Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A controlled comparison of brachial artery flow mediated dilation (FMD) and digital pulse amplitude tonometry (PAT) in the assessment of endothelial function in systemic lupus erythematosus

The utility of flow mediated dilation (FMD) a measure of endothelial function is limited by operator dependence. Pulse amplitude tonometry (PAT) is a novel, less operator-dependent technique to assess endothelial function. This study compares PAT to FMD in SLE and controls. Thirty women with SLE and 31 controls were enrolled. Medications, cardiovascular disease and risk factors, SLE activity (SLAM-R) and damage (SLICC-DI) were recorded. FMD and PAT were performed simultaneously. Endothelium-independent function was assessed with nitroglycerin. Average age was 48.3 ± 10.1 years, SLE duration 16.2 years, SLAM-R 8.3 and SLICC-DI 1.0. Framingham Risk Scores were ≤2% in most subjects. There were no differences between SLE cases and controls in FMD, PAT or response to nitroglycerin. This study found no association between FMD and PAT in SLE or controls. In the 17 SLE cases with a history of Raynaud’s, correlation between FMD and PAT was 0.50 (P = 0.04). There was no difference in endothelial function assessed by FMD or PAT in SLE cases versus controls. FMD did not correlate with PAT except in SLE cases with a history of Raynaud’s. Correlation between FMD and PAT may be stronger in populations with greater variation in endothelial function and more cardiovascular risk factors.
Modeling Individual Differences in the Go/No-Go Task With a Diffusion Model

The go/no-go task is one in which there are two choices, but the subject responds only to one of them, waiting out a time-out for the other choice. The task has a long history in psychology and modern applications in the clinical/neuropsychological domain. In this article, we fit a diffusion model to both experimental and simulated data. The model is the same as the two-choice model and assumes that there are two decision boundaries and termination at one of them produces a response, and at the other, the subject waits out the trial. In prior modeling, both two-choice and go/no-go data were fit simultaneously, and only group data were fit. Here the model is fit to just go/no-go data for individual subjects. This allows analyses of individual differences, which is important for clinical applications. First, we fit the standard two-choice model to two-choice data and fit the go/no-go model to reaction times (RTs) from one of the choices and accuracy from the two-choice data. Parameter values were similar between the models and had high correlations. The go/no-go model was also fit to data from a go/no-go version of the task with the same subjects as the two-choice task. A simulation study with ranges of parameter values that are obtained in practice showed similar parameter recovery between the two-choice and go/no-go models. Results show that a diffusion model with an implicit (no response) boundary can be fit to data with almost the same accuracy as fitting the two-choice model to two-choice data.
Study of Helicobacter pylori genotype status in saliva, dental plaques, stool and gastric biopsy samples.

AIM To compare genotype of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) isolated from saliva, dental plaques, gastric biopsy, and stool of each patient in order to evaluate the mode of transmission of H. pylori infection. METHODS This cross-sectional descriptive study was performed on 300 antral gastric biopsy, saliva, dental plaque and stool samples which were obtained from patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy referred to endoscopy centre of Hajar hospital of Shahrekord, Iran from March 2010 to February 2011. Initially, H. pylori strains were identified by rapid urease test (RUT) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were applied to determine the presence of H. pylori (ureC) and for genotyping of voculating cytotoxin gene A (vacA) and cytotoxin associated gene A (cagA) genes in each specimen. Finally the data were analyzed by using statistical formulas such as Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests to find any significant relationship between these genes and patient's diseases. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS Of 300 gastric biopsy samples, 77.66% were confirmed to be H. pylori positive by PCR assay while this bacterium were detected in 10.72% of saliva, 71.67% of stool samples. We were not able to find it in dental plaque specimens. The prevalence of H. pylori was 90.47% among patients with peptic ulcer disease (PUD), 80% among patients with gastric cancer, and 74.13% among patients with none ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) by PCR assay. The evaluation of vacA and cagA genes showed 6 differences between gastric biopsy and saliva specimens and 11 differences between gastric and stool specimens. 94.42% of H. pylori positive specimens were cagA positive and all samples had amplified band both for vacA s and m regions. There was significant relationship between vacA s1a/m1a and PUD diseases (P = 0.04), s2/m2 genotype and NUD diseases (P = 0.05). No statically significant relationship was found between cagA status with clinical outcomes and vacA genotypes (P = 0.65). The evaluation of vacA and cagA genes showed 6 differences between gastric biopsy and saliva specimens and 11 differences between gastric and stool specimens. CONCLUSION Regard to high similarity in genotype of H. pylori isolates from saliva, stomach and stool, this study support the idea which fecal- oral is the main route of H. pylori transmission and oral cavity may serve as a reservoir for H. pylori, however, remarkable genotype diversity among stomach, saliva and stool samples showed that more than one H. pylori genotype may exist in a same patient.
Grid Integration of Large DFIG-Based Wind Farms Using VSC Transmission

