Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Demographic Differences in Neighborhood Walking Supports.

BACKGROUND Information about how presence and usefulness of neighborhood supports for walking differs by demographic characteristics can help guide community strategies to promote walking. METHODS Reported presence and usefulness of neighborhood supports (shops, transit stops, sidewalks, parks, interesting things to look at, well-lit at night, low crime rate, and cars following speed limit) were examined in 3973 U.S. adults who completed the 2014 SummerStyles survey. RESULTS Percentage reporting neighborhood supports as present ranged from 25.3% (SE = 0.8) for interesting things to 55.8% (SE = 1.0) for low crime rate. Percentage who reported a support as useful ranged from 24.6% (SE = 1.4) for transit stops to 79.0% (SE = 1.1) for sidewalks among those with the support. This percentage ranged from 13.4% (SE = 0.8) for transit stops to 52.8% (SE = 1.1) for shops among those without the support. One or more demographic differences were observed for the presence of each support, and the presence of all supports differed by education and metro status. Demographic patterns were less clear when examining usefulness and patterns often differed by support type and presence. CONCLUSIONS Presence and usefulness of neighborhood supports for walking can differ by type and demographic characteristics. Recognizing these difference can help communities plan and implement strategies to promote walking.
Glucose intolerance and insulin resistance as predictors of low platelet response to clopidogrel in patients with minor ischemic stroke or TIA

The relation between high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR), and the level of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance (IR) was studied in clopidogrel-treated patients with minor ischemic stroke or TIA. The cohort consisted of 66 patients, 11 of which had known type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Platelet aggregation in whole blood (Multiplate™) and metabolic variables were measured 1 month after acute onset of neurological symptoms. Glucose tolerance was measured by Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). IR was estimated by homeostasis model assessment HOMA-IR. Patients were categorized as “responders” (R) or “non-responders” (NR) to clopidogrel according to an established cut-off in platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP). In total, 14/66 (21%) patients were NR. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or DM was seen in 13/14 NR (93%), while for R this was the case in 25/52 (48%), p = 0.001. The percentage of NR was 33% in patients with DM and 35% in patients with IGT or IFG. In the group with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) the percentage of NR was low, 4% (1/28). Fasting plasma glucose (f-PG) was higher for NR than for R, 6.0 (5.5–6.7) mM vs. 5.3 (5.0–6.0) mM, p = 0.023. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) did not differ between NR and R. NR also had higher arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation than R, and a tendency towards higher aggregation induced by thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP), indicating that HPR reflects a global platelet hyper-reactivity. HOMA-IR was calculated for 52 of the patients above without known diabetes, 9 of which were NR (17%). NR were significantly more insulin resistant than R, with median HOMA-IR 4.5 (3.0–7.4) compared to 2.1 (1.5–3.2) for R, p = 0.001. HOMA-IR and fasting plasma insulin were the only metabolic variables with significant relationships to ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The results suggest that HPR develops in the pre-diabetic phase. A metabolic disturbance with glucose intolerance and/or high level of IR was a pre-requisite for HPR in the tested cohort. Conversely, normal glucose tolerance combined with normal or mildly elevated HOMA-IR excluded HPR. NR are likely to constitute a high-risk group among patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Measurement of f-PG or HbA1c is insufficient to identify NR, while OGTT and HOMA-IR are more predictive.
Kidney Allograft Inflammation and Fibrosis, Causes and Consequences

