Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Apoptosis, proliferation, and p27 expression during vessel wall healing: time course study in a mouse model of transluminal femoral artery injury.

OBJECTIVE The balance between cell death and proliferation in the vessel wall influences neointimal formation, remodeling, and eventual luminal narrowing after arterial injury. In this study, the time course of apoptosis, proliferation, and expression of p27-a critical regulator of cell-cycle progression-is characterized in a mouse model of transluminal arterial injury associated with substantial neointimal formation. METHODS C57BL/6 mice underwent bilateral femoral artery injury by passage of an angioplasty guidewire. Expression of p27, Ki67 proliferative index, and apoptosis, as well as histomorphometry, were analyzed in cross sections of uninjured arteries and arteries harvested at different time intervals after injury. RESULTS In the uninjured arteries, no apoptotic cells were detected, and p27 and Ki67 were expressed in less than 5% of medial cells. After injury, apoptosis increased markedly in medial smooth muscle cells from 1 to 24 hours and decreased gradually thereafter. Ki67 proliferative index increased after 1 week, peaked at 2 weeks in both the media and neointima, and decreased thereafter. p27 expression was undetectable from 1 to 48 hours, and increased gradually from 1 to 4 weeks. Well-developed neointima was present at 2 and 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS In vivo injury to the mouse femoral artery evokes a rapid apoptotic response and downregulation of p27, followed by gradual increase in proliferation. During later phases of arterial repair, p27 expression increases while a shift of proliferation rates toward baseline occurs. Future experiments using this model in genetically modified mice may help identify specific cell-cycle regulatory molecules as therapeutic targets for control of pathologic arterial healing.
A Modified Yolk Biopsy Technique Improves Survivorship of Turtle Eggs

Nongenetic maternal contributions, such as steroid hormones, have received much attention in recent years because they have the potential to influence offspring phenotype. Research in oviparous taxa has demonstrated that there is among‐species variability in their response to these maternal contributions. However, studies in chelonians and crocodilians have been hampered by the fact that techniques involving egg manipulations that breach the eggshell routinely result in massive egg mortality. In this study, we present an improved yolk manipulation technique that resulted in increased egg survival (in excess of 70% survival) in the red‐eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta) and that may be broadly applicable to other species. By elevating survival to a level on par with other oviparous taxa, this method permits a more thorough exploration of reptilian egg physiology and allows for studies that examine traits in both the egg and the resulting hatchling.
African American English in the diaspora

List of Figures. List of Tables. Series Preface. Acknowledgements. 1. Introduction. 2. African Americans in the Samana Peninsula. 3. African Americans in Nova Scotia: Settlement and Data. 4. External Controls. 5. Method. 6. The Past Tense. 7. The Present Tense. 8. The Future Tense. 9. Conclusions: An Essay on the Origins and Development of African American English. References. Index.
Red meat snacks for chronic hemodialysis patients: effect on inflammatory activity (A Pilot Study)

Abstract Rational: Among the alternatives to reverse chronic hemodialysis protein-energy malnutrition is the enhancement of intradialytic oral nutritional therapy. Although foods of animal origin are a source of nutrients and represent a feasible diet, there is uncertainty about their health consequences. Objectives: We assessed the relationship of intradialytic high-protein red meat snack supplementation with patient inflammatory status and protein losses (nitrogen) during this supplementation. Fourteen patients submitted to low-flux chronic hemodialysis for one month were divided into two groups receiving 2 g (group 1) and 29 g (group 2) of oral intradialytic protein during the initial phase, respectively. In the subsequent phase, group 1 was supplemented with 27 g protein (a red meat snack) for a total of 29 g per dialysis. Group 2 continued to receive 29 g protein. Nutritional status, total nitrogen losses through the dialysate and acute inflammatory phase protein (CRP) were assessed before and after dialysis. Reuse of the dialyzer was also determined on each occasion. Main findings: Red meat supplementation did not interfere with CRP, nitrogen loss through the dialysate (18 ± 7 to 19 ± 4 g in group 1, ns, and 20 ± 7 to 21 ± 4 g in group 2, ns) or with nutritional status. However, the data showed a positive correlation between pre- and post-hemodialysis CRP values (r = 0.84, p < 0.01) in both groups, suggesting an increase of the values after ultrafiltration. Reuse of the dialyzer was not correlated with CRP values. Principle conclusions: The results suggest that snacks were not acutely correlated with increased inflammatory levels and indicated that a protein-rich red meat snack may be beneficial for chronic hemodialysis patients.
The Mediating Effects of Depression on Sleep Disturbance and Fatigue: Symptom Clusters in Patients With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

