Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship of abdominal obesity measured by DXA and waist circumference with insulin sensitivity in Hispanic and non‐Hispanic white individuals: The San Luis Valley Diabetes Study

To determine if dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry (DXA) measures of trunk fat, a user‐defined abdominal region of interest (ROI) and waist circumference (WC) differ in their association with insulin sensitivity among Hispanics and non‐Hispanic whites (NHW) or explain any ethnic differences in insulin sensitivity.
Syringe sharing and HIV incidence among injection drug users and increased access to sterile syringes.

OBJECTIVES We assessed the effects of syringe exchange program (SEP) policy on rates of HIV risk behavior and HIV incidence among injection drug users. METHODS Using a multivariate generalized estimating equation and Cox regression methods, we examined syringe borrowing, syringe lending, and HIV incidence among a prospective cohort of 1228 injection drug users in Vancouver, British Columbia. RESULTS We observed substantial declines in rates of syringe borrowing (from 20.1% in 1998 to 9.2% in 2003) and syringe lending (from 19.1% in 1998 to 6.8% in 2003) following SEP policy change. These declines coincided with a statistically significant increase in the proportion of participants accessing sterile syringes from nontraditional SEP sources (P < .001). In multivariate analyses, the period following the change in SEP policy was independently associated with a greater than 40% reduction in syringe borrowing (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.49, 0.65) and lending (AOR = 0.52; 95% CI = 0.45, 0.60), as well as declining HIV incidence (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.13; 95% CI = 0.06, 0.31). CONCLUSIONS Widespread syringe distribution appears to be a more effective SEP policy than do more restrictive SEP policies that limit syringe access. Efforts should be made to ensure that SEP policies and program design serve to maximize rather than hinder syringe access.
Androgen stimulates neuronal plasticity in the perineal motoneurons of aged male rats

Ten aged male rats (24 months of age) were castrated and implanted subcutaneously with Silastic capsules containing testosterone (T)(5 males) or nothing (5 males). Five sham‐castrated males (25 months of age) served as controls. Four weeks after castration, cholera toxin–horseradish peroxidase (CT‐HRP) was injected into the bulbocavernosus muscles and animals were killed 2 days later. The spinal cords containing the spinal nucleus of the bulbocavernosus (SNB) were dissected, processed with a modified tetramethylbenzidine method for visualization of retrogradely transported CT‐HRP, and examined ultrastructurally. Neuronal structures apposing the membranes of 150 CT‐HRP‐labeled SNB motoneurons were analyzed by measuring the percentage of somatic membranes covered by synaptic contacts, synaptoid contacts, and neuron–neuron contacts. Most of the neuronal structures in the control and experimental SNB motoneurons consisted of synaptic contacts. The mean percentage of somatic membranes covered by synapses in castrated, aged males treated with T was significantly greater than that in control or castrated animals. Size and number of synaptic contacts per unit length of somatic membranes in castrated, aged males treated with T were also significantly greater than those in control or castrated animals. Plasma levels of T in castrated, aged males treated with T were significantly greater than that in controls. These results suggest that the SNB motoneurons of aged male rats retain a considerable synaptic plasticity in response to androgen, and that androgen may be, at least in part, involved in the process of aging of the SNB system in male rats. J. Comp. Neurol. 430:389–395, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Helicobacter pylori “test-and-treat” strategy is not suitable for the management of patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia in Shanghai

