Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Liver enzymes, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome in middle-aged, urban Chinese men.

BACKGROUND We examined associations between elevated aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) with physical activity and obesity measures in middle-aged urban Chinese men. The associations between elevated aminotransferases with impaired fasting glucose, newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D), and metabolic syndrome were also evaluated in this population. METHODS The study included 3,978 urban Chinese men 40-74 years of age from a population-based cohort study, the Shanghai Men's Health Study, who were free of T2D at baseline and had provided fasting blood samples. Elevated AST and ALT levels were defined as >40 U/L. Anthropometric measurements and information on lifestyle factors and disease history were collected by in-person interviews. RESULTS A total of 11.13% and 5.85% study participants had elevated serum ALT and AST levels, respectively. Both body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were positively associated with elevated ALT and AST. We found stronger associations between ALT and BMI/WHR than between AST and BMI/WHR. Physical activity was inversely associated with ALT and AST, but the association was attenuated after adjustment for BMI and WHR. Elevated serum aminotransferase levels were associated with T2D and metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSIONS In this representative sample of middle-aged Chinese men, elevated ALT and AST were associated with a prevalence of metabolic syndrome and T2D. These findings suggest that the relationship between obesity and T2D might involve liver injury. Physical activity might reduce the levels of ALT and AST, probably mediated through weight reduction.
Magnitude and Relative Distribution of Kettlebell Snatch Force-Time Characteristics

Abstract Lake, JP, Hetzler, BS, Lauder, MA. Magnitude and relative distribution of kettlebell snatch force-time characteristics. J Strength Cond Res 28(11): 3063–3072, 2014—The aim of this study was to compare mechanical output from kettlebell snatch and 2-handed kettlebell swing exercise. Twenty-two men performed 3 sets of 8 kettlebell snatch and 2-handed swing exercise with a 24-kg kettlebell on a force platform. Vertical and horizontal net impulse, mean force, displacement, the magnitude, and rate of work performed displacing the kettlebell-and-lifter center of mass (CM), phase durations and impulse ratio (horizontal to resultant) were calculated from force data. The results of repeated-measures analysis of variance showed that: (a) vertical CM displacement was significantly larger during kettlebell snatch exercise (22 ± 4 vs. 18 ± 5 cm, p = 0.001), and vertical CM displacement was significantly larger than horizontal CM displacement, regardless of exercise (20 ± 3 vs. 7 ± 1 cm, p < 0.0001); (b) the magnitude (253 ± 73 vs. 3 ± 1 J, p < 0.0001) and rate of work (714 ± 288 vs. 11 ± 4 W, p < 0.0001) performed to vertically displace the CM was larger than the horizontal equivalent in both exercises, and the magnitude (5 ± 2 vs. 1 ± 1 J, p < 0.0001) and rate of work (18 ± 7 vs. 4 ± 3 W, p < 0.0001) performed to horizontally displace the CM during 2-handed swing exercise was significantly larger than the kettlebell snatch equivalent; (c) this was underpinned by the magnitude of horizontal impulse (29 ± 7 vs. 18 ± 7 N·s, p < 0.0001) and the impulse ratio (23 vs. 14%, p < 0.0001). These findings reveal that, apart from the greater emphasis, 2-handed swing exercise places on horizontal mechanical output, the mechanical output of the 2 exercises is similar. Research shows that 2-handed swing exercise improves maximum and explosive strength. These results suggest that strength and conditioning coaches should consider using kettlebell snatch and 2-handed swing exercise interchangeably for the ballistic component of athlete strength and conditioning programs.
Adjunctive use of antibiotics in periodontal therapy

