Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (ω-3) Supplementation on Some Cardiovascular Risk Factors with a Ketogenic Mediterranean Diet

Background: the ketogenic diet (KD) has become a widely used nutritional approach for weight loss. Some of the KD’s positive effects on metabolism and cardiovascular risk factors are similar to those seen after n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3) supplementation. We hypothesized that a ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phytoextracts combined with ω-3 supplementation may have increased positive effects on cardiovascular risk factors and inflammation. Methods: We analyzed 34 male overweight subjects; aged between 25 and 65 years who were overall healthy apart from overweight. The subjects followed a ketogenic diet protocol for four weeks; with (KDO3) or without (KD) ω-3 supplementation. Results: All subjects experienced a significant loss of body weight and body fat and there was no significant differences between treatment (body weight: KD—4.7 kg, KDO3—4.03 kg, body fat KD—5.41 kg, KDO3—5.86 kg). There were also significant decreases in total cholesterol, LDL-c, and glucose levels. Triglycerides and insulin levels decreased more in KDO3 vs. KD subjects, with a significant difference. All the investigated inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) decreased significantly in KDO3 subjects whilst only TNF-α showed a significant decrease in KD subjects over the 12 month study period. No significant changes were observed in anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and IL-1Ra), creatinine, urea and uric acid. Adiponectin increased significantly only in the KDO3 group. Conclusions: ω-3 supplementation improved the positive effects of a ketogenic Mediterranean diet with phytoextracts on some cardiovascular/metabolic risk factors and inflammatory state.
Pax5 Determines the Identity of B Cells from the Beginning to the End of B-lymphopoiesis

Despite being one of the most intensively studied cell types, the molecular basis of B cell specification is largely unknown. The Pax5 gene encoding the transcription factor BSAP is required for progression of B-lymphopoiesis beyond the pro-B cell stage. Pax5-deficient pro-B cells are, however, not yet committed to the B-lymphoid lineage, but instead have a broad lymphomyeloid developmental potential. Pax5 appears to mediate B-lineage commitment by repressing the transcription of non-B-lymphoid genes and by simultaneously activating the expression of B-lincage-specific genes. Pax5 thus functions both as a transcriptional repressor and activator, depending on its interactions with corepressors of the Groucho protein family or with positive regulators such as the TATA-binding protein. Once committed to the B-lineage, B cells require Pax5 function to maintain their B-lymphoid identity throughout B cell development.
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY OF THE TURKISH VERSION OF PERCEIVED STRESS SCALE

