Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in effects of age and blood pressure on augmentation index.

BACKGROUND The effect of age on the augmentation index (AI) differs between young adults and the elderly, and the AI reaches a plateau after the age of 60 years. We examined whether the effects of age and an elevation in blood pressure on the AI differ between young adults and the elderly, between subjects with and without high blood pressure, or between subjects with and without a high AI. METHODS The radial AI was measured in 10,190 subjects who were either healthy or had hypertension (n = 5,477 men and 4,743 women). RESULTS In both sexes, a phased increase in the radial AI with age could only be confirmed up to an age of 60 years. A phased increase in the radial AI with the systolic blood pressure (SBP) could be confirmed up to an SBP of >170 mm Hg. Among subjects categorized within the highest age tertile, the highest SBP tertile, or the highest radial AI tertile, stepwise multivariable analyses demonstrated that SBP, but not age, was a significant independent factor influencing the radial AI. CONCLUSIONS The effect of age and blood pressure on AI differ not only between young adults and the elderly but also between those with and those without high blood pressure or between those with and those without a high AI. The effect of an elevation in blood pressure, but not aging, on the AI is significant in the elderly, in subjects with high blood pressure, or in those with a high AI.
Mothers of IVF Twins: The Mediating Role of Employment and Social Coping Resources in Maternal Stress

Twin pregnancies and births resulting from assisted reproductive technologies have been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes and maternal health complications leading to psychologically complex parenting. In the current study the authors assess the prevalence of clinical levels of maternal stress among mothers of twins resulting from in vitro fertilization and examine the association of social coping resources with three maternal stress sub-scales. During the years 2003–2005, 88 primiparous Israeli mothers of in vitro fertilization-conceived twins provided socio-demographic data during their third trimester of pregnancy, and at 6 months after birth provided data on delivery and medical condition of infants, coping resources (social support and marital quality), and a maternal stress scale. Forty-one percent of the mothers reached a clinically significant level of maternal stress. Social support and maternal employment were the most significant variables associated with experience of the stress in the early stages of adaptation to mothering in vitro fertilization twins. Primiparous mothers of in vitro fertilization twins are vulnerable to maternal stress in early stages of adaptation to the maternal role, some of whom reach clinical levels that may require professional interventions. Unemployed mothers with low social support were the most susceptible to the deleterious effects of in vitro fertilization treatment.
Assessment of the clinical utility of adding common single nucleotide polymorphism genetic scores to classical risk factor algorithms in coronary heart disease risk prediction in UK men

Abstract Background: Risk prediction algorithms for coronary heart disease (CHD) are recommended for clinical use. However, their predictive ability remains modest and the inclusion of genetic risk may improve their performance. Methods: QRISK2 was used to assess CHD risk using conventional risk factors (CRFs). The performance of a 19 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) gene score (GS) for CHD including variants identified by genome-wide association study and candidate gene studies (weighted using the results from the CARDIoGRAMplusC4D meta-analysis) was assessed using the second Northwick Park Heart Study (NPHSII) of 2775 healthy UK men (284 cases). To improve the GS, five SNPs with weak evidence of an association with CHD were removed and replaced with seven robustly associated SNPs – giving a 21-SNP GS. Results: The weighted 19 SNP GS was associated with lipid traits (p<0.05) and CHD after adjustment for CRFs, (OR=1.31 per standard deviation, p=0.03). Addition of the 19 SNP GS to QRISK2 showed improved discrimination (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve 0.68 vs. 0.70 p=0.02), a positive net reclassification index (0.07, p=0.04) compared to QRISK2 alone and maintained good calibration (p=0.17). The 21-SNP GS was also associated with CHD after adjustment for CRFs (OR=1.39 per standard deviation, 1.42×10−3), but the combined QRISK2 plus GS score was poorly calibrated (p=0.03) and showed no improvement in discrimination (p=0.55) or reclassification (p=0.10) compared to QRISK2 alone. Conclusions: The 19-SNP GS is robustly associated with CHD and showed potential clinical utility in the UK population.
Psychosocial predictors of disability in patients with low back pain.

