Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Agreement Between 3-Meter and 6-Meter Walk Tests in 136 Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Objective: Walking speed is an important marker of functionality that is measured over courses of varying lengths, but it is unclear if course length affects measured pace. Method: A total of 136 older adults completed two consecutive trials each of 3-m and 6-m walking courses, the order of which was randomly assigned. We calculated concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) and created Bland–Altman plots to evaluate the relationship between the two course distances. Results: Average walking speed was faster for the 6-m course and the second trial of each course. There was high concordance between the first and second trials for both the 3-m and 6-m courses. Discussion: The 3- and 6-m courses had excellent test–retest reliability and faster walking speed in later than earlier trials. Higher concordance between courses for later trials suggests the utility of practice trials and adjusting for course length when combining walking speed measurements between different course lengths.
Measuring the Instability of China’s Financial System: Indices Construction and an Early Warning System

Abstract In this paper, employing several econometric techniques, the authors construct a financial stress index (CNFSI) and a financial conditions index (CNFCI) to measure the instability of China’s financial system. The indices are based on the monthly data collected from China’s inter-bank markets, stock markets, foreign exchange markets and debt markets. Using these two indices, the authors identify the episodes of systemic financial stress, and then evaluate the indices. The empirical results suggest that the CNFSI performs better than the CNFCI. Furthermore, the authors propose four leading indicators for monitoring China’s financial instability, and provide a primary early warning system for China’s macroprudential regulations. Finally, they conduct a test to evaluate the predictive power of the CNFSI and the early warning system with reference to the 2015 episode. Their results suggest that both work well.
An Application of Transaction Cost in the Portfolio Optimization Process

We propose a transaction cost analysis (TCA) portfolio optimization procedure that incorporates transaction costs directly into the problem of the objective function of portfolio optimization. The results show that a fund achieves considerably higher net returns with TCA optimization than with traditional quadratic programming methods that do not directly consider transactions costs. For a large-cap, 50-stock portfolio, the improvement in net returns was on average +4.5 bp to +8.2 bp and as high as +7.6 bp to +13.5 bp. For a large-cap, 100-stock portfolio, the improvement in net returns was on average +3.2bp to +7.0 bp and as high as +5.0 bp to +10.2 bp. These results show that a manager can start with a seemingly suboptimal or inefficient ex ante portfolio in traditional mean variance space and earn higher ex post net returns after accounting for transaction costs.
Development of short, acute exposure hazard estimates: A tool for assessing the effects of chemical spills in aquatic environments

Management decisions aimed at protecting aquatic resources following accidental chemical spills into rivers and coastal estuaries require estimates of toxic thresholds derived from realistic spill conditions: acute pulse exposures of short duration (h), information which often is unavailable. Most existing toxicity data (median lethal concentration or median effective concentration) come from tests performed under constant exposure concentrations and exposure durations in the 24‐h to 96‐h range, conditions not typical of most chemical spills. Short‐exposure hazard concentration estimates were derived for selected chemicals using empirical toxicity data. Chemical‐specific 5th percentile hazard concentrations (HC5) of species sensitivity distributions (SSD) from individual exposure durations (6–96 h) were derived via bootstrap resampling and were plotted against their original exposure durations to estimate HC5s and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) at shorter exposures (1, 2, and 4 h). This approach allowed the development of short‐exposure HC5s for 12 chemicals. Model verification showed agreement between observed and estimated short‐exposure HC5s (r2 adjusted = 0.95, p < 0.0001), and comparison of estimated short‐exposure HC5s with empirical toxicity data indicated generally conservative hazard estimates. This approach, applied to 2 real spill incidents, indicated hazard estimates above expected environmental concentrations (acrylonitrile), and suggested that environmental concentrations likely exceeded short‐exposure hazard estimates (furfural). Although estimates generated through this approach were likely overprotective, these were derived from environmentally realistic exposure durations, providing risk‐assessors with a tool to manage field decisions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013;32:1918–1927. © 2013 SETAC
Binocular rivalry in monocular augmented reality devices: a review

This review aims to clarify the parameters affecting binocular rivalry, in order to improve comfort for users of monocular augmented reality devices. Augmented reality devices allow users to see virtual information superimposed on the environment. The particularity of monocular systems is that they do not stimulate the eyes in the same way and can therefore induce binocular rivalry. This occurs when the brain is unable to merge the different images presented to each eye and perception alternates between them. It can cause visual fatigue, headache and visual suppression. Binocular rivalry can be characterized in terms of alternation rate, predominance (i.e. total proportion of the binocular rivalry viewing time that a stimulus is dominant) and average dominance duration (for all individual dominance periods). The literature suggests that these variables depend on the conditions of use and the visual stimuli available to the subject. Notably, several parameters have an impact, including contrast, spatial frequency, brightness, etc. The impact of other parameters, such as ocular dominance, remains the subject of debate. With respect to the latter, the literature describes various definitions and tests, and it appears that there are three main forms: motor, acuity and sensorial, the latter being of interest for binocular rivalry.
Bovine Cumulus Cells Protect Maturing Oocytes from Increased Fatty Acid Levels by Massive Intracellular Lipid Storage1