This paper describes the use of voltage source converter (VSC)-based HVDC transmission system (VSC transmission) technology for connecting large doubly fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind farms over long distance. The operation principles of the proposed system are described, and new control strategies for normal and grid fault conditions are proposed. To obtain smooth operation, the wind farm side VSC (WFVSC) is controlled as an infinite voltage source that automatically absorbs power generated by the wind farm and maintains a stable local ac network. Fault ride through of the system during grid ac faults is achieved by ensuring automatic power balancing through frequency modulation using WFVSC and frequency control using DFIG. PSCAD/EMTDC simulations are presented to demonstrate robust performance during wind speed and power variations and to validate the fault ride through capability of the proposed system.
Sermons in Stone: The Stone Walls of New England and New York

What do we actually know about these structures? About the people who built them, and why they were built? Stone walls are not simply monuments to the skill of Yankee farmers. The historical record makes clear that many were built by slaves, Indians, indentured servants, and children. Sermons in Stone is the surprising history of the walls, a story that begins in the Ice Age and has been shaped by the fencing dilemmas of the nineteenth century, by conflicts between Native Americans and colonists over land use, by America's waves of immigration and suburbanization. Beautifully illustrated by David Howell, this is an illuminating and entertaining work of the first rank.
Effective number of breeders provides a link between interannual variation in stream flow and individual reproductive contribution in a stream salmonid

The effective number of breeders that give rise to a cohort (Nb) is a promising metric for genetic monitoring of species with overlapping generations; however, more work is needed to understand factors that contribute to variation in this measure in natural populations. We tested hypotheses related to interannual variation in Nb in two long‐term studies of brook trout populations. We found no supporting evidence for our initial hypothesis that N^b reflects N^c (defined as the number of adults in a population at the time of reproduction). N^b was stable relative to N^C and did not follow trends in abundance (one stream negative, the other positive). We used stream flow estimates to test the alternative hypothesis that environmental factors constrain Nb. We observed an intermediate optimum autumn stream flow for both N^b (R2 = 0.73, P = 0.02) and full‐sibling family evenness (R2 = 0.77, P = 0.01) in one population and a negative correlation between autumn stream flow and full‐sib family evenness in the other population (r = −0.95, P = 0.02). Evidence for greater reproductive skew at the lowest and highest autumn flow was consistent with suboptimal conditions at flow extremes. A series of additional tests provided no supporting evidence for a related hypothesis that density‐dependent reproductive success was responsible for the lack of relationship between Nb and NC (so‐called genetic compensation). This work provides evidence that Nb is a useful metric of population‐specific individual reproductive contribution for genetic monitoring across populations and the link we provide between stream flow and Nb could be used to help predict population resilience to environmental change.
Natural Development of Antibodies against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis Protein Antigens during the First 13 Years of Life

