Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bayesian inference for random coefficient dynamic panel data models

ABSTRACT We develop a hierarchical Bayesian approach for inference in random coefficient dynamic panel data models. Our approach allows for the initial values of each unit's process to be correlated with the unit-specific coefficients. We impose a stationarity assumption for each unit's process by assuming that the unit-specific autoregressive coefficient is drawn from a logitnormal distribution. Our method is shown to have favorable properties compared to the mean group estimator in a Monte Carlo study. We apply our approach to analyze energy and protein intakes among individuals from the Philippines.
The Association of Restless Legs Syndrome to History of Gestational Diabetes in an Appalachian Primary Care Population.

OBJECTIVES Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a burdensome sensorimotor disorder that has been linked to diabetes and obesity. However, the relationship of RLS to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a common pregnancy complication strongly associated with obesity and a harbinger of diabetes, remains unknown. In this study, we examined the association of RLS to history of GDM in a sample of older female primary care patients. METHODS Participants were community-dwelling women aged ≥ 40 years drawn from an anonymous survey study of West Virginia adult primary care patients. Data gathered included detailed information on demographics, lifestyle factors, reproductive history, sleep patterns, and medical history; the survey also included an RLS diagnostic questionnaire. Women who were pregnant or had missing data on key variables were excluded from the analyses. RESULTS Of the 498 participants included in the final analytic sample, 24.5% met diagnostic criteria for RLS (17.9% with symptoms at least once/week). After adjustment for demographics, lifestyle characteristics, body mass index, diabetes and other comorbid conditions, parity, and other factors, those reporting history of GDM were almost three times as likely to meet criteria for RLS (odds ratio [OR] = 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.3, 5.3). This association increased in magnitude with increasing symptom frequency (adjusted OR for RLS symptoms ≥ 3×/week = 4.8, CI 2.1, 11.2, p for trend = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS History of GDM was strongly and positively related to RLS in this study of older female primary care patients, offering further support for a possible role of metabolic dysregulation in RLS development.
Vasoprotective Effect of Foods as Treatments: Chicken Collagen Hydrolysate

Collagen is a major protein in living organisms and accounts for about one-third of all protein in mammalian bodies, including the human body. Recently, collagen peptides have been used as foods that take advantage of their tertiary functions. We have been focusing on the vasoprotective effect of collagen peptides. Chicken collagen hydrolysate (CCH) is obtained by treating chicken feet with enzymes to produce an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide. Administration of this CCH for 12 weeks reduces blood pressure in humans. We therefore investigated the mechanism of the vasoprotective effect of CCH. We tested whether prolonged CCH treatment of rats or mice would restore endothelial cell function and improve proinflammatory cytokine levels. We found that CCH treatment improved the vasorelaxation of rat aorta damaged with L-NG-nitroarginine methyl ester , an NO synthesis inhibitor. CCH treatment also reduced the serum levels of IL-6, sICAM-1, and TNF-α in an atherosclerotic mouse model, C57BL/6.KOR-ApoEsh1. These findings indicate the usefulness of collagen peptides as foods promoting antiatherogenesis via a vasoprotective effect. Years have passed since functional foods and their tertiary function first attracted attention. The primary function of foods is to supply the nutrients required to sustain life, and the secondary function is to satisfy taste preferences. The tertiary function of foods is to exert biological regulatory effects, such as biophylaxis, homeostatic maintenance, and disease prevention, which are activated upon food intake. Purified food ingredients that have tertiary functions are widely consumed as supplements. Multitudes of supplements are available on today’s market: besides common vitamins, minerals, and amino acids, there are catechins, which are antioxidant constituents of tea (Katiyar, 2003), soy isoflavones, which have female hormone–like actions (Weijer, 2002), and docosahexaenoic acids and eicosapentaenoic acids, which decrease triglyceride levels (Tamai, 2004). Collagen is being used widely, not only in supplements but also as an ingredient of common food products such as beverages, yogurts, and breads. Collagen is a major protein in living organisms and accounts for about one-third of all protein in mammalian bodies, including the human body. It forms an extracellular matrix that plays a role in the formation of connective tissues and acts as a scaffold for cells, but its accumulation declines with age. The majority of the collagen in the body exhibits a triple
Sensitization of Gram-Negative Bacilli to Host Antibacterial Proteins

