Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Russian olive, Elaeagnus angustifolia, alters patterns in soil nitrogen pools along the Rio Grande River, New Mexico, USA

Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) is an invasive non-native tree in western North America capable of nitrogen fixation through symbiotic actinorhizal associations. The high abundance of the tree may have important effects on ecosystem nutrient dynamics and consequent community responses. This study explored the influence of Russian olive on soil nitrogen along a section of the Rio Grande River riparian zone in Rio Grande Valley State Park, Albuquerque, New Mexico. Cottonwood trees (Populus deltoides, var. wislizenii) without subcanopy trees were paired with cottonwood having a Russian olive under the canopy, and soil nitrogen pools were assessed. Relative to open interplant areas, soils under subcanopy Russian olive showed a 55% increase in total nitrogen and nearly four times the amount of available nitrogen compared to soils under cottonwood alone. Organic matter accumulation followed a similar pattern relative to open areas with 73% more accumulation under subcanopy Russian olive compared with cottonwood trees alone. Acetylene reduction and δ15N revealed that nitrogen fixation occurred in Russian olive at the site during the time of sampling, and foliar chemistry averaged 2.58% nitrogen for Russian olive compared to 0.54% for cottonwood. Both soil texture and Russian olive presence proved to be important factors affecting the observed soil nitrogen patterns. Despite these nitrogen inputs, cottonwood trees appeared to utilize sources other than that derived from Russian olive. A soil respiration experiment assessed the influence of Russian olive on soil microbial productivity, which revealed that soils at this location are carbon limited and not nitrogen limited. Even after imposing a nitrogen limitation through the addition of carbon, Russian olive did not affect microbial productivity despite higher nitrogen levels in soils associated with it. The results of this study show that Russian olive enhances soil nitrogen resources in this semi-arid riparian environment, but the added nitrogen is not likely to facilitate cottonwood tree growth or further exotic weed invasion. Russian olive may instead compete with cottonwood for other resources.
Health related quality of life in patients with type I diabetes mellitus: generic & disease-specific measurement.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE An ideal instrument for the assessment of health related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with diabetes mellitus type I (T1DM) should incorporate the benefits of both generic and disease-specific instruments. The objective of this study was to investigate the responsiveness and the ability to provide information about diabetes-specific associations with HRQOL, of two generic instruments, in comparison with two diabetes-specific instruments, in patients with T1DM. METHODS In a Dutch cohort of 234 patients with T1DM we longitudinally assessed HRQOL using both generic and diabetes-specific instruments. We investigated the responsiveness, the associations with diabetes-specific variables and the identification of specific patients by the instruments used. RESULTS The generic RAND-36 was able to detect statistically significant and clinically relevant changes in HRQOL over time. Moreover, the RAND-36 was associated with (changes in) diabetes-specific variables. The generic and diabetes-specific instruments partly identified different patients with lowest HRQOL. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION The RAND-36 was highly responsive to changes in HRQOL in patients with T1DM and revealed diabetes-specific associations with HRQOL. A low correlation between the generic and diabetes-specific instruments and partly different identification of patients with lower HRQOL support the complementary use of these instruments in patients with T1DM.
The influence of selenium-enriched milk proteins and selenium yeast on plasma selenium levels and rectal selenoprotein gene expression in human subjects

