Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primary prevention of coronary heart disease in women through diet and lifestyle.

BACKGROUND Many lifestyle-related risk factors for coronary heart disease have been identified, but little is known about their effect on the risk of disease when they are considered together. METHODS We followed 84,129 women participating in the Nurses' Health Study who were free of diagnosed cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes at base line in 1980. Information on diet and lifestyle was updated periodically. During 14 years of follow-up, we documented 1128 major coronary events (296 deaths from coronary heart disease and 832 nonfatal infarctions). We defined subjects at low risk as those who were not currently smoking, had a body-mass index (the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters) under 25, consumed an average of at least half a drink of an alcoholic beverage per day, engaged in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (which could include brisk walking) for at least half an hour per day, on average, and scored in the highest 40 percent of the cohort for consumption of a diet high in cereal fiber, marine n-3 fatty acids, and folate, with a high ratio of polyunsaturated to saturated fat, and low in trans fat and glycemic load, which reflects the extent to which diet raises blood glucose levels. RESULTS Many of the factors were correlated, but each independently and significantly predicted risk, even after further adjustment for age, family history, presence or absence of diagnosed hypertension or diagnosed high cholesterol level, and menopausal status. Women in the low-risk category (who made up 3 percent of the population) had a relative risk of coronary events of 0.17 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.07 to 0.41) as compared with all the other women. Eighty-two percent of coronary events in the study cohort (95 percent confidence interval, 58 to 93 percent) could be attributed to lack of adherence to this low-risk pattern. CONCLUSION Among women, adherence to lifestyle guidelines involving diet, exercise, and abstinence from smoking is associated with a very low risk of coronary heart disease.
Accuracy and precision assessment of a new blood glucose monitoring system

Abstract Background: Blood glucose self-monitoring by individuals with diabetes is essential in controlling blood glucose levels. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) introduced new standards for blood glucose monitoring systems (BGMS) in 2013 (ISO 15197: 2013). The CONTOUR PLUS® (CONTOUR PLUS) BGMS has been demonstrated to meet the 2013 ISO standards; however, no Chinese data on CONTOUR PLUS accuracy and precision have been published. Methods: This study evaluated the accuracy and precision of CONTOUR PLUS BGMS in quantitative glucose testing of capillary and venous whole blood samples obtained from 363 patients at three different hospitals. Results: Results of fingertip and venous blood glucose measurements by the CONTOUR PLUS system were compared with laboratory reference values to determine accuracy. Accuracy was 98.1% (96.06%–99.22%) for fingertip blood tests and 98.1% (96.02%–99.21%) for venous blood tests. Precision was evaluated across a wide range of blood glucose values (5.1–17.2 mmol/L), testing three blood samples repeatedly 15 times with the CONTOUR PLUS blood glucose meter using test strips from three lots. All within-lot results met ISO criteria (i.e., SD<0.42 mmol/L for blood glucose concentration <5.55 mmol/L; CV<7.5% for blood glucose concentration ≥5.55 mmol/L). Between-lot variations were 1.5% for low blood glucose concentration, 2.4% for normal and 3.4% for high. Conclusions: Accuracy of both fingertip and venous blood glucose measurements by the CONTOUR PLUS system was >95%, confirming that the system meets ISO 15197: 2013 requirements.
Impacts of End-User and Information Center Characteristics on End-User Computing Support

In a cross-sectional survey of 114 information centers, it was found that support needed by end-users varied with their computing sophistication and the maturity of the information center. However, information centers did not take into account differences among users in designing support services, and provided all users with the same amount of support. For most users, the support provided was far less than the support needed, but end-user satisfaction was higher when more support needs were fulfilled. The implication of these results is that information centers are not making the requisite effort to identify and fulfill the support needs of their end-users.
An Inductorless 6-GHz Variable Gain Differential Transimpedance Amplifier in 0.18-μm SiGe BiCMOS

