Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Adiposity Measures as Indicators of Metabolic Risk Factors in Adolescents

Aim: To examine the relation between adiposity assessment methods (percentage body fat (%BF), BMI, and waist circumference (WC)) and individual metabolic risk factors (f-insulin, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides) and a combined measure of metabolic risk. Methods: Crosssectional study of 300 males (BMI 20.8 ± 3.0 kg/m2) and females (BMI 21.3 ± 2.9 kg/m2) 17 years of age. F-insulin and components of the metabolic syndrome defined by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) were used as metabolic risk indicators, with samples stratified into BMI, %BF, and WC groups, respectively. Diagnostic accuracy was expressed as the area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results: In males, diagnostic accuracy for HDL and f-insulin was poor to fair for BMI (AUC 0.70, p = 0.001; 0.60, p = 0.22), WC (0.68, p = 0.003; 0.63, p = 0.11), and %BF (0.65, p = 0.009; 0.66, p = 0.04). The diagnostic accuracy for triglycerides was greater for all three measures (BMI 0.92, WC 0.95, %BF 0.87; all p < 0.001). For females, neither test performed better than chance for f-insulin and HDL, and only %BF performed better than chance for triglycerides (0.65, p = 0.08). All three measures exhibited higher accuracy for presence of ≥2 metabolic risk factors (AUCs 0.76–0.91, p < 0.001) in both sexes. Conclusion: %BF was not superior to BMI and WC for detecting metabolic risk in the general adolescent population.
Charge injection studies on XLPE surfaces exposed to partial discharges

Metallic electrodes covered by an on-site deposited XLPE films were annealed to release tribologic stresses and then exposed to Partial Discharge (PD) action. After exposure, time evolution of the remaining charge profile was investigated using a high spatial resolution capacitive probe. The results demonstrate a correlation between charge profile and partial discharge by-products formation. Furthermore, homo and hetero charges appear after the by-products were removed from the surface using different solvents. A strong negative charge injection is measured when a spot increases its degradation and evolves into a failure. Alteration of charge profiles changes were investigated using different degradation atmospheres including nitrogen and air. Studies performed on XLPE films allowed to correlate humidity, present during the partial discharge exposition, and PD magnitude, PD repetition rate, by-products formation and charge profile.
Language Differences and Occupational Experience

Because Canada has a labour force composed of more than one language stock, it is of interest to ask what social organization has developed to take account of this pluralism in her work world. Such an interest may take two main forms. First, with respect to a language variable, differences in occupational opportunities may be seen as the sole problem of Canadian Indians and Eskimos, of French Canadians, or of New Canadians. Second, we may wish to find out how our different language groups achieve interdependence in actual work situations and with what consequences for society as a whole. It is the second approach which will be adopted here; in a sense it includes the first, since the problem of any group stems in large part from the ways in which groups act on each other. The groups to which I shall limit my discussion will be the English and the French Canadians, but my remarks will undoubtedly apply, at least in part, to groups who speak other languages. The view taken in this paper is that in our society, because English is the sole language which has currency in all aspects of social activity, people of different mother tongues have unequal opportunities for work. In a plural society, two consequences follow from the dominance of one language: a limited utilization of the potential skills of those who do not know the dominant language perfectly and a disengagement of the other mother tongues from important aspects of social reality.
Immune Response Due to Silica Exposure in Egyptian Phosphate Mines

