Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Renal dysfunction in congestive heart failure, pathophysiological and prognostic significance.

AIMS Many congestive heart failure (CHF) patients suffer from various comorbidities, which may aggravate CHF or independently increase mortality risk. Renal failure (RF) is one of them. We defined bedside clinical, laboratory and electrocardiographic parameters characterizing CHF patients with and without concomitant RF, and analyzed their impact on mortality. METHODS We studied symptomatic unselected consecutive furosemide-treated CHF patients hospitalized for various acute conditions. On admission, history taking, physical examination, chest x-ray, ECG and routine laboratory tests were performed. Subsequently, patients were divided into 2 subgroups, those with serum creatinine > or = 1.5 mg/dl (RF) and those with lower values. Following discharge, information concerning mortality and circumstance of death was obtained from hospital records and outpatient death certificates. RESULTS Included were 398 patients, 163 (40.9%) with RF and 235 free of RF. Prevailing in the RF subgroup were older age (mean age 75.5 vs 70.8, p < 0.001), male gender (p < 0.001), admission pulmonary edema (p = 0.007), cardiac arrhythmias (p = 0.05), cardiac conduction disturbances (p = 0.002), severe CHF (p = 0.005), lower ejection fraction (p = 0.03), anemia (p = 0.009), higher furosemide maintenance dosages (p < 0.001), insulin treatment (p = 0.03) and receiving less ACE inhibitors (p = 0.006). On median follow-up of 43 months, mortality was 54.9% in the RF vs 31.9% in the non-RF subgroup (p < 0.001), RF being the parameter most significantly associated with low survival (OR 1.97, p < 0.001). In the RF subgroup older age (p < 0.02), female gender (p < 0.003) and not using ACE inhibitors (p = 0.04) or drugs with antiarrhythmic effects (p < 0.005), emerged significantly associated with low survival, while diabetes mellitus (DM) and admission pulmonary edema tended to be so associated (p < 0.2). Using multivariate analysis in the RF subgroup, older age, female gender and DM proved most significantly associated with poorer survival (p = 0.004, OR 1.5, p = 0.03, OR 1.72, p = 0.04, OR 1.28, respectively). In the non-RF subgroup, only older age (p = 0.005) and DM (p = 0.05) were significantly associated with low survival. Sudden death occurred in 21 patients, 14 (8.6%) in the RF and 7 (3%) in the non-RF subgroup (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS RF is a marker of severity in CHF. Its full-blown deleterious prognostic effect is already manifested at serum creatinine 1.5 mg/dl. Older age, DM and female gender most significantly heralded a shorter survival. Such patients require special care.
A Spatial Model of the UWB Off-Body Channel in Indoor Environments

In this paper, we present novel ultrawideband (UWB) off-body channel measurement campaigns in indoor environments aiming the characterization of the delay and the angular properties of the channel. Measurements were performed by using isolated UWB antenna and body-mounted antennas on different positions. Multipath and cluster parameters are estimated by means of space alternating generalized expectation-maximization (SAGE) and a clustering algorithm. These estimates allow an analysis of the variations of the channel properties due to the presence of the body. Notably, we observe strong modifications of the spatial characteristics of the channel. The delay spread is characterized as a function of the body orientation and the antenna position on the body. In addition, a modeling of the angles-of-arrival based on a Laplacian distribution is given. A cluster modeling is provided along with parameters. Finally, the part of diffuse multipath components not detected by SAGE algorithm is analyzed in function of the communication scenario.
Progesterone suppresses tyrosine hydroxylase messenger ribonucleic acid levels in the arcuate nucleus on proestrus.

