Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Childhood Misfortune and Handgrip Strength Among Black, White, and Hispanic Americans

OBJECTIVE Although early-life insults may affect health, few studies use objective physical measures of adult health. This study investigated whether experiencing misfortune during childhood is associated with handgrip strength (HGS) in later life. METHOD Data on childhood misfortune and adult characteristics from the Health and Retirement Study were used to predict baseline and longitudinal change in HGS among White, Black, and Hispanic American men and women. RESULTS Regression analyses revealed that multiple indicators of childhood misfortune were related to HGS at baseline, but the relationships were distinct for men and women. Over the study, having one childhood impairment predicted steeper declines in HGS for men, but childhood misfortune was unrelated to HGS change among women. Hispanic Americans had lower baseline HGS than their non-Hispanic counterparts and manifested steeper declines in HGS. DISCUSSION The relationship between childhood exposures and adult HGS varied by the type of misfortune, but there was no evidence that the relationship varied by race/ethnicity. The significant and enduring Hispanic disadvantage in HGS warrants greater attention in gerontology.
Absorbents Differ Enormously in Their Capacity to Produce Compound A and Carbon Monoxide

Concern persists regarding the production of carbon monoxide (CO) and Compound A from the action of carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbents on desflurane and sevoflurane, respectively. We tested the capacity of eight different absorbents with various base compositions to produce CO and Compound A. We delivered desflurane through desiccated absorbents, and sevoflurane through desiccated and moist absorbents, then measured the resulting concentrations of CO from the former and Compound A from the latter. We also tested the CO2 absorbing capacity of each absorbent by using a model anesthetic system. We found that the presence of potassium hydroxide (KOH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) increased the production of CO from calcium hydroxide (Ca[OH]2) but did not consistently affect production of Compound A. However, the effect of KOH versus NaOH was not consistent in its impact on CO production. Furthermore, the effect of KOH versus NaOH versus Ca(OH)2 was inconsistent in its impact on Compound A production. Two absorbents (Amsorb® [Armstrong Medica, Ltd, Coleraine, Northern Ireland], composed of Ca(OH)2 plus 0.7% polyvinylpyrrolidine, calcium chloride, and calcium sulfate; and lithium hydroxide) produced dramatically lower concentrations of both CO and Compound A. Both produced minimal to no CO and only small concentrations of Compound A. The presence of polyvinylpyrrolidine, calcium chloride, and calcium sulfate in Amsorb® appears to have suppressed the production of toxic products. All absorbents had an adequate CO2 absorbing capacity greatest with lithium hydroxide. Implications Production of the toxic substances, carbon monoxide and Compound A, from anesthetic degradation by carbon dioxide absorbents, might be minimized by the use of one of two specific absorbents, Amsorb® (Armstrong Medica, Ltd., Coleraine, Northern Ireland) (calcium hydroxide which also includes 0.7% polyvinylpyrrolidine, calcium chloride, and calcium sulfate) or lithium hydroxide.
Human Cortical Responses to the Speech Envelope

Objective: To evaluate the response of the human auditory cortex to the temporal amplitude-envelope of speech. Responses to the speech envelope could be useful for validating the neural encoding of intelligible speech, particularly during hearing aid fittings—because hearing aid gain and compression characteristics for ongoing speech should more closely resemble real world performance than for isolated brief syllables. Design: The speech envelope comprises energy changes corresponding to phonemic and syllabic transitions. Envelope frequencies between 2 and 20 Hz are important for speech intelligibility. Human event-related potentials were recorded to six different sentences and the sources of these potentials in the auditory cortex were determined. To improve the signal to noise ratio over ongoing electroencephalographic recordings, we averaged the responses over multiple presentations, and derived source waveforms from multichannel scalp recordings. Source analysis led to bilateral, symmetrical, vertical, and horizontal dipoles in the posterior auditory cortices. The source waveforms were then cross-correlated with the low frequency log-envelopes of the sentences. The significance and latency of the maximum correlation for each sentence demonstrated the presence and latency of the brain’s response. The source waveforms were also cross-correlated with a simple model based on a series of overlapping transient responses to stimulus change (the derivative of the log-envelope). Results: Correlations between the log-envelope and vertical dipole source waveforms were significant for all sentences and for all but one of the participants (mean r = 0.35), at an average delay of 175 (left) to 180 (right) msec. Correlations between the transient response model (P1 at 68 msec, N1 at 124 msec, and P2 at 208 msec) and the vertical dipole source waveforms were detected for all sentences and all participants (mean r = 0.30), at an average delay of 6 (right) to 10 (left) msec. Conclusions: These results show that the human auditory cortex either directly follows the speech envelope or consistently reacts to changes in this envelope. The delay between the envelope and the response is approximately 180 msec.
The Millardetian Conjunction in the Modern World

