Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical activity, physical function, and incident dementia in elderly men: the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study.

BACKGROUND Although evidence is accumulating for a protective effect of late life physical activity on the risk of dementia, the findings are inconsistent, especially in men. We examined the association of late life physical activity and the modifying effect of physical function with future risk of dementia in a well-characterized cohort of elderly men participating in the Honolulu-Asia Aging Study (HAAS). METHODS Physical activity by self-report and performance-based physical function was assessed in 2263 men aged 71-92 years without dementia at the baseline examination of the HAAS in 1991-1993. Follow-up for incident dementia occurred at repeat examinations conducted in 1994-1996 and 1997-1999. Analyses were based on Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for potential confounders, including age, baseline cognitive function, education, and apolipoprotein E genotype. RESULTS There were 173 incident cases of dementia with a mean follow-up of 6.1 years. Although the incidence of dementia tended to decline with increasing physical activity and function, there was a significant interaction between the latter two factors on dementia risk (p =.022). For men with low physical function, high levels of physical activity were associated with half the risk of dementia versus men who were the least active (hazard ratio [HR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.28-0.89), with a moderate level of physical activity also providing a protective effect (HR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.32-0.99). Risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease declined significantly with increasing physical activity. Findings persisted after age and risk factor adjustment. Similar associations were absent in men with moderate and high physical function. CONCLUSIONS In elderly men with poor physical function, increasing general physical activity may potentially confer a protective effect or delay the onset for dementia.
MicroRNA-133a Inhibits Proliferation of Gastric Cancer Cells by Downregulating ERBB2 Expression

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common type of cancer and the second highest leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. It has already been established that miR-133a is involved in gastric cancer. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which miR-133a inhibits the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. We analyzed the proliferative capacity of human gastric cancer cells SNU-1 using an MTT assay. Cell apoptosis was determined using flow cytometry. The expression levels of ERBB2, p-ERK1/2, and p-AKT in SNU-1 cells were determined using Western blot analysis. To confirm that ERBB2 is a direct target of miR-133a, a luciferase reporter assay was performed. Results showed that miR-133a overexpression inhibited SNU-1 cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. ERBB2 was a direct target of miR-133a, and it was negatively regulated by miR-133a. Interestingly, ERBB2 silencing has a similar impact to miR-133a overexpression, in that it significantly induced apoptosis and inhibited ERK and AKT activation. Our study showed that miR-133a inhibits the proliferation of gastric cancer cells by downregulating the expression of ERBB2 and its downstream signaling molecules p-ERK1/2 and p-AKT. Therefore, miR-133a might be used as a therapeutic target for treating gastric cancer.
The surgical treatment of Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans

Background: Balanitis Xerotica Obliterans (BXO) is a chronic, often progressive disease, which can lead to phimosis and urethral stenosis, affecting both urinary and sexual function. Steroid creams are usually the first-line treatment but have a limited role and surgical intervention is frequently necessary. Conservative surgical procedures (circumcision) are often preferred in the first instance with the premise that recurrence of disease will require a more definitive reconstruction. This study looked at patients with pathologically proven BXO referred to the Plastic Surgery Unit at James Cook University Hospital between 2005 and 2009. The aim was to look at their management in the past and subsequent management by us. We also looked at whether early referral of progressive and recurrent BXO patients to reconstructive surgery could have prevented unnecessary delay in resolving symptoms at an earlier stage. Materials and Methods: Data was collected retrospectively and information regarding the exact anatomical location affected, the extent of the disease, the referring specialty and any previous surgical interventions was obtained. Alterations in urinary and sexual function and relief of symptoms following reconstructive surgery were analysed. Results: Of the 23 patients in the study, 43% had previous surgery and 60% of those had undergone two or more procedures. Twenty-one percent of patients had a history of BXO for over five years. Forty-seven percent of patients had alteration in their urinary function and 48% alteration in their sexual function due to the disease, prior to referral. Early results showed remarkable improvement in urinary and sexual function following reconstructive surgery in this group. Conclusions: Steroid creams have been shown to limit the progression of the disease but do not offer a cure in the majority of cases. Circumcision can be a curative procedure in early disease. Although there is conflicting evidence for treatment of recurring urethral strictures, repeated urethrotomy or urethral dilatation has poor long-term outcome. In patients with recurrent disease and associated complications we propose early referral to a plastic surgeon with genitourinary interest or reconstructive urologist for definitive treatment.
Major League Baseball