Silicosis is the most common occupational lung disease in Egypt where its prevalence rate ranges from 18.5 % to 45.8% among workers exposed to free crystalline silica dust. Despite its high prevalence, there is a lack of enforcement of exposure limits, availability and use of personal protective equipment, and occupational health education programs. These factors led the authors to study this unique working population; to the best of our knowledge, this is the first work that investigates the effect of exposure to crystalline silica on select immune response of exposed Egyptian phosphate miners. The main aims of this study were to investigate the effect of exposure to free crystalline silica on pulmonary function parameters and select immune response of exposed Egyptian phosphate miners. The study involved of three groups: 50 silica-exposed workers with radiological evidence of silicosis, 50 silica-exposed workers without evidence of silicosis, and 50 healthy unexposed subjects. There were significant differences between pulmonary function parameters in exposed groups with and without silicosis, and healthy unexposed control subjects (p<.001) and pulmonary function was significantly correlated with duration of silica exposure. Smoking had an additive effect on reduction of pulmonary function. Average values of C-reactive protein, rheumatoid factor, complement component C3, IgA, IgG, and IgM were significantly higher in the exposed group with silicosis than in the exposed group without silicosis and in healthy unexposed control subjects (p<.001).
Rising Tuition and Supply Constraints: Explaining Canada-U.S. Differences in University Enrollment Rates *

This paper exploits differences across the Canadian provinces and U.S. states in the evolution of cohort size, tuition levels and provincial/state appropriations per-college-age person from 1973 to 1999, to investigate cross-country differences in university/4 -year college public enrollment rates. For the entire period, the elasticity of enrollment rates with respect to tuition levels is found to be the same in both countries at about -0.15. Provincial/state appropriations percollege-age person are also found to have played a determining role, especially in the 1970s when real tuition plummeted and in the 1990s when these sources of funding flattered.
Determination of the Kinetics of Na+/H+ Exchange in Platelets Using the Coulter S-Plus Cell Counter

Cell swelling, as measured by electronic cell sizing, is a good indicator of the Na+/H+ exchange activation. In this study the kinetic properties of the Na+/H+ exchanger were determined with the aid of the Coulter S-Plus VI D haematological cell counter. Cell swelling was measured in platelets suspended in Na-propionate medium. The rapid entry and intracellular dissociation of propionic acid induces activation of the exchanger, and in turn the uptake of water by osmosis. The fractional volume increase measured by the Coulter S-Plus was dependent on the external Na-concentration, with Km = 86 mmol/l. Saturation was reached at a propionate concentration of 140 mmol/l. Inhibition by amiloride was dose-dependent with Ki = 24 mumol/l. The activity of the exchanger was not modified by ouabain. These data are generally consistent with those published in previous reports, and indicate that automated haematological analysers are appropriate for the study of this aspect of platelet function.
How the actions and experiences of teachers engaging in student voice can enrich our thinking about what it is and the factors that influence it

I ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . II DECLARATION . III LIST OF TABLES . V LIST OF FIGURES . VI CHAPTER 1INTRODUCTION . 1 1.1 A Personal Perspective . 1 1.2 A Developing Focus . 4 1.3 A Developing Research Context . 6 1.3. 1 My Research Assumptions and the Evolved Boundaries for this Study . 6 1.3. 2 Epistemic Perspective . 8 1.3. 3 The Research Questions . 9 CHAPTER 2REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE . 11 2.1 Review Criteria . 12 2.2 Some General ImpressionsA Basic Mapping of the Topic . 13 2.2.1 A Broader Perspective . 13 2.2.2 Summary . 20 2.3 A More Detailed Topology . 21 2.3. 1 A Matter of Interpretation? 21 2.3. 2 Some Common Ground? 23 2.4 Problematizing the Agenda . 30 2.4. 1 Multiple Voices and Agendas . 30
Framing and the annuitization decision – Experimental evidence from a Dutch pension fund

Abstract We report the effects of framing settings in annuity demand after conducting a survey-based experiment with members of a Dutch occupational pension plan. We gave participants the option to allocate up to 20% of their projected pension accrual to a lump sum. In particular, we investigated the joint effects of consumption and investment frames and gain and loss frames. We present strong evidence for framing effects in annuity demand. Framing effects remain significant when we control for individual characteristics. We also find robust evidence of individual characteristics influencing annuity demand, highlighting the importance of heterogeneity among participants, for example risk aversion, time preference and trust in the pension fund. Gender and long-term debt positions have significant impact how one responds to framing. We conclude that Dutch plan members generally welcome the partial lump sum option over mandatory full annuitization. The application of frames appears to predictively steer annuity demand. The precise effect framing may have, would probably also depend on the institutional environment, which predefines the perspective through which individuals filter annuities.
Validity testing of the quality of life scale, Swedish version: focus group interviews of women with fibromyalgia.

