Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Body-fat indicators and kidney function decline in older post-myocardial infarction patients: The Alpha Omega Cohort Study

Background Obesity increases risk of hypertension and diabetes, the leading causes of end-stage renal disease. The effect of obesity on kidney function decline in stable post-myocardial infarction patients is poorly documented. This relation was investigated in a large cohort of older post-myocardial infarction patients. Design Data were analysed from 2410 post-myocardial infarction patients in the Alpha Omega Trial, aged 60–80 years receiving optimal pharmacotherapy treatment (79% men, 18% diabetes). Methods Cystatin C based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcysC) was calculated at baseline and after 41 months, using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2 and high waist circumference as ≥102 and ≥88 cm for men and women. The relation between body mass index, waist circumference and annual eGFRcysC decline was evaluated by linear regression. Results At baseline, mean (standard deviation) eGFRcysC was 81.5 (19.6) ml/min/1.73 m2, 23% of all patients were obese. After multivariable adjustment, the annual mean (95% confidence interval) eGFRcysC decline in men and women was –1.45 (–1.59 to –1.31) and –0.92 (–1.20 to –0.63) ml/min/1.73 m2, respectively (p = 0.001). Obese versus non-obese patients and patients with high versus normal waist circumference experienced greater annual eGFRcysC decline. Men and women showed an additional annual eGFRcysC decline of –0.35 (–0.56 to –0.14) and –0.21 (–0.55 to 0.14) ml/min/1.73 m2 per 5 kg/m2 body mass index increment (p for interaction 0.3). Conclusions High compared to normal body mass index or waist circumference were associated with more rapid kidney function decline in older stable post-myocardial infarction patients receiving optimal drug therapy.
Sedimentary ancient DNA from Lake Skartjørna, Svalbard: Assessing the resilience of arctic flora to Holocene climate change

Reconstructing past vegetation and species diversity from arctic lake sediments can be challenging because of low pollen and plant macrofossil concentrations. Information may be enhanced by metabarcoding of sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA). We developed a Holocene record from Lake Skartjørna, Svalbard, using sedaDNA, plant macrofossils and sediment properties, and compared it with published records. All but two genera of vascular plants identified as macrofossils in this or a previous study were identified with sedaDNA. Six additional vascular taxa were found, plus two algal and 12 bryophyte taxa, by sedaDNA analysis, which also detected more species per sample than macrofossil analysis. A shift from Salix polaris-dominated vegetation, with Koenigia islandica, Ranunculaceae and the relatively thermophilic species Arabis alpina and Betula, to Dryas octopetala-dominated vegetation ~6600–5500 cal. BP suggests a transition from moist conditions 1–2°C warmer than today to colder/drier conditions. This coincides with a decrease in runoff, inferred from core lithology, and an independent record of declining lacustrine productivity. This mid-Holocene change in terrestrial vegetation is broadly coincident with changes in records from marine sediments off the west coast of Svalbard. Over the Holocene sedaDNA records little floristic change, and it clearly shows species persisted near the lake during time intervals when they are not detected as macrofossils. The flora has shown resilience in the presence of a changing climate, and, if future warming is limited to 2°C or less, we might expect only minor floristic changes in this region. However, the Holocene record provides no analogues for greater warming.
FAKTOR-FAKTOR YANG MEMPENGARUHI CASH HOLDINGS PERUSAHAAN DI BURSA EFEK INDONESIA

The purpose of this study is to examine determinants of cash holdings of non-financial firms listed on Indonesia Stock Exchange between 2012 and 2015. Sample of this research covers 328 firms (1312 observations). This research employs fixed effect model. The results show that net working capital and sales growth have positive effects on cash holding, while firm size has negative effect. Cash flow, cash flow variability, cash conversion cycle, liquidity, leverage do not affect the cash holdings.
Renal involvement in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis: CT and MR imaging findings.

PURPOSE To retrospectively evaluate computed tomographic (CT) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging renal findings at clinical presentation, during treatment, and at follow-up in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP). MATERIALS AND METHODS This HIPAA-compliant study received institutional review board approval. All patients included had previously consented to the use of their medical records for the purpose of research. Forty-five patients (38 male and seven female patients; mean age, 64 years) with diagnosis of AIP were included. Forty patients underwent CT or MR imaging at clinical presentation; 33 patients (including five without imaging at presentation) underwent follow-up. CT and MR images were reviewed in consensus by two radiologists for the presence of renal involvement. Various features were evaluated. Clinical characteristics at presentation were compared between patients with and patients without renal involvement. RESULTS Of the 40 patients who underwent imaging at presentation, 14 (35%) had renal involvement (12 with parenchymal involvement and five with extraparenchymal involvement). Renal parenchymal lesions showed decreased enhancement and appeared as small peripheral cortical nodules, round or wedge-shaped lesions, or diffuse patchy involvement. Thirteen patients with renal involvement at presentation underwent a follow-up study. Renal lesions in 10 patients regressed (in nine, after steroid treatment) but progressed in three patients without steroid treatment. Renal lesions were found in two other patients during follow-up. No significant difference in the clinical characteristics was found between patients with and patients without renal involvement. CONCLUSION Renal involvement in patients with AIP is relatively common and predominantly involves the cortex of the kidney. The lesions improve after steroid treatment but can progress without steroid treatment.
The Adoption of Wearables for a Healthy Lifestyle: Can Gamification Help?