Stadium: Chase Field Date Built: 1998 Facility Cost ($/Mil): $354 Percentage of Stadium Publicly Financed: 75% Facility Financing: The Maricopa County Stadium District provided $238 million for the construction through a . 25% increase in county sales tax from April 1995 to November 1997. In addition, the Stadium District issued $15 million in bonds that are being paid off with stadiumgenerated revenue. The remainder was paid through private financing, including a naming rights deal worth $66 million over 30 years and the Diamondbacks’ investment of $85 million. In 2007, the Maricopa County Stadium District paid off the remaining balance of $15 million on its portion of Chase Field. The payment erased the final debt for the stadium 19 years earlier than expected. Facility Website
Impact of 5‐HT3 receptor blockade on colonic haemodynamic responses to ischaemia and reperfusion in the rat

Abstract 5‐HT3 receptor antagonists are clinically available for treating patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) but their use is restricted because of a link with some episodes of ischaemic colitis. However, the role of 5‐HT3 receptors in regulating colonic blood flow has not been systematically investigated. Thus, we examined acute and chronic treatment with alosetron, a potent and selective antagonist of the 5‐HT3 receptor, on baseline colonic blood flow and haemodynamic responses during occlusion and reactive hyperaemia in the pentobarbitone‐anaesthetized rat. Colonic haemodynamics were assessed using ultrasonic recordings of superior mesenteric blood flow (MBF) and laser Doppler recordings of colonic vascular perfusion (VP). Blood pressure (BP) was also monitored and in some experiments tissue oxygen was detected polarographically. Alosetron (10, 30, 100 μg kg−1, i.v.) had no effect on baseline haemodynamics nor responses to nitric oxide synthase inhibition with Nω‐nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME) (16 mg kg−1). Arterial occlusion (5 min) reduced MBF (−98.6 ± 0.6%) and VP (−70.7 ± 5.4%) followed by a post‐occlusion reactive hyperaemia (MBF = +94.5 ± 19.1%; VP = +60.0 ± 22.3%) the magnitude of which was unchanged following acute (30 μg kg−1) or chronic alosetron administration (0.5 mg kg−1 twice daily, 5 days). Alosetron did not significantly alter baseline colonic blood flow in the anaesthetized rat; nor did it interfere with vascular control mechanisms activated during occlusion and reactive hyperaemia.
Factor Allocation, Economic Growth and Unbalanced Regional Development in China

On the basis of development accounting techniques and a factor misallocation framework, we use panel data of 30 Chinese provinces from 2000 to 2013 to assess how factor allocation affects economic growth and unbalanced regional development in China. In particular, we decompose economic growth into three parts, namely sector productivity (SP), factor market efficiency (FME) and factor endowment (FE). We then conduct counterfactual analyses to investigate the short and long‐run roles of factor allocation in the income distribution across provinces. The results show that SP, FME and FE can explain 23%, 8.5% and 68.5% of economic growth, while labour, capital and energy reallocation account for aggregate productivity growth of about 47%, −4.8% and −0.1%. Furthermore, when the factors are efficiently allocated, transferring labour (capital, energy) from agriculture (service, industry) to the other sectors will increase the income per capita by 29.5% and 42.5% in the short and long term. Meanwhile, efficient factor allocation accounts for 32% and 29.7% of aggregate productivity and reduces the income variation across provinces by 25.5% and 23% in the short and long run, respectively.
Unusual high rate of asymptomatic maternal parvovirus B19 infection associated with severe fetal outcome

Objective. To study the role of asymptomatic maternal parvo B19 infection in severe fetal outcome in Province of Vojvodina. Methods. One hundred seventy-six pregnant women (13–25 weeks of gestation) were divided in two groups – patients with symptoms of imminent spontaneous abortion and poor pregnancy outcome and patients with normal course of pregnancy. Double serum samples were analyzed to quantify IgM and IgG to parvovirus B19. Results. Among pregnant women with symptoms of spontaneous abortion, we found significantly higher percentage of acute parvovirus B19 infection. Conclusions. Asymptomatic parvo B19 infection is associated with poor fetal outcome much more than we presumed previously.
Antigenic stimulation of T lymphocytes in chronic nononcogenic retrovirus infection: equine infectious anemia

Equine infectious anemia is a chronic disease of horses caused by a nononcogenic retrovirus. Studies were undertaken to determine the types of cells involved in the in vitro lymphoproliferative response to viral antigens and the dynamics of this reaction. It was observed that reactive lymphocytes were present at unpredictable times in the peripheral blood of infected horses. This reaction was shown to be specific for the interaction of equine infectious anemia virus and T lymphocytes. Enriched B-lymphocyte populations did not divide when exposed to equine infectious anemia virus. Macrophages were depleted from the reaction by two methods: adherence to Sephadex and a combination of binding to Sephadex and adherence to complement-coated erythrocytes. Both methods reduced the number of monocytes, but only the combination of Sephadex and complement-coated cells removed the accessory cells needed for lymphocyte proliferation. We conclude that during the chronic stages of equine infectious anemia the number of antigen-reactive T lymphocytes fluctuates within the peripheral blood and that these cells require a complement-binding cell for reaction. The relationship of these cells to the lymphoproliferative stages of this disease is discussed.
Atmospheric deposition of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans on the soils in the vicinity of municipal solid waste incinerators

