Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychological disturbances and their association with sleep disturbances in patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases

Background Depression and anxiety are common mental health problems that are strongly associated with sleep disturbances, according to community-based researches. However, this association has not been investigated among patients admitted for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We examined the prevalence of depression and anxiety in inpatients with various CVDs and their association with sleep disturbances. Materials and methods This cross-sectional study included 1294 patients hospitalized for CVDs in a Japanese university hospital were evaluated for their mental status using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), for sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) using pulse oximetry, and for sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Results Patient characteristics were as below: mean age, 63.9±14.7 years; 25.7% female. Overall, 18.9% had depression (HADS-depression≥8) and 17.1% had anxiety (HADS-anxiety≥8). The presence of depression was associated with female sex, older age, higher plasma brain natriuretic peptide level, lower estimated glomerular filtration rate, and the prevalence of heart failure. Overall, 46.5% patients were categorized as having a poor sleep quality (PSQI>5), and 28.5% patients had SDB (3% oxygen desaturation index>15). Although depression and anxiety were not associated with SDB, they were independently associated with poor sleep quality (OR = 3.09, 95% CI 2.19–4.36; OR = 3.93, 95% CI 2.71–5.69, respectively). Conclusions Depression and anxiety were not uncommon in patients with CVDs. Poor sleep quality could be an important risk factor linked to psychological disturbances.
University of Groningen CD103+ intraepithelial T cells in high-grade serous ovarian cancer are phenotypically diverse TCRαβ+ CD8αβ+ T cells that can be targeted for cancer immunotherapy Komdeur,

CD103+ tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) have been linked to specific epithelial infiltration and a prolonged survival in high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer (HGSC). However, whether these cells are induced as part of an ongoing antiHGSC immune response or represent non-specifically expanded resident or mucosal lymphocytes remains largely unknown. In this study, we first confirmed that CD103+ TIL from HGSC were predominantly localized in the cancer epithelium and were strongly correlated with an improved prognosis. We further demonstrate that CD103+ TIL were almost exclusively CD3+ TCRαβ+ CD8αβ+ CD4T cells, but heterogeneously expressed T cell memory and differentiation markers. Activation of peripheral T cells in the presence of HGSC was sufficient to trigger induction of CD103 in over 90% of all CD8+ cells in a T cell receptor (TCR)and TGFβR1-dependent manner. Finally, CD103+ TIL isolated from primary HGSC showed signs of recent activation and dominantly co-expressed key immunotherapeutic targets PD-1 and CD27. Taken together, our data indicate CD103+ TIL in HGSC are formed as the result of an adaptive anti-tumor immune response that might be reactivated by (dual) checkpoint inhibition.
Levoketoconazole, the 2S,4R Enantiomer of Ketoconazole, a New Steroidogenesis Inhibitor for Cushing's Syndrome Treatment.

INTRODUCTION Racemic ketoconazole (RK) is a steroidogenesis inhibitor used for treatment of Cushing's syndrome. Levoketoconazole (COR-003), the pure 2S,4R enantiomer, is potentially more potent and safe compared to RK. We compared in vitro effects of levoketoconazole and RK on adrenocortical and pituitary adenoma cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS HAC15 cells and 15 primary human neoplastic adrenocortical cultures (+/- ACTH), and murine (AtT20) and human corticotroph adenoma cultures were incubated with levoketoconazole or RK (0.01-10µM). Cortisol and ACTH were measured using a chemiluminescence immunoassay system, and steroid profiles by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS In HAC15, levoketoconazole inhibited cortisol at lower concentrations (IC50: 0.300µM) compared to RK (0.611µM; P<0.0001). IC50 values of levoketoconazole for basal cortisol production in primary adrenocortical cultures varied over a 24-fold range (0.00578µM to 0.140µM), with in two patients a higher sensitivity of levoketoconazole versus RK (2.1- and 3.7-fold). LC-MS/MS analysis in selected cases revealed more potent inhibition of cortisol and other steroid profile components by levoketoconazole versus RK. In AtT20, levoketoconazole inhibited cell growth and ACTH secretion (10µM: -54% and -38%, respectively), and levoketoconazole inhibited cell number in one of two primary human corticotroph pituitary adenoma cultures (-44%, P<0.001). CONCLUSION Levoketoconazole potently inhibits cortisol production in adrenocortical cells, with a variable degree of suppression between specimens. Levoketoconazole inhibits adrenal steroid production more potently compared to RK and might also inhibit ACTH secretion and growth of pituitary adenoma cells. Together with previously reported potential advantages, this indicates that levoketoconazole is a promising novel pharmacotherapy for Cushing's syndrome.
Information Immobility and Foreign Portfolio Investment