We prospectively studied outcomes for 179 patients with low back pain. Predictors of future function, employment, and medical utilization were drawn from 21 clinical, demographic, and psychosocial variables using multivariate techniques. Education, previous episodes, and whether the patient "always feels sick" were independently associated with most outcome measures, but prescribed therapy and physical findings were not. These 3 items created a scale defining subgroups with 3-fold differences in outcomes (e.g., 35% functionally improved in the worst group vs 93% in the best, p less than 0.001). Data from a national survey supported the importance of education and self-rated health as correlates of back related disability.
Dual Regulation of Akt/Protein Kinase B by Heterotrimeric G Protein Subunits*

While positive regulation of c-Akt (also known as protein kinase B) by receptor tyrosine kinases is well documented, compounds acting through G protein-coupled receptors can also activate Akt and its downstream targets. We therefore explored the role of G protein subunits in the regulation of Akt in cultured mammalian cells. In HEK-293 and COS-7 cells transiently transfected with β2-adrenergic or m2 muscarinic receptors, respectively, treatment with agonist-induced phosphorylation of Akt at serine 473 as evidenced by phosphoserine-specific immunoblots. This effect was blocked by the phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase inhibitor LY294002 and wild-type Gαi1, and was not duplicated by co-transfection of the constitutively active Gαs-Q227L or Gαi-Q204L mutant. Co-transfection of Gβ1, Gβ2 but not Gβ5 together with Gγ2 activated the kinase when assayed in vitro following immunoprecipitation of the epitope-tagged enzyme. In contrast, constitutively activated G protein subunits representing the four Gα subfamilies were found unable to activate Akt in either cell line. The latter results are in disagreement with a report by Murga et al. (Murga, C., Laguinge, L., Wetzker, R., Cuadrado, A., and Gutkind, J. S. (1998)J. Biol. Chem. 273, 19080–19085) that described activation of Akt in response to mutationally activated Gαq and Gαi transfection in COS cells. To the contrary, in our experiments Gαq-Q209L inhibited Akt activation resulting from βγ or mutationally activated H-Ras co-transfection in these cells. In HEK-293 cells Gαq-Q209L transfection inhibited insulin-like growth factor-1 activation of epitope-tagged Akt. In m1 muscarinic receptor transfected HEK-293 cells, carbachol inhibited insulin-like growth factor-1 stimulated phosphorylation at Ser473 of endogenous Akt in an atropine-reversible fashion. We conclude that G proteins can regulate Akt by two distinct and potentially opposing mechanisms: activation by Gβγ heterodimers in a phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase-dependent fashion, and inhibition mediated by Gαq. This work identifies Akt as a novel point of convergence between disparate signaling pathways.
History of Treatment for Depression: Risk Factor for Myocardial Infarction in Hypertensive Patients

Objective Psychological factors have been suspected of contributing to the development of cardiovascular disease. This study examined the relationship between a self-reported history of treatment for depression and subsequent myocardial infarction among treated hypertensive patients. Methods Participants (5564) in a union-sponsored, hypertension control program in New York City, who entered the program during 1981–1994 without a history of cardiovascular disease and who were asked whether they had been treated for depression, were followed in a prospective cohort study. The primary outcome of interest was hospitalization or death due to myocardial infarction. Results At entry, 3.5% of men and 6.4% of women reported a history of treatment for depression. During 4.9 years (average) of follow-up, 112 fatal and nonfatal myocardial infarctions were recorded. The sex-adjusted relative risk of myocardial infarction was 2.24 (confidence interval = 1.13–4.45). Controlling for known cardiovascular risk factors with multivariate proportional hazards models, history of treatment for depression was significantly associated with subsequent myocardial infarction (hazard ratio = 2.10, confidence interval = 1.04–4.23). Conclusions A self-reported history of treatment for depression is independently associated with subsequent myocardial infarction in treated hypertensive patients without prior cardiovascular disease. Whether additional or different treatment for depression will be cardioprotective is unknown and merits further study.
Despite ubiquitous autoantigen expression, arthritogenic autoantibody response initiates in the local lymph node

