Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Plasmalogens Inhibit APP Processing by Directly Affecting γ-Secretase Activity in Alzheimer's Disease

Lipids play an important role as risk or protective factors in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Previously it has been shown that plasmalogens, the major brain phospholipids, are altered in AD. However, it remained unclear whether plasmalogens themselves are able to modulate amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing or if the reduced plasmalogen level is a consequence of AD. Here we identify the plasmalogens which are altered in human AD postmortem brains and investigate their impact on APP processing resulting in Aβ production. All tested plasmalogen species showed a reduction in γ-secretase activity whereas β- and α-secretase activity mainly remained unchanged. Plasmalogens directly affected γ-secretase activity, protein and RNA level of the secretases were unaffected, pointing towards a direct influence of plasmalogens on γ-secretase activity. Plasmalogens were also able to decrease γ-secretase activity in human postmortem AD brains emphasizing the impact of plasmalogens in AD. In summary our findings show that decreased plasmalogen levels are not only a consequence of AD but that plasmalogens also decrease APP processing by directly affecting γ-secretase activity, resulting in a vicious cycle: Aβ reduces plasmalogen levels and reduced plasmalogen levels directly increase γ-secretase activity leading to an even stronger production of Aβ peptides.
Status and determinants of health literacy among adolescents in Guangdong, China.

BACKGROUND Previous studies for non-communicable disease cotrol, including cancer, have mostly relied on health literacy in adults. However, limited studies are available for adolescents. This study aimed to assess the status and determinants of health literacy in in-school adolescents in Guangdong, China. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 3,821 students aged 13-25 years were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling. After the questionnaire of health literacy was answered, the total scores for health knowledge (18 questions), skills (5 questions) and behaviors (14 questions) were determined. The total scores for health literacy and each subscale were recoded into adequate and inadequate subgroups, and logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with each outcome variable. RESULTS The prevalence of adequate health literacy was 14.4%, and the prevalences for adequate knowledge, skills and behavior were 22.4%, 64.7% and 6.6%, respectively. Students coming from prestigious schools and having parents with higher education had higher odds of having adequate knowledge, skills and behaviors. Female students had higher odds of having adequate knowledge and behaviors. Students in grade 7-8 had higher odds of having adequate knowledge and skills. The health knowledge was positive associated with health skills (odds ratio [OR]=2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7-2.5) and behaviors (OR=3.0, 95% CI 2.3-4.0), and health skills were positive associated with health behaviors (OR=2.6, 95% CI 1.8-3.8). CONCLUSIONS Further efforts should be made to increase adolescents' health knowledge and behaviors, especially for low grade and male students in non-prestigious schools.
Perception on the Risk of the Sonora River Pollution

This study applies the “psychometric paradigm” of risk perception to the heavy mineral spill in the Sonora River (Mexico). A total of 241 inhabitants of the polluted area with a mean age of 46.3 years participated in the study, completing an interview questionnaire at the onset of the disaster. The results allow us to establish a profile of the 18 characteristics comprising the model and a multiple regression analysis shows that some characteristics of the dimensions of dread risk and unknown risk explain a percentage of the magnitude of the perceived risk. In addition, the behaviors recommended by the authorities were classified by the participants according to their estimated usefulness. Significant differences were observed. Avoiding contact with the water was considered the most effective, followed by recommendations on the use of the water, with actions related to the environment and how to avoid pollution being considered the least effective. In sum, the strategy deployed allows us to observe how the victims perceive the disaster and organize the behaviors proposed by the authorities.
The ultrastructure of the capsules of Diplococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae stained with ruthenium red.