Focus group interviews were used to examine validity of the Quality of Life Scale, Swedish version (QOLS-S) for use with women with fibromyalgia. Five interviews with 18 women with fibromyalgia were completed. The opening question was "What does quality of life mean to you? " Later, participants were asked to respond to questions about the specific domains and items in the QOLS-S. The transcribed interviews were analysed, and categories were identified. Opinions concerning domains and items in the QOLS-S were linked to domains of the QOLS-S. Four categories emerged from the opening question: finances, to be an active person and participate in society, relations with others, and health. Overall, the women's perceptions of quality of life were congruent with the domains of QOLS-S. However, further attention should be given to the translation of certain items and apparent overlaps in some items indicate that they can be combined. Also, the instrument needs to be scrutinized from a cultural perspective because some items in the "social, community and civic activities" domain were not endorsed by the participants.
Hyaluronic acid and tendon lesions

Tendon lesions are very common in sportsmen and physical workers1. Their physiopathology is multifactorial, including intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which can be modified or not2. Even if detrained tendons present the same histological structure as chronic tendinopathies, however, this condition remains an overuse pathology which is often difficult to treat2. For this reason, various new treatment have been developed1 such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP)3 or growth factors4 infiltrations. Recently, the anti-inflammatory and lubrication properties of HA have also been suggested for the treatment of these pathologies5. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a polysaccharide with a high molecular weight (between 100 kDa and 10 MDa), mainly found in the extracellular matrix where it plays different roles at various places in the organism5. Its half-life is only three to five minutes in the circulation, less than a day in tissue, and between one and three weeks in cartilage. This speed of renewal means that this polymer is constantly synthesised and degraded5. HA can be categorised into three groups based on molecular weight: low molecular weight: MW < 1MDa; medium molecular weight: 1MDa < MW < 2MDa; high molecular weight: MW > 2MDa. HA ensures the viscoelasticity of liquid connective tissues such as the synovial joint and the corpus vitreum of the eye5. As a result of this ability, its role in the body is, among other things, to bind to water and to lubricate mobile parts of the body such as the joints and muscles5. Intra-articular injections of synthetic HA are widely used in the medical treatment of osteoarthritis6-8. Industrially, HA is obtained through two different procedures: extraction from rooster combs, after grinding and chemical treatment5; purification and bacterial fermentation5. The viscosity of the gel which is obtained is proportional to the length (molecular weight, expressed in Daltons) of the polymer fibres. This viscosity will deReview article
Interaction of insulin-like growth factor-II and estradiol directs steroidogenesis in the human fetal adrenal toward dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate production.

