Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Spontaneous Low Frequency Oscillations of Cerebral Hemodynamics and Metabolism in Human Adults

UNLABELLED We investigated slow spontaneous oscillations in cerebral oxygenation in the human adult's visual cortex. The rationale was (1) to demonstrate their detectability by near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS); (2) to analyze the spectral power of as well as the phase relationship between the different NIRS parameters (oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin and cytochrome-oxidase; oxy-Hb/deoxy-Hb/Cyt-ox). Also (3) influences of functional stimulation and hypercapnia on power and phase shifts were investigated. The results show that-in line with the literature-low frequency oscillations (LFO) centred around 0.1 s(-1) and even slower oscillations at about 0.04 s(-1) (very low frequency, VLFO) can be distinguished. Their respective power differs between oxy-Hb, deoxy-Hb, and Cyt-ox. Either frequency (LFO and VLFO) is altered in magnitude by functional stimulation of the cortical area examined. Also we find a change of the phase shift between the vascular parameters (oxy-Hb, tot-Hb) and the metabolic parameter (Cyt-ox) evoked by the stimulation. It is shown that hypercapnia attenuates the LFO in oxy-Hb and deoxy-Hb. CONCLUSIONS (1) spontaneous vascular and metabolic LFO and VLFO can be reproducibly detected by NIRS in the human adult. (2) Their spectral characteristics and their response to hypercapnia are in line with those described in exposed cortex (for review see (Hudetz et al., 1998)) and correspond to findings with transcranial doppler sonography (TCD) (Diehl et al., 1995) and fMRI (Biswal et al., 1997). (3) The magnitude of and phase relation between NIRS-parameters at the LFO may allow for a local noninvasive assessment of autoregulatory mechanisms in the adult brain.
The role of values, ideologies, and attitudes in shaping public support for privatization in local park and recreation services

Abstract As tax-based funding for local public park and recreation services becomes increasingly scarce, alternative funding strategies such as privatization have become progressively more relevant. Although a promising alternative funding mechanism, privatization is simultaneously a potentially contentious issue. As such, understanding the factors that drive acceptance of or opposition to such practices is of interest to practitioners and researchers. This study utilizes the theory of basic human values and the cognitive hierarchy of human behavior to examine support for private delivery of local park and recreation services. Using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling, results indicated that attitudes toward privatization were the single strongest predictor of support for private delivery. A conservative social ideology and a self-enhancement value orientation were positively related to attitudes, while social ideology mediated the negative relationship between the self-transcendent orientation and privatization attitudes. Implications for practitioners and potential directions for future research are discussed.
Depression and cigarette smoking independently relate to reduced health-related quality of life among Canadians living with hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND Many people living with chronic viral hepatitis C (HCV) report reduced health-related quality of life. The relative contribution of behavioural, psychosocial and HCV disease factors to reduction in HCV health-related quality of life is not well understood. The objectives of the present study were to compare standardized health-related quality of life scores between Canadian HCV patients and age-matched Canadian and American norms, and to examine the relative contribution of biopsychosocial variables (ie, cigarette smoking, alcohol intake and depression) to health-related quality of life scores among Canadian HCV patients. METHODS HCV RNA-positive patients were recruited during their first visit to the Ottawa Hospital Viral Hepatitis Clinic (Ottawa, Ontario). A questionnaire assessing health behaviours, health-related quality of life and depressed mood was completed. Data on liver studies, liver biopsy findings and HIV serostatus were also collected. RESULTS A total of 123 participants (71% men) ranging from 20 to 67 years of age were evaluated. All had compensated liver function. Patients reported significantly lower health-related quality of life compared with age-matched Canadian and American normative samples. In a series of hierarchical multiple regression models, depression and smoking were independently related to compromised health-related quality of life scores, even after controlling for sociodemographic variables and health behaviours. DISCUSSION These results highlight the value of adopting a biopsychosocial model of HCV care. Depressed mood and smoking behaviour should be evaluated in HCV patients. Empirically validated psychological and pharmacological treatments for depression and smoking cessation may improve health-related quality of life in HCV infected patients.
Peroxynitrite Anion Stimulates Arginine Release from Cultured Rat Astrocytes

