Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chronic Treatment with Rilmenidine in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats: Differences between Two Schedules of Administration

Rilmenidine is one of the lead compounds of the second generation of centrally acting antihypertensive drugs. In the first part of this study, 2 routes of administration of chronic treatment (1 month) with rilmenidine were compared. In conscious and pentobarbital-anesthetized spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), rilmenidine was delivered intraperitoneally either 250 &mgr;g/kg b.i. d. or 500 &mgr;g/kg/d infusion by means of minipumps. The possibility of rilmenidine-induced desensitization of central (brain cortex) and/or peripheral (kidney) &agr;2-adrenoreceptors was studied in saturation experiments with the classic &agr;2-adrenergic antagonist [3H]rauwolscine. In the second part of this study, the cardiovascular and cardiac antihypertrophic effects of the most efficient procedure were investigated. The discontinuous administration of the drug was more effective than infusion. In rats treated with rilmenidine b.i. d. , mean blood pressure was reduced by nearly 15% when no reduction occurred in SHRs treated with minipumps. With the first schedule of administration, plasma concentration of the drug reached a maximum of approximately 30 ng/ml when it was only 12 ng/ml with the continuous infusion of the same dose. Anesthesia with pentobarbital potentiated the antihypertensive effect of rilmenidine in rats treated discontinuously and unmasked an antihypertensive action in rats receiving the drug with minipumps. In saturation binding experiments, no significant changes in adrenergic receptors were observed in kidney membrane preparations. In contrast, in brain cortical membranes a reduction by about 50% of the Bmax of [3H]rauwolscine value was observed in rats treated discontinuously with rilmenidine. In contrast, a 400% increase of the Bmax was observed in the brain of rats treated with minipumps. Over the one-month period of the second study, the discontinuous treatment with the 500 &mgr;g/kg/d dose of rilmenidine was still able to reduce blood pressure, at least at the peak concentration time, but did not induce any significant reduction of the ventricular mass. In conclusion, rilmenidine has only weak antihypertensive effects in conscious SHRs, even at doses higher than those that are active in rabbits and humans. As a consequence, it lacks significant cardiac antihypertrophic effects in this species. Pharmacokinetic data show that the rapid plasma withdrawal of this drug may explain this particular feature in rats.
Education, Earnings, and Returns to Schooling in Tunisia

This chapter aims at identifying the main determinants of earnings and at estimating the private returns to education in Tunisia. The private rate of return to schooling is relatively low by international standards, especially for basic education. It is argued that in addition to the limited capacity of the economy to create high-productivity jobs, institutional factors may explain the low and heterogeneous returns to education in Tunisia. The returns to schooling are found to increase with the level of education. Regional disparities in earnings and returns to higher education may be explained by the lack of economic opportunities and low exposure to market forces in many inland regions, and also by differentiated early-life conditions as well as inequality of opportunity in access to quality education. These results are used to suggest directions to strengthen the role of public policies in reducing inequality of opportunities in both schooling and earnings.
Nationwide survey on complementary and alternative medicine in cancer patients in Japan.

PURPOSE To determine the prevalence of use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) by patients with cancer in Japan, and to compare the characteristics of CAM users and CAM nonusers. PATIENTS AND METHODS A questionnaire on cancer CAM and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were delivered to 6,607 patients who were treated in 16 cancer centers and 40 palliative care units. RESULTS There were 3,461 available replies for a response rate of 52.4%. The prevalence of CAM use was 44.6% (1,382 of 3,100) in cancer patients and 25.5% (92 of 361) in noncancer patients with benign tumors. Multiple logistic regression analysis determined that history of chemotherapy, institute (palliative care units), higher education, an altered outlook on life after cancer diagnosis, primary cancer site, and younger age were strongly associated with CAM use in cancer patients. Most of the CAM users with cancer (96.2%) used products such as mushrooms, herbs, and shark cartilage. The motivation for most CAM use was recommendation from family members or friends (77.7%) rather than personal choice (23.3%). Positive effects were experienced by 24.3% of CAM users with cancer, although all of them received conventional cancer therapy concurrently. Adverse reactions were reported by 5.3% of cancer patients. CAM products were used without sufficient information by 57.3% of users with cancer and without a consultation with a doctor by 60.7% of users. CONCLUSION This survey revealed a high prevalence of CAM use among cancer patients, without sufficient information or consultation with their physicians. Oncologists should not ignore the CAM products used by their patients because of a lack of proven efficacy and safety.
Self-organization of a propulsive actin network as an evolutionary process

