Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Homocysteine and the brain in midadult life: evidence for an increased risk of leukoaraiosis in men.

BACKGROUND High serum homocysteine (HCY) levels have been associated with thromboembolic cerebrovascular disease, but their relationship to microvascular disease is uncertain. Homocysteine also has a direct neurotoxic effect and has been linked to brain atrophy and an increased risk of Alzheimer disease. OBJECTIVE To examine the relationship of HCY levels to brain and cognitive measures in a healthy community sample. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. SETTING Individuals residing in Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, who were participating in the longitudinal PATH Through Life Project. PARTICIPANTS Individuals aged 60 to 64 years selected randomly from the community, 196 men and 189 women. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Regression coefficients with HCY level as the putative determinant and various magnetic resonance imaging measures (brain atrophy index, ventricle-brain ratios, volume of periventricular and deep white matter hyperintensities) and cognitive measures (information processing speed, verbal memory, fine motor speed) as dependent measures. RESULTS Homocysteine levels did not have a significant relationship with brain atrophy index or ventricle-brain ratios. High HCY levels were related to increased deep white matter hyperintensities but not periventricular white matter hyperintensities, after correcting for levels of folate, vitamin B(12), creatinine, and thyrotropin; hypertension; smoking; and diabetes, the relationship being significant only in men. Homocysteine levels were related to impairment in verbal memory and fine motor speed but not after the previously mentioned correction. CONCLUSIONS Total HCY level is independently related to leukoaraiosis in middle-aged men, and this may be functionally relevant in the form of mild cognitive impairment. The remediation of hyperhomocysteinemia should begin early in life if its deleterious effects on the brain are to be prevented.
Characteristics of lung cancers detected by computer tomography screening in the randomized NELSON trial.

RATIONALE The NELSON (Nederlands Leuvens Longkanker Screenings Onderzoek) trial is, with 15,822 participants, the largest European lung cancer computer tomography screening trial. A volumetry-based screening strategy, stringent criteria for a positive screening, and an increasing length of screening interval are particular features of the NELSON trial. OBJECTIVES To determine the effect of stringent referral criteria and increasing screening interval on the characteristics of screen-detected lung cancers, and to compare this across screening rounds, between sexes, and with other screening trials. METHODS All NELSON participants with screen-detected lung cancer in the first three rounds were included. Lung cancer stage at diagnosis, histological subtype, and tumor localization were compared between the screening rounds, the sexes, and with other screening trials. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS In the first three screening rounds, 200 participants were diagnosed with 209 lung cancers. Of these lung cancers, 70.8% were diagnosed at stage I and 8.1% at stage IIIB-IV, and 51.2% were adenocarcinomas. There was no significant difference in cancer stage, histology, or tumor localization across the screening rounds. Women were diagnosed at a significantly more favorable cancer stage than men. Compared with other trials, the screen-detected lung cancers of the NELSON trial were relatively more often diagnosed at stage I and less often at stage IIIB-IV. CONCLUSIONS Despite stringent criteria for a positive screening, an increasing length of screening interval, and few female participants, the screening strategy of the NELSON trial resulted in a favorable cancer stage distribution at diagnosis, which is essential for the effectiveness of our screening strategy. Clinical trial registered with www.trialregister. nl (ISRCTN63545820).
MODELLING MAJOR ECONOMIC INDICATORS VIA MULTIVARIATE TIME SERIES ANALYSIS

Gross domestic product (GDP) is a measure of the market value of all goods and services produced by the country. It is one of the most important indicators to measure the performance of a nation’s economy. The indicator has strong influence on the currency market and monetary policy of the central bank. Policy-makers rely on GDP growth to support and justify their decisions. A better forecasted result can help to formulate a more effective policy to keep the economy prosperous. Time series models have been increasingly prominent as forecasting tools in economics. This paper will focus on the predictability of quarterly real GDP growth in the United States. It aims to provide a reasonable model for the GDP growth based on other economic variables via multivariate time series analysis. Key Word: GDP, Economics, Forecasting, Time Series Analysis, VARMA, ARMA
Taxing capital gains – views from Australia, Canada and the United States

