Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Significance of Prestroke Aspirin Dosage in Fatal Outcome of Acute Stroke

Background:Aspirin is an effective and generally accepted treatment drug during the acute stage of ischemic brain infarction. The association between the pretreatment aspirin dosage and fatal outcome among these treated patient groups has not been analyzed previously. Objective:The aim of the study was to evaluate 14- and 30-day poststroke survival in patients treated with 325 mg immediately on admission to the hospital for prestroke antiaggregation/anticoagulation treatment. Methods:This prospective study was conducted in a government tertiary care facility. The medical records of all 1245 patients admitted to the hospital for stroke from 1997 to 2002 were reviewed. The association between demographic parameters, stroke risk factors, stroke subtype, prestroke antiaggregation/anticoagulation treatment, and risk of fatal poststroke outcome, 14 days and 30 days after the event, was analyzed using Cox survival analyses. Results:During the 14-day poststroke period, 320 patients (25%) died. By day 30 poststroke, 386 patients (31%) had died. Older age, female gender, chronic heart disease, and cardiac arrhythmias were associated with increased risk of increased fatal outcome. Mortality was higher in patients with stroke caused by cardioembolism (P < 0.0001) and was significantly lower in patients with small-vessel occlusion (P < 0.0001). Prestroke medium-dose aspirin treatment was associated with a relative reduction in 30-day poststroke period mortality (P < 0.0001). Conversely, prestroke low-dose aspirin treatment was associated with increased mortality (P < 0.0001). Conclusion:Prestroke medium-dose aspirin treatment was associated with reduced 30-day poststroke mortality, whereas low-dose prestroke aspirin therapy was associated with increased 30-day poststroke mortality.
Net appearance of amino acids in portal blood during the digestion of casein or rapeseed proteins in the pig.

The kinetics of appearance of amino acids (AA) in portal blood following the ingestion of casein or rapeseed protein were compared. Six pigs, fitted with permanent catheters in the portal vein and in the carotid artery, as well as with an electromagnetic flow probe around the portal vein, received three 800 g test meals, one containing 12% rapeseed proteins (RA12) and the others containing 12% and 24% casein (CA12 and CA24), at 1-week intervals and according to a double Latin square design. Portal and arterial blood samples were collected and portal blood flow rate was recorded for 8 h after the test meals. At the end of measurement, an average of 76.1 +/- 5.6% (mean +/- SEM) of total AA from the CA24 diet had appeared in portal blood, compared with 94.3 +/- 10.4% for the CA12 diet and 103.5 +/- 12.6% for the RA12 diet. Similar results were obtained for essential AA. Differences were found in the kinetics of appearance of individual AA. Eight hours after the meal, 79% of lysine, 84% of methionine, and 73% of valine from the CA24 diet had appeared in portal blood compared, respectively, with 100, 89, and 83% from the CA12 diet and 99, 86, and 106% from the RA12 diet. Arginine from rapeseed had a net appearance level lower (82%) than the overall mixture of essential AA. With casein diets, the net appearance of arginine reached 97% (CA12) and 82% (CA24). Following the ingestion of rapeseed proteins, there seemed to be a significant appearance of endogenous AA in portal blood. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Identification of functional cis‐acting sequences involved in regulation of narK gene expression in Escherichia coli