ABSTRACT Conserved protein antigens have been investigated as vaccine candidates against respiratory pathogens. We evaluated the natural development of antibodies against Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Moraxella catarrhalis proteins during childhood. Serum samples were collected from 50 healthy children from their first months to age 13 years (median sampling interval, 6 months). We also analyzed serum samples from 24 adults. Serum IgG antibodies against eight pneumococcal proteins (Ply, CbpA, PspA 1 and 2, PcpA, PhtD, StkP-C, and PcsB-N), three H. influenzae proteins, and five M. catarrhalis proteins were measured using a multiplexed bead-based immunoassay. Antibody levels were analyzed using multilevel mixed-effects regression and Spearman's correlation. Antibody levels against pneumococcal proteins peaked at 3 to 5 years of age and then reached a plateau. Antibody levels against H. influenzae proteins peaked during the second year and then stabilized. Antibody levels against M. catarrhalis proteins peaked during the first year and then slowly decreased. Peak antibody levels during childhood were higher than those of adults. Correlations among pneumococcal antibody levels were highest among anti-CbpA, anti-PcpA, and anti-PhtD antibodies (r = 0.71 to 0.75; P < 0.001). The children presented 854 symptomatic respiratory infections on 586 occasions. Symptomatic respiratory infections did not improve prediction of antibody levels in the regression model. The maturation of immune responses against the investigated pneumococcal proteins shares similarities, especially among CbpA, PcpA, and PhtD. Antibody production against H. influenzae and M. catarrhalis proteins starts early in life and reaches peak levels earlier than antibody production against the pneumococcal proteins. Basal antibody levels are not related to the occurrence of symptomatic respiratory infections.
Adherence to cardiovascular therapy: a meta-analysis of prevalence and clinical consequences.

AIMS The aim of this study was to determine the extent to which adherence to individual vascular medications, assessed by different methods, influences the absolute and relative risks (RRs) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective epidemiological studies (cohort, nested case-control, or clinical trial) identified through electronic searches using MEDLINE, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases, involving adult populations (≥ 18 years old) and reporting risk estimates of cardiovascular medication adherence with any CVD (defined as any fatal or non-fatal coronary heart disease, stroke or sudden cardiac death) and/or all-cause mortality (defined as mortality from any cause) outcomes. Relative risks were combined using random-effects models. Forty-four unique prospective studies comprising 1 978 919 non-overlapping participants, with 135 627 CVD events and 94 126 cases of all-cause mortality. Overall, 60% (95% CI: 52-68%) of included participants had good adherence (adherence ≥ 80%) to cardiovascular medications. The RRs (95% CI) of development of CVD in those with good vs. poor (<80%) adherence were 0.85 (0.81-0.89) and 0.81 (0.76-0.86) for statins and antihypertensive medications, respectively. Corresponding RRs of all-cause mortality were 0.55 (0.46-0.67) and 0.71 (0.64-0.78) for good adherence to statins and antihypertensive agents. These associations remained consistent across subgroups representing different study characteristics. Estimated absolute risk differences for any CVD associated with poor medication adherence were 13 cases for any vascular medication, 9 cases for statins and 13 cases for antihypertensive agents, per 100 000 individuals per year. CONCLUSION A substantial proportion of people do not adhere adequately to cardiovascular medications, and the prevalence of suboptimal adherence is similar across all individual CVD medications. Absolute and relative risk assessments demonstrate that a considerable proportion of all CVD events (~9% in Europe) could be attributed to poor adherence to vascular medications alone, and that the level of optimal adherence confers a significant inverse association with subsequent adverse outcomes. Measures to enhance adherence to help maximize the potentials of effective cardiac therapies in the clinical setting are urgently required.
Glutamine: A Trojan horse in ammonia neurotoxicity

Mechanisms involved in hepatic encephalopathy still remain to be defined. Nonetheless, it is well recognized that ammonia is a major factor in its pathogenesis, and that the astrocyte represents a major target of its CNS toxicity. In vivo and in vitro studies have shown that ammonia evokes oxidative/nitrosative stress, mitochondrial abnormalities (the mitochondrial permeability transition, MPT) and astrocyte swelling, a major component of the brain edema associated with fulminant hepatic failure. How ammonia brings about these changes in astrocytes is not well understood. It has long been accepted that the conversion of glutamate to glutamine, catalyzed by glutamine synthetase, a cytoplasmic enzyme largely localized to astrocytes in brain, represented the principal means of cerebral ammonia detoxification. Yet, the “benign” aspect of glutamine synthesis has been questioned. This article highlights evidence that, at elevated levels, glutamine is indeed a noxious agent. We also propose a mechanism by which glutamine executes its toxic effects in astrocytes, the “Trojan horse” hypothesis. Much of the newly synthesized glutamine is subsequently metabolized in mitochondria by phosphate‐activated glutaminase, yielding glutamate and ammonia. In this manner, glutamine (the Trojan horse) is transported in excess from the cytoplasm to mitochondria serving as a carrier of ammonia. We propose that it is the glutamine‐derived ammonia within mitochondria that interferes with mitochondrial function giving rise to excessive production of free radicals and induction of the MPT, two phenomena known to bring about astrocyte dysfunction, including cell swelling. Future therapeutic approaches might include controlling excessive transport of newly synthesized glutamine to mitochondria and its subsequent hydrolysis. (HEPATOLOGY 2006;44:788–794.)
Factors Influencing SMEs’ Adoption of Cloud Computing Services in Lebanon: An Empirical Analysis Using TOE and Contextual Theory

