Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Haemoglobin A 1 c , fasting glucose , serum C-peptide and insulin resistance in relation to serum uric acid levels — the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Objective. To evaluate haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting glucose, serum C-peptide and insulin resistance in relation to serum uric acid levels in a nationally representative sample of men and women. Methods. Using data from 14 664 participants aged 20 yrs and older in The US Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988–1994), we examined the relation between the levels of HbA1c, other biomarkers and serum uric acid levels using multivariate linear regressions stratified by gender. Results. The serum uric acid levels increased with increasing serum HbA1c levels up to the category of 6–6.9%, and thereafter decreased with further increasing HbA1c levels (a bell-shaped relation). Compared with a HbA1c level of <5%, the multivariate differences among women were 26.8 mol/l for HbA1c of 6–6.9% and 25.6 mol/l (95% CI 42.8, 8.3) for HbA1c 9%. The corresponding multivariate differences among men were 8.3 mol/l (95% CI 3.0, 19.6) and 64.8 mol/l (95% CI 46.0, 84.5), which were both significantly different from those among women (P-values for interaction by sex <0.001). Fasting glucose levels also showed a bell-shaped relation with serum uric acid levels. Individuals with diabetes showed lower serum uric acid levels and the association was larger among men (P-value for interaction, 0.007). Serum uric acid levels increased linearly with increasing fasting serum C-peptide levels, serum insulin levels or insulin resistance (multivariate P-values for trend, <0.001). Conclusions. Individuals with moderately elevated HbA1c levels (i.e. pre-diabetes) may be at a higher risk of hyperuricaemia and gout, particularly in women, whereas individuals with diabetes or highly elevated HbA1c levels may be at a lower risk of these conditions, particularly in men.
Electrical occupations and neurodegenerative disease: analysis of U.S. mortality data.

Investigators have hypothesized that occupations involving electric and magnetic field exposure are associated with a variety of health problems, including neurological disease. The authors conducted a case-control study, and they used U.S. death certificates with occupational coding to compare male cases of Alzheimer's disease (n = 256), Parkinson's disease (n = 168), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (n = 114) with controls matched for age and calendar time. The authors selected controls in a 3:1 ratio to cases from persons who died of causes other than leukemia, brain cancer, and breast cancer. Overall associations with electrical occupations were modest (i.e., adjusted odds ratios of 1.2, 1.1, and 1.3 for Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, respectively). Individual electrical occupations were associated more strongly with disease than overall electrical occupations, particularly amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, for which relative risks ranged from 2 to 5 across several job categories. The largest associations with all three diseases occurred for power plant operators.
Improvement of Noodles Recipe for Increasing Breastmilk: Design of the Moringa Noodles

This research aims to seek the method of making noodles through a substitution using Moringa oleifera leaf flour functioning to maintain its lactagogum effects. The method of the research, meanwhile, is in vivo using Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus) and weighing method is used in obtaining data. A number of treatments were conducted in this research including standard food, noodles without any Moringa oleifera leaf flour, sauteed Moringa noodles, steamed noodles, and boiled noodles in which the results of these are compared to the mice that have not ever breastfed and the ones have. In this case, the data obtained are in the form of mammae female mice. The result of the research then reveals that the female rat given with the sauteed Moringa noodles have more mammary glands and its offspring averagely have higher weight increase compared to other. It then can be concluded that noodles with a sauteing processing method are the ones with the best treatment.
Increased microcirculation detected by dynamic contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging is of prognostic significance in asymptomatic myeloma

This prospective study aimed to investigate the prognostic significance of dynamic contrast enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE‐MRI) as a non‐invasive imaging technique delivering the quantitative parameters amplitude A (reflecting blood volume) and exchange rate constant kep (reflecting vascular permeability) in patients with asymptomatic monoclonal plasma cell diseases. We analysed DCE‐MRI parameters in 33 healthy controls and 148 patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) or smouldering multiple myeloma (SMM) according to the 2003 IMWG guidelines. All individuals underwent standardized DCE‐MRI of the lumbar spine. Regions of interest were drawn manually on T1‐weighted images encompassing the bone marrow of each of the 5 lumbar vertebrae sparing the vertebral vessel. Prognostic significance for median of amplitude A (univariate: P < 0·001, hazard ratio (HR) 2·42, multivariate P = 0·02, HR 2·7) and exchange rate constant kep (univariate P = 0·03, HR 1·92, multivariate P = 0·46, HR 1·5) for time to progression of 79 patients with SMM was found. Patients with amplitude A above the optimal cut‐off point of 0·89 arbitrary units had a 2‐year progression rate into symptomatic disease of 80%. In conclusion, DCE‐MRI parameters are of prognostic significance for time to progression in patients with SMM but not in individuals with MGUS.
13C(2)-Labeled methyl tert-butyl ether: toxicokinetics and characterization of urinary metabolites in humans.