The purposes of this study were to (a) explore the relationships among sleep disturbance, fatigue, and depression and (b) test whether depression mediates the effect of sleep disturbance on fatigue in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A cross-sectional study was conducted with a total of 77 patients with HCC. All participants completed questionnaires that included the Brief Fatigue Inventory-Taiwan Form, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index-Taiwan Form, and the depression subscale of the Taiwanese version of the Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale. Path analysis was used to test the mediation role of depression. Fatigue, sleep disturbance, and depression are positively interrelated and co-occur in patients with HCC. Moreover, depression completely mediates the effects of sleep disturbance on fatigue. These findings suggest that depression is an important mechanism underlying the relationship between sleep disturbance and fatigue for patients with HCC. This is the first study to explore the phenomenon of symptom clustering in sleep disturbance, fatigue, and depression in patients with HCC and to investigate the mediating role of depression that underlies the relationship between sleep disturbance and fatigue. The current findings are of clinical importance because they suggest the need to consider simultaneous management of sleep disturbance, fatigue, and depression.
Identifying Risk Factors for Racial Disparities in Diabetes Outcomes: The Translating Research Into Action for Diabetes Study

Background:Versus whites, blacks with diabetes have poorer control of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), higher systolic blood pressure (SBP), and higher low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol as well as higher rates of morbidity and microvascular complications. Objective:To examine whether several mutable risk factors were more strongly associated with poor control of multiple intermediate outcomes among blacks with diabetes than among similar whites. Design:Case-control study. Subjects:A total of 764 blacks and whites with diabetes receiving care within 8 managed care health plans. Measures:Cases were patients with poor control of at least 2 of 3 intermediate outcomes (HbA1c ≥8.0%, SBP ≥140 mmHg, LDL cholesterol ≥130 mg/dL) and controls were patients with good control of all 3 (HbA1c <8.0%, SBP <140 mmHg, LDL cholesterol <130 mg/dL). In multivariate analyses, we determined whether each of several potentially mutable risk factors, including depression, poor adherence to medications, low self-efficacy for reducing cardiovascular risk, and poor patient-provider communication, predicted case or control status. Results:Among blacks but not whites, in multivariate analyses depression (odds ratio: 2.28; 95% confidence interval: 1.09–4.75) and having missed medication doses (odds ratio: 1.96; 95% confidence interval: 1.01–3.81) were associated with greater odds of being a case rather than a control. None of the other risk factors were associated for either blacks or whites. Conclusions:Depression and missing medication doses are more strongly associated with poor diabetes control among blacks than in whites. These 2 risk factors may represent important targets for patient-level interventions to address racial disparities in diabetes outcomes.
Focal epilepsy in the Belgian shepherd: evidence for simple Mendelian inheritance.

OBJECTIVES To establish the mode of inheritance and describe the clinical features of epilepsy in the Belgian shepherd, taking the outset in an extended Danish dog family (199 individuals) of Groenendael and Tervueren with accumulated epilepsy. METHODS Epilepsy positive individuals (living and deceased) were ascertained through a telephone interview using a standardised questionnaire regarding seizure history and phenomenology. Living dogs were invited to a detailed clinical evaluation. Litters more than five years of age, or where epilepsy was present in all offspring before the age of five, were included in the calculations of inheritance. results: Out of 199 family members, 66 dogs suffered from epilepsy. The prevalence of epilepsy in the family was 33%. Fifty-five dogs experienced focal seizures with or without secondary generalisation, while four dogs experienced primary generalised seizures. In seven dogs, seizures could not be classified. The mode of inheritance of epilepsy was simple Mendelian. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE This study identified that the Belgian shepherd suffers from genetically transmitted focal epilepsy. The seizure phenomenology expressed by family members have a strong resemblance to what has been reported for familial partial (focal) epilepsy in humans with variable foci with suggestion of linkage to chromosome 2 and chromosome 22q12.
LEISHMANICIDAL ACTIVITY OF STEARYLAMINE-BEARING LIPOSOMES IN VITRO