Wearables are a novel device category that promotes healthy lifestyles, providing consumers with unforeseen health monitoring capabilities. Gamification, on the other hand, is an intriguing phenomenon that seeks to motivate people by applying game design elements to non-gaming contexts like healthcare. While increasing literature is available on wearables in healthcare and gamification in healthcare, thus far, little attention has been paid to the combination of both concepts. In this paper we take a first step towards closing this gap by looking at how gamification of health apps can provide consumers with a motivating and enticing interaction concept to drive the adoption of wearables for a healthy lifestyle. Thereby, we apply a technological and consumer market lens and analyze rich data from 40 interviews and an online survey. Our results highlight that although people show high interest in wearables and gamification, their combined added value is still unknown among potential consumers. A practical contribution of this paper is that industry should make the functionality and relevance much more clear. Activity tracking and fitness & health functionality are perceived as most important by (potential) consumers.
Examining the Impact of Corporate Governance and Asymmetry Information towards Earning Quality (A Case Study: Manufacturing Companies in Indonesia)

This study is examining the impact of corporate governance and asymmetry information towards earning quality in manufacturing companies that listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange from 2011 – 2015. Sample was determined by purposive sampling method, and total observation in this research are 375 observation. Data was collected in official website Indonesian Stock Exchange. The result are family ownership has no significantly influence to earning quality; managerial ownership has positive significantly influence to earning quality; institutional ownership has no significantly influence to earning quality; proportion board of commissioner independent has no significantly influence to earning quality; audit committee independence has no significantly influence to earning quality; and asymmetry information has no significantly influence to earning quality. Keywords—asymmetry informatioan; corporate governance; earning quality
Compound heterozygosity for dominant and recessive GJB2 mutations: Effect on phenotype and review of the literature

Mutations in GJB2 (which encodes the gap‐junction protein connexin 26) are the most common cause of genetic deafness in many populations. To date, more than 100 deafness‐causing mutations have been described in this gene. The majority of these mutations are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner, but approximately 19 GJB2 mutations have been associated with dominantly inherited hearing loss. One, W44C, was first identified in two families from France. We subsequently described a family in the United States with the same mutation. In these families, W44C segregates with a dominantly inherited, early‐onset, progressive, sensorineural deafness that is worse in the high frequencies. Since that report, we have tested additional family members and identified two siblings who are compound heterozygous for the W44C and K15T mutations. Their father, the original proband, is heterozygous for the dominant W44C mutation, and their mother is compound heterozygous for two recessively inherited mutations, K15T and 35delG. Both children have a profound, sensorineural deafness and use manual communication, in contrast to their parents and other relatives whose hearing losses are less severe and who can communicate orally. The difference in phenotype may be a result of the disruption of different functions of the gap‐junction protein by the two mutations, which have an additive effect. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Use of Particle Swarm Optimization for Optimal Design of Composite Channels

To surmount the challenges faced by conventional methods such as the requirement of several approximations or simplifications or derivative information on functions of the model, this paper presents the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) method for optimal design of open channels. Two variants of channel design models, such as the lumped approach and distributed velocity approach, are formulated with varying degrees of complexities. The PSO method is first applied to solve three site specific models developed based on the lumped approach. The first two models consider geometric constraints and hydraulic constraints separately, and the third model considers all the constraints simultaneously with the basic model. Then a distributed velocity model is formulated considering geometric and hydraulic constraints and solved using PSO method. We found that the solutions of distributed model resulting in lower optimal cost than lumped approach; also the distributed approach gives more realistic channel sections to apply them to field. To facilitate field applicability, optimal design graphs are developed. The results suggest that the PSO method has capability in handling the non-linear, non-convex, and multi-modality nature of different channel design problems and can be used for comprehensive design of open channels.
A social network perspective on heroin and cocaine use among adults: evidence of bidirectional influences.