SUMMARY: Capsules of Diplococcus pneumoniae type III and Klebsiella pneumoniae type I were examined in the electron microscope using ruthenium red in combination with osmium tetroxide. The ability of this combination stain and fixative to stain polysaccharides has been well established. A slightly acid pH was necessary to obtain satisfactory capsular polysaccharide staining. The capsules of both Diplococcus pneumoniae and Klebsiella pneumoniae were stained by the ruthenium red before alcohol dehydration and embedding in Epon 812. The capsule of D. pneumoniae had the appearance of a tightly woven mat. The capsule of K. pneumoniae had a fibrous appearance. Ruthenium red was found inside the plasma membrane of D. pneumoniae, but remained outside the cell membrane of K. pneumoniae.
Doppler Flow Velocity Indices (RI, PI, S/D & PSV) of Fetal Middle Cerebral Artery in Normal Pregnancies: Correlation with Gestational Age of 20 to 40 Weeks

This observational type of descriptive study was carried out in the Department of Radiology and Imaging, BIRDEM selecting 70 Bangladeshi pregnant babies with the aim to find out the normogram of foetal middle cerebral artery Doppler flow velocity indices and correlation between Doppler flow velocity indices [Resistance Index (RI), Pulsatility Index (PI), Systolic/Diastolic ratio (S/D) & Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV)] of foetal middle cerebral artery and gestational age in normal pregnancies of 20 to 40 weeks. It was observed that RI, PI and S/D were decreased with the advance of gestational age but PSV was increases with the advance of gestational age. Statistical analyses showed there were significant difference between mean PSV, RI and PI before and after 25 weeks of gestation. No significant difference was found between mean S/D before and after 25 weeks of gestation. It was observed from Correlation analysis between Doppler indices with independent gestational age that all the Doppler indices of foetal middle cerebra artery was positively correlated with the whole gestation period. The statistical analysis showed only PSV and RI were significantly correlated with the gestational age. Simple regression analysis between dependent Doppler index with independent gestational age before and after 25 weeks revealed that all the Doppler indices had positive relationship with the corresponding gestational age but relationship between PSV and PI (before 25 weeks) with their corresponding gestational ages were only statistically significant. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/birdem.v2i2. 12306 Birdem Med J 2012; 2(2) 77-80
Treatment of hypertension in central and eastern European countries: self-reported practice of primary care physicians

Objectives: To describe self-reported hypertension treatment among primary care physicians in central and eastern Europe and to investigate international differences. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of primary care physicians with a questionnaire translated into various languages was carried out in nine central and eastern European countries. Three thousand physicians were randomly selected from the national registers. Results: Eight hundred and sixty-seven invited primary care physicians responded. For the patients with hypertension and low cardiovascular risk, 49% of physicians reported a treatment goal of less than 140/90 mmHg (69% in Slovenia, 20% in Latvia, P < 0.001). In patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus, blood pressure (BP) targets of less than 130/80 mmHg and less than 120/80 mmHg were reported by 47 and 48% of physicians, respectively, and significant differences between countries were revealed. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were the most common declared drugs used on a daily basis (over 90% of physicians in all countries). Various international differences were observed among the use of diuretics, &bgr;-blockers and drugs from other classes. An immediate initiation of pharmacotherapy was declared by 24% of physicians at a SBP level of at least 180 mmHg and 20% at DBP level of at least 110 mmHg. Conclusion: In hypertension treatment, some decisions made by primary care physicians from central and eastern European countries are still done without any supporting evidence from clinical trials. They have declared lower treatment goals and the initiation of pharmacotherapy at lower BP levels than recommended in international guidelines. An innovative approach to continuous medical education should be introduced and the efforts to implement guidelines in everyday practice ought to continue.
Breaking Out of Poverty Traps: Internal Migration and Interregional Convergence in Russia

We study barriers to labor mobility using panel data on gross region-to-region migration flows in Russia for 1995-2010. We find that barriers that hindered internal migration in 1990s have been generally eliminated by the end of 2000s. In 1990s many poor Russian regions were in poverty traps: potential migrants wanted to leave those regions but could not afford to finance the move. In 2000s (especially in late 2000s), these constraints were no longer binding. Overall economic growth and development of financial markets allowed even the poorest Russian regions to grow out of poverty traps resulting in convergence between Russian regions in 2000s.
Aneuploidy rates in failed pregnancies following assisted reproductive technology.

