Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental allergen monitoring and control

Modern study of the effects of the indoor environment on respiratory health began in the 1920s, when Kern and Cooke independently reported sensitization to house-dust extracts in patients with asthma; a few years later, Storm van Leeuwen initiated the first clinical trials of allergen avoidance (1-3). van Leeuwen was a true pioneer in the field. He believed that much bronchial asthma could be explained by sensitization to the “climate allergens”, principally molds and bacteria, present in damp Dutch houses. To test this hypothesis, van Leeuwen (Fig. 1) admitted asthma patients to environmentally controlled (allergen free? ) rooms constructed at the University of Leiden. These rooms had no carpets, iron beds and chairs, autoclaved bedding, and air that had been dehumidified by passage through a refrigerated cooling system. van Leeuwen reported that many patients’ symptoms improved under this form of environmental control, and in the following decades (1930-60), efforts to isolate the source of “house dust allergen” intensified (3, 4-6). We now know that exposure to indoor allergens, principally those of dust mites, cat and dog dander, cockroaches, and fungi, is a primary cause of asthma. Epidemiologic studies, including population surveys; case-control studies; emergency room admission studies; and a prospective study have established that IgE-mediated sensitization to indoor allergens is a major risk factor for asthma (reviewed by Platts-Mills et al. [7]). The association is almost always with sensitization to indoor rather than outdoor allergens, and the relationship between allergen exposure and asthma differs with geographic regions. While dust mites are the most M. 0. Chapman
The Idea of a Second Demographic Transition in Industrialized Countries

1. The basic idea At the end of the 19 th century several French scholars noted that a remarkable change was taking place in the population of their country. The number of children per family declined, clearly as the result of deliberate efforts to reduce fertility within marriage. It was soon understood that the voluntary limitation of marital fertility was a revolutionary novelty and the term 'demographic revolution' was, in fact, the original term used to describe it. Efforts to explain what was happening began almost immediately. Interestingly enough these first explanations assumed the phenomenon reflected what people wanted out of life. Dumont (1890:130) argued that the desire to be upwardly mobile was the root cause. When climbing the social ladder having a large family would be, no doubt, a hindrance. Dumont concluded that, as a result, the birth rate would decline as social mobility increased. Other French authors, such as Leroy-Beaulieu (1896) and Landry (1909) attributed it to changes in the moral order. Towards the end of the Second World War, and also after it, American scholars took de lead in the discussions about the demographic changes that were taking place. As a result the explanations preferred became more economic in nature and the term 'transition' replaced the term revolution. The changes in demographic behaviour were considered to be mainly a function of progress in society (Kirk, 1944:28). Notestein (1945), who played a crucial part in the formulation of the demographic transition theory, stressed the overriding importance of mortality decline and the impact of the modernization process in people's lives and in society as a whole. He concluded that the demographic transition was likely to be a universal phenomenon; all countries were bound to pass through it once they had achieved the level of development required. It was understood by all knowledgeable people that the decline in fertility was an adjustment made necessary by the decline in mortality. The latter had resulted in unsustainably high levels of natural population growth. The long-term demographic balance had been upset; consequently a new balance had to be established at low levels of both mortality and fertility. The very appealing assumption was that we would move from one long-term quasi- equilibrium to another. As Bongaarts recently stated in a paper (2001:260): 'If fertility in contemporary post-transitional societies had indeed levelled off at or near the replacement level, there would have been limited interest in the subject because this would have been expected. ' He then continues as follows: 'However, fertility has dropped below the replacement level -sometimes by a substantial margin- in virtually every population that has moved through the demographic transition. If future fertility remains at these low levels, population will decline in size and age rapidly. ' The basic idea behind the concept of the Second Demographic Transition as launched in 1986 is that industrialized countries have indeed reached a new stage in their demographic
Stability conditions for multi-converter power systems

The development of power electronic system has brought the application of solid-state power converters in a variety of new fields of application. For example, the number of power converter varies from a few converters in a conventional car to hundreds in a international space station. A multi-converter power system is composed by the presence of different solid-state power converters integrated together in order to form an interconnected system, generally very complex. In this work stability conditions are investigated, starting at first from a conventional mathematical model derived using state-space averaging method. Preliminary experimental tests, however, proved the importance of parasitic parameters on the stability of the whole system. A more complete model that takes into account real parameters is then introduced, in order to obtain more precise predictions on critical load values. Final experimental test verified the validity of the model and the accordance with predictions.
Exercise training increases intramyocellular lipid and oxidative capacity in older adults.

Intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) has been associated with insulin resistance. However, an association between IMCL and insulin resistance might be modulated by oxidative capacity in skeletal muscle. We examined the hypothesis that 12 wk of exercise training would increase both IMCL and the oxidative capacity of skeletal muscle in older (67.3 +/- 0.7 yr), previously sedentary subjects (n = 13; 5 men and 8 women). Maximal aerobic capacity (Vo(2 max)) increased from 1.65 +/- 0.20 to 1.85 +/- 0.14 l/min (P < 0.05), and systemic fat oxidation induced by 1 h of cycle exercise at 45% of Vo(2 max) increased (P < 0.05) from 15.03 +/- 40 to 19.29 +/- 0.80 (micromol.min(-1). kg fat-free mass(-1)). IMCL, determined by quantitative histological staining in vastus lateralis biopsies, increased (P < 0.05) from 22.9 +/- 1.9 to 25.9 +/- 2.6 arbitrary units (AU). The oxidative capacity of muscle, determined by succinate dehydrogenase staining intensity, significantly increased (P < 0.05) from 75.2 +/- 5.2 to 83.9 +/- 3.6 AU. The percentage of type I fibers significantly increased (P < 0.05) from 35.4 +/- 2.1 to 40.1 +/- 2.3%. In conclusion, exercise training increases IMCL in older persons in parallel with an enhanced capacity for fat oxidation.
Insight into Emiliania huxleyi coccospheres by focused ion beam sectioning

Abstract. Coccospheres of a cultured Emiliania huxleyi clone were sampled in the exponential growth phase and sectioned using a focused ion beam microscope. An average of 69 sections and the corresponding secondary electron micrographs per coccosphere provided detailed information on coccosphere architecture. The coccospheres feature 2–3 layers on average and 20 coccoliths per cell, of which only 15 can be seen in conventional scanning electron micrographs. The outer coccosphere diameter was positively correlated with the number of coccolith layers. By contrast, the inner coccosphere diameter (around 4.36 μm), and hence the cell diameter, was quasi-constant. Coccoliths were not evenly distributed across the coccosphere, resulting more often than not in one part of the coccosphere displaying more coccolith layers than the other. The architectural data allowed for the calculation of the PIC $/$ POC ratio, the density and the sinking velocity of individual cells. The correlation of these parameters has implications for the ongoing debate on the function of coccoliths.
The comparative effects of chronic consumption of kola nut ( cola nitida ) and caffeine diets on exploration, anxiety and fear in Swiss white mice

The present study was designed to investigate the comparative effects of chronic consumption of kola nut ( Cola nitida ) and caffeine-diets on exploration, anxiety and fear related behaviours in Swiss white mice. The study was carried out on 30 adult Swiss white mice of both sexes weighing 15.0 to 30.0g using the open field apparatus, the light/dark transition box and the elevated plus-maze. The frequency of rearing for mice fed kola nut diet did not differ significantly compared to control, this was significantly lower (P<0.01) in the caffeine-fed mice compared to control. This trend was also similar for grooming. The kola nut and the caffeine-fed mice spent more time in the light portion of the light/dark transition box than in the dark portion of the box when compared to the control (P<0.01). The frequency of stretch-attend postures in both the light and dark portions of the light/dark transition box were significantly lower for both the kola nut-fed and caffeine-fed mice when compared to the control group (P<0.01). In the elevated plus-maze, the duration of entry into the open arm for the kola nut-fed (P<0.05) and caffeine-fed (P<0.01) were significantly higher when compared to the control. This was lower in the close arm for the kola nut-fed (P<0.05) and caffeine-fed (P<0.01) when compared to the control. These results indicate that chronic consumption of kola nut and caffeine decrease anxiety and fear related behaviours in Swiss white mice. However, caffeine diets-fed mice seemed to have a more potent effect in decreasing anxiety and fear while increasing exploration. Hence, the effect of kola nut on exploration, anxiety and fear may not be due to caffeine only.
Persistence of Genetic Damage in Lymphocytes from Former Uranium Miners