K/BxN mice develop an inflammatory joint disease with many features characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis. In this model, the KRN transgenic T cells and nontransgenic B cells both recognize the glycolytic enzyme glucose-6-phosphate-isomerase (GPI) as an autoantigen. Here, we followed the anti-GPI B cell response that naturally arises in K/BxN mice. The anti-GPI B cell response was robust and arose at the same time as the development of serum anti-GPI autoantibody and joint inflammation. Surprisingly, although GPI was expressed systemically, the anti-GPI B cell response was focused to the lymph nodes (LN) draining the distal joints where arthritis was evident. In lymphotoxin-β receptor-Ig-treated mice, which lack LNs, the development of arthritis was completely inhibited up to 5–6 weeks. At later times, some arthritis did develop, but at a significantly reduced level. Thus, in this spontaneous model of autoimmunity, the LNs draining the distal joints are essential for both the inhibition and amplification of the arthritogenic B cell response. These findings imply that the immune physiology of a joint is unique, resulting in a local immune response to a systemic autoantigen.
Integrated Backscatter During Harmonic and Fundamental Frequency Imaging—Effect of Depth, Mechanical Index, and Tissue Anisotropy: Implications for Myocardial Tissue Characterization

Objective: To explore the potential advantages of tissue harmonic imaging (THI) versus fundamental frequency imaging (FFI) when applied to tissue characterization. Methods: A Philips Medical Systems Sonos 5500 echocardiograph equipped with a broadband transducer (S4) and an on‐line quantitative analysis software package (Acoustic Densitometry) was used for imaging. The effect of mechanical index (MI), imaging depth, and anisotropy on relative backscatter amplitude was evaluated. Results: This study demonstrated that imaging with tissue harmonics generated relatively greater backscatter values at clinically relevant imaging depths and instrument settings referenced to FFI. This effect was dependent on MI setting. A direct relationship between backscatter amplitude and MI was demonstrated. Additionally, tissue anisotropy had similar effects on integrated backscatter amplitude during both THI and FFI. However, relative backscatter values at each fiber orientation are greater during THI at similar instrument settings when referenced to FFI. Conclusion: Tissue harmonic imaging may offer advantages over FFI for myocardial tissue characterization. (ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Volume 20, May 2003)
Seasonal Increase of Xylella fastidiosa in Hemiptera Collected from Central Texas Vineyards

ABSTRACT Yellow sticky traps were placed in six vineyards in central Texas from 2003 to 2006 and in locations outside the vineyards in 2004–2006. In total, 72 collections on 55 dates were examined. Xylem fluid-feeding insects were removed and identified to species and then analyzed by polymerase chain reaction to determine the presence or absence of Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. Of the 1318 insects removed, 13 species were found, dominated by Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar), Clastoptera xanthocepahala Germar, and Graphocephala versuta (Say). Insects testing positive for X. fastidiosa were analyzed further using fluorescence resonance energy transfer probes to determine the genotype of the bacterium, which fell into four groups: subspecies fastidiosa, multiplex, sandyi, and unknown subspecies. Vineyards known to be affected by Pierce's disease had more insects that were contaminated by the bacterium than those that were not as affected. X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa, the causative agent of Pierce's disease, was found more commonly in insects collected from vineyards than from insects collected outside the vineyards. Conversely, the subspecies multiplex and sandyi, which are not known to cause disease in grape, were more commonly found in insects collected outside the vineyard. The percentage of individuals contaminated with the bacterium increased over the course of the growing season, and the data suggest that vector insects acquired X. fastidiosa subsp. fastidiosa from infected grapevines, a necessary precursor for vine to vine transmission to occur. Management options, including the use of systemic insecticides and plant roguing, would be effective for this type of transmission model.
Dual-VT 4kb sub-VT memories with <1 pW/bit leakage in 65 nm CMOS