Abstract : The biosynthesis of the physiological messenger nitric oxide (•NO) in neuronal cells is thought to depend on a glial‐derived supply of the •NO synthase substrate arginine. To expand our knowledge of the mechanism responsible for this glial‐neuronal interaction, we studied the possible roles of peroxynitrite anion (ONOO‐), superoxide anion (O2•), •NO, and H2O2 in L‐[3H]arginine release in cultured rat astrocytes. After 5 min of incubation at 37°C, initial concentrations of 0.05‐2 mM ONOO‐ stimulated the release of arginine from astrocytes in a concentration‐dependent way ; this effect was maximum from 1 mM ONOO‐ and proved to be ~400% as compared with control cells. ONOO‐‐mediated arginine release was prevented by arginine transport inhibitors, such as L‐lysine and NG‐monomethyl‐L‐arginine, suggesting an involvement of the arginine transporter in the effect of ONOO‐. In situ xanthine/xanthine oxidase‐generated O2• (20 nmol/min) stimulated arginine release to a similar extent to that found with 0.1 mM ONOO‐, but this effect was not prevented by arginine transport inhibitors. •NO donors, such as sodium nitroprusside, S‐nitroso‐N‐acetylpenicillamine, or 1‐[2‐(2‐aminoethyl)‐N‐(2‐ammonioethyl)amino]diazen‐1 ‐ium‐1,2‐diolate, and H2O2 did not significantly modify arginine release. As limited arginine availability for neuronal •NO synthase activity may be neurotoxic due to ONOO‐ formation, our results suggest that ONOO‐‐mediated arginine release from astrocytes may contribute to replenishing neuronal arginine, hence avoiding further generation of ONOO‐ within these cells.
“Everyone Wants That Ring, and I Have It”: A Content Analysis of Identity Expressions from Female Castmembers on the Reality Television Series Wags (Wives and Girlfriends of Sports Stars)

iii Acknowledgment. iv Dedication.vii List of tables. xii Chapter 1: Introduction –Social Identity Theory for Reality Documentary Television.1 Statement of Problem.5 Chapter 2: Literature Review.11 Athlete’s Partners.11 Properties and characteristics of the wife co-culture.19 Self and Identity.20 Celebrity as a lived experience.21 Role Engulfment.23 Theoretical Perspective.25 Developing Social Identity . 26 Group Memberships . 26 The Digital Age.28 Social Media Platform.29 Chapter 3: Method.33 Procedure.33 Sample.35 Data Analysis.41 Chapter 4: Results and Interpretation.45
Association between the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 mutations and the susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus; Contribution markers of inflammation and oxidative stress.

The cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) also known as CD152 (cluster of differentiation 152) is a crucial negative regulator of the immune system. This protein receptor provides negative signals in order to suppress T-cell activation and immune attack against self-antigens, although its role is unclear. The ability of CTLA-4 to limit T cell-mediated immune response has made it a major target in treatment of tumors and autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this study, we investigated whether CTLA-4 G-1661A and CTLA-4 T-1722C mutations are associated with SLE. So one hundred nine SLE patients and 101 gender and age-matched unrelated healthy controls were recruited for this case-control study. The promoter mutations were detected by PCR-RFLP, neopterin, malondialdehyde (MDA) and serum lipid concentration were determined by HPLC and enzyme assay, respectively. RESULT We found that both codominant (AA vs. GG) and recessive (AA vs. GA+GG) CTLA-4 G-1661A mutation significantly decreased the risk of SLE by 1.7 and 3.7 times, respectively. Interestingly, SLE patients with AA genotypes of CTLA-4 G-1661A have lower neopterin and MDA concentration compared with GA+GG genotypes. The overall distribution of CTLA-4 T-1722C genotypes and alleles in SLE patients were similar to those in control group. In conclusion, our findings showed, that there is an association between systemic inflammatory markers, oxidative stress and the CTLA-4 G-1661A GG+AG genotypes, MDA and neopterin which are the most conventional risk factors for coronary heart disease, therefore these mutations may be consider as a risk factor for susceptibility to heart disease in SLE patients.
The effect of the interdialytic interval on cognitive function in patients on haemodialysis