Marie-Pierre Riviere1, 2, 3, Michel Ponchet1, 2, 3 and Eric Galiana1, 2, 3 1INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique), Unite Mixte de Recherche 1301 Interactions Biotiques et Sante Vegetale, F-06903 Sophia Antipolis, 2CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), Unite Mixte de Recherche 6243 Interactions Biotiques et Sante Vegetale, F-06903 Sophia Antipolis, 3Universite de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Unite Mixte de Recherche Interactions Biotiques et Sante Vegetale, F-06903 Sophia Antipolis France
Liberalization of Air Transport Services and Passenger Traffic

We find robust evidence of a positive and significant relationship between the volumes of traffic and the degree of liberalization of the aviation market. An increase in the degree of liberalization from the 25th percentile to the 75th percentile increases traffic volumes between countries linked by a direct air service by approximately 30 per cent. In particular, the removal of restrictions on the determination of prices and capacity, cabotage rights and the possibility for airlines other than the flag carrier of the foreign country to operate a service are found to be the most traffic-enhancing provisions of air service agreements. The results are robust to the use of different measures of the degree of liberalization as well as the use of different estimation techniques.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of a Rayleigh-Bénard Convection Affected by Coriolis Force

In this paper the influence of an impressed Coriolis force field on the configuration of a turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection problem is investigated in an experimental and numerical study. The main purpose of both studies lie on the analysis of a possible stabilising effect of a Coriolis acceleration on the turbulent unsteady structures inside the fluid. The relative Coriolis acceleration which is caused in the atmosphere by the earth rotation is realised in the experimental study by a uniform-rotational movement of the setup in a large-scale centrifuge under hyper-gravity. The same conditions as in the atmosphere in the beginning of a twister or hurricane should be realised in the experiment. The investigated Rayleigh numbers lie between 2.33 × 106 ≤ Ra ≤ 4.32 × 107.
Kinetics of Electron Transfer between QA and QB in Wild Type and Herbicide-Resistant Mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Abstract We have investigated the electron transfer kinetics for reduction of plastoquinone by photo system II in six mutant strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by following the decay of the high fluorescence state after flash activation, and compared the separate reactions of the two-electron gate with those of a wild type strain. By analysis of the electron transfer kinetics, and separate measurement of the equilibrium constant for stabilization of the bound semiquinone after one flash, we have been able to deconvolute the contributions of rate constants and equilibrium constants for plastoquinone binding and electron transfer to the overall process. Two mutations, S 264 A and A 251 V, led to a marked slowing of kinetics for reduction of plastoquinone to the bound semiquinone. In S 264 A , the second electron transfer was also slower, but was normal in A 251 V. In mutant G 256 D , the electron transfer kinetics were normal after the first flash, but slowed after the second. In mutants L 257 F , V 219 I, and F 255 Y , the electron transfer kinetics after both flashes were similar to those in wild type. We discuss the results in terms of a model which provides a description of the mechanism of the two-electron gate in terms of measured kinetic and equilibrium constants, and we give values for these parameters in all strains tested.
Spirochetal Forms in the Dermal Lesions of Morphea and Lichen Sclerosus et Atrophicus

Morphea and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus are cutaneous diseases that are manifest by an early edematous stage, followed later by sclerosis and atrophy. They share features with acrodermatitis chronica atrophicans and erythema chronicum migrans, diseases that have been linked to infection by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi. A modified silver stain was used to identify the presence of spirochetes in skin biopsy specimens of patients with morphea and lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. Spirochetal forms were identified in the lesional skin of 10 of 25 patients with morphea and in 10 of 21 cases of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus. These spiral forms of bacteria had a significant tendency to occur in early and fully developed lesions of morphea and in early lesions of lichen sclerosus et atrophicus, whereas they tended to be absent in lesions demonstrating late pathological changes.
Preliminary results of bilateral arm transplantation.