An increasingly important advancement in information and communication technologies is cloud computing, and a remarkably increasing trend is its adoption by various organizations. The trend is attributed to the potential of this growing computing paradigm to improve the scalability, efficiency, and reliability of IT systems. Diffusion of cloud computing innovation is changing the way business information systems are developed, paid for, and maintained Alshamaila et al. 2013, Low et al. 2011, thus contributing to efficiency and better value for enterprises. This not only applies to large organizations, but also progressively more to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). However, little is known about the factors most likely to be associated to the adoption behavior of cloud computing services among small and medium enterprises operating in Lebanon. This study deploys the technology–organization–environment (TOE) framework and the Contextual Theory to empirically examine the determinants of cloud computing service adoption in a developing country, namely Lebanon. A model is proposed, and data collected from 139 respondents working in SMEs in Lebanon and analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and logistic regression in SPSS provide strong support for the model. Results indicate that technological (i.e., complexity and security) and organizational (i.e., top management support and prior IT experience) factors are positively related to the decision to adopt cloud computing services. Moreover, one of the areas of potential interest is the effect of country-specific, or contextual factors, among those who intend to adopt cloud computing. The analysis shows that context-specific factors (i.e. poor infrastructure and lack of government initiatives) are negatively related to the adoption decision. Implications and limitations are discussed, and recommendations for future research are proposed.
Association of HLA‐DRB1 and HLA‐DQB1 with red‐blood‐cell alloimmunization in the Czech population

Alloimmune antibodies against red‐blood‐cell (RBC) antigens induced in susceptible individuals (responders) by transfusion, pregnancy or transplantation may have serious clinical consequences. The aim of this study was to investigate association of alloimmunization against selected RBC antigens with HLA‐Class II.
Issues relating to normalization of body fat content in men and women.

OBJECTIVE Body mass index (BMI), % body fat, and the fat:lean ratio are ratios frequently used as obesity indices. Ratios are based on an assumption that the regression between the numerator (e.g. fat mass) and the denominator (e.g. body mass) has a zero-intercept. As shown in the companion paper, non-zero intercepts cause several problems when ratios are used to adjust data and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) is frequently the preferred statistical tool. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether BMI, % body fat and the fat:lean ratio meet the necessary criteria for suitable obesity indices using gender comparisons as an example. RESULTS In 720 healthy men and women, BMI was higher in men (24.9 +/- 3.3 vs 23.4 +/- 3.2 kg/m2, P < 0.001), but fat mass, % fat and the fat:lean ratio were higher in women (14.8 +/- 8.4 vs 19.1 +/- 8.1 kg fat; 18.6 +/- 8.7 vs 29.9 +/- 9.7% body fat; 0.24 +/- 0.14 vs 0.46 +/- 0.20 for the fat:lean ratio; P < 0.001). Body mass (BM) was correlated with height2 in men (r = 0.40) and women (r = 0.36) with equivalent regression slopes (17.1 +/- 1.9 vs 15.6 +/- 2.3 kg per m2 in women), but the intercepts were different from zero (24.1 kg in men, 20.7 kg in women). When BM was adjusted for height2 using ANCOVA, men remained significantly heavier than women (74.4 +/- 11.0 vs 68.8 +/- 11.6 kg; P < 0.001). Fat mass (FM) was significantly correlated with BM in males (r = 0.64) and females (r = 0.78) but the regression slopes were different (0.49 +/- 0.03 vs 0.71 +/- 0.03 kg of fat per kg body mass in females; P < 0.05) and the intercepts were different from zero (-23.2 +/- 2.2 kg in males; -24.8 +/- 2.1 kg in females). FM adjusted for BM was significantly higher in women (11.7 vs 25.6 kg). FM was inversely correlated with fat free mass (FFM) in males (r = -0.17) and females (r = -0.20), with similar regression slopes (-0.16 +/- 0.05 vs -0.26 +/- 0.08 kg of FM per kg of FFM in women) and the intercepts were significantly different from zero (24.8 +/- 3.0 kg in males; 30.7 +/- 3.6 kg in females). When FM was adjusted for FFM, there was no significant difference between men (16.3 kg) and women (17.0 kg). CONCLUSIONS It is concluded that: (a) the presence of significant intercepts does not support the use of ratios as obesity indices and regression based models should be considered; and, (b) the direction and magnitude of the difference in obesity index between men and women changes with different normalization approaches.
Epidemiology of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus at a Pediatric Healthcare System, 1991–2003

