Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relations of Biomarkers of Extracellular Matrix Remodeling to Incident Cardiovascular Events and Mortality

Objective—To evaluate if biomarkers reflecting left ventricular/vascular extracellular matrix remodeling are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death in the community. Methods and Results—In 922 Framingham Study participants (mean age, 58 years; 56% women), we related circulating concentrations of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (binary variable: detectable versus undetectable), log of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1, and log of procollagen type III aminoterminal peptide (PIIINP) to incident CVD and death. On follow-up (mean, 9.9 years), 51 deaths and 81 CVD events occurred. Each SD increment of log of tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and log-PIIINP was associated with multivariable-adjusted hazards ratios of 1.72 (95% CI, 1.30 to 2.27) and 1.47 (95% CI, 1.11 to 1.96), respectively, for mortality risk. Log-PIIINP concentrations were also associated with CVD risk (hazard ratio [95% CI] per SD, 1.35 [1.05 to 1.74]). Death and CVD incidence rates were 2-fold higher in participants with both biomarkers higher than the median (corresponding hazard ratio [95% CI], 2.78 [1.43 to 5.40] and 1.77 [1.04 to 3.03], respectively) compared with those with either or both less than the median. The inclusion of both biomarkers improved the C-statistic (for predicting mortality) from 0.78 to 0.82 (P=0.03). Matrix metalloproteinase-9 was unrelated to either outcome. Conclusion—Higher circulating tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 and PIIINP concentrations are associated with mortality, and higher PIIINP is associated with incident CVD, in the community.
Competition for Ammonium between Nitrifying and Heterotrophic Bacteria in Dual Energy-Limited Chemostats

The absence of nitrification in soils rich in organic matter has often been reported. Therefore, competition for limiting amounts of ammonium between the chemolithotrophic ammonium-oxidizing species Nitrosomonas europaea and the heterotrophic species Arthrobacter globiformis was studied in the presence of Nitrobacter winogradskyi in continuous cultures at dilution rates of 0.004 and 0.01 h−1. Ammonium limitation of A. globiformis was achieved by increasing the glucose concentration in the reservoir stepwise from 0 to 5 mM while maintaining the ammonium concentration at 2 mM. The numbers of N. europaea and N. winogradskyi cells decreased as the numbers of heterotrophic bacteria rose with increasing glucose concentrations for both dilution rates. Critical carbon-to-nitrogen ratios of 11.6 and 9.6 were determined for the dilution rates of 0.004 and 0.01 h−1, respectively. Below these critical values, coexistence of the competing species was found in steady-state situations. Although the numbers were strongly reduced, the nitrifying bacteria were not fully outcompeted by the heterotrophic bacteria above the critical carbon-to-nitrogen ratios. Nitrifying bacteria could probably maintain themselves in the system above the critical carbon-to-nitrogen ratios because they are attached to the glass wall of the culture vessels. The numbers of N. europaea decreased more than did those of N. winogradskyi. This was assumed to be due to heterotrophic growth of the latter species on organic substrates excreted by the heterotrophic bacteria.
Software engineers' information behaviour and implicit relevance indicators

Software engineering is a cognitively challenging process that requires continuous access to multiple sources of information. As a consequence Software Engineers spend a significant proportion of time (20"i¾30%) searching for information and engaging in opportunistic programming practices, reusing the existing software elements. In this paper, we summarise the findings, discussing how software developers interact with information and information retrieval systems. Importantly we investigate to what extent a domain-specific search and recommendation system can be delivered in order to support their daily activities. Based on two user studies, a questionnaire and an automated observation of user interactions with the browser, we identify that software engineers engage in a finite number of work-related tasks and also develop a finite number of "i¾work practices'/"i¾archetypes of behaviour'. Secondly we identify a group of domain-specific behaviours that can successfully be used for relevance feedback of a domain-specific and semi-collaborative information recommendation system that can support software engineers in performing their daily work-related tasks more effectively.
Cell death in the ventral region of the neural retina during the early development of the chick embryo eye

