Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Advanced oxidation protein products and malondialdehyde - the new biological markers of oxidative stress - are elevated in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to measure advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs) as markers for oxidative stress to evaluate cardiovascular risk in pre- and postmenopausal women and to compare the results with malondialde-hyde (MDA) levels. MATERIAL AND METHODS Twenty premenopausal women and 84 naturally postmenopausal patients were enrolled in the study. AOPP and MDA plasma levels were measured. The postmenopausal group was further subdivided into two groups: postmenopausal age of 40-49 and of 50-59 years. AOPP and MDA levels were compared between premenopausal, 40-49 and 50-59 year old menopausal women. RESULTS Plasma AOPP and MDA levels in postmenopausal women were increased when compared with their premeno-pausal peers (123.83 ± 55.51 μmol/L vs. 61.59 ± 16.42 μmol/L and 6.50 ± 1.05 μmol/L vs. 5.98 ± 0.77 μmol/L; respectively). Mean plasma AOPP levels in the two menopausal age groups were both significantly higher from the premenopausal group (118.64 ± 59.1 μmol/L vs. 61.59 ± 16.42 μmol/L and 132.31 ± 48.97 μmol/L vs. 61.59 ± 16.42 μmol/L; respectively). No significant difference was found in mean AOPP levels between postmenopausal subjects of 40-49 and 50-59 years age (118.64 ± 59.12 μmol/L vs. 132.31 ± 48.97 μmol/L). Mean plasma MDA levels of each of two postmenopausal age groups were both significantly higher from the premenopausal group (6.50 ± 1.04 μmol/L vs. 5.98 ± 0.77 μmol/L and 6.50 ± 1.10 μmol/L vs. 5.98 ± 0.77 μmol/L; respectively). However, no statistically significant difference between the two postmenopausal age groups (6.50 ± 1.04 μmol/L vs. 6.50 ± 1.10 μmol/L) was found. CONCLUSIONS AOPP and MDA levels are elevated in postmenopausal women as compared to their premenopausal peers, suggesting they can be used as markers for cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.
Hemoglobin A1c and glucose criteria identify different subjects as having type 2 diabetes in middle-aged and older populations: The KORA S4/F4 Study

Abstract Objective. The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has recently recommended HbA1c for diagnosing diabetes as an alternative to glucose-based criteria. We compared the new HbA1c-based criteria for diagnosis of diabetes and prediabetes with the glucose-based criteria. Research design and methods. In the population-based German KORA surveys (S4/F4) 1,764 non-diabetic participants aged 31–60 years and 896 participants aged 61–75 years underwent measurements of HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), and 2-h glucose. Results. Only 20% of all subjects diagnosed with diabetes by glucose or HbA1c criteria had diabetes by both criteria; for prediabetes, the corresponding figure was 23%. Using HbA1c ≥ 6.5%, the prevalence of diabetes was strongly reduced compared to the glucose criteria (0.7% instead of 2.3% in the middle-aged, 2.9% instead of 7.9% in the older subjects). Only 32.0% (middle-aged) and 43.2% (older group) of isolated impaired glucose tolerance (i-IGT) cases were detected by the HbA1c criterion (5.7% ≤ HbA1c < 6.5%). Conclusion. By glucose and the new HbA1c diabetes criteria, different subjects are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in middle-aged as well as older subjects. The new HbA1c criterion lacks sensitivity for impaired glucose tolerance.
Efficacy of an Organizational Skills Intervention for College Students With ADHD Symptomatology and Academic Difficulties

Objective: We sought to elucidate the effects of an organization, time management, and planning (OTMP) skills training intervention for college students reporting elevated levels of ADHD symptomatology and academic impairment. Method: Undergraduate participants enrolled in either the intervention (n = 22) or comparison (n = 15) condition in exchange for psychology course credit. Those in the intervention condition attended three weekly group meetings designed to improve organizational skills. Treatment effectiveness was evaluated by comparing pre- and postmeasurements of academic impairment, inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and OTMP skills utilization. Results: Intervention group participants improved significantly on ratings of inattention, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and academic impairment, relative to the comparison group. Intervention group participants also improved in their use of OTMP skills, relative to their baseline ratings. Conclusion: This study suggests an organizational skills intervention has the potential to ameliorating ADHD symptomatology and academic impairment among college students.
Pathophysiology of wound healing and alterations in venous leg ulcers-review

