Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oral amino-acid provision does not affect muscle strength or size gains in older men.

PURPOSE The intent of this investigation was to examine the effects of a daily oral provision consisting of amino acids (L-lysine, L-leucine, L-valine, L-phenylalanine, L-threonine, L-histidine, L-isoleucine, and L-methionine) in combination with carbohydrates (dextrose, sucrose, and fructose) on whole muscle strength and size characteristics during a 12-wk progressive knee extensor resistance training (PRT) program in older men (>65 yr). METHODS Seventeen older men were randomly assigned to either the experimental (EX) or control (CN) groups. The EX (N = 8) and CN (N = 9) groups had the following characteristics-EX: 70.8 +/- 1.5 yr, 91.0 +/- 4.9 kg, and 177.0 +/- 3.9 cm; CN: 72.1 +/- 1.9 yr, 75.4 +/- 4.7 kg, and 176.1 +/- 3.0. Pre and post PRT maximal unilateral isometric torque (N.m), isokinetic torque (1.05, 1.57, 2.09, 3.14, 4.19, and 5.24 rad.s-1), work capacity (30 consecutive reps at 3.14 rad.s-1) torque, one repetition maximum (1RM) bilateral isotonic strength, and whole muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) of the mid-thigh were performed by computed tomography on each subject. RESULTS All variables showed an improvement with training (P < 0.05); however, there were no differences between the groups. Both groups increased in isometric strength by 21%, and isokinetic torque by 24% to 11% with the varying velocities (1.05-5.24 rad.s-1). Whole muscle 1RM strength and thigh CSA increased 50% and 6.5%, respectively. Additionally, voluntary torque/CSA increased 12% in both the EX and CN groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, these data suggest that whole muscle strength and size are not enhanced with a postexercise daily provision of an oral amino-acid complex during 12 wk of PRT in older men.
Measuring Labour Services: Quality‐Adjusting the Entry and Exit of Workers

Many statistical agencies use the sum of hours worked when measuring labour services. This implies that all workers provide work of equal quality. Various indices for adjusting for labour quality have been employed in a large body of literature. However, this literature has not yet addressed the issue of how to quality‐adjust the impact of workers entering and exiting the labour market. We outline a theoretical framework for dealing with quality adjustment of labour services caused by workers entering and exiting employment. To illustrate the theoretical framework, we use the case of Norway in the period 1997–2013. The impact on labour services due to our quality adjustment of net entry is found to be cyclical. While the adjustment for the quality of net entry amounts to about −0.3 percentage points annually during expansions, it is offset by about the same magnitude during contractions.
Cyclophosphamide, Epirubicin, Etoposide, CIS Platinum (CEVP) in Combination with Radiotherapy: Evaluation of a Protocol Adopted for 6 Years in 148 Cases of Small Cell Lung Cancer

The present study was carried out with the purpose of assessing and evaluating the responsiveness of small cell lung cancer (SCLC) to combined treatment (i.e., chemotherapy and radiotherapy). This approach was applied to all patients observed in our Institution during the last 6 years with the exclusion of patients more than 65 years old, with Karnofsky performance status less than 60, and with concomitant non-neoplastic diseases. One hundred and forty-eight patients were selected and treated with a combination chemotherapy regimen including cyclophosphamide, etoposide, epirubicin and cis-platinum. For patients with limited disease, treatment consisted of 3 cycles of chemotherapy (induction), followed by radiation therapy and then by another 3 cycles of chemotherapy (consolidation). For those with extensive disease, treatment consisted only of 6 consecutive cycles of chemotherapy. Results, besides showing the good activity and tolerability of the chemotherapeutic regimen employed (which induced 80 % overall response), indicated that some prognostic factors such as the number of metastatic sites, brain and liver involvement and performance status are essential in determining the outcome of response and, particularly, of survival. In addition, the efficacy and tolerability of the combination chemotherapy-radiotherapy were confirmed, as was the evidence of a synergistic pharmacologic effect between cis-platinum and etoposide.
Modelo logístico generalizado dependente do tempo comfragilidade

