Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Suicide mortality in Finland during an economic cycle, 1985 -1995

This is a study on associations between suicide mortality, unemployment, divorce rate and mean alcohol consumption during an economic cycle in Finland, from 1985 to 1995. Data on annual suicide mortality, gross domestic product, unemployment, divorce rate and mean alcohol consumption were collected from official Finnish statistics. Regression analyses using a correction for serial autocorrelation were performed. Suicide mortality in both males and females increased during an economic upswing from 1985 to 1990, and decreased during an economic recession from 1990 to 1995. Suicide mortality was not associated with unemployment or divorce rate. These results are opposed to those of many previous studies. However, a significant association was found between male suicide mortality and mean alcohol consumption, in accord with other studies. In conclusion, the results suggest diversity in associations between suicide mortality, socio-economic factors and alcohol consumption.
Monoclonal Antibodies to Substance P: Production, Characterization of Their Fine Specificities, and Use in Immunocytochemistry

Five hybrid clones secreting antibodies to the neuropeptide substance P have been obtained by somatic cell fusion of mouse myeloma cells with splenocytes from immunized mice of the Biozzi strain. To perform rapid and sensitive screening tests as well as to study the fine specificities of each monoclonal antibody, we developed a new enzyme immunoassay of substance P using acetylcholines‐ terase as label. All five monoclonal antibodies were directed to the C‐terminal pentapeptide of substance P, especially to the Phe7 residue. They cross‐reacted with neurokinin A and to some extent with neurokinin B but not with other non‐tachykinin mammalian peptides. One monoclonal antibody (SP 14) was used for immunocytochemical experiments in the rat spinal cord and spinal ganglion, both at the light and electron microscopic levels. A strong specific neurokinin‐like immuno eactivity was observed in cell bodies, nerve fibers, and terminals, with a very low background staining. Finally, the affinities of several analogues of substance P for SP14 manoclonal antibody were shown to be correlated with their biological activities, as measured by their hypotensive effects in vivo. These findings suggested a strong structural resemblance between the combining site of the antibody and that of the physiological substance P receptor.
Thermodynamic Analysis of R152a and Dimethylether Refrigerant Mixtures in Refrigeration System

R-134a is currently used as the refrigerant in refrigerator replacing the ozone depleting refrigerant R-12. Although R134a has no Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), it has a relatively larger Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1300. In an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, R-152a (difluoroethane) (GWP 130) and Hydrocarbons (GWP 20) are being considered as a replacement for R-134a. HC blend has a zero ODP and a negligible GWP. The only drawback of HC blend is the temperature glide. The drawbacks of using R-152a and HC blend with respect to GWP and temperature glide can be overcome by the refrigerant DME. The present paper presents the results of a thermodynamic study of new eco-friendly refrigerant blends of R-152a and DME. It was carried out for a single-stage vapor compression refrigeration system. These new refrigerants are generally azeotropic. Some of these new mixtures have better thermodynamic properties than those of pure R-152a. RefProp software has been used to determine the thermodynamic properties of the refrigerant blends. In this analysis, experimental validation of the new refrigerant mixture (60% DME + 40% R-152a) is carried out in domestic refrigerator. The results are better than those of R-152a and R-134a.
Molecular basis for AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR protein interaction and the control of auxin response repression

Significance Auxin is a critical plant hormone that regulates every aspect of plant growth and development. AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) transcription factors control auxin-regulated gene transcription, and their activity is regulated by AUXIN/INDOLE 3-ACETIC ACID repressor proteins. This work identifies that dimerization of the repressor with the transcription factor is insufficient to repress activity, suggesting that multimerization is the mechanism of repressing ARF transcriptional activity and further raising the possibility that multimerization in other systems may play roles in transcriptional repression. In plants, the AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR (ARF) transcription factor family regulates gene expression in response to auxin. In the absence of auxin, ARF transcription factors are repressed by interaction with AUXIN/INDOLE 3-ACETIC ACID (Aux/IAA) proteins. Although the C termini of ARF and Aux/IAA proteins facilitate their homo- and heterooligomerization, the molecular basis for this interaction remained undefined. The crystal structure of the C-terminal interaction domain of Arabidopsis ARF7 reveals a Phox and Bem1p (PB1) domain that provides both positive and negative electrostatic interfaces for directional protein interaction. Mutation of interface residues in the ARF7 PB1 domain yields monomeric protein and abolishes interaction with both itself and IAA17. Expression of a stabilized Aux/IAA protein (i.e., IAA16) bearing PB1 mutations in Arabidopsis suggests a multimerization requirement for ARF protein repression, leading to a refined auxin-signaling model.
On rate-adaptability of nonbinary LDPC codes