Periodontal diseases are infectious diseases with a mixed microbial aetiology and marked inflammatory response leading to destruction of underlying tissue. Periodontal therapy aims to eliminate pathogens associated with the disease and attain periodontal health. Periodontitis is generally treated by nonsurgical mechanical debridement and regular periodontal maintenance care. Periodontal surgery may be indicated for some patients to improve access to the root surface; however, mechanical debridement alone may not be helpful in all cases. In such cases, adjunctive systemic antibiotic therapy remains the treatment of choice. It can reach microorganisms at the base of the deep periodontal pockets and furcation areas via serum, and also affects organisms residing within gingival epithelium and connective tissue. This review aims to provide an update on clinical issues regarding when and how to prescribe systemic antibiotics in periodontal therapy. The points discussed are the mode of antibiotic action, susceptible periodontal pathogens, antibiotic dosage, antibiotic use in treatment of periodontal disease, and mechanism of bacterial resistance to each antibiotic.
Why Do They Have to Flaunt it? Perceptions of Communicative Intent Predict Antigay Prejudice Based Upon Brief Exposure to Nonverbal Cues

Perceivers use gender-atypical nonverbal cues to categorize others as lesbian/gay, and the same cues help to explain the occurrence of antigay prejudice. Although these patterns replicate across recent studies, their proximal causes have received little attention. It remains unclear, for example, why the gender-atypical appearances common among sexual minority individuals arouse negative evaluations. Here, we tested whether perceptions of communicative intent—believing that targets’ visible features are deliberately enacted in order to convey aspects of their identities—may help to explain observed links between sexual orientation categorization, gender typicality, and prejudice. In Study 1, gender-atypical body motions were associated with the perception that targets were intentionally trying to communicate their identity, and perceptions of communicative intent predicted expressions of antigay prejudice. Study 2 replicated these effects with static facial images. Collectively, these findings highlight communicative intent as an important factor predicting antigay prejudice in the early moments of social perception.
DNA–protein crosslinks and p53 protein expression in relation to occupational exposure to formaldehyde

Background: Formaldehyde (FA) is classified as a probable human carcinogen. Aims: To examine DNA protein crosslinks (DPC) and p53, which are generally known to be involved in carcinogenesis, in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers exposed to FA. Methods: DPC and p53 (“wild type” and mutant) were examined in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 186 workers exposed to FA (mean years of exposure = 16) and 213 unexposed workers. Every worker completed a questionnaire on demographic data, occupational and medical history, smoking, and hygiene. Results: The adjusted mean level of DPC in the exposed and the unexposed workers differed significantly. Adjustment was made for age, sex, years of education, smoking, and origin. Exposure to FA increased the risk of having a higher level of pantropic p53 above 150 pg/ml (OR 1.6, 95% CI 0.8 to 3.1). A significant positive correlation was found between the increase of pantropic p53 protein and mutant p53 protein, as well as between pantropic p53 >150 pg/ml and mutant p53 protein. In the exposed group a significantly higher proportion of p53 >150 pg/ml was found among workers with DPC >0.187 (55.7%) (0.187 = median level of DPC) than among workers with DPC ⩽0.187 (33.3%). The risk of having pantropic p53 protein >150 pg/ml was determined mainly by levels of DPC. Workers with DPC above the median level had a significantly higher risk of having pantropic p53 >150 pg/ml (adjusted OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2 to 5.4). Conclusions: Results suggest that DPC and mutation in p53 may represent steps in FA carcinogenesis and a possible causal relation between DPC and mutation in p53. These biomarkers can be applied in the assessment of the development of cancer due to FA exposure.
High Level of Ezrin mRNA Expression in an Osteosarcoma Biopsy Sample With Lung Metastasis

Osteosarcoma (OS) remains a life-threatening malignancy and its molecular character is not fully understood. Ezrin is a cytoskeleton linker protein involved in regulating the growth and metastatic capacity of cancer cells. However, the correlation between ezrin mRNA expression and clinical severity has not yet been examined in OS biopsy samples. Furthermore, recent evidence has demonstrated that the level of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) expression is increased in human cancers of various origins, but this has not yet been examined in OS cells. To clarify the correlation between the clinical severity and the levels of ezrin and GAPDH mRNA expression, we quantified these mRNA levels in 4 pediatric OS biopsy samples using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Among these 4 samples, ezrin mRNA expression was approximately 5-fold higher in a case with lung metastasis compared with the other cases without metastasis, suggesting an association between the ezrin mRNA expression level and metastasis. On the other hand, the GAPDH mRNA expression level was not related to the clinical severity. This is the first report to demonstrate a high level of ezrin mRNA expression in an OS biopsy sample with lung metastasis.
CEO compensation and the seasoned equity offering decision