Several authors have preferred to model survival data in the presence of covariates through the hazard function, a fact related to its interpretation. The hazard function describes as the instantaneous average of failure changes over time. In this context, one of the most used models is the Cox’s model (1972), in which the basic supposition for its use is that the ratio of the failure rates, of any two individuals, are proportional. However, experiments show that there are survival data which can not be accommodated by the Cox’s model. This fact has been determinant in the developing of several types of non-proporcional hazard models. Among them we mention the accelerated failure model (Prentice, 1978), the hybrid hazard model (Etezadi-Amoli and Ciampi, 1987) and the extended hybrid hazard models (Louzada-Neto, 1997 and 1999). Mackenzie (1996) proposed a parametric family of non-proportional hazard model called generalized time-dependent logistic model GTDL. This model is based on the generalization of the standard logistic function for the time-dependent form and is motivated in part by considering the timeeffect in its setting and, in part by the need to consider parametric structure. The frailty model (Vaupel et al., 1979, Tomazella, 2003, Tomazella et al., 2004) is characterized by the use of a random effect, ie, an unobservable random variable, which represents information that or could not or were not collected, such as, environmental and genetics factors, or yet information that, for some reason, were not considered in the planning. The frailty variable is introduced in the modeling of the hazard function, with the objective of control the unobservable heterogeneity of the units under study, including the dependence of the units that share the same hazard factors. In this work we considered an extension of the GTDL model using the frailty model as an alternative to model data which does not have a proportional hazard structure. From a classical perspective, we did a simulation study and an application with real data. We also used a Bayesian approach to a real data set.
Erythromycin in the Short- and Long-term Control of Dyspepsia Symptoms in Patients with Gastroparesis

Background Few prokinetic drugs are available to treat gastroparesis. Data are limited on short-term and long-term efficacy of erythromycin as a prokinetic drug. Goals Assess efficacy of low-dose erythromycin suspension to treat gastroparesis. Study Patients with dyspepsia and gastroparesis by gastric emptying study were treated with low-bulk diet and low-dose (50–100 mg 3 times a day and at bedtime) oral erythromycin suspension. Data were collected by retrospective chart review and telephone questionnaire for short- and long-term follow-up, respectively. Results Of 25 patients, 18 had short-term follow-up, 18 had long-term follow-up, and 14 had both. On short-term follow-up, 15 patients (83%) experienced some or dramatic improvement, while 3 (17%) experienced worsening or no change in symptoms (P = 0.005). Mean duration of long-term use was 11 ± 7 months. On long-term follow-up, 12 (67%) patients noticed some or dramatic improvement, while 6 (33%) experienced worsening or no change in symptoms (P = 0.16). Correlation (0.7) between short- and long-term response was significant (P < 0.005). Of the 3 patients with poor short-term response, none did well long term. Of the 11 patients with some or dramatic response in short-term, 7 continued to have some response long term. There was no relation between gastric emptying time and response to erythromycin suspension. Conclusions Treatment of gastroparesis with low-dose erythromycin and low-bulk diet results in a dramatic short-term improvement in the majority of patients. Short-term response predicts long-term response. This response may not be as great, possibly due to tachyphylaxis.
Impact of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) from the perspective of the Canadian beef producer

Abstract The costs of bovine respiratory disease (BRD) to the beef producer can be estimated by identifying and summing the direct and indirect costs associated with the disease. The major direct costs are attributable to the cost of the feeder, production costs and carcass disposal. The indirect costs are mainly associated with infrastructure and labour.
Twin language or phonological disorder?

