Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Coronary calcium and cardiovascular event risk: evaluation by age- and sex-specific quartiles.

BACKGROUND Wide differences in risks for cardiovascular disease (CVD) events associated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) have been reported. We evaluated the relationship of the coronary calcium quartile, on the basis of age-sex cut points from a large sample of asymptomatic patients, to CVD events as a possible standardized means for reporting event risks associated with CAC, in comparison with quartiles of absolute CAC scores. METHODS We applied age/sex-stratified cut points to 928 asymptomatic men and women (mean age 54 years) followed up for an average of 3.3 years, during which 28 CVD events were confirmed. Cox regression was used to evaluate the relation of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles (compared with the 1st), with and without age/sex stratification, to the risk of future CVD events. RESULTS The number of events (and percent incidence) that occurred in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles of coronary calcium was 4 (0.9%), 2 (2.0%), 9 (4.5%), and 13 (6.4%) events (P =.001) for the age/sex-stratified quartiles and 4 (1.0%), 0 (0%), 7 (3.0%), and 17 (7.3%) for the absolute score quartiles (P =.001). In multivariable analysis adjusted for other risk factors, there was a modest increase in CVD events seen among those in the 3rd quartile (relative risk [RR] 4.3, P =.02), with a greater risk seen among those in the 4th quartile (RR 6.0, P <.01) (compared with the 1st quartile). This did not differ from use of absolute CAC scores, where RR = 2.6 (P =.14) for the 3rd quartile and RR = 6.4 (P <.01) for the 4th quartile. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that age-sex stratification by percentile rank of CAC is as accurate as absolute CAC scores for predicting CVD events in asymptomatic persons. Ongoing longitudinal population-based studies will provide more definitive data.
Effects of relaxation of gluten network on rehydration kinetics of pasta

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the relaxation of the gluten network on pasta rehydration kinetics. The moisture content of pasta, under conditions where the effects of the diffusion of water on the moisture content were negligible, was estimated by extrapolating the average moisture content of pasta of various diameters to 0 mm. The moisture content of imaginary, infinitely thin pasta did not reach equilibrium even after 1 h of rehydration. The rehydration of pasta made of only gluten was also measured. The rate constants estimated by the Long and Richman equation for both the pasta indicated that the rehydration kinetics of infinitely thin pasta were similar to those of gluten pasta. These results suggest that the swelling of starch by fast gelatinization was restricted by the honeycomb structural network of gluten and the relaxation of the gluten network controlled pasta rehydration kinetics. Graphical Abstract The moisture content of infinitely thin pasta was estimated by extrapolating the average moisture content of pasta of various diameters to 0 mm.
Simultaneous Intrastriatal 6-Hydroxydopamine and Quinolinic Acid Injection: A Model of Early-Stage Striatonigral Degeneration

Animal models reproducing early stages of striatonigral degeneration (SND), the core pathology underlying parkinsonism in multiple system atrophy, are lacking. We have developed a new model of early-stage SND by using a simultaneous unilateral administration of quinolinic acid (QA) and 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) into the putaminal equivalent of the rat striatum. Spontaneous and drug-induced behavior, thigmotactic scanning, paw reaching deficits, and histopathology were studied in rat groups: group 1 (control), group 2 (QA), group 3 (6-OHDA), and group 4 (QA + 6-OHDA). The double toxin administration resulted in reduction of the spontaneous and the amphetamine-induced ipsiversive bias in the 6-OHDA group and in a reduction of the apomorphine-induced ipsiversive rotations in the QA group. Simultaneous QA and 6-OHDA also reduced the thigmotactic bias observed in the 6-OHDA rats. Combined toxin elicited a nonsignificant contralateral deficit in paw reaching but a significant deficit on the ipsilateral side. Histopathology revealed a significant reduction of the lesioned striatal surface (-27%) with neuronal loss and increased astrogliosis in group 4 compared to group 2, consistent with an exacerbation of QA toxicity by additional 6-OHDA. By contrast, the mean loss of the TH-positive neurons in the ipsilateral substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of group 4 was less marked (-15%) than in the 6-OHDA group (-36%), indicating a possible protective action of intrastriatal QA upon 6-OHDA retrograde SNc degeneration. This study shows that a combined unilateral intrastriatal administration of QA and 6-OHDA may serve as a model of early stage SND which is more suitable for early therapeutic interventions.
Exocrine Pancreatic Function After Alcoholic or Biliary Acute Pancreatitis