Objective. The safety of Helicobacter pylori “test-and-treat” and “test-and-endoscopy” strategies for the management of young patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia has not been evaluated in Shanghai. Material and methods. A total of 14,101 consecutive patients with dyspepsia receiving endoscopy in our hospital from October 2002 to December 2003 were retrospectively studied. The detection rates of esophageal or gastroduodenal malignancies and alarm symptoms were investigated, and H. pylori status was assessed. Results. A total of 202 (1.4%) gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies were found, including 162 cases (1.15%) of gastric cancer, 4 of gastric lymphoma, 35 (0.25%) of esophageal cancer and 1 case of duodenal cancer. Among those patients with GI malignancies, 99 (49.0%) were infected with H. pylori and 108 (53.5%) presented with alarm symptoms. Eighteen patients (0.46%, 18/3952) under 45 years of age were diagnosed as having gastric cancer. Of these patients, 5 (27.8%) presented with alarm symptoms and 13 (72.2%) were infected with H. pylori. If the H. pylori “test-and-treat” strategy were used in dyspeptic patients under the age of 45 years without alarm symptoms in the Shanghai region, then 13 cases (72.2%) of gastric cancer would be missed. If the H. pylori “test-and-endoscopy” strategy were applied, then 3 cases (16.7%) of gastric cancer would be missed. Conclusions.H. pylori “test-and-treat” and “test-and-endoscopy” strategies are both not suitable for the management of patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia in Shanghai. For most Shanghai dyspeptic patients, prompt endoscopy should be recommended as the first-line initial management option.
Diversification Effects on Firm Value and Corporate Governance – Underlying Theories and Case Studies from Thailand

Agency cost of free cash flow is the most detrimental cost to a firm as it can engage firm in the misuse of capital or over-diversification, and could be so tremendous that deprives all the benefits of diversification, generates diversification discount, and destroys firm value. Corporate governance is a mechanism to safeguard the agency problems, hence, plays an important role to reduce value-destroying diversification strategies. However, corporate governance mechanisms in East Asia are different from those of developed countries due to the predominant agency conflicts between controlling and minority shareholders.
Looking Beyond Nativity: The Relation of Age of Immigration, Length of Residence, and Birth Cohorts to the Risk of Onset of Psychiatric Disorders for Latinos

Past studies have yielded inconsistent results regarding risk of psychopathology for U.S. Latinos by nativity possibly due to differences across immigrants in their age of arrival to the United States, their length of residence in the United States, or birth-cohort differences. In this article, we seek to document the relation of age of arrival, time in the United States, and cohort effects on the risk of onset of psychiatric disorders using a nationally representative sample of 2,554 Latinos in the coterminous United States. We assessed risk of onset of psychiatric disorders using the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (Kessler & Us-tun, 2004). Findings indicate that Latino immigrants have lower risks of onset for some psychiatric disorders in their country of origin, but once in the United States, Latino immigrants appear to experience similar risks of onset as U.S.-born Latinos of the same age. The longer Latino immigrants remain in their country of origin, the less cumulative risk of onset they experience, resulting in lower lifetime rates of disorders. These findings could potentially be due to variation in cultural and social norms and expectations across geographical contexts, differences in family structure and gender roles, as well as artifactual-level explanations.
Entamoeba species associated with chronic diarrhoea in Pakistan

SUMMARY We determined the prevalence of Entamoeba (E.) histolytica, E. dispar and E. moshkovskii in patients with chronic diarrhoea associated with abdominal pain or discomfort mimicking irritable bowel syndrome. Stool samples were collected from 161 patients with chronic diarrhoea and from 157 healthy controls. Stool microscopy with modified trichrome stain, culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Entamoeba spp. differentiation was performed. Microscopy demonstrated Entamoeba cysts in 44% (57/129) of patients with diarrhoea compared to 29% (44/151) of controls (P=0·009). In patients with diarrhoea, PCR for E. histolytica was positive in 9% (11/129) (P=0·008), E. dispar in 19% (24/129) (P=0·117) and E. moshkovskii in 19% (24/129) (P<0·001). E. histolytica and E. moshkovskii were significantly associated with diarrhoea while E. dispar was found equally in both groups.
Goal Attainment Scaling Allows Program Evaluation of a Home-Based Occupational Therapy Program