Two standard-cell based subthreshold (sub-VT) memories (SCMs) are presented. The SCMs accomplish the task of robust sub-VT storage and fill the gap of missing sub-VT memory compilers. The storage elements (latches) of these SCMs are custom-designed cells using a dual-VT approach to improve reliability and balance timing. Additionally, two read-logic styles are presented: 1) a segmented 3-state implementation that increases performance compared to a pure 3-state implementation; and 2) a purely MUX-based implementation with the first stage (NAND gate) integrated into the storage cell. Silicon measurements of two 4kb SCMs manufactured in a low-power 65nm CMOS technology show that read access speed increases by 4× and 8× compared to a pure 3-state implementation for the segmented 3-state and integrated NAND, respectively, while bit-access energy only increases by 2.7× and 2× to 39 and 29 fJ, respectively.
Expression of CXCL9, -10, -11, and CXCR3 in the tear film and ocular surface of patients with dry eye syndrome.

PURPOSE To investigate the expression of CXCL9, -10, -11, and CXCR3 in the tear film and ocular surface of patients with dry eye syndrome. METHODS Thirty-three patients with dry eye (16 with and 17 without Sjögren's syndrome) and 15 control subjects were recruited. The concentrations of CXCL9, -10, and -11 in tears were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. The correlation between chemokine levels and tear film and ocular surface parameters was analyzed. The expression of CXCL9, -10, -11, and CXCR3 in the conjunctiva was evaluated by using immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometry was performed to count CXCR3(+) cells and CXCR3(+)CD4(+) cells in the conjunctiva. RESULTS The concentrations of CXCL9, -10, and -11 were 1,148 +/- 1,088, 24,338 +/- 8,706, and 853 +/- 334 pg/mL, in the patients with dry eye, and 272 +/- 269 (P = 0.01), 18,149 +/- 5,266 (P = 0.02), and 486 +/- 175 (P < 0.01) pg/mL in the control subjects, respectively. The concentrations significantly increased in tears of the patients with Sjögren's syndrome compared with those of the patients with non-Sjögren's dry eye (P < 0.05). CXCL10 levels correlated significantly with basal tear secretion, and CXCL11 levels correlated significantly with basal tear secretion, tear clearance rate, keratoepitheliopathy score, and goblet cell density (P < 0.05). Staining for CXCL9, -10, -11, and CXCR3 increased in patients with dry eye, especially in the patients with Sjögren's syndrome. Flow cytometry demonstrated an increased number of CXCR3(+) and CXCR3(+)CD4(+) cells in all the patients with dry eye. CONCLUSIONS Expression of CXCL9, -10, -11, and CXCR3 increased in the tear film and ocular surface of patients with dry eye syndrome, especially in those with Sjögren's syndrome. CXCL11 levels correlated significantly with various tear film and ocular surface parameters. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00991679.).
Analysis of Hydrogen Peroxide–independent Expression of the High‐light–inducible ELIP2 Gene with the Aid of the ELIP2 Promoter–Luciferase Fusion ¶

Intense and excessive light triggers the evolution of reactive oxygen species in chloroplasts, and these have the potential to cause damage. However, plants are able to respond to light stress and protect the chloroplasts by various means, including transcriptional regulation at the nucleus. Activation of light stress–responsive genes is mediated via hydrogen peroxide–dependent and –independent pathways. In this study, we characterized the Early‐Light–Inducible Protein 2 (ELIP2) promoter–luciferase gene fusion (ELIP2::LUC), which responds only to the hydrogen peroxide–independent pathway. Our results show that ELIP2::LUC is expressed under nonstressful conditions in green tissue containing juvenile and developing chloroplasts. Upon light stress, expression was activated in leaves with mature as well as developing chloroplasts. In contrast to another high‐light–inducible gene, APX2, which responds to the hydrogen peroxide–dependent pathway, the activation of ELIP2::LUC was cell autonomous. The activation was suppressed by application of 3‐(3,4)‐dichlorophenyl‐1,1‐dimethylurea, an inhibitor of the reduction of plastoquinone, whereas 2,5‐dibromo‐3‐methyl‐6‐isopropyl‐p‐benzoquinone, an inhibitor of the oxidation of plastoquinone, gave the contrasting effect, which may suggest that the redox state of the plastoquinone plays an important role in triggering the hydrogen peroxide–independent light stress signaling.
Optimal Capital, Regulatory Requirements and Bank Performance in Times of Crisis: Evidence from France