Objectives: There have been various studies of exocrine pancreatic function after acute pancreatitis, but few have examined the relationship between this function and the etiology of the pancreatitis. The aim of this work was to study pancreatic function in patients who had had acute alcoholic or acute biliary pancreatitis. Methods: Seventy-five patients who had had a single attack of acute pancreatitis were studied. The etiology was alcohol in 36 and cholelithiasis in 39. Pancreatic function was studied between 4 and 18 months after pancreatitis by duodenal intubation in 18 patients (8 alcohol, 10 lithiasis) and by the amino acid consumption test (AACT) in the remaining 57 (28 alcohol, 29 lithiasis). For those who underwent AACT, the test was repeated 1 year after the first examination. Results: Among the 36 patients with alcoholic pancreatitis, most had impaired pancreatic function at both duodenal intubation (8/8, 100%) and at AACT (22/28, 78.6%); at the second test, the AACT remained pathological (18/23, 82.1%). Of the 39 patients with biliary pancreatitis, only 4 of the 10 (40%) who underwent duodenal intubation and only 5 of the 29 (17.2%) who performed AACT had pancreatic insufficiency; at the second test, only 4 of the 26 (15.4%) who repeated the AACT were pathological. The differences in the frequency and degree of pancreatic insufficiency between patients with alcoholic and those with biliary pancreatitis were statistically significant. Conclusions: The results show that after alcoholic acute pancreatitis, the pancreatic insufficiency was significantly more frequent and more severe than after biliary pancreatitis. These findings together with the fact that the insufficiency was also more persistent suggest that acute alcoholic pancreatitis may occur in a pancreas that already has chronic lesions.
Minor Role of Bystander Tolerance to Fetal Calf Serum in a Peptide-specific Dendritic Cell Vaccine Model Against Autoimmunity: Comparison With Serum-free Cultures

Dendritic cells (DCs) are currently considered as promising tools for vaccination against tumors and also autoimmune responses. A major point of concern has been the use of fetal calf serum (FCS) as a source of heterologous antigen in DC cultures. FCS peptides can be presented by the DCs and cause T-cell responses in the recipient. We investigated the role of FCS in an autoimmune model where DC injections can prevent peptide-specifically from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). We show that murine bone marrow-derived DCs generated in FCS-containing or serum-free media resulting in a similar phenotype, maturation potential, and functions. Peptide-specific protection could be achieved similarly with FCS-DC or serum-free DCs. Although FCS-DC induced strong CD4+ T cell proliferation and cytokine production against FCS, these T cells lack antigenic recall during EAE. Even if FCS was reinjected, the effect on EAE resulted only in a 3-day delay of disease onset. Together, our data show that presentation of bystander antigens by peptide-specific DC vaccinations may have little influence on T-cell responses in vivo if the bystander antigen cannot be recalled by specific T cells.
Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of durian and rambutan pulp extract.

Durian (Durio zibethinus murr.) and rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum) are popular exotic fruits grown and consumed in Southeast Asia. Two economically important cultivars of durian and rambutan were studied to assess their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Nondifferentiated U937 monocyte-like cells were pre-treated with non-toxic doses of ethanol extract from fruit pulp prior to inducing oxidative stress with H2O2. Antioxidant capacity of fruit extracts was measured from the suppressive effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. Anti-inflammatory activity of non-toxic extracts doses also was assessed by measuring secretion of cyto/chemokines into medium of lipopolysaccharide-induced differentiated U937 cells treated with fruit extracts. Durian extracts were more potent at suppressing ROS formation and decreasing secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) than rambutan extracts. The extract from the Monthong cultivar of durian possessed greater antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities than that prepared from the Chanee cultivar. Extract from the cultivar Sichompu of rambutan inhibited ROS formation but the extract from Rongrien had no significant activity. Both rambutan cultivars inhibited secretion of TNF-α, but not IL-8 secretion. The results indicate that durian pulp has greater potential for the development of functional foods than rambutan. An in vivo study is now needed to confirm these biological activities.
Predation, Protection and Productivity: A Firm-Level Perspective

