Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interpreting Broken Arrow Points

This paper compares unnotched triangular arrow point refits (conjoined fragments) with whole points from the Eaton site in New York. The differences between the two samples are significant, suggesting that point typologies based on whole points may be misleading. Refits tended to have greater length to width ratios and lower thickness to length ratios, rendering them less durable. While lack of durability is generally considered to be a negative characteristic of stone points, fragmentation of a projectile in an enemy or hunting prey creates a large internal wound cavity, which is desirable. Also desirable is a point base that makes a cut wide enough to prevent drag on the arrow shaft, but narrow enough to have a good chance of passing through the ribs of the target.
Induction of a Potential Paracrine Angiogenic Loop between Human THP-1 Macrophages and Human Microvascular Endothelial Cells during Bartonella henselae Infection

ABSTRACT Bartonella henselae is responsible for various disease syndromes that loosely correlate with the immune status of the host. In the immunocompromised individual, B. henselae-induced angiogenesis, or bacillary angiomatosis, is characterized by vascular proliferative lesions similar to those in Kaposi's sarcoma. We hypothesize that B. henselae-mediated interaction with immune cells, namely, macrophages, induces potential angiogenic growth factors and cytokines which contribute in a paracrine manner to the proliferation of endothelial cells. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a direct inducer of angiogenesis, and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), a potentiator of VEGF, were detected within 12 and 6 h, respectively, in supernatants from phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-differentiated human THP-1 macrophages exposed to live B. henselae. Pretreatment of macrophages with cytochalasin D, a phagocytosis inhibitor, yielded comparable results, suggesting that bacterium-cell attachment is sufficient for VEGF and IL-1β induction. IL-8, an angiogenic cytokine with chemotactic properties, was induced in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1) within 6 h of infection, whereas no IL-8 induction was observed in infected THP-1 cells. In addition, conditioned medium from infected macrophages induced the proliferation of HMEC-1, thus demonstrating angiogenic potential. These data suggest that Bartonella modulation of host or target cell cytokines and growth factors, rather than a direct role of the bacterium as an endothelial cell mitogen, is the predominant mechanism responsible for angiogenesis. B. henselae induction of VEGF, IL-1β, and IL-8 outlines a broader potential paracrine angiogenic loop whereby macrophages play the predominant role as the effector cell and endothelial cells are the final target cell, resulting in their proliferation.
Adjuvant chemotherapy for endometrial cancer after hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND Endometrial adenocarcinoma (womb cancer) is a malignant growth of the lining (endometrium) of the womb (uterus). It is distinct from sarcomas (tumours of the uterine muscle). Survival depends the risk of microscopic metastases after surgery. Adjuvant (postoperative) chemotherapy improves survival from some other adenocarcinomas, and there is evidence that endometrial cancer is sensitive to cytotoxic therapy. This systematic review examines the effect of chemotherapy on survival after hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. OBJECTIVES To assess efficacy of adjuvant (postoperative) chemotherapy for endometrial cancer. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, The Cochrane Library 2010, Issue 3), MEDLINE and EMBASE up to August 2010, registers of clinical trials, abstracts of scientific meetings, reference lists of included studies and contacted experts in the field. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing adjuvant chemotherapy with any other adjuvant treatment or no other treatment. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS We used a random-effects meta-analysis to assess hazard ratios (HR) for overall and progression-free survival and risk ratios (RR) to compare death rates and site of initial relapse. MAIN RESULTS Five RCTs compared no additional treatment with additional chemotherapy after hysterectomy and radiotherapy. Four trials compared platinum based combination chemotherapy directly with radiotherapy. Indiscriminate pooling of survival data from 2197 women shows a significant overall survival advantage from adjuvant chemotherapy (RR (95% CI) = 0.88 (0.79 to 0.99)). Sensitivity analysis focused on trials of modern platinum based chemotherapy regimens and found the relative risk of death to be 0.85 ((0.76 to 0.96); number needed to treat for an additional beneficial outcome (NNT) = 25; absolute risk reduction = 4% (1% to 8%)). The HR for overall survival is 0.74 (0.64 to 0.89), significantly favouring the addition of postoperative platinum based chemotherapy. The HR for progression-free survival is 0.75 (0.64 to 0.89). This means that chemotherapy reduces the risk of being dead at any censorship by a quarter. Chemotherapy reduces the risk of developing the first recurrence outside the pelvis (RR = 0.79 (0.68 to 0.92), 5% absolute risk reduction; NNT = 20). The analysis of pelvic recurrence rates is underpowered but the trend suggests that chemotherapy may be less effective than radiotherapy in a direct comparison (RR = 1.28 (0.97 to 1.68)) but it may have added value when used with radiotherapy (RR = 0.48 (0.20 to 1.18)). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Postoperative platinum based chemotherapy is associated with a small benefit in progression-free survival and overall survival irrespective of radiotherapy treatment. It reduces the risk of developing a metastasis, could be an alternative to radiotherapy and has added value when used with radiotherapy.
Increasing Dietary Protein Requirements in Elderly People for Optimal Muscle and Bone Health