1. Dubernard JM, Pin J, Gignoux N, et al. Use of epigastric artery in renal transplantation. J Urol Nephrol (Paris) 1976; 6: 469. 2. El-Sherbiny M, Abou-Elela A, Morsy A, et al. The use of the inferior epigastric artery for accessory lower polar artery revascularization in live donor renal transplantation. Int Urol Nephrol 2008; 40: 283. 3. Wolters HH, Schult M, Heidenreich S, et al. The anastomosis between renal polar arteries and arteria epigastrica inferior in kidney transplantation: An option to decrease the risk of ureter necrosis? Transpl Int 2001; 14: 422. 4. Kumar A, Gupta RS, Srivastava A, et al. Sequential anastomosis of accessory renal artery to inferior epigastric artery in the management of multiple arteries in live related renal transplant: a critical appraisal. Clin Transplant 2001; 13: 131. 5. Young JS, Rhor MS. Use of the inferior epigastric artery to revascularize a lower pole renal artery in renal transplant. Am Surg 1995; 61: 185.
Porphyromonas gingivalis-specific IgG subclass antibody levels as immunological risk indicators of periodontal bone loss.

BACKGROUND It has been well demonstrated a positive association between the magnitude of host antibody response and periodontal disease status. Previous studies also reported that Porphyromonas gingivalis-specific IgG subclass antibodies were elevated in sera from adult periodontitis patients. However, the rôle and the association of these IgG subclass antibodies to the development of periodontal diseases are poorly understood. AIM The aim of present investigation was to examine the relation of serum IgG subclass antibody levels and alveolar bone loss in treated and untreated periodontitis patients. METHODS Serum samples were taken from 20 treated and maintained periodontitis patients (SPT patients), 30 untreated patients and 19 periodontally healthy subjects. We determined the IgG subclass antibody titers to P. gingivalis whole cells using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Subgingival plaque samples were taken from the mesio-buccal surface of 6 randomly selected teeth of SPT patients and evaluated for the presence of P. gingivalis by immunofluorescence microscopy. Clinical measurements were also taken including full mouth intraoral radiographs to measure interproximal alveolar bone loss at baseline (BLS1) and at a 5-year recall visit in the SPT patients (BLS2). RESULTS Our results indicated that both patient groups had detectable levels of IgG1, IgG2, and IgG4. Significantly higher IgG1 was observed in both patient groups compared to the healthy subjects. The untreated patients also exhibited significantly elevated IgG2 response (p<0.05). The mean IgG4 level of the SPT patients was significantly higher compared to the other subject group (p<0.05). A statistically significant positive correlation between IgG2 levels and changes in bone levels (DeltaBLS: BLS2-BLS1) was seen in the SPT patients (p<0.001). SPT patients with high IgG2 and low IgG4 showed greater bone loss than those with low IgG2 and high IgG4 (p<0.05), although the mean prevalence of P. gingivalis in the 2 groups did not differ significantly. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that the prolonged IgG2 response after periodontal treatment may be indicative of recurrent or persistent periodontal destruction.
Organizational factors influencing nurse practitioners' role implementation in acute care settings.

The purpose of this study was to explore the influence of organizational factors on the Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) role implementation. A descriptive correlational design, incorporating quantitative and qualitative methods for data collection was used. The sample of convenience consisted of 57 ACNPs assigned to various medical and surgical programs within acute care hospitals. Ten ACNPs participated in the unstructured qualitative interviews. In addition to the interviews, data pertinent to various organizational factors, including role formalization, receptivity of the role by others, perceived autonomy, role strain, and additional factors that may interfere with role implementation, were collected through a self-report structured questionnaire. A four-diary day was completed to gather data on role implementation. Descriptive and correlational statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data. The qualitative data were content analyzed. The ACNPs engaged most frequently in activities reflective of the clinical practice component of the role and less frequently in the non-clinical components (i.e., education, administration, and research). Results of the quantitative and qualitative analyses indicated that lack of formal clear job description, conflicting demands and expectations, lack of receptivity of the role by others, lack of autonomy, and increased workload were negatively correlated with the ACNP role implementation. The ACNP role implementation varies across practice settings. This variability should be accounted for when examining outcomes of ACNP care.
The evolution of novel animal signals: silk decorations as a model system

Contemporary animal signals may derive from an elaboration of existing forms or novel non‐signalling traits. Unravelling the evolution of the latter is challenging because experiments investigating the maintenance of the signal may provide little insight into its early evolution. The web decorations, or stabilimenta of some orb web spiders represent an intriguing model system to investigate novel animal signals. For over 100 years, biologists have struggled to explain why spiders decorate their webs with additional threads of silk, producing a conspicuous signal on a construction whose function is to entangle unsuspecting prey. The numerous explanations for the maintenance of this behaviour starkly contrast with the absence of a plausible explanation for its evolutionary origin. Our review highlights the difficulties in resolving both the evolution and maintenance of animal signalling, and inferring the causative arrow—even from experimental studies. Drawing on recent research that focuses on physiological processes, we provide a model of the evolutionary progression of web‐decorating behaviour.
A Preliminary Study of the Orion Nebula Cluster Structure and Dynamics