This study examined the intracellular mechanisms for the regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase in the tuberoinfundibular dopaminergic neurons of cycling female rats. It also evaluated the hormonal influences that contribute to the control of this enzyme on proestrus. Tyrosine hydroxylase messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus were assessed by in situ hybridization. Tyrosine hydroxylase activity in the stalk-median eminence was determined from the in vitro or in vivo rate of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) accumulation after inhibiting DOPA decarboxylase with brocresine or m-hydroxybenzylhydrazine, respectively. Tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels and in vitro DOPA accumulation were similar on diestrous day 2 and proestrous mornings, but were reduced by 50% on estrus. Although circulating PRL concentrations were similar on the morning of each day of the estrous cycle, a broad preovulatory PRL surge was observed on the afternoon of proestrus. In vitro DOPA accumulation was similar at 1000 h before the PRL surge and at 1330 h during the peak phase of the PRL surge, but was reduced during the plateau phase of the PRL surge (1700 and 2200 h) coincident with the preovulatory progesterone rise and remained low on estrus. However, in vivo DOPA accumulation was transiently decreased only at 1700 h on proestrus. Tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels were similar at 1000, 1330, and 1700 h on proestrus, were reduced by 50% at 2200 h on proestrus subsequent to the decrease in enzyme activity, and remained low on the morning of estrus. Okadaic acid, a protein phosphatase-1 and -2A inhibitor, induced a similar increase in tyrosine hydroxylase activity in vitro at 1330 and 2200 h on proestrus and at 1100 h on estrus, indicating that tyrosine hydroxylase was capable of being activated in spite of decreased mRNA levels. Ovariectomy between 1100-1200 h on proestrus prevented the decrease in tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels and in vitro DOPA accumulation at 2200 h. The effects of ovariectomy were completely reversed by progesterone, whereas estradiol had no effect. Circulating PRL levels at 2200 h were suppressed to basal levels after ovariectomy, but were increased by progesterone treatment at 1530 h to levels similar to those in the plateau phase of the PRL surge in control rats. Administration of the progesterone antagonist RU486 at 1200 h on proestrus did not alter tyrosine hydroxylase activity, tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA levels, or circulating PRL concentrations at 2200 h. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Neurotrophin receptors TrkB.T1 and p75NTR cooperate in modulating both functional and structural plasticity in mature hippocampal neurons

Tropomyosin‐related kinase (Trk) receptors modulate neuronal structure and function both during development and in the mature nervous system. Interestingly, TrkB and TrkC are expressed as full‐length and as truncated splice variants. The cellular function of the kinase‐lacking isoforms remains so far unclear. We investigated the role of the truncated receptor TrkB.T1 in the hippocampus of transgenic mice overexpressing this splice variant by analyzing both neuronal structure and function. We observed an impairment in activity‐dependent synaptic plasticity as indicated by deficits in long‐term potentiation and long‐term depression in acute hippocampal slices of transgenic TrkB.T1 mice. In addition, dendritic complexity and spine density were significantly altered in TrkB.T1‐overexpressing CA1 neurons. We found that the effect of TrkB.T1 overexpression differs between subgroups of CA1 neurons. Remarkably, overexpression of p75NTR and its activation by chemical induction of long‐term depression in slice cultures rescued the TrkB.T1‐dependent morphological alterations specifically in one of the two subgroups observed. These findings suggest that the TrkB.T1 and p75NTR receptor signaling systems might be cross‐linked. Our findings demonstrate that TrkB.T1 regulates the function and the structure of mature pyramidal neurons. In addition, we showed that the ratio of expression levels of p75NTR and TrkB.T1 plays an important role in modulating dendritic architecture and synaptic plasticity in the adult rodent hippocampus, and, indeed, that the endogenous expression patterns of both receptors change reciprocally over time. We therefore propose a new function of TrkB.T1 as being dominant‐negative to p75NTR.
Selective modifications in the nucleus accumbens of dopamine synaptic transmission in rats exposed to chronic stress

