Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective effects of resveratrol against streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats by modulation of visfatin/sirtuin-1 pathway and glucose transporters

Abstract This experiment was aimed at elucidating the protective effect of resveratrol against diabetes. Forty male Wistar albino rats were allocated into four groups: the control and streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes groups were treated either with placebo (1 ml/kg, i.p.) or resveratrol (20 mg/kg, i.p.) for 8 weeks. Body weight, blood glucose and serum malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were monitored. At the end of the experimental period, expression levels of visfatin, sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) and glucose transporters (GLUTs, 2 and 4) were measured in skeletal muscle and pancreas by Western blotting. The resveratrol treatment partially compensated for body weight loss and alleviated hyperglycaemia and returned serum MDA concentrations to the control group levels. Data suggest that supplementation may reduce the severity of diabetes and its complications through suppressing oxidative stress and increasing potential to internalise glucose by extrahepatic tissues.
Stochastic ordering results for consecutive k-out-of-n:F systems

A linear (circular) consecutive k-out-of-n:F system is a system of n linearly (circularly) ordered components which fails if and only if at least k consecutive components fail. We use recursive relationships on the reliability of such systems with independent identically distributed components to show that for any fixed k, the lifetime of a (linear or circular) consecutive k-out-of-n:F system is stochastically decreasing in n. This result also holds for linear systems when the components are independent and not necessarily identically distributed, but not in general for circular systems.
Fontan Revision with Y-Graft in a Patient with Unilateral Pulmonary Arteriovenous Malformation

The extracardiac conduit Fontan procedure is the last surgical step in the treatment of patients with a functional single ventricle. An acquired pulmonary arteriovenous malformation may appear perioperatively or postoperatively due to an uneven hepatic flow distribution. Here we report a case of a bifurcated Y-graft Fontan operation in a 15-year-old male patient with a unilateral pulmonary arteriovenous malformation after an extracardiac conduit Fontan operation.
Characteristics of cutaneous lymphomas in Korea

The clinicopathologic characteristics of malignant lymphomas vary according to geography. The aim of this study was to determine the relative frequency of cutaneous lymphomas and to examine the clinical relevance of the WHO classification in Korean cases of cutaneous lymphoma. The Korean Dermatopathology Research Group conducted a clinicopathologic review of a nationwide collection of 80 cutaneous lymphomas, diagnosed at 23 institutes over a recent 3‐year period. The clinical records, haematoxylin & eosin‐stained slides and immunohistochemical stains from 80 patients with malignant lymphomas of the skin were reviewed. In our study, the most frequent cutaneous lymphoma was mycosis fungoides. Compared with Western countries, Korea had higher rates of NK/T cell lymphoma and subcutaneous panniculitis‐like T‐cell lymphoma and a much lower rate of B‐cell lymphoma. The occurrence rates for various subtypes of malignant lymphoma in Korea are distinct from those in Western countries. The EORTC classification is not fully appropriate in dealing with Korean cases of cutaneous lymphoma, because NK/T cell lymphoma is not included in the EORTC classification for cutaneous lymphoma.
Thiazolidinedione treatment and constitutive‐PPARγ activation induces ectopic adipogenesis and promotes age‐related thymic involution

Age‐related thymic involution is characterized by reduction in T cell production together with ectopic adipocyte development within the hematopoietic and thymic niches. Peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is required for adipocyte development, glucose homeostasis and is a target for several insulin‐sensitizing drugs. Our prior studies showed that age‐related elevation of PPARγ expression in thymic stromal cells is associated with thymic involution. Here, using clinically relevant pharmacological and genetic manipulations in mouse models, we provide evidence that activation of PPARγ leads to reduction in thymopoiesis. Treatment of aged mice with antihyperglycemic PPARγ‐ligand class of thiazolidinedione drug, rosiglitazone caused robust thymic expression of classical pro‐adipogenic transcripts. Rosiglitazone reduced thymic cellularity, lowered the naïve T cell number and T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) indicative of compromised thymopoiesis. To directly investigate whether PPARγ activation induces thymic involution, we created transgenic mice with constitutive‐active PPARγ (CA‐PPARg) fusion protein in cells of adipogenic lineage. Importantly, CA‐PPARγ transgene was expressed in thymus and in fibroblast‐specific protein‐1/S100A4 (FSP1+) cells, a marker of secondary mesenchymal cells. The CAPPARγ fusion protein mimicked the liganded PPARγ receptor and the transgenic mice displayed increased ectopic thymic adipogenesis and reduced thymopoiesis. Furthermore, the reduction in thymopoiesis in CA‐PPARγ mice was associated with higher bone marrow adiposity and lower hematopoietic stem cell progenitor pool. Consistent with lower thymic output, CAPPARγ transgenic mice had restricted T cell receptor repertoire diversity. Collectively, our data suggest that activation of PPARγ accelerates thymic aging and thymus‐specific PPARγ antagonist may forestall age‐related decline in T cell diversity.
Aging Leads to a Dysregulation in Mechanically Driven Bone Formation and Resorption