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to adapt for Turkish population by tested validity and reliability of Perceived Stress. The population of the research studied as psychometric was adults who applied to Veyis Efendi Primary Health Care Centre between 1 Mach and 30 May 2004. The sample of this research was 138 persons who accepted participation to study and was selected with convenience sampling. The data of the research was collected by the researcher using Perceived Stress Scale and inquiry form including demographic characteristics. The scale developed by Cohen and his colleagues in 1983 consists of 10 items and it is easy understandable. The items of the scale are scored 1-5 points. The four items are scored as positive; the six items are scored as negative. Evaluation of the scale score is made by sum point. In statistical analysis of the data, factor, Cronbach’s alpha, correlation analyses were used. In the results of analyses, it was found that Pearson’s product-moment correlation changed from 0.32 to 0.66, alpha was 0.70. Factor loading of the scale’s items ranged from 0.41 to 0.70, and the scale resulted in one factor structure. Overall explained variance for this factor model was 58.1%, and test-retest correlation was 0.88. Light of the finding, it is said that Perceived Stress Scale is validity and reliability for Turkish population. Keywords: Perceived stress, validity and reliability, nurse OZET Algilanan Stres Olceginin Turkce Versiyonunun Guvenilirlik ve Gecerligi Bu calismanin amaci Algilanan Stres Olceginin gecerlilik ve guvenirligini test ederek Turk toplumuna uyarlamaktir. Metodolojik olarak yapilan arastirmanin evrenini 1 Mart-30 Mayis 2004 tarihleri arasinda Veyis Efendi Saglik Ocagina basvuran yetiskinler olusturmustur. Arastirmanin orneklemini olasiliksiz rastlantisal ornekleme yontemiyle secilen ve arastirmaya katilmayi kabul eden 138 kisi olusturmustur. Arastirmanin verileri Algilanan Stres olcegi ve demografik ozellikleri iceren soru formu kullanilarak arastirmaci tarafindan toplanmistir. 1983 yilinda Cohen ve arkadaslari tarafindan gelistirilen olcek kolay anlasilir ve 10 maddeden olusmaktadir. Olcegin maddeleri 1-5 arasinda puan almaktadir. Dort maddesi pozitif, alti maddesi negatif olarak puanlanmaktadir. Olcegin degerlendirilmesi toplam puan uzerinden yapilmaktadir. Verilerin istatistiksel degerlendirilmesinde faktor analizi, alfa guvenirlik katsayisi ve korelasyon analizleri kullanilmistir. Analizler sonucunda madde-toplam puan korelasyonun 0.32-0.66 arasinda degistigi, olcegin alfa katsayisinin da 0.70 oldugu bulunmustur. Faktor analizi sonucunda olcek maddelerinin faktor yuklerinin 0.41-0.70 arasinda degistigi ve tek faktorden olustugu saptanmistir. Olcegin toplam varyansin %58.1’ni acikladigi ve test re-test korelasyonun da 0.88 oldugu belirlenmistir. Elde edilen bulgularin isiginda, Algilanan Stres Olcegi’nin Turk toplumuna uygulanmasi acisindan gecerli ve guvenilir oldugu soylenebilir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Algilanan stres, gecerlik ve guvenilirlik, hemsire
Photochemical model of photodynamic therapy applied to skin diseases by a topical photosensitizer

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) provides a non-invasive, efficient and safe treatment for skin diseases with good cosmetic results. These characteristics make this technique more advantageous than radiotherapy or chemotherapy, which present limitations in a big number of lesions, are painful in many cases and produce non-satisfactory cosmetic results. We present the clinical results obtained at present by this optical technique and a photochemical model of the PDT process applied to the skin by means of a topical photosensitizer, in order to find the optimal PDT parameters. Optical propagation inside the tissue is calculated by means of the three dimensional Beer-Lambert law, due to its facility to be integrated in the differential equations system used to model the photochemical processes involved. With this information it is possible to obtain an initial estimation about the optimal drug dose and the optical power required.
Reduction of false negative results in screening of newborns for homocystinuria.

BACKGROUND Mental retardation and other disabilities (including ectopia lentis, osteoporosis, and thromboembolism) in patients who have homocystinuria as a result of a deficiency of cystathionine beta-synthase can be prevented by the screening of newborns with measurement of blood methionine, followed by the early treatment of affected infants. Many infants with this disorder, however, are not identified by screening and have irreversible brain damage. METHODS We reviewed the results of neonatal screening for homocystinuria over a period of 32 years in New England. Additional specimens were requested for repeated analysis when blood methionine measurements were at or above the established cutoff level. Homocystinuria due to cystathionine beta-synthase deficiency was confirmed by quantitative amino acid analyses. RESULTS For the first 23.5 years of the review period, the blood methionine cutoff value was 2 mg per deciliter (134 micromol per liter). Among the 2.2 million infants screened during that period, 8 with homocystinuria were identified (1:275,000). In 1990, the cutoff value was reduced to 1 mg per deciliter (67 micromol per liter). Among the 1.1 million infants screened in the subsequent 8.5 years, 7 with the disorder were identified (1:157,000). During the latter period, the specimens were collected from six of the seven infants when they were two days of age or less; five of the six had blood methionine concentrations below 2 mg per deciliter. Use of the reduced cutoff level increased the false positive rate from 0.006 percent to 0.03 percent. CONCLUSIONS A cutoff level for blood methionine of 1 mg per deciliter in neonatal screening tests for homocystinuria should identify affected infants who have only slightly elevated concentrations of methionine and reduce the frequency of false negative results.
Protective Immunosurveillance of the Central Nervous System by Listeria-Specific CD4 and CD8 T Cells in Systemic Listeriosis in the Absence of Intracerebral Listeria1