Liposomes consisting of stearylamine (SA) and egg yolk phosphatidylcholine (PC) were studied for their cytotoxic activity against freshly transformed promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis. More than 99% of the parasites of strain AG83 were killed within 60 min by treatment with 22 mol% SA-PC liposomes (132 µg/ml total lipids). This was further confirmed by incubating the liposome-treated promastigotes at 22 C for 96 hr. The killing activity of the liposomes progressively decreased with lowering lipid concentration. However, weak cytotoxic activity was still detected at 6.6 µg/ml lipids. Leishmanicidal activity of the liposomes became stronger with increasing SA content but was reduced with the incorporation of cholesterol in the liposomes. A similar cytotoxic effect was observed on other Indian strains of L. donovani, for example PKDL and DD8, as well as on species such as Leishmania donovani S1, Leishmania donovani infantum, Leishmania tropica, Leishmania amazonensis, and Leishmania mexicana. However, freshly transformed promastigotes appeared to be more susceptible than the ones subcultured. The strong leishmanicidal activity of SA-PC liposomes was also demonstrated toward intracellular L. donovani amastigotes. The SA-bearing vesicles could effectively inhibit the growth and multiplication of the parasites within the macrophages. The cytolytic activity of these liposomes on leishmanial parasites and low toxicity on host macrophages may, thus, find application in the therapy of leishmaniasis.
Analysis of the Effects of Sex and Age on Upper- and Lower-Body Power for Law Enforcement Agency Recruits Before Academy Training

Abstract Lockie, RG, Dawes, JJ, Orr, RM, Stierli, M, Dulla, JM, and Orjalo, AJ. Analysis of the effects of sex and age on upper- and lower-body power for law enforcement agency recruits before academy training. J Strength Cond Res 32(7): 1968–1974, 2018—Power is an important characteristic for law enforcement officers. Tasks such as carrying or dragging a civilian to safety, jumping or vaulting, and suspect restraint and pursuit require power to be effective. Certain recruits may be lacking in these qualities even if they have been accepted to a law enforcement agency (LEA). This study investigated upper- and lower-body power in male and female LEA recruits, and recruits of different ages, before academy training. Retrospective analysis of recruit data from one LEA was conducted. The measurements were: vertical jump (VJ) height; peak anaerobic power calculated by the Sayers equation; power-to-body mass ratio (P:BM); seated medicine ball throw (MBT) distance; and MBT distance relative to body mass. Independent-sample t-tests were used to compare the sexes, whereas a 1-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni post hoc compared the pooled data for recruits across different age groups (20–24; 25–29; 30–34; and 35+ years). The male recruits demonstrated superior performance across all power tests compared with the female recruits (p < 0.001). Regarding age, the 35+ year group performed less than optimally in the VJ and P:BM compared with the 20–24 and 24–29 years groups, and in the relative MBT compared with the 20–24 and 30–34 years groups (p = 0.003–0.037). Despite being accepted to a LEA, female recruits and recruits aged 35+ years of age may be lacking in upper- and lower-body power. Female and older recruits should participate in strength and power training before academy attendance to maintain or enhance these qualities.
Potential Reasons for Prevalence of Fusarium Wilt in Oriental Melon in Korea

