Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asian American and Pacific Islander military veterans in the United States: health service use and perceived barriers to mental health services.

OBJECTIVES We (1) compared use of various health services nationally between Asian American and Pacific Islander (AA/PI) veterans and veterans of other racial/ethnic groups and (2) specifically compared perceived barriers and stigma related to mental health services. METHODS Using bivariate and multivariable statistics, we analyzed a population-weighted sample of 8315 veterans from the 2010 National Survey of Veterans and a random sample of 567 recent veterans from Hawaii. RESULTS A total of 1.5% of veterans were AA/PI compared with 0.4% a decade ago. Compared with other veterans, AA/PI veterans reported higher socioeconomic status and better mental health, although these findings may be specific to AA veterans. Adjusting for sociodemographic and health differences, we found no differences in health service use or perceived barriers or stigma related to mental health services. CONCLUSIONS AA/PIs are a small but fast-growing racial/ethnic group within the veteran population that deserves attention. Although veteran status may be protective against some barriers to mental health care found in the general AA/PI population, efforts to reduce barriers to health care among veterans should be continued.
Dynamics of glucose-induced membrane recruitment of protein kinase C beta II in living pancreatic islet beta-cells.

The mechanisms by which glucose may affect protein kinase C (PKC) activity in the pancreatic islet beta-cell are presently unclear. By developing adenovirally expressed chimeras encoding fusion proteins between green fluorescent protein and conventional (betaII), novel (delta), or atypical (zeta) PKCs, we show that glucose selectively alters the subcellular localization of these enzymes dynamically in primary islet and MIN6 beta-cells. Examined by laser scanning confocal or total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, elevated glucose concentrations induced oscillatory translocations of PKCbetaII to spatially confined regions of the plasma membrane. Suggesting that increases in free cytosolic Ca(2+) concentrations ([Ca(2+)](c)) were primarily responsible, prevention of [Ca(2+)](c) increases with EGTA or diazoxide completely eliminated membrane recruitment, whereas elevation of cytosolic [Ca(2+)](c) with KCl or tolbutamide was highly effective in redistributing PKCbetaII both to the plasma membrane and to the surface of dense core secretory vesicles. By contrast, the distribution of PKCdelta.EGFP, which binds diacylglycerol but not Ca(2+), was unaffected by glucose. Measurement of [Ca(2+)](c) immediately beneath the plasma membrane with a ratiometric "pericam," fused to synaptic vesicle-associated protein-25, revealed that depolarization induced significantly larger increases in [Ca(2+)](c) in this domain. These data demonstrate that nutrient stimulation of beta-cells causes spatially and temporally complex changes in the subcellular localization of PKCbetaII, possibly resulting from the generation of Ca(2+) microdomains. Localized changes in PKCbetaII activity may thus have a role in the spatial control of insulin exocytosis.
Neurotrophic factors and corneal nerve regeneration

The cornea has unique features that make it a useful model for regenerative medicine studies. It is an avascular, transparent, densely innervated tissue and any pathological changes can be easily detected by slit lamp examination. Corneal sensitivity is provided by the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve that elicits protective reflexes such as blinking and tearing and exerts trophic support by releasing neuromediators and growth factors. Corneal nerves are easily evaluated for both function and morphology using standard instruments such as corneal esthesiometer and in vivo confocal microscope. All local and systemic conditions that are associated with damage of the trigeminal nerve cause the development of neurotrophic keratitis, a rare degenerative disease. Neurotrophic keratitis is characterized by impairment of corneal sensitivity associated with development of persistent epithelial defects that may progress to corneal ulcer, melting and perforation. Current neurotrophic keratitis treatments aim at supporting corneal healing and preventing progression of corneal damage. Novel compounds able to stimulate corneal nerve recovery are in advanced development stage. Among them, nerve growth factor eye drops showed to be safe and effective in stimulating corneal healing and improving corneal sensitivity in patients with neurotrophic keratitis. Neurotrophic keratitis represents an useful model to evaluate in clinical practice novel neuro-regenerative drugs.
A stochastic mathematical model to study the autoimmune progression towards type 1 diabetes