Certain forms of dietary Se may have advantages for improving human Se status and regulating the risk for disease, such as cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC). The present study compared the effects of a Se-enriched milk protein (dairy-Se) with a Se-rich yeast (yeast-Se) on plasma Se levels and rectal selenoprotein gene expression since we reasoned that if these genes were not regulated, there was little potential for regulating the risk for CRC in this organ. A total of twenty-three healthy volunteers with plasma Se in the lower half of the population range were supplemented with dairy-Se (150 μg/d) or yeast-Se (150 μg/d) for 6 weeks, followed by 6 weeks of washout period. Blood was sampled every 2 weeks, and rectal biopsies were obtained before and after Se supplementation and after the washout period. Plasma Se levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity, and rectal mRNA of selenoprotein P (SeP), cytosolic GPx-1 (GPx-1), gastrointestinal GPx-2 (GPx-2) and thioredoxin reductase-1 (TrxR-1) were measured. Plasma Se levels increased rapidly in both Se groups (P < 0·001); plasma GPx activity was not significantly changed. Rectal SeP mRNA increased at 6 weeks compared with baseline in both Se groups (P < 0·05); only dairy-Se resulted in a sustained elevation of SeP after the washout period (P < 0·05). Rectal GPx-1 and GPx-2 mRNA were higher with dairy-Se (P < 0·05) than with yeast-Se at 6 weeks. In conclusion, three rectal selenoprotein mRNA were differentially regulated by dairy-Se and yeast-Se. Changes in rectal selenoproteins are not predicted by changes in plasma Se; dairy-Se effectively regulates the expression of several rectal selenoproteins of relevance to the risk for CRC.
Reactive Occipital Epileptiform Activity: Is It Benign?

SUMMARY: Occipital epileptiform activity that is almost continuous and reactive to eye opening has been associated with a childhood epilepsy syndrome and basilar migraine with seizures. An association of these syndromes with a benign course had been disputed. In this study, a retrospective investigation of reactive occipital epileptiform activity (ROEA) was performed to determine the prognostic value of this distinctive EGG pattern. The EEG and hospital record of patients with ROEA were reviewed with an observation period of 6 months to 8 years. The patients were divided into good and poor outcome groups based on response to treatment. Of 33 patients, 12 (36.4%) had complete seizure control; 21 (63.6%) continued to have poorly controlled seizures. Only 3 (9.1%) patients were able to discontinue antiepi‐leptic drugs (AEDs) without seizure recurrence. Analysis of clinical and EEG variables showed that a history of perinatal difficulties, abnormal neurologic findings, and abnormal EEG background activities occur significantly more frequently in the poor outcome group. This study suggests that ROEA is not uniformly associated with a benign course and that other factors are involved in determining prognosis of the epilepsy.
The Influence of Peer Behavior as a Function of Social and Cultural Closeness: A Meta-Analysis of Normative Influence on Adolescent Smoking Initiation and Continuation

Although the influence of peers on adolescent smoking should vary depending on social dynamics, there is a lack of understanding of which elements are most crucial and how this dynamic unfolds for smoking initiation and continuation across areas of the world. The present meta-analysis included 75 studies yielding 237 effect sizes that examined associations between peers’ smoking and adolescents’ smoking initiation and continuation with longitudinal designs across 16 countries. Mixed-effects models with robust variance estimates were used to calculate weighted-mean Odds ratios. This work showed that having peers who smoke is associated with about twice the odds of adolescents beginning (OR = 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.76, 2.19]) and continuing to smoke (OR = 1.78, 95% CI [1.55, 2.05]). Moderator analyses revealed that (a) smoking initiation was more positively correlated with peers’ smoking when the interpersonal closeness between adolescents and their peers was higher (vs. lower); and (b) both smoking initiation and continuation were more positively correlated with peers’ smoking when samples were from collectivistic (vs. individualistic) cultures. Thus, both individual as well as population level dynamics play a critical role in the strength of peer influence. Accounting for cultural variables may be especially important given effects on both initiation and continuation. Implications for theory, research, and antismoking intervention strategies are discussed.
Rotating Gliding Arc Codriven by Magnetic Field and Tangential Flow

The physical characteristics of a rotating gliding arc (RGA) discharge reactor, which is codriven by magnetic field and tangential flow, have been investigated by means of an oscilloscope and a high-speed camera. When air was used as the carrier gas, RGA motions in magnetic fields were recorded by a high-speed camera. A double-arc phenomenon was observed in the magnetic field with a low flux density (200 G). However, for a high flux density (1000 G), the arc did not break anymore, and the contacts between the arc and outer electrode moved along the inner wall of the outer electrode. For the study of electrical parameters of RGA plasma, N2, air, and O2 were used as carrier gas. The results showed that the voltage waveform of the discharge in air flow was relatively stable. When O2 was used, the breakdown voltage and sustain voltage were both very low, and the average power applied was lower than that of the other cases.
Model-assisted complier average treatment effect estimates in randomized experiments with non-compliance

