Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Model-based prediction of autoregulatory exhaustion in response to lower-body negative pressure–induced shock

BACKGROUND We assessed the ability of a normalized autonomic nervous system (ANS) stress measure defined as an increase in the percentage of pulse rate from a baseline homeostasis state to identify corresponding changes in circulating blood volume to quantitatively recognize hypovolemia and predict subsequent autoregulatory exhaustion. Autoregulatory exhaustion is defined as the point where decreased circulatory volume exceeds the compensatory mechanism capacity to maintain flow and pressure. We derived frequency-based measures of pulse rate and pulse strength using a reflective pulse oximeter waveform of a photoplethysmograph placed on the forehead. METHODS This study was performed at the Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute, Hershey, Pennsylvania, in June 2010. Ten healthy subjects (5 each male and female) were placed supine in a lower-body negative-pressure chamber to induce central volume loss. Systolic blood pressure was continuously measured, and a value of less than 90 mm Hg defined autoregulatory exhaustion. Derived measures of circulating blood volume were compared with echocardiographic measures to access photoplethysmograph-derived circulatory volume measure relative to traditional cardiac hemodynamics. RESULTS All 10 subjects produced consistent patterns of response characterized as a progressively increasing ANS stress in response to increasing lower-body negative pressure. Three subjects exhibited autoregulatory exhaustion, and ANS stress increased markedly on the step before displaying hypotension in these subjects but not the others. CONCLUSION Results demonstrate the potential to use model-based measures to serve as a definitive presymptom predictive tool to recognize an impending hypovolemic condition, making this approach suitable for chronic care or for the management of hemodialysis patient where resting baseline measures can be obtained. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Diagnostic study, level III.
Les Déterminants Idiosyncratiques De La Performance Bancaire Au Maroc : Analyse Sur Données De Panel

If the financial crisis of 2008 raised the interest in analyzing the impact of the financial system, particularly the banking one, on the real economy ; studies were focused on macroeconomic variables given the crisis fallout. However, in spite of its propagation to the international scale, the financial crisis has impacted more severely some developed economies. Rightly, the Moroccan banking system was slightly affected. This suggests a specificity of the Moroccan context. The aim of this study is, therefore, to apprehend the banking performance in Morocco from a microeconomic point of view. To do so, a panel data analysis relative to eight banks was conducted over the period 2004-2015. The results allowed to identify the determinants of banking performance in the Moroccan context while confirming certain specificities of the banking system in Morocco.
Serum 6-beta-naltrexol levels are related to alcohol responses in heavy drinkers.

BACKGROUND There is strong evidence for the role of the endogenous opioid system in alcohol reinforcement and consumption; however, recent human laboratory studies and clinical trials have reported mixed effects of naltrexone (a nonselective opioid antagonist) on alcohol-related behaviors. This paper reports a secondary data analysis of a human laboratory study that examines the relationship between serum levels of 6-beta-naltrexol, the major, biologically active metabolite of naltrexone, and subjective effects of alcohol. METHODS The study used a within-subjects design to examine the effects of naltrexone (0, 50, and 100 mg/day) on subjective responses to alcohol (none, moderate, and high dose) in heavy drinkers (n = 23). Each subject received three doses of naltrexone in random order; each naltrexone dose was administered over an 8 day period on an inpatient unit, with a 1 week outpatient washout between doses. After stabilization at each of the naltrexone doses, subjects participated in three alcohol challenge sessions (none, moderate, and high dose) in random order; thus, each subject participated in a total of nine alcohol administration sessions. RESULTS Doubling the naltrexone dose (50 vs. 100 mg/day) doubled the mean serum 6-beta-naltrexol levels. At each naltrexone dose, there was a 4-fold range in 6-beta-naltrexol levels across subjects. Before alcohol administration, higher 6-beta-naltrexol levels were associated with higher ratings of sedation. After high-dose alcohol administration, higher 6-beta-naltrexol levels were associated with significantly lower ratings of liking and best effects. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide further evidence of the involvement of the opioid system in the modulation of alcohol effects and suggest that serum 6-beta-naltrexol concentrations may be important in predicting therapeutic response to naltrexone.
A systematic review of the effectiveness of interventions to help older people adhere to medication regimes.