The leading edge of motile cells is propelled by polymerization of actin filaments according to a dendritic nucleation/array treadmilling mechanism. However, little attention has been given to the origin and maintenance of the dendritic array. Here we develop and test a population–kinetics model that explains the organization of actin filaments in terms of the reproduction of dendritic units. The life cycle of an actin filament consists of dendritic nucleation on another filament (birth), elongation by addition of actin subunits and, finally, termination of filament growth by capping protein (death). The regularity of branch angle between daughter and mother filaments endows filaments with heredity of their orientation. Fluctuations of branch angle that become fixed in the actin network create errors of orientation (mutations) that may be inherited. In our model, birth and death rates depend on filament orientation, which then becomes a selectable trait. Differential reproduction and elimination of filaments, or natural selection, leads to the evolution of a filament pattern with a characteristic distribution of filament orientations. We develop a procedure based on the Radon transform for quantitatively analyzing actin networks in situ and show that the experimental results are in agreement with the distribution of filament orientations predicted by our model. We conclude that the propulsive actin network can be understood as a self-organizing supramolecular ensemble shaped by the evolution of dendritic lineages through natural selection of their orientation.
Doubly rotated contoured quartz resonators

Doubly rotated contoured quartz resonators are used in the design of temperature-compensated stable clocks and dual-mode sensors for simultaneous measurements of pressure and temperature. The design of these devices is facilitated by models that can predict frequency spectra associated with the three thickness modes and temperature and stress-induced frequency changes as a function of crystalline orientation. The Stevens-Tiersten technique for the analysis of the C-mode of a doubly rotated contoured quartz resonator is extended to include the other two thickness modes. Computational results for harmonic and anharmonic overtones of all three thickness modes of such resonators help in optimizing the radius of curvature of the contour and electrode shape for suppression of unwanted modes and prevention of activity dips. The temperature and stress-induced changes in thickness-mode resonator frequencies are calculated from a perturbation technique for small dynamic fields superposed on a static bias. The static bias refers to either a temperature or stress-induced static deformation of the resonator plate. Phenomenological models are also used for calculating the temperature and stress-induced changes in resonant frequencies as a function of crystalline orientation. Results for the SBTC-cut quartz plate with a spherical convex contour of 260 mm indicate that normal trapping occurs for the third (n=3) and fifth (n=5) harmonic of the A-mode, the fundamental (n=1) and third (n=3) harmonic of the B-mode, and the fundamental (n=1) and fifth (n=5) harmonic of the C-mode.
Area-level characteristics and smoking in women.

OBJECTIVES This study examined whether area-level characteristics are associated with individual smoking behavior among women. METHODS Analyses included 648 women enrolled as control patients in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (1993-1996). Smoking and covariate information was obtained from interviews. Area-level characteristics included census block-group education level, poverty, unemployment, car-home ownership, crowding, and, for 431 women, city-level crime rates. RESULTS In multivariate logistic regression models, no area characteristics were clearly associated with a history of smoking. Among those who had ever smoked, continued smoking was associated with living in low-education areas (odds ratio [OR] = 1.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0, 2.9), high-unemployment areas (OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.0, 2.8), and high-crime areas (OR = 1.6, 95% CI = 0.8, 3.2). CONCLUSIONS The present findings are consistent with a growing literature suggesting that area-level social and economic disadvantage influences individual smoking behavior.
Low‐dose/high‐concentration localized botulinum toxin A improves upper limb movement and function in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy

The objective was to determine the effects of low‐dose, high‐concentration, dual localized botulinum toxin A (BTX‐A) injections on upper limb movement quality and function. Study design was an evaluator‐blinded, randomized, controlled trial. Forty‐two children (31 males, 11 females; range 2–8y, mean 4y [SD 1.6]) with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Function Classification System level I) participated. All received occupational therapy. The treatment group (n=21) received one injection series (mean muscles injected 6 [SD 1.05]; total dose 82–220 units, mean 139 [SD 37.48]; dilution 100 units/0.5ml). Primary outcome of Quality of Upper Extremity Skills Test (QUEST) at 6 months was not significant (p=0.318). Secondary outcomes were average treatment effects at 1, 3, and 6 months, which favoured the treatment group: QUEST (p<0.001); Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (performance, p=0.002; satisfaction p=0.007); parent Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS; p=0.001), therapist GAS (p<0.001); Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory (PEDI) functional skills (p=0.030); Ashworth (p<0.001). PEDI caregiver assistance was not significant (p=0.140). Therapy alone is effective, but at 1 and 3 months movement quality is better where BTX‐A is also used. Moreover, function is better at 1, 3, and 6 months, suggesting BTX‐A enhances therapy outcomes beyond the pharmacological effect. One‐ and 3‐month Ashworth and QUEST scores suggest precise needle placement accuracy.
Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Thyroid Axis Set Point Alterations Are Associated With Body Composition in Androgen-Deprived Men

