Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SPARC gene expression is increased in diabetes-related mesenteric vascular hypertrophy.

The anti-adhesive extracellular matrix protein SPARC (secreted protein and rich in cysteine; osteonectin or BM-40) has been implicated in the regulation of matrix turnover, cell migration, and proliferation. The present study sought to examine whether modulation in the expression of this protein may play a role in diabetes-associated vascular remodeling. SPARC mRNA and protein were measured in mesenteric vessels of diabetic rats and controls. Hypertrophy of mesenteric vessels was noted after 3 and 32 weeks of diabetes as revealed by the increase in mesenteric vessel wet weight and an increased wall/lumen ratio. SPARC mRNA was sparsely present in intima and adventitia of control vessels. There was a marked increase in SPARC gene expression in the intima and adventitia of mesenteric vessels after 1, 3, and 32 weeks of diabetes. SPARC protein was demonstrated in the vessel wall in control animals and was increased in the mesenteric vessels of diabetic rats after 1 and 32 weeks of diabetes. Administration of the inhibitor of advanced glycation end-product formation, aminoguanidine, to diabetic rats attenuated both the hypertrophic response in mesenteric vessels and the overexpression of SPARC mRNA and protein without affecting glycemic control or food intake. In summary, diabetes-related mesenteric vascular hypertrophy is associated with an increase in SPARC expression in the vessel wall. The modulation of SPARC expression in mesenteric vessels of diabetic rats might be of pathogenetic significance in the development of vascular remodeling in diabetes.
The Other Side of Green Pork: How Heterogeneity in Environmental Preferences A ects the Distributional and E ciency Implications of State and Federal Climate Policy

This paper seeks to empirically answer a fundamental question: which level of government—federal or state—should act to address climate change? To answer this, I develop a spatially and sectorally disaggregated equilibrium model of the US economy that accounts for how heterogeneity in environmental preferences with respect to climate change is likely to impact the distortions that emerge from federal and state decisionmaking. Using an environmental preference parameter that is recovered from my model of federal decisionmaking given the observed cap, permit allocation, and votes for the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (ACESA), I am able to conduct a positive revealed welfare analysis of federal and state climate policy that reflects policymakers’ revealed external costs of climate change. The central result of this analysis is that state policy results in a substantially smaller welfare loss than federal policy, although both policies lead to lower welfare relative to the policy that maximizes national aggregate surplus. Federal policy results from a majority coalition of climate ‘believers’ who establish an especially stringent cap that reflects their preferences for emissions reductions as well as free permits (green pork), resulting in a cap that is 31.4% lower than the emissions level which maximizes aggregate surplus and a welfare loss of $67.0 billion. State policy, in contrast, results in a smaller cumulative emissions reduction that is 21.4% below the aggregate surplus maximizing emissions level, and has a corresponding welfare loss of $27.3 billion. I then complement this analysis taking the policies from the revealed analysis as given but that instead uses a scientific estimate of the external costs of climate change of $25 per ton CO2e. From the perspective of scientific welfare, the revealed federal climate policy results in a welfare gain of $90.4 billion which is greater than the welfare gain from revealed state policy of $80.1 billion. I also discuss the distributional implications of federal and state policies and show how the choice of allocation rule under federal decisionmaking both critically impacts the likelihood that federal climate policy will pass as well as the distortionary implications of revealed federal policy.
Neural tube defects in the Czech Republic during 1961-1999: incidences, prenatal diagnosis and prevalences according to maternal age

We set out to present the incidences of the neural tube defects (anencephaly, spina bifida and encephalocele) and to document maternal age distribution and the influence of the prenatal diagnostics on incidences in neonates. We also analysed maternal age as a risk factor for the defects studied. This was a retrospective epidemiological study of neural tube defects using data from the population-based register of congenital malformations in the Czech Republic over the 1961-99 period. The total number of neural tube defects detected both pre- and postnatally was 4696 in this period (anencephaly 1857, spina bifida 2420 and encephalocele 419 cases). In this period, a significant decrease (due to improved prenatal diagnostic efficiency) in the above-mentioned defects occurred in the Czech Republic. No statistically significant correlation between any of the particular defects and the maternal age was revealed. However, neural tube defects as a whole show some correlation, the probability of these defects occurring being higher than expected in 15- and 32-year-old mothers. By application of the two-sided 95% CI, statistically significant correlation was found in 15-, 35- and 39-year cohorts; in other age-groups above the age of 32 years this correlation was neither confirmed nor rejected. In this study, maternal age as a risk factor for the origin of neural tube defects has not been statistically confirmed. However, probability estimate makes this correlation possible. Statistical methods in use reveal the risk for these defects (regarding their relative incidences) only in maternal age groups of 15, 35 and 39 years.
Conception et validation d'une assistance numérique domiciliaire pour la personne âgée en perte d'autonomie