To address the need for novel alternatives to antibiotics, we attempted to sensitize gram-negative bacilli to innate antibacterial protagonists. We report a lipopeptide-like sequence (C10OOc12O) that inflicted outer membrane damage at a low micromolar range, whereas measurable bacterial growth inhibition in broth medium required >10-fold higher concentrations. In serum, however, C10OOc12O induced antibacterial activity in a manner suppressible by anticomplement antibodies or heat treatment and acted synergistically with exogenous lysozyme in broth and serum media. Upon subcutaneous administration, C10OOc12O exhibited high circulating levels that correlated with significant therapeutic efficacies, using either the mouse peritonitis-sepsis model or the thigh infection model. These findings are consistent with the view that, by damaging the outer membrane, C10OOc12O was able to enhance gram-negative bacilli susceptibility to antibacterial components of the immune humoral arm. Such lipopeptides may therefore be useful in fighting gram-negative bacilli threats through sensitization to endogenous and/or exogenous antibacterial proteins such as lysozyme and complements.
The Relationship Between Initial Quality Perceptions and Maintenance Behavior: The Case of the Automotive Industry

We examine the relationship between quality, represented by consumer ratings, and quality-related activities by the customer, represented by maintenance activities in the automotive industry. Based on several converging theoretical perspectives, we present and test a model relating vehicle initial quality ratings to consumers' routine maintenance. Three types of data were collected for the study: (1) vehicle service records at a local dealership, (2) primary data from a survey of vehicle owners, and (3)Consumer Reports data on quality ratings and initial purchase prices. The results of a structural equation analysis of the proposed model indicate a significant link between quality and customers' quality behavior. This link has important strategic implications for both automotive manufacturers and distributors, particularly as "leasing" becomes more prevalent in the industry.
Analysis of Long-Term Phase-Locking Technique for Mode-Locked Laser With PID Regulator

We analyze the environmental effect on the standard phase-locking of the mode-locked laser. The mechanism of the improved phase-locking loop (PLL) with a standard proportional-integral-derivative (PID) regulator is described, and its stabilization principle is analyzed in detail. We utilized the standard PLL and the PLL with a standard PID regulator to phase-lock a mode-locked erbium-doped fiber laser to a rubidium atomic clock at 100 MHz for days. The agreement between the experimental results and simulation has proved that our theoretical analysis for phase-locking of mode-locked laser with PID regulator is correct. The phase-locking experiment also shows that the PLL with PID regulator has a good performance of long-term phase and frequency stabilities.
Robust Protection against Highly Virulent Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in Swine by Combination Treatment with Recombinant Adenoviruses Expressing Porcine Alpha and Gamma Interferons and Multiple Small Interfering RNAs

ABSTRACT Because the currently available vaccines against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) provide no protection until 4 to 7 days postvaccination, the only alternative method to halt the spread of the FMD virus (FMDV) during outbreaks is the application of antiviral agents. Combination treatment strategies have been used to enhance the efficacy of antiviral agents, and such strategies may be advantageous in overcoming viral mechanisms of resistance to antiviral treatments. We have developed recombinant adenoviruses (Ads) for the simultaneous expression of porcine alpha and gamma interferons (Ad-porcine IFN-αγ) as well as 3 small interfering RNAs (Ad-3siRNA) targeting FMDV mRNAs encoding nonstructural proteins. The antiviral effects of Ad-porcine IFN-αγ and Ad-3siRNA expression were tested in combination in porcine cells, suckling mice, and swine. We observed enhanced antiviral effects in porcine cells and mice as well as robust protection against the highly pathogenic strain O/Andong/SKR/2010 and increased expression of cytokines in swine following combination treatment. In addition, we showed that combination treatment was effective against all serotypes of FMDV. Therefore, we suggest that the combined treatment with Ad-porcine IFN-αγ and Ad-3siRNA may offer fast-acting antiviral protection and be used with a vaccine during the period that the vaccine does not provide protection against FMD. IMPORTANCE The use of current foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccines to induce rapid protection provides limited effectiveness because the protection does not become effective until a minimum of 4 days after vaccination. Therefore, during outbreaks antiviral agents remain the only available treatment to confer rapid protection and reduce the spread of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in livestock until vaccine-induced protective immunity can become effective. Interferons (IFNs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have been reported to be effective antiviral agents against FMDV, although the virus has associated mechanisms of resistance to type I interferons and siRNAs. We have developed recombinant adenoviruses for the simultaneous expression of porcine alpha and gamma interferons (Ad-porcine IFN-αγ) as well as 3 small interfering RNAs (Ad-3siRNA) to enhance the inhibitory effects of these antiviral agents observed in previous studies. Here, we show enhanced antiviral effects against FMDV by combination treatment with Ad-porcine IFN-αγ and Ad-3siRNA to overcome the mechanisms of resistance of FMDV in swine.
Validation of a triage flowchart to rule out acute coronary syndrome

