Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multiple Past Concussions in High School Football Players

Background: There is increasing concern about the possible long-term effects of multiple concussions, particularly on the developing adolescent brain. Whether the effect of multiple concussions is detectable in high school football players has not been well studied, although the public health implications are great in this population. Purpose: To determine if there are measureable differences in cognitive functioning or symptom reporting in high school football players with a history of multiple concussions. Study Design: Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: Participants included 5232 male adolescent football players (mean [±SD] age, 15.5 ± 1.2 years) who completed baseline testing between 2009 and 2014. On the basis of injury history, athletes were grouped into 0 (n = 4183), 1 (n = 733), 2 (n = 216), 3 (n = 67), or ≥4 (n = 33) prior concussions. Cognitive functioning was measured by the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT) battery, and symptom ratings were obtained from the Post-Concussion Symptom Scale. Results: There were no statistically significant differences between groups (based on the number of reported concussions) regarding cognitive functioning. Athletes with ≥3 prior concussions reported more symptoms than did athletes with 0 or 1 prior injury. In multivariate analyses, concussion history was independently related to symptom reporting but less so than developmental problems (eg, attention or learning problems) or other health problems (eg, past treatment for psychiatric problems, headaches, or migraines). Conclusion: In the largest study to date, high school football players with multiple past concussions performed the same on cognitive testing as those with no prior concussions. Concussion history was one of several factors that were independently related to symptom reporting.
Revisiting the Phillips curve trade-off: evidence from Tanzania using nonlinear ARDL approach

The spotlight of this study is to re-examine the presence and nature of the long run relationship between inflation and unemployment. The topic has been of much interest to researchers and policy makers as it has significant implications on macroeconomic stabilization policies. Using expected inflation rates and expected unemployment rates generated by Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA), the study tests whether the relationship between the variables is symmetrical or asymmetrical in both short run and long run. Applying the autoregressive distributed lags model (ARDL) and Nonlinear ARDL approaches proposed by Pesaran et al. (2001) and Shin et al. (2014), we confirm the presence of long run equilibrium relationship between expected inflation and expected unemployment. Findings tend to indicate that the long run relationship is symmetrical whereas evidence is in support of asymmetrical short-run trade-off between the variables. CUSUM and CUSUMSQ tests confirm the stability of the coefficients. The study contributes to the literature in three ways. First it uses expected as opposed to actual variables, second it employs recent methodology of Nonlinear ARDL and third it presents new evidence from a Highly indebted poor country-HIPC (Tanzania) using data from 1991 to 2017.
Randomised trial of volume controlled versus time cycled, pressure limited ventilation in preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome

Fifty preterm infants weighing 1200 g or more with clinical and radiographic evidence of respiratory distress syndrome, requiring both mechanical ventilation and exogenous surfactant replacement, were randomly allocated to receive either volume controlled ventilation or time cycled, pressure limited ventilation. Tidal volume delivery in each group was deliberately controlled at 5–8 ml/kg so that the only difference between the two groups was the ventilatory modality, the manner in which tidal volume was delivered. The rest of the ventilatory management and clinical care was done according to protocol. The two modes of ventilation were compared by determining the time required to achieve pre-determined success criteria, based on either the alveolar–arterial oxygen gradient or the mean airway pressure as a standard against which the speed of weaning could be objectively assessed. Infants randomised to volume controlled ventilation met success criteria sooner and had a shorter duration of mechanical ventilation. These babies also had a significantly lower incidence of intraventricular haemorrhages and abnormal periventricular echodensities on ultrasound scans. Volume controlled ventilation seems to be both safe and effective in this group of patients.
SNR analysis of a noisy-channel model for a capacitively-coupled personal-area network

We propose a noisy-channel model for a capacitively-coupled personal-area network (PAN) with megahertz-frequency signals. The model describes the influence of power lines connected to transceivers. We analyzed the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for the PAN channel. It is derived from the model that the SNR can be enhanced by using a common-mode choke. We also found conditions for enhancing the SNR. The validity of the model and analysis are confirmed by experimental results.
The effect of BMI, serum leptin, and adiponectin levels on prognosis in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy.