After exposure to methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), a gasoline additive, only one metabolite [tert-butyl alcohol (TBA), <1% of dose] has been identified in human urine [Nihlén, A. , et al. (1998) Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 148, 274-280]. In the study presented here, metabolites of MTBE were characterized by (1)H-decoupled (13)C NMR spectroscopy in urine obtained from four volunteers experimentally exposed to 50 ppm (13)C-labeled MTBE ([1,2-(13)C(2)]MTBE) vapor (facemask) for 2 h during a light physical work load (50 W). Chemical shifts for the two adjacent (13)C-labeled carbons in [1, 2-(13)C(2)]MTBE-derived metabolites were consistent with the shifts obtained for spiked standards of alpha-hydroxyisobutyric acid (HBA) and 2-methyl-1,2-propanediol (MPD). NMR signals were not detected for labeled MTBE, TBA, or possible MTBE-derived conjugates. Quantification of HBA and MPD was performed by NMR for two urine samples (collected 20 h after exposure). One subject had 11% HBA and 1% MPD, and the other individual had 3% HBA and 1% MPD in the urine, expressed as a percentage of MTBE uptake. This indicates that HBA and MPD occur at significantly higher levels in the urine (detected by NMR) than MTBE and TBA (detected by GC). To our knowledge, this is the first characterization of MTBE metabolites, other than TBA, in humans. Further urine, blood, and expired air were collected up to 22 h after exposure, and the toxicokinetics of MTBE, TBA, and acetone were determined by GC. Low relative uptake (39%), a low level of postexposure exhalation of MTBE (17%), and low recovery of TBA in the urine (<1%) were observed. The same subjects had previously been exposed to unlabeled MTBE in a whole-body exposure study [Nihlén, A. , et al. (1998) Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 148, 274-280], and the toxicokinetics of MTBE and TBA in this facemask exposure did not differ from the previous whole-body chamber exposure.
The Distributional Consequences of Tax Reforms Under Market Distortions

In this paper we examine the importance of imperfect competition in product and labour markets in determining the long-run welfare effects of tax reforms assuming agent heterogeneity in capital holdings. Each of these market failures, independently, results in welfare losses for at least a segment of the population, after a capital tax cut and a concurrent labour tax increase. However, when combined in a realistic calibration to the UK economy, they imply that a capital tax cut will be Pareto improving in the long run. Consistent with the theory of second-best, the two distortions in this context work to correct the negative distributional effects of a capital tax cut that each one, on its own, creates.
Age, gender, and religiosity as related to death anxiety

Western society has always been somewhat intrigued by death anxiety and its causes. In comparison, the study of death anxiety has not been given much importance in other cultures. Due to this, some interesting questions have risen such as: does death anxiety exist in other cultures? Do the same variables that seem to attenuate death anxiety in Western countries function as well for individuals in other cultures? Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the influence of religion, religious orientation, gender, and age on death anxiety in a culturally diverse country like Malaysia. There were 320 participants ranging in age from 17-70 years who took part in the study. It was hypothesized that a) participants with an affiliation to a religion would have lower death anxiety, b)a negative relationship between intrinsic religious orientation and death anxiety, and a positive relationship between extrinsic religious orientation and death anxiety would exist, c) female participants would have lower death anxiety, and d) death anxiety levels would not differ between young adults and older adults. A survey method was used in this study and participants were required to complete the Templer Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS) as well as the Age Universal Religious Orientation Scale. The results supported hypothesis c) and d). No significant negative relationship existed between intrinsic religious orientation and death anxiety, and no significant positive relationship existed between extrinsic religious orientation and death anxiety. Further research and implications are discussed.
The Effect of Contrast Randomisation on the Discrimination of Changes in the Slopes of the Amplitude Spectra of Natural Scenes

It has been suggested (Tadmor and Tolhurst, 1994 Vision Research 34 541–554) that the psychophysical task of discriminating changes in the slope of the amplitude spectrum of a complex image may be similar to detecting differences in the degree of blur. It has also been suggested that human observers may perform this discrimination by detecting changes in the effective contrast within single narrow spatial-frequency bands, rather than by detecting changes in the slope per se which would involve the use of contrast information across many different frequency bands. To distinguish between these two possibilities, we have developed an experiment where observers were asked to discriminate changes in the spectral slope while different amounts of random contrast variation were introduced, with the purpose of disrupting their performance. This disruptive effect was designed to be particularly manifest if the observer really was performing a single-frequency-band contrast discrimination but to be unnoticeable if the observer was discriminating the change of slope per se. Our results imply that the observers do not usually detect changes in contrast in just one narrow spatial-frequency band when they discriminate changes in the slope of the amplitude spectrum. Rather, they must compare contrast between bands or, at least, they use contrast information from more than one band. However, for edge-enhanced (whitened) pictures, there is some evidence to suggest that observers rely on contrast changes in only a limited low-spatial-frequency band.
The appropriate use of null hypothesis testing.