Physical activity is essential to maintain skeletal mass and structure, but its effect seems to diminish with age. To test the hypothesis that bone becomes less sensitive to mechanical strain with age, we used a combined in vivo/in silico approach. We investigated how maturation and aging influence the mechanical regulation of bone formation and resorption to 2 weeks of noninvasive in vivo controlled loading in mice. Using 3D in vivo morphometrical assessment of longitudinal microcomputed tomography images, we quantified sites in the mouse tibia where bone was deposited or resorbed in response to controlled in vivo loading. We compared the (re)modeling events (formation/resorption/quiescent) to the mechanical strains induced at these sites (predicted using finite element analysis). Mice of all age groups (young, adult, and elderly) responded to loading with increased formation and decreased resorption, preferentially at high strains. Low strains were associated with no anabolic response in adult and elderly mice, whereas young animals showed a strong response. Adult animals showed a clear separation between strain ranges where formation and resorption occurred but without an intermediate quiescent “lazy zone”. This strain threshold disappeared in elderly mice, as mechanically induced (re)modeling became dysregulated, apparent in an inability to inhibit resorption or initiate formation. Contrary to what is generally believed until now, aging does not shift the mechanical threshold required to initiate formation or resorption, but rather blurs its specificity. These data suggest that pharmaceutical strategies augmenting physical exercise should consider this dysfunction in the mechanical regulation of bone (re)modeling to more effectively combat age‐related bone loss. © 2015 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Avaliação da qualidade de vida em idosos submetidos ao tratamento hemodialítico

A hemodialise afeta nao so aspectos fisicos, como psicologicos e sociais, com repercussao na vida pessoal e familiar. Considerando que no Brasil esta ocorrendo um aumento da populacao idosa, esta pesquisa objetivou avaliar a qualidade de vida dos idosos com insuficiencia renal cronica, submetidos ao tratamento hemodialitico. Trata-se de uma pesquisa quantitativa, de carater descritivo exploratorio, com idosos de um servico especializado em hemodialise de Guarapuava, Parana. Os dados foram coletados entre maio a junho de 2010, atraves de um instrumento estruturado e, apos, submetidos ao programa estatistico Statistica 7.1. Analisando os dominios do questionario, o maior escore diz respeito ao dominio social (70,42) e o menor, ao dominio fisico (49,37). Assim, a qualidade de vida desses idosos apresentou-se baixa, com variacoes de acordo com o dominio analisado. Pesquisas voltadas a avaliacao de qualidade de vida sao relevantes e instrumentalizam a pratica diaria do cuidado.
New Structural Economics A Framework for Rethinking Development

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.
Everyday Experiences of Women Posttreatment After Breast Cancer: The Role of Uncertainty, Hassles, Uplifts, and Coping on Depressive Symptoms

Considerable research has examined the experiences of women at risk, during diagnosis, and throughout treatment of breast cancer; however, less in known about these women posttreatment. Many women report dealing with extensive long-standing ailments such as lymphedema and fatigue, as well as a fear of illness recurrence. However, women posttreatment also report finding benefit and meaning from their cancer occurrence. These orthogonal outcomes may be related to the uncertainty an individual is able to tolerate. Thus, this online study examined Canadian women who completed treatment for breast cancer (n = 42), and women in a control condition (n = 42), responses to the daily experience of hassles and uplifts, intolerance of uncertainty, coping strategies, and depressive symptoms. Although depressive symptoms and daily hassles did not differ between the two groups of women, women with a previous cancer experience reported a greater amount and frequency of daily uplifts, and hassle intensity predicted fewer depressive symptoms among women posttreatment compared to healthy controls. Furthermore, hassle intensity mediated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and depressive symptoms, but only for women in the control condition. Last, for women posttreatment only, the use of emotion-focused coping to deal with a fear of cancer recurrence mediated the relationship between intolerance of uncertainty and depressive symptoms, whereas problem-focused, avoidant, or cognitive-restructuring coping strategies did not. These results point to the need to provide resources to women posttreatment, but also that those women who survive breast cancer can obtain benefits from the experience.
Detecting Critical Scales in Fragmented Landscapes

We develop methods for quantifying habitat connectivity at multiple scales and assigning conservation priority to habitat patches based on their contribution to connectivity. By representing the habitat mosaic as a mathematical "graph," we show that percolation theory can be used to quantify connectivity at multiple scales from empirical landscape data. Our results indicate that connectivity of landscapes is highly scale dependent, exhibiting a marked transition at a characteristic distance and varying significantly for organisms with different dispersal behavior. More importantly, we show that the sensitivity and importance of landscape pattern is also scale dependent, peaking at scales associated with the percolation transition. In addition, the sensitivity analysis allows us to identify critical "stepping stone" patches that, when removed from the landscape, cause large changes in connectivity.
Neurosteroid Withdrawal Model of Perimenstrual Catamenial Epilepsy