INTRODUCTION The recent studies demonstrated that obese heart failure patients have better prognosis - "obesity paradox". The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), leptin and adiponectin concentrations and prognosis in patients with heart failure due to non ischeamic dilated cardiomyopathy (NIDCM). MATERIAL AND METHODS 128 patients with NIDCM were included and followed-up for three years. Leptin and adiponectin were measured at baseline using commercially available ELISA tests. Clinical data, routine laboratory parameters, NT-proBNP were assessed as risk factors for reaching the study endpoints: urgent heart transplantation (B), death (C), or combined endpoint death or urgent heart transplantation (D). RESULTS Patient with adverse outcome had lower BMI and higher NT-proBNP concentration. Leptin was significantly elevated in group C and adiponectin was higher in groups B and D than in survived patients. Patients with leptin concentration below median or with adiponectin concentration above median were more often transplanted in three years follow-up (p = 0.029, p = 0.022, respectively). The cumulative probability of death was greater in patients with concentration of leptin above median (p = 0.024). In the multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses, increasing leptin and lower BMI were predictors of death. Adiponectin was associated with higher risk of heart transplantation. Both an inverse association of BMI and positive association of leptin and adiponectin with combined endpoint were discovered. Further adjustment to established risk factors abolished association between combined endpoint and BMI, and modestly attenuate with adiponectin and leptin concentration. CONCLUSION Evaluation of adiponectin and leptin concentrations was more useful than BMI in prediction of unfavourable outcome in patients with NIDCM. (Endokrynol Pol 2017; 68 (1): 26-34).
A respiratory nitrate reductase active exclusively in resting spores of the obligate aerobe Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

The Gram‐positive aerobe Streptomyces coelicolor undergoes a complex life cycle including growth as vegetative hyphae and the production of aerial hyphae and spores. Little is known about how spores retain viability in the presence of oxygen; however, nothing is known about this process during anaerobiosis. Here, we demonstrate that one of the three respiratory nitrate reductases, Nar‐1, synthesized by S. coelicolor is functional exclusively in spores. A tight coupling between nitrite production and the activity of the cytoplasmically oriented Nar‐1 enzyme was demonstrated. No exogenous electron donor was required to drive nitrate reduction, which indicates that spore storage compounds are used as electron donors. Oxygen reversibly inhibited nitrate reduction by spores but not by spore extracts, suggesting that nitrate transport might be the target of oxygen inhibition. Nar‐1 activity required no de novo protein synthesis indicating that Nar‐1 is synthesized during sporulation and remains in a latently active state throughout the lifetime of the spore. Remarkably, the rates of oxygen and of nitrate reduction by wetted spores were comparable. Together, these findings suggest that S. coelicolor spores have the potential to maintain a membrane potential using nitrate as an alternative electron acceptor.
Psychosocial sequelae of the 1989 Newcastle earthquake: III. Role of vulnerability factors in post-disaster morbidity

Background. This paper examines the contributions of dispositional and non-dispositional factors to post-disaster psychological morbidity. Data reported are from the 845 participants in the longitudinal component of the Quake Impact Study. Methods. The phase 1 survey was used to construct dimensional indices of threat and disruption exposure. Subsequently, a range of dispositional characteristics were measured, including neuroticism, personal hopefulness and defence style. The main morbidity measures were the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and Impact of Event Scale (IES). Results. Dispositional characteristics were the best predictors of psychological morbidity throughout the 2 years post-disaster, contributing substantially more to the variance in morbidity (12–39%) than did initial exposure (5–12%), but the extent of their contribution was greater for general (GHQ-12) than for post-traumatic (IES) morbidity. Among the non-dispositional factors, avoidance coping contributed equally to general and post-traumatic morbidity (pr = 0·24). Life events since the earthquake (pr = 0·18), poor social relationships (pr =−0·25) and ongoing earthquake-related disruptions (pr = 0·22) also contributed to general morbidity, while only the latter contributed significantly to post-traumatic morbidity (pr = 0·15). Conclusions. Medium-term post-earthquake morbidity appears to be a function of multiple factors whose contributions vary depending on the type of morbidity experienced and include trait vulnerability, the nature and degree of initial exposure, avoidance coping and the nature and severity of subsequent events.
Effect of lacYExpression on Homogeneity of Induction from the Ptac and Ptrc Promoters by Natural and Synthetic Inducers

The role of the Escherichia coli lactose permease (LacY) in the homogeneous induction of the lactose‐inducible promoters Ptac and Ptrc by the natural inducer lactose and the synthetic inducer isopropyl‐β‐d‐thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) was investigated. Lactose requires active transport by LacY, whereas IPTG can freely penetrate the cell wall. In E. coli strains lacking a functional LacY, IPTG is required for induction of Ptac and Ptrc. In E. coli strains carrying a functional LacY, induction of Ptrc and Ptac with intermediate concentrations of lactose gave rise to two subpopulations, one fully induced and one uninduced, whereas a single, fully induced population resulted when high inducer concentrations were used. In contrast, induction with IPTG gave rise to a single population of cells at all inducer concentrations in both lacY and lacY + strains.
The Structure of Corporate Ownership: Causes and Consequences

This paper argues that the structure of corporate ownership varies systematically in ways that are consistent with value maximization. Among the variables that are empirically significant in explaining the variation in ownership structure for 511 U.S. corporations are firm size, instability of profit rate, whether or not the firm is a regulated utility or financial institution, and whether or not the firm is in the mass media or sports industry. Doubt is cast on the Berle-Means thesis, as no significant relationship is found between ownership concentration and accounting profit rates for this set of firms.
Escaping Unemployment Traps