The present study deals with morphologic and quantitative changes that take place in the area of cell death in the ventral part of the presumptive retinal wall of the chick embryo. These changes were followed from the optic vesicle stage until the first optic fiber fascicles leave the neural retina. Our results show that both the volume occupied by the area of cell death and the density of its pyknotic fragments undergo considerable variation during the period between Hamburger and Hamilton's (1951) stages 12 to 20. In the optic vesicle stages, cell death in the ventral wall of the vesicle was observed in 50 to 75% of the embryos studied. During stages 14 and 15, this zone was seen in more than 90%. By the time invagination of the optic cup was complete, the ventral retinal zone of cell death had disappeared entirely in a large proportion of embryos; in all other, it shrank significantly both in volume and density of pyknotic fragments. In stage 19, when the first optic fiber fascicles begin to emerge from the retina, a dramatic increase occurs in the number of pyknotic fragments in the posterior pole of the retina. The appearance of dying cells, in a region shortly to be traversed by developing ganglion cell axons, supports the hypothesis that cell death processes are apparently somehow related to the creation of a suitable environment for the emergence of fibers toward the optic stalk. Densities of mitotic and interphasic cells as well as the mitotic index were determined in both the retinal zone of cell death and in areas devoid of dead cells. In all developmental stages analyzed, the mitotic index was notably lower in the former than in non‐necrotic zones, suggesting that cell proliferation is partially inhibited in retinal areas of cell death.
Esophageal motor disorders in subjects with incidentally discovered Chagas disease: a study using high-resolution manometry and the Chicago classification.

In patients with chronic indeterminate Chagas disease, conventional manometry has shown that 25-48% had esophageal motor disorders. Recently, esophageal high-resolution manometry (HRM) has revolutionized the assessment of esophageal motor function. In this study, we performed esophageal HRM in a group of subjects with incidentally positive serological findings for Trypanosoma cruzi. In this prospective observational study, we evaluated subjects who had positive serological tests for Chagas disease detected during a screening evaluation for blood donation. All subjects underwent symptomatic evaluation and esophageal HRM with a 36 solid-state catheter. Esophageal abnormalities were classified using the Chicago classification. Forty-two healthy subjects (38 males) aged 18-61 years (mean age, 40.7 years) were included. When specific symptoms questionnaire was applied, 14 (33%) subjects had esophageal symptoms. Esophageal high-resolution manometry revealed that 28 (66%) of the subjects had an esophageal motility disorder according to the Chicago classification. Most common findings were hypocontractile disorders in 18 subjects (43%) and esophagogastric junction (EGJ) outflow obstruction in 6 (15%). Esophageal high-resolution manometry reveals that up to two thirds of the subjects with an incidental diagnosis of Chagas disease have esophageal abnormalities. This technology increases the detection and allows a more complete assessment of esophageal motor function in subjects infected with T. cruzi even in the early stages of the disease.
Quality of Life of Post-Mastectomy Women Living in a Semi-Arid Region of Brazil

Health is the major reference regarding quality of life; when it comes to breast cancer in particular, the loss of a breast traumatically affects a woman’s life, reflecting on her quality of life. Recognizing this problem, our aim was to investigate the quality of life of women who live in a semi-arid region of Brazil after breast cancer mastectomy. In this exploratory, transversal and observational study, a Brazilian variantof the shorter version of the original instrument from the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF), applied in the study population, was analyzed and their socio-demographic profile was obtained. The sample was composed of 50 mastectomized women. The 50 included patients comprised women at a mean age of 54 years. Most of them had finished elementary school, and their average income was one Brazilian minimum monthly wage. Regarding the data related to quality of life, the highest score was found in the social relationships domain (4.29) followed by the psychological (4.09) and environmental (3.88) domains. The lowest score observed was for the physical domain (3.48). With these findings we can say that social and psychological parameters are driving factors of the quality of life in post-mastectomy women. Therefore, these results are useful to establish strategies to improve the quality of life of breast cancer mastectomy patients.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PERSONALITY DISORDERS AND MIGRAINE HEADACHE IN REFERRAL PATIENTS TO ARDABIL NEUROLOGY CLINIC, 2013-14