Objective To validate a triage flowchart to rule out acute coronary syndrome (ACS) in chest pain patients attending the emergency department (ED). Methods An observational cohort study of consecutive patients. In all cases, a previously derived five-step triage flowchart (age ≤40 years, absence of diabetes, not previously known coronary artery disease, non-oppressive and non-retrosternal pain) was applied. Patients meeting all five discriminators were grouped as ‘five-step triage non-ACS’, the rest as ‘five-step triage ACS’. The same strategy was used with a four-step model (without age ≤40 years). After ED study and 1-month follow-up, patients were definitively classified as ‘true ACS’ or ‘true non-ACS’. Validity indexes and receiver operating characteristics curves were calculated. Results 4231 patients were included: 918 (21.7%) were ‘true ACS’, 3303 (78.1%) ‘true non-ACS’; 10 (0.2%) were lost to follow-up. The five-step triage flowchart classified 4000 (94.8%) as ‘triage ACS’ and 221 (5.2%) as ‘triage non-ACS’; none of the latter was ‘true ACS’. The four-step model classified 3194 (75.6%) as ‘triage ACS’ and 1027 (24.4%) as ‘triage non-ACS’. A ‘true ACS’ was seen in 26 patients from the latter group. Accordingly, five-step triage flowchart specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) to rule out ACS were 100% (95% CI 100% to 100%). For the four-step model specificity and PPV were 97% (95% CI 96% to 98%). Conclusion The five-step triage flowchart identifies chest pain patients without an ACS. However, only 5% of these patients meet these five criteria. A simpler model allows greater patient inclusion but a higher risk of misclassification of true ACS.
Near-lossless image compression techniques

Methods of near-lossless image compression based on the criterion of maximum allowable deviation of pixel values are described in this paper. Predictive and multi resolution techniques for performing near-lossless compression are investigated. A procedure for near-lossless compression using a modification of lossless compression are investigated. A procedure for near-lossless compression using a modification of lossless predictive coding techniques to satisfy the specified tolerance is descried. Simulation results with modified versions of two of the best lossless predictive coding techniques known, CALIC and JPEG- LS, are provided. It is shown that the application of lossless coding based on reversible transforms in conjunction with pre-quantization is inferior to predictive techniques for near-lossless compression. A partial embedding two-layer scheme is proposed in which an embedded multi-resolution coder generates a lossy base layer, and a simple but effective context-based lossless coder codes the difference between the original image and the lossy reconstruction. Simulation results show that this lossy plus-lossless technique yields compression ratios very close to those obtained with predictive techniques, while providing the feature of a partially embedded bit-stream.
Stereospecific structural perturbations arising from adenine N(6) butadiene triol adducts in duplex DNA.