BACKGROUND Non-adherence is a common cause of treatment failure. The causes and context of non-adherence may differ amongst older people and reviews of interventions to improve adherence have tended to focus on the younger adult population. OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of interventions to aid adherence to medication for older people over the age of 65. METHOD Relevant papers identified by searching the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Database of Abstracts of Review of Effectiveness (Cochrane Library), Medline 1966-October 2002, Embase 1980-October 2002, Best Evidence, PsychINFO 1887-October 2002 and CINAHL 1982-October 2002. These were then hand-searched. The papers that fitted our inclusion criteria were selected. Two independent reviewers using an established tool assessed the studies for methodological quality. A non-statistical narrative approach was then taken to analyse the studies due to the heterogeneity of the outcome measures. RESULTS 7 studies were identified. They used a variety of approaches involving external cognitive supports and/or educational interventions. Most studies were of poor methodological quality. Statistically significant effects, where present, tended to have small effects clinically. CONCLUSIONS Currently there is no strong evidence to support the use of any one intervention type. Future research should use combinations of approaches, as there is some evidence that these are more likely to be successful.
Economic Forces and Islamic Stock Market: Empirical Evidence from Malaysia

Manuscript type: Research paperResearch aims: This study aims to investigate the impact ofmacroeconomic forces on the Malaysian Islamic stock market.Design/ Methodology/ Approach: The study employs AutoRegressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bound testing approach andVector Error Correction Model (VECM) in an attempt to investigatethe impact of macroeconomic forces on the Malaysian Islamicstock market. Various domestic economic factors including moneysupply, industrial activities, inflation, Islamic interbank rate andinternational issues (e.g., real effective exchange rate and Federalfunds rate), are taken into consideration in the analysis.Research findings: Based on the ARDL approach, this study findsthat all macroeconomic factors, with the exception of Islamicinterbank rate are significantly related to Islamic stock price in thelong term. However, the findings from VECM method confirm thesignificant causal flow from all macroeconomic forces into Islamicstock prices in the longer term. Nevertheless, in the short term,only Islamic stock prices have immediate replies in response tothe industrial activities, inflation, real effective exchange rate andFederal funds rate data.Theoretical contributions/ Originality: While there is vast literatureon the Islamic stock market, the effect of macroeconomic forces onthe Islamic stock price has not been well-researched. This study fills in the gap by investigating the relationship between macroeconomicvariables and Islamic stock price.Practitioner/ Policy implications: The findings demonstrate thatinvestors and policymakers should take into account the fluctuationsin the macroeconomic variables since they have high informationcontent regarding the future movements of Islamic stock price. Theforeign factors, in particular, depict stronger influence on the Islamicstock market than the domestic factors.Research limitations/ Implications: Cheaper currency wouldaccelerate export sector and recovery of the U.S. economy might putIslamic stock market at disadvantage because there is possibility thatinternational investors will switch back their investment.
The multilevel interest representation of national business associations

Abstract The role of interest groups in EU policy-making has been widely researched, but findings are still inconclusive. With regard to national business interest associations (BIAs), it is generally acknowledged that they have adopted a multilevel strategy in the course of EU integration. Yet there is little empirical knowledge as to how much attention they devote to national compared to EU institutions, how this varies between different levels of responsibility and which features of BIAs allow for access. Based on a large new dataset of BIAs from France, Germany, Poland and the United Kingdom, this article tests hypotheses derived from an exchange model of interest intermediation. The analysis shows that BIAs with high financial resources, BIAs with a high level of representativeness and multisectoral BIAs have the highest probability of access, whereas the economic importance of the represented sector has no relevance, not even for access to elected political actors, be they national or European.
Anti-phospholipid antibodies in HIV infection and SLE with or without anti-phospholipid syndrome: comparisons of phospholipid specificity, avidity and reactivity with beta2-GPI.

