Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Biomarkers in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer Disease

Background: Recently there has been increased interest in identifying patients at the earliest stages of Alzheimer disease (AD), so that effective treatment (when this is developed) can be initiated at an early stage. Therefore, neuroimaging studies have been performed on non-demented subjects who are at increased risk for AD, including family history of AD and non-demented patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Objectives: Our purpose was to use volumetric MR imaging to explore the extent of atrophy of the volumes of two temporal lobe structures, the entorhinal cortex (ERC) and the hippocampus, in patients with AD and MCI compared with normal cognition (NC) and to determine the powers of the ERC and the hippocampus for discrimination between these groups. Subjects and Methods: This study included 42 subjects with NC, 32 patients with MCI, and 36 patients with AD. Volumes of the ERC and hippocampus were measured based on coronal T1 weighted MR images. Results: Both ERC and hippocampal volumes were reduced in MCI (ERC 13%, hippocampus 11%, p<0.05) and AD (ERC 41%, hippocampus 30%, p<0.01) compared with NC. Furthermore, AD showed greater volume loss in the ERC than in the hippocampus (p<0.01). There was a significant correlation between ERC and hippocampal volumes in MCI and AD (both p<0.001), but not in NC. Using ERC and hippocampus together improved discrimination between AD and NC but did not improve discrimination between MCI and NC. The ERC was better than the hippocampus for distinguishing MCI from AD. Conclusion: Volume reduction in the ERC and hippocampus may be early signs of AD pathology that can be measured using MRI. (Egypt J. Neurol. Psychiat. Neurosurg., 2006, 43(1): 563-574)
Eastern Equatorial Pacific productivity and related-CO2 changes since the last glacial period

Understanding oceanic processes, both physical and biological, that control atmospheric CO2 is vital for predicting their influence during the past and into the future. The Eastern Equatorial Pacific (EEP) is thought to have exerted a strong control over glacial/interglacial CO2 variations through its link to circulation and nutrient-related changes in the Southern Ocean, the primary region of the world oceans where CO2-enriched deep water is upwelled to the surface ocean and comes into contact with the atmosphere. Here we present a multiproxy record of surface ocean productivity, dust inputs, and thermocline conditions for the EEP over the last 40,000 y. This allows us to detect changes in phytoplankton productivity and composition associated with increases in equatorial upwelling intensity and influence of Si-rich waters of sub-Antarctic origin. Our evidence indicates that diatoms outcompeted coccolithophores at times when the influence of Si-rich Southern Ocean intermediate waters was greatest. This shift from calcareous to noncalcareous phytoplankton would cause a lowering in atmospheric CO2 through a reduced carbonate pump, as hypothesized by the Silicic Acid Leakage Hypothesis. However, this change does not seem to have been crucial in controlling atmospheric CO2, as it took place during the deglaciation, when atmospheric CO2 concentrations had already started to rise. Instead, the concomitant intensification of Antarctic upwelling brought large quantities of deep CO2-rich waters to the ocean surface. This process very likely dominated any biologically mediated CO2 sequestration and probably accounts for most of the deglacial rise in atmospheric CO2.
Effects of Interval Training and a Taper on Cycling Performance and Isokinetic Leg Strength

The purpose of this study was to determine whether changes in isokinetic leg strength parallel changes in cycling performance during a six-week high-intensity aerobic interval training program and a subsequent two-week taper. Eleven male collegiate cyclists participated in one competitive cycling graded exercise test, four consecutive days of aerobic intervals (30 min @82.2 +/- 0.74% HRmax, 1:1 work:relief), and four continuous rides (1-2 hr @65-80% HRmax) weekly. Pedalling cadence during training was generally 70-80 rpm suggesting a knee joint velocity of approximately 210 degrees.sec-1. Cycling performance and peak isokinetic torque (TQpk) for knee flexors (HAM) and knee extensors (QUAD) @30, 120, 210, and 300 degrees.sec-1 were assessed before, every two weeks during, and each week for two weeks following six weeks of interval training. Performance increased significantly during training (15%) and increased further during the taper (8%). QUAD TQpk @30 and 120 degrees.sec-1 increased significantly during training and the taper. In contrast, QUAD TQpk @210 and 300 degrees.sec-1 and HAM TQpk for all velocities were not significantly elevated following training. Interestingly, QUAD TQpk @300 but not 210 degrees.sec-1 significantly increased during the taper. Data from this study demonstrates that high-intensity aerobic interval cycling can promote gains in QUAD strength which occur primarily at contraction velocities slower than those utilized during cycling training. Additionally, a two-week taper can produce significant improvements in cycling performance (8%) and QUAD strength (8-9%) at 30 and 120 degrees.sec-1, however, the time-courses for these improvements do not parallel one another.
Patterns of Binocular Suppression and Accommodation in Monovision