We examine how residents of the United States allocate their stock portfolios internationally. We find that a large U.S. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) position in a destination country in 1990 is associated with a relatively large stock portfolio position in that country in the 2001--2006 period. Moreover, a change in the U.S. FDI position from 1980 to 1990 helps predict the change in the U.S. Foreign Portfolio Investment position from 1994 to 2006. These results are rationalized by Van Nieuwerburgh and Veldkamp's (2009) equilibrium model of learning and portfolio choice under an information processing constraint. FDI establishes marginal differences in the endowments of information about different countries, which later translate into differences in stock portfolio holdings. We control for cross-country differences in capital controls, proximity along different dimensions, corporate governance, and economic and capital market development. Our results also hold for the G6 countries collectively. The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Society for Financial Studies. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oxfordjournals.org. , Oxford University Press.
On the Spectroscopic Determination of Atmospheric Parameters and O/Fe Abundances of RR Lyrae Stars

In order to study how the conventional spectroscopic method based on the equivalent widths of the Fe I and Fe II lines effectively applies to determining the atmospheric parameters (Teff ,l ogg, vt ,[ Fe/H]) of RR Lyrae variables and how accurately the abundances can be established from such constructed model atmospheres, we analyzed 15 high-dispersion spectrograms of RR Lyr, DX Del, DH Peg, and VY Ser taken at several different phases by using the HDS spectrograph of the Subaru Telescope, and examined the consistency of the resulting phase-to-phase abundances. Taking oxygen as the target element along with Fe, we determined its non-LTE abundance from the O I 6155–8 and 7771–5 triplets. It was found that consistent abundances were obtained for O as well as Fe to a level of ∼ 0.1dex, irrespective of the pulsation phase, except for the special near-maximum high-temperature phase. This suggests that classical model atmospheres are reliably applicable to abundance determinations of RR Lyrae stars in most cases. While the oxygen abundances derived from O I 7771–5 well correlate with those from O I 6155–8, the former tends to be systematically larger by 0.1–0.2dex than the latter, which may be interpreted as being due to the depth-dependence of the microturbulence increasing with height; i.e., the vt value derived from deep-forming Fe lines of weak/medium-strength may not be simply applied to higher forming strong lines, such as O I 7771–5.
Maize ( Zea mays L . ) landraces in eastern Serbia : Characterization and the present cultivation

The evolutionary value of landraces is immense, especially when bearing in mind the constant diminishment of crop genetic variability and the development of intensive agriculture. The assessment of morphological and agronomic traits of landraces, together with molecular markers, is certainly a good basis for the efforts toward their protection. Ten maize accessions, originating from the eastern Serbia, were characterized in this study by the use of morphological and molecular analysis. Since the morphological characterization was performed on the plant material grown on two different locations, environmental influence on the development of morphological traits was also addressed. The accessions were significantly differentiated in most of the characteristics that were measured. However, the results have indicated that the plants grown in two experimental plots were also significantly different due to influence of the different environmental conditions. Another part of the study was represented by the field survey conducted in the eastern Serbia, in the Homolje region, in order to determine the presence of the maize landraces and the extent of their utilization in the region. Traditional agricultural practices related to the cultivation of the maize landraces were found to be important for the preservation of the local maize varieties, as well as the cultural diversity related to the cultivation of this crop. However, it was also found that the cultivation of the maize landraces has substantially decreased during the last two decades and, nowadays, it is performed only on small parcels. The preservation of the landraces is a complex task, which should be approached not only through the conservation of the agricultural practices and in situ conservation, but also through proper management and evaluation of existing seed collections. This necessity should be widely recognized as the activity of the national and international interest.
Nutritional status and its possible determinants among children attending early child care centres in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Background: Nutritional status of children has become a worldwide public health issue and its assessment has been adjudged the best global indicator of well-being in children. One in three children under the age of five (178 million children) in developing countries are stunted due to chronic under-nutrition and poor quality diets. Without addressing malnutrition, the Sustainable Development Goal 2 of ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition may not be attained. This study assessed the nutritional status and its possible determinants among children attending Early Child Care Centres in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive crosssectional study was carried out on 544 under-five children attending ECCCs in Benin City. Data was obtained with pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurement. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS version 21.0 and statistical significance was determined using Chi square with p value set at < 0.05. Results: Seventy nine (14.5%) of the children were stunted, while 68 (12.5%), 67 (12.3%) and 13 (2.8%) were underweight, wasted, and obese respectively. Significant possible determinants of being underweight and wasted among the children were age of child (p = 0.041) and exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.011) while the predictor for wasting was exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.011). Conclusion: Over a tenth of the respondents were either stunted, underweight or wasted while a few of the children were obese. All stakeholders involved in ensuring and promoting proper nutrition among under-five children should work as a team in order to develop intervention programmes and ensure adequate nutrition in children. Keywords: Nutritional Status; Determinants; Early Child Care Centers
Pleiotropic Effects of Caffeine Leading to Chromosome Instability and Cytotoxicity in Eukaryotic Microorganisms