This paper presents a new inductorless 6-GHz variable gain differential transimpedance amplifier (VGDTIA) with voltage bias controlled variable gain designed using TowerJazz 0.18-μm SiGe BiCMOS technology (using CMOS only). It consists of a modified cross-coupled regulated cascode preamplifier stage (CCRGC) and a cascaded amplifier stage with bias-controlled gain-variation and third-order interleaving feedback (CVG3F). The design has a transimpedance gain range of 20.6–60.5 dBΩ with constant bandwidth of 6.6 GHz and a dynamic range of 41.2 μΑ to 1.1 mA. The power consumption is 33.9 mW from 1.8 V supply, and the input referred noise current is 10.4 pA/√Hz. This design is compact and the core area is 100 μm × 85 μm.
Paleognathous Carinate Birds from the Early Tertiary of North America

Fossils newly discovered in the Paleocene and early Eocene of western North America document some of the oldest birds known from nearly complete skeletons. These were medium-sized carinates with powers of sustained flight but which had a paleognathous palate like that of the flightless ostrich-like birds and the tinamous. The fossils provide additional evidence that the paleognathous palate is probably primitive and therefore should not be cited as a derived character state to define the ostrich-like birds as a monophyletic group.
Applicability analysis of IR thermography and discrete wavelet transform for technical conditions assessment of bridge elements

ABSTRACT Standard procedures for carrying out the inspection of the bridge or the assessment of its technical condition and suitability for use, rely on visual assessment made by the inspector and are in a certain part subjective. The main objective of the article is to analyze the applicability of IR as a tool to support the inspections of the structure and equipment elements of bridges. We are looking for the relationship between temperature distribution on an element surface (registered by an infrared camera) and hidden defects, which may be associated with, among others, moisture, discontinuity or delaminations in concrete structures. The study was divided into three parts: numerically simulated experiments of transient heat transfer, laboratory tests of reinforced concrete (RC) slab and some in-situ tests of a real bridge. To improve the effectiveness of damage detection, discrete two-dimensional wavelet transformation was applied.
Markers of inflammation in exhaled breath condensate of young healthy smokers.

INTRODUCTION Although a strong correlation exists between long-term cigarette smoking, pulmonary inflammation, and COPD, efforts to identify populations at risk of acquiring COPD have so far been unsuccessful. To this end, noninvasive detection and monitoring of biomarkers of pulmonary inflammation in young healthy smokers may assist in this task. STUDY OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of total protein, nitrites, interleukin (IL)-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and neutrophil chemotactic activity in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) collected from healthy college student smokers and nonsmokers. DESIGN EBC was collected from 20 volunteers (9 nonsmokers and 11 smokers) during tidal breathing for 20 min. EBC was also collected from smokers 30 min after smoking one filtered cigarette. The concentrations of total protein, nitrite, IL-1beta, and TNF-alpha in EBC was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Neutrophil chemotactic activity in EBC was determined in vitro using the blind-well technique. RESULTS The concentrations of total protein and nitrite, and neutrophil chemotactic activity were significantly higher in EBC of smokers in comparison to nonsmokers (p < 0.05). The concentrations of total protein and nitrite in the condensate of smokers did not change significantly after smoking one cigarette. The concentrations of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha in EBC were similar in nonsmokers and smokers. CONCLUSIONS Concentrations of certain inflammatory mediators and neutrophil chemotactic activity are increased in EBC of young healthy smokers. Collection and analysis of EBC may assist in early detection of cigarette smoke-induced pulmonary inflammation and identifying populations at risk for acquiring COPD.
Returns to Major Agricultural R&D Sources in Thailand