Background: The emergence and epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) at a Minneapolis pediatric healthcare facility was investigated. Methods: Children with MRSA infections from January 1991 to December 2003 were classified as community-associated (CA) or healthcare-associated (HA) using established criteria. Isolates were subtyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and grouped into pulsed-field types (PFTs). Case and isolate characteristics were compared and temporal trends were assessed. Results: The first isolate classified as CA-MRSA in this healthcare facility was identified in 1991. CA-MRSA cases (n = 188) were more likely than HA-MRSA cases (n = 83) to have a skin or soft tissue infection (80% versus 59%) and to belong to a racial or ethnic minority group (82% versus 55%), whereas HA-MRSA cases were younger (median age, 3.4 years versus 4.9 years). The proportion of both CA- and HA-MRSA isolates susceptible to clindamycin and erythromycin declined during the study period. Isolates classified as CA-MRSA were more likely than HA-MRSA isolates to be USA300 (21% versus 11%, P = 0.05) and USA400 (62% versus 31%, P < 0.001) PFTs. Associations between case race/ethnicity and isolate PFT were observed independent of case classification. Conclusions: CA-MRSA is well established in this pediatric population. Although no discernable changes in CA- or HA-MRSA case characteristics were documented during the study period, significant changes were observed in CA-MRSA isolate characteristics, indicating that this pathogen continues to evolve.
A distinct preisthmic histogenetic domain is defined by overlap of Otx2 and Pax2 gene expression in the avian caudal midbrain

Correlative in situ hybridization of Otx2, Pax2, Gbx2, and Fgf8 mRNA probes in adjacent serial sections through the chicken midbrain and isthmus at early to intermediate stages of development served to map in detail the area of overlap of Otx2 and Pax2 transcripts in the caudal midbrain. The neuronal populations developing within this preisthmic domain made up a caudal part of the midbrain reticular formation, the interfascicular nucleus, and the magnocellular (pre)isthmic nucleus, plus the corresponding part of the periaqueductal gray. The torus semicircularis—the inferior colliculus homolog—expressed Otx2 in its ventricular lining exclusively, but it never expressed Pax2. The parvicellular isthmic nucleus, although placed inside the midbrain lobe, never expressed Otx2, and its cells rapidly down‐regulated an early transient Pax2 signal; this pattern is consistent with its reported isthmic origin and forward tangential translocation. This analysis reveals the existence of four distinct midbrain histogenetic domains along the longitudinal axis, at least for the alar plate. These presumably result from step‐like isthmic organizer effects on Otx2‐expressing midbrain neuroepithelium at different distances from a caudal FGF8 morphogen source (isthmic Fgf8‐positive domain). The final phenotypes of these domains are histologically diverse and make up the griseum tectale (rostrally), the optic tectum, the torus semicircularis, and the presently characterized preisthmic domain (lying closest to the isthmic organizer). Available comparative data for reptiles and mammals suggest the general validity of this scheme. J. Comp. Neurol. 483:17–29, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.