Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oxidative status and reduced glutathione levels in premature coronary artery disease and coronary artery disease

Abstract Identifying patients at risk of developing premature coronary artery disease (PCAD) which occurs at age below 45 years old and constitutes approximately 7–10% of coronary artery disease (CAD) worldwide remains a problem. Oxidative stress has been proposed as a crucial step in the early development of PCAD. This study was conducted to determine the oxidative status of PCAD in comparison to CAD patients. PCAD (<45 years old) and CAD (>60 years old) patients were recruited with age-matched controls (n = 30, each group). DNA damage score, plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl content were measured for oxidative damage markers. Antioxidants such as erythrocyte glutathione (GSH), oxidised glutathione (GSSG), and glutathione peroxidase activity (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) were also determined. DNA damage score and protein carbonyl content were significantly higher in both PCAD and CAD when compared to age-matched controls while MDA level was increased only in PCAD (p<.05). In contrast, GSH, GSH/GSSG ratio, α-tocotrienol isomer, and GPx activity were significantly decreased, but only in PCAD when compared to age-matched controls. The decrease in GSH was associated with PCAD (OR = 0.569 95%CI [0.375 − 0.864], p = .008) and cut-off values of 6.69 μM with areas under the ROC curves (AUROC) 95%CI: 0.88 [0.80–0.96] (sensitivity of 83.3%; specificity of 80%). However, there were no significant differences in SOD and CAT activities in all groups. A higher level of oxidative stress indicated by elevated MDA levels and low levels of GSH, α-tocotrienol and GPx activity in patients below 45 years old may play a role in the development of PCAD and has potential as biomarkers for PCAD.
Rotation of young stars in Cepheus OB3b

ABSTRACT We present a photometric study of I-band variability in the young associationCepheusOB3b. The study is sensitive to periodic variability on timescales of less than a day,to more than 20 days. After rejection of contaminating objects using V, I, R andnarrowband Hα photometry, we ﬁnd 475 objects with measured rotation periods,which areverylikely pre-main-sequencemembers ofthe Cep OB3b starforming region.We revise the distance and age to Cep OB3b, putting it on the self-consistentage and distance ladder of Mayne & Naylor (2008). This yields a distance modulus of8.8±0.2 mags, corresponding to a distance of 580±60 pc, and an age of 4-5Myrs.The rotation period distribution conﬁrms the general picture of rotational evo-lution in young stars, exhibiting both the correlation between accretion (determinedin this case through narrowband Hα photometry) and rotation expected from disclocking, and the dependence of rotation upon mass that is seen in other star formingregions. However, this mass dependence is much weaker in our data than found inother studies. Comparison to the similarly aged NGC 2362 shows that the low-massstars in Cep OB3b are rotating much more slowly. This points to a possible link be-tween star forming environment and rotation properties. Such a link would call intoquestion models of stellar angular momentum evolution, which assume that the rota-tional period distributions of young clusters and associations can be assembled intoan evolutionary sequence, thus ignoring environmental eﬀects. Key words: accretion, accretion discs, stars:pre-main-sequence planetary systems:protoplanetary discs
Quantification of surgical margin shrinkage in the oral cavity

Obtaining adequate surgical margins, free of tumor, is crucial for success in oncologic surgery. The head and neck surgeon often finds that the tumor‐free margin reported from histopathologic measurement is significantly smaller than the margin measured in‐situ. It was the purpose of this study to quantify the change in size of mucosal and muscle surgical margins following excision, formalin fixation, and slide preparation of tongue and labiobuccal tissue in a canine model.
Timing of rehabilitation on length of stay and cost in patients with hip or knee joint arthroplasty: A systematic review with meta-analysis

Objective To investigate the role of early initiation of rehabilitation on length of stay (LOS) and cost following total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. Data sources Electronic databases PubMed, CINAHL, Pedro, Embase, AMED, and the Cochrane Library were searched in July 2016. Five additional trials were identified through reference list scanning. Study selection Eligible studies were published in English language peer-reviewed journals; included participants that had undergone total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty reported clearly defined timing of rehabilitation onset for at least two groups; and reported at least one measure of LOS or cost. Inclusion criteria were applied by 2 independent authors, with disagreements being determined by a third author. Searching identified 1,029 potential articles, of which 17 studies with 26,614 participants met the inclusion criteria. Data extraction Data was extracted independently by 2 authors, with disagreements being determined by a third author. Methodological quality of each study was evaluated independently by 2 authors using the Downs and Black checklist. Pooled analyses were analyzed using a random-effects model with inverse variance methods to calculate standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals for LOS. Data synthesis When compared with standard care, early initiation of physical therapy demonstrated a decrease in length of stay for the 4 randomized clinical trials (SMD = -1.90; 95% CI -2.76 to -1.05; I2 = 93%) and for the quasi-experimental and 5 prospective studies (SMD = -1.47; 95% CI -1.85 to -1.10; I2 = 88%). Conclusion Early initiation of rehabilitation following total hip arthroplasty, total knee arthroplasty, or unicompartmental knee arthroplasty is associated with a shorter LOS, a lower overall cost, with no evidence of an increased number of adverse reactions. Additional high quality studies with standardized methodology are needed to further examine the impact of early initiation of physical therapy among patients with joint replacement procedures.
A gravity panel data analysis of foreign trade by regions: the role of metropolises and history

