of Greek, I argue that: (a) the Romeyka infinitive has roots in Ancient Greek due to preservation of the construction prin “before” with infinitive, which remains extremely productive, but which did not survive in other varieties into early medieval times and is only found as a learned construction in ‘high’ registers of the Medieval Greek record; (b) neither the survival of the plain and personal infinitive, nor the emergence of the inflected one can be due to contact with Turkish; (c) the Romeyka infinitive, part of a conservative medieval variety with Hellenistic features, once cut off from other medieval varieties (as early as the 11th c. ce and as late as the 16th c. ce), was reanalyzed as a negative polarity item. Such reanalysis feeds into the discussion that NPIs belong to various syntactic categories, such as nominal NPIs, NPI adverbs, NPI verbs, NPI focus particles, minimizers and now an infinitive, too.
Entropy and variability discrimination.

Two experiments examined college students' discrimination of complex visual displays that involved different degrees of variability or "entropy. " Displays depicted 16 black and white line drawings of various types (e.g., a brain, a clock, a hand); the participants were required to classify a display in terms of its variability (e.g., a low-variability display contains many identical items, whereas a high-variability display contains few identical items). The participants' accuracy and reaction time scores on a 2-alternative forced-choice discrimination disclosed that people can and do use entropy to classify different levels of visual display variability. Individuals differed in their use of absolute rather than relative entropy.
The apolipoprotein E epsilon4-allele and antihypertensive treatment are associated with increased risk of cerebral MRI white matter hyperintensities.

OBJECTIVE Apolipoprotein E-epsilon4 (APOE-epsilon4) is a potential risk factor for cerebral vascular disease. The aim of the present study was to examine the relative importance of APOE-epsilon4 and other relevant risk factors for the extent of cerebral white matter hyperintensity (WMH) in a community-based sample of elderly subjects. MATERIALS AND METHODS From a cohort of 976 subjects born in 1914, APOE genotype was determined and MRI examinations were carried out in 75 subjects. WMH were rated using a standard semi-quantitative method. ANOVA and regression analyses were conducted to explore the relative importance of the potential risk factors. RESULTS APOE genotype and antihypertensive treatment were significantly associated with severity of total WMH load (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS The study confirmed the association between APOE-epsilon4 and WMH. Pharmaceutical treatment for arterial hypertension was also associated with the total burden of WMH in this study.
Factors effecting mortality in urban vertical free falls: evaluation of 180 cases.

AIM The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the factors on mortality in urban free vertical falls. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 180 urban vertical free fall victims who survived transport to the emergency room between the period of 1980-1998 were evaluated. Minor bruises, abrasions, haematomas, and soft tissue injuries were not encountered. Serious injuries such as bone fractures, liver lacerations, epi-subdural haematomas, haemothorax, haemomediastinum, retroperitoneal haematomas were evaluated. RESULTS Of the total, 23% (n = 41) of patients were female and 73% (n = 139) were male. The mean age was 22.3 years (4-75 years). Extremity fractures were found in 6.7% (n = 12), cranial trauma in 14.4% (n = 26), thoracic trauma in 2.2% (n = 4) retroperitoneal trauma in 2.8% (n = 5), vertebral column trauma in 1.7% (n = 3) of cases. The overall number of the pathologies was 59. In-hospital mortality was 8.9% (n = 16). The injury severity scores (ISSs) of non-survivors and survivors were 33 +/- 4, and 5 +/- 0.6, respectively (P = 0.0001). The heights fallen were 8.6 +/- 2.3 m for non-survivors and 5.2 +/- 0.2 m for survivors (P = 0.022). The mean ages of non-survivors and survivors were 41.6 +/- 5.9 years and 20.4 +/- 1.2 years, respectively (P = 0.003). Serious cranial trauma was found in 68.7% (n = 11) and 9.1% (n = 5) of non-survivors and survivors, respectively (P = 0.0001). Extremity trauma was encountered in 31.2% (n = 5) and 4.2% (n = 7) of non-survivors and survivors, respectively (P = 0.0015). The ISSs were 6.8 +/- 1.0 and 8.9 +/- 1.1 for cases under the age of 6 years and others, respectively (P = 0.15). Using logistic regression analysis, ISS, height and age were found to be significant factors in mortality. CONCLUSION Vertical deceleration injury represents a distinct form of trauma. With the results of this study, it can be concluded that ISS, height and age are significant factors in determining the severity of trauma.
Io: longitudinal distribution of sulfur dioxide frost.