Economic activity has remained subdued following the Great Recession. One interpretation of the listless recovery is that recessions inflict permanent damage on an economy? s productive capacity. For example, extended periods of high unemployment can lead to skill losses among workers, reducing human capital and lowering future output. This notion that temporary recessions have long-lasting consequences is often termed hysteresis. Another explanation for sluggish growth is the influential secular stagnation hypothesis, which attributes slow growth to long-term changes in the economy? s underlying structure. While these explanations are observationally similar, they have very different policy implications. In particular, if structural factors are responsible for slow growth, then there might be little monetary policy can do to reverse this trend. If instead hysteresis is to blame, then monetary policy may be able to reverse slowdowns in potential output, or even prevent them from occurring in the first place.
Human Mitochondrial C1-Tetrahydrofolate Synthase

C1-tetrahydrofolate (THF) synthase is a trifunctional enzyme found in eukaryotes that contains the activities 10-formyl-THF synthetase, 5,10-methenyl-THF cyclohydrolase, and 5,10-methylene-THF dehydrogenase. The cytoplasmic isozyme of C1-THF synthase is well characterized in a number of mammals, including humans; but a mitochondrial isozyme has been previously identified only in the yeast Saccharomyces. Here, we report the identification and characterization of the human gene encoding a functional mitochondrial C1-THF synthase. The gene spans 236 kilobase pairs on chromosome 6 and consists of 28 exons plus one alternative exon. The gene encodes a protein of 978 amino acids, including an N-terminal mitochondrial targeting sequence. The mitochondrial isozyme is 61% identical to the human cytoplasmic isozyme. Expression of the gene was detected in most human tissues, but transcripts were highest in placenta, thymus, and brain. Two mRNAs were detected, a 3.6-kb transcript and a 1.1-kb transcript, and both transcripts were observed in varying ratios in each tissue. The shorter transcript results from an alternative splicing event, where exon 7 is spliced to exon 8a instead of exon 8. Exon 8a is derived from an exonized Alu sequence, sharing no homology with exon 8 of the long transcript, and encodes just 15 amino acids followed by a stop codon and a polyadenylation signal. This short transcript potentially encodes a bifunctional enzyme lacking 10-formyl-THF synthetase activity. Both transcripts initiate at the same 5′-site, 107 nucleotides up-stream of the ATG start codon. The full-length (2934 bp) cDNA fused to a C-terminal V5 epitope tag was expressed in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Immunoblots of subfractionated cells revealed a 107-kDa protein only in the mitochondrial fractions of these cells, confirming the mitochondrial localization of the protein. Yeast cells expressing the full-length human cDNA exhibited elevated 10-formyl-THF synthetase activity, confirming its identification as the human mitochondrial C1-THF synthase.
Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator and the etiology and pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder causing pancreatic, pulmonary, and sinus disease in children and young adults. Abnormal viscosity of mucous secretions is a hallmark of the disease, and is believed to be the result of altered electrolyte transport across epithelial cell membranes. The monogenic etiology of this disease has been apparent for more than 40 years, but the defective gene has only recently been identified. This was made possible because of a revolution in genetic technology, called positional cloning, which can pinpoint disease genes without previous knowledge of the abnormal protein product. The protein encoded by the gene defective in CF has been termed the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) because of its postulated role in electrolyte transport. Studies investigating the normal function of CFTR and how mutations affect that function, thereby causing CF, have required the combined skills of clinicians, geneticists, molecular biologists, and physiologists. From this collaborative effort a greater understanding of the pathogenesis of this disorder is now emerging. It may soon be possible to introduce novel therapies derived from this new knowledge that will be aimed directly at the basic defect. An ever‐increasing number of genes of unknown function will be identified by continuing advances in molecular genetic technology and the advent of the genome sequencing project. The experience in cystic fibrosis research may prove to be a paradigm for investigation of the function of genes isolated by positional cloning methods. — McIntosh, I. ; Cutting, G. R. CFTR and the etiology and pathogenesis of cystic fibrosis. FASEB J. 6: 2775‐2782; 1992.
Sports injuries at the 1985 Junior Olympics

