Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lower CSF Aβ is Associated with HAND in HIV-Infected Adults with a Family History of Dementia.

BACKGROUND Both family history of dementia (FHD) and lower levels of Aβ-42 are indepentently associated with worse neurocognitive functioning in HIVinfected patients. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationships between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) Aβ-42 and FHD with HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). METHODS One hundred eighty-three HIV+ adults underwent neuropsychological and neuromedical assessments, and determination of CSF Aβ-42 concentration and FHD (defined as a self-reported first or second-degree relative with a dementia diagnosis). Univariate analyses and multivariable logistic regressions were used. RESULTS FHD was not associated with HAND (p = 0.24); however, CSF Aβ-42 levels were lower (p = 0.03) in the HAND group, but were not associated with FHD (p = 0.89). Multivariable models showed a main effect of CSF Aβ-42 (p = 0.03) and a trend-level (p = 0.06) interaction between FHD and CSF Aβ-42, such that lower CSF Aβ-42 was associated with HAND in those with FHD (p < 0.01) compared to those without FHD (p = 0.83). An analysis in those with follow-up data showed that higher baseline CSF Aβ-42 was associated with lower risk of neurocognitive decline (p = 0.02). While we did not find an FHD X CSF Aβ-42 interaction (p = 0.83), when analyses were stratified by FHD, lower CSF Aβ-42 was associated at the trend-level with neurocognitive decline in the FHD group (p = 0.08) compared to the no FHD group (p = 0.15). CONCLUSION FHD moderates the relationship between of CSF Aβ-42 and HAND. The findings highlight the complexities in interpreting the relationships between biomarkers of age-related neurodegeneration and HAND.
Vascular oxidative stress upregulates angiotensin II type I receptors via mechanisms involving nuclear factor kappa B

Abstract The association of oxidative stress with hypertension is well known. However, a causal role of oxidative stress in hypertension is unclear. Vascular angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) upregulation is a prominent contributor to pathogenesis of hypertension. However, the mechanisms causing this upregulation are unknown. Oxidative stress is an important regulator of protein expression via activation of transcription factors such as nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB). The present study was carried out to test the hypothesis that oxidative stress contributes to vascular AT1R upregulation via NFκB in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). HASMC exposed to oxidative stress exhibited a robust increase in AT1R mRNA in HASMC. Furthermore, oxidative stress failed to upregulate AT1Rs in the presence of either an antioxidant catalase or siRNA against p65 subunit of NFκB. To test the role of oxidative stress and NFκB in hypertension, prehypertensive SHR were treated with NFκB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate from 5 weeks to 11–12 weeks of age. At 11–12 weeks of age, SHR exhibited increased NFκB expression, AT1R upregulation and exaggerated Ang II-induced vasoconstriction as compared to age-matched Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. PDTC treatment of SHR lowered NFκB expression, normalized AT1R expression and Ang II-induced vasoconstriction. More importantly, PDTC treatment significantly attenuated hypertension development in SHR. In conclusion, vascular oxidative can upregulate AT1R, via mechanisms involving NFκB, and contribute to the development of hypertension.
Factors affecting seasonal variation in 90-day nonreturn rate to first service in lactating Holstein cows in a hot climate.

The objective was to determine factors controlling seasonal variation in 90-d nonreturn rate to first service (90-d NRR) including effects of location, milk yield, and weather variables on specific days before and after breeding. Dairy Herd Improvement Association records on first services from 8124 Holstein cows in south Georgia (GA, n = 7 herds), north Florida (NF, n = 5), and south Florida (SF, n = 5) were used. The 90-d NRR was affected by location x month of breeding. The summer drop in 90-d NRR was of lower magnitude and duration in GA than in NF or SF and of lower magnitude and duration for NF than SF. When cows were grouped according to mature equivalent milk yield, there was a milk yield class x month of breeding interaction. As milk yield class increased, the summer depression in 90-d NRR was more pronounced. In a second series of analyses, effects of average air temperature at d -10, 0, and 10 relative to breeding were evaluated with subsets of cows in which average air temperature on the 10 d before the reference day were cool (< 25 degrees C). The 90-d NRR for cows having average temperatures > 20 degrees C on d -10 was less than 90 d NRR for cows with average temperatures < or = 20 degrees C on d -10 (60.1 vs. 36.5%). Similar results were found on d 0 (59.6 vs. 41.4%) and d 10 (56.9 vs. 41.1%). Thus, heat stress before and after breeding, and on the day of breeding, is associated with low 90-d NRR.
Tree genotype and genetically based growth traits structure twig endophyte communities.