The many criticisms of null hypothesis testing suggest when it is not useful and what is should not be used for. This article explores when and why its use is appropriate. Null hypothesis testing is insufficient when size of effect is important, but it is ideal for testing ordinal claims relating the order of conditions, which are common in psychology. Null hypothesis testing also is insufficient for determining beliefs, but it is ideal for demonstrating sufficient evidential strength to support an ordinal claim, with sufficient evidence being 1 criterion for a finding entering the corpus of legitimate findings in psychology. The line between sufficient and insufficient evidence is currently set at p < . 05; there is little reason for allowing experimenters to select their own value of alpha. Thus null hypothesis testing is an optimal method for demonstrating sufficient evidence for an ordinal claim.
Psychiatric Phenomena in Alzheimer's Disease. IV: Disorders of Behaviour

Out of a sample of 178 patients with AD, aggression was present in 20%, wandering in 19%, binge-eating in 10%, hyperorality in 6%, urinary incontinence in 48%, and sexual disinhibition in 7%. Behavioural abnormalities were greater in those with more severe dementia. Temporal-lobe atrophy correlated with aggression, and widening of the third ventricle with hyperorality. Features of the Kluver–Bucy syndrome were commonly seen, but the full syndrome occurred in only one subject. Patients with at least one feature of the Kluver–Bucy syndrome had greater temporal-lobe atropy than those without any of the features.
Rotary atomizer drop size distribution database

Wind tunnel measurements of drop Size distributions from Micronair A U4000 and A U5000 rotary atomizers were collected to develop a database for model use. The measurements varied tank mix, flow rate, air speed, and blade angle conditions, which were correlated by multiple regressions (average R-2 = 0.995 for A U4000 and 0.988 for AU5000). This database replaces an outdated set of rotary atomizer data measured in the 1980s by the USDA Forest Service and fills in a gap in data measured in the 1990s by the Spray Drift Task Force. Since current USDA Forest Service spray projects rely on rotary atomizers, the creation of the database (and its multiple regression interpolation) satisfies a need seen for ten years.
Direct Instruction of Metacognition Benefits Adolescent Science Learning, Transfer, and Motivation: An In Vivo Study.

Prior studies have not tested whether an instructional intervention aimed at improving metacognitive skills results in changes to student metacognition, motivation, learning, and future learning in the classroom. We examined whether a 6-hr intervention designed to teach the declarative and procedural components of planning, monitoring, and evaluation could increase students’ metacognition, motivation, learning, and preparation for future learning for middle school science. Forty-six eighth-grade students were randomly assigned to either a control group, which received extensive problem-solving practice, or an experimental group, which received more limited problem-solving practice along with metacognitive instruction and training. Results revealed that those who received the metacognitive instruction and training were less biased when making metacognitive judgments, p = . 03, d = 0.65, endorsed higher levels of motivation after instruction (e.g., there was a large effect on task value, p = .006, d = 0.87), performed better on a conceptual physics test, p = . 03, d = 0.64, and performed better on a novel self-guided learning activity, p = . 007, d = 0.87. This study demonstrates that metacognitive instruction can lead to better self-regulated learning outcomes during adolescence, a period in which students’ academic achievement and motivation often decline. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)
The Effect of Primary-School Quality on Academic Achievement Across Twenty-nine High- and Low-Income Countries

Most previous research on effects of schooling has concluded that the effect of school or teacher quality on academic achievement is less than that of family background or other characteristics of students that predate entry into school. However, the evidence for that generalization is derived mainly from a few of the world's school systems (mostly in Europe, North America, and Japan). This paper explores diverse influences on pupil achievement in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. Children who attend primary school in countries with low per capita incomes have learned substantially less after similar amounts of time in school than have pupils in high income countries. At the same time, the lower the income of the country, the weaker the influence of pupils' social status on achievement. Conversely, in low-income countries, the effect of school and teacher quality on academic achievement in primary school is comparatively greater. From these data, which are more representative of the world's population of schoolchildren than those used in previous studies, it is possible to conclude that the predominant influence on student learning is the quality of the schools and teachers to which children are exposed.
A Planar Wideband Dual-Polarized Array for Active Antenna System

A ±45° polarized wideband slot array antenna is proposed for active antenna system (AAS). The proposed array has a planar structure that integrates all the elements on a single substrate. Metal columns are used to reduce the coupling between adjacent elements. A prototype of a 2 × 2 array antenna is fabricated and measured. The measured results show that the proposed array covers the bands LTE2300 (2300-2400 MHz) and LTE2500 (2500-2690 MHz), and the polarization isolation is higher than 30 dB while the coupling between elements is less than -22 dB.
Robustness of the Latent Variable Model for Correlated Binary Data