A problem for occupational therapists involved in home-based rehabilitation is the dichotomy between traditional functional status measures, which are commonly reported by therapists to have insufficient flexibility and poor clinical sensitivity, and individualized methods (which do not allow inter-patient comparison for program evaluation). This study used Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) to evaluate both individual and program change. The study demonstrates that GAS was a simple, clinically meaningful measure of change which evaluated patient-centered outcomes and program effects concurrently. In addition, this measure was applied to a traditionally challenging service, that of a home-based rehabilitation program. Goal Attainment Scaling was demonstrated to be useful as an outcome measure for patients with multiple, complex rehabilitation needs, such as those served by a home-based rehabilitation occupational therapy service. It was able to accurately detect meaningful change (necessary for demonstrating clinically significant improvement at the level of the individual patient), be administered in a time-effective manner, and also allow the clinician to evaluate program effectiveness.
High dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone: an effective induction regimen for high-risk Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Abstract Patients with high-risk AML, defined as those with advanced age, relapsed/refractory disease, unfavorable molecular and cytogenetic abnormalities, therapy-related myeloid neoplasm (t-MN) and multiple medical co-morbidities tend to respond poorly to standard cytarabine and daunorubicin induction therapy and have a poor prognosis. We performed a retrospective analysis of an alternative induction regimen using high dose cytarabine (HiDAC) and mitoxantrone (MITO) administered to 78 high-risk patients with AML at The University of Chicago from 2001 to 2008. The primary endpoints of the study were complete remission (CR) rate and death within 30 days of initiation of treatment. The median age was 63 years (range:23–85); 27% of these patients had a Charlson co-morbidity index (CCI) > 2. Forty-three (56%) patients had unfavorable cytogenetics, 28 (37%) had intermediate-risk cytogenetics and 5 (7%) had favorable cytogenetics. The CR rate was 45% and the CRi rate 10%; 7 patients (9%) died during induction. Notably, t-MN and relapsed/refractory patients had CR and induction death rates equivalent to de novo AML patients within this series. In this high risk AML population, HiDAC/MITO induction demonstrated an overall response rate of 55% with a low induction death rate of 9% and allowed 32 (41%) patients to proceed to allogeneic stem cell transplant.
Wild Systems Theory as a 21 st Century Coherence Framework for Cognitive Science

The present paper examines the historical choice points the led twentieth-century cognitive science to its current commitment to correspondence approaches to reality and truth. Such a “correspondence”-driven approach to reality and truth stands in contrast to coherence-driven approaches, which were prominent in the 1800s and early 1900s. Coherence approaches refused to begin the conversation regarding reality with the assumption that the important thing about it was its independence of observers because the reality-observer split inherent in correspondence-driven views often led to objective-subjective divides, which, within scientific theorizing, tended to render the latter causally unnecessary and in need of ontological justification. The present paper fleshes out the differences between coherenceand correspondence-driven approaches to reality and truth, proposes an explanation of why cognitive science came to favor correspondence approaches, describes problems that have arisen in cognitive science because of its commitment to correspondence theorizing, and proposes an alternative framework (i.e., Wild Systems Theory—WST) that is inspired by a coherence approach to reality and truth, yet is entirely consistent with science.
A Conserved Protein with AN 1 Zinc Finger and Ubiquitin-like Domains Modulates Cdc 48 ( p 97 ) Function in the Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway *

Bebiana Sá-Moura, Minoru Funakoshi, Robert J. Tomko, Jr., R. Jürgen Dohmen, Zhiping Wu , Junmin Peng , and Mark Hochstrasser From the Department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520, the Graduate Program in Areas of Basic and Applied Biology, Abel Salazar Biomedical Sciences Institute, University of Porto, Porto 4099-002, Portugal, the Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, Zülpicher Strasse 47, D-50674 Cologne, Germany, and the Departments of Structural Biology and Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Proteomics Facility, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105
Laser capture microdissection reveals dose–response of gene expression in situ consequent to asbestos exposure