ABSTRACT The binocular depth of focus of monovision wearers was compared to the sum of the two monocularly determined depths of focus. Observers fell into three groups based upon ocular sighting dominance. Complete binocular summation of the monocular depths of focus was observed in subjects without a preferred fixating eye. Subjects who preferred to fixate with one eye had difficulty suppressing blur of that eye while the binocular target was within the depth of focus of the nonpreferred eye. A third group showed partial summation of the two monocular depths of focus. Similar patterns of accommodative response, measured objectively with the SRI optometer, were observed in subjects wearing monovision corrections. Accommodative response to sinusoidal variations in blur was controlled primarily by the dominant sighting eye. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of interocular suppression of anisometropic blur in monovision correction and the influence of ocular dominance upon this suppression process.
Components of the RP4 Conjugative Transfer Apparatus Form an Envelope Structure Bridging Inner and Outer Membranes of Donor Cells: Implications for Related Macromolecule Transport Systems

ABSTRACT During bacterial conjugation, the single-stranded DNA molecule is transferred through the cell envelopes of the donor and the recipient cell. A membrane-spanning transfer apparatus encoded by conjugative plasmids has been proposed to facilitate protein and DNA transport. For the IncPα plasmid RP4, a thorough sequence analysis of the gene products of the transfer regions Tra1 and Tra2 revealed typical features of mainly inner membrane proteins. We localized essential RP4 transfer functions to Escherichia coli cell fractions by immunological detection with specific polyclonal antisera. Each of the gene products of the RP4 mating pair formation (Mpf) system, specified by the Tra2 core region and by traF of the Tra1 region, was found in the outer membrane fraction with one exception, the TrbB protein, which behaved like a soluble protein. The membrane preparation from Mpf-containing cells had an additional membrane fraction whose density was intermediate between those of the cytoplasmic and outer membranes, suggesting the presence of attachment zones between the twoE. coli membranes. The Tra1 region is known to encode the components of the RP4 relaxosome. Several gene products of this transfer region, including the relaxase TraI, were detected in the soluble fraction, but also in the inner membrane fraction. This indicates that the nucleoprotein complex is associated with and/or assembled facing the cytoplasmic site of the E. coli cell envelope. The Tra1 protein TraG was predominantly localized to the cytoplasmic membrane, supporting its potential role as an interface between the RP4 Mpf system and the relaxosome.
“Being Free Like a Bird”―The Meaning of Being an Informal Caregiver for Persons with Dementia Who Are Receiving Day Care Services

Respite care in the form of day care is one of the several respite services that aims to provide temporary relief to informal caregivers from their responsibilities of caring for a person with dementia. The purpose of this study was to illuminate the meaning of being an informal caregiver for a person with dementia living at home and receiving day care services. Narrative interviews were conducted, and data were analyzed using the phenomenological hermeneutic method. Two main themes emerged: “Living with limitations in everyday life” and “Having a life besides being a caregiver”. The comprehensive understanding suggested living with a person with dementia, changes and influences the informal caregiver’s life through a set of new roles and a new way of living and thinking. The result is discussed in light of Goffman’s analysis of the structures of social encounters from the perspective of the dramatic performance.
EVALUATING LATE NEOPROTEROZOIC GLACIO-AEOLIAN DEPOSITS FOR POTENTIAL TARGET PARAMETERS IN MODELING SNOWBALL EARTH WIND CONDITIONS

