Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of cancer mortality trends in major European areas, 1960–89

In the prospect of a political and economic ‘harmonization’ of the European Economic Community (EEC) and, possibly, all Europe, the identification of differences in cancer frequencies and trends in major European areas (ie EEC. non-EEC western countries, and eastern European countries) can help to set health priorities. From 1960–64 to 1985–89 all-age mortality rates of some common cancers (mouth or pharynx, pancreas, lung, kidney, prostate and skin) increased substantially especially in East Europe. Conversely, mortality rates from cancer of the stomach, uterus, testis and from Hodgkin's disease declined, but, again, trends in East Europe were less favourable. Some elevations in rare malignancies (non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, multiple myeloma and connective and soft-tissue sarcomas) emerged rather uniformly in Europe, especially in elderly people. Most favourable trends in total cancer mortality were apparent among females in the EEC (minus 7%) and non-EEC western countries (minus 14%). The picture becomes gradually less favourable with respect to non-EEC western European males and eastern European females (virtually no change) and EEC males (plus 13%). With a 25% increase in total cancer mortality rates in the past 30 years, males in East Europe emerge as the ‘problem’ group. The even wider gap between West and East Europe in cancer rates in young males leaves no hope for future improvements in the absence of effective interventions. Raising public awareness (especially with respect to smoking and alcohol consumption), and increasing motivation and quality controls among health professionals are badly needed in disadvantaged European areas.
Activation of immobility‐related hippocampal theta by cholinergic septohippocampal neurons during vestibular stimulation

The vestibular system has been suggested to participate in spatial navigation, a function ascribed to the hippocampus. Vestibular stimulation during spatial navigation activates a hippocampal theta rhythm (4–10 Hz), which may enhance spatial processing and motor response. We hypothesize that a cholinergic, atropine‐sensitive theta is generated during passive whole‐body rotation in freely behaving rats. Hippocampal EEGs were recorded by implanted electrodes in CA1 while rats were rotated on a vertical axis, for a minute or longer, at different angular velocities. Rotation induced a continuous hippocampal theta rhythm while the rat was immobile, in both light and dark conditions. Theta peak frequency showed a significant increase during high (50–70 rpm) as compared with a lower (20–49 rpm) rotational velocity. Rotation‐induced theta was abolished by muscarinic receptor antagonist atropine sulfate (50 mg/kg i.p.) but not by atropine methyl nitrate (50 mg/kg i.p.), which did not pass the blood‐brain barrier. Theta was attenuated in rats in which cholinergic neurons in the medial septum (MS) were lesioned with 192 IgG‐saporin (0.14 μg in 0.4 μl), as confirmed by depletion of MS cells immunoreactive to choline acetyltransferase and an absence of acetylcholinesterase staining in the hippocampus. Bilateral lesion of the vestibular receptors by sodium arsanilate (30 mg in 0.1 ml, intratympanically) also attenuated the rotation‐induced theta rhythm. In intact rats, field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) in CA1 evoked by commissural stimulation were smaller during walking or rotation as compared with during immobility. Modulation of fEPSP was absent following atropine sulfate in intact rats and in 192 IgG‐saporin lesion rats. In summary, this is the first report of a continuous atropine‐sensitive hippocampal theta in the rat induced by vestibular stimulation during rotation, and accompanied by cholinergic modulation of hippocampal synaptic transmission. Vestibular‐activated septohippocampal cholinergic activity could be an important component in sensorimotor processing and spatial memory. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of short interval intracortical inhibition and intracortical facilitation on short interval intracortical facilitation in human primary motor cortex