This study focuses on the atmospheric deposition of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) on the soils in the vicinity of two municipal solid waste incinerators (MSWIs), which were located in the Gangshan (GS) and the Renwu (RW) Townships of southern Taiwan. PCDD/Fs in the soils were sampled simultaneously with those in the ambient air and analyzed for 17 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs. The results show that the mean contents of PCDD/Fs in the soils near MSWI-GS and MSWI-RW were 2.65 and 1.20 ng I-TEQ/kg dry weight, respectively. Annual wet deposition fluxes of total PCDD/Fs were 119 and 113 ng/m2-year in the ambient air near MSWI-GS and MSWI-RW, respectively. The results obtained in this study are much higher than those estimated for the Atlantic Ocean, where the average wet deposition was only 45 ng/m2-year. The annual dry deposition fluxes accounted for 58.2 and 66.7%, respectively, indicating that dry deposition was more dominant than wet deposition in the atmospheric deposition processes. The congener profiles of 17 2,3,7,8-substituted PCDD/Fs showed that OCDD dominates in the soils. The contributions of OCDD in the soils near MSWI-GS and MSWI-RW were 73.4 and 67.1%, respectively, while they were only 41.4 and 31.2% in the atmospheric deposition, respectively. These results imply that OCDD is more persistent in the environment than other congeners. The results of the present study strongly suggest that exposure to PCDD/Fs in these areas should be reduced.
Lifestyle and colon cancer: an assessment of factors associated with risk.

Studies of the etiology of colon cancer indicate that it is strongly associated with diet and lifestyle factors. The authors use data from a population-based study conducted in northern California, Utah, and Minnesota in 1991-1995 to determine lifestyle patterns and their association with colon cancer. Data obtained from 1,993 cases and 2,410 controls were grouped by using factor analyses to describe various aspects of lifestyle patterns. The first five lifestyle patterns for both men and women loaded heavily on dietary variables and were labeled: "Western," "moderation," "calcium/low-fat dairy;" "meat and mutagens," and "nibblers, smoking, and coffee. " Other important lifestyle patterns that emerged were labeled "body size," "medication and supplementation," "alcohol," and "physical activity. " Among both men and women, the lifestyle characterized by high levels of physical activity was the most marked lifestyle associated with colon cancer (odds ratios = 0.42, 95% confidence interval: 0.32, 0.55 and odds ratio = 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.39, 0.69, for men and women, respectively) followed by medication and supplementation (odds ratio = 1.68, 95% confidence interval: 1.29, 2.18 and odds ratio = 1.63, 95% CI 1.23, 2.16, respectively). Other lifestyles that were associated with colon cancer were the Western lifestyle, the lifestyle characterized by large body size, and the one characterized by calcium and low-fat dairy. Different lifestyle patterns appear to have age- and tumor site-specific associations.
Economic and monetary union in Europe

ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION IN EUROPE by Charalambos Demetriou The plans for Economic and Monetary Union in Europe became difficult to achieve during the period 1992-1993. The convergence criteria set up in the Maastricht Treaty block the road towards unification. It is very complex to expect twelve governments with different shades of political colour and twelve states with different economic interests to compromise in such criteria (as inflation, government borrowing, exchange rate stability and interest rates) and eventually, speak with one voice at the end of this decade. This current research provides significant modifications in The Maastricht Treaty , policy making, objectives, even changes in political behavior for better coordination to tackle any turbulence that stands on the way. These changes were unveiled and supported by outside views. The right time for transition to the monetary union depends on the rate of progress in Europe in meeting the stability requirements and in the willingness to move to a more developed political union. Monetary Union could occur late in 1990s but with a number of members left out with major dominant the Germany than the EMS. ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION IN EUROPE by Charalambos K Demetriou A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of New Jersey Institute of Technology in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Management School of Industrial Management January 1995
Role Models or Individual Consulting: The Impact of Personalizing Micro-entrepreneurship Training

Using a randomized experiment in Chile, we study the impact role models have in the context of a training program for micro–entrepreneurs. We show that being in a group randomly chosen to be visited by a successful alumnus of the program increases household income one year after, mostly due to increased business participation and business income. We also randomized the provision of personalized “consulting sessions” vis–à–vis group sessions, and observe similar effects on income, with the role model intervention being significantly more cost-effective and better suited for less experienced businesses. (JEL J24, L25, L26, M53, O14, O15)
Epidemiology of leg amputation: The influence of vascular surgery