ABSTRACT A gravity panel data analysis of foreign trade by regions: the role of metropolises and history. Regional Studies. The paper investigates the determinants of the intensity of foreign trade of the Polish NUTS-2 regions over 1999–2011 with an augmented panel gravity model. In an attempt to obtain unbiased results, it estimates a semi-mixed effect model with the Poisson pseudo-maximum likelihood (PPML) method. The results clearly demonstrate the robustness of the gravity model. Furthermore, path dependence within the context of regional development, due to the historical partitions of Poland, still plays a significant and robust role. Trade persistence has been confirmed. Metropolitan regions, ceteris paribus, trade more intensely, which proves their role as nodes in global trade flows.
Improvement in Running Economy After 6 Weeks of Plyometric Training

This study determined whether a 6-week regimen of plyometric training would improve running economy (i.e., the oxygen cost of submaximal running). Eighteen regular but not highly trained distance runners (age = 29 ± 7 [mean ± SD] years) were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. All subjects continued regular running training for 6 weeks; experimental subjects also did plyometric training. Dependent variables measured before and after the 6-week period were economy of running on a level treadmill at 3 velocities (women: 2.23, 2.68, and 3.13 m-s1; men: 2.68, 3.13, and 3.58 m-s1), Vo2max, and indirect indicators of ability of muscles of lower limbs to store and return elastic energy. The last were measurements during jumping tests on an inclined (20°) sled: maximal jump height with and without countermovement and efficiencies of series of 40 sub-maximal countermovement and static jumps. The plyometric training improved economy (p < 0.05). Averaged values (m-ml-kg“1) for the 3 running speeds were: (a) experimental subjects—5.14 ± 0.39 pretraining, 5.26 ± 0.39 posttrain-ing; and (b) control subjects—5.10 ± 0.36 pretraining, 5.06 ± 0.36 posttraining. The Vo2max did not change with training. Plyometric training did not result in changes in jump height or efficiency variables that would have indicated improved ability to store and return elastic energy. We conclude that 6 weeks of plyometric training improves running economy in regular but not highly trained distance runners; the mechanism must still be determined.
Alcohol-related discussions in health care--a population view.

AIMS The present study aimed to evaluate the frequency and the target group of alcohol screening and brief interventions in health-care settings and how well this level of activity reflects public opinion. DESIGN A general population survey. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A random sample of Finns aged 15-69 years with a 74% response rate (n = 2725). MEASUREMENTS Frequency counts were used to evaluate the level of activity. Logistic regression models were used to examine which groups were asked and advised about alcohol use and which groups considered it useful. FINDINGS More than 90% had positive attitudes towards being asked about their alcohol use. Of those who had been in contact with health care (n = 2062) in the 12 months before the survey, 33.3% had been asked about their alcohol use, being most often men, young, heavy drinkers and those of high socio-economic status. Thirty-seven per cent of those who had been asked were given advice, being most often heavy drinkers and those with a normal body mass index. However, 50% of heavy drinkers who had been asked about their alcohol use had not been advised about it. Of those who had been advised, 71.9% considered it useful, especially older subjects, and also including heavy episodic drinkers, although less than others. CONCLUSIONS In Finland, the frequency of health-care professionals asking and giving advice on alcohol is relatively low. However, public opinion towards these discussions is positive. Our results encourage the support and uptake of systematic screenings and brief interventions in health-care settings.
Repetitive usage of immunoglobulin VH and D gene segments in CD5+ Ly‐1 B clones of (NZB x NZW)F1 mice.