Osteoporosis and sarcopenia are degenerative diseases frequently associated with aging. The loss of bone and muscle results in significant morbidity, so preventing or attenuating osteoporosis and sarcopenia is an important public health goal. Dietary protein is crucial for development of bone and muscle, and recent evidence suggests that increasing dietary protein above the current Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) may help maintain bone and muscle mass in older individuals. Several epidemiological and clinical studies point to a salutary effect of protein intakes above the current RDA (0.8 g/kg per day) for adults aged 19 and older. There is evidence that the anabolic response of muscle to dietary protein is attenuated in elderly people, and as a result, the amount of protein needed to achieve anabolism is greater. Dietary protein also increases circulating insulin‐like growth factor, which has anabolic effects on muscle and bone. Furthermore, increasing dietary protein increases calcium absorption, which could be anabolic for bone. Available evidence supports a beneficial effect of short‐term protein intakes up to 1.6 to 1.8 g/kg per day, although long‐term studies are needed to show safety and efficacy. Future studies should employ functional measures indicative of protein adequacy, as well as measures of muscle protein synthesis and maintenance of muscle and bone tissue, to determine the optimal level of dietary protein. Given the available data, increasing the RDA for older individuals to 1.0 to 1.2 g/kg per day would maintain normal calcium metabolism and nitrogen balance without affecting renal function and may represent a compromise while longer‐term protein supplement trials are pending. J Am Geriatr Soc 57:1073–1079, 2009.
Effect of frequency chirping on the performance of optical communication systems.

The effect of frequency chirping on the performance of optical communication systems is analyzed theoretically using a simple but realistic model for the chirped pulses emitted by a directly modulated semiconductor laser. The effect of pulse-edge sharpness is investigated by considering the propagation of super-Gaussian chirped pulses in a dispersive single-mode fiber. The results are presented using the parameter values appropriate for a 1.55-μm optical communication system employing conventional silica fibers and are in qualitative agreement with the reported experimental observations.
Aortic valve replacement in over 70- and over 80-year olds: 5-year cohort study

Background Demand for aortic valve intervention remains high, and together with the recent introduction of transcatheter aortic valve implantation, this motivates a review of surgical aortic valve replacement in elderly recipients. Methods Consecutive patients over 70 years of age having isolated aortic valve replacement during 2007–11 were retrospectively identified and divided into 70–79 and ≥ 80 years age groups for analyses. Results 62 octogenarians and 121 septuagenarians were eligible. Among octogenarians, a lower proportion were in Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class 3–4 (3.2% vs. 14.0%, p = 0.022) and fewer had diabetes (11.3% vs. 24.8%, p = 0.034), but a higher proportion had infective endocarditis (6.5% vs. 0%, p = 0.012), and EuroSCORE II was higher (4.9% vs. 3.7%, p < 0.001). Despite this, operative mortality was lower in octogenarians (0% vs. 7.4%, p = 0.029), although hospital stay (11.7 vs. 8.9 days, p = 0.026) was longer. One-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 95.2%, 90.1%, and 75.3% for octogenarians and 89.2%, 81.7%, and 70.2% for septuagenarians (p = 0.398). Canadian Cardiovascular Society angina class 3–4 and the presence of other valvular stenosis or regurgitation were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusion Octogenarians had lower operative mortality despite a higher predicted risk preoperatively. Other factors beyond age and EuroSCORE, such as frailty, may be important in deciding whether elderly patients should undergo aortic valve replacement.
Visual acuity screening of preterm infants.