Background: Some problems related to migraine as one of the most common causes of headache is caused by psychiatric disorders associated with it. Understanding relation between personality disorders with migraine headache can be effective in the diagnosis and treatment of migraine. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between personality characteristics and migraine incidence in neurology clinic in Ardabil during 2013-14. Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 50 migraine patients were selected randomly. In order to determine personality disorders, MCMI-3 questionnaire was used. Collected data analyzed using statistical methods in SPSS.16. Results: Of all patients,62% were female and 38% were male with the mean age of 37.02 years old (range 18-65). The personality disorders that observed among patients by the highest frequency order were histrionic personality disorder (70%) and obsessive (40%). The prevalence of depressive personality disorder among women (P = 0.020) and the prevalence of narcissistic personality disorder higher among men (P = 0.049) were significantly higher than others. Conclusion: Results showed that people with migraines have certain personality characteristics such as anxiety, irritation, depression, anxiety, and obsession that these characteristics leads into internal frustration and cause to headache and finally lead to migraine headache.
Sex Differences in Outcomes Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention According to Age

Background—Women <50 years of age with coronary artery disease may represent a group at higher risk for recurrent ischemic events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI); however, no long-term, multicenter outcomes assessment exists in this population. Methods and Results—Using the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Dynamic Registry, we evaluated the association of sex and age on cardiovascular-related outcomes in10 963 patients (3797 women, 394 <50 years) undergoing PCI and followed for 5 years. Death, myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, and repeat PCI were primary outcomes comprising major adverse cardiovascular events. Although procedural success rates were similar by sex, the cumulative rate of major adverse cardiovascular events at 1 year was higher in young women (27.8 versus 19.9%; P=0.003), driven largely by higher rates of repeat revascularizations for target vessel or target lesion failure (coronary artery bypass graft surgery: 8.9% versus 3.9%, P<0.001, adjusted hazard ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.5–4.0; PCI: 19.0% versus 13.0%, P=0.005, adjusted hazard ratio 1.6, 95% confidence interval 1.2–2.2). At 5 years, young women remained at higher risk for repeat procedures (coronary artery bypass graft surgery: 10.7% versus 6.8%, P=0.04, adjusted hazard ratio 1.71, 95% confidence interval 1.01–2.88; repeat PCI [target vessel]: 19.7% versus 11.8%, P=0.002, adjusted hazard ratio 1.8, 95% confidence interval 1.24–2.82). Compared with older women, younger women remained at increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular events, whereas all outcome rates were similar in older women and men. Conclusions—Young women, despite having less severe angiographic coronary artery disease, have an increased risk of target vessel and target lesion failure. The causes of this difference deserve further investigation. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00005677.
Predicting Post-Stroke Infections and Outcome with Blood-Based Immune and Stress Markers

About one third of early deaths and poor outcomes after acute stroke are caused by potentially preventable stroke-associated complications, especially infections. Early identification of patients at high risk of infections and poor prognosis with biomarkers might help to initiate adequate therapies and guide treatment decisions. Acute injury of the central nervous system, including stroke, disturbs the normally well-balanced interplay between the sympathetic nervous system and the immune system, thereby impairing the antibacterial immune response in stroke patients. Changes in immune and stress markers, for example a reduction in HLA-DR expression on monocytes or an increase in serum catecholamine levels, occur very early after stroke onset, explain the high susceptibility of stroke patients to bacterial infections, and are predictive of infectious complications occurring up to 2 weeks after stroke. Outcome prediction is of utmost importance for decision-making in stroke units as well as in neurological intensive care units. However, to date the accuracy of outcome prediction by physicians and clinical scoring systems is only moderate. So far, only two blood-based biomarkers have been identified as independent predictors of outcome and mortality after stroke: the stress marker copeptin and midregional pro-atrial natriuretic peptide. Careful evaluation of prognostic markers is needed to prevent the occurrence of self-fulfilling prophecy.
A field guide to digital color