Lymphocytes from former uranium miners who finished work underground one or more decades ago were analysed with respect to possibly persisting genetic damage induced by their radiation exposure. A modified micronucleus-centromere test was used which determined the frequency of micronucleus-containing binucleate cells after cytochalasin B treatment and the percentage of centromere-free micronuclei, assessed with the help of immunofluorescence labeling of centromere protein B. Whereas the overall frequency of micronucleus-containing cells was not significantly elevated above the level found in a control group, former miners showed a greater percentage of centromere-free micronuclei, i.e. micronuclei containing only acentric fragments. Our results are in excellent agreement with those of an earlier uranium miner study and lend support to the assumption that genetic damage from alpha radiation can persist for many years after exposure, possibly due to genomic instability. The frequency of micronucleus-containing cells, but not the percentage of centromere-free micronuclei, significantly increased with time since last exposure in the mines. This can be attributed, at least in part, to the fact that miners who have finished working underground longer ago tend to be older, and there is an increase of the frequency of micronucleus-containing cells with age.
Use of melatonin in recovery from jet-lag following an eastward flight across 10 time-zones

Subjective, physiological and physical performance variables are affected following travel across multiple time-zones (jet-lag). The objective of the study was to examine the effects of oral melatonin in alleviating jet-lag by investigating its effects on subjects who had flown from London to Eastern Australia, 10 time-zones to the east. Melatonin (5 mg day−1) or placebo capsules were administered to 14 experimental (13 males and 1 female) and 17 control subjects (15 males and 2 females), respectively, in a double-blind study; the time of administration was in accord with the current consensus for maximizing its hypnotic effect. Grip strength and intra-aural temperature were measured on alternate days after arrival at the destination, at four different times of day (between the times 07:00 – 08:00 h, 12:00 13:00 h, 16:00 – 17:00 h and 19:00 – 20:00 h local time). In addition, for the first 6 – 7 days after arrival in Australia,subjective ratings of jet-lag on a 0- 10 visualanalogue scale and responses to a Jet-lag Questionnaire (incorporating items for tiredness, sleep, meal satisfaction and ability to concentrate) were recorded at the above times and also on retiring (at about midnight). Subjects continued normally with their work schedules between the data collection times. Subjects with complete data (13 melatonin and 13 placebo subjects), in comparison with published data, showed partial adjustment of the diurnal rhythm in intra-aural temperature after 6 days. A time-of-day effect was evident in both right and left grip strength during adjustment to Australian time; there was no difference between the group taking melatonin and that using the placebo. Right and left grip strength profiles on day 6 were adjusted either by advancing or delaying the profiles, independent of whether subjects were taking melatonin or placebo tablets. Subjects reported disturbances with most measures in the Jet-lag Questionnaire but, whereas poorer concentration and some negative effects upon sleep had disappeared after 3 – 5 days, ratings of jet-lag and tiredness had not returned to ‘zero’ (or normal values), respectively, by the sixth day of the study. Subjects taking melatonin showed no significant differences from the placebo group in perceived irritability, concentration, meal satisfaction, ease in getting to sleep and staying asleep, frequency of bowel motion and consistency of the faeces. These results suggest that, in subjects who, after arrival, followed a busy schedule which resulted in frequent and erratic exposure to daylight, melatonin had no benefit in alleviating jet-lag or the components of jet-lag, and it did not influence the process of phase adjustment.
Determinants and patterns of renin–angiotensin system inhibitors’ prescription in the first year following kidney transplantation