This paper analyses a series of interviews, undertaken in Australia, Canada and the United States, with capital gains tax (CGT) experts on the preferential taxation of individual capital gains. The interviews explored their views on the taxation of capital gains in their jurisdictions. The interviewees were from academia, government advisory organisations and private practice. This paper focuses on two thematic areas covered in the interviews: the level of convergence or divergence of the experts’ views on the benefits, disadvantages and need for CGT rate preferences and the experts’ views on how the individual CGT should be reformed.
Comparison of independent screens on differentially vulnerable motor neurons reveals alpha-synuclein as a common modifier in motor neuron diseases

The term “motor neuron disease” encompasses a spectrum of disorders in which motor neurons are the primary pathological target. However, in both patients and animal models of these diseases, not all motor neurons are equally vulnerable, in that while some motor neurons are lost very early in disease, others remain comparatively intact, even at late stages. This creates a valuable system to investigate the factors that regulate motor neuron vulnerability. In this study, we aim to use this experimental paradigm to identify potential transcriptional modifiers. We have compared the transcriptome of motor neurons from healthy wild-type mice, which are differentially vulnerable in the childhood motor neuron disease Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and have identified 910 transcriptional changes. We have compared this data set with published microarray data sets on other differentially vulnerable motor neurons. These neurons were differentially vulnerable in the adult onset motor neuron disease Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), but the screen was performed on the equivalent population of neurons from neurologically normal human, rat and mouse. This cross species comparison has generated a refined list of differentially expressed genes, including CELF5, Col5a2, PGEMN1, SNCA, Stmn1 and HOXa5, alongside a further enrichment for synaptic and axonal transcripts. As an in vivo validation, we demonstrate that the manipulation of a significant number of these transcripts can modify the neurodegenerative phenotype observed in a Drosophila line carrying an ALS causing mutation. Finally, we demonstrate that vector-mediated expression of alpha-synuclein (SNCA), a transcript decreased in selectively vulnerable motor neurons in all four screens, can extend life span, increase weight and decrease neuromuscular junction pathology in a mouse model of SMA. In summary, we have combined multiple data sets to identify transcripts, which are strong candidates for being phenotypic modifiers, and demonstrated SNCA is a modifier of pathology in motor neuron disease.
Top Human Resources Managers Views on Trade Union Action in Brazilian Corporations

Abstract This article presents the perception of human resource (HR) top managers at strategic level in Brazilian corporations regarding labor union activity. It is a quantitative study about the perception of 354 experienced HR top managers on the unionization of employees, influence of the union on the organization, recognition of the union for labor negotiations and the existence of an advisory committee (workers’ council) within organizations. The theoretical approach addresses both the fields of study on HR and Industrial Relations (IR). The research shows low unionization and management perceptions that unions have little influence on organizations. On the other hand, the HR managers recognize the union influence for collective bargaining purposes and for defining general terms of employment. These contradictions are related to the fact that collective bargaining is mandatory in Brazilian legislation. In general terms of employment, Brazilian legislation is too rigid, prescriptive and detailed. This strong state of regulation reserves to the union an automatic participation in the negotiation process with employers, although this trade union action is somehow inefficient. In this scenario, the perception of HR managers of a relative union influence, although inefficient, is an expected consequence.
3-Mercaptopropionate Dioxygenase, a Cysteine Dioxygenase Homologue, Catalyzes the Initial Step of 3-Mercaptopropionate Catabolism in the 3,3-Thiodipropionic Acid-degrading Bacterium Variovorax paradoxus*