Short interval intracortical facilitation (SICF) can be elicited by transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) of the motor cortex (M1) with a suprathreshold first stimulus (S1) followed by a subthreshold second stimulus (S2). SICF occurs at three distinct phases and is likely to be related to the generation of indirect (I) waves. Short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) is an inhibitory phenomenon and intracortical facilitation (ICF) is an excitatory phenomenon occurring in the M1 that can be studied with TMS. We studied the interactions between SICI/ICF and SICF in 17 healthy subjects. Six experiments were conducted. The first experiment examined the effects of different S1 intensities on SICI, ICF and SICF at three peaks. The effects of SICI on SICF were tested by a triple‐pulse TMS protocol in the second experiment. We performed Experiments 3–5 to further test the interactions between SICI and SICF with various strengths of SICI, at SICF peaks and troughs, and with SICF generated by different current direction which preferentially generates late I waves. The effects of ICF on SICF were examined in Experiment 6. The results showed that ICF and SICF decreased whereas SICI increased with higher S1 intensities. SICI facilitated SICF mediated by late I waves both at the peaks and the troughs of SICF. The increase of SICF in the presence of SICI correlated to the strength of SICI. ICF decreased the third peak of SICF. We conclude that SICI facilitates SICF at neuronal circuits responsible for generating late I waves through disinhibition, while ICF may have the opposite effects.
Glutamate metabolism is down‐regulated in astrocytes during experimental allergic encephalomyelitis

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in SJL/J mice by adoptive transfer of MBP‐reactive T cells in order to investigate the role of astrocytes in pathology. GFAP protein and mRNA expression (analyzed using semi‐quantitative Western blot and RT‐PCR techniques) were upregulated in the spinal cord of mice, which had developed a complete paralysis of hind‐ and fore‐limbs and tail (grade 4 EAE), thus establishing that reactive gliosis occurred under these experimental conditions. Within the same samples and using similar techniques, we found that glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) expression were dramatically reduced. These two astrocytic enzymes are responsible for degradation of glutamate, the most abundant excitatory neurotransmitter in the brain. Since elevated levels of glutamate may be neurotoxic, we propose that the decreased capacity of astrocytes to metabolize glutamate may contribute to EAE pathology. GLIA 20:79–85, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
External Trade and Economic Growth Relationship Under Trouble: Time Series Evidence from Palestine

particular Israel imposing for restriction on Palestinian trade with the neighboring countries and the rest of the world as a whole. This study uses the cointegration and Granger causality tests to examine both the long run and short run relationships between economic growth, exports and imports of Palestine for the time period 1968-2012. The results, based on Vector Error Correction model show the existence of the long run relationship between imports and economic growth given exports stationary. Moreover, both exports and imports are considered main determinants of economic growth in Palestine. Granger causality test shows no causality among exports and imports and economic growth. Mainly, causality tests confirm VECM results that import cause changes on economic growth in the long run but not in the short run. These results guide towards a number of policies aiming a successful and sustained economic growth.
Contrasting Predictions of Low- and High-Threshold Models for the Detection of Changing Visual Features

Change blindness is the failure of observers to notice otherwise obvious changes to a visual scene when those changes are masked in some way (eg by blotches or a blanking of the screen). Typically, change blindness is taken as evidence that our representation of the visual world is capacity limited. The locus of this capacity limit is thought to be visual short-term memory (vSTM). The capacity of vSTM is usually estimated with a high-threshold model which assumes that each element in the stimulus array is either fully encoded or not encoded at all, and, furthermore, that false alarms can arise only by guessing, not by noise. Low-threshold models, by contrast, suggest that false alarms can arise by noise at the level of detection/discrimination and/or decision. In this study, we use a well-controlled stimulus display in which a single element changes over a blanking of the screen and contrast predictions from a popular high-threshold model of vSTM with the predictions of a low-threshold model (specifically, the sample-size model) of visual search and vSTM. The data were better predicted by the low-threshold model.
NORMAL ELECTROCARDIOGRAM OF THE LAUGHING DOVE (SPILOPELIA SENEGALENSIS)