We examined the regulation of steroid production in fetal zone cells from midgestation (16-21 weeks) human fetal adrenal glands to elucidate the mechanism by which these cells secrete large quantities of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHAS) and little cortisol in response to ACTH. Our underlying hypothesis is that estrogen and insulin-like to ACTH. Our underlying hypothesis is that estrogen and insulin-like growth factor-II (IGF-II) modulate the steroidogenic response of fetal zone cells to ACTH, driving steroid production toward DHAS rather than cortisol. We also hypothesize that the effects of IGF-II and estrogen on steroidogenesis are achieved by modulating the expression of key enzymes in the steroidogenic pathway. Basal cortisol secretion by cultured fetal zone cells was below the limit of assay sensitivity (< 0.54 pmol/10(5) cells.24 h), whereas basal DHAS secretion was 210.8 +/- 41.0 pmol/10(5) cells.24 h (mean +/- SE). ACTH-(1-24) increased the secretion of cortisol to 228.96 +/- 6.75 pmol/10(5) cells.24 h and that of DHAS to 2039.8 +/- 121.7 pmol/10(5) cells.24 h. Neither IGF-II nor estradiol (E2) affected basal (no added ACTH) steroid secretion by fetal zone cells. IGF-II increased ACTH-stimulated cortisol and DHAS secretion by fetal zone cells in a dose-dependent fashion. In contrast, E2 at high concentrations (1-10 mumol/L) decreased ACTH-stimulated cortisol production to basal levels, but increased ACTH-stimulated DHAS production 1.5- to 2-fold. Combinations of IGF-II (100 ng/mL) and E2 (1 mumol/L) increased ACTH-stimulated cortisol and DHAS secretion by 1.5- to 2-fold compared with control values. However, compared with cultures exposed to IGF-II alone, inclusion of E2 decreased ACTH-stimulated cortisol secretion by about 60% and increased ACTH-stimulated DHAS secretion by about 50%. IGF-II increased the abundance of ACTH-stimulated mRNAs encoding cholesterol side-chain cleavage cytochrome P450 (P450scc), 17 alpha hydroxylase/17,20 lyase P450 (P450c17), and 3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3 beta HSD). In addition, IGF-II increased the abundance of mRNA encoding P450c17 under basal conditions, but did not affect the basal expression of P450scc or 3 beta HSD. E2 had no effect on basal expression of these steroidogenic enzymes, but increased the abundance of ACTH-stimulated mRNA encoding P450scc and P450c17. The abundance of mRNA encoding 3 beta HSD was not affected by E2. The effect of IGF-II and E2 in combination on steroidogenic enzyme mRNA abundance was not different from that of IGF-II alone. These data indicate that IGF-II increases ACTH-stimulated steroid production in fetal zone cells by increasing the expression of key steroidogenic enzymes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Stimulating Housing Markets

This paper studies temporary policy incentives designed to address capital overhang by inducing asset demand from buyers in the private market. Using variation across local geographies in ex ante program exposure and a difference-in-differences design, we find that the First-Time Homebuyer Credit induced a cumulative increase in home sales of 397 to 546 thousand, or 7.8 to 10.7 percent, nationally. We find little evidence of a sharp reversal of the policy response; instead, demand comes from several years in the future. The program likely sped the process of reallocating homes from distressed sellers to high value buyers, which stabilized house prices. The response is concentrated in the existing home sales market, implying the stimulative effects of the program were less important than its role in accelerating reallocation.
Back Pain and Disability After Harrington Rod Fusion to the Lumbar Spine for Scoliosis

Back pain questionnaires were completed by a study group of 103 idiopathic scoliosis patients fused with Harrington rods from L3 or lower and a control group of 29 patients fused to L2 or above. Minimum time to follow-up examination was 2 years. The study group had a higher rate of secondary surgeries for complications or late disc disease below the fusion, a higher back pain score, more difficulties with normal daily activities, needed more regular pain medications, and had more episodes of back pain. Patients older than 30 years at surgery had more of these problems if fused to L3 or more caudally. The amount of remaining lumbar lordosis correlated significantly with the difficulty of normal daily activities.
Structure and localization of genes encoding aberrant and normal epidermal growth factor receptor RNAs from A431 human carcinoma cells

A431 cells have an amplification of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor gene, the cellular homolog of the v-erb B oncogene, and overproduce an aberrant 2.9-kilobase RNA that encodes a portion of the EGF receptor. A cDNA (pE15) for the aberrant RNA was cloned, sequenced, and used to analyze genomic DNA blots from A431 and normal cells. These data indicate that the aberrant RNA is created by a gene rearrangement within chromosome 7, resulting in a fusion of the 5' portion of the EGF receptor gene to an unidentified region of genomic DNA. The unidentified sequences are amplified to about the same degree (20- to 30-fold) as the EGF receptor sequences. In situ hybridization to chromosomes from normal cells and A431 cells show that both the EGF receptor gene and the unidentified DNA are localized to the p14-p12 region of chromosome 7. By using cDNA fragments to probe DNA blots from mouse-A431 somatic cell hybrids, the rearranged receptor gene was shown to be associated with translocation chromosome M4.
Differential expression of the cell‐cell adhesion molecule E‐cadherin in ascites and solid human ovarian tumor cells