The integrity of the interactions and the 3D architecture among beta cell populations in pancreatic islets is critical for proper biosynthesis, storage and release of insulin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect on electrophysiological signalling of beta cells that is produced by progressive lymphocytic islet cell infiltration (insulitis), by modelling the disruption of pancreatic islet anatomy as a consequence of insulitis and altered glucose concentrations.
Regional cerebral blood flow and glucose metabolism during propofol anaesthesia in healthy subjects studied with positron emission tomography

General anaesthetics can alter the relationship between regional cerebral glucose metabolism rate (rGMR) and regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF). With the present study, we wanted to assess quantitatively the effects of propofol on rCBF and rGMR in the same healthy volunteers measured with positron emission tomography (PET).
Effects of combined AT1 receptor antagonist/NEP inhibitor on vascular remodeling and cardiac fibrosis in SHRSP

Background The association of an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) with a neutral endopeptidase inhibitor (NEPI) has potent blood pressure (BP) lowering action, but is associated with side-effects. We evaluated the effects of combining an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker (ARB, valsartan) and a NEPI (CGS 25354) in comparison with a dual ACEI/NEPI (CGS 30440) in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). Methods and results Ten-week-old SHRSP were treated with valsartan (10 mg/kg per day), valsartan + CGS 25354 (100 mg/kg per day), CGS 25354, CGS 30440 (10 mg/kg per day) or hydralazine (25 mg/kg per day) for 10 weeks. Mesenteric resistance arteries were studied on a pressurized myograph, whereas cardiac effects were assessed by histology and immunohistochemistry. BP of SHRSP was lowered by combined valsartan/NEPI and ACEI/NEPI slightly more than valsartan, whereas NEPI was ineffective. Valsartan, valsartan/NEPI and ACEI/NEPI normalized resistance artery relaxation responses to acetylcholine, and significantly decreased media/lumen ratio and collagen deposition. All treatments decreased vascular NAD(P)H oxidase-mediated superoxide production. Valsartan/NEPI and ACEI/NEPI decreased media/lumen ratio of intramyocardial coronary arteries, while valsartan alone had no effect. Valsartan/NEPI and ACEI/NEPI increased vascular matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity, and decreased tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2 activity and macrophage infiltration. Conclusion Combined valsartan/NEPI was almost as effective as a dual ACEI/NEPI in lowering BP and improving vascular remodeling in SHRSP. These findings suggest the potential therapeutic value of combining ARB and NEPI in the treatment of hypertension.
Spatial modeling of all-cause mortality

Der Tod macht alle Menschen gleich, dennoch sind nicht alle gleichmasig betroffen. Unterschiede in der Sterblichkeit aufgrund des sozio-okonomischen Status sind allgemein bekannt. Aber auch raumliche Disparitaten existieren. Es ist oft von grosem Interesse Regionen mit ausergewohnlich hoher oder niedriger Mortalitat zu identifizieren und die Determinanten fur Sterblichkeitunterschiede zu modellieren. Daruberhinaus sind Sterblichkeitsdaten oft nur aggregiert erhaltlich. Solche so genannte Lattice oder Areal-Daten benotigen allerdings spezielle statistische Methoden um die raumliche Struktur zu hinreichend zu modellieren. Eine Analyse der allgemeinen Sterblichkeit von Deutschen Burgern im Alter von 20 bis 49 im Jahre 2004 wurde durchgefuhrt. Als Beobachtungseinheiten dienten die Landkreise bzw. Kreisfreien Stadte. Mehrere erklarende Variablen wurden in einem Regressionmodel aufgenommen. Es konnte gezeigt werden, dass regionale Mortalitat eine raumliche Korrelation aufweist. Weiterhin folgt die Sterblichkeit in Deutschland starker einem Nord\Ost-Sued\West-Trend als einem einem Ost-West-Trend. Das Pro-Kopf-Einkommen hat einen grossen und signifikanten Einfluss auf die regionale Sterblichkeit, ahnliches gilt fur Migration. Das verwendete statistische Model war ein spatial error model (auch als simultaneous autoregressive model bekannt) mit einer single contigutiy Nachbarschaftsstruktur. %%%%Death is a unifying event for all mankind, but not everybody is equally affected. The mortality differential by socio-economic status is well established. But overall life expectancy differs by regions as well. The interest often lies in identifying regions with unusual high or low mortality and model external causes of mortality variation. Furthermore, mortality data is often only available at some aggregate level. Such lattice or area data, however, require particular statistical methods that are able to capture the spatial structure of the data. An analysis of all-cause mortality of German citizen between the ages of 20 to 49 in the year 2004 is conducted. The level of observation was the municipalities (Landkreise) and metropolitan areas (kreisfreie Staedte). Several explaining variables were tested in a spatial regression model. Most notably it could be shown that mortality data does exhibit spatial autocorrelation and that mortality in German follows rather a north/east to south/west trend than a mere east to west trend. Per capita income has a large and significant impact on mortality in the respective regions, the same is true for migration. The statistical model used was a spatial error model (sometimes called simultaneous autoregressive model) with a single contiguity neighborhood structure.
Platelet-Derived Microparticles Generated by Neonatal Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Systems