Visual acuity was screened in 36 healthy infants born 4 or more weeks prior to term. Preterm infants tested at 8 and 12 weeks of postnatal age showed significantly poorer performances than those shown by 8- and 12-week-old full-term infants. However, no differences in performance were found when the scores of preterm infants tested at 4, 8, and 12 weeks of postterm age (i.e., 4, 8, and 12 weeks from due date) were compared with scores of 4-, 8-, and 12-week-old full-term infants. The results suggest that visual acuity is more closely correlated with age from conception than with age from birth and that visual acuity screening in preterm infants should be carried out with acuity gratings appropriate for the infant's postterm age rather than with acuity gratings appropriate for the infant's postnatal age.
Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of ESβL Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolated from Urine Samples of Pregnant Women in Karnataka.

BACKGROUND Klebsiella pneumoniae possess a new problem to health care professionals worldwide, which complicates and limits therapeutic options. It is one of the leading nosocomial bacterial pathogens, and the present study aims to determine the prevalence of ESβL producing K. pneumoniae isolates with their antibiotic susceptibility pattern in urine samples of the pregnant women with UTI. MATERIALS AND METHODS Using standard isolation and identification procedures a total of 41 isolates were obtained from 417 midstream urine samples of pregnant women with suspected UTI in Karnataka. The antibiotic resistance profile of each isolate was performed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method and ESβL production by standard phenotypic method. RESULTS Isolation rate of K. pneumoniae in pregnant women was 19.9% and overall incidence rate was 9.8%. Among the 41 K. pneumoniae isolates, 26 (63.4%) were ESβL producers and all were found to be Multi Drug Resistance (MDR). The antibiotic susceptibility test (AST) for the isolates revealed that the highest number of K. pneumoniae were resistant to ampicillin (75.6%) followed by, nitrofurontoin and cefuroxime (73.1%) and least to chloramphenicol (12.1%). ESβL producers were highly resistance to nitrofurontoin (69.2%) and cotrimonazole (65.2%) and lower resistance was (7.6%) to amaikacin, observed. A higher resistance pattern to these two antibiotics was observed against ESβL non producing K. pneumonia but lowest to polymyxin B (13.3%) instead of amikacin (26.6%). All the isolates were found to be susceptible to imipenem. CONCLUSION Present investigation revealed high prevalence of MDR- ESβL producing Klebsiella pneumoniae, which indicates dire need for effective ESβL surveillance in the community by using cost effective antimicrobials agents.
Healthcare spending and preventive care in high-deductible and consumer-directed health plans.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) and consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) on healthcare spending and on the use of recommended preventive care. STUDY DESIGN Retrospective study. METHODS We analyzed claims and enrollment data for 808,707 households from 53 large US employers, 28 of which offered HDHPs or CDHPs. We estimated the effects of HDHP or CDHP enrollment on healthcare cost growth between 2004 and 2005 using a difference-in-difference method that compared cost growth for families who were enrolled in HDHPs or CDHPs for the first time in 2005 with cost growth for families who were not offered HDHPs or CDHPs. Control families were weighted using propensity score weights to match the treatment families. Using similar methods, we examined the effects of HDHP or CDHP enrollment on the use of preventive care and the effects of HDHP or CDHP offering by employers on the mean cost growth. RESULTS Families enrolling in HDHPs or CDHPs for the first time spent 14% less than similar families enrolled in conventional plans. Families in firms offering an HDHP or a CDHP spent less than those in other firms. Significant savings for enrollees were realized only for plans with deductibles of at least $1000, and savings decreased with generous employer contributions to healthcare accounts. Enrollment in HDHPs or CDHPs was also associated with moderate reductions in the use of preventive care. CONCLUSIONS The HDHPs or CDHPs with at least a $1000 deductible significantly reduced healthcare spending, but they also reduced the use of preventive care in the first year. This merits additional study because of concerns about enrollee health.
Depression and Self-Reported Disability Among Older People in Western Europe