Aeolian sandstones are found intimately associated with Late Neoproterozoic ‘snowball Earth’ glacial deposits. Studying the nature of these aeolian deposits offers the great potential to elicit new and important information regarding the wind conditions during these extreme glacial intervals. Wind direction is the dominant paleoclimatic indicator that can be derived from aeolian deposits and one that has been largely ignored in geologic and climatic modeling studies of a snowball Earth. This objective of this proposal is to initiate a study of Late Neoproterozoic glacio-aeolian deposits from a broad paleogeographic region to build an empirical model for global wind patterns surrounding the snowball Earth glaciations. These wind direction data will then be used as targets for global circulation model (GCM) simulations of a snowball Earth.
Pulmonary , gastrointestinal and urogenital pharmacology Naringin attenuates EGF-induced MUC 5 AC secretion in A 549 cells by suppressing the cooperative activities of MAPKs-AP-1 and IKKs-I k B-NFk B signaling pathways

Naringenin, the aglycone of naringin, has been reported to attenuate MUC5AC secretion by inhibiting activity of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) via EGFR-PI3K-Akt/ERK MAPKinase signaling pathways. However, previous studies demonstrated that the MUC5AC promoter was located in two different regions: an activator protein-1 (AP-1) binding site and a NF-kB binding site. The current study comprehensively determined the involvement of MAPKs/AP-1 and IKKs/IkB/NF-kB in epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced A549 cells, and sought to ascertain the signaling pathways of naringin imparted in suppression of EGF-induced MUC5AC secretion. The results showed that naringin of 100 mM not only significantly decreased EGF-induced overexpressions of both MUC5AC mucin and mRNA in A549 cells, but also suppressed the phosphorylation of EGF receptor, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), as well as nucleus NF-kB p65 and AP-1. Moreover, any of three MAPKs inhibitors (PD98059, SB203580, and SP600125) significantly inhibited EGF-induced MUC5AC secretion. And as compared to MG132, the inhibitor kB (IkB) phosphorylation inhibitor of SN50 was more effective in reducing EGF-induced MUC5AC secretion because of suppression of nucleus AP-1. Meanwhile, as compared to naringin, both SP600125 and azithromycin were less effective in suppressing EGF-induced secretion of MUC5AC because of the unchanged nucleus NF-kB p65. These results indicated that naringin attenuates EGF-induced MUC5AC secretion in A549 cells by suppressing the cooperative activities of MAPKs/AP-1 and IKKs/IkB/NF-kB signaling pathways. & 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Association between organizational inequity and incidence of psychiatric disorders in female employees

Background. Prior research on work-related factors in the aetiology of psychiatric disorders has been concentrated on job control, job demands and social support. To broaden the view to managerial procedures, we examined whether the extent to which employees are treated with equity in the workplace predicts their mental health. Organizational equity refers to decision-making procedures, which are consistently applied, open, correctable and include input from affected parties (procedural justice). It also refers to respectful and considerate treatment of individuals by supervisors (relational justice). Method. A cohort of 1786 female hospital employees with no psychiatric disorder at baseline responded to a questionnaire on organizational equity. From the responses, both an individual score and a work unit mean score were assigned to each participant. The outcome was new reports of doctor-diagnosed psychiatric disorders during the 2-year follow-up. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were corrected for clustering of the data. Results. After adjustment for age and salary, odds ratio of new psychiatric disorders for self-reported low procedural justice was 1·9 (95% CI 1·1 to 3·2). Corresponding odds ratio for low procedural justice, as assessed with work unit mean scores, was 1·7 (95% CI 1·5 to 2·0). These associations remained statistically significant after additional adjustment for mental distress at baseline and job control, job demands and social support. Relational justice did not predict psychiatric disorders. Conclusion. Research on organizational equity provides new information about potential work-related determinants of mental health. Low procedural justice seems to be an independent risk factor for psychiatric disorders in female employees.
Parallel Computing of Magnetic Field for Rotating Machines on the Earth Simulator

We developed a parallel computing method of the magnetic field for rotating machines by using the 3-D finite element method (FEM) with edge elements. In this paper, we describe the outline of the developed method and an optimization of the method for the Earth simulator, which is a vector-type parallel supercomputer in Japan. Moreover, the performance of the proposed method running on the Earth simulator is quantitatively clarified.
[Energy and nutrient intake and risk of inadequate intakes in Canary Islands (1997-98)].