Expression of the narK gene of Escherichia coli, like the narGHJI operon, is positively regulated by two trans‐acting factors: Fnr, which is activated by anaerobic conditions, and NarL, which is activated by the presence of nitrate. Unlike the narGHJI operon, the 5′ untranslated region of the narK gene contains two putative Fnr‐binding‐site sequences and two putative NarL‐binding‐site sequences. To define the role of these putative cis‐acting regions, transcription start sites were identified and the effects of promoter region modifications on transcription were determined. Primer extension analysis identified several transcripts for the narK gene expressed from plasmids. Expression from the major promoter, P1, was induced by anaerobic growth conditions and further elevated in the presence of nitrate, while that from a weaker promoter, P2, appeared to be constitutive. The position of the major transcription start site placed one of the putative Fnr‐binding sites (Fnr1 box) and one of the NarL‐binding sites (NarL2 box) at positions analogous to those previously established for the narGHJI operon promoter region, while the other two binding sites were located in the non‐homologous 150 bp sequence which separates the Fnr1 and NarL2 boxes. Based on the effects of selective 5′ deletions and site‐directed modifications, Fnr‐dependent expression was dependent only on the Fnr1 box and nitrate stimulation was dependent on the presence of the NarL2 box. In the absence of the NarL2 box, the NarLI box did not promote stimulation by nitrate. The Fnr2 box was not required for anaerobic induction of expression but its modification appeared to reduce the level of stimulation by nitrate.
Use of rpoB and 16S rRNA genes to analyse bacterial diversity of a tropical soil using PCR and DGGE

Aim: To evaluate the rpoB gene as a biomarker for PCR‐DGGE microbial analyses using soil DNA from the Cerrado, Brazil. Methods: DNA extraction from soil was followed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) amplification of rpoB and 16S rRNA genes. PCR products were compared by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) to compare gene/community profiles. Results: The rpoB DGGE profiles comprised fewer bands than the 16S rDNA profiles and were easier to delineate and therefore to analyse. Comparison of the community profiles revealed that the methods were complementary. Conclusions, Significance and Impact of the Study: The gene for the beta subunit of the RNA polymerase, rpoB, is a single copy gene unlike 16S rDNA. Multiple copies of 16S rRNA genes in bacterial genomes complicate diversity assessments made from DGGE profiles. Using the rpoB gene offers a better alternative to the commonly used 16S rRNA gene for microbial community analyses based on DGGE.
Accidents, near accidents and complications during anaesthesia A retrospective analysis of a 10‐year period in a teaching hospital

A retrospective analysis is presented of all reports of faults, accidents, near accidents and complications associated with anaesthesia in one hospital from 1978 to 1987. 113074 anaesthetics were administered in that period, of which 97496 were for noncardiac procedures. There were 148 reports; 39 were of dental damage. Peri‐operative cardiac arrests during noncardiac surgery were reported 29 times. Sixteen of these were fatal. Anaesthesia was thought to have played an important role in 13 cardiac arrests (1 per 7500 anaesthetics) and six were not successfully resuscitated (1 per 16 250 anaesthetics). There were 12 reports of postoperative peripheral neuropathies (1 per 9422 anaesthetics). Failure to check, lack of vigilance and inattention or carelessness were the most frequently associated factors with the rest of the reports.
EFFECTS OF TWO DAYS OF ISOKINETIC TRAINING ON STRENGTH AND ELECTROMYOGRAPHIC AMPLITUDE IN THE AGONIST AND ANTAGONIST MUSCLES

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of 2 days of isokinetic training of the forearm flexors and extensors on strength and electro- myographic (EMG) amplitude for the agonist and antagonist muscles. Seventeen men (mean ± SD age = 21.9 ± 2.8 years) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: (a) a training group (TRN; n = 8), or (b) a control group (CTL; n = 9). The subjects in the TRN group were tested for maximal isometric and concentric isokinetic (randomly ordered velocities of 60, 180, and 300°·s-1) torque of the dominant forearm flexors and extensors before (pretest) and after (posttest) 2 days of isokinetic strength training. Each training session involved 6 sets of 10 maximal concentric isokinetic muscle actions of the forearm flexors and extensors at a velocity of 180°·s-1. The subjects in the CTL group were also tested for strength but did not perform any training. Surface EMG signals were detected from the biceps brachii and triceps brachii muscles during the strength testing. The results indicated that there were no significant (p > 0.05) pre- to post- test changes in forearm flexion and extension torque or EMG amplitude for the agonist and antagonist muscles. Thus, unlike previous studies of the quadriceps femoris muscles, these findings for the forearm flexors and extensors suggested that 2 days of isokinetic training may not be sufficient to elicit significant increases in strength. These results may have implications for the number of visits that are required for rehabilitation after injury, surgery, or both.
Patient satisfaction, pain, and quality of life 4 months after displaced femoral neck fractures: A comparison of 663 fractures treated with internal fixation and 906 with bipolar hemiarthroplasty reported to the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register

