Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relative validity and reproducibility of an FFQ to determine nutrient intakes of New Zealand toddlers aged 12–24 months

Abstract Objective The study objective was to determine the relative validity and reproducibility of a modified FFQ for ranking the nutrient intakes of New Zealand toddlers aged 12–24 months. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Dunedin, New Zealand. Subjects One hundred and fifty-two participants completed a ninety-five-item FFQ twice, and five days of weighed diet recording (WDR), over one month. Validity and reproducibility were assessed for crude data and for data that were weighted for total fruit and vegetable intake (FV-adjusted). Results De-attenuated correlations between FV-adjusted FFQ data and WDR data ranged from 0·45 (Zn) to 0·77 (Ca). The percentage classified to the correct WDR quartile by the FV-adjusted FFQ data ranged from 34·6 % (total fat, Zn) to 50·3 % (Fe). Average gross misclassification was 3 %. Bland–Altman statistics showed crude data had a range of 128–178 % agreement with the WDR and mean FV-adjusted intakes had 112–160 % agreement. FV-adjusted intra-class correlations, assessing reproducibility, ranged from 0·65 (vitamin C) to 0·75 (Ca). Conclusions The Eating Assessment in Toddlers (EAT) FFQ showed acceptable to good relative validity, and good reproducibility, for ranking participants’ nutrient intake and is able to identify toddlers at extremes of the nutrient intake distribution. It will be a useful tool for investigating toddlers’ nutrient intakes in studies that require a method of dietary assessment with low respondent burden.
Inhibition of P. falciparum PFATP6 by curcumin and its derivatives: a bioinformatic study.

Curcumin, a yellow spice has been shown to have many pathological uses including cancer and malaria. Recent experimental data have shown the inhibitory effect of curcumin and its two derivatives on the growth of Plasmodium falciparum in cell culture at low micromolar concentrations. Previous studies have suggested that Ca(2+)—ATPase (PfATP6) of P. falciparum is the target of many antimalarial drugs. However, the mechanism of inhibition of Ca(2+)—ATPase (PfATP6) is not known. In addition, it is not clear which specific isomeric form of curcumin is the most potent inhibitor of P. falciparum. Here we address this issue using bioinformatics tools. We generated a molecular model of Ca(2+)—ATPase (PfATP6) of P. falciparum and carried out molecular docking of all curcumin analogues of Zinc database of compounds (zinc.docking.org). Two molecular docking programs Glide and FlexX were used to determine binding feasibility of 351 analogues of curcumin. The comparison of docking parameters showed, more than 20 analogues are better ligands of PfATP6 than curcumin itself. The binding of curcumin and its analogues to PFATP6 is mediated by both hydrophobic and polar interactions. Our results suggest that curcumin analogues are promising lead compounds for the development of antimalarial drugs.
Hidden Markov models for the onset and progression of bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome in lung transplant recipients

Chronic rejection in lung transplant recipients is monitored by repeated measurement of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). This marker is measured at irregular intervals and is also affected by covariates and short‐term fluctuation. This paper describes the use of hidden Markov models for the underlying staged functional decline. Maximum likelihood methods are used to simultaneously estimate disease progression rates and the effects of mismeasurement and covariates. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Expression of Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis Markers in Papillomas and Cancers of Conjunctiva and Eyelid

Abstract: Cell proliferation and programmed cell death are considered to be important events in carcinogenesis. The object of our study was to evaluate the expression of the Bcl‐2 protein family (Bcl‐2, Bak, Bax), p53, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and Ki‐67 protein immunoexpression as well as the correlation between the examined markers and some clinicopathological features in papillomas and cancers of conjunctiva and eyelid. Forty‐five squamous cell papillomas (SCP), 11 squamous cell cancers (SCC), and 27 basal cell cancers (BCC) were estimated. In the SCP group, p53 protein expression was observed in 30 cases (66.6%), Ki‐67 in 14 (31.1%), PCNA in 44 (97.8%), Bcl‐2 in 24 (53.3%), Bak in 28 (62.2%), Bax in 31 (68.9%), and Bcl‐xl in 11 (100%). In the SCC group, p53 protein expression was evaluated in 8 cases (72.8%), Ki‐67 in 2 (18.2%), PCNA in 8 (72.7%), Bcl‐2 in 5 (45.4%), Bax and Bak both in 10 (90.9%), and Bcl‐xl in 100%. In the BCC group, p53 protein expression was estimated in 23 cases (85.1%), Ki‐67 in 13 (48.1%), PCNA in 26 (96.2%), Bcl‐2 in 13 (48.1%), Bak in 21 (77.8%), Bax in 22 (81.5%), and Bcl‐xl in 23 (85.2%). We observed a correlation between some clinicopathological features and the examined markers of apoptosis and cell proliferation, which seemed to be important events in cancer development.
Intranasal aerosolized insulin. Mixed-meal studies and long-term use in type I diabetes.