Twenty spectra of Io (0.26 to 0.33 micrometer), acquired with the International Ultraviolet Explorer spacecraft, have been studied. There is a strong ultraviolet absorption shortward of 0.33 micrometer that is consistent with earlier ground-based spectrophotometry; its strength is strongly dependent on Io's rotational phase angle at the time of observation. This spectral feature and its variation are interpreted as indicative of a longitudinal variation in the distribution of sulfur dioxide frost on Io. The frost is most abundant at orbital longitudes 72 degrees to 137 degrees and least abundant at longitudes 250 degrees to 323 degrees . Variations in spectral reflectivity between 0.4 and 0.5 micrometer, reported in earlier ground-based spectral studies, correlate inversely with variations in reflectivity between 0.26 and 0.33 micrometer. It is concluded that this is because the Io surface component with the highest visible reflectivity (sulfur dioxide frost) has the lowest ultraviolet reflectivity. At least one other component is present and may be sulfur allotropes or alkali sulfides. This model is consistent with ground-based ultraviolet, visible, and infrared spectrophotometry. Comparison with Voyager color photographs indicates that the sulfur dioxide frost is in greatest concentration in the "white" areas on Io and the other sulfurous components are in greatest concentration in the "red" areas.
Computed Tomography in Adult‐Onset Epileptic Seizures in a City Hospital Population

Summary: Computed tomography (CT) was performed on 155 patients from a city hospital population who developed seizures after age 20. CT was normal in 58 (37.4%) and abnormal in 97 patients (62.6%). A focal abnormality was seen in 71 patients (45.8%). Lesions potentially correctable by surgery were found in 24 patients (15.4%). As expected, the occurrence of abnormal CTs was higher (73%) in patients with partial seizures. Although CT is undeniably useful in evaluating the cause of seizures, no demonstrable lesion was found in a relatively large number of patients (37.4%).
MIB-1 Expression in Cervical Papanicolaou Tests Correlates With Dysplasia in Subsequent Cervical Biopsies

Ki-67 nuclear antigen is present in proliferating cells. MIB-1 antibody, raised to the recombinant part of the Ki-67 antigen, is a widely used biologic marker to assess cell proliferation. Ki-67 expression is normally observed in parabasal and basal cells in the cervix. With increasing severity of dysplasia, MIB-1 labeling is seen in cells of the superficial layers of cervical epithelium, which are exfoliated. The purpose of this study was to determine the sensitivity and specificity of presence of MIB-1–positive cells in Papanicolaou tests for predicting cervical neoplasia, condyloma, or both, on follow up. Using microwave antigen retrieval method, 49 air-dried cervical smears in two-smear cases were evaluated with immunostaining with MIB-1 monoclonal antibody. Presence of MIB-1 positivity was arbitrarily set at ≥4 MIB-1 immunoreactive cells in each smear. The degree of positive staining was correlated with the cytologic diagnoses, subsequent colposcopy-directed biopsies, endocervical curettage, and/or cytologic follow ups. Follow-up findings correlated with cytology in 33 cases (67%), with MIB-1 positivity in 35 cases (71%). Three cases with positive follow ups were missed by cytology but detected by MIB-1 staining, and three cases were missed by MIB-1 but detected by cytology. Both cytology and MIB-1 staining failed to detect a subsequent cervical lesion in two cases, and in six cases each, an abnormal finding was not substantiated on follow ups. MIB-1 immunostaining is a powerful technique for evaluating gynecologic smears and is as equally sensitive and specific as cervical cytology. It is able to identify cervical disease overlooked by cytologic screening; therefore, it may serve as an adjunct and complimentary tool to cervical cytology.
High-dosage intravenously administered methylprednisolone in renal transplantation. A preliminary report.

Large doses of methylprednisolone were used intravenously as the sole steroid agent in 44 transplants in 43 renal allografted patients for the first two to three weeks after operation and for all episodes of rejection. Orally administered steroids were used only at uniformly low dosage. Although significant rejection episodes occurred, they were almost universally reversible when methylprednisolone was administered intravenously in high doses, the exceptions being the hyperacute responses. The use of this drug form was associated with minimal stigmata of hypercorticism and a low incidence of complications, despite transplantation in high-risk patients.
QTL Mapping for Partial Resistance to Southern Corn Rust Using RILs of Tropical Sweet Corn