Caffeine, a methylxanthine analog of purine bases, is a compound that is largely consumed in beverages and medications for psychoactive and diuretic effects and plays many beneficial roles in neuronal stimulation and enhancement of anti-tumor immune responses by blocking adenosine receptors in higher organisms. In single-cell eukaryotes, however, caffeine somehow impairs cellular fitness by compromising cell wall integrity, inhibiting target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling and growth, and overriding cell cycle arrest caused by DNA damage. Among its multiple inhibitory targets, caffeine specifically interacts with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-related kinases causing radiosensitization and cytotoxicity via specialized intermediate molecules. Caffeine potentiates the lethality of cells in conjunction with several other stressors such as oxidants, irradiation, and various toxic compounds through largely unknown mechanisms. In this review, recent findings on caffeine effects and cellular detoxification schemes are highlighted and discussed with an emphasis on the inhibitory interactions between caffeine and its multiple targets in eukaryotic microorganisms such as budding and fission yeasts.
The Impact of Immunofunctional Phenotyping on the Malfunction of the Cancer Immunity Cycle in Breast Cancer

Simple Summary The cancer-immunity cycle (CIC) is a series of self-sustaining stepwise events to fight cancer growth by the immune system. We hypothesized that immunofunctional phenotyping that represent the malfunction of the CIC is clinically relevant in breast cancer (BC) utilizing total of 2979 BC cases; 1075 from TCGA cohort, 1904 from METABRIC cohort were analyzed. The immunofunctional phenotype was classified as follows: hot T-cell infiltrated, high immune cytolytic activity (CYT), cold T-cell infiltrated, high frequency of CD8+ T cells and low CYT, and non-inflamed, low frequency of CD8+ T cells and low CYT. We demonstrated that immunofunctional phenotyping not only indicated the degree of anti-cancer immune dysfunction, but also served as a prognostic biomarker and HTI was inversely related to estrogen response. Abstract The cancer-immunity cycle (CIC) is a series of self-sustaining stepwise events to fight cancer growth by the immune system. We hypothesized that immunofunctional phenotyping that represent the malfunction of the CIC is clinically relevant in breast cancer (BC). Total of 2979 BC cases; 1075 from TCGA cohort, 1904 from METABRIC cohort were analyzed. The immunofunctional phenotype was classified as follows: hot T-cell infiltrated (HTI), high immune cytolytic activity (CYT), Cold T-cell infiltrated (CTI), high frequency of CD8+ T cells and low CYT, and non-inflamed, low frequency of CD8+ T cells and low CYT. The analysis of tumor immune microenvironment in the immunofunctional phenotype revealed that not only immunostimulatory factors, but also immunosuppressive factors were significantly elevated and immunosuppressive cells were significantly decreased in HTI. Patients in HTI were significantly associated with better survival in whole cohort and patients in CTI were significantly associated with worse survival in triple negative. Furthers, HTI was inversely related to estrogen responsive signaling. We demonstrated that immunofunctional phenotype not only indicated the degree of anti-cancer immune dysfunction, but also served as a prognostic biomarker and HTI was inversely related to estrogen response.
Nouveaux tests diagnostiques pour déceler une infection à Helicobacter pylori : une perspective pédiatrique

Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common bacterial infections in humans, and has been found in differing rates in persons of all age groups, nationalities and socioeconomic classes (1). Because the role of H pylori in human disease continues to be explored, there is an increased need for rapid, reliable and inexpensive diagnostic tests (2,3). The most commonly used standard tests are listed in Table 1. To date, the only test that can detect infection and disease activity is endoscopy with biopsy, which is invasive and expensive. Five recently developed tests that offer potential advantages because they are less invasive or permit easier acquisition of samples are assessed. These tests are whole blood, saliva and urine assays that measure systemic antibody response to H pylori, stool tests that measure H pylori antigens and string tests that use methodology less invasive than upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to recover H pylori organisms. The tests are compared with current standard tests and criteria for optimal tests. The criteria are nonor minimally invasive nature; high sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values in diagnosing infection and assessing disease activity and effectiveness of therapy; convenience, including ease of acquisition of samples and rapid determination of results; and low cost.
Pretest analyses of water demand in thirty communities