Abstract We assessed the efficacy of intranasal aerosolized insulin containing laureth-9 as a surfactant in patients with Type I diabetes by fasting studies in 8 patients, mixed-meal studies in 15, and long-term home use in 8. The intranasal insulin (1 U per kilogram of body weight in 1 per cent laureth-9) was rapidly absorbed (in 15 minutes); it lowered the plasma glucose level by 50 per cent in 45 minutes in fasting normal controls and by 50 per cent in 120 minutes in fasting diabetics. The glucose-lowering potency depended on the insulin dose and surfactant concentration. Nasal irritation was proportional to surfactant concentration, with great variability among subjects. After intranasal insulin used before meals (1 U per kilogram in 1 per cent laureth-9), the two-hour postprandial glucose level increased above before-meal levels by 38 mg per deciliter, as compared with 191 mg per deciliter after intranasal placebo in patients with Type I diabetes (P<0.05). An outpatient feasibility study examining th.
Time after Time: Environmental Influences on the Aging Brain

The population of Americans aged 65 and older is expected to double between 2010 and 2050,1 and by midcentury the proportion of the human population made up of people over age 80 is projected to have quadrupled since 2000.2 So factors that affect this aging population are of increasing importance. Of particular concern are the neurological diseases and disorders typically associated with advanced age, among them Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, dementia, and reduced cognitive function. Investigators are studying the effects of not just present-day exposures and environmental influences such as physical and mental exercise, but also exposures that occurred much earlier in life, whose effects may only become apparent in old age. A growing body of evidence suggests that neurological function in the elderly can be affected by exposures from years earlier. It was long assumed that “once the brain received its allotted quota of nerve cells, its destiny was frozen. After that, the passage of time eroded our allotment steadily and irrevocably,” as professor emeritus Bernard Weiss of the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry wrote in 2007.3 Now, however, there is increasing evidence that the brain is capable of generating new neurons and other functional brain cells even during advanced age. There is also evidence that the older brain can respond quickly and positively to external influences such as physical exercise and intellectual stimulation. This is prompting considerable interest in developing strategies for protecting and enhancing neurological function in the elderly. The two most vulnerable periods for the brain, Weiss says, are early in life, when the organ is first developing, and later in life, when the body’s defenses and compensatory mechanisms begin to falter. There is a large and growing body of evidence indicating these two vulnerable life stages can be linked when damage incurred during early development contributes to health disorders that may not become apparent until later in life.4 Weiss also notes that declining defense mechanisms may magnify vulnerability to contemporary environmental exposures. He says that when older adults experience cognitive problems, diagnoses rarely consider the possibility that environmental chemical exposure may be involved, simply because questions about such exposures are typically not asked as part of clinical intake. Over the past 30 years, Weiss says, research attention has focused primarily on environmental influences on early developmental stages. Far less extensively researched, but a subject of increasing interest, are environmental chemical exposures that can affect the health of the aging brain.
Peaceful Post‐Conflict Interactions between Aggressors and Bystanders in captive lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)

We observed a colony of lowland gorillas in order to assess the occurrence of Peaceful Post‐Conflict Interactions between Aggressors and Bystanders (PPIAB). We compared the dynamics of PPIAB with those of Peaceful Post‐Conflict Interactions between Victims and Bystanders (PPIVB), which are directed toward victims. We confirmed the occurrence of PPIAB (mean Triadic Contact Tendency: 41.7%±16.2% SEM) at frequencies comparable to PPIVB. Immature gorillas were responsible for most PPIAB. PPIAB occurred when the bystander was unrelated to either the aggressor or the victim, and when it was a relative of the aggressor. However, affinitive contact rates were higher in the former case. Unlike PPIVB, PPIAB significantly reduced the likelihood of further aggressions within the group, suggesting that they work at an immediate level. Our data also suggest that bystanders decide when a peaceful contact may be too risky; in fact, neither PPIAB nor PPIVB occurred after high‐intensity aggressions. Am. J. Primatol. 70:949–955, 2008. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A novel gain‐of‐function mutation in ORAI1 causes late‐onset tubular aggregate myopathy and congenital miosis