This study assessed the development of allograft interstitial fibrosis and inflammation (GIF+“i”), a histologic pattern associated with reduced graft survival. Included are 795 adults, recipients of kidney allografts from 2000 to 2006. GIF+“i” was diagnosed in surveillance and clinical biopsies that had no transplant glomerulopathy. With time, posttransplant increasing number of grafts showed GIF+“i” and these patients had reduced death‐censored graft survival (HR = 4.33 (2.49–7.53), p < 0.0001). Development of GIF+“i” was related to prior acute cellular rejection (ACR), BK nephropathy (PVAN), increasing number of HLA mismatches, retransplantation and DGF. However, 46.4% of GIF+“i” cases had no history of ACR or PVAN. Anti‐HLA antibodies at transplant did not relate to GIF+“i” and these patients had no increased frequency of new antibody formation posttransplant. Post‐ACR biopsies showed that GIF+“i” developed more commonly after clinically and/or histologically more severe ACR. Graft inflammation persisted in 38.7 and 29.6% of grafts 2 and 12 months post‐ACR. Twelve months post‐ACR, 27.1% of biopsies developed moderate‐severe GIF and 51.8% showed GIF and inflammation. Persistent inflammation and progressive GIF is often subclinical but may lead to graft failure. GIF+“i” can be initiated by multiple etiologies but it is often postinfectious or due to persistent cellular immune‐mediated injury.
Respiratory syncytial virus protects against the subsequent development of ovalbumin‐induced allergic responses by inhibiting Th2‐type γδ T cells

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection has been hypothesized to be a risk factor for the development of allergy and asthma, but epidemiologic studies in humans still remain inconclusive. The association between RSV infection and allergic diseases may be dependent on an atopic background and previous history of RSV infection. It has been reported that RSV infection before sensitization to an allergen decreased the production of Th2‐like cytokines in the lung and the levels of allergen‐specific Th2‐type antibodies in the serum. However, the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. In the present study, the role of pulmonary γδ T cells in RSV‐affected, allergen‐induced airway inflammation was investigated. BALB/c mice were sensitized to or challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) and infected with RSV either before or after the sensitization period. It became clear that sensitization and challenge of mice with OVA induced a large influx of γδ T cells to the lungs. However, prior RSV infection inhibited the infiltration of γδ T cells as well as activated γδ T cells, characterized by expression of CD40L or CD69 molecular in the cell surface. Moreover, prior RSV infection elevated the type 1 cytokine gene expression but suppressed type 2 cytokine expression in the lung γδ T cells. Adoptive transfer of γδ T cells from OVA‐sensitized and challenged mice increased airway inflammation, suggesting that γδ T cells may play a proinflammatory role in allergic responses. These results described here support the idea of an unknown γδ T cell‐dependent mechanism in the regulation of RSV‐affected, allergen‐induced allergic airway responses. J. Med. Virol. 85:149–156, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Low-Dropout Regulator With Smooth Peak Current Control Topology for Overcurrent Protection

The proposed low-dropout (LDO) regulator with a smooth peak current control (SPCC) circuit can be simultaneously controlled by using an error amplifier to regulate output voltage and a peak current controller as a means to limit its current level. The SPCC circuit can be switched smoothly between these two control mechanisms by detecting the information of load current and the dropout voltage. Measured results show that overcurrent protection can make the pass device operate as a current source while the load current exceed the peak current level. Moreover, the control mechanism can return to error amplifier control when load current becomes smaller than the limiting current, thus ensuring output voltage to be close to the rated value. Output voltage is stable and varies smaller than 15 mV when a 160 mA load current step or a 2 V supply voltage step is placed on this LDO regulator.
Analysis of Relations between Spatiotemporal Movement Regulation and Performance of Discrete Actions Reveals Functionality in Skilled Climbing