The invasion of the CNS by pathogens poses a major risk for damage of the highly vulnerable brain. The aim of the present study was to analyze immunological mechanisms that may prevent spread of infections to the CNS. Intraperitoneal application of Listeria monocytogenes to mice induced infection of the spleen, whereas pathogens remained absent from the brain. Interestingly, Listeria-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells homed to the brain and persisted intracerebrally for at least 50 days after both primary and secondary infection. CD4 and CD8 T cells resided in the leptomeninges, in the choroid plexus, and, in low numbers, in the brain parenchyma. CD4 and CD8 T cells isolated from the brain early after infection (day 7) were characterized by an activated phenotype with spontaneous IFN-γ production, whereas at a later stage of infection (day 28) restimulation with Listeria-specific peptides was required for the induction of IFN-γ production by CD4 and CD8 T cells. In contrast to splenic T cells, T cells in the brain did not exhibit cytotoxic activity. Adoptively transferred T cells isolated from the brains of Listeria-infected mice reduced the bacterial load in cerebral listeriosis. The frequency of intracerebral Listeria-specific T cells was partially regulated by the time of exposure to Listeria and cross-regulated by CD4 and CD8 T cells. Collectively, these data reveal a novel T cell-mediated pathway of active immunosurveillance of the CNS during bacterial infections.
A Multi-Modal Pilot Intervention with Violence-Exposed Mothers in a Child Psychiatric Trauma-Focused Treatment Program

This multi-method pilot study implemented a relationally-based intervention with mothers of school-aged children receiving treatment for exposure to domestic violence. Grounded in psychodynamic and attachment theories, the short-term intervention consisted of targeted individual and group sessions. Quantitative as well as qualitative data were examined for trends and exemplars of important process outcomes. Improvements were evidenced in a number of key areas including psychiatric symptoms, isolation, defensive avoidance, coping skills, attributional style, and reflective functioning. Results converged to portray improved functioning in critical areas of dysfunction often displayed by these mothers.
Satisfaction with performance appraisal systems

This study examines the inter‐relationship between a person's role as appraisee and/or appraiser in a performance appraisal system (PAS) and level of satisfaction expressed with the system. It builds on earlier US studies which found that being an appraiser and, therefore, also an appraisee increased a person's satisfaction level compared with those who were appraisees only. Data were gathered from 382 respondents to examine three aspects of organisational justice which are known to influence satisfaction with PASs. The results indicate no intrinsic difference in satisfaction level linked to role in administering a PAS and that the source of satisfaction and/or dissatisfaction with the PAS was not equally attributable to all aspects of organisational justice.
Effects of Nandrolone in the Counteraction of Skeletal Muscle Atrophy in a Mouse Model of Muscle Disuse: Molecular Biology and Functional Evaluation

Muscle disuse produces severe atrophy and a slow-to-fast phenotype transition in the postural Soleus (Sol) muscle of rodents. Antioxidants, amino-acids and growth factors were ineffective to ameliorate muscle atrophy. Here we evaluate the effects of nandrolone (ND), an anabolic steroid, on mouse skeletal muscle atrophy induced by hindlimb unloading (HU). Mice were pre-treated for 2-weeks before HU and during the 2-weeks of HU. Muscle weight and total protein content were reduced in HU mice and a restoration of these parameters was found in ND-treated HU mice. The analysis of gene expression by real-time PCR demonstrates an increase of MuRF-1 during HU but minor involvement of other catabolic pathways. However, ND did not affect MuRF-1 expression. The evaluation of anabolic pathways showed no change in mTOR and eIF2-kinase mRNA expression, but the protein expression of the eukaryotic initiation factor eIF2 was reduced during HU and restored by ND. Moreover we found an involvement of regenerative pathways, since the increase of MyoD observed after HU suggests the promotion of myogenic stem cell differentiation in response to atrophy. At the same time, Notch-1 expression was down-regulated. Interestingly, the ND treatment prevented changes in MyoD and Notch-1 expression. On the contrary, there was no evidence for an effect of ND on the change of muscle phenotype induced by HU, since no effect of treatment was observed on the resting gCl, restCa and contractile properties in Sol muscle. Accordingly, PGC1α and myosin heavy chain expression, indexes of the phenotype transition, were not restored in ND-treated HU mice. We hypothesize that ND is unable to directly affect the phenotype transition when the specialized motor unit firing pattern of stimulation is lacking. Nevertheless, through stimulation of protein synthesis, ND preserves protein content and muscle weight, which may result advantageous to the affected skeletal muscle for functional recovery.
Topic prediction based on comparative retrieval rankings