The genes that mediate fibroproliferative lung disease remain to be defined. Prior studies from our laboratory showed by in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry that the genes coding for tumour necrosis factor alpha, transforming growth factor beta, the platelet‐derived growth factor A and B isoforms, and alpha‐1 pro‐collagen are expressed in fibroproliferative lesions that develop quickly after asbestos inhalation. These five genes, along with matrix metalloproteinase 9, a collagenase found to be increased in several lung diseases, are known to control matrix production and cell proliferation in humans and animals. Here we show by laser capture microdissection that (i) The six genes are expressed at significantly higher levels in the asbestos‐exposed mice when comparing the same anatomic regions ‘captured’ in unexposed mice. (ii) The bronchiolar‐alveolar duct (BAD) junctions, where the greatest number of fibres initially deposit, were always significantly higher than the other anatomic regions for each gene. The first alveolar duct bifurcation (ADB) generally was higher than the second ADB, the ADBs were always significantly higher than the airway walls and pleura, and the airway walls and pleura were generally higher than the unexposed tissues. (iii) Animals exposed for 3 days always exhibited significantly higher levels of gene expression at the BAD junctions and ADBs than animals exposed for 2 days. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of a dose–response to a toxic particle in situ, and this response appears to be dependent on the number of fibres that deposits at the individual anatomic site.
Cloning and Characterization of a Protein Kinase A Anchoring Protein (AKAP)-related Protein That Interacts with and Regulates Sphingosine Kinase 1 Activity*

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is a bioactive sphingolipid metabolite that has novel dual actions. S1P is the ligand for a family of G protein-coupled receptors known as S1PRs that mediate various physiological functions. Growth factors rapidly activate sphingosine kinase type 1 (SPHK1) resulting in phosphorylation of sphingosine to form S1P, which plays important roles in cell growth regulation and protection from apoptosis. However, little is known of the mechanism(s) by which SPHK activity is regulated. Using a yeast two-hybrid screening approach, we cloned a 3-kb cDNA encoding a SPHK1-interacting protein (SKIP). BLAST analysis revealed that SKIP corresponded to the C-terminal region of a larger (∼7 kb) cDNA that encoded a protein with a high degree of similarity to a family of protein kinase A anchor proteins (AKAP). In confirmation of the yeast two-hybrid assay, glutathione S-transferase (GST)-SPHK1 specifically pulled down SKIP, whereas GST did not. Moreover, immunoprecipitation of in vitro translated SPHK1 and SKIP revealed that SKIP and SPHK1 are tightly associated. Furthermore, SKIP overexpression in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts reduced SPHK1 activity and interfered with its biological functions. The apoptotic-sparing effect of SPHK1 against serum deprivation was reduced when co-transfected with SKIP. In addition, SPHK1-enhanced cell proliferation was also abolished by SKIP, with a corresponding decrease in activation of ERK. Taken together, these results indicate that SKIP is a novel protein likely to play a regulatory role in the modulation of SPHK1 activity.
Minimum rest period for strength recovery during a common isokinetic testing protocol.

PURPOSE The intent of this investigation was to determine the minimal time for a between sets rest period during a common isokinetic knee extension strength-testing protocol. Based on a review of the literature, a set was considered a group of four maximal coupled contractions at a specific velocity. METHODS Eleven normal, healthy college-age men underwent unilateral knee extension testing to determine their individual isokinetic peak torque at 60, 120, 180, 240, and 300 degrees.s-1. Velocities were administered in ascending order. Between sets, rest periods of 15, 60, 180, and 300 s were assigned to subjects in a counterbalanced fashion. RESULTS There were no differences in peak torque at the beginning velocity of 60 degrees.s-1 among any of the rest periods. At 120 degrees.s-1, peak torque production during the 15-s rest period trial was similar to 60 s but lower than 180 and 300 s. Peak torques at 180, 240, and 300 degrees.s-1 produced during the 15-s rest period test were significantly lower than measured torques at the same velocities during the 60, 180, and 300-s rest period tests (P < 0.05). There were no differences in peak torque production between the 60, 180, and 300-s rest period tests. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that during a common isokinetic strength testing protocol a between set rest period of at least 60 s is sufficient for recovery before the next test set.
ccurrence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies aratuberculosis and Neospora caninum in Alberta cow-calf