Objective: To analyze the existing levels of depression among older people (aged 50 or older) with and without disabilities at a European level. Methods: We analyse and compare the levels of depression among people with and without disabilities in 11 Western European countries through the use of the indicator EURO-D. We employ a logistic model for each country to estimate the effects of self-reported disability on the likelihood of being depressed. Results: Older people with disabilities suffer higher levels of depression as compared with their nondisabled counterparts, especially among women. Furthermore, significant regional differences in the levels of depression are found. Discussion: The high prevalence of depression among disabled older individuals is a phenomenon of especial interest and medical, social, and economic relevance within Europe and has important effects on the levels of well-being, employment and income reported by all older people in general, and disabled older people in particular.
Adiponectin increases MMP‐3 expression in human chondrocytes through adipor1 signaling pathway

Articular adipose tissue is a ubiquitous component of human joints, and adiponectin is a protein hormone secreted predominantly by differentiated adipocytes and involved in energy homeostasis. The adiponectin is significantly higher in synovial fluid of patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)‐3 may contribute to the breakdown of articular cartilage during arthritis. We investigated the signaling pathway involved in MMP‐3 caused by adiponectin in human chondrocytes. Adiponectin increased the secretion of MMP‐3 in cultured human chondrocytes, as shown by qPCR, Western blot, and ELISA analysis. Adiponectin‐mediated MMP‐3 expression was attenuated by AdipoR1 but not AdipoR2 siRNA. Pretreatment with 5′‐AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibitor (araA and compound C), p38 inhibitor (SB203580), and NF‐κB inhibitor (PDTC and TPCK) also inhibited the potentiating action of adiponectin. Activations of p38, AMPK, and NF‐κB pathways after adiponectin treatment were demonstrated. Taken together, our results provide evidence that adiponectin acts through AdipoR1 to activate p38 and AMPK, resulting in the activations of NF‐κB on the MMP‐3 promoter and contribute cartilage destruction during arthritis. J. Cell. Biochem. 112: 1431–1440, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
‘It’s one of the first times I’ve felt fully engaged’: developing student engagement using blogging as a form of assessment

ABSTRACT There is a widespread debate in higher education about how best to support students in becoming more active and engaged learners. Geographers have occupied a central position in these debates having long been concerned with understanding and creating teaching spaces that encourage active and experiential learning. Recent pedagogical innovations have seen a movement away from a reliance on lecturing as the key pedagogical method and a redefinition of the roles of both teacher and learner. In this paper, we look at the role that assessment, specifically assessed blogs, can play in enhancing student engagement. Drawing on interviews with Course Organizers from two case study courses, student focus groups, and course evaluation surveys we show the various ways in which blogs enhance engagement. We draw attention to how blogging enabled students to personalize their learning and make it more meaningful to them, as well as to foster greater engagement with the course materials including making connections across the course as a whole. Further, we show how blogging enabled students to develop transferable skills that would stand them in good stead for the rest of their time at university and in their future professional lives.
Synaptic properties of the lemniscal and paralemniscal pathways to the mouse somatosensory thalamus

