Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ASSOCIATION OF BALANCE MEASURES AND PERCEPTION OF FALL RISK ON GAIT SPEED: A MULTIPLE REGRESSION ANALYSIS

ABSTRACT Gait speed, commonly modified to adapt to the balance and stability challenges of aging, is related to measures of balance and mobility. This study investigated associations between age, Berg Balance Scale, Activities-Specific Balance Confidence (ABC) Scale, One Question Fear of Falling (1QFOF), and gait speed in adults using regression analysis. Results suggested an interaction between 1QFOF and ABC scores. An expanded five-variable model explained 49% of gait speed variance. Age, ABC, and 1QFOF-ABC interactions were significantly associated with gait speed. Regression analysis is useful in investigating associations between performance variables and function. Continued research needs to identify optimal variable combinations and improve prediction of function.
Individual Reference Intervals of Hematological and Serum Biochemical Parameters in Cynomolgus Monkeys

Cynomolgus monkeys, one of a number of primates phylogenetically close to humans, are commonly used in animal studies. The purpose of this study was to assess biological variations in hematological and serum biochemical parameters in cynomolgus monkeys. Summary statistics and reference intervals were calculated using data from 95 male and 95 female Chinese-bred cynomolgus monkeys aged 3 to 7 years showing no abnormalities during the breeding period. Within- and between-animal variations were estimated using a random-effect analysis of variance (ANOVA), then, a simple method that applies prior information was proposed to estimate individual reference intervals. Parameters including MCV, MCH, PT, ALP, total cholesterol, and creatinine appeared to show a large between-animal variation; thus, it is considered that individual reference intervals for these parameters would be relatively small in comparison with overall reference intervals.
The Portfolio Balance Mechanism and QE in the Euro Area

The paper analyses quantitative easing (QE) in a dynamic general‐equilibrium model which includes assets of different types and maturity. We explicitly model asset purchases by the central bank and their impact on the central bank's balance sheet. In particular, QE is captured by central bank purchases of long‐term government bonds financed by enhanced liquidity provision to the private sector. With imperfect substitutability between asset classes, QE affects the term premium, stock prices, the exchange rate and the private sector's saving decision. We use the model to simulate the European Central Bank's (ECB's) QE path as announced in early 2015. With six basis points term‐premium reduction the model generates 0.9 per cent effective euro depreciation and raises real GDP in the euro area by 0.3 per cent and prices by 0.5 per cent by 2016. Enduring periods of low interest rates strengthen the expansionary effect of QE in the short and medium term. Frontloading of asset purchases has little impact on output and inflation effects as long as the duration of the balance sheet expansion remains unchanged. Expansionary effects of QE are reduced if the central bank purchases eligible assets from foreign rather than domestic counterparties.
New insights into burnout and health care: Strategies for improving civility and alleviating burnout

Abstract What do we know about burnout, and what can we do about it? This article will provide an overview of what has been learned from current research on burnout, and what are the implications of the key themes that have emerged. One theme involves the critical significance of the social environment in health care settings. A second theme is the challenge of how to take what we know, and apply it to what we can do about burnout. What we need are new ideas about potential interventions, and clear evidence of their effectiveness. One example of this perspective addresses burnout by improving the balance of civil, respectful social encounters occurring during a workday. Research has demonstrated that not only can civility be increased at work but that doing so leads to an enduring reduction in burnout among health care providers. Lessons learned from this extensive research form the basis of recommendations for medical education. Specifically, the effectiveness of both the academic content and supervised practice would be enhanced by giving a greater emphasis to the social dynamics of healthcare teams. This perspective can help new physicians in avoiding potential pitfalls and recovering from unavoidable strains.
The effects of acute dynamic exercise on haemostasis in first class Scottish football referees