This paper examines rate-adaptability of nonbinary C codes at sort block lengths over the binary input WGN channel. Starting from a mother code, higher rate codes are obtained via puncturing, and lower rates are obtained by shortening. We propose algorithms both for puncturing and shortening and design a highly flexible, one encoder/decoder system that supports code rates ranging from 0.1 to 0.9. Our results show that properly designed rate-adaptable nonbinary LDPC codes can significantly outperform their binary counterparts throughout the entire range of code rates.
Cutting Edge: KIR3DS1, a Gene Implicated in Resistance to Progression to AIDS, Encodes a DAP12-Associated Receptor Expressed on NK Cells That Triggers NK Cell Activation1

The killer cell Ig-like receptor (KIR) gene, KIR3DS1, has been implicated in slowing disease progression in HIV infection; however, little is known about its expression, function, or ligand specificity. Using retrovirally transduced NKL cells and peripheral blood NK cells from KIR3DS1-positive donors we assessed expression of this gene by flow cytometry and its function by in vitro assays measuring KIR3DS1-induced cell-mediated cytotoxicity and cytokine production. In the present study, we demonstrate that KIR3DS1 is expressed on peripheral blood NK cells and triggers both cytotoxicity and IFN-γ production. Using cotransfection and coimmunoprecipitation, we found that KIR3DS1 associates with the ITAM-bearing adaptor, DAP12. Soluble KIR3DS1-Ig fusion proteins did not bind to EBV-transformed B lymphoid cell lines transfected with HLA-Bw4 80I or 80T allotypes, suggesting that if KIR3DS1 does recognize HLA-Bw4 ligands, this may be peptide dependent.
Infective endocarditis in patients with diabetes mellitus.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY Numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the conditions associated with poor outcome among patients with infective endocarditis (IE). Yet, diabetes mellitus alone has rarely been analyzed as participating in the prognosis, and few data are available relating to the clinical characteristics of IE in diabetics. The study aim was to assess the influence of diabetes mellitus on the characteristics and prognosis of IE, and to identify predictors of poor outcome among diabetic patients with this condition. METHODS The study included consecutive patients with IE who had presented to a tertiary center between 1990 and 2006. All patients underwent transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Three or more blood cultures were collected from each patient. Records of all patients were collected prospectively into a computerized database. RESULTS Among 309 patients with definitive IE (according to modified Duke criteria), 38 (12%) had diabetes mellitus. Typically, diabetic patients were older than non-diabetics (67.1 +/- 10.4 versus 60.7 +/- 15.8 years; p < 0.001), had more serious comorbidities (Charlson index 2.8 +/- 0.7 versus 1.2 +/- 0.5; p = 0.005), and a higher frequency of enterococcal endocarditis. No differences were noted between patients with or without diabetes mellitus for the valve involved, nor for the subvalvular involvement. In a multivariate analysis, diabetes mellitus was identified as an independent predictor of mortality (OR 2.49; 95% CI 1.15-5.62). Surgery was performed in the active phase in 139 patients: surgical mortality was higher for diabetic patients (29% versus 10% p = 0.049). In-hospital mortality was significantly higher among diabetic patients (34%) than in non-diabetics (20%) (p = 0.002). Enterococcal endocarditis, left ventricular ejection fraction < 0.45, multi-organ failure, heart failure, persistent fever after one week of antibiotic therapy, and a Charlson index > 3 were associated with an increased mortality among diabetic patients. CONCLUSION Diabetes mellitus represents a relevant risk factor for a worse clinical course and outcome of IE.
Forward and Backward Shifts of Vector Fields: Towards the Dual Algebraic Framework