Abstract: The aim of this study was to describe the normal electrocardiographic patterns and values in conscious laughing dove (Spilopelia senegalensis). The standard bipolar (I, II, and III) and augmented unipolar limb (aVR, aVL, and aVF) leads' electrocardiographs were recorded in 10 clinically healthy laughing doves. The wave forms were analyzed in all leads at 50 mm/sec and at 10 mm = 1 mV to determine PR, QRS, ST, and QT durations, the net QRS complex, and P and T amplitudes. The polarity of each waveform was tabulated in all leads. The mean electrical axis (MEA) for the frontal plane was calculated using standard bipolar leads II and III. The mean heart rate (calculated from the lead II) was 357 ± 12.5 beats/min. The P wave was positive in all leads except for the aVR lead. The dominant pattern of waveforms for the QRS complexes was rS in leads II, III, aVR, and aVF, whereas in leads I and aVL, the patterns were R and Rs, respectively. The T wave was positive in leads II, III, aVF and negative in leads I, aVR, and aVL. The average value of the heart MEA was −89.7 ± 1.30°. The electrocardiogram values and patterns tabulated in these clinically normal laughing doves provide a means of comparison to aid in the diagnosis of pathologic abnormalities in this species.
Local agriculture traditional knowledge to ensure food availability in a changing climate: revisiting water management practices in the Indo-Gangetic Plains

ABSTRACT Climate variations are considered one of several interacting factors affecting food security. Specifically, in the Indo-Gangetic Plains, increased exposure to droughts and floods are expected. Local traditional knowledge in agriculture (LTKA) is proposed in this article as valid knowledge to ensure food availability under climate change, given its long experience in dealing with climate variability. Focused on water strategies, we have conducted a literature review on LTKA practices in the Indo-Gangetic Plains complemented with a questionnaire of experts to identify LTKA-based practices that might be useful in climate-change driven water scenarios. The practices identified are categorized as a) water harvesting and recycling; b) local irrigation systems; and c) and maintenance, conservation, and water allocation. We found that a) despite acknowledging the potential of LTKA to face floods and droughts, very few studies explicitly make the link between LTKA and climate change; and b) LTKA in water management heavily relays on social norms and local institutions and, thus, any attempts to replicate it need to consider this. We conclude that agroecology can help to promote these practices since it emphasizes the collective management from below as the main approach for the design of sustainable agroecosystems and, thus, include local institutions as an essential strategy for adaptation.
Why Healthcare Workers Don't Wash Their Hands: A Behavioral Explanation

Objective. To elucidate behavioral determinants of handwashing among nurses. Design. Statistical modeling using the Theory of Planned Behavior and relevant components to handwashing behavior by nurses that were derived from focus-group discussions and literature review. Setting. The community and 3 tertiary care hospitals. Participants. Children aged 9-10 years, mothers, and nurses. Results. Responses from 754 nurses were analyzed using backward linear regression for handwashing intention. We reasoned that handwashing results in 2 distinct behavioral practices—inherent handwashing and elective handwashing—with our model explaining 64% and 76%, respectively, of the variance in behavioral intention. Translation of community handwashing behavior to healthcare settings is the predominant driver of all handwashing, both inherent (weighted β = 2.92) and elective (weighted β = 4.1). Intended elective in-hospital handwashing behavior is further significantly predicted by nurses' beliefs in the benefits of the activity (weighted β = 3.12), peer pressure of senior physicians (weighted β = 3.0) and administrators (weighted β = 2.2), and role modeling (weighted β = 3.0) but only to a minimal extent by reduction in effort (weighted β = 1.13). Inherent community behavior (weighted β = 2.92), attitudes (weighted β = 0.84), and peer behavior (weighted β = 1.08) were strongly predictive of inherent handwashing intent. Conclusions. A small increase in handwashing adherence may be seen after implementing the use of alcoholic hand rubs, to decrease the effort required to wash hands. However, the facilitation of compliance is not simply related to effort but is highly dependent on altering behavioral perceptions. Thus, introduction of hand rub alone without an associated behavioral modification program is unlikely to induce a sustained increase in hand hygiene compliance.
Comparative Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Pomegranate-Containing Mouthwash Against Oral-Biofilm Forming Organisms: An Invitro Microbial Study.