Abstract: The benefit of prescribing angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) and angiotensin‐II receptor antagonists (ARB) to kidney transplant recipients remains controversial. We investigated determinants and prescribing patterns of ACEi/ARB during the first year following kidney transplantation. All recipients of a first kidney transplant performed at the university hospital of Nancy (France) between January 1997 and June 2004 were included. Determinants of ACEi/ARB prescription were identified by Cox models among various recipient characteristics (at transplantation and during follow‐up), donor characteristics and transplant parameters. Of 491 patients, 28.9% started using ACEi/ARB during the year after transplantation, and 26.9% were taking them at one yr. Recipient determinants of ACEi/ARB use were male sex (HR: 1.82, p = 0.003), pre‐transplant hypertension (HR: 2.27, p = 0.0002) and ACEi/ARB administration (HR: 1.85, p = 0.002), post‐transplant proteinuria (HR: 1.62, p < 0.0001) and anemia (HR: 4.08, p < 0.0001). Glomerular filtration rate level was not associated with ACEi/ARB use. Post‐transplant hypercholesterolemia (HR: 0.42, p = 0.013) and higher donor age (HR: 0.98, p = 0.015) were associated with a lower likelihood of ACEi/ARB use. Fewer HLA mismatches (HR: 1.16, p = 0.029) and shorter cold ischemia duration (HR: 1.02, p = 0.045) were also independent predictors of ACEi/ARB use. Regardless of recipient characteristics, nephrologists were more likely to prescribe ACEi/ARB after kidney transplantation when the transplant parameters were favorable.
Alteration of cell-mediated immunity in the mouse following administration of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide.

Summary The effect of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide on the cell-mediated immune response was tested in C57BL/6 female mice. The carcinogen was administered s.c. either 30 days before or just prior to grafting the female recipients with C57BL/6 male skin. Skin graft survival times were noticeably prolonged in mice that received the carcinogen 30 days before grafting. Administration of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide just prior to skin grafting, however, yielded an unexpected result in that this group of mice rejected their grafts much sooner than their controls. The cause of this accelerated rejection is not presently known. The tumors that arose following s.c. implantation of 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide pellets were moderately to highly immunogeneic and had a short latent period. In this respect they are comparable to tumors induced with the polycyclic hydrocarbon carcinogens.
Prosthesis Auricular With Osseointegrated Implants and Quality of Life

Implants in craniofacial reconstructions improve prostheses retention and stability, comfort, and safety for the patient. According to biomechanical principles, the treatment success regarding osseointegration maintenance depends on an adequate surgery technique associated to a retention system that provides favorable tension distribution to implants. Implants in the mastoid area are a very important aid for retention of auricular prostheses. Color stability of resin and silicone is an important factor for longevity of auricular prostheses, and the high degree of satisfaction of patients with head and neck defects receiving epithesial reconstruction in the maxillofacial region is demonstrated.
Interleukin-17 A induces bicarbonate secretion in normal human bronchial epithelial cells

James L. Kreindler, Carol A. Bertrand, Robert J. Lee, Thomas Karasic, Shean Aujla, Joseph M. Pilewski, Raymond A. Frizzell, and Jay K. Kolls Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Physiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia; Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, and Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Lymphatic Filariasis Increases Tissue Compressibility and Extracellular Fluid in Lower Limbs of Asymptomatic Young People in Central Myanmar