Stressful events are accompanied by modifications in dopaminergic transmission in distinct brain regions. As the activity of the neuronal dopamine (DA) transporter (DAT) is considered to be a critical mechanism for determining the extent of DA receptor activation, we investigated whether a 3‐week exposure to unavoidable stress, which produces a reduction in DA output in the nucleus accumbens shell (NAcS) and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), would affect DAT density and DA D1 receptor complex activity in the NAcS, mPFC and caudate–putamen (CPu). Rats exposed to unavoidable stress showed a decreased DA output in the NAcS accompanied by a decrease in the number of DAT binding sites, and an increase in the number of DA D1 binding sites and Vmax of SKF 38393‐stimulated adenylyl cyclase. In the mPFC, stress exposure produced a decrease in DA output with no modification in DAT binding or in DA D1 receptor complex activity. Moreover, in the CPu stress exposure induced no changes in DA output or in the other neurochemical variables examined. This study shows that exposure to a chronic unavoidable stress that produces a decrease in DA output in frontomesolimbic areas induced several adaptive neurochemical modifications selectively in the nucleus accumbens.
When the Shadow Is the Substance: Judge Gender and the Outcomes of Workplace Sex Discrimination Cases

The number of workplace sex discrimination charges filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission approaches 25,000 annually. Do the subsequent judicial proceedings suffer from a discriminatory gender bias? Exploiting random assignment of federal district court judges to civil cases, I find that female plaintiffs filing workplace sex discrimination claims are substantially more likely to settle and win compensation whenever a female judge is assigned to the case. Additionally, female judges are 15 percentage points less likely than male judges to grant motions filed by defendants, which suggests that final negotiations are shaped by the emergence of the bias.
An insight into public sector readiness for change - the Fiji Experience

The purpose of this paper is to provide an insight into public sector readiness for change from the perspective of four dimensions, namely, change management, change communication, change resistance, and readiness for change; to determine associations between these four dimensions; and to establish a prediction model for readiness for change. Using a structured survey questionnaire, data was collected from the employees of the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF). These research findings suggest statistically significant positive correlations exist between three change variables, namely, change management, change communication, and readiness for change; whereas, negative correlations exist between change resistance and the other 3 variables. The results also show that change management, change communication, and change resistance added statistically significantly to the prediction of readiness for change. This paper makes its theoretical contribution to the scarce theoretical strands relating to change efforts of public enterprises; and practical contribution towards prediction of readiness for change, policy making, and strategic planning at government levels.
Promoting learner autonomy through schoology m-learning platform in an EAP class at an Indonesian University

The advent of mobile learning platforms and Web 2.0 technologies is believed to provide an autonomous learning space that minimizes the power structure between the teacher and students in Indonesian EFL classes, accommodating t he students to display their capacity to navigate their own learning. Schoology m-learning platform, a social networking learning management system, is one of potential platforms fa cilitating the exercise of autonomy in English language learning. This paper aims to repor t h w Schoology m-learning platform facilitated the exercise of learner autonomy in an EAP class at an Indonesian higher education. The qualitative case study involved twen y o e-students enrolled in an EAP course that adopted a blended learning method. The finding s suggested that Schoology m-learning platform helped the students to exercise autonomy i n EAP learning. The students exercised their control over learning management, cognitive p rocess, and selection of learning materials. The exercise of autonomy is due to the a ffordance of Schoology . First, Schoology ’s social networking interface facilitated interaction a d communication among the students. Second, its mobile application enabled the students to learn English at their pace, time, and place. Third, the media-rich materials encouraged t he students to further explore other materials online.
Risk Management Instruments for Food Price Volatility and Weather Risk in Latin America and the Caribbean: The Use of Risk Management Instruments