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the consumption of energy and nutrients and to identify the risk of inadequate intakes in the Canary Island population (1997-98). DESIGN Cross-sectional epidemiological study. METHODS A dietary survey was conducted in a representative sample of the Canary Island population (n = 1747; 821 men and 926 women) aged 6 to 75 years. Two 24-hour recalls were utilised as the dietary survey instrument, carried out over non-consecutive days. Spanish Food Composition Tables were used and data was adjusted for intraindividual variability. RESULTS The mean daily intakes were 1760 kcal for energy, 73 g for protein, 228 g for carbohydrates, 15 g for fibre and 62 g for fat (24 g SFA, 25 g MUFA and 8 g PUFA). Energy and nutrient consumption decreased with age excluding vitamins A. C and folate. Nutrient density increased with age, with the lowest intakes seen in children and adolescents. As for social class, decreased calorie intake was observed in the lowest category, with the highest income level showing the greatest intakes for vitamin A, B12, niacin and folate. Noteworthy findings include an overall low calorie intake, and elevated risks of inadequate intakes (percentages of the population with intakes below 2/3 of the RDI) for vitamins D (92.5%), E(87.4%), A(74%), folate(44.7%), iron(30.1%) magnesium (14.9%) and vitamin C (5.4%). Risk for inadequate protein intake was not observed.
Climate change and cutaneous water loss of birds

Summary There is a crucial need to understand how physiological systems of animals will respond to increases in global air temperature. Water conservation may become more important for some species of birds, especially those living in deserts. Lipids of the stratum corneum (SC), the outer layer of the epidermis, create the barrier to water vapor diffusion, and thus control cutaneous water loss (CWL). An appreciation of the ability of birds to change CWL by altering lipids of the skin will be important to predict responses of birds to global warming. The interactions of these lipids are fundamental to the modulation of water loss through skin. Cerebrosides, with their hexose sugar moiety, are a key component of the SC in birds, but how these lipids interact with other lipids of the SC, or how they form hydrogen bonds with water molecules, to form a barrier to water vapor diffusion remains unknown. An understanding of how cerebrosides interact with other lipids of the SC, and of how the hydroxyl groups of cerebrosides interact with water molecules, may be a key to elucidating the control of CWL by the SC.
Reflections on Rosenhan's "On being sane in insane places".

Indicates that although the arguments that D. L. Rosenhan (1973) presents in his critique of diagnostic labeling are compelling, the experiment he employed to furnish empirical support for his thesis is seriously flawed and the nosological alternative he proposes is logically deficient. The most notable weakness is the failure of his study design and methodology to provide a properly controlled test of the major hypothesis. Further, the substantive assumptions underlying Rosenhan's proposal that syndrome labeling be disbanded in favor of labeling specific behaviors are seen as both philosophically naive and inevitably misguiding. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved)
Mechanisms of the Protective Effects of Curcumin against Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulcer in Rats

Background/Aims: Curcumin, a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound, exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that render it an attractive candidate for protection against gastric ulcer. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the protective effects of curcumin against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats. Methods: Gastric ulceration was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of indomethacin (30 mg/kg). Curcumin (50 mg/kg, p.o.) was administered 30 min before ulcer induction. Results: Curcumin showed gastroprotective effects as evidenced by significant decreases in ulcer index, total acid output and pepsin activity in gastric juice in addition to gastric mucosal malondialdehyde concentration, and concomitant increases in gastric juice mucin concentration, gastric mucosal nitric oxide level and catalase and superoxide dismutase activities as compared to the indomethacin-induced ulcer group. Moreover, immunohistochemical investigations demonstrated that curcumin treatment markedly decreased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, nuclear factor-κB, and caspase-3. Conclusion: Curcumin protected the rats' gastric mucosa against indomethacin-induced gastric ulceration possibly, at least in part, by enhancement of the gastric mucosal barrier and reduction in acid secretory parameters in addition to antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities.
Clinical Findings in Children with Cutaneous Anthrax in Eastern Turkey