ABSTRACT Metabolic conditions characterized by elevated free fatty acid concentrations in blood and follicular fluid are often associated with impaired female fertility. Especially elevated saturated fatty acid levels can be lipotoxic for several somatic cell types. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of elevated free fatty acid concentrations in follicular fluid on neutral lipids (fatty acids stored in lipid droplets) inside cumulus cells and oocytes and their developmental competence. To this end, cows were exposed to a short-term fasting period during final oocyte maturation. This resulted in elevated, but distinct, free fatty acid concentrations in blood and follicular fluid and a rise in the concentrations of in particular fatty acids with a chain length of 14–18 carbon atoms. Interestingly, elevated free fatty acid concentrations in follicular fluid resulted in a massive increase in the level of neutral lipids in cumulus cells, whereas the level of neutral lipid in oocytes was hardly affected. Furthermore, competence of oocytes to develop to the blastocyst stage after fertilization and culture of cumulus-oocyte-complexes of the experimental and control group was not different. In conclusion these data suggest that short-term elevated free fatty acid concentrations in follicular fluid do not harm oocyte developmental competence. We propose that the involvement of high levels of mobilized oleic acid in follicular fluid in combination with the induced lipid storage in cumulus cells serves to prevent harmful saturated fatty acid exposure to the oocyte.
Estimation and Correction of Rigid and Non-Rigid Respiratory Motion of the Heart for SPECT

One of the factors limiting the diagnostic accuracy of cardiac SPECT perfusion imaging is the respiratory motion of the heart. We present two algorithms for estimating and correcting heart motion in SPECT slices. One is a rigid-body motion estimator which involves prior extraction of a region-of-interest (ROI) around the heart for patient studies. The second is a non-rigid, constrained free-form deformation (FFD) motion estimation and correction method. The rigid registration was applied to two MCAT phantom datasets with realistic noise and rigid motion (SI translation of 1.5 cm). The maximum translational motion was estimated to within 0.7 mm and 0.3 mm for the two datasets respectively. Both the rigid and FFD algorithms were applied to a respiration gated patient study with phased binned datasets and compared.
Effects of a growth hormone-releasing hormone analog on endogenous GH pulsatility and insulin sensitivity in healthy men.

CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Strategies to augment pulsatile GH may be beneficial in patients with excess visceral adiposity, in whom GH secretion is reduced. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a novel GHRH (GHRH(1-44)) analog, tesamorelin, on endogenous GH pulsatility and insulin sensitivity in healthy men. DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS, AND INTERVENTION Thirteen males (mean age 45 ± 3 yr and body mass index 27.3 ± 1.2 kg/m(2)) received tesamorelin 2 mg sc once daily for 2 wk, with assessment made at baseline, after 2 wk of treatment, and after 2 wk of withdrawal. OUTCOME MEASURES The primary end point was change in mean overnight GH as determined by overnight frequent sampling. Secondary end points included insulin-stimulated glucose uptake as measured by euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp; IGF-I; and GH secretion parameters, including pulse area, pulse frequency, and basal secretion. RESULTS Tesamorelin treatment increased mean overnight GH (change +0.5 ± 0.1 μg/liter, P = 0.004), average log(10) GH peak area (change +0.4 ± 0.1 log(10) μg/liter, P = 0.001), and basal GH secretion (change +0.008 ± 0.003 μg/liter · min, P = 0.008). IGF-I increased by 181 ± 22 μg/liter (P < 0.0001). Neither fasting glucose (P = 0.93) nor insulin-stimulated glucose uptake (P = 0.61) was significantly affected by tesamorelin. CONCLUSIONS Once-daily short-term treatment with a GHRH(1-44) analog, tesamorelin, augments basal and pulsatile GH secretion. Moreover, although tesamorelin significantly increases IGF-I, peripheral insulin-stimulated glucose uptake appears to be preserved.
The effects of thermally induced gill remodeling on ionocyte distribution and branchial chloride fluxes in goldfish (Carassius auratus)