This paper aims at addressing the attribution issue among major agricultural R&D sources in Thailand. The public, private, university and foreign R&D are investigated as sources of agricultural productivity growth along with other economic and noneconomic factors using an econometric model. The model employs the error correction modeling technique using time-series data during 1980 to 2014. The estimated coefficients of the organized R&D variables are then used to compute the associated marginal internal rates of return on the local sources of R&D. The results show that all the major sources of agricultural R&D have statistically significant positive impacts on the productivity gain. However, the magnitude of the impacts and the associated rates of return are quite small. The university R&D payoff is shown to be slightly higher than those of the public and the private R&D, respectively. The findings also highlight the importance of the attribution among R&D sources and the systematic records of the R&D data.
Social Finance and the Postmodern Portfolio: Theory and Practice

The field of social finance, which includes a range of investment practices that consider both the social and financial characteristics of investments, has grown tremendously over the past decade. As the Millennial generation acquires increasing amounts of wealth, the trend is likely to continue, and wealth managers will need to adapt. In this article, the authors propose a “post-modern” portfolio theory that incorporates metrics of social return into the portfolio construction process. The article first develops an investor utility function that accommodates each investor’s unique preferences for different types of social impact. Using the heterogeneous expectations version of the capital asset pricing model, the authors then expand the utility function into a model of general equilibrium. Estimation and forecasting problems are discussed, as are the implications of this model for both investors who care only about traditional financial utility, as well as those who value other forms of well-being in the context of their portfolio goals. Finally, the article offers wealth advisors a simple approach to implementation that is amenable to clients with varying degrees of interest in social return.
Molecular analysis of the spinal muscular atrophy and neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein genes in Saudi patients with spinal muscular atrophy.

OBJECTIVE Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a common, often fatal, autosomal recessive disease leading to progressive muscle wasting and paralysis as a result of degeneration of anterior horn cells of the spinal cord. The prevalence of SMA cases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) is much higher than the European and North American population. Deletions or mutations in 2 genes, telomeric form of the survival motor neuron (SMN1) and the neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP), are known to be associated with SMA. The aim of this study is to examine the deletions or interruptions of the SMN1 and NAIP genes in Saudi patients. METHODS The study included 121 Saudi SMA patients [type I (60 patients); type II (26 patients); and type III (35 patients)]. The deletions or interruptions of the SMN1 and NAIP genes were detected by using polymerase chain reaction. The study was carried out at the King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Riyadh, KSA between 2000 and 2002. RESULTS The homozygous deletions of exons 7 and 8 of the SMN1 gene were found in 94% and 87% of the patients. Exon 5 of the NAIP gene was deleted in 70%, but its deletion was more frequent in SMA type I (93%) as compared to type II (54%) and type III (43%). Seven patients with SMA diagnosis did not show any of the above homozygous deletions. All 230 control subjects had at least one copy of both SMN1 and NAIP genes, as expected. CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that the deletion rate (94%) of the SMN1 gene in Saudi SMA patients is similar, irrespective of types, compared with patients of other ethnic groups. We also show that the incidence of NAIP deletion is higher in the more severe SMA cases and the dual deletion of the SMN1 and NAIP genes are more common in Saudi SMA type I patients compared with patients of other ethnic groups.
Moclobemide versus clomipramine in nonmelancholic, nonpsychotic major depression

The efficacy and the safety of moclobemide (400‐600 mg/day), a reversible and selective inhibitor of monoamine oxidase‐A (RIMA) and of clomipramine (100–150 mg/day) were compared respectively in 98 and 93 nonmelancholic, nonpsychotic out‐patients with a DSM‐III major depressive episode over 6 weeks and up to 3 months, in a multi‐center double‐blind trial. No statistically significant difference between the treatments was found on the number of responders, at 6 weeks and 3 months, to the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), which was the main criterion for efficacy. The sample size was sufficient to detect a difference of approximatively 20% in response rates. Reduction of the total scores on HDRS and Covi anxiety scale was comparable for both treatments, but the reduction on the Retardation Depressive Scale (RDS) was significantly higher with moclobemide at the 1‐ and 2‐week assessments. According to the RDS as well as the global impression of both patient and physician, a somewhat earlier onset of antidepressant action was evident in the moclobemide group. Tolerance was significantly better in the moclobemide group, mainly due to a lower frequency of weight gain, sedation and anticholinergic effects.
Risk Factors Associated with the Presence of Viable Listeria monocytogenes in Bulk Tank Milk from US Dairies