When normal lymphatic function is hampered, imperceptible subcutaneous edema can develop and progress to overt lymphedema. Low-cost reliable devices for objective assessment of lymphedema are well accepted in clinical practice and research on breast-cancer related lymphedema but are untested in populations with lymphatic filariasis (LF). This is a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data in a longitudinal study on asymptomatic, LF antigen-positive and -negative young people in Myanmar. Rapid field screening was used to identify antigen-positive cases and a group of antigen-negative controls of similar age and gender were invited to continue in the study. Tissue compressibility was assessed with three tissue tonometers, and free fluids were assessed using bio-impedance spectroscopy (BIS). Infection status was confirmed by Og4C3 antigen assay. At baseline (n = 98), antigen-positive cases had clinically relevant increases in tissue compressibility at the calf using a digital Indurometer (11.1%, p = 0.021), and in whole-leg free fluid using BIS (9.2%, p = 0.053). Regression analysis for moderating factors (age, gender, hydration) reinforced the between-infection group differences. Results demonstrate that sub-clinical changes associated with infection can be detected in asymptomatic cases. Further exploration of these low-cost devices in clinical and research settings on filariasis-related lymphedema are warranted.
Quality of life in patients with brain tumors in the course of alpha therapy

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to assess subjective quality of life in patients receiving alpha therapy for malignant tumors (glioblastoma multiforme, GBM) of the brain. No significant differences in self-assessed quality of life were found between GBM patients in the course of α-therapy and healthy controls, the two groups differed only as regards somatic symptoms. Moreover, the stronger the respondents' sense of self-efficacy, the higher their subjective quality of life. The findings may have practical implications for clinical psychology, namely, it seems worthwhile to build up the patient's sense of control of his own health.
Demographic and Clinical Determinants of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity During Home-Based Cardiac Rehabilitation: THE HOME-BASED DETERMINANTS OF EXERCISE (HOME) STUDY

PURPOSE: Little is known concerning moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels in patients attending home-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) programs and whether demographic/clinical characteristics moderate these levels. METHODS: Patients (N = 280, 77 female) who were referred to home-based CR, mainly because of myocardial infarction (34%), coronary artery bypass graft (17%), and percutaneous coronary intervention/ stent/atherectomy (32%), completed a questionnaire assessing demographic and clinical characteristics as well as MVPA, measured at the beginning and end of a 3-month home-based CR program. Charts were reviewed for blood work, blood pressure, stress tests, and diagnosis. RESULTS: Patients averaged 88.5 minutes per week of MVPA before starting home-based CR, which increased to 191.1 minutes during the program. Multiple regression analyses showed that patients who were male (&bgr; = −.11), did not have metabolic syndrome (&bgr; = −.14), and were meeting the MVPA guideline before starting home-based CR (&bgr; = .25) engaged in significantly more MVPA during home-based CR than their counterparts. Furthermore, the increase in MVPA was significantly larger for males (&bgr; = −.20), patients without metabolic syndrome (&bgr; = −.13), and patients who did not meet the MVPA guideline at baseline (&bgr; = −.29) than their counterparts. CONCLUSIONS: The MVPA levels of patients attending home-based CR tend to vary depending on gender, whether or not metabolic syndrome was present, and prior MVPA levels, suggesting the need to potentially target these particular groups in future behavioral interventions aimed at increasing MVPA.
Social phobia is associated with suicide attempt history in bipolar inpatients.

OBJECTIVES In an attempt to reduce the phenotypical heterogeneity in an ongoing genetic study of suicidal behavior, we investigated the impact of comorbid anxiety disorders on suicidal behavior in bipolar disorder (BD) patients. METHODS Anxiety disorders were compared in 406 BD I and BD II patients with or without lifetime history of suicide attempt. RESULTS Among anxiety disorders, only social phobia (SP) was significantly associated with history of suicide attempt in BD [p<0.001, odds ratio 4.26 (2.284-7.946)]. Moreover, onset of SP was found to precede onset of BD. CONCLUSIONS This result suggests that SP is an important risk factor for suicidal behavior in BD. Further studies are required to determine whether comorbid SP may help to identify a more homogeneous BD sub-group, especially when studies of suicidal behavior are conducted. A second question is whether SP identifies a sub-group of subjects with BD who have a more severe illness course and whether treatment of SP with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) antidepressants is associated with improvement or worsening of the course of BD.