Current anticoagulation strategies do not eliminate thromboembolic stroke or limb loss during neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a form of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). In adults, CPB surgery generates prothrombotic platelet-derived microparticles (PMPs), submicron membrane vesicles released from activated platelets. However, information on PMP generation in neonatal ECMO systems is lacking. The objective of this study was to compare PMP generation in five different neonatal ECMO systems, using a simulated circuit with swine blood at 300 ml/min for 4 hours. Systems were composed of both newer components (centrifugal pump and hollow-fiber oxygenator) and traditional components (roller-head pump and silicone membrane oxygenator). Free plasma hemoglobin levels were measured as an indicator of hemolysis and flow cytometry-measured PMP. Hemolysis generated in all ECMO systems was similar to that observed in noncirculated static blood (p = 0.48). There was no difference in net PMP levels between different oxygenators with a given pump. In contrast, net PMP generation in ECMO systems with a centrifugal pump was at least 2.5 times greater than in roller-head pump systems. This was significant when using either a hollow-fiber (p < 0.005) or a silicone membrane (p < 0.05) oxygenator. Future studies are needed to define the relationship between pump-generated PMP and thrombosis.
A device for zone-II flexor tendon repair. Surgical technique.

BACKGROUND The stainless-steel Teno Fix tendon-repair device has improved biomechanical characteristics compared with those of suture repair, and it was well tolerated in a canine model. The purpose of this study was to compare the Teno Fix with suture repair in a clinical setting. METHODS Sixty-seven patients with isolated zone-II flexor tendon injury were randomized to be treated with a Teno Fix or a four-stranded cruciate suture repair. There were eighty-five injured digits: thirty-four were treated with the Teno Fix, and fifty-one served as controls. A modified leinert rehabilitation technique was employed, with active flexion starting at four weeks postoperatively. Patients were followed for six months by blinded observers who determined the range of motion, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) score, pinch and grip strength, and pain score on a verbal scale and assessed swelling and neurologic recovery. Adverse outcomes, including device migration and rupture, were monitored at frequent intervals. RESULTS Nine of the fifty-one suture repairs ruptured, whereas none of the Teno Fix repairs ruptured (p < 0.01). Five of the nine ruptures were caused by resistive motion against medical advice. There were no differences between the two groups in terms of range of motion, DASH score, pinch and grip strength, pain, swelling, or neurologic recovery. The Teno Fix group had slightly slower resolution of pain and swelling compared with the control group. Of the patients who were available for follow-up at six months, sixteen of the twenty-four treated with a Teno Fix repair and nineteen of the twenty-seven treated with a control repair had a good or excellent result. One Teno Fix device migrated and extruded secondary to a wound infection. Of all eighty-five digits that were operated on, four were thought to have tendons of inadequate size to accommodate the device and nine were deemed to have inadequate exposure to allow placement of the anchors. CONCLUSIONS The Teno Fix is safe and effective for flexor tendon repair if the tendon size and exposure are sufficient. Tendon repairs with the Teno Fix have lower rupture rates and similar functional outcomes when compared with conventional repair, particularly in patients who are non-compliant with the rehabilitation protocol.
Androgen receptor signaling and vitamin D receptor action in prostate cancer cells