Summary: Purpose: Perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy, the increase in seizure frequency that some women with epilepsy experience near the time of menstruation, may in part be related to withdrawal of the progesterone metabolite allopregnanolone, an endogenous anticonvulsant neurosteroid that is a potent positive allosteric γ‐aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptor modulator. The objective of this study was to develop an animal model of perimenstrual catamenial epilepsy for use in evaluating drug‐treatment strategies.
Radiation hardness of the electrical properties of carbon nanotube network field effect transistors under high-energy proton irradiation

The effect of high-energy proton irradiation on the physical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) was investigated. The focus of the study was on the electrical properties of single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) network devices exposed to proton beams. Field-effect transistors (FETs) of network type were fabricated using SWNTs and were then irradiated by high-energy proton beams of 10–35 MeV with a fluence of 4 × 1010–4 × 1012 cm−2 that are comparable to the aerospace radiation environment. The electrical properties of both metallic and semiconducting CNT network FET devices underwent no significant change after the high-energy proton irradiation, indicating that the CNT network devices are very tolerant in proton beams. Raman spectra confirm the proton-radiation hardness of CNT network FET devices. The radiation hardness of CNT network FET devices promises therefore the potential usefulness of CNT-based electronics for future space application.
Newborn Hearing Screening.

Hearing loss is one of the most common congenital anomalies, occurring in approximately 2-4 infants per 1000. Prior to implementation of universal newborn screening, testing was conducted only on infants who met the criteria of the highrisk register (HRR). It was found that the HRR was not enough, given that as many as 50% of infants born with hearing loss have no known risk factors. Reliable screening tests that minimize referral rates and maximize sensitivity and specificity are now readily available.
In Vitro Synergy Testing of Anidulafungin with Itraconazole, Voriconazole, and Amphotericin B against Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp

ABSTRACT The in vitro interactions of anidulafungin with itraconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin B were evaluated by using the checkerboard method. For Aspergillus spp. , anidulafungin with amphotericin B showed indifference for 16/26 isolates, while anidulafungin with either azole showed a synergy trend for 18/26 isolates. All drug combinations showed indifference for 7/7 Fusarium sp. isolates.
Relationship Between Reactive Agility and Change of Direction Speed in Amateur Soccer Players

Abstract Matlák, J, Tihanyi, J, and Rácz, L. Relationship between reactive agility and change of direction speed in amateur soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 30(6): 1547–1552, 2016—The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between reactive agility and change of direction speed (CODS) among amateur soccer players using running tests with four directional changes. Sixteen amateur soccer players (24.1 ± 3.3 years; 72.4 ± 7.3 kg; 178.7 ± 6 cm) completed CODS and reactive agility tests with four changes of direction using the SpeedCourt™ system (Globalspeed GmbH, Hemsbach, Germany). Countermovement jump (CMJ) height and maximal foot tapping count (completed in 3 seconds) were also measured with the same device. In the reactive agility test, participants had to react to a series of light stimuli projected onto a screen. Total time was shorter in the CODS test than in the reactive agility test (p < 0.001). Nonsignificant correlations were found among variables measured in the CODS, reactive agility, and CMJ tests. Low common variance (r 2 = 0.03–0.18) was found between CODS and reactive agility test variables. The results of this study underscore the importance of cognitive factors in reactive agility performance and suggest that specific methods may be required for training and testing reactive agility and CODS.
Mental Health Disparities Within the LGBT Population: A Comparison Between Transgender and Nontransgender Individuals

Abstract Purpose: This study assessed within a Midwestern LGBT population whether, and the extent to which, transgender identity was associated with elevated odds of reported discrimination, depression symptoms, and suicide attempts. Methods: Based on survey data collected online from respondents who self-identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender persons over the age of 19 in Nebraska in 2010, this study performed bivariate t- or chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis to examine differences in reported discrimination, depression symptoms, suicide attempts, and self-acceptance of LGBT identity between 91 transgender and 676 nontransgender respondents. Results: After controlling for the effects of selected confounders, transgender identity was associated with higher odds of reported discrimination (OR=2.63, p<0.01), depression symptoms (OR=2.33, p<0.05), and attempted suicides (OR=2.59, p<0.01) when compared with nontransgender individuals. Self-acceptance of LGBT identity was associated with substantially lower odds of reporting depression symptoms (OR=0.46, p<0.001). Conclusion: Relative to nontransgender LGB individuals, transgender individuals were more likely to report discrimination, depression symptoms, and attempted suicides. Lack of self-acceptance of LGBT identity was associated with depression symptoms among transgender individuals.
Influence of operator experience on canal preparation time when using the rotary Ni-Ti ProFile system in simulated curved canals.