In this review of research on climbing expertise, we focus on different measures of climbing performance, including spatiotemporal measures related to fluency and activity states (i.e., discrete actions), adopted by climbers for achieving overall performance goals of getting to the end of a route efficiently and safely. Currently, a broad range of variables have been reported, however, many of these fail to capture how climbers adapt to a route whilst climbing. We argue that spatiotemporal measures should be considered concurrently with evaluation of activity states (such as reaching or exploring) in order gain a more comprehensive picture of how climbers successfully adapt to a route. Spatial and temporal movement measures taken at the hip are a traditional means of assessing efficiency of climbing behaviors. More recently, performatory and exploratory actions of the limbs have been used in combination with spatiotemporal indicators, highlighting the influence of limb states on climbing efficiency and skill transfer. However, only a few studies have attempted to combine spatiotemporal and activity state measures taken during route climbing. This review brings together existing approaches for observing climbing skill at performance outcome (i.e., spatiotemporal assessments) and process (i.e., limb activity states) levels of analysis. Skill level is associated with a spatially efficient route progression and lower levels of immobility. However, more difficult hold architecture designs require significantly greater mobility and more complex movement patterning to maintain performance. Different forms of functional, or goal-supportive, movement variability, including active recovery and hold exploration, have been implicated as important adaptations to physiological and environmental dynamics that emerge during the act of climbing. Indeed, recently it has also been shown that, when climbing on new routes, efficient exploration can improve the transfer of skill. This review provides new insights into how climbing performance and related actions can be quantified to better capture the functional role of movement variability.
Incorporation and Productivity

Uganda's growth in gross domestic product of the 2000s was accompanied by high growth rates of labor productivity across industries producing tradable goods and services. This came about primarily as a result of investment in equipment and other fixed assets, but also entailed substantial gains in total factor productivity Based on data from two waves of the Uganda Business Indicators survey this paper estimates that economy wide aggregate labor productivity and aggregate TFP grew at average annual rates of 13 t and 3 percent, respectively between survey years 2002 and 2009. Part of the growth in productivity on each measure reflected gains from technical progress made at the establishment level and within narrowly defined industries. But it was also in part the outcome of reallocation of labor and capital within as well as across industries. In particular, the paper estimates that about one-fifth of the aggregate growth in labor productivity between the two years reflected the shifting of labor toward industries and sectors where it was more productive on average and at the margin. The rest of the observed growth in labor productivity reflected gains made within narrowly defined industries. But almost in every case 55 to 90 percent of the observed"within industry"growth in labor productivity represented allocative efficiency gains from the correction of intra-industry inter-firm misallocation of labor. The balance of the observed within-industry growth in labor productivity represented establishment-level gains in technical efficiency.
Effects of feeding two levels of propionibacteria to dairy cows on plasma hormones and metabolites

To determine the effect of feeding propionibacteria on metabolic indicators during lactation, multiparous and primiparous Holstein cows were fed one of three dietary treatments in a 2×3 factorial design from 2 weeks prepartum to 30 weeks post partum: (1) Control (primiparous n=5, multiparous n=8) fed a total mixed ration (TMR); (2) high-dose group (primiparous n=6, multiparous n=5) fed TMR plus 6×1011cfu/head daily (high-dose P169) of propionibacterium strain P169; or (3) low-dose group (primiparous n=8, multiparous n=6) fed TMR plus 6×1010 cfu/head daily (low-dose P169) of P169. Blood samples were collected weekly and analysed for plasma concentrations of glucose, insulin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), leptin, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) and cholesterol. Between weeks 25 and 30, all groups received bovine somatotropin (bST) every 2 weeks. Low-dose P169 multiparous cows had lower (P<0·05) plasma insulin and glucose concentrations than high-dose P169 multiparous cows, whereas high-dose P169 primiparous cows had lower glucose but greater insulin concentartions than low-dose P169 primiparous cows (P<0·05). Plasma insulin[ratio ]glucose molar ratios were 13–18% lower (P<0·05) in low-dose P169 cows than in control or high-dose P169 cows. Plasma IGF-I, NEFA and leptin levels did not differ among diet groups between weeks 1 and 25. Low-dose P169 multiparous cows had 25% greater plasma cholesterol levels than high-dose P169 and control multiparous cows, but cholesterol levels in primiparous cows did not differ. During bST treatment, high-dose P169 multiparous cows and low-dose P169 primiparous cows had lower IGF-I levels than their respective controls and, regardless of parity, high-dose P169 cows had greater NEFA than control cows. Although supplemental feeding of P169 altered plasma hormones and metabolites, the particular effects were dependent on dose of P169 and parity of cows.
What we know about health transition: the cultural social and behavioural determinants of health. The proceedings of an international workshop Canberra May 1989.