1,25(OH)2D3 inhibits the growth of prostate cancer cells; previous reports suggest that 1,25(OH)2D3 actions in LNCaP prostate cancer cells are androgen dependent. This is due in part to the observation that the androgen receptor (AR) antagonist, Casodex, modestly inhibits LNCaP cell growth, but reduces the greater growth inhibition induced by 1,25(OH)2D3 to the level of Casodex alone. Because androgen ablation therapy is used for metastatic prostate cancer, we sought to better characterize this androgen dependence.
HLA-C and HLA-E reduce antibody-dependent natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity of HIV-infected primary T cell blasts

Objective: To determine whether the presence of HLA-C and HLA-E on HIV-infected cells modulates autologous natural killer (NK) cells from implementing antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) of HIV-infected cells. Design: The capability of HLA-C and HLA-E to control NK cell killing of HIV-infected autologous T cells coated with anti-gp120 monoclonal antibody was determined by blocking the interaction between the inhibitory receptors on NK cells and the MHC class I molecules on infected cells. Methods: Phytohemagglutinin-treated CD4 T cells were infected in vitro with HIV-1. Infected cells were separated from uninfected cells by removal of CD4 T cells. Infected cells were labeled with chromium-51, treated with a cocktail of four different monoclonal antibodies against HIV gp120, and co-cultured with freshly isolated autologous NK cells that were incubated with or without anti-CD159a, anti-CD158a, and CD158b, or all three antibodies combined. Killing of the HIV-infected cells by NK cells was assessed in a 4 h cytotoxic assay. Results: When the interaction between NK cell inhibitory receptors (i.e., CD158a, CD158b, and CD159a) and MHC class I molecules (i.e., HLA-C and HLA-E) on HIV-infected autologous T cells was blocked, a drastic increase in killing of anti-gp120-coated HIV-infected cells by NK cells was observed. Conclusion: These studies indicate that the presence of HLA-C and HLA-E molecules on HIV-infected cells may facilitate evasion of NK-mediated killing of antibody-coated HIV-infected cells.
The Impact of Natural Disasters on Remittances to Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Abstract In this paper, we offer novel empirical evidence on the impact of natural disasters on remittance flows towards low- and middle-income countries. We consider a panel of 98 countries over the period 1990–2010. Our findings show that remittances increase after a disaster, thus contributing ex post to the reconstruction process. At the same time, we find that remittances play a key role in terms of ex ante risk preparedness for those countries that experienced more disruptive events in the past. Finally, when taking into account the interaction with the level of development of the local financial sector, remittances seem to substitute for less efficient financial systems both in terms of ex post response to disasters and in terms of ex ante risk management strategy.
Statistical analysis on human body radiation points

Recently, there has been an increasing concern about scientific investigations of the endogenous electromagnetic fields generated by and contained within the human body. Chakra points are defined as focal spots for reception, absorption and transmission of radiation wave of the human body. Meanwhile brain regions are defined as areas of the brain that represent the cerebrum, cerebellum and brainstem. This paper discusses on frequency characteristic of human body radiation through chakra points and brain regions. A total of 9 sites were investigated for the measurements. The readings from each site were recorded via a frequency counter. A total of 34 healthy subjects comprising of 17 males and 17 females were used in the study. Data analyses were conducted using exploratory and descriptive statistics. Results show that out of the nine sites, three were found to be significant.
Follicle stimulating hormone measured in unextracted urine throughout the menstrual cycle correlates with age and ovarian reserve.