This paper studies the consequences of predation when firms deploy guard labor as a means of protecting themselves. We build a simple model and combine it with data for 142 countries from the World Bank enterprise surveys which ask about firm-level experiences with predation and spending on protection. We use the model to estimate the output loss caused by the misallocation of labor across firms and from production to protection. The loss due to protection effort is substantial and patterns of state protection at the micro level can have a profound impact on aggregate output losses. Various extensions are discussed.
Total aortography in the diagnosis of Takayasu's arteritis.

Takayasu’s arteritis may affect all parts of the aorta leading to narrowing, coarctation or dilatation. The pulmonary arteries are involved in similar fashion.Associated stenosis or occlusion of the subclavian, carotid, renal or abdominovisceral arteries is common.The angiographic findings in 8 patients are illustrated and the clinical features described. The clinical symptoms are very variable and the laboratory findings are nonspecific.Total aortography is of primary diagnostic importance, providing information not obtainable by any other method.
Relations between slow extracellular potential changes, glial potassium buffering, and electrolyte and cellular volume changes during neuronal hyperactivity in cat brain

The aim of this investigation is to estimate the contribution of spatial glial K+ buffer currents to extracellular K+ homeostasis during enhanced neuronal activity. Neuronal hyperactivity was induced by electrical stimulation of the cortical surface or the ventrobasal thalamic nuclei of cats (5–50 Hz, 0.1–0.2 ms, two to three times threshold stimulation intensity, 5–20 s). The accompanying slow field potential changes were recorded simultaneously across the grey matter with vertical assemblies of eight micropipettes glued 300 μm apart. Using the Poisson equation, the amplitudes of the underlying current sources and sinks were calculated. The current source densities depended on the depth of recording, frequency, strength, and duration of the stimulation. Current sinks, corresponding to a removal of 0.1–0.5 mmoles of monovalent cations per liter of brain tissue and second from the extracellular space, were observed in middle cortical layers, whereas sources appeared at superficial and deeper sites. These sinks and sources might represent K+ moved across glial membranes by spatial buffer currents. The consequences of glial buffer currents of this magnitude were investigated with model calculations. It turned out that measurements of electrolyte and volume changes of the extracellular space (Dietzel et al. Exp. Brain Res. 40:432–439, 1980; Exp. Brain Res. 46:73–84, 1982) could only partially be explained by spatial buffer currents of this magnitude. Comparison of the calculated values with intracellular measurements in neurons and glial cells (Coles et al. Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 481:303–317, 1986; Ballanyi et al. J. Physiol. 382:159–174, 1987) suggests that spatial buffering combines with an approximately equimolar KCl transport and, depending on the preparation, also K+/Na+‐exchange across glial membranes.
Modelling exchange rate volatility with random level shifts

ABSTRACT Recent literature has shown that the volatility of exchange rate returns displays long memory features. It has also been shown that if a short memory process is contaminated by level shifts, the estimate of the long memory parameter tends to be upward biased. In this article, we directly estimate a random level shift model to the logarithm of the absolute returns of five exchange rates series, in order to assess whether random level shifts (RLSs) can explain this long memory property. Our results show that there are few level shifts for the five series, but once they are taken into account the long memory property of the series disappears. We also provide out-of-sample forecasting comparisons, which show that, in most cases, the RLS model outperforms popular models in forecasting volatility. We further support our results using a variety of robustness checks.
THE IMPACT OF BARYON PHYSICS ON THE STRUCTURE OF HIGH-REDSHIFT GALAXIES