Venous leg ulcer (VLU) is one of the most common lower extremity ulcerated wound, and is a significant healthcare problem with implications that affect social, economic, and the well-being of a patient. VLU can have debilitating related problems which require weekly medical care and may take months to years to heal. The pathophysiology of VLU is complex, and healing is delayed in many patients due to a persistent inflammatory condition. Patient genetic and environmental factors predispose individuals to chronic venous diseases including VLU. Changes in shear stress affecting the glycocalyx are likely initiating events, leading to activation of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells, and leukocyte activation with attachment and migration into vein wall, microcirculation, and in the interstitial space. Multiple chemokines, cytokines, growth factors, proteases and matrix metalloproteinases are produced. The pathology of VLU involves an imbalance of inflammation, inflammatory modulators, oxidative stress, and proteinase activity. Understanding the cellular and biochemical events that lead to the progression of VLU is critical. With further understanding of inflammatory pathways and potential mechanisms, certain biomarkers could be revealed and studied as both involvement in the pathophysiology of VLU but also as therapeutic targets for VLU healing.
Efficiency of the Black Foreign Exchange Market

This empirical study is first of its nature to examine the weak-form of efficiency for unofficial foreign exchange market of Pakistan proxied by Japanese Yen (JPY/PKR), Swiss Franc (CHF/PKR), British Pound (GBP/PKR), and US Dollar (USD/PKR) exchange rates. For this we have employed Ljung Box Q-test, unit root tests including Dickey-Fuller (Dickey 1979), Augmented Dickey-Fuller (Dickey 1981) tests and Phillips and Perron (1988) test, Durbin Watson test, Runs-test, and Variance ratio test by using unofficial foreign exchange rate time series of Yen/PKR, CHF/PKR, GBP/PKR and USD/PKR from 1994M07 to 2001M06. Empirical results lead to the conclusion that the unofficial foreign exchange market of Pakistan is weak-form efficiency. The implications of this empirical research are of great importance for designing foreign exchange policy i.e. policy makers (be it accounting, export/import or public policy makers) are to consider fluctuations in unofficial foreign exchange rates while designing official foreign exchange rate policy of developing country like Pakistan. Further, policymakers can enhance the efficiency of official foreign exchange market by intervention subject to a widening of unofficial foreign exchange premium beyond a certain limit in developing countries like Pakistan.
The social servicescape: understanding the effects in the full-service hotel industry