Background Primary arthroplasty and internal fixation are the two main options for treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures. Despite the fact that there have been several randomized studies, the optimal treatment in the elderly is still controversial. In the present study, based on data from the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register, we compared satisfaction, pain, and quality of life 4 months after surgery in patients over 70 years of age with a displaced femoral neck fracture operated with internal fixation or with a bipolar hemiarthroplasty. Patients and methods Data on 1,569 fractures in patients over 70 years of age operated with internal fixation (n = 663) or hemiarthroplasty (n = 906) were registered in the hip fracture register. The register also included data on patient satisfaction, pain, and quality of life (EQ-5D) assessed 4 months after surgery using VAS scales and EQ-5D health questionnaires. Results Patients operated with hemiarthroplasty had less pain (VAS 27 vs. 41), were more satisfied with the result of the operation (VAS 33 vs. 48), and had better EQ-5D index score 4 months postoperatively (0.51 vs. 0.42) than patients who were operated with internal fixation. Interpretation Our findings suggest that elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fracture should be treated with arthroplasty.
Attitudes and Intentions of Greek Athletes and Coaches Regarding Doping

The aim of this study was to examine athletes’ and coaches’ attitudes and intentions with regard to doping, using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model. This model [1], explains all the behaviors which are related to self-control, based to the theory that intentions are influenced by attitude, perceived behavioral control and subjective norms. The variable “morality” was added to the original model. One hundred and forty-three athletes (mean age = 20.93 ± 2.90) who were involved in competitive sports and 50 coaches (mean age = 35.74 ± 7.80) participated in the study. A questionnaire was administered to assess the demographics (age, gender, sport type, competitive level, years of sport participation and education), attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, intentions, morality and doping choices of athletes and coaches with regard to doping. The results showed that attitudes (62%), perceived behavioral control (3%), and morality (4%) were significant predictors of athletes’ intentions to engage in doping choices but that coaches’ only attitudes were the most important predictor of intentions to engage in doping choices (72%). The most important predictors of 1st and 2nd doping choices were intentions (78% and 68%) and perceived behavioral control (1%) for athletes and intentions (84% and 79%) for coaches.
On-the-job Learning for Real-time

Audio transcription is an important task for making content accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Much of the transcription work is increasingly done by crowd workers, people online who pick up the work as it becomes available often in small bits at a time. Whereas work typically provides a ladder for skill development – a series of opportunities to acquire new skills that lead to advancement – crowd transcription work generally does not. To demonstrate how crowd work might create a skill ladder, we created Scopist, a JavaScript application for learning an efficient text-entry method known as stenotype while doing audio transcription tasks. Scopist facilitates on-the-job learning to prepare crowd workers for remote, real-time captioning by supporting both touch-typing and chording. Real-time captioning is a difficult skill to master but is important for making live events accessible. We conducted 3 crowd studies of Scopist focusing on Scopist’s performance and support for learning. We show that Scopist can distinguish touch-typing from stenotyping with 94% accuracy. Our research demonstrates a new way for workers on crowd platforms to align their work and skill development with the accessibility domain while they work. CCS Concepts • Human-centered computing → Empirical studies in accessibility; Accessibility design and evaluation methods;
Predictability of SST in a Stochastic Climate Model and Its Application to the Kuroshio Extension Region

Abstract The influence of deterministic forcing on SST predictability is investigated in a zero-dimensional, stochastic, coupled atmosphere–ocean climate model. The SST anomaly predictability time is found to be very sensitive to the properties of the deterministic forcing. Comparison of the amplitudes of the deterministic and stochastic forcing terms, for example, as determined from linear regression analysis, may give a misleading impression of their relative importance. The importance of instead comparing the time-integrated forcing terms is emphasized. The conditions under which the model exhibits preferred timescales and the conditions under which the model power spectrum approaches that of a univariate Markov process (red noise) are also determined. The idealized model results are complemented with an analysis of climate observations for the Kuroshio Extension region. Observational errors and unresolved components of the enthalpy budget limited the maximum timescale considered to about 4 yr. This an.
Changes in testosterone, cortisol, and estradiol levels in men becoming fathers.