This report examines some of the implications of price risk and volatility, and weather risks in the LAC region that are important threats to already vulnerable populations. It considers the advantages and limitations of a set of financial instruments for managing these risks; and identifies potential mechanisms for addressing concerns about the socioeconomic consequences of price and weather volatility. In reviewing the innovations that are being tested in the LAC region and around the world, what is striking is that they appear to be disparate and largely piecemeal solutions to the problems of price and natural disaster risk management - they are not integrated. A more efficient and holistic solution should draw upon the recent efforts of coordination among countries within regions. The importance of risk aggregation and pooling combined with the comparative advantage of International Financial Institutions to access capital and work in a regional context, suggests a strategy to develop a fully multicountry approach to risk management. This strategy calls for establishing a Regional Asset Management Platform (RAMP) that integrates central stakeholders and develops pricing and measurement tools for extreme weather risk management and price volatility in a more efficient fashion. Global drivers of price volatility for major commodities can be managed using international futures exchange markets to some extent. However, regional climate anomalies will also mean that individual countries can suffer price volatility that represents a basis risks when using international futures markets. Thus, combining risk transfer products for regional climate anomalies with the use of careful hedging strategies for global volatility may offer better risk management strategies for either lower than expected prices that adversely affect producers or higher than expected prices that adversely affect consumers.
Pattern of soft tissue injuries to the oro-facial region in Nigerian children attending a teaching hospital.

OBJECTIVE This study was designed to determine the aetiological factors and pattern of oro-facial soft tissue injuries among children in a suburban Nigerian population. The problems encountered in the management of the patients are also highlighted. SETTING Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals' Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun State Nigeria. SAMPLE AND METHODS This prospective study was carried out in children aged < or = 15 years who presented with oro-facial soft tissue injuries between July 1996 and December 1997. Data was collected from a clinical examination of the child and a questionnaire completed by the parent or carer. RESULTS During the study period, 174 children were managed for oro-facial soft tissue injuries, an incidence of 1.1%, out of a total of 15 582 child admissions. A male preponderance was found (1 : 0.74). The mean age +/- SD was 7.3 +/- 4.2 years and the range was 9 months-15 years. Falls were the most common aetiology followed by road traffic accident. The forehead was the most frequently injured site. A mortality of 3.4% was found. Although animal bites and burns accounted for only 13.8% of all injuries, all the deaths were a result of these aetiologies. Road traffic accidents and burn victims had the longest hospital stay. CONCLUSION Although falls and road traffic accidents are frequent causes of oro-facial soft tissue injuries, less common causes, like burns and dog bites are more likely to result in death.
Postconditioning Protects Skeletal Muscle Against a Long-Lasting Vascular Occlusion

ABSTRACT Purpose/Aim of the Study: Long-lasting lower limb arterial occlusion is a condition with high incidence and complication rates. With the absence of appropriate treatment to cure advanced complications, mortality rates are high. Postconditioning (PC) might be capable of limiting the degree of ischemic-reperfusion (IR) injuries, thus reducing complications and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of postconditioning during the first postoperative day on skeletal muscle after a long-lasting arterial occlusion. Materials and Methods: Male Wistar rats (n = 72) underwent 8 hr of infrarenal aortic occlusion followed by 2, 6, 12, or 24 hr of reperfusion. In one group of each reperfusion period, postconditioning was applied. Muscle samples were collected for histological examinations. Furthermore, muscle fiber viability and muscle wet-to-dry ratio were assessed. Blood samples were taken for creatine-kinase measurements. Results: Postconditioning strongly reduced morphological injury compared to the corresponding ischemic-reperfusion group (p < .001). Serum creatine-kinase levels showed a peak at 6 hr post-ischemia (IR: 6702.2 ± 797.5; PC: 5523.3 ± 769.3 IU/l) and decreased to normal level by the end of the experiment (Sham: 171.5 ± 71.6; IR: 186.2 ± 82.7; PC: 174.2 ± 72.4 IU/l). Creatine-kinase levels were significantly reduced by postconditioning (p2hr = .028; p6hr = .06; p12hr = .042). A marked decrease in viability was observed in the ischemic-reperfusion groups (2 hr: 11.0 ± 4.1; 6 hr: 10.3 ± 3.6; 12 hr: 9.4 ± 3.3; 24 hr: 8.6 ± 2.8%), whereas with postconditioning, viability was preserved (2 hr: 26.4 ± 5.5; 6 hr: 24.6 ± 4.5; 12 hr: 24.5 ± 6.8; 24 hr: 26.2 ± 6.1%; p < .001); moreover, a significant decrease in the wet-to-dry ratio was achieved (p < .001). Conclusion: Postconditioning was able to reduce local complications after a long-lasting lower limb vascular occlusion.
A reassessment of the blood–brain barrier transport of large neutral amino acids during acute systemic inflammation in humans