The XIX Junior Olympic Games, hosted in lowa City, lowa, in August of 1985, involved 3,028 athletes who participated for 7 days in 13 different sports at 8 separate sites. Medical coverage for the Games was provided by the University of lowa Sports Medicine Service. Staffing for the events involved approximately 75 physicians, 60 athletic trainers, and other health care personnel. A triage protocol was established prior to the Games whereby the athletic trainer would make first contact with the injured athlete and would evaluate and treat the injury based on standing orders. If in the judgment of the trainer, the athlete needed to be referred to a physician, one would be available, either on site or on call. During the Games, 1,113 medical encounters were recorded, 121 of those being deemed serious enough to withhold an athlete from competition pending further evaluation and treatment. The 121 significant injuries and illnesses involved 116 athletes (66% male, 34% female). Thirty-four percent of the significant injuries only required treatment by the trainer, while 46% were referred to an on site physician and 20% needed a specialty consultant. Seventeen percent of the signifi cant injuries resulted in the athlete being medically disqualified for the remainder of the event. The most common injuries/illnesses were contusions (26%), sprains (21 %), heat (17%), strains (9%), and other illnesses (12%). According to body region, 44% of the 121 injuries were to the lower extremity, 26% to the head, neck, and trunk, and 12% to the upper extremity. Eighteen percent were heat-related illnesses requiring intravenous administration of fluids. Twenty- six percent of the injuries were to body sites injured prior to competition. Athletes who had a history of previous injury to a body part were much more likely to sustain another injury to that body part than were those athletes with no record of previous injury (relative risk = 9.33).
Myosin motors with artificial lever arms.

The myosin head consists of a globular catalytic domain and a light chain binding domain (LCBD). The coupling efficiency between ATP hydrolysis and myosin‐induced actin movement is known to decline as the LCBD is truncated or destabilized. However, it was not clear whether the observed alteration in the production of force and movement reflects only the mechanical changes to the length of the LCBD or whether these changes also affect the kinetic properties of the catalytic domain. Here we show that replacement of the LCBD with genetically engineered domains of similar rigidity and dimensions produces functional molecular motors with unchanged kinetic properties. The resulting single‐chain, single‐headed motors were produced in Dictyostelium discoideum and obtained after purification from a standard peptone‐based growth medium at levels of up to 12 mg/l. Their actin motility properties are similar or greater than those of native myosin. Rates of 2.5 and 3.3 microm/s were observed for motor domains fused to one or two of these domains, respectively. Their kinetic and functional similarity to the extensively studied myosin subfragment 1 (S1) and their accessibility to molecular genetic approaches makes these simple constructs ideal models for the investigation of chemo‐mechanical coupling in the myosin motor.
Autophagy influences the low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity of human lung adenocarcinoma cells by regulating MLH1

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the impact of autophagy on the low-dose hyper-radiosensitivity (HRS) of human lung adenocarcinoma cells via MLH1 regulation. Materials and methods: Immunofluorescent staining, Western blotting, and electron microscopy were utilized to detect autophagy in A549 and H460 cells. shRNA was used to silence MLH1 expression. The levels of MLH1, mTOR, p-mTOR, BNIP3, and Beclin-1 were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Western blotting. Results: A549 cells, which have low levels of MLH1 expression, displayed HRS/induced radioresistance (IRR). Conversely, the radiosensitivity of H460 cells, which express high levels of MLH1, conformed to the linear-quadratic (LQ) model. After down-regulating MLH1 expression, A549 cells showed increased HRS and inhibition of autophagy, whereas H460 cells exhibited HRS/IRR. The levels of mTOR, p-mTOR, and BNIP3 were reduced in cells harboring MLH1 shRNA, and the changes in the mTOR/p-mTOR ratio mirrored those in MLH1 expression. Conclusions: Low MLH1-expressing A549 cells may exhibit HRS. Both the mTOR/p-mTOR and BNIP3/Beclin-1 signaling pathways were found to be related to HRS, but only mTOR/p-mTOR is involved in the regulation of HRS via MLH1 and autophagy.
Decorin as a new treatment alternative in Peyronie's disease: preliminary results in the rat model

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of decorin, a naturally occurring proteoglycan with anti‐transforming growth factor beta (TGF‐β) activity, on the rat model of Peyronie's disease (PD). Twenty‐five adult male Sprague‐Dawley rats were divided in three groups: I) TGF‐β (0.5 μg) injected (n: 8); II) TGF‐β injected and decorin treated (n: 8); and III) controls (n: 9). Decorin (0.5 μg per day) was given with intracavernous injection on the second, third, fourth and fifth day following TGF‐β injection. All rats underwent electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve after 6 weeks. Intracavernosal and arterial blood pressures were measured during this procedure. Cross‐sections of the rat penises were examined using Mason trichrome and H&E stains. Statistical analyses were carried out using one‐way anova. Histopathological examinations confirmed the Peyronie's‐like condition in TGF‐β‐injected rats, which exhibited a thickening of the tunica albuginea (TA), when compared to controls. Disorganisation of collagen on the TA was also prominent in TGF‐β‐injected rats, but not in decorin‐treated and control rats. Decorin‐treated rats showed significantly higher maximal intracavernosal pressure (MIP) responses to cavernous nerve stimulation, when compared to group 1 (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that decorin antagonises the effects of TGF‐β in the rat model of PD and prevents diminished erectile response to cavernous nerve stimulation.