Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Longitudinal Study of Carotid Atherosclerosis and White Matter Hyperintensities: The EVA-MRI Cohort

Background and Purpose: White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are often observed on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of elderly individuals. Epidemiological studies have shown that age and hypertension are associated with WMHs, suggesting a vascular mechanism in WMH pathogenesis. In a population-based prospective study, we examined the association of carotid atherosclerosis measured at baseline and 4-year follow-up with severity of WMHs assessed at 4-year follow-up. Methods: The sample consisted of 640 healthy subjects aged 59–71 years at entry enrolled in the prospective EVA Study. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured at each wave. Ultrasonographic measures of intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid arteries and plaques were made at baseline and at 4-year follow-up examination. An MRI examination was performed at 4-year follow-up. The presence and severity of WMHs were evaluated by a single radiologist. Results: After adjusting for age, gender, and hypertension, the presence of carotid plaques at baseline was significantly associated with the presence of severe WMHs 4 years later [odds ratio (OR) = 1.70; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–2.74]. The association was stronger in men than in women. A 0.1-mm increase of baseline IMT was associated with an increased risk of severe WMHs in both sexes (adjusted OR = 1.17; 95% CI: 0.96–1.41), but the association was not significant (p = 0.12). Cross-sectional relationships between carotid plaques and severe WMHs at 4-year follow-up showed that the risk of having severe WMHs was stronger in the group of subjects who had already plaques at study entry compared to the group of subjects whose plaques occurred during 4-year follow-up. Conclusion: This study confirmed an association between carotid atherosclerosis and WMHs independently of age and hypertension. It also suggested that the older the carotid plaques, the higher the risk of having severe WMHs.
Postprandial PYY increase by resistant starch supplementation is independent of net portal appearance of short-chain fatty acids in pigs

Increased dietary fiber (DF) fermentation and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production may stimulate peptide tyrosine-tyrosine (PYY) secretion. In this study, the effects of hindgut SCFA production on postprandial PYY plasma levels were assessed using different experimental diets in a porto-arterial catheterized pig model. The pigs were fed experimental diets varying in source and levels of DF for one week in 3×3 Latin square designs. The DF sources were whole-wheat grain, wheat aleurone, rye aleurone-rich flour, rye flakes, and resistant starch. Postprandial blood samples were collected from the catheters and analyzed for PYY levels and net portal appearance (NPA) of PYY was correlated to NPA of SCFA. No significant effects of diets on NPA of PYY were observed (P > 0.05), however, resistant starch supplementation increased postprandial NPA of PYY levels by 37 to 54% compared with rye-based and Western-style control diets (P = 0.19). This increase was caused by higher mesenteric artery and portal vein PYY plasma levels (P < 0.001) and was independent of SCFA absorption (P > 0.05). The PYY levels were higher in response to the second daily meal compared with the first daily meal (P < 0.001), but similar among diets (P > 0.10). In conclusion, the increased postprandial PYY responses in pigs fed with different levels and sources of DF are not caused by an increased SCFA absorption and suggest that other mechanisms such as neural reflexes and possibly an increased flow of digesta in the small intestine may be involved. The content of DF and SCFA production did not affect PYY levels.
Spectral representation of reduced protein models

We consider a spectrum-like two-dimensional graphical representation of proteins based on a reduced protein model in which 20 amino acids are grouped into five classes. This particular grouping of amino acids was suggested by Riddle and co-workers in 1997. The graphical representation is based on depicting sequentially the amino acids on five horizontal lines at equal separations. One-letter codes, B, O, U, X and Y, to which numerical values 1 to 5 have been assigned, are suggested as labels for the fictional amino acids that represent all the amino acids within each group. The approach is illustrated on ND6 proteins of eight species having from 168 to 175 amino acids. While visual inspection of the novel spectral graphical representations of proteins may reveal local similarities and dissimilarities of protein sequences, arithmetic manipulations of spectra offer an elegant route to graphic visualization of the degree of similarity for selected pairs of proteins.
ERRATUM TO "HOLOMORPHIC SECTIONAL CURVATURES OF BOUNDED HOMOGENEOUS DOMAINS AND RELATED QUESTIONS"