Summary. The marginal regression model offers a useful alternative to conditional approaches to analyzing binary data (Liang, Zeger, and Qaqish, 1992, Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series B54, 3–40). Instead of modelling the binary data directly as do Liang and Zeger (1986, Biometrika73, 13–22), the parametric marginal regression model developed by Qu et al. (1992, Biometrics48, 1095–1102) assumes that there is an underlying multivariate normal vector that gives rise to the observed correlated binary outcomes. Although this parametric approach provides a flexible way to model different within‐cluster correlation structures and does not restrict the parameter space, it is of interest to know how robust the parameter estimates are with respect to choices of the latent distribution. We first extend the latent modelling to include multivariate t‐distributed latent vectors and assess the robustness in this class of distributions. Then we show through a simulation that the parameter estimates are robust with respect to the latent distribution even if latent distribution is skewed. In addtion to this empirical evidence for robustness, we show through the iterative algorithm that the robustness of the regression coefficents with respect to misspecifications of covariance structure in Liang and Zeger's model in fact indicates robustness with respect to underlying distributional assumptions of the latent vector in the latent variable model.
Familiale Einflüsse auf das Erlernen von Instrumenten bei Kindern und Jugendlichen

Schoenebeck, Mechthild von [Hrsg. ]: Entwicklung und Sozialisation aus musikpadagogischer Perspektive. Essen : Die Blaue Eule 1998, S. 111-129. - (Musikpadagogische Forschung; 19) Padagogische Teildisziplin: Fachdidaktik/musische Facher; als elektronischer Volltext verfugbar
Postoperative long-term course of peripheral blood immune parameters and immunomodulating effects of keyhole limpet hemocyanin in patients with nonmetastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Therapeutic approaches to metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) often focus on the application of immune modulators; the success rates, however, are not satisfactory. Up to the time of this study, no diagnostic tool has been available to select those patients who might profit from immunotherapy. Starting from this point, we have been assessing the immune status of patients suffering from RCC, intending to find markers that would characterize the more favorable prognosis. Our interest is focused not only on the metastatic but also on the nonmetastatic disease, i.e., the disease with the better prognosis. In the present study, we have assessed both the postoperative long-term course of several immune parameters of the peripheral blood and the reactivity of the immune system to immunostimulation with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH) in patients with nonmetastatic RCC. In a prospectively randomized study, the verum group (n = 8) got 1 mg KLH per month up to 1 year while the control group (n = 9) got no immunostimulator after tumor nephrectomy. Both patient groups had stable or even increasing cell counts of lymphocyte subpopulations (T, B, natural killer, T4, T8 cells), and the humoral immunoactivation markers neopterin, beta 2-microglobulin and tumor necrosis factor increased considerably after tumor nephrectomy. An effect of KLH is evident 4-8 months postoperatively: here, the neopterin values in the KLH group are more than twice as high as in the control group. Thus, while patients with metastatic disease had turned out to be immunosuppressed (previous study), in patients with nonmetastatic RCC, both the long-term course indicating postoperative immunostimulation and the reactivity to KLH give evidence of immunocompetence.
Effect of Low-Dose Aspirin on Vascular Inflammation, Plaque Stability, and Atherogenesis in Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor–Deficient Mice

Background—Atherosclerosis is a complex vascular inflammatory disease. Low-dose aspirin is a mainstay in the prevention of vascular complications of atherosclerosis. We wished to determine the effect of low-dose aspirin on vascular inflammation, plaque composition, and atherogenesis in LDL receptor–deficient mice fed a high fat diet. Methods and Results—In LDL receptor–deficient mice fed a high fat diet compared with control mice, low-dose aspirin induced a significant decrease in circulating levels and vascular formation of soluble intercellular molecule-1, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, tumor necrosis factor-&agr;, interleukin-12p 40, without affecting lipid levels. This was associated with significant reduction of the nuclear factor &kgr;B activity in the aorta. Low-dose aspirin also significantly reduced the extent of atherosclerosis. Finally, aortic vascular lesions of the aspirin-treated animals showed 57% reduction (P <0.05) in the amount of macrophage cells, 77% increase in smooth muscle cells (P <0.05), and 23% increase in collagen (P <0.05). Conclusions—Our results suggest that in murine atherosclerosis, low-dose aspirin suppresses vascular inflammation and increases the stability of atherosclerotic plaques, both of which, together with its antiplatelet activity, contribute to its antiatherogenic effect. We conclude that low-dose aspirin might be rationally evaluated in the progression and evolution of human atherosclerotic plaque.