ABSTRACT The acquisition of language in the preschool years by multiple-birth children is often reported to be atypical. Some researchers have claimed that they use ‘twin language’, i.e. an autonomous language specific to a multiple-birth set. This claim was investigated by describing and comparing the phonological characteristics of the speech of 19 sets of two- to four-year-old multiple-birth children, and by measuring multiple-birth children's understanding of their twins' or triplets' context-free speech. The results indicated that multiple-birth children are prone to phonological disorder and consequently their speech is often unintelligible. Siblings' phonologies evidenced some similarities, although they were not identical. Multiple-birth children were better able to understand their siblings' mispronunciations than were other children of the same age, although that understanding was dependent on how closely the error form resembled the adult form. While these three factors conspire to give the impression that ‘twin language’ is common, none of these findings provided support for the claim that multiple-birth children use an autonomous language.
The functional anatomy of gaze-evoked tinnitus and sustained lateral gaze

Objective: To identify neural sites associated with gaze-evoked tinnitus (GET), an unusual condition that may follow cerebellar–pontine angle surgery. Methods: The authors examined eight patients with GET and used PET to map the neural sites activated by lateral gaze in them and seven age- and sex-matched control subjects. Results: In patients with GET, tinnitus loudness and pitch increased with lateral gaze and, to a lesser extent, up and down gaze. Evidence for neural activity related to GET was seen in the auditory lateral pontine tegmentum or auditory cortex. GET-associated nystagmus appears to activate the cuneus and cerebellar vermis. These sites were found in addition to an extensive network that included frontal eye fields and other sites in frontal, parietal, and temporal cortex that were activated by lateral gaze in seven control subjects and the patients. The unilateral deafness in patients with GET was associated with expansion of auditory cortical areas responsive to tones delivered to the good ear. In addition to GET, unilateral deafness, end-gaze nystagmus, and facial nerve dysfunction were common. Conclusions: Patients with GET have plastic changes in multiple neural systems that allow neural activity associated with eye movement, including those associated with the neural integrator, to stimulate the auditory system. Anomalous auditory activation is enhanced by the failure of cross-modal inhibition to suppress auditory cortical activity. The time course for the development of GET suggests that it may be due to multiple mechanisms.
Can Trading Volume Validate Extreme Price Movements in the Age of Higher Algorithmic Trading Activities?

We take the perspective of the practitioner who focuses on following the longitudinal performance of specific stocks and investigate whether volume may provide guidance on days of extreme price movements. For days of extreme price increases (the winners) and extreme price decreases (the losers), we show that extreme low volume is associated with future return reversal, whereas extreme high volume does not necessarily lead to future return persistence. We look at daily data from 1989 to 2014, and we consider 2004 to be the year when algorithmic trading activities began to intensify. We find that the usefulness of extreme low volume in repudiating extreme price movements has been diminishing since 2004. To the extent that extreme low volume may still be applied to repudiate extreme price movements, a practitioner may limit his or her scope to the low-volume winners and losers of small capitalization. In addition, we use Chinese data from 1992 to 2014 to replicate the tests. We find that the same characteristics are not shown there, indicating a lack of universality of the conclusions we derived from the U.S. data.
Confirmatory Factor Analysis: An Introduction for Psychosomatic Medicine Researchers

We present an introduction to the basic concepts essential to understanding confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). We initially discuss the underlying mathematical model and its graphical representation. We then show how parameters are estimated for the CFA model based on the maximum likelihood function. Finally, we discuss several ways in which model fit is evaluated as well as introduce the concept of model identification. In our presentation, we use an example to illustrate the application of CFA to psychosomatic research and touch on the more general role of structural equation modeling in psychosomatic research. SEM = structural equation modeling; CFA = confirmatory factor analysis; CAD = coronary artery disease; EFA = exploratory factor analysis; CFI = comparative fit index; RMSEA = root mean square error of approximation.
A quantitative light and electron microscopic study of hamster tracheal epithelium with special attention to so-called intermediate cells.