Avec le vieillissement de la population, le maintien a domicile des personnes âgees est devenu un enjeu majeur pour les pays developpes et emergents. Parmi les solutions cles a explorer, les gerontechnologies sont considerees comme des plus prometteuses sans toutefois avoir apporte la preuve de leur efficacite pour l’autonomie domiciliaire, voire meme etre utilisables et acceptables pour le public vise. Dans ce contexte, une methodologie de conception centree-utilisateur a ete mise en place pour proposer une plateforme d’assistance domiciliaire multi-tâches et multi-domaines (soutenant a la fois les activites quotidiennes, la securite de la personne et de son domicile et le lien social) ciblant un public âge fragile en perte d’autonomie. Cette plateforme est appelee DomAssist. Sur la base d’une analyse des capacites physiques, cognitives et fonctionnelles en presence (etude 1) et des besoins d’assistance (etude 2) de notre echantillon d’etude, DomAssist a ete concu avec pour originalite une offre de services multi-domaines. En effet, la plateforme s’appuie d’une part sur un systeme de surveillance d’activites pour delivrer des assistances dites « context-aware » (etude 3) et d’autre part sur un systeme d’interaction homme-machine unifie et simplifie (etude 4), et ceci tout en promouvant l’auto-determination (etude 5). Les resultats ont etaye la fiabilite du systeme de surveillance d’activites, et renforce le bien-fonde de nos principes de conception concernant le systeme unifie d’interaction; et le soutien de l’auto-determination. Notamment un rendu positif concernant l’utilisabilite et l’acceptabilite du systeme, et un effet benefique sur le sentiment de l’autodetermination des utilisateurs âges ont ete obtenus. De la, une derniere etude (etude 6) a evalue les benefices apportes apres 6 mois d’utilisation de la plateforme, en termes de capacites fonctionnelles des participants fragiles, et de reduction du fardeau de l’aidant. Un effet positif (effet « protecteur » observe par les aidants professionnels) de DomAssist sur le statut fonctionnel des participants equipes (compare aux controles) a ete observe ainsi qu’une reduction du fardeau objectif de leur aidant. Au total, les resultats de ce travail pilote sont encourageants et ouvrent de nombreuses perspectives de recherche a fort potentiel d’impact societal concernant la problematique du maintien a domicile des personnes âgees
Potential value of Plasmodium falciparum‐associated antigen and antibody detection for screening of blood donors to prevent transfusion‐transmitted malaria

BACKGROUND: Malaria antibody detection is a valuable tool in the prevention of transfusion‐transmitted malaria in countries with a high proportion of donors with travel exposure to malaria. The immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) is still the reference method, but it is not suitable for screening of blood donors. ELISA would be an interesting alternative to the IFAT, but it lacks sensitivity.
13  dB squeezed vacuum states at 1550  nm from 12  mW external pump power at 775  nm.

Strongly squeezed light at telecommunication wavelengths is a necessary resource for one-sided device-independent quantum key distribution via fiber networks. Reducing the optical pump power that is required for its generation will advance this quantum technology towards efficient out-of-laboratory operation. Here, we investigate the second-harmonic pump power requirement for parametric generation of continuous-wave squeezed vacuum states at 1550 nm in a state-of-the-art doubly resonant standing-wave periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate cavity setup. We use coarse adjustment of the Gouy phase via the cavity length, together with temperature fine-tuning, for simultaneously achieving double resonance and (quasi) phase matching, and observe a squeeze factor of 13 dB at 1550 nm from just 12 mW of external pump power at 775 nm. We anticipate that optimizing the cavity coupler reflectivity will reduce the external pump power to 3 mW, without reducing the squeeze factor.
Qualitative Research Methodology in the Exploration of Patients' Perceptions of Participating in a Genetic Research Program

The success of genetic research studies depend on patients' willingness to participate. It is thus important to explore the attitudes of individuals that participate in such studies. This study used qualitative methods to explore how individuals with inherited retinal degenerative disorders (RDD) perceived participating in genetic research and subsequently receiving mutation results. Individual interviews were conducted with all the individuals in the Cape Town Metropolitan area who had received mutation results after participating in a genetic research program (4 individuals). Although experiences differed significantly, the study revealed that the participants had positive attitudes towards participating in the RDD research program. This study illustrates the importance of using qualitative methods in ophthalmic populations to explore important issues.
Dynamic Pivotal Politics