Objective: Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) given to men with prostate cancer is associated with metabolically adverse changes in body composition leading to insulin resistance, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. We investigated prospectively whether androgen deprivation or its consequences may be associated with alterations in thyroid function in men. Design: We performed a prespecified secondary analysis of a prospective case control study. Methods: We prospectively followed men with nonmetastatic prostate cancer newly commencing ADT (n = 34) and age-matched controls (n = 29) for 12 months. We assessed secondary outcomes on thyrotropin (TSH) and thyroid hormones using a linear mixed model to determine mean adjusted differences (MADs) between groups. Results: After a 12-month follow-up period, TSH increased in cases compared with control subjects [MAD, 0.69 mIU/L; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.58–0.82; P < 0.001]. This was accompanied by a rise in FT4 (MAD, 2.2 pmol/L; 95% CI, 1.1–3.2; P < 0.001), reduced FT3-FT4 conversion (MAD, −0.07; 95% CI, −0.10 to −0.4; P < 0.001), and stable FT3. TSH change correlated significantly with changes in weight, body mass index, and fat mass in cases but not with waist circumference, lean mass, visceral fat, insulin resistance, testosterone, sex hormone binding globulin, and estradiol. The rise in TSH after 12 months was strongly associated with changes in leptin. Conclusions: A profound rise in TSH in the absence of peripheral hypothyroidism under ADT suggests set point adaptations of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid axis. This appears to be mediated by body composition changes and by the fat-associated hormone leptin rather than by androgen deficiency. Further studies are required to determine the causality and biological implications of these findings.
Reducing Mutual Coupling for an Extremely Closely-Packed Tunable Dual-Element PIFA Array Through a Resonant Slot Antenna Formed In-Between

An efficient mutual coupling reduction method is introduced for an extremely closely packed tunable dual-element planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) array. High isolation can be achieved through a λ0/2 folded slot antenna formed by a slot on the ground plane and the neighboring edges of the two PIFAs. Direct coupling is blocked by the slot antenna through radiating the coupling power into free space. A measured isolation of more than 36.5 dB can be achieved between the two parallel individual-element PIFAs operating at 2.4 GHz WLAN band with an inter-PIFA spacing of less than 0.063 λ0 (center to center) or 0.0147 λ0 (edge to edge). Since there is only a narrow slot antenna formed between the PIFAs in the present method, the distance can be further reduced to less than 0. 0016λ0 (edge to edge) with the maximal isolation of better than 40 dB. Both measured and simulation results show the effectiveness of the present mutual coupling reduction method.
Dietary variety predicts low body mass index and inadequate macronutrient and micronutrient intakes in community-dwelling older adults.

BACKGROUND Low body mass index (BMI) and micronutrient deficiencies are associated with increased morbidity and mortality rates in old age. Whether adverse patterns of dietary variety predict both low BMI and low micronutrient intakes in older adults was investigated. METHODS A cross-sectional analysis of national survey data was conducted in 1174 healthy adult men and women (ages 21 to 90 years) who provided physiologically plausible dietary data in the 1994-1996 Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals. Measurements included reported energy intake, protein intake (percentage meeting Recommended Dietary Allowance), micronutrient intakes (percentage meeting Estimated Average Requirements for 14 micronutrients), and BMI. RESULTS Adults who were 61 years or older consumed a greater total variety of foods, chose foods from a wider range of food groups, had a greater variety of micronutrient-dense foods and energy-weak foods, and had a lower variety of micronutrient-weak foods compared with adults ages 21 to 60 years (p < .05 to.001). However, older adults with low BMIs (< 22 kg/m2) consumed a lower variety of energy-dense foods compared with older adults with higher BMIs (p < .05). The variety of energy-dense foods predicted both energy intake and BMI at all ages in multiple regression models controlling for confounding variables (R2 = .124 for energy, R2 = .574 for BMI, p < .001). A higher percentage of older persons had inadequate micronutrient intakes compared with younger persons (p < .05), especially vitamin E, calcium, and magnesium, but consumption of a particularly wide variety of micronutrient-rich foods helped counterbalance these trends (p < .05). Older adults who had a low BMI and consumed a low variety of micronutrient-dense foods were particularly at nutritional risk, with only 65.4% consuming the Recommended Dietary Allowance for protein and none meeting the Estimated Average Requirements for all 14 micronutrients. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to previous suggestions that older persons consume a monotonous diet, this study showed that adults who were 61 years or older consumed a greater total food variety, and a greater variety of micronutrient-dense and energy-weak foods, compared with adults who were 60 years or younger. Although consumption of a low variety of energy-dense foods may contribute to reduced energy intake and body weight at any age, the variety of micronutrient-dense foods consumed needs to increase in old age to prevent micronutrient deficiencies. These findings suggest that all adults need advice on the changing needs for dietary variety with aging to maintain health, and that older persons with low BMI are particularly vulnerable to dietary shortfalls.
Minority Students in College: Finding Sense of Community