AIM The aim of this study was to determine the influence of operator experience on the time needed for canal preparation when using a rotary nickel-titanium (Ni-Ti) system. METHOD A total of 100 simulated curved canals in resin blocks were used. Four operators prepared a total of 25 canals each. The operators included practitioners with prior experience of the preparation technique, and practitioners with no experience. The working length for each instrument was precisely predetermined. All canals were instrumented with rotary Ni-Ti ProFile Variable Taper Series 29 engine-driven instruments using a high-torque handpiece (Maillefer, Ballaigues, Switzerland). The time taken to prepare each canal was recorded. Significant differences between the operators were analysed using the Student's t-test and the Kruskall-Wallis and Dunn nonparametric tests. RESULTS Comparison of canal preparation times demonstrated a statistically significant difference between the four operators (P < 0.001). In the inexperienced group, a significant linear regression between canal number and preparation time occurred. CONCLUSION Time required for canal preparation was inversely related to operator experience.
The association of lactate and vasopressor need for mortality prediction in survivors of cardiac arrest.

BACKGROUND Currently there are few tools available for clinicians to predict outcomes in cardiac arrest survivors. Our objective was to determine if the combination of simple clinical parameters (initial blood lactate and vasopressor use) can predict outcome in post-cardiac arrest patients. METHODS The design was a retrospective medical record review. The study was carried on in two urban, tertiary-care, university teaching hospitals. As for patients, inclusion criteria were: 1) age ≥18 years; 2) non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest with return of spontaneous circulation; 3) lactic acid measured within one hour of return of circulation. No interventions was performed. RESULTS Patients were divided into groups based on two variables: 1) vasopressor status (receipt of vasopressors vs. no vasopressors); and 2) initial blood lactate (categories defined as lactate <5 mmol/L, lactate 5 to 10 mmol/L, lactate ≥10 mmol/L); 128 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients met study inclusion criteria. Overall mortality was 71% (95%CI 63-79%). Patients who received vasopressors had significantly higher mortality rates compared to patients who did not receive vasopressors (80% vs. 52%; P=0.002). A stepwise increase in mortality is associated with increasing lactate levels (39% lactate <5 mmol/L, 67% lactate 5 mmol/L to10 mmol/L, and 92% lactate ≥10 mmol/L; P<0.001). The AUC for our model was 0.82. CONCLUSION The combination of two clinical parameters, vasopressor need and lactic acid levels, is an accurate severity of illness classification system and can predict mortality in patients following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Prospective validation of these variables in post-cardiac arrest is needed.
Simultaneous Test for Superiority and Noninferiority Hypotheses in Active-Controlled Clinical Trials

Two stage switching between testing for superiority (SUP) and noninferiority (NI) has been an important statistical issue in the design and analysis of the active-controlled clinical trials. Tsong and Zhang (2005) has shown that the Type I error rates do not change when switching between SUP and NI with the traditional generalized historical control (GHC) approach, however, they may change when switching with the cross-trial comparison (X-trial) approach. Tsong and Zhang (2005) further proposed a simultaneous test for both hypotheses to avoid the problem. The procedure was based on Fieller's confidence interval proposed by Hauschke et al. (1999). Since with the X-trial approach, using the simultaneous test, superiority is tested using all four treatment arms (current test and active control arms, active control and placebo arms in historical trials), the Type I error rate and power are expected to be somewhat different from the conventional superiority test (using the current test and active control arms only). Through a simulation study, we demonstrate that the Type I error rate and power between simultaneous test and the conventional superiority test are compatible. We also examine the impact of the assumption of equal variances of the current trial and the historical trial.
Lexico‐Grammatical Innovation in Current British and American English: a Case Study on the Transitive into ‐ing Pattern with Evidence from the Bank of English Corpus

The transitive into ‐ing pattern, as in These facts lure us into believing that …, has come to be used in English in sometimes unexpected and innovative ways, as has been noted in earlier corpus‐based work on the pattern. The present study examines the innovative use of the pattern in three large standard newspaper corpora that form part of the Bank of English Corpus: the United States News, SUNNOW and Times Corpora. Note is taken of the recently formulated hypothesis that grammatical change in current English is led by American English, and the three newspaper corpora are used to examine this hypothesis. It is suggested that in this particular case of lexico‐grammatical variation in the language, it is in fact British English that is in the vanguard of innovation. This result is confirmed when a semantically defined subset of innovative matrix verbs are investigated in spoken British and American English. A comparison of the SUNNOW and Times corpora also makes it possible to draw conclusions on innovation and creativity in two types of British newspapers, one popular and the other high brow.