The thioether 3,3-thiodipropionic acid can be used as precursor substrate for biotechnological synthesis of 3-mercaptopropionic acid-containing polythioesters. Therefore, the hitherto unknown catabolism of this compound was elucidated to engineer novel and improved polythioester biosynthesis pathways in the future. Bacteria capable of using 3,3-thiodipropionic acid as the sole source of carbon and energy for growth were enriched from the environment. From eleven isolates, TBEA3, TBEA6, and SFWT were morphologically and physiologically characterized. Their 16 S rDNAs and other features affiliated these isolates to the β-subgroup of the proteobacteria. Tn5::mob mutagenesis of isolate Variovorax paradoxus TBEA6 yielded ten mutants fully or partially impaired in growth on 3,3-thiodipropionic acid. Genotypic characterization of two 3,3-thiodipropionic acid-negative mutants demonstrated the involvement of a bacterial cysteine dioxygenase (EC 1.13.11.22) homologue in the further catabolism of the 3,3-thiodipropionic acid cleavage product 3-mercaptopropionic acid. Detection of 3-sulfinopropionate in the supernatant of one of these mutants during cultivation on 3,3-thiodipropionic acid as well as in vivo and in vitro enzyme assays using purified protein demonstrated oxygenation of 3-mercaptopropionic acid to 3-sulfinopropionate by this enzyme; cysteine and cysteamine were not used as substrate. Beside cysteine dioxygenase and cysteamine dioxygenase, this 3-mercaptopropionic acid dioxygenase is the third example for a thiol dioxygenase and the first report about the microbial catabolism of 3-mercaptopropionic acid. Insertion of Tn5::mob in a gene putatively coding for a family III acyl-CoA-transferase resulted in the accumulation of 3-sulfinopropionate during cultivation on 3,3-thiodipropionic acid, indicating that this compound is further metabolized to 3-sulfinopropionyl-CoA and subsequently to propionyl-CoA.
Impact of personality and psychological distress on health‐related quality of life in kidney transplant recipients

Health‐related quality of life (HRQoL) has become an important outcome in the evaluation of kidney transplantation (KT). Although the medical and sociodemographic predictors of HRQoL in patients after KT are well known, there is still a lack of knowledge about the psychological factors involved. This study focuses on the role of personality and actual psychological distress in predicting HRQoL after KT. Sociodemographic (gender, age, education, average income), medical (glomerular filtration, serum albumin, number of co‐morbid diseases) and psychological data (neuroticism, extroversion, psychological distress) were collected from 177 (60.5% male subjects; 48 ± 12.1 years) kidney transplant recipients, and physical and mental HRQoL were measured using the SF‐36. A univariate general linear model analysis was performed. Higher physical HRQoL was associated with younger age, higher education and income, a low number of co‐morbid diseases, lower neuroticism and distress. Higher mental HRQoL was associated with higher education and income, longer time from KT, higher extroversion, lower neuroticism and distress. In both physical and mental HRQoL, actual distress was the best predictor, even when controlled for neuroticism. These results confirm the importance of psychological distress in patients and its impact on their HRQoL after KT and can be applied in intervention programs focused on increasing HRQoL.
Nigerian highlife music: a survey of the sociopolitical events from 1950-2005