An algebraic framework for discrete-time nonlinear control systems is introduced, based on the forward and backward shifts of the vector fields. It appears to be the dual of the framework based on the differential 1-forms. As applications, the characterization of accessibility and the solution to the static state feedback linearization problem are stated in terms of the given vector fields.
The Role of National Cancer Institute–Designated Cancer Center Status: Observed Variation in Surgical Care Depends on the Level of Evidence

Objective:We sought to evaluate differences in guideline concordance between National Cancer Institute (NCI)–designated and other centers and determine whether the level of available evidence influences the degree of variation in concordance. Background:The National Cancer Institute recognizes centers of excellence in the advancement of cancer care. These NCI-designated cancer centers have been shown to have better outcomes for cancer surgery; however, little work has compared surgical process measures. Methods:A retrospective cohort study was conducted using Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registry linked to Medicare claims data. Fee-for-service Medicare patients with a definitive surgical resection for breast, colon, gastric, rectal, or thyroid cancers diagnosed between 2000 and 2005 were identified. Claims data from 1999 to 2006 were used. Our main outcome measure was guideline concordance at NCI-designated centers compared to other institutions, stratified by level of evidence as graded by National Comprehensive Cancer Network guideline panels. Results:All centers achieved at least 90%, and often 95%, concordance with guidelines based on level 1 evidence. Concordance rates for guidelines with lower-level evidence ranged from 30% to 97% and were higher at NCI-designated centers. The adjusted concordance ratios for category 1 guidelines were between 1.02 and 1.08, whereas concordance ratios for guidelines with lower-level evidence ranged from 0.97 to 2.19, primarily favoring NCI-designated centers. Conclusions:When strong evidence supports a guideline, there is little variation in practice between NCI-designated centers and other hospitals, suggesting that all are providing appropriate care. Variation in care may exist, however, for guidelines that are based on expert consensus rather than strong evidence. This suggests that future efforts to generate needed evidence on the optimal approach to care may also reduce institutional variation.
Effect of postoperative anemia on functional outcome and quality of life after hip and knee arthroplasties: a long term follow-up

Background: Postoperative anemia is frequent in patients undergoing hip and knee arthroplasty. While it is legitimate to think that anemia could decrease postoperative vigor and, consequently, limit the patient’s rehabilitation, our previous study showed that anemia does not impair functional recovery in patients during the immediate postoperative period (10 days). Here we investigate the possible relationship between the postoperative hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and long-term (6 months or more) functional recovery and quality of life (QoL) in patients. Study design and methods: A follow-up, observational study was conducted in the 305 patients 60 years and older who underwent major hip or knee arthroplasty and participated in the Transfusion Requirements in Orthopedic Surgery (TRIOS) study (phase 2). The relationship between postoperative Hb concentration (or variation thereof) and primary outcomes (Functional Status Index (FSI) score, scores in the two categories of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) test and adverse events) was established by linear regression. Results: 160 patients responded to long-term follow-up. There were no significant correlations between the postoperative Hb concentration (or the variation in perioperative Hb) and either the FSI or SF-36 scores or adverse events. Consequently, moderate postoperative anemia does not appear to affect long-term (6 months or more after surgery) functional recovery or QoL in patients undergoing a major arthroplasty. Conclusion: Our results confirm the lack of longer-term effects of anemia on functional recovery observed in the immediate postoperative period in the TRIOS phase 2 study.
Aneuploidy characterizes adjacent non-malignant mucosa of ulcerative colitis-associated but not sporadic colorectal carcinomas: a matched-pair analysis