We present three members of an Italian family affected by tubular aggregate myopathy (TAM) and congenital miosis harboring a novel missense mutation in ORAI1. All patients had a mild, late onset TAM revealed by asymptomatic creatine kinase (CK) elevation and congenital miosis consistent with a Stormorken‐like Syndrome, in the absence of thrombocytopathy. Muscle biopsies showed classical histological findings but ultrastructural analysis revealed atypical tubular aggregates (TAs). The whole body muscle magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a similar pattern of muscle involvement that correlated with clinical severity. The lower limbs were more severely affected than the scapular girdle, and thighs were more affected than legs. Molecular analysis revealed a novel c.290C>G (p.S97C) mutation in ORAI1 in all affected patients. Functional assays in both human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells and myotubes showed an increased rate of Ca2+ entry due to a constitutive activation of the CRAC channel, consistent with a ‘gain‐of‐function’ mutation. In conclusion, we describe an Italian family harboring a novel heterozygous c.290C>G (p.S97C) mutation in ORAI1 causing a mild‐ and late‐onset TAM and congenital miosis via constitutive activation of the CRAC channel. Our findings extend the clinical and genetic spectrum of the ORAI1‐related TAM.
Muscle Ischemic Preconditioning does not Improve Performance during Self-Paced Exercise

Abstract Muscle ischemic preconditioning (IP) has been found to improve exercise performance in laboratory tests. This investigation aims at verifying whether performance is improved by IP during self-paced exercise (SPE) in the field. 11 well-trained male runners performed 3 randomly assigned 5 000 m self-paced running tests on an outdoor track. One was the reference (RT) test, while the others were performed following muscle IP (IPT) and a control sham test (ST). Average speeds were measured during each test. Mean values in oxygen uptake (VO2), aerobic energy cost (AEC) during race and post-race blood lactate (BLa) were gathered. Data showed that none of the studied variables were affected by IPT or ST with respect to the RT test. Average speeds were 4.63±0.31, 4.62±0.31 and 4.60±0.25 m·s−1 for the RT, the ST and the IPT tests, respectively. Moreover, there was no difference among tests in speed reached during each lap. VO2 was 3.5±0.69, 3.74±0.85 and 3.62±1.19 l·min−1. AEC was 1.04±0.15, 1.08±0.1 and 1.09±0.15 kcal·kg−1·km−1. Finally, post-race BLa levels reached 12.85±3.54, 11.88±4.74 and 12.82±3.6 mmol·l−1. These findings indicate that performance during SPE is not ameliorated by ischemic preconditioning, thereby indicating that IP is not suitable as an ergogenic aid.
Translation and Validation of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale Among Older Migrants Living in the Netherlands

OBJECTIVES We validate a translated version of the De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale (DJGLS) for use among older migrants from Turkish and Moroccan descent and validate the original Dutch version of the same scale for Surinamese migrants in the Netherlands. METHOD The data were derived from a population-based cross-sectional study among community-dwelling individuals aged 55 and older. In addition to translating the DJGLS for these ethnic groups, several statistical analyses were performed to assess the scale's reliability and validity. RESULTS The DJGLS proved to be internally consistent and to have adequate convergent validity among all ethnic groups. Latent structure analysis confirmed the two latent factors (emotional and social subscales) in all groups, but also showed that fit was not optimal in most groups. Known groups validity was observed using functional limitations and subjective health as grouping variables. CONCLUSIONS The results provide sufficient support for use of the translated version of the 11-item DJGLS among Turkish and Moroccan older migrants and use of the Dutch version for Surinamese older migrants as a reliable and valid measure of loneliness. Fit of latent structural models varied between good and poor. Further research is needed to investigate ethnic differences in levels and determinants of loneliness.
Inferring microstructural features and the physiological state of tissues from diffusion‐weighted images

We review several methods that have been developed to infer microstructural and physiological information about isotropic and anisotropic tissues from diffusion weighted images (DWIs). These include Diffusion Imaging (DI), Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI), isotropically weighted imaging, and q‐space imaging. Just as DI provides useful information about molecular displacements in one dimension with which to characterize diffusion in isotropic tissues, DTI provides information about molecular displacements in three dimensions needed to characterize diffusion is anisotropic tissues. DTI also furnishes scalar parameters that behave like quantitative histological or physiological‘stains’ for different features of diffusion. These include Trace(D), which is related to the mean diffusivity, and a family of parameters derived from the diffusion tensor, D, which characterize different features of anisotropic diffusion. Simple thought experiments and geometrical constructs, such as the diffusion ellipsoid, can be used to understand water diffusion in isotropic and anisotropic media, and the NMR experiments used to characterize it.
The Integrative Action of the Autonomic Nervous System Neurobiology of Homeostasis

Almost all bodily functions are dependent on the functioning of the autonomic nervous system– from the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal tract, the evacuative and sexual organs, to the regulation of temperature, metabolism and tissue defense. Balanced functioning of this system is an important basis of our life and well-being. The Integrative Action of the Autonomic Nervous System: Neurobiology of Homeostasis gives a detailed description of the cellular and integrative organization of the autonomic nervous system, covering both peripheral and central aspects. It brings to light modern neurobiological concepts that allow understanding of why the healthy system runs so smoothly and why its deterioration has such disastrous consequences. This broad overview will appeal to advanced undergraduate and graduate students studying the neurobiology of the autonomic nervous system within the various biological and medical sciences and will give access to ideas propagated in psychosomatic disease and alternative medicines.
The effect of the antisperm auto‐antibody‐bound sperm on in vitro fertilization outcome