We analyze a dynamic extension of a parsimonious model of lawmaking in which preferences evolve over time and today’s policy becomes tomorrow’s status quo. Unlike in existing models of pivotal politics, policy makers’ voting behavior depends on the institutional environment and on their expectations about future economic and political shocks. Relative to sincere voting, the equilibrium behavior exhibits a strategic polarization effect, which increases with the degree of consensus required by the institution, the volatility of the policy environment, and the expected ideological polarization of the future policy makers. The equilibrium behavior also exhibits a strategic policy bias, which works against any exogenous policy bias embedded in the voting rule. Our analysis implies that the existing literature underestimates the inertial effect of checks and balances and overestimates the impact of institutional biases such as fiscally conservative budget procedures.
The logic of transaction cost economics in health care organization theory.

Health care is, at its core, comprised of complex sequences of transactions among patients, providers, and other stakeholders; these transactions occur in markets as well as within systems and organizations. Health care transactions serve one of two functions: the production of care (i.e., the laying on of hands) or the coordination of that care (i.e., scheduling, logistics). Because coordinating transactions is integral to care delivery, it is imperative that they are executed smoothly and efficiently. Transaction cost economics (TCE) is a conceptual framework for analyzing health care transactions and quantifying their impact on health care structures (organizational forms), processes, and outcomes.
Nonpharmacological treatment of hypertension: impact on prevalence estimates.

To the Editor: The recent report by Ong et al1 presents updated information on hypertension prevalence in the United States using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004. Although it provides vital information on the burden of hypertension in the US population, we have concerns over the definition of hypertension used (systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 …
Dopamine Receptor Stimulation Modulates AMPA Receptor Synaptic Insertion in Prefrontal Cortex Neurons

Addiction is believed to involve glutamate-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity that promote the formation of new habits focused on drug seeking. We used primary cultures of rat prefrontal cortex (PFC) neurons to explore mechanisms by which dopamine-releasing psychomotor stimulants such as cocaine and amphetamine influence synaptic plasticity, focusing on AMPA receptor trafficking because of its key role in long-term potentiation (LTP). Brief stimulation of D1 dopamine receptors increased surface expression of glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1)-containing AMPA receptors through a protein kinase A-dependent mechanism, by increasing their rate of externalization at extrasynaptic sites. Newly externalized GluR1 remained extrasynaptic under basal conditions but could be translocated into synapses by subsequent NMDA receptor activation. These results suggest that D1 receptors may facilitate LTP by increasing the AMPA receptor pool available for synaptic insertion. However, stimulation of D2 receptors decreased surface and synaptic GluR1 expression. These findings are discussed in the context of evidence that D1 and D2 receptors act independently rather than antagonistically in the intact PFC. D1 receptor facilitation of AMPA receptor synaptic insertion helps explain D1 receptor-dependent facilitation of LTP and learning in the normal brain. Abnormal engagement of this mechanism during unregulated dopamine release may account for maladaptive plasticity after repeated exposure to cocaine or amphetamine.
A rapid assessment of wildlife tourism risk posed to cetaceans in Asia