BACKGROUND Cognitive deficits are common among individuals on haemodialysis (HD). The degree of dysfunction may shift over the course of the interdialytic interval. OBJECTIVES To use ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to examine the relationship between the length of the interdialytic interval and reports of cognitive dysfunction. DESIGN A quantitative study whereby each patient's cognitive functioning was measured during both short and long interdialytic intervals. PARTICIPANTS Adults maintained on HD (Female n = 15, Male n = 11; MAge = 42.7 ± 15.8 years) were drawn from a standalone HD unit within a large university medical centre. MEASUREMENTS Tests of baseline neurocognitive functioning were undertaken (Mini-Mental Status Examination, Digit Span, California Verbal Learning Test, Benton Visual Retention Test, Trail-Making Test) and smartphone-based electronic diary reports of cognitive impairment were made around six times each day for one week. RESULTS Cognitive function and aptitude in this sample, although low, did not reflect clinically-significant impairment, with a mean Mini-Mental Status Exam score of 25.7 ± 3.0. Diary reports of cognitive impairment were also minimal, with an overall mean rating of . 22 out of 5. Contrary to expectations, cognitive impairment was significantly greater on the one-day interdialytic days than on Day 2 of the two-day interdialytic interval (β = .094, p = .017). CONCLUSIONS Although cognitive impairment appears to be mild in stable, young patients with end stage renal disease, volumetric disruptions caused by HD may exacerbate such dysfunction.
Pain management of older adults after discharge from outpatient surgery.

Older adults manage their pain at home after outpatient surgery. Yet the experience and management of postoperative pain outside the hospital is largely unknown. The purpose of this study was to examine older adults' experiences of postoperative pain and their methods of pain management after discharge from outpatient surgery. A telephone-based interview of 93 older adults (ages 60-84) showed that pain intensity reached a level of 5 (0 to 10 scale) for 66% of participants on the first morning and for 42% on the third evening after discharge. Pain interfered with activities for almost one-fourth of the participants. Reasons for high pain intensity scores included improper and inadequate dosage of pain medication. More than half of the participants chose to take only one pain tablet at a time and 66% waited until their pain intensity reached a rating of 5 or above before taking their analgesic medication. The participants who took pain medications at higher levels of pain intensity reported taking larger amounts of medication but receiving less pain relief. This finding substantiates the idea that it takes a larger dose of pain medication to decrease severe pain. Pain management instructions did not make a difference in the way pain was managed. Overall, findings indicate that older postoperative patients are not adequately medicating themselves for pain after discharge. Furthermore, when participants were asked, "From this list of nonpharmacologic activities, which activities helped relieve pain? " the most frequently selected answer was "to stay still or not move. " This finding requires further investigation to determine if older adults are using immobility as a way to control their pain.
Improvement of Clinical Outcome by Early Nephrology Referral in Type II Diabetics on Hemodialysis

Objectives. To evaluate the influence of early nephrology referral on clinical outcome in type II diabetes mellitus patients on maintenance hemodialysis dialysis. Patients and Methods. This study retrospectively analyzed the type II diabetic patients entering our PD program from 02 1988 to 06 2001. Patients who were presented to a nephrologist more than 6 months before starting dialysis were defined as early referral (ER). Patients were considered late referral (LR) if they were transferred to the nephrology department within 6 months before initial dialysis. Results. Hundred and fifteen type II diabetic patients receiving HD for at least 3 months were enrolled in this study. Sixteen of the 53 patients (46.1%) were in the ER group and 62 of the 115 (53.9%) were in the LR group. In univariate analysis by Cox proportional hazards mode, the early referral (Exp (Coef) = 0.423, p<0.01), good glycemic control (Exp (Coef) = 0.16, p<0.05), and age at dialysis (Exp (Coef) = 1.026, p<0.05 (had significantly influenced the patient survival. The residual renal function in the ER group, estimated by creatinine clearance (Ccr), significantly exceeded that of the LR group (ER vs. LR: 4.46 ± 1.56 vs. 2.51 ± 1.70 mL/min, p<0.001). The patients with early referral had significantly better survival (p<0.05). Five-year survival improved significantly in the early referral group compared to the late referral group (ER: 72.4%; LR: 35.2%, p<0.05). Conclusions. We demonstrate that the time of referral before starting dialysis is a predictor of survival for type II diabetics on HD. Patients with early referral are associated with longer survival. The beneficial effect might be associated with the timely initiation of the chronic HD program. These results suggest that early referral before dialysis is important in determining the long-term prognosis in type II diabetics on HD.
Topically administered bevacizumab had longer standing anti-angiogenic effect than subconjunctivally injected bevacizumab in rat corneal neovacularization.