Empirical research on seasoned equity offerings indicates that the decision to make an SEO typically engenders a decline in firm value, as investors interpret this decision as a signal of poor financial health or that the stock is overpriced. Here, we add to the literature by analyzing the short-term market reaction to SEO announcements and the chief executive officer's link to firm performance (i.e. the proportion of CEO equity-based compensation). Results support the hypothesis that investors are more likely to view the announcement of an SEO as a last resort source of capital when the proportion of CEO equity-based compensation is high. In such cases of high equity-based compensation, our findings indicate that the SEO announcement provides an incremental signal of financial distress above that provided by financial statements. We also find this relationship (last resort signal) to be stronger when large information asymmetries exist between management and investors. Thus, managers should consider the ramifications of executive compensation structure when considering whether to make an SEO. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Differences in morphology and mitotic activity between intra- and extra-medullary erythropoietic tissue in chronic myeloid leukaemia.

In 20 untreated patients with CML in the chronic phase the proportion of erythro-blasts was found to be higher in aspirates from the spleen than in bone marrow smears. The mitotic indices of the erythroblasts were significantly lower, and megalo-blastic changes more common, in the spleen than in the bone marrow. Although the erythroblasts constitute a considerable proportion of the haemopoietic tissue of the spleen in CML, the relatively low mitotic activity and the megaloblastic changes may indicate an ineffective red cell production in this organ.
FREE AMINO ACIDS AND RELATED COMPOUNDS IN FIVE REGIONS OF BIOPSIED CAT BRAIN

Abstract— Contents (μmol/g wet wt.) of 34 free amino acids and related compounds were measured in grey matter from three areas of cerebral cortex, from the cerebellum, and from the caudate nucleus in unanaesthetized cats with classical cerveau isolé preparations. Brain specimens were frozen in liquid nitrogen within 10 s of removal; thus, the values found were expected to approximate those which occur in living cat brain. Levels of most of the compounds measured were lower than those previously reported for the cat. In the case of GABA, alanine, and ethanolamine, the lower values found seemed attributable to the rapid freezing of brain tissue, and may more closely approximate levels occurring in living cat brain. On the other hand, the relatively low levels of aspartic and glutamic acids found may have resulted from use of the cerveau isolé preparation. Little difference in levels of amino compounds was found among the three cerebral cortical areas examined. However, there were significant differences in the contents of a number of amino acids between cerebral cortex and the cerebellum or caudate nucleus. These differences resembled those previously observed in autopsied human brain. The content of GABA was two‐fold higher in biopsied cat cortex than in biopsied human cortex, whereas the content of cystathionine was only 10 per cent of that in human cortex. Homocarnosine and α‐(γ‐aminobutyryl)‐lysine, two GABA‐containing dipeptides found in relatively large amounts in human brain, were not detectable in cat brain. Living cat brain contained two amino acids not previously reported for this species:putreanine and ɛ‐N‐methyllysine.
Stereotype Threat in the Classroom: Dejection Mediates the Disrupting Threat Effect on Women’s Math Performance

Research on stereotype threat, which is defined as the risk of confirming a negative stereotypic expectation about one’s group, has demonstrated that the applicability of negative stereotypes disrupts the performance of stigmatized social groups. While it has been shown that a reduction of stereotype threat leads to improved performance by members of stigmatized groups, there is a lack of clear-cut findings about the mediating processes. The aim of the present study is to provide a better understanding of the mechanisms that stereotype threat causes in women working on mathematical problems. In addition, the study set out to test stereotype threat theory in a natural environment: high school classrooms. The experiment involved the manipulation of the gender fairness of a math test. The results indicate that the stereotype threat effect exists in this everyday setting. Moreover, it appears that dejection emotions mediate the effect of threat manipulation.
Efficacy of various disinfectants on microbially contaminated toothbrushes due to brushing