Southern corn rust is one of destructive diseases in maize caused by Puccinia polysora Undrew. A mapping population of tropical sweet corn recombinant inbred lines (RILs) derived from a cross between hA9104 and hA9035 inbred lines were set up to detect quantitative trait loci (QTLs) involved in partial resistance to southern corn rust. Eighty nine RILs were used to evaluate resistance levels using nine-point relative scale (1-9) at Sweet Seeds, Suwan Farm, Thailand include combined analysis. A genetic linkage map was constructed with 157 SSR markers, with a total length of 2123.1 cM, covering 10 chromosomes. Broad-sense heritability of individual location ranged from 0.76 and 0.82 and combined across locations was 0.87. Multiple QTL mapping (MQM) was applied for the identification of the QTLs. Fifteen QTLs were detected on chromosome 1, 2, 5, 6, 9 and 10 in both locations and combined across locations. QTLs on chromosome 1, 5 and 6 were contributed by alleles of resistant parent hA9104 while others were contributed by alleles from the susceptible parent, hA9035. Phenotypic variance of each QTL explained ranged from 6.1% to 41.8% with a total of 69.8% - 81.9%. QTL on chromosome 1, 6 and 10 were stable QTLs detected in both locations.
Policy Uncertainty and Household Savings

Abstract Using German microdata and a quasi-natural experiment, we provide evidence on how households respond to an increase in uncertainty. We find that household saving increases significantly following the increase in political uncertainty observed in the run-up to the 1998 German general election. We also find evidence of a labor supply response by workers who can use the margin offered by part-time employment. Our results are suggestive of the economic effects of “wars of attrition”: when political disagreement leads to delays in adopting a reform or the possibility that earlier reforms may be revoked, the increased uncertainty could slow the economy.
Physical Activity Behavior Two to Six Years Following Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Socioecological Analysis

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) promotes long‐term positive health behaviours, such as physical activity (PA), in patients following a cardiovascular event. We have limited knowledge of long‐term PA and its correlates. Therefore, this research examined both PA behaviour and socioecological correlates among elderly graduates 2‐6 years following CR.
The dividend payout policy - a study on Malaysian financial institutions

The purpose of this study is to identify the determinants of dividend policy in Malaysian financial institutions. Panel data set were constructed from 33 financial institutions in Malaysia for a period of 10 years (2001-2010). The results show a statistically significant positive relationship between dividend policy and profitability, which implies that Malaysian financial institutions distribute higher dividends when they record higher profitability. Lagged dividend also shows a positive significant relationship with dividend policy, which implies that financial institutions in Malaysia follow a stable dividend policy that maintains regularity of dividend payments with gradual adjustments of dividend payments towards the target payout. On the other hand, leverage shows a significant negative relationship with dividend policy, which means that a riskier financial institution pays out lower dividends. In conclusion, profitability, lagged dividend and leverage are found to be the major determinants of dividend policy in relation to Malaysian financial institutions. The results support the agency cost theory, signaling theory and the free cash flow hypothesis.
Enhanced recovery after surgery with laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for stomach carcinomas.

AIM To study the efficacy of the enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program in laparoscopic radical gastrectomy for stomach carcinomas. METHODS From June 2010 to December 2012, 61 gastric cancer patients who underwent laparoscopic-assisted radical gastrectomy with D2 lymphadenectomy at First Hospital of Jilin University were enrolled in this randomized controlled trial. (Clinical Trials.gov, registration ID: NCT01955096). The subjects were divided into the ERAS program group and the conventional control group. The clinical characteristics, recovery variables, and complications of patients were analyzed. RESULTS The time to first ambulation, oral food intake, and time to defecation were significantly shorter in the ERAS group (n = 30), compared to the conventional group (n = 31; P = 0.04, 0.003, and 0.01, respectively). The postoperative hospital stay was less in the ERAS group (6.8 ± 1.1 d) compared to the conventional group (7.7 ± 1.1 d) (P = 0.002). There was no significant difference in postoperative complications between the ERAS (1/30) and conventional care groups (2/31) (P = 1.00). There were no readmissions or mortality during the 30-d follow-up period. CONCLUSION The ERAS program is associated with a shorter hospital stay in gastric cancer patients undergoing laparoscopic radical gastrectomy. The ERAS protocol is useful in the treatment of gastric cancer.
A multi-agent system for cooperative document indexing and querying in distributed networked environments

In an age of rapidly changing work environments it is becoming increasingly the norm for project and research teams to be composed of individuals who are geographically distributed but connected for work purposes by high speed communication networks. In such environments there is a real need for automated support systems that facilitate the easy and effective sharing of work related documents and files among workgroup members. This paper presents a cooperative agent based solution known as MAIQS, which is an acronym for Multi-Agent Indexing and Query System. A MAIQS agent is installed on each team member's workstation where it takes on responsibilities for: building and dynamically maintaining indexes to specified user data; locating its counterpart agents on other machines; and supporting parallel queries across the community of agents. Such queries may utilise directly connected synchronous exchanges or (where firewalls necessitate) asynchronous email based exchanges. MAIQS, a 100% Java application, is presented here from a network computing perspective and its current implementation and future development examined.