Maureen Stone's field guide to digital color presents a survey of digital color with special emphasis on those fields important for computer graphics. The book provides the foundation for understanding color and its applications, discusses color media and color management and the use of color in computer graphics, including color design and selection. The book provides a guide for anyone who wants to understand and apply digital color. An annotated bibliography provides in-depth references for further study on each topic.
THE RHYTHM OF FAIRALL 9. I. OBSERVING THE SPECTRAL VARIABILITY WITH XMM-NEWTON AND NuSTAR

We present a multi-epoch X-ray spectral analysis of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Fairall 9. Our analysis shows that Fairall 9 displays unique spectral variability in that its ratio residuals to a simple absorbed power law in the 0.5–10 keV band remain constant with time in spite of large variations in flux. This behavior implies an unchanging source geometry and the same emission processes continuously at work at the timescale probed. With the constraints from NuSTAR on the broad-band spectral shape, it is clear that the soft excess in this source is a superposition of two different processes, one being blurred ionized reflection in the innermost parts of the accretion disk, and the other a continuum component such as a spatially distinct Comptonizing region. Alternatively, a more complex primary Comptonization component together with blurred ionized reflection could be responsible.
Checkpoint with forkhead-associated and ring finger promoter hypermethylation correlates with microsatellite instability in gastric cancer.

AIM To examine the methylation status of the promoter region of the checkpoint with forkhead-associated and ring finger (CHFR) and microsatellite mutator status in 59 primary gastric cancers. METHODS We investigated the promoter methylation of CHFR in 59 cases of gastric cancer using methylation-specific PCR. Five microsatellite loci were analyzed using high-intensity microsatellite analysis reported previously, and p53 gene mutations were investigated by direct sequencing. RESULTS Twenty cases (33.9%) showed promoter methylation and no relation was observed with the clinicopathological factors. We found that the promoter methylation of CHFR was frequently accompanied with microsatellite instability (MIN). Seven of 20 (35.0%) cases showed MIN in hypermethylation of the CHFR tumor, while three of 39 (7.7%) cases showed MIN in the non-methylated CHFR tumor (P < 0.01). However, we failed to find any relationship between CHFR methylation and p53 mutation status. CONCLUSION The coordinated loss of both the mitotic check point function and mismatch repair system suggests the potential to overcome the cell cycle check point, which may lead to an accumulation of mutations. However, the p53 mutation was not related to hypermethylation of the CHFR promoter and MIN, which indicates that an abnormality in p53 occurs as an independent process from the mismatch repair deficiency in carcinogenesis.
Does phoneme inventory size correlate with population size?

Atkinson 2011 finds a significant positive correlation between population size and phoneme inventory size (confirming Hay & Bauer 2007) and explains it by migration: phoneme sizes are largest in Africa, and as societies spread out of Africa and around the world they went through population and cultural bottlenecks and underwent phonological simplification as a consequence. We believe the correlation is artefactual if it exists at all, and it probably does not exist. To test it we surveyed 1,350 languages with excellent genealogical and geographical coverage and distribution. We used the Autotyp areal breakdown (Bickel & Nichols 2002). Population size figures were taken, where possible, from grammars, ethnographies, and/or recent census data, and attempt to give population figures for the entire ethnic group (and not just speakers of the language, since most of the world’s languages are losing speakers to large national and international languages); where we did not have this information we used figures from Lewis (ed.) 2009. Language shift has increased rapidly in recent decades, so that the size of the ethnic group is a better measure of the size of the speech community in which the oldest and most fluent speakers grew up, and it is these speakers’ competence that grammars usually describe. The log of population size was coded for each language. Since ethnic groups and speech communities of under a few hundred individuals are ordinarily unstable (not impossibly, but the languages of such communities are frequently undergoing shift and death), all population sizes reported in units or tens were coded as 499 (treating these speech communities as though they still had the sizes reported for them in the early to mid-twentieth century). For each sample language we surveyed the total number of consonant phonemes (excluding phones found only in unassimilated foreign loans), the total number of phonemic vowel qualities, and the number of tone oppositions. AUTHOR’S COPY | AUTORENEXEMPLAR
Ethno-medicinal uses and pharmacological activities of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