BACKGROUND Approximately 10%-15% of clinically recognized pregnancies end with a first trimester loss. Cytogenetic analysis of products of conception (POC) has revealed that a large proportion of these spontaneous miscarriages are a result of chromosomal abnormalities. However, relatively few studies have evaluated chromosomal abnormalities in pregnancies achieved using assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Here, we review the incidence and type of chromosomal abnormalities that occurred in our infertility patient population undergoing ART and provide a review of the literature pertaining to this subject. METHODS A retrospective chart review of all patients from our medical center who conceived using ART between January 2000 and January 2008, who experienced a subsequent early pregnancy loss, and whose POCs were successfully karyotyped were included. We also conducted a literature review in PubMed, searching for other articles on this subject. RESULTS Two hundred fourteen patients conceived with ART, experienced an early loss, and subsequently underwent a dilation and curettage (D&C) between 2000 and 2008. A total of 59 (27%) patients chose to have cytogenetic testing, and their POCs were successfully karyotyped. The overall rate of aneuploidy in this group was 83%. Our PubMed search revealed a total of 12 studies that were identified and evaluated and deemed appropriate for review. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with most of the literature, we found a high rate of aneuploidy present in infertile patients conceiving using ART. Because an abnormal karyotype provides an explanation for an early loss, this and other studies seem to suggest that routinely carrying out this assessment in such patients may be of value.
A Method for Minimizing the Impact of Distributional Assumptions in Econometric Models for Duration Data

Conventional analyses of single spell duration models control for unobservables using a random effect estimator with the distribution of unobservables selected by ad hoc criteria. Both theoretical and empirical examples indicate that estimates of structural parameters obtained from conventional procedures are very sensitive to the choice of mixing distribution. Conventional procedures overparameterize duration models. We develop a consistent nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator for the distribution of unobservables and a computational strategy for implementing it. For a sample of unemployed workers our estimator produces estimates in concordance with standard search theory while conventional estimators do not. ECONOMIC THEORIES of search unemployment (Lippman and McCall [34]; Flinn and Heckman [14]), job turnover (Jovanovic [25]), mortality (Harris [17]), labor supply (Heckman and Willis [23]) and marital instability (Becker [3]) produce structural distributions for durations of occupancy of states. These theories generate qualitative predictions about the effects of changes in parameters on these structural distributions, and occasionally predict their functional forms.2 In order to test economic theories about durations and recover structural parameters, it is necessary to account for population variation in observed and unobserved variables unless it is assumed a priori that individuals are homogeneous.3 In every microeconomic study in which the hypothesis of heterogeneity is subject to test, it is not rejected. Temporally persistent unobserved components are an empirically important fact of life in microeconomic data (Heckman [19]). Since the appearance of papers by Silcock [39] and Blumen, Kogan, and McCarthy [5], social scientists have been aware that failure to adequately control for population heterogeneity can produce severe bias in structural estimates of duration models. Serious empirical analysts attempt to control for these unob
Cigarette Smoking: A Risk Factor for Cerebral Infarction in Young Adults

• To assess the impact of cigarette smoking on stroke in young adults (15 to 45 years old), we compared smoking data from 181 patients with cerebral infarction with that of 307 control subjects matched for age, gender, geographic location, and hospital admission dates. While controlling for these matching variables and hypertension, an analysis based on a conditional logistic regression model indicated that a smoker was 1.6 times more likely to have a cerebral infarction than a nonsmoker (95% confidence interval, 1.07 to 2.42). There was a cumulative dose effect with each additional pack-year causing a greater risk of having a cerebral infarction. In fact, after adjusting for all other risk factors, there was a significant quadratic component to the dose-response relationships, with the result that individuals with a larger number of pack-years were invariably the stroke patients. There was no significant difference in smoking status among the various subtypes of cerebral infarction (atherosclerotic, nonatherosclerotic vasculopathy, cardioembolic, hematologic related, undetermined). These data indicate that cigarette smoking is an important risk factor for cerebral infarction in young adults. Risk factor modification through cessation of smoking may reduce the risk of ischemic stroke in young adults.
Transforming Growth Factor-β and the Immune Response to Malignant Disease