ABSTRACT Dolphin-watching tourism is growing globally. In developing countries, the typically low environmental awareness of operators and poorly enforced or non-existent regulations exacerbate risks to wildlife. Ecological indicators like behavioural responses are useful to assess wildlife tourism, but obtaining such data is slow and expensive. We modified the Driver–Pressure–State–Impact–Response (DPSIR) framework to rapidly assess the risk of dolphin-watching tourism harming, displacing or causing local extinction to dolphin populations, using human dimension data to complement limited ecological data. We assessed industries at seven dolphin-watching sites in six countries in Asia: Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines. All sites have reached or almost reached financial saturation except Cambodia and Malaysia. We find high risk to dolphins at the sites in India and Indonesia and intermediate risk at the site in Cambodia. Pending more ecological data, the risk at Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysian sites might be low. Our analysis also indicates site-specific conservation recommendations for Driver, Pressure and Response. We suggest that the DPSIR framework is useful to assess the risk of a wildlife watching industry, even when the impact is uncertain due to insufficient ecological data. Video abstract Video abstract Read the transcript Watch the video on Vimeo
Effectiveness of Therapeutic Exercise in Fibromyalgia Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Objective The aim of this study was to summarize evidence on the effectiveness of therapeutic exercise in Fibromyalgia Syndrome. Design Studies retrieved from the Cochrane Plus, PEDro, and Pubmed databases were systematically reviewed. Randomized controlled trials and meta-analyses involving adults with fibromyalgia were included. The primary outcomes considered in this systematic review were pain, global well-being, symptoms of depression, and health-related quality of life. Results Effects were summarized using standardized mean differences with 95% confidence intervals using a random effects model. This study provides strong evidence that physical exercise reduces pain (−1.11 [95% CI] −1.52; −0.71; overall effect p < 0.001), global well-being (−0.67 [95% CI] −0.89, −0.45; p < 0.001), and symptoms of depression (−0.40 [95% CI] −0.55, −0.24; p < 0.001) and that it improves both components of health-related quality of life (physical: 0.77 [95% CI] 0.47; 1.08; p < 0.001; mental: 0.49 [95% CI] 0.27; 0.71; p < 0.001). Conclusions This study concludes that aerobic and muscle strengthening exercises are the most effective way of reducing pain and improving global well-being in people with fibromyalgia and that stretching and aerobic exercises increase health-related quality of life. In addition, combined exercise produces the biggest beneficial effect on symptoms of depression.
The Acute and Chronic Presentation of Gluteus Medius Calcific Tendinitis- A Case Report of Two

Introduction: The calcific tendinitis is a common to happen around the shoulder, calcific tendinitis of tendons adjacent to the hip is not common like the shoulder. It can present either as acute hip pain and limitation of movement or chronic hip pain. We present two patients one with acute presentation and the other one chronic. Case Report: We present a case series of two patients with calcific tendinitis of the gluteus medius muscle. One patient a 37-year-old male presented with acute severe hip pain associated with a raised temperature, prompting concern about septic arthritis. The second patient presented with chronic hip pain. Calcification of the soft tissues adjacent to the greater trochanter was evident on plain radiographs in both patients. CT and MRI scans excluded septic or inflammatory arthritis in the patient with an acute presentation, the patient’s condition settled with analgesia and NSAIDs. Conclusion: An unusual combination of symptoms and finding mimicking septic arthritis should be considered in patients presenting with acute calcific tendinitis of the hip gluteus medius muscle.
Intraspecific brood adoption in the convict cichlid with respect to fry of two colour morphs

Convict cichlid Cichlasoma nigrofasciatum adults of the melanistic morph usually accepted fry of the same colour morph provided these were of approximately the same age and size as those of the receiver pair, whereas older and considerably younger fry were rejected or eaten. Xanthoric fry were usually accepted and rejected to the same extent as fry of their own colour morph. However, in certain combinations, especially when alien fry were 3 weeks old and the adopting parents already had their own 2 week old fry, fry of their own colour morph were significantly more likely to be adopted.
Time course tissue distribution of infectious salmon anaemia virus in experimentally infected Atlantic salmon Salmo salar.

Atlantic salmon Salmo salar L. were injected intraperitoneally with infectious salmon anaemia virus (ISAV)-infective tissue homogenate to clarify the tissue distribution of ISAV in a time course study. Fish were sampled at 11 different intervals between 1 and 40 d post-infection (p.i.) and mid-kidney, head kidney, liver, spleen, intestine, gills, muscle and heart were tested for the presence of ISAV by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results showed that during a disease outbreak, ISAV is present in most organs. It was possible to detect ISAV at all sampling times in at least 1 of the fish examined. However, for the first 8 d p.i. positive RT-PCR results were predominantly found in samples from the head kidney and mid-kidney. Fish giving positive samples after Day 13 p.i. were RT-PCR positive in most organs. These results indicated that between Days 8 to 13 p.i. considerable replication of the virus occurred, combined with wide tissue dissemination.
Debate: Bullying and harassment of lesbians, gay men and bisexual employees: findings from a representative British national study

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Distribution of the sensitivities to penicillin of types of Diplococcus pneumoniae in an American Indian population.

Diplococcus pneumoniae has been regarded as highly sensitive to penicillin. However, strains of type 4 D. pneumoniae that were relatively insensitive to penicillin were reported in New Guinea in 1971 [1]. A subsequent report described the isolation of pneumococci relatively insensitive to penicillin from nasal swabs of seven of 49 healthy New Guinean carriers [2]. In this instance, the strains were of types 19 and 23. The evidence that the organisms in these reports were virulent was incomplete since most were obtained from healthy carriers.