Epithelial cells of the lower trachea of the hamster were studied and quantified by high resolution light microscopy and electron microscopy. The epithelium was composed of basal cells, secretory cells, and ciliated cells; preciliated cells were extremely rare in the undisturbed epithelium. In addition, a few cells were of indeterminate character. Correlative light and electron microscopy indicated that about 10% of the basal cell population, categorized by light microscopy, was composed of the nucleated basal portions of tortuous secretory cells. Electron microscopy revealed that the light microscopic indeterminate category was heterogeneous, being composed of several cell types, including secretory cells with scant secretion granules, some "tall" basal cells, and very few cells that were truly indeterminate. Furthermore, review of the literature and the results of this study indicated that several different cell types, including secretory cells with sparse secretions and preciliated cells, have been previously called "intermediate cells. " The study focuses attention upon the difficulties in accurately classifying certain types of tracheal epithelial cells, especially at the light microscopic level.
Nudging the electorate: what works and why?

We report two studies investigating whether, and if so how, different interventions affect voter registration rates. In a natural field experiment conducted before the 2015 UK General Election, we varied messages on a postcard sent by Oxford City Council to 7,679 unregistered student voters encouraging them to register to vote. Relative to a baseline, emphasising negative monetary incentives (the possibility of being fined) significantly increased registration rates, while positive monetary incentives (chances of winning a lottery) and purely non-monetary nudges had no overall effects. In the second study, we show that these differences can be partly explained by social norms.
Intra- and Extra-Familial Victimization Experiences: Differentiating Between Incarcerated Serious Youth Offenders and Youth Rapists

Although research is becoming increasingly nuanced by exploring differential risk factors linked with types of youth offenders, typological distinctions have rarely been made between youth rapists and other serious youth offenders. This study tests the relative effects of intra- and extra-familial victimization—while holding other theoretically driven variables constant—on membership in three mutually exclusive youth offending groups: non-serious non-sexual offenders (n = 4,013), serious non-sexual offenders (n = 2,571), and rapists (n = 489). Data were drawn from the Survey of Youth in Residential Placement (SYRP). Incarcerated youth (N = 7,073) were surveyed on multiple constructs. Using appropriate weights in analyses, a multinomial logistic regression (referencing serious offenders) revealed youth who were victims of intra-familial physical abuse (22%) and intra-familial forced sex (42%) had a decreased risk of being in the non-serious offender category relative to the serious offender category. Furthermore, intra-familial emotional abuse (75%) and intra-familial forced sex (202%) demonstrated an increased risk of being in the rapist category relative to serious offender category. Although extra-familial victimization was statistically significant, victimization within the family had larger effects when predicting rape group membership. The research and practice implications are discussed.
Targeting of Listeria monocytogenes ActA protein to the plasma membrane as a tool to dissect both actin‐based cell morphogenesis and ActA function.

Actin assembly on the surface of Listeria monocytogenes in the cytoplasm of infected cells provides a model to study actin‐based motility and changes in cell shape. We have shown previously that the ActA protein, exposed on the bacterial surface, is required for polarized nucleation of actin filaments. To investigate whether plasma membrane‐associated ActA can control the organization of microfilaments and cell shape, variants of ActA, in which the bacterial membrane signal had been replaced by a plasma membrane anchor sequence, were produced in mammalian cells. While both cytoplasmic and membrane‐bound forms of ActA increased the F‐actin content, only membrane‐associated ActA caused the formation of plasma membrane extensions. This finding suggests that ActA acts as an actin filament nucleator and shows that permanent association with the inner face of the plasma membrane is required for changes in cell shape. Based on the observation that the amino‐terminal segment of ActA and the remaining portion which includes the proline‐rich repeats cause distinct phenotypic modifications in transfected cells, we propose a model in which two functional domains of ActA cooperate in the nucleation and dynamic turnover of actin filaments. The present approach is a new model system to dissect the mechanism of action of ActA and to further investigate interactions of the plasma membrane and the actin cytoskeleton during dynamic changes of cell shape.
Can flare be predicted in DMARD treated RA patients in remission, and is it important? A cohort study