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a key player in malignant disease through its actions on host tissues and cells. Malignant cells often secrete large amounts of TGF-β that act on nontransformed cells present in the tumor mass as well as distal cells in the host to suppress antitumor immune responses creating an environment of immune tolerance, augmenting angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis, and increasing tumor extracellular matrix deposition. Cells of the innate immune system contribute to the high concentrations of TGF-β found in tumor masses. In addition, dendritic cell subpopulations secreting TGF-β contribute to the generation of regulatory T cells that actively inhibit the activity of other T cells. Elevated levels of plasma TGF-β are associated with advanced stage disease and may separate patients into prognostically high-risk populations. Anti–TGF-β therapy could reverse the immunosuppressive effects of this cytokine on the host as well as decrease extracellular matrix formation, decrease angiogenesis, decrease osteolytic activity, and increase the sensitivity of the malignant cells to cytotoxic therapies and immunotherapies. Phase I clinical trials of an inhibitor of TGF-β receptor type I kinase activity and a TGF-β neutralizing antibody are under way.
Cross‐Firm Real Earnings Management

Our analysis is rooted in the notion that stockholders can learn about the fundamental value of any firm from observing the earnings reports of its rivals. We argue that such intra-industry information transfers, which have been broadly documented in the empirical literature, may motivate managers to alter stockholders’ beliefs about the value of their firm not only by manipulating their own earnings report but also by influencing the earnings reports of rival firms. Managers obviously do not have access to the accounting system of peer firms, but they can nevertheless influence the earnings reports of rival firms by distorting real transactions that relate to the product market competition. We demonstrate such managerial behavior, which we refer to as cross-firm real earnings management, and explore its potential consequences and interrelation with the practice of accounting-based earnings management within an industry setting with imperfect (non-proprietary) accounting information. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved
Use of Acupuncture for the Chronic Neck Pain: Application to Adults as Part of Primary Health Care

Camila da Silva Goncalo1, Jorge Vas2 and Antonio Carlos Pereira3 1Department of Preventive and Social Medicine. Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas–UNICAMP, Campinas, Sao Paulo 2Pain Treatment Unit (Dona Mercedes Health Centre), Dos Hermanas, Seville 3Department of Community Dentistry Piracicaba Dental School, State University of Campinas–UNICAMP, Piracicaba, Sao Paulo, 1,3Brazil 2Spain
EFFECTS OF FUNCTIONAL GROUP OF NON-IONIC SURFACTANTS ON THE STABILITY OF EMULSION (Kesan Perbezaan Kumpulan Berfungsi Surfaktan Bukan Ionik Terhadap Kestabilan Emulsi)

Three mixed blend non-ionic surfactants: fatty acid polyethoxylates (POE) (20), POE (20) sorbitan monooleate (or Tween 80) and fatty alcohol POE (25) bounded by 20 -25 moles of ethylene oxides (EO) mixed with Laureth-1 were choosen to analyse their different functional group and its properties to the emulsion. The oil phase used is palm methyl ester C12-18. The emulsification process was carried out at 52 ± 2˚C by using high speed homogeniser. Emulsifying properties were investigated through a hydrophyl-lipophyl balance (HLB) value range from HLB 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14. The formation and stability of the emulsions were characterized through mean droplet size, zeta potential and surface tension. This study shows blend fatty alcohol POE (25EO) with HLB 11±1 shows optimum mean droplet size 1.970 μm to 2.099 μm, stable zeta potential at -37.91 mV to - 40.8 mV and low surface tension value at 31.186 mN/m to 32.865 mN/m. Keyword: surfactant, Hydrophyl-lipophyl balance (HLB), polyoxyethelene (POE)
Changes in Blood Coagulation During and Following Cardiopulmonary Bypass Lack of Correlation With Clinical Bleeding