The recent implementation of the Basel III framework has re-ignited the debate around the link between capital, performance and capital requirements in the banking sector. There is a dominant view in the earlier empirical literature in favor of a positive effect of capital on banking performance. Using panel data gathered for the supervision of French banks, we also find evidence of the beneficial effect of higher capital, but try to go one step further by distinguishing between regulatory and voluntary capital. Using a two-step estimation procedure, taking advantage of the variability of data since the crisis, and controlling for many factors (risk, asset composition, etc), we show that voluntary capital, i.e. capital held by banks irrespective of their regulatory requirements, turns out to be the sole component of capital that positively affects performance, as measured by the return on asset (ROA). In contrast, the effect of regulatory capital on the ROA appears insignificant, indicating that over the 2007-2014 period increasing capital requirements have not been detrimental to banking performance in France.
Spatial Continuum Model: Toward the Fundamental Limits of Dense Wireless Networks

This paper proposes a new model called \emph{spatial continuum asymmetric channels} to study the channel capacity region of asymmetric scenarios in which either one source transmits to a spatial density of receivers or a density of transmitters transmit to a unique receiver. This approach is built upon the classical broadcast channel (BC) and multiple access channel (MAC). For the sake of consistency, the study is limited to Gaussian channels with power constraints and is restricted to the asymptotic regime (zero-error capacity). The reference scenario comprises one base station (BS) in Tx or Rx mode, a spatial random distribution of nodes (resp. in Rx or Tx mode) characterized by a probability spatial density of users $u(x)$ where each of them requests for a quantity of information with no delay constraint, thus leading to a requested rate spatial density $\rho(x)$. This system is modeled as an $\infty-$user asymmetric channel (BC or MAC). To derive the fundamental limits of this model, a spatial discretization is first proposed to obtain an equivalent BC or MAC. Then, a specific sequence of discretized spaces is defined to refine infinitely the approximation. Achievability and capacity results are obtained in the limit of this sequence while the access capacity region $\mathcal{D}_\Omega(P_m)$ is defined as the set of requested rates spatial densities $\rho(x)$ that are achievable with a transmission power $P_m$. The uniform capacity defined as the maximal symmetric achievable rate is also computed.
Photoreceptor inner/outer segment defect imaging by spectral domain OCT and visual prognosis after macular hole surgery.

PURPOSE To evaluate photoreceptor inner/outer segment (IS/OS) defect parameters by using spectral domain-optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) for correlation with visual outcomes in macular hole surgery (MHS). METHODS This study was an interventional, retrospective case series. Twenty-three eyes (23 patients) were examined by SD-OCT before and after (median, 2.3 months) anatomically successful MHS. Two formats of OCT were analyzed: linear (raster) and composite (partial fundus image). Factors that may have confounded IS/OS measurements were controlled by using weighting and normalization of data. The main outcome measures were diameter and area of the IS/OS defect, weighted area of the IS/OS defect, macular density ratio (MDR), healing pattern of the macular hole, and preoperative and postoperative best corrected visual acuity (BCVA). RESULTS Poorer preoperative BCVA correlated with larger preoperative diameter of the IS/OS defect (P = 0.005). A greater improvement in BCVA correlated with a larger preoperative area of IS/OS defect (P = 0.038) and smaller MDR (P = 0.012). Poorer postoperative BCVA correlated with a larger postoperative diameter of the IS/OS defect (P = 0.010), larger weighted postoperative area of IS/OS defect calculated by raster scan (P = 0.013), larger postoperative area of IS/OS defect measured from the partial fundus image (P = 0.003), and apparent glial sealing pattern on SD-OCT (P = 0.0005). The shape of the IS/OS defect area was round and regular before surgery, but irregular afterward. CONCLUSIONS BCVA after MHS correlates with objectively ascertainable SD-OCT measurements of IS/OS defects and other features. The postoperative area of the IS/OS defect, when directly measured, correlates more strongly with BCVA than do linear-based measurements, perhaps because of the irregular shape of the IS/OS defect after surgery.