We reassessed data from a previous study on the transcerebral net exchange of large neutral amino acids (LNAAs) using a novel mathematical model of blood–brain barrier (BBB) transport. The study included twelve healthy volunteers who received a 4‐h intravenous lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infusion (total dose: 0·3 ng/kg), a human experimental model of the systemic inflammatory response during the early stages of sepsis. Cerebral blood flow and arterial‐to‐jugular venous LNAA concentrations were measured prior to and after LPS, and the BBB transport and brain extracellular concentrations of LNAAs were calculated. The arterial concentration and unidirectional cerebral influx of phenylalanine increased after LPS. The BBB transport of tyrosine was unaffected, while its concentration in the brain extracellular fluid increased. These findings suggest that LPS infusion leads to an increased cerebral uptake of phenylalanine, which is then metabolized to tyrosine. This may reflect a neuroprotective mechanism that ‘detoxifies’ excess intracerebral phenylalanine in the clinical setting of sepsis.
Community gardens: Exploring race, racial diversity and social capital in urban food deserts

COMMUNITY GARDENS: EXPLORING RACE, RACIAL DIVERSITY AND SOCIAL CAPITAL IN URBAN FOOD DESERTS By Jennifer F. Jettner, Ph.D. A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Social Work at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2017 Major Director: Mary C. Secret, Ph.D. Associate Professor, School of Social Work Study purpose. The purpose of this study was to examine race and racial diversity in community gardens located in Southern urban food deserts, as well as the capacity of community gardens to generate social capital and promote social justice. In addition to addressing gaps in the literature, this study aimed to provide social work guidance on specific cultural and structural issues they can help to address as an example of environmental social work. Methods. This study used a mixed-methods approach to describe the characteristics of gardeners and community gardens located in urban food deserts, as well as test Social Capital Theory hypotheses. Largely using snowball sampling, a convenience sample of 60 gardeners from 10 community gardens was
Proliferation of Parenchymal Neural Progenitors in Response to Injury in the Adult Rat Spinal Cord

It has long been believed that the fully developed mammalian central nervous system (CNS) lacks significant regenerative capacity. Recent advances have revealed, however, that many regions of the adult CNS contain neural progenitors that have the ability to generate new neurons and glia. Although the periventricular area has been identified as a rich source of these progenitors, their precise location in each region and details of their properties in vivo still remain poorly understood. Here we provide evidence that in the adult rat spinal cord, a significant number of neural progenitors are present, not only in the periventricular area, but also in other regions of the parenchyma. These progenitors could proliferate in vitro as neurosphere-like cell aggregates in the presence of growth factors and also gave rise to neurons and glia under appropriate conditions. We further demonstrate that these parenchymal neural progenitors were capable of proliferating in vivo in response to injury. Immunohistochemical studies suggested that proliferative progenitors emerged throughout the gray and white matter in the lesioned spinal cord. Consistently, an increased number of neurosphere-forming cells could be isolated from injured tissues, and they were able to differentiate into neurons in vitro. The widespread occurrence of neural progenitors in the parenchyma expands the possibility of repairing damaged tissue by activating the latent regenerative potential of the adult spinal cord.
The History of US National Health Plans: Will These Same Issues Resurface in 2004?

Health care managers are an important aspect of any proposed national health care plan; the implementation of such a plan will change their work lives in significant ways, no matter which type of plan is adopted. It is important to occasionally revisit historical developments, especially when they resurface in the people's consciousness. It appears that health care reform and various national health plan proposals may become an important part of the 2004 election, particularly given the economic concerns today. This article reviews health care plans in a historical perspective, particularly from the time of the 1930s onward, with a special longer look at Clinton's failure to implement a national health plan when the timing for such seemed perfect. Whether an individual manager is a supporter of national health plans or not, this article seeks to educate the manager on past efforts to better understand what may develop in the future.