AIM To compare the effect of topically administered and subconjunctivally injected bevacizumab on experimental corneal neovascularization in rats for two weeks after treatment. METHODS Twenty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups of 7 animals. Each corneal center of right eye was cauterized with silver/potassium nitrate for 8s. After corneal burning, bevacizumab (12.5mg/mL) was topically administered three times per day (TB group) for two weeks or subconjunctivally injected on days 2 and 4 after cauterization (0.02mL; SB group). As negative controls, rats received 0.9% saline topically three times per day (TS group) or subconjunctivally on days 2 and 4 (0.02mL; SS group). Digital photographs of the cornea were taken 1 and 2 weeks after treatment and analyzed to determine the area of cornea covered by neovascularization as the percentage of corneal neovascularization. RESULTS One week after treatment, the percentage of corneal neovascularization was significantly lower in the TB and SB groups than in the TS and SS groups (all P<0.05). Two weeks after treatment, the percentage of corneal neovascularization was significantly lower in the TB group than in the TS group (P<0.05). In all groups, the percentage of neovascularization was decreasing as time passed (all P<0.05). CONCLUSION Topically administered bevacizumab has longer standing anti-angiogenic effect than subconjunctivally injected bevacizumab in corneal neovascularization following chemical injury in rats.
Etude expérimentale des effets multi-faisceaux sur l'instabilité de diffusion Brillouin stimulée

Les installations laser dimensionnees pour realiser des experiences de fusion thermonucleaire par confinement inertiel laser utilisent de nombreux faisceaux laser pour repondre a des contraintes de symetrie d'irradiation et pour deposer suffisamment d'energie dans la matiere. Malheureusement, le croisement des faisceaux laser dans un plasma impactent leurs propagations. Quand un faisceau laser se propage dans un plasma, il peut se coupler aux ondes acoustiques ioniques et diffuser une fraction importante de son energie par diffusion Brillouin stimulee. Aussi bien les niveaux que les directions de ces diffusions sont profondement modifies lorsque les faisceaux laser se croisent. Ce manuscrit presente l'etude experimentale de deux types de modification multi-faisceaux :- en utilisant la flexibilite de l'installation laser LULI2000 (Laboratoire d'Utilisation des Lasers Intenses, Palaiseau, France), nous avons etudie le transfert d'energie entre deux et trois faisceaux laser ;- les soixante faisceaux laser de l'installation OMEGA (Laboratory for Laser Energetics, Rochester, Etats-Unis) nous ont permis d'observer les diffusions produites par des instabilites Brillouin collectives dans des plasmas plans en geometrie ouverte et a l'entree de cavites d'experiences de fusion.Ces deux mecanismes peuvent drastiquement redistribuer l'energie laser incidente en echangeant jusqu’a 30% de l'energie entre les faisceaux ou en diffusant plus de 10% de l'energie laser dans des directions inhabituelles.
Dietary risk factors for development of childhood obesity

Purpose of reviewControversial information exists on the contribution of several dietary factors for overweight development in childhood, but there is no doubt that obesity prevalence is increasing. We review the most up-to-date information in order to clarify the evidence-based dietary aspects influencing obesity development in children and adolescents. Recent findingsLongitudinal studies are the preferred method for analysing the relationship between dietary factors and obesity development. With the exception of infants, there are no conclusive associations between energy intake or diet composition and later overweight development in children. Among formula or mixed-fed infants, the increase in energy intake has been associated with an increased risk of being overweight during childhood. Breastfeeding seems to be a protective factor for later obesity development. In terms of food intake, longitudinal studies have only found a clear and positive association between obesity development and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption; this is not the case with snacking, fast food or food portion sizes. Cross-sectional studies have found correlations between being overweight in childhood and buying lunch at school, eating supper while watching television or without family supervision, consuming less energy at breakfast or more at dinner, and missing breakfast. SummaryResults from longitudinal studies must be taken into account in order to design preventive strategies to counteract the increased prevalence of obesity and its consequences in children. Lack of breastfeeding, high early energy intake and high intake of sugar-sweetened beverages seem to be the main dietary factors contributing to obesity development.
Prominent oligodendrocyte genesis along the border of spinal contusion lesions