SUMMARY Experiments were performed to evaluate the effects of temperature-induced changes in functional gill lamellar surface area on the distribution of ionocytes and branchial chloride fluxes in goldfish (Carassius auratus). In fish acclimated to warm water (25°C), the ionocytes were scattered along the lamellae and within the interlamellar regions of the filament. In cold water (7°C), the ionocytes were largely absent from the lamellae and filaments but instead were mostly confined to the outer regions of an interlamellar cell mass (ILCM) that formed within the interlamellar channels. Using a `time-differential double fluorescent staining' technique, it was determined that in fish transferred from 25° to 7°C, the ionocytes on the outer edge of (and within) the ILCM originated predominantly from the migration of pre-existing ionocytes and to a lesser extent from the differentiation of progenitor cells. Despite the greater functional lamellar surface area in the warm-water-acclimated fish, there was no associated statistically significant increase in passive branchial Cl– efflux. Because the paracellular efflux of polyethylene glycol was increased 2.5-fold at the warmer temperature, it would suggest that goldfish specifically regulate (minimize) Cl– loss that otherwise would accompany the increasing functional lamellar surface area. In contrast to predictions, the numbers and sizes of individual ionocytes was inversely related to functional lamellar surface area resulting in a markedly greater ionocyte surface area in fish acclimated to cold water (5219±438 compared with 2103±180 μm2 mm–1 of filament). Paradoxically, the activity of Na+/K+-ATPase (as measured at room temperature) also was lower in the cold-water fish (0.43±0.06 compared with 1.28±0.15 μmol mg–1 protein h–1) despite the greater numbers of ionocytes. There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of Cl– uptake in the two groups of fish despite the differences in ionocyte abundance. It is possible that to maintain normal rates of Cl– uptake, a greater ionocyte surface area is required in the cold-water fish that possess an ILCM because of the unfavorable positioning of the ionocytes on and within the ILCM, a structure lacking any obvious blood supply.
Enhanced tenogenic differentiation and tendon‐like tissue formation by tenomodulin overexpression in murine mesenchymal stem cells

As a highly specific marker of tenocytes, tenomodulin (Tnmd) functions remain largely unexplored. We investigated the effect of Tnmd overexpression on tenogenic differentiation of murine mesenchymal stem cells (mMSCs) via plasmid‐mediated overexpression in the C3H10T1/2 cell line. The results showed that overexpressed Tnmd could significantly enhance cell proliferation (p < 0.05) and the gene expressions of tenogenic‐related molecules, including Tnmd, Scleraxis (Scx), collagens I, III and VI and decorin (p < 0.05), and significantly inhibit mMSCs differentiation towards the adipogenic, chondrogenic and osteogenic lineages (p < 0.05). Upon in vivo implantation with rat tail collagen gel subcutaneously in nude mice, Tnmd‐overexpressed C3H10T1/2 cells formed neotendon‐like tissue, which revealed a histological feature of wave‐like dense collagen fibres and cells aligned in parallel. By contrast, a disorganized connective tissue structure with randomly distributed cells was observed in the control group. To further confirm this finding, a conditional Tnmd‐overexpressing mouse model was established and the derived primary mMSCs could be induced to overexpress Tnmd with > two‐fold upregulated gene expression (p < 0.05) by the treatment of doxycycline (Dox). Similarly, conditional overexpression of Tnmd in primary mMSCs also led to faster proliferation (p < 0.05), enhanced gene expression of tenogenic markers (p < 0.05) and the inhibited expressions of adipogenic and osteogenic markers (p < 0.05). The results of enhanced tenogenic differentiation and neotendon formation indicated that Tnmd may serve not only as a tenogenic marker but also as a positive regulator of MSCs tenogenic differentiation, which might be applied to MSCs‐mediated tendon regeneration. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Implication of prior treatment with drug combinations including inhibitors of topoisomerase II in therapy‐related monocytic leukemia with a 9;11 translocation

The present case, together with other reports reviewed herein, defines a new subtype of therapy‐related acute myeloid leukemia (t‐AML). This variant of t‐AML is characterized by a short interval from initial drug therapy to bone marrow dysfunction and monocytic morphology without trilineage dysplasia. Unlike classic t‐AML, which frequently has abnormalities of chromosomes 5 and/or 7, this new subtype is characterized by rearrangements involving band q23 of chromosome 11, most commonly a 9;11 translocation. The majority of patients with this subtype of t‐AML had prior cytotoxic therapy with topoisomerase II‐reactive drugs including anthracyclines, epipodophyllotoxins, or actinomycin D, combined with either an alkylating agent or cisplatin. This association of prior therapy which includes topoisomerase II‐reactive agents and a rapidly appearing t‐AML involving the monocytic line and chromosome 11 requires additional study.
Genetic structure of Micromeria (Lamiaceae) in Tenerife, the imprint of geological history and hybridization on within‐island diversification