BACKGROUND A method was previously described to measure FSH reliably in unextracted urine. The aim of the current study was to establish the course of FSH measured in urine throughout the cycle. METHOD Daily urinary FSH (uFSH) concentrations were determined in 14 regularly menstruating volunteers aged 23-39 years during one complete menstrual cycle. RESULTS In each subject, mean daily uFSH measured in urine, as gold standard for FSH tone, correlated significantly with FSH in early follicular phase fixed to menstruation on cycle day 3 (r = 0.75, P = 0.002), or fixed to ovulation 9 days before the pre-ovulatory FSH surge (r = 0.87, P = 0.0001), or when selected as being the highest follicular phase value (r = 0.91, P = 0.0001). Age correlated significantly with mean daily uFSH (r = 0.67, P = 0.009), highest follicular phase uFSH (r = 0.60, P = 0.024), uFSH on cycle day 3 (r = 0.80, P = 0.0006), and uFSH 9 days before FSH surge (r = 0.65, P = 0.0016). The uFSH was also measured on cycle day 3 in 104 IVF patients in a cycle prior to pituitary down-regulation. The uFSH correlated significantly with numbers of follicles (P = 0.02) and oocytes (P = 0.024). CONCLUSION It is concluded that cycle day 3 uFSH is a good reflection of the mean uFSH of the complete cycle, and there is a highly significant correlation between uFSH and age and ovarian reserve. Measurement of FSH in urine on cycle day 3 seems to be a reliable and non-invasive tool for determining ovarian reserve in IVF.
Direct generalized modulation of electrical conversions including self stabilization of the DC-link for a single phase multilevel inverter based AC grid interface

The output voltage waveform of a multilevel inverter is composed of several intermediary voltage levels, which are obtained from capacitor voltage sources. If the number of levels reaches infinity, the total harmonic distortion of the modulated voltage becomes practically zero. However, the numbers of the achievable voltage levels are limited by voltage unbalance problems, voltage clamping requirement, circuit layout, and packaging constraints. This paper presents a modulation strategy that enables to copy directly a modulated multilevel waveform on to output voltages of a (n+1) level inverter. The redundancies of different switch configurations are used to perform the voltage balancing of the DC link. The obtained modelling shows that high voltage multi levels are obtained by combination of n different three-level functions, which are called modulation functions. Therefore, a novel PWM strategy is designed to generate n fictive modulated voltage systems via the direct width modulation and the position setting of modulation functions. Simulation results are presented for a five-level inverter. Experimental results are given for a three-level inverter.
Repression of choline kinase by inositol and choline in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The regulation of choline kinase (EC 2.7.1.32), the initial enzyme in the CDP-choline pathway, was examined in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The addition of myo-inositol to a culture of wild-type cells resulted in a significant decrease in choline kinase activity. Additional supplementation of choline caused a further reduction in the activity. The coding frame of the choline kinase gene, CK1, was joined to the carboxyl terminus of lacZ and expressed in Escherichia coli as a fusion protein, which was then used to prepare an anti-choline kinase antibody. Upon Western (immuno-) and Northern (RNA) blot analyses using the antibody and a CK1 probe, respectively, the decrease in the enzyme activity was found to be correlated with decreases in the enzyme amount and mRNA abundance. The molecular mass of the enzyme was estimated to be 66 kilodaltons, in agreement with the value predicted previously from the nucleotide sequence of the gene. The coding region of CK1 was replaced with that of lacZ, and CK1 expression was measured by assaying beta-galactosidase. The expression of beta-galactosidase from this fusion was repressed by myo-inositol and choline and derepressed in a time-dependent manner upon their removal. The present findings indicate that yeast choline kinase is regulated by myo-inositol and choline at the level of mRNA abundance.
An Improved Decomposition Multiobjective Optimization Algorithm with Weight Vector Adaptation Strategy

Multiobjective evolutionary algorithms based on decomposition (MOEA/D) decomposes a multiobjective optimization problem (MOP) into a number of scalar optimization subproblems, and solves each subproblem in a collaborative manner. For a MOP, different subproblems often have different difficulty to be approximated, especially when the MOP is extremely complex or has a discontinuous optimal front. This paper proposes a weight vector adaptation strategy for this issue, which changes the weight vectors and optimizes their computational resource allocation to fit the MOP. The experimental results on a variety of MOP test instances show that the proposed algorithm is competitive in comparison with three state-of-the-art decomposition multiobjective evolutionary algorithms.