AIMS While several studies have documented a relationship between initiation of drug use and social network drug use in youth, the direction of this association is not well understood, particularly among adults or for stages of drug involvement beyond initiation. The present study sought to examine two competing theories (social selection and social influence) in the longitudinal relationship between drug use (heroin and/or cocaine) and social network drug use among drug-experienced adults. DESIGN Three waves of data came from a cohort of 1108 adults reporting a life-time history of heroin and/or cocaine use. SETTING Low-income neighborhoods with high rates of drug use in Baltimore, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS Participants had weekly contact with drug users and were 18 years of age or older. MEASUREMENTS Drug use data were self-report. Network drug use was assessed through a social network inventory. Close friends were individuals whom the participant reported seeing daily or rated as having the highest level of trust. Findings Structural equation modeling indicated significant bidirectional influences. The majority of change in network drug use over time was due to change in the composition of the network rather than change in friends' behavior. Drug use by close peers did not influence participant drug use beyond the total network. CONCLUSIONS There is evidence of both social selection and social influence processes in the association between drug use and network drug use among drug-experienced adults.
The Effect of Corporate Governanceon Audit Report Timeliness in Indonesia

Financial Statements could be useful for the readers to make a decision. In order to rely on Financial Statements to make a decision, the Financial Statements should be relevant. To enhance the relevance of the Financial Statements, the Financial Statements should be published in a timely manner. This research utilizes the data of listed companies on the Indonesia Stock Exchange for period 2013 – 2016. The purpose of this research is to determine the effect of corporate (internal and external indicators) on audit report timeliness. The methodology used in this research is multiple linear regression. In conclusion, the result of this research suggested that board of commissionersindependence, audit committee size, audit committee meeting, firm performance, auditor type, and audit opinion have significant association with audit report timeliness. Meanwhile, audit committee qualification and audit tenure do not have significant association with audit report timeliness. In addition, the result suggested that audit tenure weaken the relationship between auditor type and audit report timeliness.
Ionic pores, gates, and gating currents

The current phase of axon physiology began with the invention of the voltage clamp by Cole (1949) and its use by Hodgkin & Huxley (1952d) to produce an astonishingly complete analysis of the ionic permeabilities that are responsible for the action potential. Their description did notcontain much in the way of molecular detail, and left open such questions as whether ions cross the membrane by way of pores or carriers, and the nature of the ‘gating‘ processes that increase ordecrease ion permeability in response to changes of the membrane potential. In the last few years our picture of the ionicchannels has grown considerably more tangible, though it still falls far short of a detailed molecular description. This article describes this sharpened picture and reviews the evidence for it. The viewpoint expressed is a very personal one, andno attempt has been made to review the literature of axonology comprehensively.
Long-Term UVR Effects Upon Phytoplankton Natural Communities of Patagonian Coastal Waters

Since the discovery of the ozone “hole” over the Antarctic continent and the concomitant increase in ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B, 280-315 nm) vast literature has been produced about the impact of these wavelengths on aquatic organisms. Nowadays it is widely accepted that ultraviolet radiation (UVR, 280-400 nm) acts as a stressor for both organisms and ecosystems, this being true not only for increased UVR but also for ‘normal’ levels (see review by Helbling and Zagarese 2003 and references therein). Many studies about the UVR impact on phytoplankton species and communities have reported negative effects on different cellular targets (e.g., photosystem II, DNA, proteins) which may affect several processes such as growth and photosynthesis (Vernet 2000; Villafane et al. 2003). In particular, it has been found that UVR can significantly affect Photosynthesis versus Irradiance (P vs. E) parameters (Furgal and Smith 1997; Montecino et al. 2001; Villafane et al. 2004c) thus remote sensing calculations of primary production based on them might be frequently overestimated. On the other hand, some studies also documented positive effects of UVR, such as increased carbon uptake under UV-A (315-400 nm) exposure (Nilawati et al. 1997, Barbieri et al. 2002; Helbling et al. 2003). Exposure to UV-A can also induce the light-dependant enzymatic repair of the UVR-induced DNA damage (i.e., ‘photorepair’, Buma et al. 2003). Indirect effects of UVR such as the breakdown (photolysis / photodegradation) of dissolved organic matter (DOM) (Osburn and Morris 2003) can be either beneficial for organisms by means of increasing nutrient availability, or detrimental, by increasing water transparency so cells receive more irradiance (Cooke et al. 2006). It is also known that the interaction of UVR and other factors – e.g., nutrient availability, vertical mixing, changes in temperature, supersaturating oxygen concentrations or high pH values, may strongly condition the observed results (Forster and Schubert 2001; Neale et al. 2003; Beardall et al. 2009 and references therein) as compared to those obtained considering only UVR. This is due to the synergic or antagonistic nature of the interactions between UVR and those other factors (Dunne 2010). The evaluation of the combined effects of increased temperature and UVR is
The effect of spatial heterogenity on the aggregation of ticks on white-footed mice