PREMISE OF THE STUDY Fungal endophytes asymptomatically inhabit plant tissues where they have mutualistic, parasitic, or commensal relationships with their hosts. Although plant-fungal interactions at the genotype scale have broad ecological and evolutionary implications, the sensitivity of endophytes in woody tissues to differences among plant genotypes is poorly understood. We hypothesize that (1) endophyte communities in Populus angustifolia (Salicaceae) twigs vary among tree genotypes, (2) endophyte variation is linked to quantitative tree traits, and (3) tree genotype influences interspecific fungal interactions. METHODS Endophytes were isolated from twigs of replicated P. angustifolia genotypes in a common garden and characterized with PCR-RFLP and DNA sequencing. Twig length and diameter, aboveground tree biomass, and condensed tannins were also quantified. KEY RESULTS (1) Aspects of fungal community structure, including composition and total isolation frequency (i.e., abundance), varied among genotypes. (2) Aboveground biomass and twig diameter were positively associated with isolation frequency and covaried with composition, whereas twig length and condensed tannin concentration were not significantly correlated to endophytes. (3) Fungal co-occurrence patterns suggested negative species interactions, but the presence of significant co-occurrences was genotype dependent. CONCLUSIONS The species is often assumed to be the most important ecological unit; however, these results indicate that genetically based trait variation within a species can influence an important community of associated organisms. Given the dominance of plants as primary producers and the ubiquity of endophytes, the effect of host genetic variation on endophytes has fundamental implications for our understanding of terrestrial ecosystems.
Prediction of the Intelligibility for Speech in Real-Life Background Noises for Subjects With Normal Hearing

Objectives: The speech reception threshold (SRT) traditionally is measured in stationary noise that has the long-term average speech spectrum of the target speech. However, in real life the instantaneous spectrum of the background noise is likely to be different from the stationary long-term average speech spectrum noise. To gain more insight into the effect of real-life background noises on speech intelligibility, the SRT of listeners with normal hearing was measured in a set of noises that varied in both the spectral and the temporal domain. This article investigates the ability of the extended speech intelligibility index (ESII), proposed by Rhebergen et al. to account for SRTs in these real-life background noises. Design: SRTs in noise were measured in 12 subjects with normal hearing. Interfering noises consisted of a variety of real-life noises, selected from a database, and chosen on the basis of their spectro-temporal differences. Measured SRTs were converted to ESII values and compared. Ideally, at threshold, ESII values should be the same, because the ESII represents the amount of speech information available to the listener. Results: SRTs ranged from −6 dB SNR (in stationary noise) to −21 dB SNR (in machine gun noise). Conversion to ESII values resulted in an average value of 0.34, with a standard deviation of 0.06. SRT predictions with the ESII model were better than those obtained with the conventional SII (ANSI S3.5-1997) model. In case of interfering speech, the ESII model predictions were poorer, because additional, nonenergetic (informational) masking is thought to occur. Conclusions: For the present set of masking noises, being representative for a variety of real-life noises, the ESII model of Rhebergen et al. is able to predict the SRTs of subjects with normal hearing with reasonable accuracy. It may be concluded that the ESII model can provide valuable predictions for the speech intelligibility in some everyday situations.
Psychosocial Correlates to High School Girls' Leisure-Time Physical Activity: A Test of the Theory of Planned Behavior