PurposeUnderstanding how other customers affect hotel consumption behavior is an important topic in the hospitality literature. While existing research has typically explored the effects of active interactions among consumers, this study aims to better understand the effects of passive interactions. Accordingly, this research conceptualizes the hotel social servicescape as a function of the mere presence of the other social actors that occupy the hotel’s shared consumption space.Design/methodology/approachTo operationalize this construct, data were collected from a sample of 1,019 recent consumers of full-service hotel experience in the USA.FindingsThe findings suggest that the social servicescape can significantly affect satisfaction and behavioral intentions in the domain of leisure-driven hotel experiences.Research limitations/implicationsThe results support the hypothesis that the mere presence of others significantly affects leisure travelers’ perceptions of the hotel consumption experience. Accordingly, these findings indicate that the makeup of the hotel servicescape is not limited to the traditionally acknowledged physical elements of the space.Practical implicationsThe results suggest that in addition to managing the physical aspects of the service environment, hotel managers should take steps to manage the social aspects of the servicescape as well.Originality/valueThis paper is the first to provide an operational account of the social servicescape in the domain of full-service hotels. Additionally, nomological validity is established by examining the downstream effects on satisfaction and behavioral intentions.
Antibiotic resistance of Helicobacter pylori from patients in Ile-Ife, South-west, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori has become recognized as a major cause of gastroduodenal diseases in man. Evidence indicates that once acquired, H. pylori persists, usually for life unless eradicated by antimicrobial therapy. Over the past few years, we have accumulated some knowledge of the epidemiology of H. pylori in Ile-Ife, South-West Nigeria. In one collaborative study, we detected H. pylori in 195 (73%) patients referred for endoscopy at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex (OAUTHC). Furthermore we have observed a variegated gastric inflammatory response and atrophy including atrophic pangastritis but are yet to demonstrate MALToma in any of our patients. In addition we have demonstrated that dental plaque is a possible source of gastric H. pylori infection and such an endogenous source could account for difficulty in eradication leading to re-infection. Presently, infected patients are treated with standard combination therapy made up of amoxycilin and ciprofloxacin with a proton pump inhibitor/bismuth. Reports however have shown that the incidence of antimicrobial resistance in Helicobacter pylori is a growing problem and which has been linked with failures in treatment and eradication. Given this situation it has become necessary to have information about the susceptibility of isolates to particular antimicrobial agents before the selection of an appropriate treatment regimen. OBJECTIVES More recently, we sought to study antimicrobial susceptibility of locally isolated H. pylori strains. METHODS We subjected 32 isolates to antimicrobial susceptibility testing against seven agents. RESULTS All the isolates showed multiple acquired antimicrobial resistance as they were all resistant to amoxicillin, clarithromycin, metronidazole, while 29/31, 27/31 showed resistance to rifampicin and tetracycline respectively. Five (15.6%) of these isolates showed resistance to ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that H. pylori strains isolated within our study environment have acquired resistance to all the commonly prescribed antibiotics. On the basis of the findings it would be necessary to re-evaluate the eradication treatment regime in our setting.
Universal basic income. Theory and practice

A universal basic income is fi nancial income agreed to all members of society without the need to provide work. The right to this income and its level are universal and independent of the size and structure of the household. In addition, a universal income is paid regardless of the income of the citizens from other sources. The purpose of the article is to provide a theoretical and empirical analysis of a universal basic income, with a particular emphasis on the origin and re- sults of introducing this instrument. In the text, research methods are used based on literature studies in macroeconomics and economic policies as well as statistical and descriptive methods based on the data published by international economic institutions (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the World Bank).
Time-Varying Path-Shadowing Model for Indoor Populated Environments

This paper presents a path-shadowing model for indoor populated environments that has been developed based on computer simulations. The propagation paths between the transmitting and receiving points in an empty rectangular space are determined using the ray-tracing method, in which moving quasi-human bodies that are modeled as cylinders with a finite height are generated in the space, and intersections of the paths with the bodies are counted. From the results, the shadowing probabilities, durations, and intervals are evaluated for each propagation path, and this shadowing process is characterized as a Markov process. This paper proposes a method that individually generates the shadowing effects on each propagation path. The measurement results of the path-shadowing characteristics using a 5.2-GHz high-resolution channel sounder are presented, and the validity of this model is confirmed. Similar measurement results using a photoelectric sensor are also presented to reinforce the channel-sounding measurement results.
Home-based physical activity intervention for breast cancer patients.

PURPOSE The efficacy of a home-based physical activity (PA) intervention for early-stage breast cancer patients was evaluated in a randomized controlled trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS Eighty-six sedentary women (mean age, 53.14 years; standard deviation, 9.70 years) who had completed treatment for stage 0 to II breast cancer were randomly assigned to a PA or contact control group. Participants in the PA group received 12 weeks of PA counseling (based on the Transtheoretical Model) delivered via telephone, as well as weekly exercise tip sheets. Assessments were conducted at baseline, after treatment (12 weeks), and 6 and 9 month after baseline follow-ups. The post-treatment outcomes are reported here. RESULTS Analyses showed that, after treatment, the PA group reported significantly more total minutes of PA, more minutes of moderate-intensity PA, and higher energy expenditure per week than controls. The PA group also out-performed controls on a field test of fitness. Changes in PA were not reflected in objective activity monitoring. The PA group was more likely than controls to progress in motivational readiness for PA and to meet PA guidelines. No significant group differences were found in body mass index and percent body fat. Post-treatment group comparisons revealed significant improvements in vigor and a reduction in fatigue in the PA group. There was a positive trend in intervention effects on overall mood and body esteem. CONCLUSION The intervention successfully increased PA and improved fitness and specific aspects of psychological well-being among early-stage breast cancer patients. The success of a home-based PA intervention has important implications for promoting recovery in this population.
The New Zealand workforce survey I: self-reported occupational exposures.