Increased prevalence of anti-phospholipid antibodies (aPL) and increased levels of lipid peroxidation have been described in patients with HIV infection. To assess the binding specificity and avidity of aPL antibodies in HIV infection, sera from 44 HIV-1 infected patients were evaluated for antibodies to cardiolipin (aCL), phosphatidyl serine (aPS), phosphatidyl inositol (aPI) and phosphatidyl choline (aPC) using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) methods. Sera from 30 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but without features of anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS) (SLE/non APS), six with SLE and secondary APS, (SLE/APS) and 11 with primary APS (PAPS) were also evaluated as controls. The resistance of the aPL antibody binding to dissociating agents was evaluated by treating the ELISA wells, after serum incubation with 2 M urea or 0.6 M NaCl for 10 min. An anti-beta2-glycoprotein-I (beta2-GPI) ELISA was used to assess serum reactivity against beta2-GPI, a plasma protein considered as the true antigen of aCL antibodies occurring in APS and SLE patients. The prevalence of aCL, aPS, aPI and aPC antibodies in HIV-1 infection was 36%, 56%, 34% and 43% respectively, which was comparable to that found in SLE/APS and PAPS patients and significantly higher than that observed in SLE/non-APS patients. Anti-beta2-GPI antibodies occurred in 5% of HIV-1 infected vs. 17% in SLE/non-APS (P=0.11), 50% in SLE/APS (P=0.009) and 70% in PAPS patients (P=0.0014). A significant decrease of aPL binding after urea and NaCl treatment was observed in the sera of HIV-1-infected, compared to that of APS patients, indicating that aPL antibodies from HIV-1 infected individuals have low resistance to dissociating agents. In conclusion, aPL antibodies (1) occur in HIV-1 infection; (2) tend to recognize various phospholipids but not beta2-GPI; and (3) are of low resistance to dissociating agents-a finding probably reflecting low antibody avidity. Finally, these, like the autoimmune-type aCL antibodies, tend to recognize the oxidized CL-a finding probably indicating autoantibody generation as a result of neoepitope formation by oxidized PLs.
Feasibility of intercostal blood flow measurement by echo‐Doppler technique in healthy subjects

Intercostal artery blood flow supplies the external and internal intercostal muscles, which are inspiratory and expiratory muscles. Intercostal blood flow measured by the echo‐Doppler (ED) technique has not previously been reported in humans. This study describes the feasibility of this measurement during free and loaded breathing in healthy subjects. Systolic, diastolic and mean blood flows were measured in the eighth dorsal intercostal space during free and loaded breathing using the ED technique. Flows were calculated as the product of the artery intraluminal surface and blood velocity. Ten healthy subjects (42 ± 13·6 years) were included. Integrated electromyogram (iEMG), arterial pressure, cardiac frequency and breathing pattern were also recorded. Mean blood flows were 3·5 ± 1·2 ml min−1 at rest, 6 ± 2·6 ml min−1 while breathing through a combined inspiratory and expiratory resistance and 4·0 ± 1·3 ml min−1 1 min after unloading. Diastolic blood flow was about one‐third the systolic blood flow. The changes in blood flows were consistent with those in iEMG. No change in mean blood flow was observed between inspiration and expiration, suggesting a balance in the perfusion of external and internal muscles during breathing. In conclusion, ED is a feasible technique for non‐invasive, real‐time measurement of intercostal blood flow in humans. In healthy subjects, mean blood flow appeared tightly matched to iEMG activity. This technique may provide a way to assess the vascular adaptations induced by diseases in which respiratory work is increased or cardiac blood flow altered.
Randomized trial of cognitive speed of processing training in Parkinson disease