We use optical and near-infrared star counts to explore the structure and dynamics of the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC). This very young (<1 Myr) cluster is not circularly symmetric in projection but is elongated north-south in a manner similar to the molecular gas distribution in the region, suggesting that the stellar system may still reflect the geometry of the protocluster cloud. Azimuthally averaged stellar source counts compare well with simple spherically symmetric, single-mass King cluster models. The model fits suggest that the inner Trapezium region should be regarded as the core of the ONC, not as a distinct entity as sometimes advocated. We estimate that the core radius of the cluster is 0.16-0.21 pc and that the central stellar density approaches 2 × 104 stars pc-3. Adopting the stellar velocity dispersion from published proper-motion studies, virial equilibrium would require a total mass within about 2 pc of the Trapezium of ~4500 M☉, slightly more than twice the mass of the known stellar population and comparable to the estimated mass in molecular gas projected onto the same region of the sky. If ≳20% of the remaining molecular gas is converted into stars, thus adding to the binding mass, given that the present stellar population alone has a total energy close to zero, the ONC is likely to produce a gravitationally bound cluster. The ONC also exhibits mass segregation, with the most massive (Trapezium) stars clearly concentrated toward the center of the cluster and some evidence for the degree of central concentration to decrease with decreasing mass down to 1-2 M☉, as would be expected for general mass segregation. Given the extreme youth of the stars compared with the estimated range of collisional relaxation times, the mass segregation is unlikely to be the result of cluster relaxation. Instead, we suggest that the mass segregation reflects a preference for higher mass stars to form in dense, central cluster regions.
Potential therapeutic targets in obstructive sleep apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a disease of ever-increasing importance due to its association with multiple impairments and rising prevalence in an increasingly susceptible demographic. The syndrome is linked with loud snoring, disrupted sleep and observed apnoeas. Serious co-morbidities associated with OSA appear to be reversed by continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment; however, CPAP is variably tolerated leaving many patients untreated and emphasising the need for alternative treatments. Virtually all OSA patients have airways that are anatomically vulnerable to collapse, but numerous pathophysiological factors underlie when and how OSA is manifested. This review describes how the complexity of OSA requires multiple treatment approaches that are individually targeted. This approach may take the form of more specific diagnoses in terms of the mechanisms underlying OSA as well as rational pharmacological treatment directed toward such disparate ends as arousal threshold and ventilatory control/chemosensitivity, and mechanical treatment in the form of surgery and augmentation of lung volumes.
Gradient Boosted Large Margin Nearest Neighbors

A fundamental question of machine learning is how to compare examples. If an algorithm could perfectly determine whether two examples were semantically similar or dissimilar, most subsequent machine learning tasks would become trivial (i.e, the 1-nearest-neighbor classifier will achieve perfect results). A common choice for a dissimilarity measurement is an uninformed norm, like the Euclidean distance. While simple, it does not necessarily represent the similarity in the problem’s domain.
Evaluation of the response of cortisol, corticotropin and blood platelets kinetics after laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy.

PURPOSE To compare the behavior of serum cortisol and ACTH levels and platelet kinetics after laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy. METHODS In this prospective study, 31 patients with symptomatic cholelithiasis submitted to elective cholecystectomy, 17 by the laparoscopic route and 14 by the open route, were compared. Peripheral blood samples were collected on admission of the patient, during anesthetic induction, and 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after the surgical incision. Platelets were counted in hematoxylin-eosin-stained specimens under a light microscope at 100x magnification. Cortisol and ACTH were measured by chemiluminescence. RESULTS Cortisol and ACTH levels showed a significant increase (p < 0.05) within the first hours after surgery compared to preoperative values. At 2 hours, a significantly higher cortisol concentration was observed in the laparoscopic group compared to the open surgery group (p = 0.0365). A return to basal levels during the later postoperative periods (24 and 48 hours) was only observed for ACTH, while serum cortisol continued to be elevated during the same period, being significantly higher in the open surgery group than in the laparoscopic group (p24 = 0.0248 and p48 = 0.032). Different platelet response curves were obtained for the two groups, but their levels were normal at all times studied. No significant difference (p > 0.05) between the post- and preoperative periods was observed for either group. CONCLUSION A hormonal response was observed for both procedures studied, but the surgical stress was higher and longer lasting in open surgery compared to the laparoscopic approach. However, no significant variation in platelet kinetics in response to tissue injury was observed between the two procedures.