Purpose Physical fitness may confer protection from thrombosis; however, exercise-induced platelet activation may be involved in the triggering of acute vascular events. This study aimed to assess haemostatic responses to acute exercise in trained and sedentary middle-aged subjects. Methods 21 first class Scottish football referees and 15 sedentary controls performed a treadmill exercise test. Blood sampling was performed before, immediately after and 30 minutes post-exercise. Samples were analysed for platelet count, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and serum fibrinogen. Platelet activation was assessed using flow cytometry with CD62 (P-selectin) and antifibrinogen antibodies at rest and in response to ADP and epinephrine. Results Mean maximal oxygen consumption (Vo2) (ml/kg per minute) achieved was 47.23 (5.02) in the referees and 30.1 (5.2) in sedentary controls. Total platelet count (×10−9/l) increased immediately post-exercise (228.2 (40.5), 278.6 (48.9) p=0.001) remaining elevated at 30 minutes in both groups. APTT (s) was reduced immediately post-exercise (32.15 (3.1), 29.7 (3.94) p=0.001) with a further reduction seen at 30 minutes (32.15 (3.1), 28.4 (3.31) p=0.001). In the referees, percentage CD62 expression increased immediately post-exercise (0.688 (0.52), 1.42 (1.3) p=0.008). Percentage antifibrinogen expression increased post-exercise (5.19 (4.31), 13.01 (14.24) p=0.017), with a further increase at 30 minutes (5.19 (4.31), 20.47 (26.8) p=0.02). Similar trends were seen in sedentary controls. Conclusion This study suggests that in an older athletic population, physical fitness does not protect against the prothrombotic effects of exercise. These data suggest that during a football match when referees achieve approximately 80% of peak Vo2 (23) they may be at risk of significant platelet activation. Prophylactic platelet inhibition should be considered in this group after appropriate screening and risk stratification.
Zebrafish Germline Chimeras Produced by Transplantation of Ovarian Germ Cells into Sterile Host Larvae1

High frequency production of zebrafish germline chimeras was achieved by transplanting ovarian germ cells into sterile Danio hybrid recipients. Ovarian germ cells were obtained from 3-mo-old adult Tg(vasa:DsRed2-vasa);Tg(bactin:EGFP) double transgenic zebrafish by discontinuous Percoll gradient centrifugation. An average of 755 ± 108 DsRed-positive germ cells was recovered from each female. For transplantations, a total of approximately 620 ± 242 EGFP-positive cells of which 12 ± 4.7 were DsRed-positive germ cells were introduced into the abdominal cavity under the swim bladder of 2-wk-old sterile hybrid larvae. Six weeks after transplantation, a total of 10 recipients, obtained from 2 different transplantations, were examined, and 2 individuals (20%) were identified that possessed a large number of DsRed- and EGFP-positive cells in the gonadal region. The transplanted ovarian germ cells successfully colonized the gonads and differentiated into sperm in the male hybrid recipients. Of 67 adult recipients, 12 (18%) male chimeric fish reproduced and generated normal offspring when paired with wild-type zebrafish females. The fertilization efficiency ranged from 23% to 56%. Although the fertile male chimeras were generated by transplantation of ovarian germ cells, the F1 generation produced by the male chimeras contained both male and female progeny, indicating that male sex determination in zebrafish is not controlled by sex chromosome heterogamy. Our findings indicate that a population of ovarian germ cells that are present in the ovary of adult zebrafish can function as germline stem cells, able to proliferate and differentiate into testicular germ cells and functional sperm in male recipients. The high frequency of germline chimera formation achieved with the ovarian germ cells and the convenience of identifying the chimeras in the sterile host background should make this transplantation system useful for performing genetic manipulations in zebrafish.
SENSITIVITY TO BLEOMYCIN-INDUCED LUNG INJURY IS NOT MODERATED BY AN ANTIGEN-LIMITED T-CELL REPERTOIRE