The number of amputations performed for vascular disease in Denmark has decreased from 1777 (34·5 per 100 000 population) in 1983 to 1288 (25·0 per 100 000) in 1990, a reduction of 28 per cent. This decline coincided with an increase in vascular surgical activity of up to 100 per cent, including a marked rise in the rate of femorodistal reconstruction. Moreover, regional variation in vascular surgical activity correlated with percentage reduction in amputation rate (rs = 0·65, P < 0·01). The relative number of above‐knee amputations also decreased in favour of more distal levels during the period studied. These findings suggest that vascular surgery may be responsible for the lower amputation rate.
Accuracy of CT in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism: a systematic literature review.

OBJECTIVE We sought to summarize systematically the published evidence describing the accuracy of contrast-enhanced helical CT for diagnosing pulmonary embolism. MATERIALS AND METHODS We selected all systematic reviews published before December 2003 that evaluated the accuracy of CT angiography for the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism. We also selected all prospective studies from the same time period in the primary literature in which all subjects underwent both CT and conventional angiography, the latter being considered the reference standard. Articles were identified through a computerized MEDLINE search and by other means. The quality and content of each article were evaluated independently by pairs of researchers. RESULTS Six systematic reviews and eight primary studies were selected. The combined sensitivities of CT for detecting pulmonary embolism ranged from 66% to 93% across the systematic reviews and the combined specificities ranged from 89% to 97%. Only one of the reviews reported a combined sensitivity of greater than 90%. Among the eight primary studies, the sensitivities ranged from 45% to 100% and specificities ranged from 78% to 100%. Only three of the eight primary studies reported a sensitivity greater than 90%. None of the primary studies used scanners with four or more detectors. CONCLUSION A systematic literature review revealed a wide range of reported sensitivities, only a minority of which exceeded 90%. Pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity reported by systematic literature reviews should be interpreted with caution because of potential selection bias and heterogeneity in the reviewed studies. Accuracy studies of recent generations of MDCT scanners are not yet available despite the current dissemination of this technology.
[Malnutrition and social isolation among elderly residents of city public housing].

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine relations between malnutrition and social isolation among elderly residents of a city public housing facility. METHODS The present participants were 442 residents aged 65 and older of a public housing facility in Nagoya city. An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted regarding demographics, nutritional status, and social isolation. Nutritional status was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment(®)-Short Form (MNA(®)). Combining "at risk for malnutrition" and "malnutrition," the status was classified into two groups: "normal nutrition" and "at risk for malnutrition. " Social isolation was examined using the Japanese version of the abbreviated Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS-6), which was divided into isolation (less than 12 points) and non-isolation (more than 12 points). Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess association between malnutrition and isolation by adjusting for the following possible confounders: age, sex, living alone, self-rated economic conditions, housebound, loneliness, eligible for Long-Term Care Insurance, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG) Index of Competence. RESULTS Among 343 respondents (77.6%), the number of valid responses was 288 (65.2%)-121 men and 167 women. The average age was 74.7±6.1 years old (mean±standard deviation), ranging from 65 to 98. Based on the LSNS-6, social isolation was encountered in 44.1%. According to the MNA(®) classification, 171 (59.4%) were classified as "normal nutritional status," 108 (37.5%) as "at risk for malnutrition," and 9 (3.1%) as "malnutrition. " "At risk for malnutrition" and "malnutrition" were found in 40.6% in this study. Multivariate logistic analyses showed that risk factors for malnutrition were social isolation (OR=2.52, 95% CI; 1.44-4.41) and poor economic conditions (OR=1.98, 95% CI; 1.15-3.41). Significant interaction between age and living alone suggested that elderly individuals over 75 years of age who live alone were also at risk for malnutrition. CONCLUSION This study revealed that malnutrition of elderly individuals was associated with social isolation and poor economic conditions as well as age over 75 and living alone. Malnutrition and social isolation can be prevalent in elderly residents of city public housing facilities. Measures of social isolation as well as nutritional support are necessary for health promotion and preventive care of the elderly.
Managing employee innovative behaviour through transformational and transactional leadership styles

ABSTRACT This paper focuses on the associations between leadership styles and employee innovative behaviour. We studied the implementation of an ambitious innovation strategy in a large Danish municipality and examined how transformational and transactional leadership styles relate to innovative behaviour. We combined data from two sources rating leadership styles of immediate supervisors and employee innovative behaviour. The findings suggest that transformational leadership and one component of transactional leadership, namely verbal rewards, are positively associated with innovative behaviour. The interaction between the two shows that innovative behaviour is most likely when the leader combines transformational leadership with verbal rewards.