This study was designed to test the efficacy of the theory of planned behavior in predicting intention to engage in leisure-time physical activity and leisure-time physical activity behavior of high school girls. Rating scales were used for assessing attitude to leisure-time physical activity, subjective norm, perceived control, and intention to engage in leisure-time physical activity among 129 ninth through twelfth graders. Leisure-time physical activity was obtained from 3-wk. diaries. The first hierarchical multiple regression indicated that perceived control added (R2 change = .033) to the contributions of attitude to leisure-time physical activity and subjective norm in accounting for 50.7% of the total variance of intention to engage in leisure-time physical activity. The second regression analysis indicated that almost 10% of the variance of leisure-time physical activity was explicated by intention to engage in leisure-time physical activity and perceived control, with perceived control contributing 6.4%. From both academic and theoretical standpoints, our findings support the theory of planned behavior, although quantitatively the variance of leisure-time physical activity was not well-accounted for. In addition, considering the small percentage increase in variance explained by the addition of perceived control explaining variance of intention to engage in leisure-time physical activity, the pragmatism of implementing the measure of perceived control is questionable for this population.
Exhaled pentane and nitric oxide levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

BACKGROUND Upper airway inflammation is present in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OBJECTIVE To determine whether exhaled pentane and nitric oxide (NO) levels, two nonspecific markers of inflammation, are increased in patients with OSA. METHODS Exhaled nasal and oral pentane and NO levels were determined before and after sleep in 20 patients with OSA (apnea-hypopnea index, 48+/-7; mean+/-SEM) and eight healthy control subjects. RESULTS In patients with OSA, exhaled nasal and oral pentane levels after sleep were significantly higher than presleep values (6.1+/-1.2 nM vs 3.4+/-0.4 nM, and 7.0+/-1.3 nM vs 4.2+/-0.4 nM, respectively; p<0.05). Likewise, exhaled nasal and oral NO levels after sleep were significantly higher than presleep values in patients with OSA (39.7+/-3.8 ppb vs 28.4+/-2.9 ppb and 10.9+/-1.5 ppb vs 6.6+/-0.8 ppb, respectively; p<0.05). By contrast, there were no significant differences in exhaled nasal and oral pentane, and nasal NO levels before and after sleep in control subjects. Exhaled oral NO levels were significantly increased after sleep in comparison to presleep values in control subjects (p<0.05). CONCLUSION Exhaled nasal pentane and NO levels are increased after sleep in patients with moderate-severe OSA. These data suggest that upper airway inflammation is present in these patients after sleep.
Mesh versus non-mesh repair of ventral abdominal hernias.

BACKGROUND To investigate the relative effectiveness of mesh and suture repair of ventral abdominal hernias in terms of clinical outcome, quality of life and rate of recurrence in both the techniques. METHODS This is a retrospective descriptive analysis of 236 patients with mesh and non-mesh repair of primary ventral hernias performed between January 2000 to December 2004 at Surgery Department, Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro. The record sheets of the patients were analyzed and data retrieved to compare the results of both techniques for short-term and long-term results. The data retrieved is statistically analyzed on SPSS version 11. RESULTS There were 43 (18.22%) males and 193 (81.77%) females with a mean age of 51.79 years and a range of 59 (81-22). Para-umbilical hernia was the commonest of ventral hernia and accounted for 49.8% (n=118) of the total study population followed by incisional hernia comprising 24% (n=57) of the total number. There was a significant difference in the recurrent rate at 3 years interval with 23/101 (22.77%) recurrences in suture-repaired subjects compared to 10/135 (7.40%) in mesh repair group. Chronic pain lasting up to 1-2 years was noted in 14 patients with suture repair. Wound infection is comparatively more common (8.14%) in mesh group. The other variables such as operative and postoperative complications, total hospital stay and quality of life is also discussed. CONCLUSION Mesh repair of ventral hernia is much superior to non-mesh suture repair in terms of recurrence and overall outcome.
Industry Wages Across Countries and Over Time: A New Database of Micro Survey Data