Butadiene is oxidized in vivo to form stereoisomeric butadiene diol epoxides (BDE). These react with adenine N(6) in DNA yielding stereoisomeric N(6)-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2'-deoxyadenosyl (BDT) adducts. When replicated in Escherichia coli, the (2R,3R)-N(6)-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2'-deoxyadenosyl adduct yielded low levels of A-->G mutations whereas the (2S,3S)-N(6)-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2'-deoxyadenosyl butadiene triol adduct yielded low levels of A-->C mutations [Carmical, J. R. , Nechev, L. V. , Harris, C. M. , Harris, T. M. , and Lloyd, R. S. (2000) Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 35, 48-56]. Accordingly, the structure of the (2R,3R)-N(6)-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2'-deoxyadenosyl adduct at position X(6) in d(CGGACXAGAAG). d(CTTCTTGTCCG), the ras61 R,R-BDT-(61,2) adduct, was compared to the corresponding structure for the (2S,3S)-N(6)-(2,3,4-trihydroxybutyl)-2'-deoxyadenosyl adduct in the same sequence, the ras61 S,S-BDT-(61,2) adduct. Both the R,R-BDT-(61,2) and S,S-BDT-(61,2) adducts are oriented in the major groove of the DNA, accompanied by modest structural perturbations. However, structural refinement of the two adducts using a simulated annealing restrained molecular dynamics (rMD) approach suggests stereospecific differences in hydrogen bonding between the hydroxyl groups located at the beta- and gamma-carbons of the BDT moiety, and T(17) O(4) of the modified base pair X(6). T(17). The rMD calculations predict hydrogen bond formation between the gamma-OH and the T(17) O(4) in the R,R-BDT-(61,2) adduct whereas in the S,S-BDT-(61,2) adduct, hydrogen bond formation is predicted between the beta-OH and the T(17) O(4). This difference positions the two adducts differently in the major groove. This may account for the differential mutagenicity of the two adducts and suggests that the two adducts may interact differentially with other DNA processing enzymes. With respect to mutagenesis in E. coli, the minimal perturbation of DNA induced by both major groove adducts correlates with their facile bypass by three E. coli DNA polymerases in vitro and may account for their weak mutagenicity [Carmical, J. R. , Nechev, L. V. , Harris, C. M. , Harris, T. M. , and Lloyd, R. S. (2000) Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 35, 48-56].
Epidemiology of the Revised European-American Lymphoma Classification subtypes.

The revolution in molecular biology, genetics, and immunology has made old ideas about lymphoid neoplasia obsolete and led to the creation of new concepts. These new concepts have been incorporated into the International Lymphoma Group's Revised EuropeanAmerican Lymphoma (REAL) Classification (table 1) (1), proposed in 1994 and currently being adapted into the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O) (2). The purpose of this review is to translate what is known about the epidemiology of lymphoid neoplasms to the conceptual framework provided by the REAL in order to ease the transition to the new system.
The comparison of clinical signs presentation in middle age men and women with myocardial infarction

Introduction: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) indicates irreversible myocardial injury resulting in necrosis of a significant portion of myocardium. MI is associated with high mortality. The difference between the signs of MI in each gender is unclear. The aim of this study was to describe gender-associated differences in symptom presentation after acute MI. Methods: This analytic-descriptive research was carried out on 102 patients (44 women and 58 men) with MI experience who referring in Shahid Mohamadi hospital and Abolfazl hospital, Hormozgan, Iran. Patients participating in the study were randomly selected. Individual information; the pain characteristics records, electrocardiogram and laboratory results, pain numerical rating scale, were collected. Results: The results showed that chest pain was the most common initial symptom in both men and women (92) This is while sweating in men (74) and dyspnea in women (61.4) as the second reported sign. No gender-related differences in other symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, dizziness, palpitations, pallor, epigastric pain, chills and weakness were observed. Conclusion: In this study in patients with MI, women had a worse-risk profile in comparison to men. No significant gender-related differences in symptoms were observed.
Utilization of the coronary balloon-expandable coil stent without anticoagulation or intravascular ultrasound.

BACKGROUND The balloon-expandable coil stent has been proved effective in the management of acute and threatened closure after coronary balloon angioplasty and has been shown to reduce restenosis in patients with suboptimal results after coronary balloon angioplasty. Coronary artery stenting has been limited by the occurrence of stent thrombosis and comorbidity related to anticoagulation. This study was undertaken to determine whether anticoagulation may be removed from poststenting protocols, thus reducing comorbidity without increasing stent thrombosis. METHODS AND RESULTS Between September 1994 and May 1995, 369 patients received balloon-expandable coil stents in native coronary arteries at our institution. Of these patients, 216 were selected for a protocol of aspirin and ticlopidine (for 1 month) without anticoagulation. Eligibility for this protocol followed satisfaction of certain procedural and angiographic criteria. These criteria included adequate coverage of intimal dissections, absence of residual filling defects, and normal (TIMI grade 3) flow in the stented vessel after high-pressure balloon inflations. Intravascular ultrasound was not used to guide stent deployment. The stenting procedure was planned in 37% of patients and unplanned in 63% of patients, including 25 (12%) for acute or threatened closure. During the 30-day follow-up period, stent thrombosis occurred in 2 patients (0.9%), there was 1 death (0.5%), and 2 patients (0.9%) underwent coronary bypass surgery. Vascular access-site complications occurred in 4 patients (1.9%), and bleeding that required blood transfusion occurred in 4 patients (1.9%). CONCLUSIONS Patients who receive the coronary balloon-expandable coil stent with optimal angiographic results without intravascular ultrasound guidance can be managed safely with a combination of aspirin and ticlopidine without anticoagulation.
Histidine 179 Mutants of GTP Cyclohydrolase I Catalyze the Formation of 2-Amino-5-formylamino-6-ribofuranosylamino-4(3H)-pyrimidinone Triphosphate*