The objective of the study was to screen a large number of herd management practices and herd characteristics from US dairies to identify herd‐level risk factors associated with the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in bulk tank milk (BTM). A total of 71 variables was univariately evaluated for their association with the presence of L. monocytogenes in BTM. Results from the univariate analysis indicated that using automatic take offs and having an open herd management increased the risk of BTM contamination with L. monocytogenes, while storing manure in outside pens not accessible to cattle decreased the risk. These variables, however, were not sustained in the multivariable model, which indicated that the presence of L. monocytogenes in BTM was significantly associated with region of the country (farms in the southeast and northeast were six and four times more likely respectively, to have BTM contamination than farms in the west) and number of milking cows (herds with >500 milking cows were five times more likely to have BTM contamination than herds with <100 milking cows). In conclusion, our results suggest that risk factors associated with BTM contamination are different depending on the geographical region and herd size of the operation.
HYPOXIA‐INDUCED ERYTHROPOIETIN PRODUCTION: A PARADIGM FOR OXYGEN‐REGULATED GENE EXPRESSION

1 The mechanisms controlling the expression of the gene encoding for the hormone erythropoietin (EPO) are exemplary for oxygen‐regulated gene expression. In humans and other mammals, hypoxia modulates EPO levels by increasing expression of the EPO gene. An association between polycythaemia and people living at high altitudes was first reported more than 100 years ago. 2 Since the identification of EPO as the humoral regulator of red blood cell production and the cloning of the EPO gene, considerable progress has been made in understanding the regulation of EPO gene expression. This has finally led to the identification of a widespread cellular oxygen‐sensing mechanism. Central to this mechanism is the transcription factor complex hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐1. 3 The abundance and activity of HIF‐1, a heterodimer of an α‐ and β‐subunit, is predominantly regulated by oxygen‐dependent post‐translational hydroxylation of the α‐subunit. Non‐heme ferrous iron containing hydroxylases use dioxygen and 2‐oxoglutarate to specifically target proline and an asparagine residue in HIF‐1α. As such, the three prolyl hydroxylases (prolyl hydroxylase domain‐containing protein (PHD) 1, PHD2 and PHD3) and the asparagyl hydroxylase (factor inhibiting HIF (FIH)‐1) act as cellular oxygen sensors. In addition to erythropoiesis, HIF‐1 regulates a broad range of physiologically relevant genes involved in angiogenesis, apoptosis, vasomotor control and energy metabolism. Therefore, the HIF system is implicated in the pathophysiology of many human diseases. 4 In addition to the tight regulation by oxygen tension, temporal and tissue‐specific signals limit expression of the EPO gene primarily to the fetal liver and the adult kidney.
A Delphi approach to describing service models of community mental health practice.

OBJECTIVE The activities of mental health practitioners are poorly understood and described because of a lack of generally accepted and understandable categories. Greater precision is needed for accountability, planning, and evaluation. The objective of this study was to identify a valid and reliable set of categories to describe the clinical work practices of intensive case managers in the United Kingdom. METHODS Eight intensive case managers participated in a Delphi process to produce a set of categories that described their clinical work practices. They each completed three questionnaires and participated in a final group discussion. RESULTS The initial open questionnaire generated 38 potential categories after exact duplicates were removed. In round 2, the intensive case managers each rated the 38 categories from 1 to 5 (essential to unimportant). A high degree of consensus on the relative importance of the 38 suggested practice categories was rapidly achieved. In round 3, they re-rated the categories in the light of group medians and their own round 2 ratings. In a structured face-to-face discussion group, the intensive case managers then reduced the 38 potential categories to ten comprehensive and mutually exclusive categories that were judged to adequately and accurately reflect work practices. They were housing, finance, daily living skills, criminal justice system, occupation and leisure, engagement, physical health, caregivers and significant others, specific mental health intervention or assessment, and medication. CONCLUSIONS Delphi methods were effective and relatively straightforward in producing an agreed-on set of categories with which to record clinical activity and inform care planning.
Ownership and use of assistive devices amongst older people in the community.