OBJECTIVE To quantify longitudinally steroid hormone (testosterone, cortisol, and estradiol) concentrations in men becoming fathers for the first time ("dads"). SUBJECTS AND METHODS Volunteer study subjects were recruited from first-trimester prenatal classes in Kingston, Ontario, in February 1999. Twenty-three dads provided saliva samples from recruitment through 3 months after the birth of their children. Fourteen men who were not fathers were recruited from the general population to serve as age-matched controls for season and time of day. Estradiol, testosterone, and cortisol levels were quantified. RESULTS After controlling for effects of time of day and season, dads had lower mean +/- SE testosterone (6.5+/-0.7 vs 10.0+/-0.9 ng/dL; P<.005) and cortisol (morning values, 0.30+/-0.05 vs 0.53+/-0.05 microg/dL; P<.005) concentrations, a higher proportion of samples with detectable estradiol concentrations (68% [308/454] vs 57% [87/154]; P=.01), and higher estradiol concentrations in those detectable samples (3.81+/-0.09 pg/mL [13 dads] vs 3.26+/-0.11 pg/mL [9 controls]; P<.002) than did control men. Within 10 individual dads with frequent samples before and after the birth, the percentage of samples with detectable estradiol was lower during the month before the birth than during the month after (51% vs 71%; P=.02), and cortisol concentration was increased in the week before the birth (to a mean of 0.16 microg/dL). In each of 13 dads providing frequent samples, testosterone concentration and variance were low immediately after the birth (no change from previous levels in 5, decrease after prebirth increase in 3, and decrease relative to all other times in 5). CONCLUSIONS In this population of Canadian volunteers attending prenatal classes, expectant fathers had lower testosterone and cortisol levels and a higher proportion of samples with detectable estradiol concentrations than control subjects. Individual patterns of testosterone variance relative to the birth and estradiol and cortisol concentrations immediately before the birth may be worthy of further investigation. The physiologic importance of these hormonal changes, if any, is not known. However, they are hormones known to influence maternal behavior.
Morphometric, physiological and molecular characteristics of underground populations of the urban mosquito Culex pipiens Linnaeus f. molestus Forskål (Diptera: Culicidae) from several areas of Russia

This is the first comparative study of the populations of the urban mosquito, Culex pipiens Linnaeus f. molestus Forskal, from the underground habitats from 10 cities of Russia (throughout the territory from 62-40°N, and 30-85°E). Some diagnostic morphometric, physiological and molecular characteristics were investigated. The mean siphonal index varied in geographical populations from 3.4 to 4.4 (i.e. within the reported range of the urban mosquitoes). Autogeny was recorded in all populations: the incidence of autogenous females varied from 60 to 100%. In all mosquito populations, 60-100% (mainly more than 90%) of females were infected with the endosymbiotic bacterium, Wolbachia pipientis. The Wolbachia infection was correlated with mitochondrial DNA haplotype (mitotype M). Two fragments, 220 bp and 90 bp in length, were obtained by means of restriction analysis of 3’end of cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene using Ssp I. In all populations, the rDNA ITS2 fragments were c.460 bp (ITS2 = 325-333 bp). Similarity of the mitotypes and genotypes of the geographically isolated city populations support the hypothesis that the urban mosquitoes are of common origin.
A Fuzzy Necessary Optimality Condition for Non-Lipschitz Optimization in Asplund Spaces