Oligodendrocyte (OL) loss and axon demyelination occur after spinal cord injury (SCI). OLs may be replaced, however, by proliferating NG2+ progenitor cells. Indeed, new OLs have been noted in ventral white matter after SCI. Since tissue adjacent to lesion cavities is exposed to different mediators compared with outlying spared tissue, the authors used a rat SCI model to compare NG2 cell proliferation and OL genesis adjacent to lesion cavities with that in spared tissue closer to meninges. NG2 cells proliferated throughout the first week postinjury and accumulated along lesion borders, especially within gray matter. By 3 days postinjury (dpi), new OLs were detected throughout the cross‐sections; between 4 and 7 dpi, however, oligogenesis was restricted to lesion borders. New OLs derived from cells proliferating during 1–7 dpi increased dramatically by 14 dpi; most were located along lesion borders and in spared gray matter. Oligogenesis continued along lesion borders during the second week postinjury. Overall OL numbers were reduced at 3 dpi in spared tissue, but rebounded to normal levels by 14 dpi. Surprisingly, lesion borders maintained normal OL numbers at 3 dpi, which then rose to exceed preinjury levels at 7 and 14 dpi. These results indicate that oligogenesis is protracted after SCI and leads to increased OL numbers. Most new OLs are formed in regions of greatest NG2 cell proliferation. Thus, the adult spinal cord spontaneously develops a dynamic gliogenic zone along lesion borders. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Chromatographic purification and characterization of antigens A and D from Mycobacterium paratuberculosis and their use in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays for diagnosis of paratuberculosis in sheep

The protein antigens A and D were purified from culture filtrates and sonic extracts of laboratory strains of Mycobacterium paratuberculosis by salt precipitation and chromatography. The characterization of antigen A is shown here, and both antigens were evaluated along with lipoarabinomannan antigen in indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) for the serodiagnosis of ovine paratuberculosis. After anion-exchange (DEAE-5PW) and hydrophobic (phenyl-5PW) chromatography using high-performance liquid chromatography, antigen A showed a prominant band in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) at 31 kDa with small amounts of low-molecular-mass proteins but with no evidence of antigen D. A single precipitin arc was evident with purified antigen A in crossed immunoelectrophoresis. The determination of the N-terminal amino acid sequence showed a high degree of homology between the 31-kDa component of antigen A and antigens of the BCG85 complex of Mycobacterium bovis BCG, a total of 24 of 26 residues being identical to those of BCG85C. A prominant SDS-PAGE band at 400 kDa and a single crossed-immunoelectrophoresis arc was also evident for antigen D after gel filtration (Sephacryl S-200), anion-exchange (DEAE-Sephacel), and concanavalin A-Sepharose affinity chromatography. By ELISA, purified antigen A detected antibody in the sera of 18 of 22 paratuberculosis-infected sheep (82% sensitivity), whereas the purified antigen D detected antibody in all 22 infected animals (100% sensitivity). Combined ELISA results showed increased specificity with some loss in sensitivity.
Heterogenität in varianzbasierter Strukturgleichungsmodellierung

Dr. Marko Sarstedt, MBR ist wissenschaftlicher Assistent am Institut für marktorientierte Unternehmensführung an der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Kaulbachstr. 45, 80539 München, Tel. : 089/21 80-56 34, Fax: 089/21 80-56 51, E-Mail: sarstedt@bwl.lmu. de. Dr. Christian M. Ringle, MBA ist wissenschaftlicher Assistent am Institut für Industriebetriebslehre und Organisation an der Universität Hamburg, VonMelle-Park 5, 20146 Hamburg, Tel. : 040/4 28 38-46 82, Fax: 040/4 28 38-64 96, E-Mail: cringle@econ.uni-hamburg.de. Heterogenität in varianzbasierter Strukturgleichungsmodellierung Eine Analyseprozedur zur systematischen Anwendung von FIMIX-PLS