Advanced ovarian cancers contain 2 distinct phenotypic populations: (a) free‐floating tumor cells in the ascitic fluid and (b) solid tumors. Ascites cells are derived from the solid tumors and spread throughout the peritoneum. Changes in cell‐cell and cell‐extracellular matrix interactions are thought to be responsible for the origin of ascites cells. Since E‐cadherin molecules play a crucial role in the cell–cell interactions in epithelial cells, we investigated the expression of E‐cadherin in those 2 phenotypic populations. Paired samples of ascites and solid tumors were obtained from patients. Both primary tumors and tumor cells isolated from an experimental model showed a marked decrease in E‐cadherin expression in the ascites cells compared to the respective solid tumors. Semi‐quantitative, reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) was used to determine the steady‐state levels of E‐cadherin‐specific mRNA. Results indicate that the primary tumors had significantly lower levels of E‐cadherin transcript in ascites cells when compared to their solid tumor counterparts. Changes in E‐cadherin expression were also reflected in the invasion capacity of tumor cells in vitro. Ascites cells were 4‐fold more invasive then solid tumor cells, suggesting that ascites cells are a highly malignant phenotype.
Radiobiological Basis for Cancer Therapy by Total or Half-Body Irradiation

The tumor control effects by total-body irradiation (TBI) or half-body irradiation (HBI) on tumor-bearing mice and human cancer were investigated. In fundamental studies using a murine experimental system, mice that received 10 or 15 cGy of TBI showed a high value of TD50 (number of tumor cells required for successful transplantation to a half group of injected sites) compared with nonirradiated control mice. The combination of low doses of TBI and local irradiation on tumor-bearing mice demonstrated enhanced tumor cell killing compared with only local irradiation, but this tumor-cell killing effect was not observed following 10 or 15 cGy of TBI alone. However, the suppression of distant metastasis of tumor cells was observed following low doses of TBI alone. Immunological studies on these effects suggested that TBI or HBI caused immunopotentiating effects. In clinical studies, malignant lymphoma (non-Hodgkin's lymphoma) was selected as the first disease for clinical trial. The results were promising for tumor control applications, except for advanced cases and very aged patients.
Cardiac involvement in ANCA (+) and ANCA (-) Churg-Strauss syndrome evaluated by cardiovascular magnetic resonance.

INTRODUCTION The cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) pattern of Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) includes myopericarditis, diffuse subendocardial vasculitis or myocardial infarction with or without cardiac symptoms and is usually associated with lack of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA). AIM To correlate the CMR pattern with ANCA in CSS, compare it with healthy controls and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and re-evaluate 2 yrs after the first CMR. PATIENTS-METHODS 28 consecutive CSS, aged 42±7 yrs, were referred for CMR and 2 yrs re-evaluation. The CMR included left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), T2-weighted (T2-W), early (EGE) and late gadolinium enhanced (LGE) imaging. Their results were compared with 28 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) under remission and 28 controls with normal myocardial perfusion, assessed by scintigraphy. RESULTS CMR revealed acute cardiac lesions in all ANCA (-) CSS with active disease and acute cardiac symptoms and only in one asymptomatic ANCA (+) CSS, with active disease. Diffuse subendocardial fibrosis (DSF) or past myocarditis was identified in both ANCA(+) and ANCA (-) CSS, but with higher incidence and fibrosis amount in ANCA (-) CSS (p<0.05). In comparison to SLE, both ANCA (+) and ANCA (-) CSS had higher incidence of DSF, lower incidence of myocarditis and no evidence of myocardial infarction, due to coronary artery disease (p<0.05). In 2 yrs CMR follow up, 1/3 of CSS with DSF presented LV function deterioration and one died, although immunosuppressive treatment was given early after CSS diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac involvement either as DSF or myocarditis, can be detected in both ANCA (+) and ANCA (-) CSS, although more clinically overt in ANCA (-). DSF carries an ominous prognosis for LV function. CMR, due to its capability to detect disease severity, before cardiac dysfunction takes place, is an excellent tool for CSS risk stratification and treatment individualization.