In this paper, we consider a general optimization problem in the broad class of Asplund spaces. We derive a new necessary optimality condition in the so-called Lagrangian "fuzzy form" without standard Lipschitz conditions. We also give a chain rule for Frechet subdifferentials and subdifferential representations of Frechet normals to constrained sets.
Social communication intervention effects vary by dependent variable type in preschoolers with autism spectrum disorders

Abstract Individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have difficulty communicating in ways that are primarily for initiating and maintaining social relatedness (i.e., social communication). We hypothesized that the way researchers measured social communication would affect whether treatment effects were found. Using a best evidence review method, we found that treatments were shown to improve social communication outcomes approximately 54% of the time. The probability that a treatment affected social communication varied greatly depending on whether social communication was directly targeted (63%) or not (39%). Finally, the probability that a treatment affected social communication also varied greatly depending on whether social communication as measured in (a) contexts very similar to treatment sessions (82%) or (b) contexts that differed from treatment on at least setting, materials, and communication partner (33%). This paper also provides several methodological contributions.
SERUM STEROIDS IN NORMAL MALES AND PATIENTS WITH PROSTATIC DISEASES

The subjects investigated comprised 57 normal males between 30 and 80 years of age; 40 patients between 50 and 80 years of age suffering from benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH), and 11 untreated prostatic carcinoma (Ca) patients aged between 57 and 79 years. Serum concentrations of oestradiol, pregnenolone, progesterone, 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, testosterone, 5α‐dihydrotestosterone and androsterone were determined from a single serum sample (1.6 ml). Oestradiol was determined by an automated non‐chromatographic radioimmunoassay, while other steroids were determined by radioimmunoassays, after solvent extraction and chromatographic purification on Lipidex‐5000(tm) microcolumns. When patient groups were compared with the 25 normal males between 50 and 80 years of age, several conclusions could be drawn. Serum concentrations of 5α‐dihydrotestosterone (P < 0.01) and 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone (P < 0.001) were both significantly higher in the BPH patients when compared with the normal males. This trend was also apparent in the serum concentrations of progesterone and testosterone in the older BPH patients. Although the mean concentrations of 5α‐dihydrotestosterone and 17α‐hydroxyprogesterone were slightly higher in carcinoma patients than normal males, these differences were not statistically significant. No differences were seen in the concentrations of pregnenolone, androstenedione, androsterone and oestradiol between normal subjects and patients with BPH or prostatic Ca.
Histamine alters gene expression in cultured human nasal epithelial cells.

BACKGROUND Airway epithelial cells produce cytokines and participate in the regulation of mucosal immunity. Although nasal epithelial cells express histamine receptors, it is not exactly known how nasal epithelial cells respond to histamine. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to examine whether histamine can alter the expression of the 4 genes encoding H1 receptor, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and ZO-1 tight-junction protein in cultured nasal epithelial cells. METHODS We added histamine or vehicle to cultured human nasal epithelial cells and extracted RNA from them 4 hours later. After DNase treatment, mRNAs of beta-actin, H1 receptor, IL-8, TNF-alpha, and ZO-1 tight-junction protein were amplified by using RT-PCR. RESULTS Histamine significantly upregulated IL-8 mRNA expression and significantly downregulated ZO-1 mRNA expression. The latter effect was blocked by pretreatment with mepyramine, an H1 receptor antagonist. CONCLUSION The reduction of ZO-1 mRNA by histamine may cause increased permeability of the mucosa during allergic reactions in the nose.
The comparative pathology of the primate colon

This survey has revealed further close similarities between the pathology of certain colonic diseases in humans and primates. The changes taking place in acute inflammations of varying severity confined to the lamina propria are virtually identical as are those seen in the healing process. In primates chronic inflammatory processes caused by protozoa resemble those in humans very closely. Microherniation of mucosal glands through the muscularis mucosae were found in a wide range of species. Evidence pointed to such herniations playing an important role in the spread of inflammatory diseases from the lamina propria into the submucosa by affording the aetiological agent access through the muscularis mucosae. No case of adenocarcinoma was found in this survey and the cause for the striking difference in incidence of this disease in human and primate colons is discussed.