INTRODUCTION This study examines the prevalence of a range of occupational risk factors reported by a random sample of the New Zealand working population. METHODS Men and women aged 20-64 were selected from the New Zealand Electoral Roll and invited to take part in a telephone interview, which collected information on lifetime work history, current workplace exposures and organizational factors, and various health conditions. The prevalences of occupational risk factors in each occupational and industry group are reported. RESULTS Three thousand and three interviews were completed (37% of the eligible sample and 55% of those that could be contacted). Trades workers reported the highest prevalences of exposure to dust (75%) and oils and solvents (59%). Agriculture and fishery workers reported the highest prevalences of exposure to pesticides (63%) and acids or alkalis (25%). Plant and machine operators and assemblers reported the highest prevalences of exposure to smoke/fume/gas (43%), working night shift in the previous 4 weeks (18%), and working irregular hours (33%). In the high exposure occupational and industry groups, males reported a higher prevalence of exposure than females. Lifting, exposure to loud noise, and the use of personal protective equipment were reported by >50% of the manual occupational groups. CONCLUSIONS This study indicates that occupational exposure to risk factors for work-related disease and injury remains common in the New Zealand working population. While these occupational exposures are disproportionately experienced by workers in certain industries, they also occur in occupational groups not traditionally associated with hazardous exposures or occupational disease.
The Marketing Power of Instagram: A Content Analysis of Top Hotel Enterprises in Kyrgyzstan

Son yillarda sosyal medya gunluk hayatimiza derinden entegre olmus durumdadir. Sosyal medya aglari arasindan ozellikle Instagram, populerligi yukselen pazarlama ve iletisim araci olarak karsimiza cikmaktadir. Gunumuzde bircok isletme musterileri ile iletisim kurabilmek ve etkili olabilmek icin Instagram uzerinden pazarlama stratejileri gelistirmeye calismaktadir. Bu calismanin temel amaci Kirgizistan’da faaliyet gosteren dort ve bes yildizli otelerin Instagram uzerinden yuruttukleri pazarlama faaliyetlerini icerik analizi ile degerlendirmektir. Icerik analizi Instagram sayfalarinda takipci sayisi bakimindan onde gelen otellerin 15.11. 2017-15.05. 2018 tarihleri arasindaki paylasimlarini kapsamaktadir. Isletmelerin Instagram sayfalari paylasimlarin sayisi, konusu ve formati, bu paylasimlara karsi begeni ve yorumlar gibi kriterlere gore incelenmistir. Arastirma sonuclarina gore, paylasimlarin agirlikli olarak fotograf formatinda ve Rusca oldugu gorulmustur. Bulgulardan yola cikarak, Kirgizistan’da otel isletmelerinin pazarlama araci olarak Instagramin gucunden yeterli duzeyde yararlanamadiklari soylenebilir.
The Effects of the Proposed FTAA on Global Carbon Emissions: A General Equilibrium Analysis

This paper uses a computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the world economy to simulate trade liberalization under the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) and analyze the effects on global CO2 emissions. The case of worldwide trade liberalization is also simulated for comparison. In order to disentangle the forces driving the change in emissions, a decomposition procedure is applied in which changes in each country’s emissions are separated into three components: carbon-intensity, energy-intensity, and scale effects. The results of this study indicate that formation of the FTAA is likely to have little effect on CO2 emissions in the region or in the world as a whole. Worldwide trade liberalization, on the other hand, may bring about a significant rise in global emissions. Under both liberalization scenarios, there are some countries for which the effects on CO2 emissions are large, sometimes disproportionately so, given that they are accompanied by only modest changes in GDP.
Reliability of real-time ultrasound for the assessment of transversus abdominis function.

