Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Obesity-stroke paradox and initial neurological severity

Background and purpose An obesity paradox in patients with stroke has been documented. However, although the initial neurological severity (INS) is generally the most important prognostic factor, the impact of this paradox has not been considered in most previous studies. We sought to investigate the impact of obesity on INS in patients with ischaemic stroke and to investigate whether it is a significant risk factor for short-term outcomes. Methods A total of 2670 patients from Seoul National University Hospital with ischaemic stroke were enrolled from October 2002 to May 2013. Baseline information, including body mass index (BMI) and INS, was collected at admission. Associations between obesity and INS were analysed. In addition, we evaluated the effect of BMI on modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 3 months after stroke onset. Results Among the 2670 patients, patients whose BMI levels were higher than the chosen reference level had reduced risks of moderate to severe INS (Q2: OR, 0.65; 95% CI 0.49 to 0.87; Q3: OR, 0.48; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.65; Q4: OR, 0.39; 95% CI 0.28 to 0.54; and Q5: 0.31; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.44). In addition, of the 703 patients with available 3-month mRS patients with higher BMI levels seem to have had more favourable outcomes. Such associations disappeared after adjusting for INS. Conclusions In our study, although obesity was associated with better short-term functional outcomes, INS might be a more important prognostic factor. Therefore, initial status should also be considered when considering an ‘obesity paradox’ in chronic diseases.
Transforming growth factor-beta gene polymorphism in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis patients.

SETTING Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays an important role in many diseases, influencing as it does such processes as immune responses, fibrosing processes, and angiogenesis. Recently, polymorphisms have been described for TGF-beta that are associated with the risk of several diseases. In this study, we investigated whether TGF-beta 1 polymorphism has an effect on sarcoidosis and tuberculosis. OBJECTIVE TGF-beta 1 Codon 10 T869C polymorphism was investigated in 110 healthy control subjects, 104 sarcoidosis patients, and 101 tuberculosis patients. DESIGN The TGF-beta genotype was determined using polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism. RESULTS We found no significant differences in TGF-beta genotypes between sarcoidosis patients and healthy controls or tuberculosis patients and controls. The long axis of the tuberculin skin test was larger in the CC type compared with the CT type. However, there was no association between the TGF-beta genotype and the roentgenographic stage, the disappearance of shadows, or organ involvement in sarcoidosis, nor any association between genotype, the extent or type of roentgenographic shadow, or detected volume of tubercle bacilli in tuberculosis. CONCLUSION From the results, we believe that TGF-beta polymorphisms on the whole do not have a strong influence on disease onset or clinical progression in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis, although this polymorphism might have an effect on the immune response in a tuberculosis host.
Growth curves of three human malignant tumors transplanted to nude mice.

Experimental growth data for three human malignant tumors transplanted to nude mice of BALB/c origin are analyzed statistically in order to investigate whether they can be described according to the Gompertz function. The aim is to set up unequivocal standards for planned therapeutic experiments and to develop an essential part of the determination of proliferation parameters for the tumors. The results indicate that the course of tumor growth can be described with good approximation by the Gompertz function. A transformation of this function depicts the growth rectilinearly and appears to be suitable as a standard, e.g. in therapeutic experiments. The course of tumor growth is independent of the size of the transplant, and whether tumors are transplanted in the right or left or both flanks of the recipient mice. Furthermore, the growth does not vary in a systematic way with the number of passages in nude mice. For tumors whose growth is described according to the Gompertz function, recording of the growth of the tumor size in two dimensions is sufficient for calculating other relevant growth parameters, if the three linear tumor measurements are proportional throughout the growth period. The initial histological development of a transplanted malignant melanoma is described and used to elucidate other tumor growth measurements.
Do Common Inherited Beliefs and Values Influence CEO Pay?

We expect that common inherited beliefs and values of economic agents guide their behavior and determine their preferences regarding monetary rewards. We use the ethnicity of CEOs across 31 countries as a proxy for their common inherited beliefs and values and find that ethnicity is significantly associated with the level and form of CEO compensation. While we find an ethnicity effect in corporate policy decisions, our documented ethnicity effects in compensation is not a manifestation of the effect of ethnicity on corporate policy decisions. Importantly, we find that changes in CEO compensation are significantly larger when CEOs are replaced with a person from a different ethnicity. Further, we provide evidence that ethnicity captures two innate characteristics expected to shape pay preferences, namely future time reference and religious culture of economic incentives. Finally, negative deviations from ethnicity pay preferences are associated with lower future firm performance.
Trace Element Contents in the Edible Mushroom Boletus edulis Bull. ex Fries