Page 405. In the definition, (D5) should say that B is solvable and the eigenvalues of the adjoint representation are real. The "observation" following the definition (lines 6-8 from the bottom) should be deleted. Page 406. In the structure theorem, the last plus sign in condition (T3) should be a minus sign. Page 408. In line 11, the plus sign in the symbol for the root space containing Z should be a minus sign. Page 409. Between lines 2 and 3, one should insert the formula VVV= a]jZ + (at20(Xk) + 2)HeA + (f32((X1))H,.
Triamcinolone acetonide inhibits p38MAPK activation and neuronal apoptosis in early diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE Intravitreal glucocorticoids and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) therapies are novel strategies for the treatment of advanced diabetic retinopathy, a condition with inflammatory and neuropathic elements. In contrast with anti-VEGF therapy, glucocorticoids may also exert neuroprotective effects. How glucocorticoids protect retinal neurons is unknown. The aims of the study are to investigate the anti-apoptotic actions of glucocorticoids on diabetic retinal neurons, and characterize the signalling pathways involved. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The regulation of gene expression of the four p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) isoforms (α, β, δ and γ) and the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the retinas was evaluated using quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry. Phosphorylation of all isoforms p38MAPK (Thr180/Tyr182) and GR (S-211) was further evaluated. Apoptosis was confirmed by immunolocalization of active CASPASE-3 and the subsequent cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) following intravitreal injection of triamcinolone acetonide (IVTA), in an early diabetic rat model (26 days after induction of diabetes. RESULTS IVTA significantly down-regulated mRNA expression of Caspase 3. Activation of CASPASE-3, the subsequent cleavage of PARP-1 and phosphorylation of p38MAPK induced by diabetes were attenuated by IVTA treatment, concomitantly with activation by phosphorylation of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR S-211). CONCLUSIONS IVTA activates the GR and exerts neural protective effects on retinal neurons. Inhibition of the p38MAPK pathway and activation of GR play a critical anti-apoptotic role in retinal neurons of diabetes following IVTA treatment. Both the anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects of glucocorticoids may be mediated through inhibition of the p38MAPK pathway in diabetic retinopathy.
Poultry Processing Work and Respiratory Health of Latino Men and Women in North Carolina

Objective: To evaluate associations between poultry processing work and respiratory health among working Latino men and women in North Carolina. Methods: Between May 2009 and November 2010, 402 poultry processing workers and 339 workers in a comparison population completed interviewer-administered questionnaires. Of these participants, 279 poultry processing workers and 222 workers in the comparison population also completed spirometry testing to provide measurements of forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity. Results: Nine percent of poultry processing workers and 10% of workers in the comparison population reported current asthma. Relative to the comparison population, adjusted mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced vital capacity were lower in the poultry processing population, particularly among men who reported sanitation job activities. Conclusions: Despite the low prevalence of respiratory symptoms reported, poultry processing work may affect lung function.
The Cyclopentenone-Type Prostaglandin 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-Prostaglandin J2 Inhibits CD95 Ligand Gene Expression in T Lymphocytes: Interference with Promoter Activation Via Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor-γ-Independent Mechanisms1