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) and Neospora caninum (NC) are two pathogens causing important production limiting diseases in the cattle industry. Significant impacts of MAP and NC have been reported on dairy cattle herds, but little is known about the importance, risk factors and transmission patterns in western Canadian cow-calf herds. In this cross-sectional study, the prevalence of MAP and NC infection in southwest Alberta cow-calf herds was estimated, risk factors for NC were identified, and the reproductive impacts of the two pathogens were assessed. Blood and fecal samples were collected from 840 cows on 28 cow-calf operations. Individual cow and herd management information was collected by self-administered questionnaires and one-on-one interviews. Bayesian estimates of the true prevalence of MAP and NC were computed, and bivariable and multivariable statistical analysis were done to assess the association between the NC serological status and ranch management risk factors, and the clinical effects of the two pathogens. Bayesian estimates of true prevalence indicated that 20% (95% probability interval: 8–38%) of herds had at least one MAP-positive cow, with a within-herd prevalence in positive herds of 22% (8–45%). From the Bayesian posterior distributions of NC prevalence, the median herd-level prevalence was 66% (33–95%) with 10% (4–21%) cow-level prevalence in positive herds. Multivariable analysis indicated that introducing purchased animals in the herd might increase the risk of NC. The negative association of NC with proper carcass disposal and presence of horses on ranch (possibly in relation to herd monitoring and guarding activities), may suggest the importance of wild carnivores in the dynamics of this pathogen in the study area. We also observed an association between MAP and NC serological status and the number of abortions. Additional studies should be done to further examine specific risk factors for MAP and NC, assess the consequences on the reproductive performances in cow-calf herds, and evaluate the overall impact of these pathogens on cow-calf operations. © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. ∗ Corresponding author. Tel. : +1 403 210 6683; fax: +1 403 210 6693. E-mail address: mpruvot@wcs.org (M. Pruvot). http://dx.doi. org/10.1016/j.prevetmed. 2014.09. 003 167-5877/© 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. terinary 96 M. Pruvot et al. / Preventive Ve
Clinical and genetic analysis of tuberous sclerosis complex-associated renal angiomyolipoma in Chinese pedigrees

Tuberous sclerosis complex-associated renal angiomyolipoma (TSC-RAML) confers a high risk of bleeding and even mortality. However, data on TSC-RAML in Chinese pedigrees is extremely lacking. The present study aimed to investigate its clinical and genetic characteristics by obtaining a detailed medical history from 6 probands and their family members, and reassessing blood tests, computed tomography and renal dynamic imaging examinations that were conducted in the TSC-RAML patients. The TSC1/TSC2 mutation was detected in 2 families. A total of 3 TSC-RAML patients underwent partial nephrectomy due to a high bleeding risk, and the other 2 were treated with everolimus. The remaining 6 TSC-RAML patients received no clinical intervention and only had clinical follow-uzp. It was found that nearly 37% (18/49) were TSC patients, with the mean ± standard deviation diagnostic age being 34.22±17.73 years old in the 6 pedigrees, 61% (11/18) of whom suffered from TSC-RAML. In the 11 TSC-RAML patients, the maximum diameter of the tumor ranged between 1.20 and 32.50 cm (mean ± standard deviation, 11.48±8.40 cm), the unilateral glomerular filtration rate ranged between 27.20 and 60.10 ml/min (mean ± standard deviation, 42.55±9.73 ml/min), the serum creatinine level ranged between 40.00 and 90.00 µmol/l (mean ± standard deviation, 64.84±16.15 µmol/l) and the hemoglobin concentration ranged between 76.00 and 140.00 g/l (mean ± standard deviation, 107.73±21.04 g/l). Pathogenic mutations of TSC1 (c.733C>T) and TSC2 (c.788_789insC) were detected in family B and C, respectively, as well as certain non-pathogenic mutations, with the maximum diameter of TSC-RAML being 0 cm and 10.3 cm in the two patients from family B and 16 cm and 1.2 cm in the two patients from family C. Expression of phosphorylated-mechanistic target of rapamycin was determined in the TSC-RAML tissues by immunohistochemistry. The maximum diameter of the tumor decreased by 4.90 and 5.30 cm, respectively, in the 2 patients treated with everolimus after 3 months. In conclusion, TSC cannot be easily diagnosed due to its variable characteristics. Growth of TSC-RAML may increase the bleeding risk and reduce the level of hemoglobin, but it does not greatly affect renal function. Individual differences in tumor dimensions existed even with the same pathogenic mutation, except for cases of coexistent non-pathogenic mutations. Everolimus treatment appears to be able to significantly reduce the size of TSC-RAML.