Study was carried out on the trace element concentrations of edible mushroom Boletus edulis from Gorski kotar, Croatia. Samples were collected between March and December 2013. The analyses were carried out by Inductively Coupled Plasma – Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The results showed that the values of the studied elements decreased in the order: Cu (13.01) > Se (12.25) > Mn (9.19) > Al (4.62) > Ag (2.34) > Hg (2.18) > Cd (1.22) > Ni (0.99) > Pb (0.79) > Sb (0.60) > As (0.41) > Ba (0.38) > Cr (0.22) > Co (0.07). The essential elements in fruiting bodies Boletus edulis were a considerably higher than those of toxic elements. The consumption of wild edible mushroom Boletus edulis from Gorski kotar is safe for human health. Normal 0 21 false false false HR X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Normal 0 21 false false false HR X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Plane-wave basis finite elements and boundary elements for three-dimensional wave scattering

Classical finite–element and boundary–element formulations for the Helmholtz equation are presented, and their limitations with respect to the number of variables needed to model a wavelength are explained. A new type of approximation for the potential is described in which the usual finite–element and boundary–element shape functions are modified by the inclusion of a set of plane waves, propagating in a range of directions evenly distributed on the unit sphere. Compared with standard piecewise polynomial approximation, the plane–wave basis is shown to give considerable reduction in computational complexity. In practical terms, it is concluded that the frequency for which accurate results can be obtained, using these new techniques, can be up to 60 times higher than that of the conventional finite–element method, and 10 to 15 times higher than that of the conventional boundary–element method.
Polymeric Optical Splitter Based on Multimode Interference Mechanism

A 1 times 2 and 1 times 3 planar optical splitter based on BenzoCyclobutene (BCB 4024-40) polymeric material is proposed. The device is designed based on symmetric interference mechanism, utilizing a BK7 glass as a substrate and thin layer of SiO2 as a cover. Simulation results show that the splitting uniformity is better than 0.5 dB at 1550 nm optical wavelength.
Cryptosporidiosis Among Children Attending Al-Nasser Pediatric Hospital, Gaza, Palestine

Results: Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in 62 (14.9%) of the tested specimens by acid-fast staining technique and in 68 (16.3%) using ELISA kit. The number of infected females was found to be significantly higher than males (P = 0.03). The highest number of infected children was observed in March. Entamoeba histolytica/dispar, Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides and Hymenolepis nana were the most common parasites detected (14.4%, 7.2%, 0.7% and 0.7%, respectively).
DYNAMICS OF FLUID IN OSCILLATORY FLOW : THE Z COMPONENT

In an oscillatory flow, the resistance to flow, more appropriately defined as the impedance to flow, is a function of oscillating frequency, which refers to the harmonic composition of the driving pressure wave. Flow in an elastic tube may be resisted in numerous ways such as the fluid viscosity, fluid inertia and tube elasticity. The concept of impedance arises in the dynamics of the ResistanceInductance-Capacitance. In oscillating flow, these represent the fluid viscosity, inertia and tube elasticity. This paper describes the effects of impedance, or the Z component as described in-text of an oscillating flow in a valveless impedance pump using numerical simulation. A one-dimensional lumpedsystem model is chosen to perform the analysis in this study. The simulation domain is a mimic to known experimental model previously conducted by Lee et.al. [18-21]. Impedance-induced flow has shown to be combined effects of fluid viscosity, inertia and tube elasticity. Results presented are in reasonable agreement with experimental results presented in Ref [21] with an estimate of 16% variance. This simple model has shown to predict results with significant values, using simple approximations; and further the understanding of fluid impedance’s role in a valveless impedance pump.
Public policy for thee, but not for me: Varying the grammatical person of public policy justifications influences their support

Past research has shown that people consistently believe that others are more easily manipulated by external influences than they themselves are—a phenomenon called the “third-person effect” (Davison, 1983). The present research investigates whether support for public policies aimed at changing behavior using incentives and other decision “nudges” is affected by this bias. Across two studies, we phrased justification for public policy initiatives using either the second- or third-person plural. In Study 1, we found that support for policies is higher when their justification points to people in general rather than the general “you”, and in Study 2 we found that this former phrasing also improves support compared to a no-justification control condition. Policy support is mediated by beliefs about the likelihood of success of the policies (as opposed to beliefs about the policies’ unintended consequences), and, in the second-person condition, is inversely related to a sense of personal agency. These effects suggest that the third-person effect holds true for nudge-type and incentive-based public policies, with implications for their popular support.
MMP9 deficiency does not decrease blood–brain barrier disruption, but increases astrocyte MMP3 expression during viral encephalomyelitis