15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-PGJ2 (15d-PGJ2) is a cyclopentenone-type PG endowed with anti-inflammatory properties and produced by different cells, including those of the immune system. 15d-PGJ2 is a natural ligand of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ nuclear receptor, but relevant PPARγ-independent actions mediated by this prostanoid have been described. Fas (APO-1/CD95) and its ligand (Fas-L) are cell surface proteins whose interaction activates apoptosis of Fas-expressing targets. In T cells, the Fas-Fas-L system regulates activation-induced cell death and has been implicated in diseases in which lymphocyte homeostasis is compromised. Moreover, several studies have described the pathogenic functions of Fas and Fas-L in vivo, particularly in the induction-progression of organ-specific autoimmune diseases. In this study we describe the effect of 15d-PGJ2 on the activation of the fas-L gene in T lymphocytes. We show that 15d-PGJ2 inhibits fas-L mRNA expression, activation-induced cell death, and fas-L promoter activity by mechanisms independent of PPARγ and mediated by its chemically reactive cyclopentenone moiety. Our data indicate that 15d-PGJ2 may repress fas-L activation by interfering with the expression and/or transcriptional activity of different transcription factors (early growth response types 3 and 1, NF-κB, AP-1, c-Myc, Nur77) whose altered balancing and transactivation may contribute for overall repression of this gene. In addition, the activation/expression of the heat shock response genes HSF-1 and HSP70 is not directly involved in the repression, and the electrophilic molecule cyclopentenone (2-cyclopenten-1-one) may reproduce the effects mediated by 15d-PGJ2. These results suggest that modulation of Fas-L by 15d-PGJ2 in T cells may represent an additional tool to consider for treatment of specific autoimmune and inflammatory disorders.
Inexpensive Traps for use in Mass Trapping Anastrepha ludens (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Abstract Mass trapping is being developed to control the fruit fly Anastrepha ludens (Loew) (Diptera: Tephritidae) in some citrus-growing areas of Mexico using a trap-lure pack composed of CeraTrap® lure and a specific bait station (MS2®). The technique is based on placing a sufficient density of baited traps so that enough flies are captured to account for an important reduction in fruit infestation in the orchard. Trap-lure efficacy, trap density and cost ratio are crucial for broad implementation of this technique by growers. The use of handmade traps, constructed from 500 mL plastic bottles, with 3 10 mm holes at ⅔ up from the base, had similar attraction but captured more flies under caged conditions than 2 commercial traps sold in Mexico for this purpose. Under field conditions, the capture of A. ludens with plastic bottle traps was statistically superior to that of MS2® traps. When placed at a density of 40 traps per ha in an orange (Citrus sinensis [L.]; Rutaceae) orchard, bottle traps had a significantly higher capture rate than a similar density of MS2 traps and provided satisfactory crop protection, with 0.3- 2.3% of fallen fruits infested at harvest. The low cost of this trap, (∼US$ 0.18), has the potential to greatly reduce mass trapping costs and could favor broad implementation of this strategy in Latin American countries that produce fruit crops affected by A. ludens.
From rational man to behavioral man : The behavioral turn of public policy

: With the criticism by behavioral economics on the rational man assumption and the accumulation of empirical evidences in the field of judgement and decision making, public policy researchers increasingly paying closer attention to the exploration of psychological and behavioral mechanism of human being in real life. These studies tend to use psychological measures, such as satisfaction and trust indicators that embody public interests and subjective feelings, to assess the performance of public policy. Besides, relevant psychological effects and technologies are employed to improve quality and efficiency of public administration and foster social fairness and justice. It is recommended that studies of public policy in China should learn the experience of two matured organizations, which are Behavioral Insights Team in UK and Social and Behavioral Sciences Team in US, clarify the connotations of this discipline, establish think tanks, and conduct researches based on China’s actual conditions.
Private equity deal success and pre-acquisition determinants – empirical evidence from Germany

ABSTRACT Shortly after a fall-back linked to recent financial crises, private equity investing has been undergoing a strong revival, especially in Germany. In a country known for the large number of small- and medium-sized companies, private equity investors can profit from a large choice of potential targets. Researchers have been broadly studying the field of private equity for many years, especially exploring post-investment value creation. But most articles missed to address the importance of pre-acquisition determinants such as target characteristics. Under these circumstances, this study focuses on exploring the relationship between pre-acquisition target characteristics and deal performance by analysing a sample of 125 transactions in Germany using an ordinal logistic regression analysis. The findings suggest that asset lightness, management experience and the healthcare industry are positively linked to the deal success by increasing the likelihood of achieving a higher return category. This implies that private equity investors active in Germany could outperform if they set according to investment preferences. Similarly, investors are likely to get a higher return from general partners who invest in companies presenting such characteristics.
Community-driven development: does it build social cohesion or infrastructure? A mixed-method evidence synthesis