The usually small Ly‐1 B cell population is markedly increased in older mice by expansion of certain clones. This results in a cellular picture very similar to human B chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Here we report a molecular analysis of the immunoglobulin gene rearrangements of the Ly‐1 B cell populations in (NZB x NZW)F1 females. We find that (i) the number of clones found in the peritoneum (a major tissue source of Ly‐1 B cells) decreases with age till mono‐ or biclonality is common by approximately 6 months, (ii) many clones from different mice show the same size rearrangements at both the Ig heavy and light chain loci and (iii) the IgH rearrangements found in a clone isolated from the spleen of one mouse are a subset of those found in the peritoneum of the same mouse, implying migration occurs from the peritoneum to the spleen. Molecular cloning and sequencing of the IgH rearrangements from the peritoneal clones of one B/W mouse revealed that all productive rearrangements used the identical unmutated VH and D elements joined to different JHS. Indeed, two VDJH4 rearrangements were recovered which were identical but for six junctional (N region) nucleotides. The conservation of VH and D segment usage in the rearrangements of these Ly‐1 B cell clones could indicate some strong selective pressure for clonal expansion (for example antigen selection) operates via the immunoglobulin molecules of these cells. Southern analyses of other (NZB x NZW)F1 mice with this cloned VH and the usage of the same or similar VH genes among a number of Ly‐1 B origin tumors in other mouse strains indicate the generality of this repetitive VH gene usage in individual mice.
Effect of intravenous glucose infusion on metabolism of portal-drained viscera in sheep fed a cereal/straw-based diet.

This experiment investigated the effect of intrajugular infusion of glucose on whole-body glucose metabolism and the absorption of nutrients by the portal-drained viscera of four Suffolk-cross sheep, average BW 46 +/- 7 kg, fed a cereal/straw-based pelleted diet. Each sheep received by random allocation 0 (control), 1.0, or 2.0 mg of glucose.kg BW-1.min-1 for 8 h infused into the jugular vein. Glucose irreversible loss rate, measured by simultaneous infusion of 6-[3H]-glucose, increased approximately stoichiometrically during glucose infusion (.51, .75, and 1.09 error mean square [EMS] .032 mmol/min for control, 1.0, and 2.0 mg of glucose infused.kg BW-1.min-1, respectively). Utilization of glucose increased in portal tissues (P = .089) as a result of glucose infusion (.17, .18, and .33 EMS .008 mmol/min) and was a constant proportion of glucose irreversible loss (.28). Portal blood flow was not affected by glucose infusion (overall mean 1.13 L/min EMS .034). Net portal absorption of acetate increased during glucose infusion although ruminal VFA concentrations were not affected. In contrast, net free amino acid absorption by portal-drained tissues was reduced during glucose infusion (291, 115, and 4 EMS 33,816 mumol/min, P = .054). These results show that metabolism of nutrients across the gut wall is influenced by glucose availability to gastrointestinal tissues and affects the pattern of nutrients available to the liver and peripheral tissues.
Toxicity of laundry detergent components to a freshwater cladoceran and their contribution to detergent toxicity.

The toxicity of 39 laundry detergent components including surfactants, enzymes, builders, fabric brighteners, fillers, and coloring agents to the cladoceran Ceriodaphnia cf. dubia was determined. The difference between the most and the least toxic components was approximately 17,000-fold and 1,000,000-fold for the mg/L and mmol/L EC50 data, respectively. Two of the components had high toxicity (EC50 values < 1 mg/L), 11 moderate toxicity (EC50 values between 1 and 10 mg/L), and the remaining 26 components had low toxicity (EC50 values > 10 mg/L). Analysis revealed that mixtures of the components interacted antagonistically, additively, and synergistically. On a molarity basis the most toxic group of compounds was the surfactants followed by the brighteners. The most toxic individual components included sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, sodium silicate solution, four brighteners, sodium perborate tetrahydrate, and the surfactants. Many of the most toxic components, however, contributed very little to the toxicity of the detergents due to being present in the detergents at low concentrations. The main contributors to the toxicity of detergents were the sodium silicate solution and the surfactants-with the remainder of the components contributing very little to detergent toxicity. The potential for acute aquatic toxic effects due to the release of secondary or tertiary sewage effluents containing the breakdown products of laundry detergents may frequently be low. However, untreated or primary treated effluents containing detergents may pose a problem. Chronic and/or other sublethal effects that were not examined in this study may also pose a problem.
Experimental Ascaris suum infection in the pig: worm population kinetics following single inoculations with three doses of infective eggs

To study population kinetics during primary Ascaris suum infections, 3 groups of 52 pigs each were inoculated with 100, 1000, or 10000 infective eggs. In all groups, the majority of larvae was found in the liver on day 3 post inoculation (p.i.) and in the lungs on day 7 p.i. Liver white spots, caused by migrating larvae, were most numerous at day 7 p.i. , whereafter they gradually healed, and only low numbers of granulation-tissue type white spots and lymphonodular white spots persisted at days 21–56 p.i. Independent of dose level, 47–58% of the inoculated eggs were recovered as larvae in the small intestine on day 10 p.i. , but most larvae were eliminated at days 17–21 p.i. This elimination started earlier and removed a higher percentage of the worms with increasing inoculation dose, resulting in small strongly aggregated worm populations by day 28 p.i. (k of the negative binomial distribution was low: 0·2–0·4) without significant differences between groups. Thus, overdispersion, which is a characteristic of both porcine and human ascarosis, is found here under experimental conditions where aggregation factors like host behaviour, transmission rate, host status etc have been partly or totally controlled.
Family influences on adolescent sexual and contraceptive behavior