Abstract Introduction. Aneuploidy has been suggested as independent prognostic marker in ulcerative colitis (UC) patients for developing UC-associated colorectal carcinomas (UCCs). UCCs are associated with a poorer prognosis and more frequently present with synchronous carcinomas when compared with sporadic colorectal carcinomas (SCCs). The authors therefore investigated if the adjacent non-malignant mucosa of aneuploid UCCs and aneuploid SCCs shows differences regarding the frequency of aneuploidy and if this aneuploidy is associated with histomorphological alterations. Methods. Primary tumors of 25 UCCs and 20 SCCs were selected showing exclusively aneuploid DNA patterns and matching DNA stemlines. The UCCs' (n = 82) and SCCs' (n = 40) adjacent non-malignant mucosa were evaluated for histopathology and assessed for DNA ploidy status by image cytometry. Results. UCCs' non-malignant mucosa showed dysplasia in 31.7% and aneuploidy in 89%. In contrast, SCCs' non-malignant mucosa revealed no dysplasia and aneuploidy in only 5%. Irrespective of dysplastic lesions, aneuploidy was observed more frequently in adjacent non-malignant mucosa of UCCs than of SCCs (p < 0.001). Neither a correlation between aneuploidy and inflammation (p = 0.916) nor between aneuploidy and dysplastic lesions (p = 0.159) could be observed. Conclusion. Aneuploidy is more frequent in adjacent non-malignant mucosa of aneuploid UCCs than in adjacent non-malignant mucosa of aneuploid SCCs. Furthermore, aneuploidy seems to be irrespective of inflammation or dysplasia. The results therefore emphasize the importance of aneuploidy for UC-associated carcinogenesis and its potential as new diagnostic target.
Fluoride Intake in Japanese Children Aged 3–5 Years by the Duplicate-Diet Technique

This study was conducted to determine the fluoride intakes in 94 preschool children aged 3, 4 and 5 (n = 30, 30, 34, respectively) residing in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture (< 0.16 ppm F water supply). The parents duplicated all the diets that their children ingested on 3 separate days during a 1-year period. The acid-diffusible fluoride in the diet was isolated by the acid-diffusion technique and measured with a fluoride electrode. The mean daily fluoride intakes from diet alone by children aged 3, 4 and 5 were 0.30 mg (n = 29, SD 0.19), 0.28 mg (n = 30, SD 0.19) and 0.30 mg (n = 34, SD 0.19), respectively. The total estimated mean values from diet and dentifrice were 0.35 mg (n = 29, SD 0.22, range 0.13–1.00), 0.33 mg (n = 30, SD 0.19, range 0.13–0.86) and 0.39 mg (n = 34, SD 0.18, range 0.18–1.01), respectively. It was concluded that the mean (±SD) total fluoride from diet and dentifrice in 3- to 5-year-old Japanese children was 0.35 ± 0.19 mg/day (0.021 ± 0.012 mg/kg body weight).
INTERNEURONAL CONTROL OF FEEDING IN THE POND SNAIL LYMNAEA STAGNALIS I. INITIATION OF FEEDING CYCLES BY A SINGLE BUCCAL INTERNEURONE

SUMMARY The Lymnaea buccal ganglion is organized such that the basic feeding rhythm is generated by an interneuronal network which imposes its activity on a set of follower cells. In this paper we extend our earlier observations (Benjamin & Rose, 1979) on the follower cells to show that they receive four consecutive synaptic inputs. The main objective of the paper is to describe the properties of an interneurone called the 'slow oscillator' which is capable of initiating feeding cycles. This interneurone will be used in the following paper (Rose & Benjamin, 1981) to drive other members of the interneuronal network in order to determine how it is organized, and to understand the origin and timing of the four synaptic inputs to the follower cells.
Alpha Convex Hull, a Generalization of Convex Hull

Bounding hull, such as convex hull, concave hull, alpha shapes etc. has vast applications in different areas especially in computational geometry. Alpha shape and concave hull are generalizations of convex hull. Unlike the convex hull, they construct non-convex enclosure on a set of points. In this paper, we introduce another generalization of convex hull, named alpha-concave hull, and compare this concept with convex hull and alpha shape. We show that the alpha-concave hull is also a generalization of an NP-complete problem named min-area TSP. We prove that computing the alpha-concave hull is NP-hard on a set of points.
Trends in the uptake of smoking in Busselton, Western Australia.