Highlife is a popular music genre that crept into Nigeria in the nineteenth century and has since attained permanent recognition among Nigerian music types. Some scholars have carried out research on Nigerian popular music and highlife in particular, focusing on its evolution and classification. This notwithstanding, the number of researches carried out in highlife is still insignificant in comparison to other areas of music, even though its place in Nigerian history is incontestable given its social, political and economic significance during the struggle for independence and the period of the Nigerian civil war. Although highlife music is still performed in Nigeria today, several socio-political events have influenced its practice. The main objective of this article, therefore, is to discuss highlife, highlighting some events that unfolded in the socio-political space between 1950 and 2005, with a view to bringing to the fore, effects of such on highlife music and musicians during the period under study. In eliciting information, the writer consulted some existing literature on highlife music, listened to albums of progenitors of the genre such as Rex Lawson, Victor Uwaifo, Sir Warrior, Nico Mbarga and others. Findings reveal that socio-political factors, the emergence of new musical styles such as Afrobeat, Juju, Fuji and Hip-hop left a long-lasting imprint on the minds of highlife music enthusiasts, thereby influencing their taste and crave for highlife, and posing a threat to its already established prominence. This article recommends that more studies in the area of popular music (especially highlife) should be undertaken by researchers, and more highlife chairs should be created in departments of music across Nigerian universities. Keywords: Nigerian highlife music
Community pharmacy-based hypertension disease-management program in a Latino/Hispanic-American population.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate if the community, pharmacy-based hypertension disease-management (DM) program significantly improved patient's clinical outcomes and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in a Latino/Hispanic-American community. DESIGN Quasi-experimental time-series study. SETTINGS The study was implemented at two primary-care clinics in health maintenance organizations and two community pharmacy settings located in South Florida. PARTICIPANTS Patients who have a long-term history of uncontrolled hypertension were identified and referred by their primary care physicians. INTERVENTION A nine-month, community pharmacy-based hypertension disease-management program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES HRQOL was assessed via SF-12 questionnaire and analyzed by norm-based scoring methods. Wilcoxon signed rank tests with 0.05 alpha levels were used to compare the differences in systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic BP (DBP), medication compliance, and frequency of BP screenings between baseline and endpoint of the intervention. RESULTS A total of 53 patients (50.5%) completed the program. SBP/DBP significantly declined from 150.5/95.5 mmHg to 133.8/83.3 mmHg on the second month and remained consistent throughout the study period. Quality of life and mental component summary/physical component summary scores slightly increased from 48.58/46.68 to 50.39/51.51. The number of patients monitoring BP at home and medication compliance also significantly increased after nine months of intervention. CONCLUSIONS The key factor in accomplishing this DM program is meeting the health care needs of a unique population-the Hispanic-American community. Clinicians, administrators, and public health officials should note that understanding the broad parameters of a culture is essential to providing quality care to individuals, families, and communities.
Superficial Peroneal Nerve Anatomic Variability Changes Surgical Technique

Entrapment of the superficial peroneal nerve is an uncommon entrapment that occurs in sports trauma or fracture and dislocation as the nerve comes under pressure between the underlying muscles and the overlying fascia. Although the superficial peroneal nerve traditionally is depicted as being in the lateral compartment, we have found it in the anterior compartment in some patients. We hypothesized that patients with entrapment of the superficial peroneal nerve were more likely to have this anatomic variant than the normal population and that surgical decompression of both compartments would improve clinical outcome versus the historic surgical approach of decompressing just the lateral compartment. We retrospectively reviewed the location of the superficial peroneal nerve in a consecutive series of 35 limbs in 31 patients with entrapment of the superficial peroneal nerve. The results showed that the location of the superficial peroneal nerve was not different from the reported normal variation. However, the location of the superficial peroneal nerve in the anterior compartment in 47% of the patients in this series suggests that surgeons must explore the anterior and the lateral compartments in each patient with entrapment or neuroma of the superficial peroneal nerve. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV (case series—no, or historical, control group). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
CRISPR Screens Provide a Comprehensive Assessment of Cancer Vulnerabilities but Generate False-Positive Hits for Highly Amplified Genomic Regions.