Summary To evaluate the effects of antisperm auto‐antibody‐bound sperm on the outcome of in vitro fertilization‐embryo transfer (IVF‐ET), 160 infertile couples undergoing treatment by in vitro fertilization were recruited in this study. In the study group (11 couples, 15 cycles), the male partners were positive for antisperm autoantibodies determined by immunobead test (IBT). In the control group (149 couples, 152 cycles), the men had no such antibodies. The percentages of fertilization rate, cleavage rate and pregnancy rate of the study group and control group were 75.0±5.2% vs. 69.3±2.4%; 82.8±3.7% vs. 89.8±1.2% and 6.7% vs. 11.8%, respectively. There were no significant differences in in vitro fertilization outcome between both groups. The region, type and/or percentage of sperm‐bound antibodies also had no effect on the in vitro fertilization outcome. In conclusion, in vitro fertilization‐embryo transfer is not significantly affected by antisperm autoantibody‐bound sperm determined by immunobead test.
Human and Simian Immunodeficiency Virus Capsid Proteins Are Major Viral Determinants of Early, Postentry Replication Blocks in Simian Cells

ABSTRACT The cells of most Old World monkey species exhibit early, postentry restrictions on infection by human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) but not by simian immunodeficiency virus of macaques (SIVmac). Conversely, SIVmac, but not HIV-1, infection is blocked in most New World monkey cells. By using chimeric HIV-1/SIVmac viruses capable of a single round of infection, we demonstrated that a major viral determinant of this restriction is the capsid (CA) protein. The efficiency of early events following HIV-1 and SIVmac entry is apparently determined by the interaction of the incoming viral CA and species-specific host factors.
Academically buoyant students are less anxious about and perform better in high-stakes examinations.

BACKGROUND Prior research has shown that test anxiety is negatively related to academic buoyancy, but it is not known whether test anxiety is an antecedent or outcome of academic buoyancy. Furthermore, it is not known whether academic buoyancy is related to performance on high-stakes examinations. AIMS To test a model specifying reciprocal relations between test anxiety and academic buoyancy and to establish whether academic buoyancy is related to examination performance. SAMPLE A total of 705 students in their final year of secondary education (Year 11). METHODS Self-report data for test anxiety and academic buoyancy were measured in two waves in Year 11. Examination performance was taken from the mean English, mathematics, and science scores from the high-stakes General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) examinations taken at the end of Year 11. RESULTS Measurement invariance was demonstrated for test anxiety and academic buoyancy across both waves of measurement. The worry component of test anxiety, but not the tension component, showed reciprocal relations with academic buoyancy. Worry predicted lower mean GCSE score and academic buoyancy predicted a higher mean GCSE score. Tension did not predict mean GCSE score. CONCLUSION Academic buoyancy protects against the appraisal of examinations as threatening by influencing self-regulative processes and enables better examination performance. Worry, but not tension, shows a negative feedback loop to academic buoyancy.
Tolerance of gastric mucosal flap to postoperative irradiation

When malignant lesions of the oral cavity, base of tongue, and oropharynx are treated with radical resection, adequate reconstruction is required. The free gastric mucosal flap with microvascular transfer is being used with increasing frequency at Washington University Medical Center. Because of the advanced nature of the primary lesions, most patients also require postoperative radiation therapy. In this paper the tolerance of the gastric mucosal flap to postoperative radiation therapy is reviewed. The changes resulting from radiation therapy in the mucosal flap were found to be acceptable, and no major complications were encountered.
The Cell Membrane as a Major Site of Damage during Aerosolization of Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT This study aimed to provide data on the survival and site of damage of Escherichia coli cells following aerosolization using two different techniques, nebulization and flow focusing. Four metabolic stains were assessed for their ability to detect respiratory activities and membrane homeostasis in aerosolized E. coli cells. The degree of sublethal injury increased significantly over the 10-min period of aerosolization in E. coli cells aerosolized by using the Collison nebulizer, reaching up to 99.9% of the population. In contrast, a significantly lower proportion of the population was sublethally damaged during aerosolization using the flow-focusing aerosol generator (FFAG). Concomitantly, loss of membrane homeostasis increased at a higher rate in nebulized cells (68 to 71%) than in those aerosolized by using the FFAG (32 to 34%). The activities of respiratory enzymes decreased at increased rates in nebulized cells (27 to 37%) compared to the rates of decrease in cells aerosolized by using the FFAG (59 to 61%). The results indicate that the physiology of an aerosolized bacterium is linked to the method of aerosol generation and may affect the interpretation of a range of aerobiological phenomenon.