In randomized experiments, the actual treatments received by some experimental units may differ from their treatment assignments. This non-compliance issue often occurs in clinical trials, social experiments, and the applications of randomized experiments in many other fields. Under certain assumptions, the average treatment effect for the compliers is identifiable and equal to the ratio of the intention-to-treat effects of the potential outcomes to that of the potential treatment received. To improve the estimation efficiency, we propose three model-assisted estimators for the complier average treatment effect in randomized experiments with a binary outcome. We study their asymptotic properties, compare their efficiencies with that of the Wald estimator, and propose the Neyman-type conservative variance estimators to facilitate valid inferences. Moreover, we extend our methods and theory to estimate the multiplicative complier average treatment effect. Our analysis is randomization-based, allowing the working models to be misspecified. Finally, we conduct simulation studies to illustrate the advantages of the model-assisted methods and apply these analysis methods in a randomized experiment to evaluate the effect of academic services or incentives on academic performance.
VPS35 mutation in Japanese patients with typical Parkinson's disease

Vacuolar protein sorting 35 (VPS35) was recently reported to be a pathogenic gene for late‐onset autosomal dominant Parkinson's disease (PD), using exome sequencing. To date, VPS35 mutations have been detected only in whites with PD. The aim of the present study was to determine the incidence and clinical features of Asian PD patients with VPS35 mutations. We screened 7 reported nonsynonymous missense variants of VPS35, including p.D620N, known as potentially disease‐associated variants of PD, in 300 Japanese index patients with autosomal dominant PD and 433 patients with sporadic PD (SPD) by direct sequencing or high‐resolution melting (HRM) analysis. In addition, we screened 579 controls for the p.D620N mutation by HRM analysis. The p.D620N mutation was detected in 3 patients with autosomal dominant PD (1.0%), in 1 patient with SPD (0.23%), and in no controls. None of the other reported variants of VPS35 were detected. Haplotype analysis suggested at least 3 independent founders for Japanese patients with p.D620N mutation. Patients with the VPS35 mutation showed typical tremor‐predominant PD. We report Asian PD patients with the VPS35 mutation. Although VPS35 mutations are uncommon in PD, the frequency of such mutation is relatively higher in Japanese than reported in other populations. In VPS35, p.D620N substitution may be a mutational hot spot across different ethnic populations. Based on the clinical features, VPS35 should be analyzed in patients with PD, especially autosomal dominant PD or tremor‐predominant PD. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
Contacts entre individus : analyse et application à l'étude de la propagation de maladies infectieuses

Les contacts face-a-face entre individus permettent de caracteriser les reseaux sociaux et jouent un role preponderant dans la comprehension des mecanismes de propagation des epidemies dans une population. De recentes avancees technologiques ont rendu possible l'acquisition de donnees precises sur les interactions humaines. Cette these presente, dans un premier temps, l'analyse de donnees de contacts collectees trois annees de suite (2011, 2012 et 2013) dans un lycee francais entre des etudiants de classes preparatoires. L'analyse a montre que la plupart des contacts se produisent entre etudiants de meme classe et que les structures des contacts sont tres similaires d'un jour sur l'autre. Dans un second temps, on compare differentes methodes de collecte de donnees qui permettent d'obtenir des informations de nature differente (par exemple existence d'un contact face-a-face vs existence d'une amitie). L'utilisation de donnees rapportant les amities entre les etudiants ne permet pas d'obtenir une bonne estimation du reseau de contact (i.e., les amities ne correspondent pas forcement a des contacts face-a-face et vice versa) resultant en une sous-estimation du risque epidemique dans cette population.Dans la derniere partie, nous essayons de reproduire les biais provenant du reseau d'amitie en echantillonnant le reseau de contact. Ceci pourrait nous donner des indications sur comment compenser ces biais et comment utiliser des donnees incompletes pour obtenir des predictions fiables sur le risque epidemique.
Comparison of the Effects of an Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitor and a Calcium Channel Blocker on Blood Pressure and Respiratory Function in Patients with Hypertension and Asthma