Aims: To evaluate the effectiveness of different disinfectant agents in decontaminating the toothbrushes, and to educate the children, parents and the community on the decontamination of toothbrushes. Materials and Methods: Fifty healthy male children in the age range of 8–11 years were enrolled. They were divided into five groups of 10 each and provided with toothbrushes and disinfectants. Instructions were given to the children and the toothbrushes were collected after brushing and cultured for the growth of microorganisms. The efficacy of Hexidine®, 3.0% hydrogen peroxide and Listerine® and Dettol® were evaluated. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Hexidine, 3.0% hydrogen peroxide and Listerine showed 100% efficacy, whereas Dettol showed 40% effectiveness in decontaminating the toothbrushes. Water as a control showed the least effectiveness in cleaning the toothbrushes. Conclusions: The study concluded that 3.0% hydrogen peroxide is the most economical and effective disinfectant when compared with the other disinfectants.
EssayCritic: Writing to Learn with a Knowledge-Based Design Critiquing System

This article presents a study of EssayCritic, a computer-based writing aid for English as a foreign language (EFL) that provides feedback on the content of English essays. We compared two feedback conditions: automated feedback from EssayCritic (target class) and feedback from collaborating peers (comparison class). We used a mixed methods approach to collect and analyze the data, combining interaction analysis of classroom conversations during the writing process and statistical analysis of students’ grades. The grades of students in both classes improved from pre-test to post-test but in different ways. The students in the target class included more ideas (content) in their essays, whereas the students in the comparison class put more emphasis on the organization of their ideas. We discuss our findings to identify strengths and weaknesses of our approach
Combined inadequacies of multiple B vitamins amplify colonic Wnt signaling and promote intestinal tumorigenesis in BAT‐LacZ×Apc1638N mice

The Wnt pathway is a pivotal signaling cascade in colorectal carcinogenesis. The purpose of this work is to determine whether depletion of folate and other metabolically related B vitamins induces in vivo activation of intestinal Wnt signaling and whether this occurs in parallel with increased tumorigenesis. A hybrid mouse was created by crossing a Wnt‐reporter animal (BAT‐LacZ) with a model of colorectal cancer (Apc1638N). A mild depletion of folate and vitamins B2, B6, and B12 was induced over 16 wk, and the control animals in each instance were pair fed a diet containing the basal requirement of these nutrients. The multiplicity of macroscopic tumors and aberrant crypt foci both increased by ~50% in the hybrid mice fed the depletion diet (P<0.05). A 4‐fold elevation in Wnt signaling was produced by the depletion diet (P<0.05) and was accompanied by significant changes in the expression of a number of Wnt‐related genes in a pattern consistent with its activation. Proliferation and apoptosis of the colonic mucosa both changed in a protransformational direction (P<0.05). In summary, mild depletion of multiple B vitamins produces in vivo activation of colonic Wnt signaling, implicating it as a key pathway by which B‐vitamin inadequacies enhance intestinal tumorigenesis. —Liu, Z. , Ciappio, E. D. , Crott, J. W. , Brooks, R. S. , Nesvet, J., Smith, D. E. , Choi, S. ‐W. , Mason, J. B. Combined inadequacies of multiple B vitamins amplify colonic Wnt signaling and promote intestinal tumorigenesis in BAT‐LacZ×Apc1638N mice. FASEB J. 25, 3136‐3145 (2011). www.fasebj. org
Triple negative breast cancer: adjuvant chemotherapy effect on survival.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the overall survival of patients with triple negative breast cancer and the impact of different adjuvant chemotherapy regimens on survival. MATERIAL/METHODS The study group consisted of 99 breast cancer patients with immunohistochemically confirmed triple negative breast cancer. The impact of various factors as well as the impact of different chemotherapy regimens on survival was evaluated. RESULTS The overall survival of breast cancer patients was 97.0% (95% CI 90.9-99.0), 84.9% (95% CI 76.1-90.6) and 66.5% (95% CI 55.5-75.3) 10, 30 and 60 months after diagnosis, respectively. Univariate analysis demonstrated that the following were significant risk factors for breast cancer patients survival: patient's age, stage of disease, tumour size, lymph node status, type of surgery and chemotherapy. Better survival was related to younger patients' age, smaller tumour size, lower stage of disease, no lymph nodes involvement. Survival rates were higher among patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy and underwent quadrantectomy. In the multivariate statistical analysis the significant independent prognostic variables influencing survival were lymph node status and adjuvant chemotherapy. Survival rates of the patients, who received adjuvant anthracycline containing chemotherapy were higher, than those in non-anthracycline containing treatment group, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Patients who had lymph node status N2-3 and those who did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy showed worse prognosis and survival than other patients. The impact of chemotherapy type (anthracycline containing or non-anthracycline containing) on patients survival was not statistically significant.
Myc Inhibits p27-Induced Erythroid Differentiation of Leukemia Cells by Repressing Erythroid Master Genes without Reversing p27-Mediated Cell Cycle Arrest