We study the detailed structure of galaxies at redshifts z ⩾ 2 using cosmological simulations with improved modeling of the interstellar medium and star formation. The simulations follow the formation and dissociation of molecular hydrogen and include star formation only in cold molecular gas. The molecular gas is more concentrated toward the center of galaxies than the atomic gas, and as a consequence, the resulting stellar distribution is very compact. For halos with total mass above 1011 M☉, the median half-mass radius of the stellar disks is 0.8 kpc at z ≈ 3. The vertical structure of the molecular disk is much thinner than that of the atomic neutral gas. Relative to the non-radiative run, the inner regions of the dark matter halo change shape from prolate to mildly oblate and align with the stellar disk. However, we do not find evidence for a significant fast-rotating “dark disk” of dark matter around the stellar disk. The outer halo regions retain the orientation acquired during accretion and mergers and are significantly misaligned with the inner regions. The radial profile of the dark matter halo contracts in response to baryon dissipation, establishing an approximately isothermal profile throughout most of the halo. This effect can be accurately described by a modified model of halo contraction. The angular momentum of a fixed amount of inner dark matter is approximately conserved over time, while in the dissipationless case most of it is transferred outward during mergers. The conservation of the dark matter angular momentum provides supporting evidence for the validity of the halo contraction model in a hierarchical galaxy formation process.
Effects of mindfulness meditation on serum cortisol of medical students.

BACKGROUND Mindfulness meditation is a method to relax the mind that decreases stress, which otherwise would increase serum cortisol. So, mindfulness meditation should decrease serum cortisol. OBJECTIVE To study the effect of mindfulness meditation on mental health by using Thai GHQ28 questionaire and study the effect of mindfulness meditation on stress by using serum cortisol. MATERIAL AND METHOD Volunteer subjects were 30 second year medical students, aged 19.1 +/- 0.55 year olds (range 18-20) from Srinakharinwirot University. They were screened by Thai GHQ28 and blood was drawn to measure cortisol at 8:00 am before and after a four-day mindfulness meditation programme. The comparison of Thai GHQ28 scores and serum cortisol levels before and after meditation were analysed by paired t-test. RESULTS The subjects were 66.77% female and 33.33% male. The average score of Thai GHQ28 before and after the mindfulness meditation was 1.50 (SD 2.53) and 0.77 (SD 2.08) respectively. The average serum cortisol levels before mindfulness meditation was 381.93 nmol/L (SD 97.74) becoming significantly lower after mindfulness meditation 306.38 nmol/L (SD 90.95). The difference was statistically significant in cortisol level, but not statistically significant in Thai GHQ28. CONCLUSION Mindfulness meditation lowers the cortisol levels in the blood suggesting that it can lower stress and may decrease the risk of diseases that arise from stress such as psychiatric disorder, peptic ulcer and migraine. Then, mindfulness meditation should be used in combination with standard treatment.
Development of New Vaccines against Meningococcal Disease

Summary Meningococcal diseases continue to have a major public health impact in many countries. Five major groups of Neisseria meningitidis (A, B, C, Y and W135) are responsible for most meningococal diseases. Plain polysaccharides vaccines for Neisseria meningitidis groups A, C, Y and W-135 have been in use for approximately 20 years, both to prevent invasive disease in high-risk population and to control disease outbreaks. However, these conventional meningococcal vaccines induce a relatively short-lasting T-cell independent immune response, are not effective in children under two years of age and can induce hyporesponsiveness. New meningococcal group C conjugate vaccines have since been developed, which offer solid advantages over the currently licensed plain polysaccharide vaccines. There is still no vaccine available against the serogroup B, which is a major cause of invasive disease. This report summarises the different approaches to the development of vaccines against the pathogenic meningococci.
Equilibrium and Kinetic Studies of Zinc ( II ) Ion Adsorption from Aqueous Solution by Modified Soybean Hulls