This paper presents a newly collected database on industry wages. The underlying data are micro datasets collected through nationally representative household surveys which are mostly conducted by national statistical agencies. In comparison with wage measures based on macroeconomic data sources, we find that industry wages based on micro survey data are more reliable. Furthermore, data from nationally representative micro surveys are becoming increasingly available, thus allowing for better coverage, especially of low-income countries. The database provides a reliable source of data for research on inter-industry wage structures and gender wage differentials, across countries and over time. It may also serve as a basis for further research on the determinants and implications of inter-industry and gender wage variations.
CONTENT AND SUBCELLULAR LOCALIZATION OF CATECHOLAMINES AND 5‐HYDROXYTRYPTAMINE IN HUMAN AND ANIMAL BLOOD PLATELETS: MONOAMINE DISTRIBUTION BETWEEN PLATELETS AND PLASMA

1 The content of adrenaline (Ad), noradrenaline (NA) and dopamine was measured in human, guinea‐pig, cat, rabbit and rat blood platelets by a highly sensitive and specific radioenzymatic method. 2 In all platelet specimens analyzed, the content of the three catecholamines (CA) was several thousand times lower than that of 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT). 3 In basal conditions, the NA concentration in platelets and plasma always exceeded that of Ad and dopamine. 4 In rat and rabbit platelets, Ad, NA and dopamine were present only in the free (unconjugated) form. 5 Platelets of rats with storage pool deficiency (Fawn‐hooded) contained much less 5‐HT and CA than normal rat platelets. 6 Following restraint stress, platelets of Fawn‐hooded rats, in contrast to normal rat platelets, did not accumulate CA in spite of a dramatic rise in plasma CA. 7 Reserpine, a monoamine depletor, released CA as well as 5‐HT from rabbit platelets in vivo. 8 Subcellular fractionation experiments with rabbit platelets indicate that both CA and 5‐HT are most concentrated in the fraction consisting of pure 5‐HT organelles. 9 Both in humans and rabbits the concentration gradient between platelets and plasma was much lower for CA than for 5‐HT, indicating that a high affinity transport mechanism operates in vivo for 5‐HT but not for CA. 10 In conclusion, the present data show that both human and animal platelets contain Ad, NA and dopamine. The bulk of the CA seems to be stored as unconjugated amines together with 5‐HT, histamine and p‐octopamine in a multitransmitter storage site, namely the 5‐HT organelle.
Anti-Administration: Redeeming Bureaucracy by Witnessing and Gifting

Abstract Weber (194711964), in his description of a legal-rational administrative system, represents administrative orthodoxy. “Anti-administration,” in dialectical relationship to administrative orthodoxy, is reasonably construed as “not administrative orthodoxy,” and can legitimately take various forms. Both“charismatic” and “traditional,” Weber’s examples of non-rational administrative authority, are in opposition to orthodoxy, and either can easily assume the anti-administration mantle. Our view of anti-administration best fits Weber’s charismatic category, for “charisma” derives from the early Christian term “gift of grace” (Weber, 194711964, p. 328). “Redemption” is the act of recovering a relationship following a fall from grace. This paper suggests reasons for the deficiencies of orthodoxy, then offers witnessing and gifting as an anti-administration strategy for reclaiming a relationship of community among civil servants and citizens. In therapy, the psychologist starts where the patient is; likewise, the bureaucrat seeking to rebuild a relationship with the public must first find common ground with the citizen by charismatic means, which requires the bureaucrat to act anti-administratively, one-on-one.
Gustatory function after tonsillectomy.

OBJECTIVE To assess taste function before and after tonsillectomy (TE). DESIGN Prospective study. SETTING University hospital. PATIENTS Sixty-five patients (42 females, 23 males; mean age, 28 years). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Taste function was investigated before TE with 4 concentrations each of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter quality, respectively, on both sides of the anterior and posterior areas of the tongue. Self-assessment of gustatory function was performed by visual analogue scales. Thirty-two patients were retested 64 to 173 days after TE. Thirty-three patients could not be retested after TE but were interviewed by telephone. RESULTS Self-assessed taste function significantly decreased (P=.001). Yet, none of the subjects reported taste dysfunction. Tonsillectomy had no major effect on taste test scores (P>.27). CONCLUSION Persisting taste dysfunction seems to be rare after TE.
Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Major Cardiovascular Outcomes for Radial Versus Femoral Access in Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome

Objectives Radial artery access (RA) for left heart catheterization and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs) has been demonstrated to be safe and effective. Despite consistent data showing less bleeding complications compared with femoral artery access (FA), it continues to be underused in the United States, particularly in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in whom aggressive anticoagulation and platelet inhibition regimens are needed. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to compare major cardiovascular outcomes and safety endpoints in patients with ACS managed with PCI using radial versus femoral access. Methods Randomized controlled trials and cohort studies comparing RA versus FA in patients with ACS were analyzed. Our primary outcomes were mortality, major adverse cardiac event, major bleeding, and access-related complications. A fixed-effects model was used for the primary analyses. Results Fifteen randomized controlled trials and 17 cohort studies involving 44,854 patients with ACS were identified. Compared with FA, RA was associated with a reduction in major bleeding (odds ratio [OR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.33–0.61, P < 0.001), access-related complications (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.18–0.39, P < 0.001), mortality (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.54–0.75, P < 0.001), and major adverse cardiac event (OR 0.70, 95% CI 0.57–0.85, P < 0.001). These significant reductions were consistent across different study designs and clinical presentations. Conclusions Based on this large meta-analysis, RA for primary PCI in the setting of ACS is associated with reduction in cardiac and safety endpoints when compared with FA in both urgent and elective procedures. This should encourage a wider adoption of this technique among centers and interventional cardiologists.
Analytical Modeling of Surface PMSM Using a Combined Solution of Maxwell–s Equations and Magnetic Equivalent Circuit

This paper presents a complete analytical model for surface-mounted permanent magnet synchronous machines (PMSMs). A new simple and fast technique was developed to obtain accurate results in the calculation of machine parameters electromotive force (EMF), torque, and losses. This technique is based upon the combined solution of two models. The first model generates an exact solution of Maxwell's equations in the air gap area applied to a very simple geometry. The second model gives an accurate solution in the detailed parts with complex geometry, based on a magnetic equivalent circuit (MEC) to obtain fast and accurate results in a simple way. The machine's global quantities are then obtained and validated using the results of a finite element model (FEM) for different loading conditions and geometries. Compared with FEM, the proposed combined solution has the advantage of flexibility in the geometrical machine parameters, significantly less CPU time and an accuracy for the considered PMSM up to 4.85% in the EMF, 4.41% in the torque, and 4.44% in the iron losses. Finally, the relation between grid refinement in the MEC (coarse or fine grid of reluctances) and accuracy is pointed out, showing that the EMF can be accurately computed with a rather coarse grid, while accurate loss computation requires a fine grid.
[Tc 99M DMSA scintigraphy in children with a first episode of acute pyelonephritis: correlation with laboratory tests, echography and the presence of vesico-ureteral reflux].

BACKGROUND Tc99m DMSA (dimercaptosuccinic acid) scintigraphy has a high sensitivity for the detection of cortical kidney damage. AIM To evaluate the Tc99m DMSA renal scintigraphy in children with a first episode of acute pyelonephritis and its association with laboratory parameters, kidney ultrasound and vesicoureteral reflux. PATIENTS AND METHODS We studied 143 children (age range 8 days, 12 years, 66% female) hospitalized with the clinical diagnosis of acute pyelonephritis (first episode) with a positive urine culture and a renal scintigraphy performed within seven days of diagnosis. DMSA was considered the gold standard for the detection of cortical lesions. Its results were related to the presence of fever, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (VHS), white blood count (WBC), ultrasound examination and vesicoureteral reflux. RESULTS Seventy nine percent of the population had an abnormal DMSA scan. There were no differences between sex, age and laboratory parameters in children with normal or abnormal DMSA scans, except for CRP (p <0.005). Ultrasound was coincident with the scan in 32% of patients. Eighteen percent had vesicoureteral reflux. CONCLUSIONS There is a high proportion of abnormal DMSA scans in children with a first episode of acute pyelonephritis.