Pulmonary fibrosis is a progressive scarring disease of the lung. It has been suggested that fibrosis is an inflammatory process, and cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β have been shown to play key roles in the pathogenesis of fibrotic lung disease. However, the source of these cytokines remains in question and there is controversy over the role that infiltrating inflammatory cells play in fibrosis. T cells could play a key role by releasing cytokines upon engaging autoantigens revealed as a result of necrosis or apoptosis following epithelial injury. Some studies have shown that disrupting T-cell function leads to more severe disease, whereas others have shown that T-cell deficiency protects against fibrotic injury. To investigate whether specific antigen engagement by T cells is required for the development of fibrosis, bleomycin was instilled into the lungs of mice expressing a transgenic T-cell receptor β (TCRβ) gene. Expression of the TCRβ transgene prevents effective recognition of antigens other than a single epitope of hen egg lysozyme. These mice therefore have defective antigen-specific responses but a normal representation of mature T-cell subsets. If antigen-specific T-cell engagement is required for the development of lung fibrosis, bleomycin-induced fibrosis should be reduced in the TCRβ transgenic mice. In fact, there is no difference in the inflammatory or fibrotic response to bleomycin between TCRβ transgenic and control mice. Thus, if T cells are required for fibrogenesis, it must involve an antigen-independent mechanism.
Screening for statin-related toxicity: the yield of transaminase and creatine kinase measurements in a primary care setting.

BACKGROUND Recommendations for monitoring levels of transaminases (alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase) and of creatine kinase (CK) in patients taking 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) vary and are not based on data from clinical practice. We performed a study to determine the yield of routine screening of aminotransferase and CK levels among patients taking statins. METHODS We performed a retrospective review of a primary care practice's computerized medical record. A computerized search identified all patients with a statin on their medication list and gave their alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and CK values for 1998. We reviewed the records of all patients for whom these values were significantly or moderately abnormal to determine the values' relationship to statin therapy and outcomes. RESULTS During the year of the study, 1014 (85%) of the 1194 patients who had a statin on their medication list had at least 1 monitoring test performed. Of these 1014 patients, 10 (1.0%) had a significant elevation and 5 (0.5%) a moderate elevation of transaminase levels, but none of these abnormalities appeared to be related to statin use. Moreover, 6 (0.9%) patients had at least 1 significantly abnormal CK value but it did not appear to be attributable to a statin; and of the 14 (2.1%) patients who had a moderate CK elevation, it was potentially due to a statin in only 2. There were no documented adverse sequelae associated with these abnormal results. CONCLUSIONS In this study of statin use in a primary care practice, routine monitoring revealed no cases of significantly or moderately abnormal transaminase values attributable to statins. No significantly abnormal and only 2 moderately abnormal CK values were potentially attributable to statin use. This study questions the usefulness of routine measurement of transaminase and CK levels in all patients taking statins.
Electron-beam computed tomography in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND Electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT) is a new, noninvasive method of detecting coronary artery calcification that is being increasingly advocated as a diagnostic test for coronary artery disease (CAD). Before its clinical use is justified, however, the overall accuracy of EBCT must be better defined. OBJECTIVE To estimate the accuracy of EBCT in diagnosing obstructive CAD. DATA SOURCES English-language studies from January 1, 1979, through February 29, 2000, were retrieved using MEDLINE and Current Contents databases, bibliographies, and expert consultation. STUDY SELECTION We included a study if it (1) used EBCT as a diagnostic test; (2) reported cases in absolute numbers of true-positive, false-positive, true-negative, and false-negative results; and (3) used coronary angiography as the reference standard for diagnosing obstructive CAD (defined as > or = 50% diameter stenosis). DATA EXTRACTION Data were extracted from the included articles by 2 independent reviewers. DATA SYNTHESIS Weighted pooled analysis and summary receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to determine sensitivity and specificity rates. Results from 9 studies with 1662 subjects were included. Pooled sensitivity for EBCT was 92.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 90.7%-94.0%) and pooled specificity was 51.2% (95% CI, 47.5%-54.9%). Maximum joint sensitivity and specificity for EBCT from its summary ROC curve was 75%. As the threshold for defining an abnormal test varied, sensitivity and specificity changed. For a threshold that resulted in a sensitivity of 90%, specificity was 54%; when sensitivity was 80%, specificity rose to 71%. CONCLUSION The performance of EBCT as a diagnostic test for obstructive CAD is reasonable based on sensitivity and specificity rates from its summary ROC curve.
Similar white matter changes in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder: A tract-based spatial statistics study