These are the proceedings of a workshop held in Canberra Australia in 1989 concerning the relationship between health and the decline in mortality. The main objective of this workshop was to determine the current state of knowledge in this area and to provide a benchmark for future studies. The 58 papers are organized under the following headings: studying the health transition; the historical experience of the West; health trends in the developing world; socio-political elements of health; the relationship between education and health-related behavior; cultural attitudes to sickness and health--a case study of Indonesia; the social and cultural context of health-related behavior; womens empowerment and health; the structure and provision of health services; the social and behavioral aspects of specific diseases; and a synthesis of methodological and policy issues.
ASC/PYCARD and Caspase-1 Regulate the IL-18/IFN-γ Axis during Anaplasma phagocytophilum Infection1

Anaplasma phagocytophilum is an obligate intracellular pathogen that resides within neutrophils and can cause fever, pancytopenia, or death. IFN-γ plays a critical role in the control of A. phagocytophilum; however, the mechanisms that regulate IFN-γ production remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that apoptotic specklike protein with a caspase-activating recruiting domain (ASC)/PYCARD, a central adaptor molecule in the Nod-like receptor (NLR) pathway, regulates the IL-18/IFN-γ axis during A. phagocytophilum infection through its effect on caspase-1. Caspase-1- and asc-null mice were more susceptible than control animals to A. phagocytophilum infection due to the absence of IL-18 secretion and reduced IFN-γ levels in the peripheral blood. Moreover, caspase-1 and ASC deficiency reduced CD4+ T cell-mediated IFN-γ after in vitro restimulation with A. phagocytophilum. The NLR family member IPAF/NLRC4, but not NALP3/NLRP3, was partially required for IFN-γ production in response to A. phagocytophilum. Taken together, our data demonstrate that ASC and caspase-1 are critical for IFN-γ-mediated control of A. phagocytophilum infection.
A gross study of the compartmentalized stomach of two new‐world camelids, the llama and guanaco

The llama and guanaco stomach consisted of three compartments. A transverse pillar divided the large, first compartment into cranial and caudal sacs. Both sacs contained recessed glandular saccules. The saccules in the caudal sac were everted during the gastric contraction cycle. The non‐recessed surfaces of this compartment were covered by stratified squamous epithelium.
PERCEPTIONS OF THE SILENT MAJORITY: PROJECTS AS ASSESSMENTS IN A BRAIN COMPATIBLE CURRICULUM