SUMMARY Parasites are often aggregated on a minority of the individuals in their host populations. Although host characteristics are commonly presumed to explain parasite aggregation on hosts, spatio-temporal aggregation of parasites during their host-seeking stages may have a dominant effect on the aggregation on hosts. We aimed to quantify, using mixed models, repeatability and autocorrelation analyses, the degree to which the aggregation of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) on white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) is influenced by spatio-temporal distributions of the host-seeking ticks and by heterogeneity among mice. Host-seeking ticks were spatially aggregated at both the larval and nymphal life-stages. However, this spatial aggregation accounted for little of the variation in larval and nymphal burdens observed on mice (3% and 0%, respectively). Conversely, mouse identity accounted for a substantial proportion of the variance in tick burdens. Mouse identity was a significant explanatory factor as the majority of ticks parasitized a consistent set of mice throughout the activity seasons. Of the characteristics associated with mouse identity investigated, only gender affected larval burdens, and body mass and home range sizes in males were correlated with nymphal burdens. These analyses suggest that aggregation of ticks on a minority of mice does not result from the distribution of host-seeking ticks but from characteristics of the hosts.
Oil Revenue, Public Spending, Gross Domestic Product and Employment in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has largest oil production and exports in the world. Oil’s revenues form the backbone of the economy and it is also a main source of government revenue which determines the major economic activities in the country. This paper has investigated the relationship between oil revenue and employment level by augmenting two more variables like GDP and public spending for a period 1991-2016. We find that there is a cointegration among oil revenue, GDP, public spending and level of employment in Saudi Arabia. The VECM results show that oil revenue and public spending are causing the level of employment in Saudi Arabia. This study observes that declining oil price and its consequent impact on oil revenue may pose a challenge to the economy unless it diversifies its economic base and reduces its dependence on oil sector. Therefore, we recommend the government to reduce oil dependency to improve employment level.
Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control of hypertension and diabetes mellitus among the elderly: the 2004 National Health Examination Survey III, Thailand.

INTRODUCTION This study aims to determine the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and both conditions combined, and to examine factors related to awareness, treatment and control among the elderly in Thailand. METHODS Data from a multistaged National Health Examination Survey III of 19,374 individuals aged 60 years and older in Thailand was used. Information on the socioeconomic status was obtained by interview. Blood pressure was measured with a sphygmomanometer. Fasting plasma glucose was obtained. Logistic regression models were used to examine the determinants of awareness, treatment and control of blood pressure and plasma glucose. RESULTS Age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 51.1 percent, diabetes mellitus 14.0 percent, and diabetes mellitus with hypertension 8.0 percent. Overall, the proportion of unawareness for hypertension, diabetes mellitus and both conditions combined were 56.1, 41.2 and 21.9 percent, respectively. For those undergoing treatment for the control of blood pressure (less than 140/90 mmHg) was 12.4 percent, diabetes mellitus (fasting plasma glucose less than 140 mg/ dL) 26.4 percent, and control of both conditions combined was 7.4 percent. Factors associated with unawareness and inadequate controls of the illnesses were subjects from rural areas, with low income, low educational levels, currently working, and the oldest age group. CONCLUSION There was a high prevalence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus among the older people in Thailand, with high percentages of unawareness and inadequate control for those treated. Screening programmes for early detection, treatment and control of hypertension and diabetes mellitus need to be improved.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN STELLAR POPULATIONS AND Lyα EMISSION IN LYMAN BREAK GALAXIES

We present the results of a photometric and spectroscopic survey of 321 Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at z∼ 3 to investigate systematically the relationship between Lyα emission and stellar populations. Lyα equivalent widths (WLyα) were calculated from rest-frame UV spectroscopy and optical/near-infrared/Spitzer photometry was used in population synthesis modeling to derive the key properties of age, dust extinction, star formation rate (SFR), and stellar mass. We directly compare the stellar populations of LBGs with and without strong Lyα emission, where we designate the former group (WLyα⩾ 20 Å) as Lyα emitters (LAEs) and the latter group (WLyα< 20 Å) as non-LAEs. This controlled method of comparing objects from the same UV luminosity distribution represents an improvement over previous studies in which the stellar populations of LBGs and narrowband-selected LAEs were contrasted, where the latter were often intrinsically fainter in broadband filters by an order of magnitude simply due to different selection criteria. Using a variety of statistical tests, we find that Lyα equivalent width and age, SFR, and dust extinction, respectively, are significantly correlated in the sense that objects with strong Lyα emission also tend to be older, lower in SFR, and less dusty than objects with weak Lyα emission, or the line in absorption. We accordingly conclude that, within the LBG sample, objects with strong Lyα emission represent a later stage of galaxy evolution in which supernovae-induced outflows have reduced the dust covering fraction. We also examined the hypothesis that the attenuation of Lyα photons is lower than that of the continuum, as proposed by some, but found no evidence to support this picture.