Nelumbo nucifera is grown in many parts of the globe including India for its medicinal and nutritional value. In Kashmir, the plant grows naturally in the lakes and its stem is being extensively used in many famous Kashmiri cuisines. In addition, its fruits and seeds are also consumed, but to a lesser extent. Many studies have established a wide range of the pharmacological activities of this plant. The current review highlights the importance of Nelumbo nucifera in traditional medicines and its pharmacological activities.
Polymorphic chloroplast simple sequence repeat primers for systematic and population studies in the genus Hordeum

In this study we report the development of primers to amplify polymorphic chloroplast simple sequence repeats in the genus Hordeum, which includes cultivated barley (H. vulgare ssp. vulgare) and its wild progenitor H. vulgare ssp. spontaneum. Polymorphic products were amplified in a wide range of Hordeum spp. and intraspecific variation was detected in both cultivated and wild barley. A decrease in cytoplasmic diversity was observed between sspp. spontaneum and vulgare as well as between ssp. vulgare landraces and cultivars, which is characteristic of domestication processes in many crop species. We also observed possible evidence for reticulate evolution of H. brachyantherum polyploids, with apparent multiple cytoplasmic introgressions during successive polyploidization events.
Fungal endophytes intrinsically associated with micropropagated plants regenerated from native Bouteloua eriopoda Torr. and Atriplex canescens (Pursh) Nutt.

SummaryBlack grama (Bouteloua eriopoda) and fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) are important grass and shrub species in arid rangelands of the northern Chihuahuan Desert. They are naturally colonized by dark septate endophytic fungi that cannot be eliminated by seed disinfestation. Plants were regenerated from both species and appeared to be fungus-free in axenic cultures. Analysis of callus and regenerated plants of both species using dual staining with light and scanning electron microscopy revealed fungal endophytes intrinsically associated with cells, roots and leaves of regenerated plants that are also associated with native plants. Fungal layers and biofilms prevent direct exposure of callus, root or leaf tissues to the external environment. Micropropagation is a valuable tool for identifying key fungal endophytes that enhance drought tolerance in native desert plants.
Chemical Splanchnicectomy in Patients with Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer A Prospective Randomized Trial

OBJECTIVE A prospective, randomized, double-blind study was completed comparing intraoperative chemical splanchnicectomy with 50% alcohol versus a placebo injection of saline in patients with histologically proven unresectable pancreatic cancer. METHODS Standardized assessment of pain, mood, and disability due to pain was completed preoperatively and at 2-month intervals until death. Chemical splanchnicectomy with alcohol was performed in 65 patients, whereas 72 patients received the placebo. The two groups were similar with respect to age, sex, location, and stage of tumor, operation performed, the use of postoperative chemo- and radiation therapy, and initial assessment scores for pain, mood, and disability. RESULTS No differences in hospital mortality or complications, return to oral intake, or length of hospital stay were observed. Mean pain scores were significantly lower in the alcohol group at 2-, 4-, and 6-month follow-up and at the final assessment (p < 0.05). To further determine the effect of chemical splanchnicectomy, patients were stratified into those with and without preoperative pain. In patients without preoperative pain, alcohol significantly reduced pain scores and delayed or prevented the subsequent onset of pain (p < 0.05). In patients with significant preoperative pain, alcohol significantly reduced existing pain (p < 0.05). Furthermore, patients with preexisting pain who received alcohol showed a significant improvement in survival when compared with controls (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The results suggest that intraoperative chemical splanchnicectomy with alcohol significantly reduces or prevents pain in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.