Abstract: Anthrax is a zoonosis produced by Bacillus anthracis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical findings, therapy, and outcome in children with cutaneous anthrax (CA). Data on age, gender, occupation, clinical symptoms and findings, location and type of lesions, clinical history, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome were recorded from patients’ medical records, retrospectively. The study included 65 patients between 1 month and 18 years old (9.0 ± 4.0 years), 37 patients (56.9%) were male and 28 (43.1%) were female. Most of the patients (89.1%) were admitted in summer and autumn (p < 0.001). Of the 65 patients, 20 patients (30.8%) had received antibiotherapy before admission to our hospital. All patients except one had a contact history with infected animals. A 1‐month‐old patient had a contact history with his mother who had CA. On clinical examination, anthrax edema was noted in 36 (55.3%) patients, anthrax pustule in 27 (41.5%), and anthrax edema and anthrax pustule in two (3%) patients. Gram staining and culture was positive for B. anthracis in 35 (53.8%) patients, and only Gram staining was positive in 10 (15.4%) patients. In the remaining 20 (30.8%) patients, the diagnosis was made by clinical findings. Because the anthrax outbreak in Turkey was associated with slaughtering or milking of ill cows, sheep, or goats, and handling raw meat without taking any protective measures, persons in the community must be educated about using personal protective equipment during slaughtering of animals and handling of meat and skins.
Fast Verification of Guide-Patterns for Directed Self-Assembly Lithography

Guide-patterns (GPs) are critical to the construction of contacts and vias in directed self-assembly (DSA) lithography. Simulations can be used to verify GPs, but runtime is excessive. Instead, we categorize the shapes of GPs using a small number of geometric parameters. Then a verification function is built to predict whether a GP will produce the required contacts, as follows: a vector in parameter space is constructed to represent each GP in a test set; the acceptability of each GP is then assessed by DSA simulation, and each vector is tagged “good” or “bad” accordingly; next, the parameter space is deformed to convert a radial distribution into one in which the good and bad vectors can be separated by a hyper-plane, which finally becomes the verification function. We also show how to reduce the dimensionality of the parameter space by principal component analysis, and how to generalize the geometric description of GPs to allow different types of GP to be verified in a uniform fashion. The proposed GP verification is demonstrated in 10 nm technology.
Cardiorespiratory fitness and health‐related quality of life in women at risk for gestational diabetes

This study examined the associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and leisure‐time physical activity (LTPA) with health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) in women at risk for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The participants were 39 women planning pregnancy with a history of GDM and/or BMI >29 kg/m2. We assessed CRF by measuring maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) during incremental cycle ergometer exercise until voluntary fatigue. LTPA was self‐reported, and HRQoL assessed with the SF‐36 Health Survey (SF‐36). The mean (SD) VO2max was 27 (6) mL·kg−1·min−1, and the mean LTPA was 2.6 (1.7) h/wk. After controlling for BMI, VO2max was positively associated with the SF‐36 General Health scale (β 1.27, 95% CI: 0.09, 2.44, P=.035) and the Physical Component Summary (β 0.48, 95% CI: 0.14, 0.82, P=.007). The General Health scale (P=.023) and the Physical Component Summary (P=.011) differed even between those with very poor and poor CRF. After controlling for BMI, LTPA was positively associated with the SF‐36 Physical Functioning scale (rs=.34, P=.039), the General Health scale (β 3.74, 95% CI: 0.64, 6.84, P=.020), and the Physical Component Summary (β 1.13 95% CI: 0.19, 2.06, P=.020). To conclude, CRF and LTPA were positively associated with perceived general health and physical well‐being in women planning pregnancy and at risk for GDM. Even a slightly better CRF would be beneficial for well‐being among women with low levels of CRF.