SUMMARY A series of 12 adult patients with stable bronchial asthma and an established diagnosis of essential hypertension (WHO I or II) were studied in a randomized double-blind crossover study to assess the effect of captopril (50–100 mg/day) and verapamil (160–240 mg/day) on blood pressure, lung function, and asthmatic symptoms. The effect of the medication on blood pressure was significant. Blood pressure (mean 164/103 mm Hg initially) decreased to a mean of 145/90 mm Hg and 155/92 mm Hg after 4 weeks on captopril and verapamil, respectively, with fewer orthostatic changes caused by captopril. There were no marked changes of asthmatic symptoms or peak flow (PEF) or forced expiratory volume (FEV,) measurements during the trial.
High Quantitative Job Demands and Low Coworker Support As Risk Factors for Neck Pain: Results of a Prospective Cohort Study

Study Design. A 3-year prospective cohort study among 1334 workers was conducted. Objective. To determine whether the work-related psychosocial factors of quantitative job demands, conflicting job demands, skill discretion, decision authority, supervisor support, coworker support, and job security are risk factors for neck pain. Summary of Background Data. Among the various risk factors for neck pain, work-related psychosocial factors play a major role. Previous studies on risk factors for neck pain often had a cross-sectional design, and did not take both physical and psychosocial factors into account. Methods. At baseline, data on work-related psychosocial factors were collected by means of a questionnaire. During the 3-year follow-up period, data on the occurrence of neck pain were collected by means of postal questionnaires. Individuals without neck pain at baseline were selected for the analyses. Cox regression analysis was applied to examine the relation between the work-related psychosocial factors and the cumulative incidence of neck pain. Adjustments were made for various physical factors and individual characteristics. Results. The analysis included 977 patients. Altogether, 141 workers (14.4%) reported that they had experienced neck pain at least once during the 3-year follow-up period. The relation of neck pain to high quantitative job demands (relative risk [RR], 2.14; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.28–3.58) and low coworker support (RR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.11–5.29) was statistically significant. An increased risk was found for low decision authority in relation to neck pain (RR, 1.60; 95% CI, 0.74–3.45), but this relation was not statistically significant. Conclusions. High quantitative job demands and low coworker support are independent risk factors for neck pain. There are indications that another risk factor for neck pain is low decision authority.
The Concentration and Persistence of Health Care Expenditures and Prescription Drug Expenditures in Medicare Beneficiaries With Alzheimer Disease and Related Dementias

Background:Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD) have become a major concern for Medicare because of the increasing prevalence rate and the associated high cost of care. Objectives:This study investigated the extent of concentration and persistence in total health care expenditures and prescription drug expenditures among the elderly with ADRD, and identified characteristics associated with expenditure persistence that may provide targets for cost containment approaches. Research Design:This retrospective cohort study analyzed cross-sectional Medicare Current Beneficiary Survey data to examine expenditure concentration by calculating the proportion of total and prescription drug expenditures incurred by the top 10%, top 25%, and top 50% of beneficiaries in each year. A transition probability matrix and logit models were estimated to predict expenditure persistence over a 2-year period. Results:The top 10% of beneficiaries with ADRD accounted for nearly half of total health expenditures and one-third of drug expenditures. Inpatient care comprised the largest share of overall expenditures in the top 10% group, whereas physician visits and prescription medications were the cost drivers in the bottom 50% group. Expenditure persistence was very strong, especially for prescription drugs. Prior expenditures and comorbidity burdens were the strongest predictors of persistence. Conclusions:The results of our study highlight the challenges to reducing expenditure growth and persistence for high-cost ADRD beneficiaries with prominent comorbidities. It will be important to examine whether better care coordination and disease management tailored to high-cost beneficiaries with ADRD can effectively contain costs.
A chondrogenic gene expression signature in mesenchymal stem cells is a classifier of conventional central chondrosarcoma