AIMS To determine the ownership and use of various assistive devices by older people living at home. METHOD A random sample of 1405 elderly people aged 65 years and over, in three health authorities, were asked about ownership and use of a number of disability aids, spectacles and hearing aids. RESULTS 74% of respondents owned one or more aid, 97% had spectacles and 16% a hearing aid. The most commonly owned assistive devices were a non-slip bath mat (50%), a walking stick (24%) and a bath rail (21%). Many severely disabled people, however, had no aids. For example, 75% had no stair rail, 68% had no lavatory rail and 46% had no non-slip bath mat. Most of the equipment owned was used. Walking frames and wheelchairs were used more by those over 75, as were all bathroom and lavatory appliances. Gender influenced the use of some aids, with more women using their walking frames and bathroom rails than men. CONCLUSION Our study confirms that ownership and use of aids varies with age, gender, living arrangements and disability. Very disabled people need but do not own certain basic and relatively inexpensive appliances. Community services currently aim to promote autonomy and independence in elderly people in the community. This may be facilitated and enhanced by provision of appropriate equipment and increasing awareness of the value of assistive devices among elderly people, informal carers and health- and social-care professionals. Knowledge of who owns and uses various items of equipment may help improve strategic planning.
Safety and Immunogenicity of a Prototype Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Vaccine Administered Transcutaneously

ABSTRACT Transcutaneous immunization (TCI) is a new method for vaccine delivery that has been shown to induce immunity relevant to enteric disease vaccines. We evaluated the clinical safety and immunogenicity of a recombinant subunit vaccine against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) delivered by TCI. Adult volunteers received patches containing the recombinant ETEC colonization factor CS6, either with heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) or patches containing CS6 alone. The vaccine was administered at 0, 1, and 3 months, and serum antibodies and antibody-secreting cells (ASCs) were assessed. Among the 26 volunteers that completed the trial, there were no responses to CS6 in the absence of LT. In the groups receiving both CS6 and LT, 68 and 53% were found to have serum anti-CS6 immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA, respectively; 37 and 42% had IgG and IgA anti-CS6 ASCs. All of the volunteers receiving LT had anti-LT IgG, and 90% had serum anti-LT IgA; 79 and 37% had anti-LT IgG and IgA ASCs. Delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH), suggesting T-cell responses, was seen in 14 of 19 volunteers receiving LT and CS6; no DTH was seen in subjects receiving CS6 alone. This study demonstrated that protein antigens delivered by a simple patch could induce significant systemic immune responses but only in the presence of an adjuvant such as LT. The data suggest that an ETEC vaccine for travelers delivered by a patch may be a viable approach worthy of further evaluation.
The use of basiliximab in solid organ transplantation

The risk of acute rejection is at its highest early post-transplant. The use of various antibodies early after transplant achieves potent immunosuppression to prevent acute rejection, allowing the clinician the opportunity to optimise baseline immunosuppressive management and to delay the use of nephrotoxic agents (calcineurin inhibitors), while the graft reaches a baseline function. Basiliximab (Simulect™, Novartis) is a monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the α-subunit of the human high-affinity interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2r) complex, consequently inhibiting interleukin-2 (IL-2) binding. IL-2 receptors are selectively expressed on the surface of the activated lymphocytes. Administration of basiliximab inhibits IL-2 mediated activation of lymphocytes, a critical pathway involved in allograft rejection. Several clinical studies have shown that basiliximab administration as an induction agent significantly reduces the incidence of acute rejection, even in high risk patients. In addition, basiliximab is well-tolerated with minimal side effects.