College can be a challenging time for most students; however, it can be especially challenging for minority students. Research indicates minority students can have significant differences in college experiences compared to their White counterparts’ experiences, often participating in environments perceived as unwelcoming, which create barriers to adjustment and integration for minority students within the college or university, as well as health implications. However, research also indicates minority students receive support through a variety of mechanisms which contribute to their adjustment and success while in college. The minority student college experience is complex and diverse, warranting greater understanding. Of particular importance, however, is the influence such collegiate experiences may have on minority students’ sense of community while in college. Understanding minority students’ collegiate experiences can provide valuable insight into how sense of community may be understood and actualized for such students, compared to their White counterparts. Accordingly, the present study has sought to establish the connection between minority students’ collegiate experiences and their sense of community, discussing: minority students’ sense of community in the campus, minority students’ sense of community in additional communities within the campus, factors contributing to or hindering sense of community, and sense of community’s influence on academic achievement.
Monday, Monday: Eastern Protest Movements and German Party Politics since 1989

Since 1989–90, sporadic but intense protest movements, centred in the east, have transformed German political parties, even those with West German origins. This article examines four major eastern protest movements: (a) the peaceful demonstrations of autumn 1989; (b) the anti-Hartz IV protests of summer 2004; (c) the burgeoning neo-Nazi free fellowships (freie Kameradschaften) of the mid-to-late 1990s and early 2000s; and (d) Pegida rallies in 2014–16. It addresses the following questions. First, in what ways did eastern protest shape German parties and party systems? Second, why did the protest movements have such a varying impact on party politics?
Protein-protein binding affinity prediction on a diverse set of structures

MOTIVATION Accurate binding free energy functions for protein-protein interactions are imperative for a wide range of purposes. Their construction is predicated upon ascertaining the factors that influence binding and their relative importance. A recent benchmark of binding affinities has allowed, for the first time, the evaluation and construction of binding free energy models using a diverse set of complexes, and a systematic assessment of our ability to model the energetics of conformational changes. RESULTS We construct a large set of molecular descriptors using commonly available tools, introducing the use of energetic factors associated with conformational changes and disorder to order transitions, as well as features calculated on structural ensembles. The descriptors are used to train and test a binding free energy model using a consensus of four machine learning algorithms, whose performance constitutes a significant improvement over the other state of the art empirical free energy functions tested. The internal workings of the learners show how the descriptors are used, illuminating the determinants of protein-protein binding. AVAILABILITY The molecular descriptor set and descriptor values for all complexes are available in the Supplementary Material. A web server for the learners and coordinates for the bound and unbound structures can be accessed from the website: http://bmm.cancerresearchuk. org/~Affinity. CONTACT paul.bates@cancer.org. uk. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Associations with predialysis vascular access management.

BACKGROUND The Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI) guidelines encourage increasing the proportion of arteriovenous fistulae among incident hemodialysis patients. Achieving optimal outcomes requires predialysis out-patient follow-up by a nephrologist, predialysis placement of a vascular access, and adequate maturation of the vascular access. METHODS We assessed the effect of clinical factors on predialysis vascular access management in all incident hemodialysis patients at a single institution during a 2-year period. RESULTS Of 157 patients initiating dialysis therapy from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2002, a total of 73.2% had predialysis follow-up by a nephrologist, 46.5% had predialysis vascular access surgery, and 35.0% initiated their first dialysis session with a permanent access. Among patients using a permanent access on their first dialysis session, 67.3% used a fistula. Patients with diabetes were more likely than those without diabetes to have predialysis nephrology follow-up (81.5% versus 61.5%; P = 0.005), undergo predialysis vascular access surgery (56.5% versus 32.3%; P = 0.003), and initiate their first dialysis session with a fistula or graft (43.5% versus 23.1%; P = 0.008). Duration of predialysis nephrology follow-up was similar between patients with and without diabetes (median, 412 versus 300 days; P = 0.27). Patient age, sex, and race were not predictive of predialysis access management. CONCLUSION Despite attempts to follow the K/DOQI guidelines, 65% of incident hemodialysis patients initiated their first dialysis treatment with a catheter. Patients with diabetes were significantly more likely to have predialysis follow-up by a nephrologist and thus more likely to initiate their first dialysis session with a permanent access. Emphasis on early referral of patients with chronic kidney disease without diabetes to nephrologists may increase fistula use among incident hemodialysis patients.