Several strands of evidence reported a significant overlapping, in terms of clinical symptoms, epidemiology and treatment response, between the two major psychotic disorders—Schizophrenia (SCZ) and Bipolar Disorder (BD). Nevertheless, the shared neurobiological correlates of these two disorders are far from conclusive. This study aims toward a better understanding of possible common microstructural brain alterations in SCZ and BD. Magnetic Resonance Diffusion data of 33 patients with BD, 19 with SCZ and 35 healthy controls were acquired. Diffusion indexes were calculated, then analyzed using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics (TBSS). We tested correlations with clinical and psychological variables. In both patient groups mean diffusion (MD), volume ratio (VR) and radial diffusivity (RD) showed a significant increase, while fractional anisotropy (FA) and mode (MO) decreased compared to the healthy group. Changes in diffusion were located, for both diseases, in the fronto-temporal and callosal networks. Finally, no significant differences were identified between patient groups, and a significant correlations between length of disease and FA and VR within the corpus callosum, corona radiata and thalamic radiation were observed in bipolar disorder. To our knowledge, this is the first study applying TBSS on all the DTI indexes at the same time in both patient groups showing that they share similar impairments in microstructural connectivity, with particular regards to fronto-temporal and callosal communication, which are likely to worsen over time. Such features may represent neural common underpinnings characterizing major psychoses and confirm the central role of white matter pathology in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Light- and time-dependent polymerization of dual-cured resin luting agent beneath ceramic

Objective. In this study we investigated the degree of conversion (DC) of a dual-cured resin luting agent beneath a ceramic of different thickness. Material and Methods. The luting material (RelyX) was photo-activated for 40s through ceramic disks (Empress Esthetic, 0.7, 1.4, or 2mm thick). Dual (DUC) and chemically cured (CC) control groups were obtained. A delayed exposure (DE) procedure was tested in which the material was light-activated after 5 min without using ceramic. DC (%) was measured using infrared spectroscopy at 40 s, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10min. Light irradiance and spectrum transmitted through ceramic were measured using a power meter and a spectrometer. Results. A decrease in irradiance was detected with increasing ceramic thickness, but no alteration in the emission profile was observed. At 10min, all groups showed DC higher than at 40s. No significant differences were detected for DUC compared with the groups indirectly activated through the ceramic disks. Generally, CC showed the lowest DC values. No significant effect in DC was detected for DE after 10min. A significant increase in DC was generally detected only up to 4min. Conclusions. The luting agent was dependent on light exposure and time to obtain improved DC. Neither the indirect activation nor the DE procedure significantly influenced the final DC.
Development of Line-of-Sight Digital Surface Model for Co-Registering Off-Nadir VHR Satellite Imagery With Elevation Data

Co-registration of very-high-resolution (VHR) images with elevation data is extremely important for many remote sensing applications due to the complementary properties of these two data types. However, this type of multidata source registration has many associated challenges. For instance, although VHR satellite images are usually acquired off-nadir, the integration of off-nadir images with digital surface models (DSMs) for the purpose of urban mapping has been rarely seen in research publications. This is due to the relief displacement of the elevated objects, which causes a problematic misregistration between the perspective off-nadir images and the corresponding orthographic DSMs. Therefore, the co-registration of such datasets is almost impossible unless a true orthorectification process is executed. However, true orthoimages are expensive, time consuming, and difficult to achieve. Thus, this paper proposes a registration method based on developing a line-of-sight DSM solution to effectively register elevation data with off-nadir VHR images. The method utilizes the relevant sensor model in two phases: deriving DSM from stereo images and reprojecting the DSM back to one of the stereo images to generate a line-of-sight DSM for accurate co-registration. To demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method and evaluate the effect of the misregistration, a building detection procedure is implemented. The proposed method is found to be feasible, inexpensive, and of subpixel accuracy. Additionally, it improves the overall accuracy of detecting buildings by almost 12% relative to that when the conventional two-dimensional (2-D) registration technique is used solely due to the elimination of the misregistration effect.
Risk factors associated with colibacillosis outbreaks in caged layer flocks