UNLABELLED Transversus abdominis (TrA) has now been established as a key muscle for the stabilization of the lumbar spine and sacroiliac joints. Significantly, dysfunction of this muscle has also been implicated in low back pain. Real-time ultrasound (US) is a non-invasive procedure that has the potential to evaluate objectively the function of TrA. OBJECTIVE To investigate M-mode US as a reliable method of assessing TrA function. METHOD M-mode US was used to measure the width of TrA as subjects drew in their lower abdominal wall at a controlled speed to a target depth. Eleven subjects were imaged. RESULTS the measures of TrA width were reliable and ranged between 3.14mm relaxed and 6.35mm contracted. The standard error of measurement ranged between 0.18mm and 0.57mm. CONCLUSION M-mode US provides a reliable non-invasive measure of a controlled contraction of TrA.
Machado‐joseph disease: Clinical, molecular, and metabolic characterization in chinese kindreds

Machado‐Joseph disease, an autosomal dominant multisystem motor degeneration, has been described mainly in people of Portuguese descent. Our report documents the presence of Machado‐Joseph disease in the Chinese population, based on the specific molecular marker of a CAG repeat array in the 3′ end of the MJD gene. We screened 21 Chinese families with dominant spinocerebellar ataxia. The results showed that Machado‐Joseph disease with CAG expansion accounted for 52% of families with autosomal dominant cerebellar ataxia in this series. The clinical characteristics, besides the well‐documented cerebellar ataxia, dysarthria, nystagmus, corticospinal dysfunctions, a variable degree of facial muscle fasciculation, and proprioceptive loss, included loss of optokinetic nystagmus and autonomic nervous system dysfunction. The CAG repeat number in the MJD gene ranged from 14 to 39 among normal alleles, and from 63 to 81 among MJD alleles. There was a strong inverse correlation (γ = –0.77) between number of CAG repeats and age at symptom onset, accounting for 60% of the variance of age at onset. A strong clinical anticipation of age at onset existed in successive generations. Mild instabilities of expanded CAG repeat numbers during meiotic transmission occurred, with no significant difference according to the gender of the transmitting parent. Finally, brain metabolism in Machado‐Joseph disease, studied with positron emission tomography, was characterized by significant progressive regional hypometabolism in the occipital cortex, as well as the cerebellar hemispheres, vermis, and brainstem.
The role of cytology in oral lesions: A review of recent improvements

Historically, sensitivity and specificity of oral cytology is poor. Using conventional oral cytology for the diagnosis of cancer and its precursors has not had the success that cytologists had hoped for; however, with improved methodology, oral cytology has enjoyed a resurgence of interest. This renewed interest is partly due to the introduction of a specialized brush that collects a full‐thickness epithelial sample and not just superficially sloughed cells, as well as analysis of that sample with computer assistance; in addition, a variety of adjunctive techniques have been introduced to potentially enhance the diagnosis of the cytologic specimens including DNA analysis, immunocytochemistry, molecular analysis, and liquid‐based preparations. An increase in sensitivity (>96%) and specificity (>90%) of the oral brush biopsy with computer‐assisted diagnosis has been reported for identification of malignant and premalignant lesions. Brush cytology is valuable to prevent misdiagnosing doubtful oral lesions, i.e., those lesions without a definitive etiology, diagnosing large lesions where excision of the entire tissue is not possible or practicable, evaluating patients with recurrent malignancies, and monitoring premalignant lesions. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2012; © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The implementation of an adjusted relative strength index model in foreign currency and energy markets of emerging and developed economies

ABSTRACT This study proposes refinements to some weaknesses in the Relative Strength Index (RSI) model and tests its predictability over pre and post crisis periods for the most active USD based currency pairs, including two energy markets. A new model (AdRSI) is tested using daily data over 2001–2015. Benchmarked against RSI and buy-and-hold models, findings support an inverse relationship between energy and currency markets. While energy markets had relatively higher risk, Chinese yuan had the lowest annualized risk. AdRSI produced higher annualized returns, lower number of trades and higher annualized risk. Overall, the buy-and-hold model was superior with higher reward-to-volatility.