UNLABELLED CRISPR/Cas9 has emerged as a powerful new tool to systematically probe gene function. We compared the performance of CRISPR to RNAi-based loss-of-function screens for the identification of cancer dependencies across multiple cancer cell lines. CRISPR dropout screens consistently identified more lethal genes than RNAi, implying that the identification of many cellular dependencies may require full gene inactivation. However, in two aneuploid cancer models, we found that all genes within highly amplified regions, including nonexpressed genes, scored as lethal by CRISPR, revealing an unanticipated class of false-positive hits. In addition, using a CRISPR tiling screen, we found that sgRNAs targeting essential domains generate the strongest lethality phenotypes and thus provide a strategy to rapidly define the protein domains required for cancer dependence. Collectively, these findings not only demonstrate the utility of CRISPR screens in the identification of cancer-essential genes, but also reveal the need to carefully control for false-positive results in chromosomally unstable cancer lines. SIGNIFICANCE We show in this study that CRISPR-based screens have a significantly lower false-negative rate compared with RNAi-based screens, but have specific liabilities particularly in the interrogation of regions of genome amplification. Therefore, this study provides critical insights for applying CRISPR-based screens toward the systematic identification of new cancer targets. Cancer Discov; 6(8); 900-13. ©2016 AACR.See related commentary by Sheel and Xue, p. 824See related article by Aguirre et al., p. 914This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 803.
Activation patterns of embryonic chick hind limb muscles recorded in ovo and in an isolated spinal cord preparation.

Muscle activation patterns of embryonic chick hind limb muscles were determined from electromyographic (e.m.g.) recordings in an isolated spinal cord/hind limb preparation of stage 34‐36 embryos, and were compared with in ovo e.m. g. activity from similarly staged embryos. Muscle activity in ovo consisted of periodically recurring sequences of bursts during which antagonistic muscles often alternated and synergistic muscles were co‐active, as compatible with their mature function. However, more variable behaviour was also observed. Burst sequences in ovo were often initiated by a short‐duration, high‐amplitude discharge that occurred synchronously in all muscles studied, and which was followed by a period of electrical silence that was longest in the flexor muscles. This type of activity has not been described previously in mature animals. In ovo movement sequences were generally initiated by extensor activity which progressively declined in duration and intensity throughout the sequence, while flexor activity progressively intensified. The onset of activity in extensor muscles was accompanied by an abrupt decrease in flexor activity, whereas the converse was not observed. Spontaneous movement sequences also occurred when the spinal cord and hind limb were isolated and maintained in oxygenated Tyrode solution for several hours. Deafferentation experiments indicated that the motor pattern in this preparation was generated centrally by circuits within the spinal cord. Activity from the isolated cord was less variable than that occurring in ovo, consisting of sequences of highly regular recurring bursts. Each burst began with a brief high‐amplitude discharge that occurred synchronously in all muscles and which was similar to that observed in ovo. This was followed by a silent period, which was longest in the flexors, and then by a more prolonged burst. Although its behaviour differs from that in ovo in some respects, it is concluded that the isolated cord maintained in vitro produces a spontaneous and patterned motor output.
Apoptosis and Expression of Bcl‐2 after Compression Trauma to Rat Spinal Cord

We have evaluated by in situ nick-end labeling the presence of apoptotic cells in the spinal cord of rats with compression injury at the level of Th8–9, of mild, moderate, and severe degrees resulting in no neurologic deficit, reversible paraparesis, and paraplegia, respectively. Rats with compression injury surviving 4 or 9 days showed apoptotic glial cells in the longitudinal tracts of the Th8–9, the cranial Th7, and the caudal Th10 segments. The apoptotic cells were most frequently observed in Th7. They did not express glial fibrillar acidic protein (GFAP) and their morphology was compatible with that of oligodendrocytes. Neurons of the gray matter did not present signs of apoptosis. In addition, we studied the immunohisto-chemical expression of Bcl-2, an endogenous inhibitor of apoptosis. Compression induced Bcl-2 immunoreactivity in axons of the long tracts, particularly after moderate and severe compression and 1-day survival. Neurons of dorsal root ganglia were immunoreactive but the neurons of the spinal cord were unstained. The accumulation, presumably caused by arrested axonal transport in sensory pathways, was absent in rats surviving 9 days. In conclusion, compression trauma to rat spinal cord induces signs of apoptosis in glial cells, presumably oligodendrocytes of the long tracts. This may induce delayed myelin degeneration after trauma to the spinal cord. Bcl-2 does not seem to be upregulated in oligodendrocytes