This study aims to examine the potential reasons for the current prevalence of the fusarium wilt in the oriental melon. Twenty-seven Fusarium isolates obtained from oriental melon greenhouses in 2010–2011 were identified morphologically and by analysis of elongation factor-1 alpha gene (EF-1α) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA sequences as 6 Fusarium species (8 isolates of F. oxysporum, 8 F. commune, 5 F. proliferatum, 3 F. equiseti, 2 F. delphinoides, and 1 F. andiyazi), which were classified as same into 6 EF-1α sequence-based phylogenetic clades. Pathogenicity of the Fusarium isolates on the oriental melon was highest in F. proliferatum, next in F. oxysporum and F. andiyazi, and lowest in the other Fusarium species tested, suggesting F. proliferatum and F. oxysporum were major pathogens of the oriental melon, inducing stem rots and vascular wilts, respectively. Oriental melon and watermelon were more susceptible to F. oxysporum than shintosa and cucumber; and cucumber was most, oriental melon and watermelon, medially, and shintosa was least susceptible to F. proliferatum, whose virulence varied among and within their phylogenetic subclades. Severe root-knot galls were formed on all the crops infected with Meloidogyne incognita; however, little indication of vascular wilts or stem and/or root rots was shown by the nematode infection. These results suggest the current fungal disease in the oriental melon may be rarely due to virulence changes of the fusarium wilt pathogen and the direct cause of the severe root-knot nematode infection, but may be potentially from other Fusarium pathogen infection that produces seemingly wilting caused by severe stem rotting.
THE STABILITY OF P IN CORAL REEF FISHES

Abstract The constancy of phenotypic variation and covariation is an assumption that underlies most recent investigations of past selective regimes and attempts to predict future responses to selection. Few studies have tested this assumption of constancy despite good reasons to expect that the pattern of phenotypic variation and covariation may vary in space and time. We compared phenotypic variance-covariance matrices (P) estimated for populations of six species of distantly related coral reef fishes sampled at two locations on Australia's Great Barrier Reef separated by more than 1000 km. The intraspecific similarity between these matrices was estimated using two methods: matrix correlation and common principal component analysis. Although there was no evidence of equality between pairs of P, both statistical approaches indicated a high degree of similarity in morphology between the two populations for each species. In general, the hierarchical decomposition of the variance-covariance structure of these populations indicated that all principal components of phenotypic variance-covariance were shared but that they differed in the degree of variation associated with each of these components. The consistency of this pattern is remarkable given the diversity of morphologies and life histories encompassed by these species. Although some phenotypic instability was indicated, these results were consistent with a generally conserved pattern of multivariate selection between populations.
Estimated Number of Infants Born to HIV-Infected Women in the United States and Five Dependent Areas, 2006

Objective:Although perinatal HIV infections are declining in the United States, there is no single source of nationally representative data available to estimate the number of infants born to HIV-infected women in the United States and its dependencies. This study determines the total number of births to HIV-positive women in the United States and 5 dependent areas in 2006. Study Design:Diagnosed stage 1 or 2 HIV disease in the United States were based on reported data from 39 areas that conducted confidential name-based HIV case reporting and stage 3 HIV from all areas in the United States. A zero-inflated Poisson model was used to estimate the number of women aged 13-44 years living with diagnosed stage 1 or 2 HIV disease in the United States. The number of undiagnosed HIV-infected women (stage 1 or 2) of childbearing age was estimated from the number of reported Stage 3 HIV (ie, AIDS) cases using a back-calculation method. Results:An estimated 115,200 women aged 13-44 years were living with stage 1 or 2 HIV disease in 2006. A total of 56,200 women were living with diagnosed stage 3 disease. The estimated number of births to all women living with HIV disease (diagnosed or undiagnosed) was 8700 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 8400 to 8800] in 2006. Conclusions:The number of infants born to HIV-infected women in 2006 was approximately 30% greater than the number of such births (6075-6422) in 2000. This increase highlights the need to continue and strengthen efforts to prevent perinatal HIV transmission in the United States.
Treatment of children with poor risk solid tumors by further escalation of the VETOPEC regimen including very high‐dose cyclophosphamide and peripheral stem cell support: An Australian and New Zealand children's hematology and oncology group study

Children with solid tumors deemed to be poor risk at diagnosis and those who fail to respond or recur after chemotherapy have adverse outcomes. We sought to increase the dosage of cyclophosphamide (CPA) in the VETOPEC regimen (vincristine, etoposide, and CPA) with a view to improving the response rate and survival.
Effect of annual intramuscular vitamin D on fracture risk in elderly men and women--a population-based, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