This paper synthesises evidence on 23 communitydriven development programmes. It combines narrative synthesis and meta-analysis to examine the impact of these programmes along their causal chain. It summarises the main findings of a longer technical report available on the 3ie website. The content of this paper is the sole responsibility of the authors and does not represent the opinions of 3ie, its donors or its board of commissioners. Any errors and omissions are also the sole responsibility of the authors. Please direct any comments or queries to the corresponding author, Howard White, hwhite@campbellcollaboration.org. 3ie receives funding for the working paper series from 3ie’s donors, which include UK aid, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation. A complete listing of 3ie’s donors is on the 3ie website.
Executive Compensation, Corporate Governance, and Say on Pay

This monograph explores the relation between corporate governance and executive compensation and evaluates the conditions under which shareholders can bene.t from the right to interfere with the pay setting process by voting on the compensation proposed by the board of directors (Say on Pay). The first part of the monograph lays out the theoretical framework. The second part provides an overview of the origins and country-specific differences in Say on Pay regulation and a detailed summary and evaluation of the empirical literature on the subject.
Factors prognostic of unprovoked seizures after febrile convulsions.

We evaluated the risk of unprovoked seizures after febrile convulsions and the factors prognostic of them in a cohort of 687 children who had an initial febrile seizure while residing in Rochester, Minnesota. Overall, children with febrile convulsions had a fivefold excess of unprovoked seizures, and the risk until the age of 25 was 7 percent. The risk ranged from 2.4 percent among children with simple febrile convulsions to 6 to 8 percent among children with a single complex feature--i.e., focal or prolonged seizures or repeated episodes of febrile convulsions with the same illness. For children with any two of the complex features, the risk was 17 to 22 percent, and for those with all three features, 49 percent. The occurrence of subsequent partial unprovoked seizures was strongly associated with all three of the complex features, whereas the occurrence of subsequent unprovoked seizures of generalized onset was associated with the number of febrile convulsions and a family history of unprovoked seizures. These results are consistent with the view that the increased risk of generalized-onset unprovoked seizures reflects a predisposition to both simple febrile convulsions and generalized-onset unprovoked seizures. The association between complex febrile convulsions and partial seizures, on the other hand, may reflect either a causal association or the presence of preexisting brain disease that is responsible for both the complex febrile seizures and later partial seizures.
Evaluation of the Weekly Cervical Examination in a Preterm Birth Prevention Program1

The efficacy of regular cervical examinations in detecting preterm labor, as well as possible risks, was studied for 133 preterm labor patients who had received regular cervical examinations as part of a preterm birth prevention program. When compared to all other patients experiencing preterm labor during the study period, the rates of preterm premature rupture of the membranes, chorioamnionitis, and postpartum endomyometritis were not increased. For 95 patients with preterm labor within 7 days of a routine cervical examination, labor onset was not temporally associated with the preceding examination. Preterm labor was diagnosed in 18 asymptomatic patients (18.2%) when the weekly examination revealed cervical change. Routine cervical exams, therefore, did not increase morbidity, and for some patients identified preterm labor before symptoms appeared.
A Stat3-interacting protein (StIP1) regulates cytokine signal transduction.

Genetic and biochemical studies have led to the identification of the Stat3-Interacting Protein StIP1. The preferential association of StIP1 with inactive (i.e., unphosphorylated) Stat3 suggests that it may contribute to the regulation of Stat3 activation. Consistent with this possibility, StIP1 also exhibits an affinity for members of the Janus kinase family. Overexpression of the Stat3-binding domain of StIP1 blocks Stat3 activation, nuclear translocation, and Stat3-dependent induction of a reporter gene. These studies indicate that StIP1 regulates the ligand-dependent activation of Stat3, potentially by serving as a scaffold protein that promotes the interaction between Janus kinases and their Stat3 substrate. The ability of StIP1 to associate with several additional members of the signal transducer and activator of transcription family suggests that StIP1 may serve a broader role in cytokine-signaling events.
Gradual Soil Water Depletion Results in Reversible Changes of Gene Expression, Protein Profiles, Ecophysiology, and Growth Performance in Populus euphratica, a Poplar Growing in Arid Regions1[W][OA]