Significance Functional mapping of the routes of information processing is essential to understand how the brain operates. The main carriers of information are excitatory (glutamatergic) neurons, which form synapses that can either reliably deliver information or modify it. Using the somatosensory system in the mouse, we show that the two parallel glutamatergic routes from periphery to cortex should not be considered equal in carrying somatosensory information. Instead, one route has synapses solely suited for fast information transfer—the Lemniscal pathway—and the other suited for mainly modifying such information—the Paralemniscal pathway. This is an example of synaptic and anatomical analyses that inform circuit function and build on a framework for feedforward and feedback processing. Somatosensory information is thought to arrive in thalamus through two glutamatergic routes called the lemniscal and paralemniscal pathways via the ventral posterior medial (VPm) and posterior medial (POm) nuclei. Here we challenge the view that these pathways functionally represent parallel information routes. Using electrical stimulation and an optogenetic approach in brain slices from the mouse, we investigated the synaptic properties of the lemniscal and paralemniscal input to VPm and POm. Stimulation of the lemniscal pathway produced class 1, or “driver,” responses in VPm relay cells, which is consistent with this being an information-bearing channel. However, stimulation of the paralemniscal pathway produced two distinct types of responses in POm relay cells: class 1 (driver) responses in 29% of the cells, and class 2, or “modulator,” responses in the rest. Our data suggest that, unlike the lemniscal pathway, the paralemniscal one is not homogenous and that it is primarily modulatory. This finding requires major rethinking regarding the routes of somatosensory information to cortex and suggests that the paralemniscal route is chiefly involved in modulatory functions rather than simply being an information route parallel to the lemniscal channel.
Ischemic Tolerance in Uremic Rabbits

Background: Cardiac complications after myocardial infarction are believed to be worse in the presence of comorbidities; we tested whether experimentally induced prolonged uremia exacer-bated myocardial necrosis in a rabbit preparation of ischemia-reperfusion injury. In addition, we examined if treatment with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (Enalapril, ENA, 3 mg/Kg, IV) could reduce post-ischemic myocardial damage. Methods: Prolonged uremia was induced by a two-stage subtotal nephrectomy and confirmed by marked increases in serum creatinine and urea levels; after 5 weeks, four groups of rabbits were exposed to 45-min acute coronary occlusion followed by 180-min reperfusion. In treated animals, ENA was administered 5-min before onset of coronary reperfusion. All data from uremic animals were compared with time-matched controls. Results: Cardiac hemodynamics was similar for all groups during the development of kidney failure; heart rate in uremic rabbits was significantly lower for the duration of ischemia-reperfusion. In this animal model, the absence of coronary collateral circulation provides a stable ischemic substrate for evaluation of cellular necrosis. Infarct size (expressed as percent risk zone size) was: control, 48 ± 16; uremia, 36 ± 5; control + ENA, 51 ± 19; and uremia + ENA, 41 ± 16; risk zone size was similar for all animals. Conclusion: The present findings are inconsistent with the view that post-ischemic cardiac injury is greater in animals with pre-existent uremia. In addition, we were unable to show a significant beneficial effect with an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor on infarct size in either control or uremic rabbits. It remains to be proven in animal models with comorbidities such as manifest kidney disease that ischemic tolerance can be substantially reduced by either pharmacologic or non-pharmacologic interventions.
PENGARUH PROFITABILITAS, LEVERAGE, DAN KEBIJAKAN DIVIDEN TERHADAP NILAI PERUSAHAAN

Perusahaan sebagai sebuah entitas ekonomi lazimnya memiliki tujuan jangka pendek dan jangka panjang. Pada jangka panjang, tujuan perusahaan adalah untuk memaksimalkan nilai perusahaan. Penelitian ini adalah penelitian kuantitatif yang bertujuan untuk menguji pengaruh profitabilitas, leverage , dan kebijakan dividen terhadap nilai perusahaan pada perusahaan manufaktur yang listing di BEI pada tahun 2009 – 2013. Profitabilitas diukur dengan menggunakan Return On Asset (ROA), leverage diukur dengan menggunakan Debt to Equity Ratio (DER), kebijakan dividen diukur dengan menggunakan Dividend Payout Ratio (DPR), dan nilai perusahaan diukur dengan menggunakan Price to Book Value (PBV). Sampel pada penelitian ini terdiri dari 33 perusahaan manufaktur yang listing di BEI pada tahun 2009 sampai dengan 2013. Teknik pengambilan sampel dengan menggunakan purposive sampling . Teknik analisis data dilakukan dengan uji asumsi klasik. Pengujian hipotesis dilakukan dengan analisis regresi berganda dengan bantuan program SPSS. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa ROA, DER, dan DPR memiliki pengaruh terhadap PBV. Kata kunci : Profitabilitas, Leverage , Kebijakan Dividen, dan Nilai Perusahaan.