The primary purpose of this research study was to investigate parents’, teachers’, and students’ perception of performance projects being used as an additional or alternative form of assessing student achievement. Projects in this study were tied to learning goals, and were representative of curricular thematic units. Examples of projects would be student-generated videos, poems, songs, raps, commercials, game shows, skits, brochures, dioramas, posters, or written reports, to name a few. Projects provided students an equitable opportunity to express knowledge, and demonstrate major understandings in multiple ways. All projects were guided by rubrics, as well as teacher expectations and approval. The secondary purpose was to view paper/pencil, high-stakes standardized tests, in addition to projects, through the lens of Brain-Compatible Learning theory. Perceptions of projects as a tool of assessment were being investigated because of their inherent correlation to the core tenets of BCL theory, which involves how the brain receives, stores, and retrieves information for optimal learning. High-stakes tests were being viewed through the lens of BCL theory because of their punitive characteristics, which seem antagonistic to producing an educational environment that is conducive to optimal learning and academic achievement. Two school sites were chosen for this study. One site was located in an affluent, suburban neighborhood, and the other was located in an economically deprived, urban neighborhood. This research study, while modest, is authentic and unique in that it provides scientific findings as reported in the literature, that support the perceptions of the parents, teachers, and students that participated.
Immunohistochemical characteristics of inflammatory lesions at implants.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present investigation was to study some immunohistochemical features of peri-implant mucositis and peri-implantitis lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two groups of subjects (Groups A and B) were included. Group A consisted of 10 partially edentulous subjects (eight females and two males; 45-72 years of age) who had been restored with implants (Brånemark System, Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden). The implants had been in function between 2 and 5 years. In each subject, one implant site demonstrating signs of peri-implant mucositis, i.e. soft tissue inflammation but no bone loss, was selected. The site was anaesthetized and a soft tissue biopsy was collected. In Group B, six subjects were included. They had been restored with implants (Brånemark System, Nobel Biocare AB, Göteborg, Sweden) between 5 and 11 years prior to the current study. In each individual >or= 1 implant site exhibited signs of peri-implantitis and was selected for biopsy. All sites of peri-implantitis had (i) a history of continuous marginal bone loss (assessed in radiographs), (ii) clinical symptoms of soft tissue inflammation (bleeding on probing and suppuration) but (iii) no implant mobility. From each selected peri-implantitis site a 4 x 4 mm large soft tissue biopsy was obtained. All specimens were snap frozen and prepared for immunohistochemical analysis regarding the proportions of cells positive for the CD3, CD4, CD8, CD19 and elastase markers. RESULTS Peri-implantitis lesions were considerably larger and contained significantly greater proportions of B cells (CD19+) and elastase-positive cells than mucositis lesions. Peri-implantitis sites, in contrast to sites with mucositis, consistently displayed elastase-positive cells in the central portions of the infiltrate. CONCLUSION It is suggested that peri-implantitis lesions exhibit properties that are different from mucositis lesions.
The Effect of Testosterone Supplement on Insulin Sensitivity, Glucose Effectiveness, and Acute Insulin Response After Glucose Load in Male Type 2 Diabetics

Our understanding of the effect of androgens on insulin action and glucose metabolism is incomplete. Several different models and methods have been used to study androgen effects, with some studies indicating that higher testosterone levels are associated with increased insulin resistance. In polycystic ovary syndrome, where high testosterone levels are frequently found, affected patients have a higher risk of diabetes. In contrast, increased insulin resistance was found in both hypergonadotropic and hypogonadotropic men with hypoandrogenism, patients with Klinefelter's syndrome and men with idiopathic gonadotropin deficiency. Insulin resistance is considered to be one of the cornerstones in the state that ultimately leads to clinically established type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, men with type 2 diabetes have relative hypogonadism. Therefore, supplementation with testosterone might play a role in improving both insulin resistance and hypogonadism. The study population consisted of 11 male patients with type 2 diabetes. Their mean age was 57.7 ± 3.41 years, the body mass index (BMI) was 24.4 ± 1.02 kg/m2, and the waist-to-hip ratio (W/H) was 0.91 ± 0.05. The patients were all treated with oral hypoglycemic agents. The men received androgen injections every 3 weeks intramuscularly for 12 weeks. The injections were testosterone depot 100 mg/3 weeks. Insulin sensitivity, glucose effectiveness and area under acute insulin response were calculated from "minimal model" algorithms. There were no significant differences in the value of BMI, W/H ratios, plasma lipid concentrations, testosterone, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) of insulin sensitivity, and beta-cell function, before and after supplementation of testosterone. Furthermore, the insulin sensitivity (SI) (1.04 ± 0.25, 1.11 ± 0.36 x 10−5 min−1/pM; p = 0.43), glucose effectiveness (EG) (0.018 ± 0.003, 0.017 ± 0.002 min−1; p = 0.29), and acute insulin response (AIR) after a glucose load (45.7 ± 24.3, 50.1 ± 32.5 pM; p = 0.45) did not change significantly after supplementation with testosterone. In our study, there was no improvement of SI, EG, and AIR after 3 months of Testosterone Depot treatment in type 2 diabetes, but we believe that duration and dosage of the androgen therapy might play an important role in improving insulin sensitivity. The mechanisms by which testosterone causes insulin resistance is unknown, and larger studies on androgen treatment in type 2 diabetic patients are necessary.