Tobacco smoking habits in adults in Busselton, Western Australia, including age at beginning smoking, are described from the triennial surveys conducted between 1966 and 1981. That the proportion of ex-smokers apparently rose faster in Busselton than it did in the whole of Australia may have been due, in part, to the reporting of smoking habits to family doctors which occurred after each Busselton survey. Different patterns of smoking experience were observed in men (a rise in the proportion of never smokers) and women (a decline in the proportion of never smokers, and a fall in the average age at beginning smoking). Thus in those born most recently and represented in the surveys, the proportion of never smokers was a bout the same in women as in men. The recent convergence of prevalence of ever having smoked and age at uptake of smoking in men and women may mean that they will experience similar rates of smoking-related disease in the future.
An Eye Tracking Examination of Men’s Attractiveness by Conceptive Risk Women

Previous research has indicated that women prefer men who exhibit an android physical appearance where fat distribution is deposited on the upper body (i.e., shoulders and arms) and abdomen. This ideal physical shape has been associated with perceived dominance, health, and immunocompetence. Although research has investigated attractability of men with these ideal characteristics, research on how women visually perceive these characteristics is limited. The current study investigated visual perception and attraction toward men in Hispanic women of Mexican American descent. Women exposed to a front-posed image, where the waist-to-chest ratio (WCR) and hair distribution were manipulated, rated men’s body image associated with upper body strength (low WCR 0.7) as more attractive. Additionally, conceptive risk did not play a strong role in attractiveness and visual attention. Hair distribution did not contribute to increased ratings of attraction but did contribute to visual attraction when measuring total time where men with both facial and body hair were viewed longer. These findings suggest that physical characteristics in men exhibiting upper body strength and dominance are strong predictors of visual attraction.
Increase in Striatal [3H]Muscimol Binding Following Intrastriatal Injection of Kainic Acid: A Denervation Supersensitivity Phenomenon

The effect of intrastriatal microinjection of kainic acid (KA) on specific binding of [3H]muscimol to the particulate fractions obtained from corpus striatum (CS), globus pallidus (GP), substantia nigra (SN), and cerebral cortex (CC) was examined. Seven days after the unilateral intrastriatal microinjection of KA, the amount of specifically bound [3H]muscimol was significantly increased at the injected site, whereas no significant alteration of [3H]muscimol binding was found in GP, SN, or CC. Scatchard analysis of striatal binding revealed that microinjection of KA significantly increased the affinity (KD) of GABA receptors on the injected (lesioned) side of the CS without affecting the total number of binding sites (Bmax) therein. This significant increase in [3H]muscimol binding, however, was eliminated by pretreating particulate fractions from the CS with Triton X‐100, a non‐ionic detergent. No statistically significant difference in amounts of [3H]muscimol binding was detected when the preparations from the KA‐treated and non‐treated CS were preincubated with 0.05% Triton X‐100, respectively. Scatchard analysis using CS preparations treated with 0.05% Triton X‐100 revealed that the affinity of the GABA receptor was increased by treatment with Triton X‐100, while the total number of binding sites (Bmax) was unchanged by this treatment. These results suggest that neuronal degeneration produced by KA in vivo and pretreatment of particulate preparations with Triton X‐100 in vitro may increase the amount of specifically bound [3H]muscimol to CS preparations by a similar molecular mechanism.
Quadratic Forms Representing All Odd Positive Integers

We consider the problem of classifying all positive-definite integer-valued quadratic forms that represent all positive odd integers. Kaplansky considered this problem for ternary forms, giving a list of 23 candidates, and proving that 19 of those represent all positive odds. (Jagy later dealt with a 20th candidate.) Assuming that the remaining three forms represent all positive odds, we prove that an arbitrary, positive-definite quadratic form represents all positive odds if and only if it represents the odd numbers from 1 up to 451. This result is analogous to Bhargava and Hanke's celebrated 290-theorem. In addition, we prove that these three remaining ternaries represent all positive odd integers, assuming the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis. This result is made possible by a new analytic method for bounding the cusp constants of integer-valued quaternary quadratic forms $Q$ with fundamental discriminant. This method is based on the analytic properties of Rankin-Selberg $L$-functions, and we use it to prove that if $Q$ is a quaternary form with fundamental discriminant, the largest locally represented integer $n$ for which $Q(\vec{x}) = n$ has no integer solutions is $O(D^{2 + \epsilon})$.