The responses of Populus euphratica Oliv. plants to soil water deficit were assessed by analyzing gene expression, protein profiles, and several plant performance criteria to understand the acclimation of plants to soil water deficit. Young, vegetatively propagated plants originating from an arid, saline field site were submitted to a gradually increasing water deficit for 4 weeks in a greenhouse and were allowed to recover for 10 d after full reirrigation. Time-dependent changes and intensity of the perturbations induced in shoot and root growth, xylem anatomy, gas exchange, and water status were recorded. The expression profiles of approximately 6,340 genes and of proteins and metabolites (pigments, soluble carbohydrates, and oxidative compounds) were also recorded in mature leaves and in roots (gene expression only) at four stress levels and after recovery. Drought successively induced shoot growth cessation, stomatal closure, moderate increases in oxidative stress-related compounds, loss of CO2 assimilation, and root growth reduction. These effects were almost fully reversible, indicating that acclimation was dominant over injury. The physiological responses were paralleled by fully reversible transcriptional changes, including only 1.5% of the genes on the array. Protein profiles displayed greater changes than transcript levels. Among the identified proteins for which expressed sequence tags were present on the array, no correlation was found between transcript and protein abundance. Acclimation to water deficit involves the regulation of different networks of genes in roots and shoots. Such diverse requirements for protecting and maintaining the function of different plant organs may render plant engineering or breeding toward improved drought tolerance more complex than previously anticipated.
Hyperbranched Polyglycerol Is an Efficacious and Biocompatible Novel Osmotic Agent in a Rodent Model of Peritoneal Dialysis

♦ Objectives: To enhance the effectiveness of peritoneal dialysis (PD), new biocompatible PD solutions may be needed. The present study was designed to test the efficacy and biocompatibility of hyperbranched polyglycerol (HPG)—a nontoxic, nonimmunogenic water-soluble polyether polymer—in PD. ♦ Methods: Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were instilled with 30 mL HPG solution (molecular weight 3 kDa; 2.5% - 15%) or control glucose PD solution (2.5% Dianeal: Baxter Healthcare Corporation, Deerfield, IL, USA), and intraperitoneal fluid was recovered after 4 hours. Peritoneal injury and cellular infiltration were determined by histologic and flow cytometric analysis. Human peritoneal mesothelial cells were assessed for viability in vitro after 3 hours of PD fluid exposure. ♦ Results: The 15% HPG solution achieved a 4-hour dose-related ultrafiltration up to 43.33 ± 5.24 mL and a dose-related urea clearance up to 39.17 ± 5.21 mL, results that were superior to those with control PD solution (p < 0.05). The dialysate-to-plasma (D/P) ratios of urea with 7.5% and 15% HPG solution were not statistically different from those with control PD solution. Compared with fluid recovered from the control group, fluid recovered from the HPG group contained proportionally fewer neutrophils (3.63% ± 0.87% vs 9.31% ± 2.89%, p < 0.0001). Detachment of mesothelial cells positive for human bone marrow endothelial protein 1 did not increase in the HPG group compared with the stain control (p = 0.1832), but it was elevated in the control PD solution group (1.62% ± 0.68% vs 0.41% ± 0.31%, p = 0.0031). Peritoneal biopsies from animals in the HPG PD group, compared with those from control PD animals, demonstrated less neutrophilic infiltration and reduced thickness. Human peritoneal mesothelial cell survival after HPG exposure was superior in vitro (p < 0.0001, 7.5% HPG vs control; p < 0.01, 15% HPG vs control). Exposure to glucose PD solution induced cytoplasmic vacuolation and caspase 3-independent necrotic cell death that was not seen with HPG solution. ♦ Conclusions: Our novel HPG PD solution demonstrated effective ultrafiltration and waste removal with reduced peritoneal injury in a rodent model of PD.