ABSTRACT Inhibition of differentiation has been proposed as an important mechanism for Myc-induced tumorigenesis, but the mechanisms involved are unclear. We have established a genetically defined differentiation model in human leukemia K562 cells by conditional expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p27 (inducible by Zn2+) and Myc (activatable by 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen). Induction of p27 resulted in erythroid differentiation, accompanied by Cdk inhibition and G1 arrest. Interestingly, activation of Myc inhibited p27-mediated erythroid differentiation without affecting p27-mediated proliferation arrest. Microarray-based gene expression indicated that, in the presence of p27, Myc blocked the upregulation of several erythroid-cell-specific genes, including NFE2, JUNB, and GATA1 (transcription factors with a pivotal role in erythropoiesis). Moreover, Myc also blocked the upregulation of Mad1, a transcriptional antagonist of Myc that is able to induce erythroid differentiation. Cotransfection experiments demonstrated that Myc-mediated inhibition of differentiation is partly dependent on the repression of Mad1 and GATA1. In conclusion, this model demonstrates that Myc-mediated inhibition of differentiation depends on the regulation of a specific gene program, whereas it is independent of p27-mediated cell cycle arrest. Our results support the hypothesis that differentiation inhibition is an important Myc tumorigenic mechanism that is independent of cell proliferation.
The Seed Protein, Oil, and Yield QTL on Soybean Linkage Group I

Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ] seed protein is negatively correlated with seed oil and often with yield. Our goal was to examine the basis for these correlations at a quantitative genetic locus (QTL) level. Seventy-six F 5 -derived recombinant inbred lines (RILs) from the mating of the high-protein (480 g protein per kg seed) G. max accession PI 437088A with the high-yield cultivar Asgrow A3733 (420 g kg -1 seed protein content) were evaluated in six irrigation treatments (i.e., 100, 80, 60, 40, 20, and 0% replacement of weekly evapotranspiration loss) of a two-replicate experiment conducted for 2 yr. The RILs were genotyped with 329 random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), 103 simple sequence repeats (SSRs), and four other markers, creating a 2943-centimorgan (cM) genetic map of 35 linkage group (LGs) that, on the basis of SSR homology, aligned with the 20 known soybean LGs. The phenotypic regression of RIL protein and oil on yield revealed respective linear coefficients of -2.6 and +1.6 percentage points per kg ha -1 (a protein/oil exchange ratio of -1.6). A seed protein, oil, and yield QTL mapped close to RA PD marker OPAW13a in a small LG-I interval that was flanked by the SSR markers Satt496 and Satt239. The additive effects of the PI 437088A allele on seed protein, oil, and yield were a respective +1.0 and -0.6 percentage points (a proteinloil ratio of -1.6) and -154 kg ha -1 . Given that the genetic-based protein/oil exchange ratio of 1.6 is smaller than the 2.0 calorific-based oil/protein ratio, one might expect the remaining 0.4 units of carbon and/or energy to be made available for other seed dry matter. However, yield almost invariably falls when seed protein is genetically enhanced at the expense of seed oil, suggesting that protein synthesis and its deposition in the seed is energetically more costly to the plant than is commonly assumed.