A new measure, AnchorMap, is introduced to evaluate how close two document retrieval rankings are to each other. It is shown that AnchorMap scores, when run on a set of initial ranked document lists from 8 different systems, are very highly correlated with categorization of topics as easy or hard, and separately, are highly correlated with those topics on which blind feedback works. In another experiment, AnchorMap is used to compare the initial ranked document list from a single system against the ranked document list from that system after blind feedback. Again, high AnchorMap values are highly correlated with both topic difficulty and successful application of blind feedback. Both experiments are examples of using properties of a topic which are independent of relevance information to predict the actual performance of IR systems on the topic. Initial experiments to attempt to improve retrieval performance based upon AnchorMap failed; the causes for failure are discussed.
Research methods for adult educators in Africa

This book explores rationales for research methodologies embedded in African contexts. Issues discussed include: contexts for adult education research in Africa; philosophical and theoretical foundations of inquiry; philosophical perspectives and their implications for research; doing a literature review; getting started with a research proposal; quantitative research designs and carrying out surveys; summarising and analysing survey data; the nature of qualitative research; carrying out qualitative studies; combining qualitative and quantitative methods; research ethics; action research; feminist research approaches; and writing up and disseminating research.
Derivation of completely cell culture-derived mice from early-passage embryonic stem cells.

Several newly generated mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell lines were tested for their ability to produce completely ES cell-derived mice at early passage numbers by ES cell <==> tetraploid embryo aggregation. One line, designated R1, produced live offspring which were completely ES cell-derived as judged by isoenzyme analysis and coat color. These cell culture-derived animals were normal, viable, and fertile. However, prolonged in vitro culture negatively affected this initial totipotency of R1, and after passage 14, ES cell-derived newborns died at birth. However, one of the five subclones (R1-S3) derived from single cells at passage 12 retained the original totipotency and gave rise to viable, completely ES cell-derived animals. The total in vitro culture time of the sublines at the time of testing was equivalent to passage 24 of the original line. Fully potent early passage R1 cells and the R1-S3 subclone should be very useful not only for ES cell-based genetic manipulations but also in defining optimal in vitro culture conditions for retaining the initial totipotency of ES cells.
Rolling factors deformations and extensions of canonical curves

A tetragonal canonical curve is the complete intersection of two divisors on a scroll. The equations can be written in 'rolling factors' format. For such homogeneous ideals we give methods to compute inflnitesimal deformations. Deformations can be obstructed. For the case of quadratic equations on the scroll we derive explicit base equations. They are used to study extensions of tetragonal curves. 2000 Mathematics Subject Classiflcation: 14B07 14H51 14J28 32S30 Keywords and Phrases: Tetragonal curves, rolling factors, K3 surfaces An easy dimension count shows that not all canonical curves are hyperplane sections of K3 surfaces. A surface with a given curve as hyperplane section is called an extension of the curve. With this terminology, the general canonical curve has only trivial extensions, obtained by taking a cone over the curve. In this paper we concentrate on extensions of tetragonal curves. The extension problem is related to deformation theory for cones. This is best seen in terms of equations. Suppose we have coordinates (x0 :¢¢¢ : xn : t) on P n+1 with the special hyperplane section given by t = 0. We describe an extension W of a variety V :fj(xi) = 0 by a system of equations Fj(xi;t) = 0 with Fj(xi; 0) = fj(xi). We write Fj(xi;t) = fj(xi) + tf 0 j(xi) +¢¢¢ + ajt d j ,
Over the top video: the gorilla in cellular networks