GTP cyclohydrolase I catalyzes the conversion of GTP to dihydroneopterin triphosphate. The replacement of histidine 179 by other amino acids affords mutant enzymes that do not catalyze the formation of dihydroneopterin triphosphate. However, some of these mutant proteins catalyze the conversion of GTP to 2-amino-5-formylamino-6-ribofuranosylamino-4(3H)-pyrimidinone 5′-triphosphate as shown by multinuclear NMR analysis. The equilibrium constant for the reversible conversion of GTP to the ring-opened derivative is approximately 0.1. The wild-type enzyme converts the formylamino pyrimidine derivative to dihydroneopterin triphosphate; the rate is similar to that observed with GTP as substrate. The data support the conclusion that the formylamino pyrimidine derivative is an intermediate in the overall reaction catalyzed by GTP cyclohydrolase I.
Effects of age and counseling on the cardiorespiratory response to graded exercise.

PURPOSE To report on the normative cardiorespiratory response to a graded exercise test in a group of healthy males, 30-69 yr of age (n = 816), and to test the effect of health and fitness counseling on cardiorespiratory fitness in a subset of healthy subjects (n = 87, mean follow-up = 7.3 yr) who returned for at least five subsequent visits. METHODS As part of a preventive medicine service, each subject performed an incremental exercise test to exhaustion on a treadmill. Peak oxygen consumption, ventilatory threshold, HRmax, and peak oxygen pulse were the primary dependent measures recorded from each test. RESULTS Both analyses (cross-sectional data followed by longitudinal data) showed a significant decline in peak oxygen consumption with age (0.03 and 0.04 L x min(-1) x yr(-1)), which was related to an age-associated decline in HRmax (0.97 and 0.81 beats per year) and peak oxygen pulse (0.13 and 0.08 mL per beat per year). Ventilatory threshold was also influenced by age, declining in both the cross-sectional (0.02 L x min(-1) x yr(-1)) and the longitudinal (0.03 L x min(-1) x yr(-1)) comparisons. However, when ventilatory threshold and peak oxygen pulse were analyzed for changes between the initial and the follow-up (7.3 yr) visits, no difference was found. It remains unclear if this finding can be attributed to the intervention used. CONCLUSION Our data support previous investigations on the effects of age on cardiorespiratory fitness. More work is needed to define the potential longitudinal benefits of interventions like those administered in the present study.
Cellular heterogeneity in giant cell tumour of bone (osteoclastoma): an immunohistological study of 16 cases

Sixteen cases of giant cell tumour of bone (osteoclastoma) were analysed by immunohistochemical techniques using various monoclonal antibodies specific for macrophages, monocytic and granulocytic cells, T‐ and B‐lymphocytes and other cell types. The multinucleate osteoclastic giant cells failed to react with the majority of antibodies specific for myeloid cells and HLA‐DR. In contrast to previous findings, giant cells in some tumours reacted with a rat, but not mouse, antibody to leucocyte common (CD45) antigen. Macrophages were detected in all tumours, though their numbers varied considerably; small numbers of T‐ and B‐lymphocytes were identified in four of 16 cases. The neoplastic, spindle‐shaped, stromal cells were largely unreactive with the monoclonal antibodies used in this study, further supporting the view that they are not the precursors of the characteristic giant cells, nor are they of haemopoietic origin.