Using 3 years of monthly data for 30 carefully selected Texas communities, several characteristics of community water demand are investigated. The average price versus marginal price specification issue is examined in the same manner as preceding literature and again demonstrates the superiority of the average price approach. More original contributions identify (1) the need to include sewer rates in water demand models, (2) the importance of studying seasonal demand rather than annual demand, (3) seasonal variations in the price elasticity of demand, and (4) an interesting index for relating monthly community water demand to monthly climatic conditions.
Character Strengths of Self-Regulation and Purpose in Life as Predictors of Life Satisfaction and Mental Wellbeing

person’s mental power in inhibiting impulsive behaviour in relation to purpose in life which is one of the contributing factors to well-being. Self-regulation has been shown to embolden a person’s ability in altering unnecessary behaviour, in particular impulsive behaviour and boosts the flexibility and adaptability of human behaviour, enabling one to accustom Abstract: This study was undertaken to investigate virtues and character strength, more specifically, self-regulation and purpose in life and their relationship, to better understand the importance of virtues and character strengths in relation to mental health, psychological well-being and satisfaction with life. Positive psychologists approach posits that virtues and character strengths are the bedrock of flourishing individuals and optimally functioning institutions and society. The scales used were standardised Self-Control Scale (SCS) and Purpose in Life test (PIL). The sample size of the study was N= 279 and the population was Catholic consecrated men in Initial Formation. The location of the study was the Archdiocese of Nairobi- Kenya. The data analyses included descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed that, 95% of Catholic consecrated men in Initial Formation had high levels of self-regulation and 97.1% had good degree of purpose in life. The Pearson’s correlation indicated a positive correlation between self-regulation and purpose in life (r= .276, p ˂ .000, N= 279). The study showed that the character strengths of self-regulation and purpose in life are ingrained aspects that contribute to mental wellbeing and life satisfaction.
PROPERTIES OF NONLINEAR LOW-FREQUENCY WAVES IN HIGH-β SPACE PLASMAS: KINETIC AND FLUID DESCRIPTION

The theory of ion-cyclotron type modes accounting for the collionless magnetic viscosity in high-β Maxwellian space plasmas is developed. A comparison of the kinetic results with those obtained in the framework of Hall-MHD is carried out. It is shown that in order to coincide with the fully kinetic treatment the Hall-MHD equations must be supplemented with terms responsible for the effect due to the collisionless magnetic viscosity. This effect was not included in the previous analyses. This in turn leads to the modification of corresponding nonlinear equation that describes nonlinear dynamics of ion-cyclotron waves.
Detecting Lorentz violations with gravitational waves from black hole binaries

Gravitational wave observations have been used to test Lorentz symmetry by looking for dispersive effects that are caused by higher order corrections to the dispersion relation. In this Letter I argue on general grounds that, when such corrections are present, there will also be a scalar excitation. Hence, a smoking-gun observation of Lorentz symmetry breaking would be the direct detection of scalar waves that travel at a speed other than the speed of the standard gravitational wave polarizations or the speed of light. Interestingly, in known Lorentz-breaking gravity theories the difference between the speeds of scalar and tensor waves is virtually unconstrained, whereas the difference between the latter and the speed of light is already severely constrained by the coincident detection of gravitational waves and gamma rays from a binary neutron star merger.
Road Traffic Accident in Kano Nigeria : A Case Study of Kano Metropolitan

DOI: 10.21276/sjet.2017. 5.12. 4 Abstract: The increasing level of road traffic crash (RTC) in Kano metropolitan and the consequent of injuries and fatalities necessitate the need for its regular analysis. In the present study, data on recorded cases of RTC were collected from Federal road safety corps Kano. The data comprises of some fatal, severe and minor RTCs, the number of people involved, killed or injured with the classification of their gender and age, type of the vehicle involved and probable cause of RTC from the year 2009 to 2015. A total of 642 RTCs involving 3,019 people and 978 vehicles were recorded in Kano metropolis from 2009-2015. On average, every nine days a person is killed and 14 people are injured in road traffic accidents in Kano metropolitan. It was found that for every 7 RTCs reported, 3 people are killed while 18 people get injured. The accident rate of Kano city is 3 per 100,000 populations lower than the world average of 18 per 100,000. It was also found that male adults are four times more involved in RTC than female adults. The results of the study also showed that children account for 7% of all people involved in Road traffic accidents in Kano. It was found that 66% of the people killed in road traffic accidents are male adults while 22% are female adults and, female and male children account for 9% and 3%. About 37% of all the accidents occurred on motorcycles and 32% on passenger cars. A person on a motorcycle is 2 times and 12 times more likely to be involved in RTC than those on bus and tricycle respectively. Commercial vehicles are 253% and 710% more involved in RTC than private and official vehicles respectively. Out of the 642 RTC cases recorded within the study period. Reckless driving, vehicle condition and road environment accounts for 85%, 10% and 5% of the accidents. The safety can be enhanced by improved law enforcement and use of speed calming measures.