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP9 correlates with blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption during many neuroinflammatory diseases. During neurotropic coronavirus virus (JHMV) induced encephalomyelitis, MMP9 activity is restricted to neutrophils. Furthermore, myeloid cell depletion implicated MMP9 in facilitating leukocyte central nervous system (CNS) infiltration via loss of BBB integrity. The requirement of MMP9 in BBB disruption was thus assessed in JHMV infected MMP9 deficient (MMP9−/−) mice. Depletion of neutrophils reduced CNS accumulation of monocytes and T cells, albeit without affecting overall pathogenesis. By contrast, infected MMP9−/− mice revealed no differences in CNS leukocyte infiltration, composition or localization, consistent with BBB disruption similar to wild‐type (WT) mice. Unimpaired T cell mediated virus control supported an unexpectedly redundant role of MMP9 in promoting leukocyte access to the brain parenchyma. Although MMP9 deficiency did not expand the overall limited pattern of MMP expression during JHMV infection, it coincided with MMP3 upregulation. MMP3 expression remained largely confined to astrocytes, similar to WT mice. These data demonstrate that neutrophil‐derived MMP9 is not the sole mediator facilitating parenchymal leukocyte entry via BBB disruption during viral encephalomyelitis. Moreover, significantly enhanced MMP3 expression by astrocytes in infected MMP9−/− mice suggests an active role of resident cells in participating and potentially collaborating with infiltrating cells in regulating BBB permeability. Overall, these results highlight the complexity of targeting individual MMPs as a strategy to regulate inflammation. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Somatostatin and neuropeptide Y immunoreactivity in parkinson's disease dementia with alzheimer's changes

Somatostatin‐like immunoreactivity (SLI) and neuropeptide Y‐like immunoreactivity (NPYLI) were measured in postmortem brain tissue from 12 control patients and 13 demented Parkinsonian patients who had Alzheimer‐type cortical pathology. Twenty‐two cortical regions were examined. Significant reductions in cortical SLI were found in 17 regions, while significant reductions in cortical NPYLI were found in nine regions. The reductions in SLI were typically 50–60%, while NPYLI reductions were 20–30%. These findings are similar to those in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and are consistent with a previous report of a dissociation between reductions in SLI and NPYLI in Parkinson's disease (PD) with dementia.
Unified LASSO Estimation by Least Squares Approximation

We propose a method of least squares approximation (LSA) for unified yet simple LASSO estimation. Our general theoretical framework includes ordinary least squares, generalized linear models, quantile regression, and many others as special cases. Specifically, LSA can transfer many different types of LASSO objective functions into their asymptotically equivalent least squares problems. Thereafter, the standard asymptotic theory can be established and the LARS algorithm can be applied. In particular, if the adaptive LASSO penalty and a Bayes information criterion–type tuning parameter selector are used, the resulting LSA estimator can be as efficient as the oracle. Extensive numerical studies confirm our theory.
Comprehensive evaluation of the psychosocial parameters of epilepsy: A representative population‐based study in Prey Veng (Cambodia)

We conducted a population‐based study of epilepsy in Prey Veng (Cambodia) to explore self‐esteem, fear, discrimination, knowledge–attitude–practice (KAP), social‐support, stigma, coping strategies, seizure‐provoking factors, and patient‐derived factors associated with quality of life (QOL).
Partial Inhibition of Platelet Aggregation and Fibrinogen Binding by a Murine Monoclonal Antibody to GPIIIa: Requirement for Antibody Bivalency

Summary We produced a murine monoclonal antibody, 7H2, and localized its epitope to one or more small regions on platelet glycoprotein (GP) Ilia. 7H2-IgG and 7H2-F(ab’)2 completely inhibit platelet aggregation and fibrinogen binding at low agonist concentrations, but only partially inhibit aggregation and fibrinogen binding at high agonist concentrations; 7H2-Fab has no effect on aggregation or fibrinogen binding at any agonist concentration. 7H2-IgG binds to the entire platelet population as judged by flow cytometry. At near saturating concentrations, ∼40,000 7H2-IgG antibody molecules bind per platelet. In contrast, ∼80,000 7H2 Fab molecules bind per platelet, suggesting that 7H2-IgG binding is bivalent. 7H2 was unable to inhibit fibrinogen binding to purified, immobilized GPIIb/IIIa. These data indicate that the bivalent binding of 7H2 to GPIIIa is required for its partial inhibition of fibrinogen binding to platelets, perhaps through dimerization of GPIIb/IIIa surface receptors (or more complex GPIIb/IIIa redistribution triggered by 7H2 binding) resulting in limited accessibility of fibrinogen to its binding site(s).
1α, 25 dihydroxyvitamin D3‐dependent up‐regulation of calcium‐binding proteins in motoneuron cells