Phenotypic and molecular parallels between the development of chondrosarcoma and the differentiation of chondrocytes in normal growth plate suggest that chondrosarcoma may arise from mesenchymal precursor cells driven towards chondrogenesis. We hypothesized that a comparison between cartilaginous tumours and their possible physiological cells of origin, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), might have biological and clinical relevance. MSCs from eight donors were submitted to chondrogenic differentiation in spheroid cultures. Expression profiles of MSCs at days 0, 7, 14, 28 and 42 of chondrogenesis and of 18 chondrosarcomas with different histological grades were studied using a customized cDNA array. Hierarchical clustering of MSC gene expression during chondrogenesis allowed the classification of samples in a pre‐chondrogenic and a chondrogenic cluster corresponding to the phenotypes of early and late differentiation stages. The 74 genes differentially expressed between the two clusters were defined as chondrogenesis‐relevant genes. Gene expression profiles of chondrosarcoma were submitted to hierarchical clustering on the basis of these chondrogenesis‐relevant genes. This analysis allowed clear distinction between grade I and grade III chondrosarcoma and separated grade II chondrosarcoma into two groups. All grade II chondrosarcomas with occurrence of metastasis were found together with the grade III chondrosarcomas in the pre‐chondrogenic cluster. This analysis shows that a molecular approach based on the comparison of tumour samples to an in vitro model for chondrogenic differentiation allows a new classification of chondrosarcoma in two clusters. These data suggest that the identification of a pre‐chondrogenic and a chondrogenic phenotype for chondrosarcoma by gene expression profiling could develop into a useful tool to predict the clinical behaviour of chondrosarcoma. Copyright © 2008 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Although Pig Allogeneic Mesenchymal Stem Cells Are Not Immunogenic In Vitro, Intracardiac Injection Elicits an Immune Response In Vivo

Background. In vitro, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have demonstrated a low immunogenic profile. In this study, we tested the immune response to allogeneic MSCs in immunocompetent swines both in vitro and in vivo. Methods. Major histocompatibility complex–controlled swine leukocyte antigen (SLA)cd and SLAdd were used as donor and recipient, respectively. In vitro, proliferative responses were tested by mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) or cocultures and cytokine profiling by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In vivo, allogeneic MSCs were injected in cardiac infarcted area (n=3) and compared with subcutaneous injections of either MSCs (n=2) or peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs; n=2). Two additional animals received a skin graft as controls. No immunosuppression was used. Specific antidonor humoral responses were tested by flow cytometry and complement-dependent cytotoxicity assay. Results. In vitro, either unstimulated MSCs or interferon (IFN)-&ggr; stimulated MSC failed to elicit a proliferative response (stimulation index: 1.23 vs. 1.12 vs. 36.9 for controls, P<.001). Concomitantly to the absence of proliferation to MSCs, low production of IFN-&ggr; and interleukin-2 was evidenced in supernatants while the production of Th2 cytokines was comparable to controls. In vivo, all animals receiving skin grafts, subcutaneous PBMCs and intracardiac MSCs injections developed donor-specific cellular and humoral responses (immunoglobulins M and G) with antibody-complement-mediated cytotoxicity. Subcutaneous MSCs injection needed a rechallenge to similarly develop a cytotoxic humoral response. Conclusions. Intracardiac allogeneic porcine mesenchymal stem cells elicit an immune response despite their low immunogenic profile in vitro. This result suggests that in vivo characteristics of allogeneic MSCs might differ and emphasizes the importance of pursuing research both in vitro and in vivo.