Although previous studies have documented a wide variety of derange ments in laboratory measurements of blood coagulation and platelets during cardiopulmonary bypass, limited data are available concerning the magnitude of these changes and any association with excessive bleeding. To determine whether abnormalities in commonly available labora tory tests for the evaluation of coagulation, fibrinolysis and hemostasis correlate with postoperative blood loss and transfusion requirements as measures of clinical outcome, 47 consecutive patients undergoing coro nary artery bypass grafting with hypothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) were studied prospectively at 12 time points before, during, and following CPB. Routine blood coagulation tests, coagulation factor lev els (fibrinogen, V, VII, VIII, and IX) and fibrinolysis (FDP) became abnormal within 15 minutes after patients were placed on CPB, re mained abnormal for the duration of CPB, and recovered at varying rates after discontinuation of CPB. Mean factor V levels declined by the greatest percentage, to 15% of normal, followed by factor VIII which decreased to 30%. Platelet counts declined to below 100 X 10 9 /L after the initiation of CPB and remained low in the postoperative period. Twenty-eight percent of patients had mediastinal output a 100 mL per hour during the immediate postoperative period, and were considered to be "bleeders. " There were no clinically relevant differences in any of the laboratory measurements between patients with normal postopera tive blood loss and those defined as bleeders. Thus, the absence of sig nificant correlations between various laboratory measurements of he mostasis and actual postoperative bleeding indicates that these laboratory derangements are transient, are not predictive of clinically important hemostatic abnormalities, and should not be used in isolation to guide the use of blood components in these patients. Furthermore, although bleeders received more blood components, there was surpris ingly little effect on the coagulation factor levels measured. (Key
Electrodiagnostic evaluation of peripheral nervous system changes in patients with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND There is supportive evidence that multiple sclerosis (MS) could potentially affect the peripheral nervous system. We assessed peripheral sensory and motor nerve involvement in patients with MS by a nerve conduction velocity test. METHODS We studied 75 patients who had a relapsing-remitting or secondary progressive pattern. We measured amplitude, latency, conduction velocity, Hoffmann reflex (H-Reflex), and F-Waves. RESULTS The amplitude of the right tibial, right proneal, left tibial, left proneal, and left median motor nerves was less than the mean for the normal population. Right ulnar sensory conduction in the patients showed an amplitude that was less than that of the normal population; there was no significant change in the amplitude of other sensory nerves. Latencies of the right and left median and right proneal motor nerves and left ulnar sensory nerves were statistically less than that of the normal population. Mean motor conduction velocity and F-wave conduction did not differ significantly from the normal population. H-reflex latencies of the right and left lower limbs were significantly more prolonged than those of the normal population. CONCLUSION Our results suggest possible peripheral motor nerve abnormalities in MS patients, especially with the amplitude of the motor nerves; however, our results do not demonstrate any significant difference among the nerve conduction velocity parameters of sensory nerves between MS patients and the normal population.
Phase-Shifted Traveling-Wave-Tube Circuit for Ultrawideband High-Power Submillimeter-Wave Generation

A novel slow-wave vacuum electron device circuit, consisting of a half-period-staggered double-vane array and a high-aspect ratio sheet electron beam, has been conceived for a high-power wideband submillimeter-wave generation. A particle-in-cell simulation, which is based on a finite-difference time-domain algorithm, has shown that this circuit has a very wide intrinsic bandwidth (in excess of 50 GHz around the operating frequency of 220 GHz) with a moderate gain of 13 dB/cm. Moreover, the saturated conversion efficiency is predicted to be 3%-5.5% over the operating band corresponding to an output power of 150-275 W, assuming a beam power of 5 kW. Of particular importance, this structure is based on the TE-fundamental mode interaction, thereby avoiding the complex over moding instabilities that usually cause spurious signal oscillation in conventional high-aspect-ratio structures. This planar circuit has simple 2-D geometry that is thermally and mechanically robust as well as being compatible with conventional microfabrication techniques. This concept is expected to open numerous opportunities in potential applications of versatile electronic devices in the low-millimeter- and submillimeter-wave regions.