Objective: To examine the efficacy of cognitive speed of processing training (SOPT) among individuals with Parkinson disease (PD). Moderators of SOPT were also examined. Methods: Eighty-seven adults, 40 years of age or older, with a diagnosis of idiopathic PD in Hoehn & Yahr stages 1–3 and on a stable medication regimen were randomized to either 20 hours of self-administered SOPT (using InSight software) or a no-contact control condition. Participants were assessed at baseline and after 3 months of training (or an equivalent delay). The primary outcome measure was useful field of view test (UFOV) performance, and secondary outcomes included cognitive self-perceptions and depressive symptoms. Results: Results indicated that participants randomized to SOPT experienced significantly greater improvements on UFOV performance relative to controls, Wilks λ = 0.938, F 1,72 = 4.79, p = 0.032, partial η2 = 0.062. Findings indicated no significant effect of training on secondary outcomes, Wilks λ = 0.987, F2,70 < 1, p = 0.637, partial η2 = 0.013. Conclusions: Patients with mild to moderate stage PD can self-administer SOPT and improve their cognitive speed of processing, as indexed by UFOV (a robust predictor of driving performance in aging and PD). Further research should establish if persons with PD experience longitudinal benefits of such training and if improvements translate to benefits in functional activities such as driving. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class III evidence that SOPT improves UFOV performance among persons in the mild to moderate stages of PD.
Cost-Utility Analysis of Antihypertensive Combination Therapy in Japan by a Monte Carlo Simulation Model

The objective of the present study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of lifetime antihypertensive therapy with angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) monotherapy, calcium channel blocker (CCB) monotherapy, or ARB plus CCB (ARB+CCB) combination therapy in Japan. Based on the results of large-scale clinical trials and epidemiological data, we constructed a Markov model for patients with essential hypertension. Our Markov model comprised coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and progression of diabetic nephropathy submodels. Based on this model, analysis of the prognosis of each patient was repeatedly conducted by Monte Carlo simulation. The three treatment strategies were compared in hypothetical 55-year-old patients with systolic blood pressure (SBP) of 160 mmHg in the absence and presence of comorbid diabetes. Olmesartan medoxomil 20 mg/d was the ARB and azelnidipine 16 mg/d the CCB in our model. On-treatment SBP was assumed to be 125, 140, and 140 mmHg in the ARB+CCB, ARB alone, and CCB alone groups, respectively. Costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were discounted by 3%/year. The ARB+CCB group was the most cost-effective both in male and female patients with or without diabetes. In conclusion, ARB plus CCB combination therapy may be a more cost-effective lifetime antihypertensive strategy than monotherapy with either agent alone.
Persuading People with Depression to Seek Help: Respect the Boomerang

People with depression are likely to process information with a negative bias when confronted with self-relevant information. Accordingly, we feared exposing depressed people to a public service announcement (PSA) addressing the stigma of depression would possibly boomerang and result in less intention to seek help and in increased self-stigma. College students (N = 271; Mage = 22.51, SD = 4.71; 63.1% female; 37.3% White, 31.9% Hispanic, 12.9% Asian, 6.8% multiethnic, 3.4% Black, 7.6% other) were randomly assigned to receive a print ad focused on depression or a nonrelevant comparison ad. A paper-and-pencil survey consisting of the Beck Depression Inventory–II, Self-Stigma of Seeking Help scale, help-seeking intentions, and demographics followed. Regression analysis indicated that viewing a depression ad caused people with greater depressive symptoms to experience greater levels of self-stigma than depressed people exposed to a nonrelevant comparison ad. Bootstrap mediation analysis showed that for individuals who viewed a depression PSA, self-stigma mediated the relationship between depressive symptoms and professional help-seeking intentions. While this current study offers no direct evidence in regard to the utility of current and past depression campaigns, results indicate a definite need for caution when developing materials targeting people with depression to seek help.
Combating Fear and Restoring Safety in Schools