INTRODUCTION Pomegranate is considered "A pharmacy unto itself". Hydrolysable tannins called punicalagins which have free scavenging properties are the most abundant polyphenols found in pomegranate-containing mouthwash. AIM To evaluate antimicrobial effect of pomegranate- containing mouthwash on oral biofilm-forming bacteria. MATERIALS AND METHODS The mouthwashes used were divided into three groups- Group A: Chlorhexidine mouthwash (Hexidine); Group B: Herbal Mouthwash (Hiora) and Group C: Pomegranate-containing Mouthwash (Life-extension). Each mouthwash was diluted to five different concentrations. Reference strains of Streptococcus mutans (S.mutans) (ATCC 25175), Streptococcus salivarius (S.salivarius) (ATCC 7073), and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (A.a) (NCTC 9710) were selected as being colonizers in dental biofilm formation. On each culture plate, five wells of 5mm were prepared and mouthwashes with different concentrations were added, followed by incubation in a CO2 jar for 24 hours at 37°C. Inhibition zone diameters were measured using a digital caliper. RESULTS Chlorhexidine (0.12%) presented a zone of inhibition between 38.46% to 96.15% for all the three organisms, while Hiora presented zone of inhibition ranging from 33.33% to 69.23% but was resistant at <10 ml of dilution. Pomegranate mouthwash presented a zone of inhibition ranging from 38.48 to 57.69%, but was resistant at <10ml for S.mutans, and <25ml for A.a and S.salivarius. ANOVA test was done to compare the dilution of mouthwashes for a particular organism and Tukey's multiple comparison tests were done to find the exact difference. A significant difference was seen between all the three groups at 50ml and 75 ml of dilution. At 75 ml concentration, a statistical difference was found between Groups B & C and Groups A & B; and at 50 ml between Groups A&C. CONCLUSION All the three types of mouthwash exhibit anti-microbial activity against biofilm forming organisms but at varying concentrations. Although Chlorhexidine still continues to be the gold standard, pomegranate-containing or herbal mouthwashes can be easily substituted for long term use, avoiding the side effects of chlorhexidine.
Surface Expression and Endocytosis of the Human Cytomegalovirus-encoded Chemokine Receptor US28 Is Regulated by Agonist-independent Phosphorylation*

Human cytomegalovirus encodes the G protein-coupled chemokine receptor homologue US28 that binds several CC chemokines and sequesters extracellular chemokines from the environment of infected cells. Mechanistically, it has been shown that US28 undergoes rapid constitutive receptor endocytosis and recycling. Monoclonal antibodies were raised that allowed the characterization of a ligand-independent phosphorylation and low surface expression of the US28 receptor in transiently transfected HEK293A cells. Phosphoamino acid analysis defined C-terminal serine and threonine residues as phospho-acceptor sites for constitutive receptor phosphorylation. Coexpression of G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 and US28 enhanced ligand-independent receptor phosphorylation. C-terminal serine to alanine mutagenesis of US28 resulted in a decreased phosphorylation rate that correlated with enhanced surface expression. Maximal surface expression was detected when all C-terminal serines were substituted. Exchange of all C-terminal serines also significantly reduced receptor endocytosis. Thus, constitutive US28 phosphorylation regulates receptor endocytosis and receptor surface display and may thereby provide a pathogenic mechanism for a potential decoy function of the virally encoded receptor.
MTHFR gene A1298C polymorphisms are associated with breast cancer risk among Chinese population: evidence based on an updated cumulative meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES Published studies on the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene A1298C polymorphisms and breast cancer risk among Chinese population have yielded conflicting results. The purpose of this study was to clarify the association between MTHFR gene A1298C polymorphisms and breast cancer risk among Chinese population. METHODS Systematic searches were performed through the database of Medline/PubMed, Science Direct, Elsevier, CNKI and Wanfang Medical Online. RESULTS Overall, a significantly increased risk of breast cancer was observed among the subjects carrying MTHFR gene A1298C AC+CC genotype (odds ratio [OR]=1.05 with 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-1.10) as compared to those carrying AA genotype among total Chinese population. We did not observe any significant association between MTHFR gene A1298C polymorphisms and the risk of breast cancer under the additional genetic models of AC vs. AA, CC vs. AA and C-allele vs. A-allele (OR=1.00 with 95% CI: 0.97-1.02, OR=1.01 with 95% CI: 1.00-1.02 and OR=1.00 with 95% CI: 0.99-1.02, respectively). The cumulative meta-analysis showed similar results. In subgroup analysis, we observed subjects carrying AC+CC genotype had an increased breast cancer risk compared with those carrying AA genotype among the studies of sample size less than 1000. We did not observe any significant association between MTHFR gene A1298C polymorphisms and breast cancer risk in additional subgroup analyses. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that MTHFR gene A1298C AC+CC genotype may be a risk factor for the development of breast cancer among Chinese population. Well-designed studies with a large sample size are needed to further confirm our findings.
Sequential double cross-validation for assessment of added predictive ability in high-dimensional omic applications