OBJECTIVES Low trauma fractures in older people incur enormous physical, social and economic costs. Previous research indicates that an annual intramuscular injection of vitamin D may reduce fracture rates in this group. This strategy requires validation in a population setting. METHODS Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of 300,000 IU intramuscular (i.m.) vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol) injection or matching placebo every autumn over 3 years. 9440 people (4354 men and 5086 women) aged 75 yrs and over were recruited from general practice registers in Wessex, England. Primary outcome measure was all non-vertebral fracture. Secondary outcomes were hip and wrist fractures, and all falls. RESULTS 585 subjects had incident non-spine fractures (hip 110, wrist 116, ankle 37). Hazard ratios (HRs) for fracture in the vitamin D group were: 1.09 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.93-1.28, P = 0.29] for any first fracture, 1.49 (95% CI 1.02-2.18, P = 0.04) for hip and 1.22 (95% CI 0.85-1.76, P = 0.28) for wrist. There was no effect on falls: HR 0.98 (0.93-1.04). No protective effect was observed in any subgroup when the cohort was stratified by sex, age, previous fracture or mobility. CONCLUSIONS An annual i.m. injection of 300,000 IU vitamin D2 is not effective in preventing non-vertebral fractures among elderly men and women resident in the general population.
Visual Function, Quality of Life and Patient Satisfaction after Ophthalmic Surgery: A Comparative Study

Purpose: To compare visual acuity, functional visual performance (VF-14), quality of life (QOL) gain (VF-14 gain) and patient satisfaction in a series of patients undergoing common types of ophthalmic surgery. Method: In a prospective trial, the VF-14 QOL questionnaire was administered to 100 patients who underwent surgery by one surgeon between May 2001 and April 2002. The following surgeries were compared: (1) cataract surgery (non-diabetic patients), (2) cataract surgery (diabetic patients), (3) retinal detachment cryo-buckle procedure, (4) pars plana vitrectomy, (5) silicone oil removal. VF-14 questionnaire responses, visual function and clinical data of all patients were recorded pre-operatively and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Results: In comparison to vitreoretinal surgery, patients who underwent cataract surgery achieved higher VF-14 scores and required less time to recover from the procedure (1 month). The QOL gain (VF-14 gain) was significantly higher in patients who had undergone retinal detachment surgery and vitrectomy (p < 0.0001). The lowest QOL gain was registered in diabetic patients after cataract surgery. Patients with pre-existing eye disease, including patients with improved visual acuity, were least satisfied with the final outcome of surgery. Conclusions: The highest VF-14 score was achieved by patients with no pre-existing ocular disease, who had undergone cataract surgery. The QOL gain was greater in patients with severer initial ocular conditions. Better patient satisfaction can be achieved in patients with pre-existing eye disease by improving pre-operative patient education.
Establishing a community‐wide DNA barcode library as a new tool for arctic research

DNA sequences offer powerful tools for describing the members and interactions of natural communities. In this study, we establish the to‐date most comprehensive library of DNA barcodes for a terrestrial site, including all known macroscopic animals and vascular plants of an intensively studied area of the High Arctic, the Zackenberg Valley in Northeast Greenland. To demonstrate its utility, we apply the library to identify nearly 20 000 arthropod individuals from two Malaise traps, each operated for two summers. Drawing on this material, we estimate the coverage of previous morphology‐based species inventories, derive a snapshot of faunal turnover in space and time and describe the abundance and phenology of species in the rapidly changing arctic environment. Overall, 403 terrestrial animal and 160 vascular plant species were recorded by morphology‐based techniques. DNA barcodes (CO1) offered high resolution in discriminating among the local animal taxa, with 92% of morphologically distinguishable taxa assigned to unique Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) and 93% to monophyletic clusters. For vascular plants, resolution was lower, with 54% of species forming monophyletic clusters based on barcode regions rbcLa and ITS2. Malaise catches revealed 122 BINs not detected by previous sampling and DNA barcoding. The insect community was dominated by a few highly abundant taxa. Even closely related taxa differed in phenology, emphasizing the need for species‐level resolution when describing ongoing shifts in arctic communities and ecosystems. The DNA barcode library now established for Zackenberg offers new scope for such explorations, and for the detailed dissection of interspecific interactions throughout the community.