Cellular networks have witnessed tremendous traffic growth recently, fueled by smartphones, tablets and new high speed broadband cellular access technologies. A key application driving that growth is video streaming. Yet very little is known about the characteristics of this traffic class. In this paper, we examine video traffic generated by three million users across one of the world's largest 3G cellular networks. This first deep dive into cellular video streaming shows that HLS, an adaptive bitrate streaming protocol, accounts for one third of the streaming video traffic and that it is common to see changes in encoding bitrates within a session. We also observe that most of the content is streamed at less than 255 Kbps and that only 40% of the videos are fully downloaded. Another key finding is that there exists significant potential for caching to deliver this content.
New concepts in relation to urge and detrusor activity

Investigations of micromotion characteristics of bladder wall strips and pressure wave phenomena in total bladders in vitro and in vivo indicate that micromotion phenomena occur in the bladder wall. Local contractions can occur without an increase in tension or pressure, because other parts are in antiphase. Local contractions stretch surrounding tissues, which can stimulate fast stretch receptors. Synchronisation of these micromotion phenomena appears to be possible. Hence, above threshold levels urge can theoretically occur, even in the absence of a pressure increase. This hypothesis could explain the weak relation between urge and pressure. The distinction between motor and sensory urge could be artifactual based on a misunderstanding of fundamental bladder wall processes.
Prevalence and Significance of Alterations in Cardiac Structure and Function in Patients With Heart Failure and a Preserved Ejection Fraction

Background— The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of abnormalities in cardiac structure and function present in patients with heart failure and a preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF) and to determine whether these alterations in structure and function were associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Methods and Results— The Irbesartan in HFPEF trial (I-PRESERVE) enrolled 4128 patients; echocardiographic determination of left ventricular (LV) volume, mass, left atrial (LA) size, systolic function, and diastolic function were made at baseline in 745 patients. The primary end point was death or protocol-specific cardiovascular hospitalization. A secondary end point was the composite of heart failure death or heart failure hospitalization. Associations between baseline structure and function and patient outcomes were examined using univariate and multivariable Cox proportional hazard analyses. In this substudy, LV hypertrophy or concentric remodeling was present in 59%, LA enlargement was present in 66%, and diastolic dysfunction was present in 69% of the patients. Multivariable analyses controlling for 7 clinical variables (including log N-terminal pro-B–type natriuretic peptide) indicated that increased LV mass, mass/volume ratio, and LA size were independently associated with an increased risk of both primary and heart failure events (all P<0.05). Conclusions— Left ventricular hypertrophy or concentric remodeling, LA enlargement, and diastolic dysfunction were present in the majority of patients with HFPEF. Left ventricular mass and LA size were independently associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The presence of structural remodeling and diastolic dysfunction may be useful additions to diagnostic criteria and provide important prognostic insights in patients with HFPEF. Clinical Trial Registration— http://www.clinicaltrials. gov. Unique identifier: NCT00095238.
A Two-Level Approach to Building a Campus Grid

The article proposes a two-layered system for distributed computation. The setup combines two different tools - Globus and Mosix - in order to harness the computing power wasted in unused student laboratories. The system is easy to set up and use. We present the results of experiments on a simple testbed, using the Google PageRank algorithm as an example task
Progress in Resistance Ratio Measurements Using a Cryogenic Current Comparator at LCIE

The cryogenic current comparator (CCC) built at LCIE allows measurement of resistance ratios equal to ¿(1 ± 4 × 10-5) where ¿ = 1, 10, 100, 64.53, or 129.06. The equipment is now currently used for intercomparison of 1-¿ standard resistors with a typical standard deviation of 5 × 10-9 (one single observation) and for calibration of 10 000-¿ resistors in terms of 1-¿ resistors with a standard deviation of 2 × 10-8 (1 single observation). Comparison of the 100/1 (or 10/1 × 10/1 ratio of the CCC with the ratios of Hamon-type series parallel dividers is reported. The agreement between these different ratios is better than 1 × 10-8.