This bulletin examines manifestations of street violence (bullying, gangs, weapons possession and use, substance abuse, and community violence) threatening schools and describes steps that concerned citizens are taking to restore security and calm. Schoolyard bullying can be mitigated by widely publicized rules, buddy systems, parent education programs, student behavior programs, and programs such as the "No Bullying Program" and "Bully-Proofing Your School. " Strategies for dealing with intimidating youth gangs include training programs, dress codes, and alternative schools. Another strategy is to implement programs such as Gang Prevention Through Targeted Outreach. Weapon usage can be prevented by passing state and local gun-free-school zones legislation, enforcing the 1994 Gun-Free Schools Act, using metal detectors, removing hall lockers, and initiating public awareness campaigns and community partnerships. Increased substance abuse can be tackled by creating drug-free zones, involving parents, and initiating drug resistance training, critical thinking curricula such as "AdSmarts," and cooperative programs such as the "Adolescent Social Action Program. " To combat fear of neighborhood violence, most states have developed safe-school-zone statutes and zero-tolerance policies. Schools are forging partnerships with court and probation officials, formulating crisis prevention/intervention policies, and developing security aids and supervised travel routes. Included are 49 endnotes, an article on bullying by Susan P. Limber and Maury M. Nation, and numerous sidebars. (MLH) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** rr U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention ZIEg Bilchik, Administrator
Genome Sequence and Mutational Analysis of Plant-Growth-Promoting Bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens CCNWGS0286 Isolated from a Zinc-Lead Mine Tailing

ABSTRACT The plant-growth-promoting bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens CCNWGS0286, isolated from the nodules of Robinia pseudoacacia growing in zinc-lead mine tailings, both displayed high metal resistance and enhanced the growth of Robinia plants in a metal-contaminated environment. Our goal was to determine whether bacterial metal resistance or the capacity to produce phytohormones had a larger impact on the growth of host plants under zinc stress. Eight zinc-sensitive mutants and one zinc-sensitive mutant with reduced indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) production were obtained by transposon mutagenesis. Analysis of the genome sequence and of transcription via reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) combined with transposon gene disruptions revealed that ZntA-4200 and the transcriptional regulator ZntR1 played important roles in the zinc homeostasis of A. tumefaciens CCNWGS0286. In addition, interruption of a putative oligoketide cyclase/lipid transport protein reduced IAA synthesis and also showed reduced zinc and cadmium resistance but had no influence on copper resistance. In greenhouse studies, R. pseudoacacia inoculated with A. tumefaciens CCNWGS0286 displayed a significant increase in biomass production over that without inoculation, even in a zinc-contaminated environment. Interestingly, the differences in plant biomass improvement among A. tumefaciens CCNWGS0286, A. tumefaciens C58, and zinc-sensitive mutants 12-2 (zntA::Tn5) and 15-6 (low IAA production) revealed that phytohormones, rather than genes encoding zinc resistance determinants, were the dominant factor in enhancing plant growth in contaminated soil.
Small-Scale Spatial Pattern of Web-Building Spiders (Araneae) in Alfalfa: Relationship to Disturbance from Cutting, Prey Availability, and Intraguild Interactions

Abstract Understanding the development of spatial patterns in generalist predators will improve our ability to incorporate them into biological control programs. We studied the small-scale spatial patterns of spider webs in alfalfa by analyzing the relationship between web locations over distances ranging from 4 to 66 cm. Using a coordinate-based spatial statistic (O-ring) and assuming a heterogeneous distribution of suitable web sites, we analyzed the impact of cutting and changes in spider abundance on web distribution. We analyzed the influence of small-scale variation in prey availability by comparing web distributions to the pattern of sticky-trap captures of Aphididae and Diptera described by a count-based spatial statistic (SADIE). Cutting of alfalfa reduced the overall density of web-building spiders but had no immediate impact on the spatial distribution of their webs. Availability of aphids was highest before the alfalfa was cut and was clumped at a scale of 66 cm. Spider webs, however, were not clumped at any scale or date. In contrast, webs were regularly distributed at smaller distances (<20 cm) immediately before and after cutting. Because cursorial and web-building spiders were most active during this period, we hypothesize that the development of small-scale regularity in web locations was driven by intraguild interactions. Our results suggest that intraguild interactions contribute to the development of small-scale spatial patterns of spider webs in alfalfa. Variation in prey availability may have more of an influence on web distribution in crops with a different vegetation structure or if patterns are studied at larger spatial scales.