Water used in industries creates a wastewater that has potential hazards for our environment, because of introducing various contaminates such as heavy metals in to soil and water resources. In this study, a modification method was adopted to enhance metal ion adsorption on soybean hulls using NaOH and citric acid. The batch experiments were carried out to optimize parameters like pH, adsorbent dose, initial concentration and contact time. Equilibrium data were best represented by Freundlich isotherms. The adsorption kinetic data were adequately fitted to the pseudo-second order kinetic model. At optimum conditions of the parameters investigated, 99% removal of Zn (II) was achieved. On the basis of experimental results MSH was found to be an excellent adsorbent for the Zn (II) removal from wastewater.
How perceptions of justice affect security attitudes: suggestions for practitioners and researchers

Purpose – Surveillance is seen as an important tool to prevent security breaches and may improve prosecutorial ability, but employees may engage in subtitle counterproductive behaviors in protest. This poses significant risks and costs to employers. The purpose of this paper is to summarize the results of a previous field study of the influences from justice perceptions as mitigation and prescribe some methods for addressing the issues that are raised.Design/methodology/approach – Drawing from protection motivation theory, the psychological contract, and the systems of organizational justice, a threat control model about surveillance attitudes is field‐tested in a randomized design.Findings – Trust and perceptions of justice mediated attitudes about surveillance practices; and threat severity and efficacy of surveillance in maintaining security moderated attitudes about corporate surveillance are founded.Originality/value – The paper illustrates the theoretical linkages between surveillance practices and .
Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among patients in Baja California, Mexico, and Hispanic patients in California.

OBJECTIVES We sought to compare prevalence and determinants of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) between tuberculosis patients in Baja California, Mexico, and Hispanic patients in California. METHODS Using data from Mexico's National TB Drug Resistance Survey (2008-2009) and California Department of Public Health TB case registry (2004-2009), we assessed differences in MDR-TB prevalence comparing (1) Mexicans in Baja California, (2) Mexico-born Hispanics in California, (3) US-born Hispanics in California, and (4) California Hispanics born elsewhere. RESULTS MDR-TB prevalence was 2.1% in Baja California patients, 1.6% in Mexico-born California patients, 0.4% in US-born California patients, and 2.7% in Hispanic California patients born elsewhere. In multivariate analysis, previous antituberculosis treatment was associated with MDR-TB (odds ratio [OR] = 6.57; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.34, 12.96); Mexico-born TB patients in California (OR = 5.08; 95% CI = 1.19, 21.75) and those born elsewhere (OR = 7.69; 95% CI = 1.71, 34.67) had greater odds of MDR-TB compared with US-born patients (reference category). CONCLUSIONS Hispanic patients born outside the US or Mexico were more likely to have MDR-TB than were those born within these countries. Possible explanations include different levels of exposure to resistant strains and inadequate treatment.
The influence of post-polio syndrome on independence and life satisfaction

Purpose : The aim of the study was to find out the influence of the new symptoms on life satisfaction and independent living and the most frequent disabilities in patients with post-polio syndrome that are affecting the satisfaction and independence. Method : A questionnaire was sent to all the post-polio survivors (207) who visited the Rehabilitation Institute in Ljubljana at least once in the last ten years. We got 100 answers, which were analysed by SPSS (statistical package for social sciences). Results : Sixty nine reported that they had new symptoms that may be classified as post-polio syndrome. Conclusions : We have found that the new symptoms in postpolio survivors, which may be classified as post-polio syndrome, increased their walking and climbing stairs disability, increased their disability to perform daily activities and also decreased their satisfaction with life.
Local Exact Controllability and Stabilizability of the Nonlinear Schrödinger Equation on a Bounded Interval

This paper studies the exact controllability and the stabilization of the cubic Schrodinger equation posed on a bounded interval. Both internal and boundary controls are considered, and the results are given first in a periodic setting, and next with Dirichlet (resp., Neumann) boundary conditions. It is shown that the systems with either an internal control or a boundary control are locally exactly controllable in the classical Sobolev space $H^s$ for any $s\geq0$. It is also shown that the systems with an internal stabilization are locally exponentially stabilizable in $H^s$ for any $s\geq0$.