Studies of adolescent pregnancy risk are relevant to understanding responsible adolescent sexual behavior because most investigators have focused on the key proximal determinants of pregnancy‐ sexual intercourse and contraceptive use‐ rather than analyzing pregnancy status per se. Lesser pregnancy risk is associated with teens remaining sexually abstinent, postponing onset of intercourse, and having intercourse less often or with fewer partners, as well as by using contraception at first or most recent intercourse and by using contraception consistently over time. Living with a single parent, in a lower SES family, having older sexually active siblings or pregnant/parenting teenage sisters, being a victim of sexual abuse, and residing in disorganized/dangerous neighborhoods all place teens at elevated risk of adolescent pregnancy. Parent‐child closeness or connectedness, and parental supervision or regulation of children, in combination with parents' values against teen intercourse (or unprotected intercourse), decrease the risk of adolescent pregnancy. Studies about parent‐child sexual communication and adolescent pregnancy risk are less conclusive, largely because of methodological complexities.
Dynamic Corporate Risk Management: Motivations and Real Implications

We investigate the dynamics of corporate hedging programs used by US oil producers and examine the effects of hedging maturity choice on firm value. We find evidence of a concave relationship between hedging maturity and the likelihood of financial distress and oil spot prices. We further investigate the motivations of the early termination of outstanding hedging contracts. Using the essential heterogeneity approach, we evaluate the causal effects of hedging maturity on firm value. Marginal firm value increases with short-term hedging maturity. The causal effects vary across oil producers with different hidden attributes.
A comparison of the MARA and the AdvanSync functional appliances in the treatment of Class II malocclusion.

OBJECTIVES To determine the skeletal and dentoalveolar effects produced by the MARA and the AdvanSync functional appliances in the treatment of growing patients with Class II malocclusion. MATERIALS AND METHODS A retrospective study was conducted using lateral cephalograms of patients consecutively treated with MARA (n = 40) and AdvanSync (n = 30) during their skeletal growth spurt as evaluated by the improved cervical vertebral maturation method. A comparison was made with 24 untreated Class II control subjects obtained from the University of Michigan growth study and matched with the experimental groups for skeletal age, sex, and craniofacial morphology. Cephalograms were taken at three time points: (T1) pretreatment, (T2) postfunctional appliance treatment, and (T3) fixed orthodontic treatment completion. Treatment changes were evaluated between the time points using 35 variables. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe's post hoc test. RESULTS At the postfunctional appliances' phase (T2-T1), both appliances showed significant increases in total mandibular length, ramus height, and anterior/posterior facial height. The AdvanSync resulted in significant restriction of maxillary growth, 1° more than MARA. This effect continued during the fixed orthodontic treatment stage (T3-T2). The net changes (T3-T1) revealed significant mandibular growth enhancement with MARA (+2.7mm) and significant headgear effect with AdvanSync. Both appliances caused 5° flaring in mandibular incisors as well as significant decreases in overjet and overbite. The treatment time for AdvanSync was 1 year less than MARA. CONCLUSION The MARA and the AdvanSync resulted in normalization of the Class II malocclusion. The AdvanSync showed more headgear effect but less mandibular length enhancement than MARA did. Both appliances showed similar dentoalveolar changes.
Does the capital of social capital matter? Relational resources of the board and the performance of Brazilian companies

Based on theories of social capital, in this study, we seek to assess the impact of a board’s social capital on the market value of companies listed on the Brazilian stock exchange. As our indicator of social capital, we use the relational resources identified in the direct, indirect and heterogeneous ties of the board. Employing panel data from 508 observations, our results indicate that heterogeneous relational resources have a stronger and more significant influence than the resources available from board members’ direct relationships. Additionally, as the effects of board interlock are endogenously determined by several factors related to the firm level, we seek to mitigate the endogeneity problem using models of instrumental variables and simultaneous equations. Our hypotheses were consistent after controlling for endogeneity. We also check whether the board’s social capital could present a U-inverted effect on the market value. This relationship was only plausible in social capital by indirect ties. Finally, we isolate the effect of relational resources within and between industries on Tobin’s Q. There was no significant effect through interlocks within the same industry. However, ties with companies in several other industries were significant.