Objectives The treatment target for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is remission. Imaging techniques and remission criteria may identify patients at risk of flare and associated consequences. This study aimed to determine the clinical, functional and imaging associations of disease flare in patients with RA in remission and any effect on long-term outcomes. Methods RA patients in clinical remission as determined by their treating rheumatologist were assessed using clinical, remission criteria, imaging, functional and quality of life measures over 12 months. Flare was defined as any increase in disease activity requiring a change in therapy. Results 26% of patients (24/93) in remission experienced a flare within 1 year. Fulfilment of remission criteria was not associated with a reduced likelihood of flare. Increased baseline ultrasound power Doppler (PD) activity (unadjusted OR (95% CI) 4.08 (1.26 to 13.19), p=0.014) and functional disability (Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) per 0.1 unit1.27 (1.07 to 1.52), p=0.006) were independently associated with risk of flare. Patients who had a flare had significantly worse long-term clinical (Disease Activity Score 28; mean (95% CI) 2.90 (2.55 to 3.24) vs 2.26 (2.06 to 2.46), p=0.002) and functional outcomes (HAQ-DI; 0.412 (0.344 to 0.481) vs 0.322 (0.282 to 0.362), p=0.029) at 12 months compared with patients in sustained remission. Conclusion The presence of PD activity was the most accurate determinant of flare in RA patients in remission. Flare was associated with worse clinical and functional outcomes. These results suggest ultrasound could form an important part of remission assessment in RA.
Linalyl Acetate as a Major Ingredient of Lavender Essential Oil Relaxes the Rabbit Vascular Smooth Muscle through Dephosphorylation of Myosin Light Chain

In a preliminary experiment, we found that lavender essential oil relaxes vascular smooth muscle. Thus, the present experiments were designed to investigate the relaxation mechanism of linalyl acetate as the major ingredient of lavender essential oil in rabbit carotid artery specimens. Linalyl acetate produced sustained and progressive relaxation during the contraction caused by phenylephrine. The relaxation effect of linalyl acetate at a concentration near the EC50 was partially but significantly attenuated by nitroarginine as an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxaline-1-one as an inhibitor of guanylyl cyclase, or by the denudation of endothelial cells. In specimens without endothelium, the phenylephrine-induced contraction and phosphorylation of myosin light chain (MLC) were significantly attenuated after the pretreatment with linalyl acetate. The relaxation caused by linalyl acetate in the endothelium-denuded specimens was clearly inhibited by calyculin A as an inhibitor of MLC phosphatase, although not by ML-9 as an inhibitor of MLC kinase. Furthermore, suppression of the phenylephrine-induced contraction and MLC phosphorylation with linalyl acetate was canceled by the pretreatment with calyculin A. These results suggest that linalyl acetate relaxes the vascular smooth muscle through partially activation of nitric oxide/cyclic guanosine monophosphate pathway, and partially MLC dephosphorylation via activating MLC phosphatase.
The weakness of postcommunist civil society reassessed

During the last two decades, scholars from a variety of disciplines have argued that civil society is structurally deficient in postcommunist countries. Yet why have the seemingly strong, active and mobilised civic movements of the transition period become so weak after democracy was established? And why have there been diverging political trajectories across the postcommunist space if civil society structures were universally weak? This article uses a new, broader range of data to show that civil societies in Central and Eastern European countries are not as feeble as commonly assumed. Many postcommunist countries possess vigorous public spheres and active civil society organisations strongly connected to transnational civic networks able to shape domestic policies. In a series of time-series cross-section models, the article shows that broader measures of civic and social institutions are able to predict the diverging transition paths among postcommunist regimes, and in particular the growing gap between democratic East Central Europe and the increasingly authoritarian post-Soviet space.