Colibacillosis appears to be of increasing significance in layer flocks, but there have been no studies of the risk factors associated with outbreaks. This study aimed to investigate the possible associations between risk factors of non-infectious nature and outbreaks of mortality due to colibacillosis in flocks of caged layer hens. Information on management, biosecurity measures and housing conditions was collected in 20 flocks suffering from the disease and in 20 clinically healthy control flocks. The data were processed using multiple logistic regression. The statistical analysis demonstrated that an increase in the distance to the nearest poultry farm by 1 km was associated with a six-fold decreased risk of an outbreak of colibacillosis (odds ratio=0.16). Furthermore, a 1 l increase in cage volume per hen was associated with a 33% decrease in the risk of an outbreak (odds ratio=0.75). It was concluded that the distance between poultry farms and the hen density in the cages are important risk factors for outbreaks of colibacillosis in flocks of layer hens.
CK2 Phosphorylation of an Acidic Ser/Thr Di-isoleucine Motif in the Na+/H+ Exchanger NHE5 Isoform Promotes Association with β-Arrestin2 and Endocytosis*

Internalization of the Na+/H+ exchanger NHE5 into recycling endosomes is enhanced by the endocytic adaptor proteins β-arrestin1 and -2, best known for their preferential recognition of ligand-activated G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, the mechanism underlying their atypical association with non-GPCRs, such as NHE5, is unknown. In this study, we identified a highly acidic, serine/threonine-rich, di-isoleucine motif (amino acids 697–723) in the cytoplasmic C terminus of NHE5 that is recognized by β-arrestin2. Gross deletions of this site decreased the state of phosphorylation of NHE5 as well as its binding and responsiveness to β-arrestin2 in intact cells. More refined in vitro analyses showed that this site was robustly phosphorylated by the acidotropic protein kinase CK2, whereas other kinases, such as CK1 or the GPCR kinase GRK2, were considerably less potent. Simultaneous mutation of five Ser/Thr residues within 702–714 to Ala (702ST/AA714) abolished phosphorylation and binding of β-arrestin2. In transfected cells, the CK2 catalytic α subunit formed a complex with NHE5 and decreased wild-type but not 702ST/AA714 NHE5 activity, further supporting a regulatory role for this kinase. The rate of internalization of 702ST/AA714 was also diminished and relatively insensitive to overexpression of β-arrestin2. However, unlike in vitro, this mutant retained its ability to form a complex with β-arrestin2 despite its lack of responsiveness. Additional mutations of two di-isoleucine-based motifs (I697A/L698A and I722A/I723A) that immediately flank the acidic cluster, either separately or together, were required to disrupt their association. These data demonstrate that discrete elements of an elaborate sorting signal in NHE5 contribute to β-arrestin2 binding and trafficking along the recycling endosomal pathway.
Esophageal PCO2 as a monitor of perfusion failure during hemorrhagic shock.

Measurement of gastric wall PCO2 (PgCO2) by tonometric method has emerged as an attractive option for estimating visceral perfusion during circulatory shock. However, gastric acid secretion obfuscates the tonometric measurement. We, therefore, investigated the option of measuring PCO2 in the esophagus to minimize these restraints. Hemorrhagic shock was induced in five Sprague-Dawley rats, and five rats served as sham controls. PgCO2 was measured with an ion-sensitive field effect transistor that was surgically implanted into the gastric wall. Esophageal luminal PCO2 (PeCO2) was measured by a second ion-sensitive field effect transistor sensor. During hemorrhagic shock, mean aortic pressure declined from 150 to 50 mmHg. Gastric blood flow decreased from 58 to 12 ml.min-1.100 g-1 (21% of preshock) and esophageal blood flow from 44 to 7 ml.min-1.100 g-1 (16% of preshock). PgCO2 simultaneously increased from 47 to 116 Torr and PeCO2 from 47 to 127 Torr. The increases in PgCO2 were highly correlated with increases in PeCO2 (r = 0.90). Esophageal tonometry may, therefore, serve as a practical alternative to gastric tonometry.