Enriching existing predictive models with new biomolecular markers is an important task in the new multi-omic era. Clinical studies increasingly include new sets of omic measurements which may prove their added value in terms of predictive performance. We introduce a two-step approach for the assessment of the added predictive ability of omic predictors, based on sequential double cross-validation and regularized regression models. We propose several performance indices to summarize the two-stage prediction procedure and a permutation test to formally assess the added predictive value of a second omic set of predictors over a primary omic source. The performance of the test is investigated through simulations. We illustrate the new method through the systematic assessment and comparison of the performance of transcriptomics and metabolomics sources in the prediction of body mass index (BMI) using longitudinal data from the Dietary, Lifestyle, and Genetic determinants of Obesity and Metabolic syndrome (DILGOM) study, a population-based cohort from Finland.
Longterm Work Productivity Costs Due to Absenteeism and Permanent Work Disability in Patients with Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Nationwide Register Study of 7831 Patients

Objective. To estimate the development and potential disproportional distribution of longterm productivity costs (PC) and their determinants leading to work absenteeism and permanent work disability in working-aged patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. A cohort of subjects with early RA was created by identifying the new cases of RA from the national drug reimbursement register that had been granted a special reimbursement for their antirheumatic medications for RA from 2000–2007. The dataset was enriched by cross-linking with other national registries detailing work absenteeism days and permanent disability pensions. In the base case, the human capital approach was applied to estimate PC based on subjects’ annual number of absenteeism days and incomes. Hurdle regression analysis was applied to study the determinants of PC. Results. Among the 7831 subjects with early RA, the mean (bootstrapped 95% CI) annual PC per person-observation year was €4800 (4547–5070). The annual PC declined after the first year of RA diagnosis, but increased significantly in subsequent years. In addition, the PC was heavily disproportionally concentrated in a small fraction of patients with RA, because only around 20% of patients accounted for the majority of total annual PC. The initiation of active drug treatment during the first 3 months after RA diagnosis significantly reduced the cumulative PC when compared with no drug treatment. Conclusion. The longterm PC increased significantly in parallel with years elapsing after RA diagnosis. Further, the majority of these PC are incurred by a small proportion of patients.
The costa of trichomonads: A complex macromolecular cytoskeleton structure made of uncommon proteins

The costa is a prominent striated fibre that is found in protozoa of the Trichomonadidae family that present an undulating membrane. It is composed primarily of proteins that have not yet been explored. In this study, we used cell fractionation to obtain a highly enriched costa fraction whose structure and composition was further analysed by electron microscopy and mass spectrometry.
Deep neural network for EMG signal classification of wrist position: Preliminary results

Physically impaired people may use Surface Electromyography (SEMG) signals to control rehabilitation and assistive devices. SEMG is the electrical manifestation of the neuromuscular activation associated with a contracting muscle. SEMG directly reflects the human motion intention; thus, they can be used as input information for human-robot interaction. This paper proposes an EMG-based pattern recognition algorithm for classification of joint wrist angular position during flexion-extension movements from EMG signals. The algorithm uses a feature extraction stage based on a combination of time and frequency domain. The pattern recognition stage uses an artificial neural network (NN) as classifier. Also, using an autoencoder, deep NN architecture was tested. It was carried out a set of experiment with 10 subjects. Experiments included five recorded SEMG channels from forearm executing wrist flexion and extension movements, as well as the use of a commercial electrogoniometer to acquire joint angle. Results show that shallow NN had better performance that architectures with more layers based on autoencoders.