Our understanding of selective neuronal vulnerability as well as etiopathogenesis of sporadic neurodegenerative diseases is extremely limited. In ALS, altered calcium homeostasis appears to contribute significantly to selective neuronal injury. Further in ALS, the absence of calcium binding proteins (calbindin‐D28K, parvalbumin, and calretinin) correlates with selective vulnerability and cell loss. In motoneuron cell culture models an ALS IgG‐triggered and calcium‐mediated destruction can be reversed by increased expression of calbindin‐D28K following retroviral infection with calbindin‐D28K cDNA. To increase calcium binding protein expression in motoneurons in vitro and in vivo, we have employed vitamin D3. Forty‐eight hr treatment of differentiated VSC 4.1 cells with 0.1–30 nM 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 induced a twofold increase in the immunoreactivity for calbindin‐D28K and parvalbumin. Injection of 80–120 ng, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 in the cerebral ventricles of adult rats also induced positive immunoreactivity for calcium binding proteins in ventral motoneurons which are completely devoid of such reactivity in the adult stage. These data suggest that analogs of 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D3 may be useful tools in enhancing the expression of calcium binding proteins in the motor system and may have possible therapeutic value in neurodegenerative disease.
Expression of the Bacillus subtilis sacB gene confers sucrose sensitivity on mycobacteria

Expression in mycobacteria of the structural gene sacB, which encodes the Bacillus subtilis levansucrase, was investigated. sacB expression is lethal to Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium bovis BCG in the presence of 10% sucrose. sacB could thus be used as a counterselectable marker in mycobacteria.
Neutron energy spectra of a 238Pu-18O(alpha, n) source--unmoderated and polyethylene moderated.

Abstract Neutron energy spectra were obtained for a 238Pu-18O(alfa, n) source, both unmoderated and moderated. Moderation was accomplished by placing the source at the center of polyethylene spheres ranging in diameter from 7.6 to 30.5 cm. Measurements utilized a single NE213 scintillator fast-neutron spectrometer, precision long counter, and double moderator. Average energies ranged from 2.0 MeV for the unmoderated source to 1.1 MeV for the most heavily moderated. The fraction of neutrons in each spectrum with energies < 1 MeV varied from 0.22±0.09 to 0.64±0.08, and the neutron fluence-to-dose equivalent conversion factors ranged from 3.3 × 10−5 to 2.7 × 10−5 mrem/n-cm−2, with the first figures in each case being for the unmoderated source.
Outcome of Medically Versus Surgically Treated Patients With Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is an ominous disease leading to progressive right heart failure. Selected patients can be treated by pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA). We assessed long-term clinical outcome of patients with CTEPH who underwent PEA and patients who remained on medical treatment alone. A total of 112 consecutive patients with CTEPH referred between 1998 and 2008 to one center were followed for a mean of 35 (range 0-128) months after diagnosis. All the patients had advanced pulmonary hypertension at baseline. The operated group had higher World Health Organization functional class compared to the nonoperated group. No other differences in hemodynamic, echocardiographic, or biochemical parameters were observed at baseline. Despite the perioperative mortality rate of 9.1%, patients who underwent PEA had significantly lower long-term mortality compared to nonoperated patients (12.7% vs 34.8%; P = .003), and PEA survivors showed sustained clinical improvement. All efforts should be undertaken to perform PEA in all patients with operable CTEPH.
Immobilization, Properties and Anti-tumor Activity of L-asparaginase of Vicia faba and Phaseoulus vulgaris Seeds

Bean (Vicia faba) and white kidney bean (Phaseoulus vulgaris) seeds were selected from a screening programmed for L- asparagine hydrolysis by L- asparaginase. These seeds were immobilized successfully by simple adsorption on tricalcium phosphate, active carbon, silica gel and carboxmethyl cellulose powder. The best support for bean L- asparaginase (A) was silica gel with a specific activity of 2.75 U/mg protein and the fold of purification increased to 22.9 times. The best support for white kidney bean L- asparaginase (B) was carboxymethyl cellulose with a specific activity of 1.47 U/mg protein and the fold purification increased to 16.4. The immobilized A and B have an optimal activity over a larger range of pH (7 - 8.5) than that of the crude enzymes, owing to the effect of the matrix. Also the immobilized A and B showed significantly higher stability when the temperature raised up to 50 and 55°C, respectively for 30 min. and only lost 15% and 10% of their activities, respectively. L-asparaginase A could stand heating up to 45°C for 60 min with only 35% activity loss, compared to that of 30% loss for B at the same conditions. These results indicated that the immobilized enzyme has better stability and activity than crude enzyme. These results also, suggest that silica gel and carboxmethyl cellulose matrix can be very useful for enzyme immobilization and taking into account the good biocompatibility of matrix. Anti-tumor activity of L-asparaginases A and B in vitro was investigated. The enzyme A of bean and B of white kidney bean inhibited the growth of human cell lines hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep-G2) with IC50 value of 217.71 μg/mL and 187.86 μg/mL, respectively.