Abstract Geological history of oceanic islands can have a profound effect on the evolutionary history of insular flora, especially in complex islands such as Tenerife in the Canary Islands. Tenerife results from the secondary connection of three paleo‐islands by a central volcano, and other geological events that further shaped it. This geological history has been shown to influence the phylogenetic history of several taxa, including genus Micromeria (Lamiaceae). Screening 15 microsatellite markers in 289 individuals representing the eight species of Micromeria present in Tenerife, this study aims to assess the genetic diversity and structure of these species and its relation with the geological events on the island. In addition, we evaluate the extent of hybridization among species and discuss its influence on the speciation process. We found that the species restricted to the paleo‐islands present lower levels of genetic diversity but the highest levels of genetic differentiation suggesting that their ranges might have contracted over time. The two most widespread species in the island, M. hyssopifolia and M. varia, present the highest genetic diversity levels and a genetic structure that seems correlated with the geological composition of the island. Samples from M. hyssopifolia from the oldest paleo‐island, Adeje, appear as distinct while samples from M. varia segregate into two main clusters corresponding to the paleo‐islands of Anaga and Teno. Evidence of hybridization and intraspecific migration between species was found. We argue that species boundaries would be retained despite hybridization in response to the habitat's specific conditions causing postzygotic isolation and preserving morphological differentiation.
Protective and Damaging Effects of Mediators of Stress: Elaborating and Testing the Concepts of Allostasis and Allostatic Load

Abstract: Stress is a condition of human existence and a factor in the expression of disease. A broader view of stress is that it is not just the dramatic stressful events that exact their toll but rather the many events of daily life that elevate activities of physiological systems to cause some measure of wear and tear. We call this wear and tear “allostatic load,” and it reflects not only the impact of life experiences but also of genetic load; individual habits reflecting items such as diet, exercise, and substance abuse; and developmental experiences that set life‐long patterns of behavior and physiological reactivity (see McEwen 1 ). Hormones associated with stress and allostatic load protect the body in the short run and promote adaptation, but in the long run allostatic load causes changes in the body that lead to disease. This will be illustrated for the immune system and brain. Among the most potent of stressors are those arising from competitive interactions between animals of the same species, leading to the formation of dominance hierarchies. Psychosocial stress of this type not only impairs cognitive function of lower ranking animals, but it can also promote disease (e.g. atherosclerosis) among those vying for the dominant position. Social ordering in human society is also associated with gradients of disease, with an increasing frequency of mortality and morbidity as one descends the scale of socioeconomic status that reflects both income and education. Although the causes of these gradients of health are very complex, they are likely to reflect, with increasing frequency at the lower end of the scale, the cumulative burden of coping with limited resources and negative life events and the allostatic load that this burden places on the physiological systems involved in coping and adaptation.
A survey of sleep problems in autism, Asperger's disorder and typically developing children.

BACKGROUND Sleep problems are common in typically developing (TD) children and in children with autism, however, less is known about the sleep of children with Asperger's disorder (AD). The aim of this study was to compare sleep patterns of children with autism and AD to a TD group of children. METHODS Sixty-six parents of TD children, 53 parents of children with autism, and 52 parents of children with AD completed a survey on their child's sleep patterns, the nature and severity of any sleep problems and success of any treatment attempted. RESULTS The results showed high prevalence of sleep problems with significantly more problems reported in the autism and AD groups (TD = 50%, autism = 73%, AD = 73%), with no significant differences between groups on severity or type of sleep problem. Children with AD were significantly more likely to be sluggish and disoriented after waking and had a higher Behavioral Evaluation of Disorders of Sleep (BEDS) total score compared to the other two groups. The autism and AD groups reported significantly better treatment success for medication compared to the TD group. The autism group reported significantly better success for behavioural treatment compared to the AD group. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, children with AD may have more symptoms of sleep disturbance, and different types of sleep problems than children with autism. As this is the first study to compare autism and AD and to survey treatment outcomes, further research is needed to validate these findings.
VALORAÇÃO MONETÁRIA: PESQUISAS EM FLORESTA URBANA

O uso de diferentes métodos para valoração monetária de bens e serviços ambientais é uma abordagem que pode trazer relevantes contribuições para planejamento de uso e a priorização de preservação das paisagens naturais. No caso das florestas urbanas, este tipo de pesquisa possuem potencial para sensibilização dos diversos setores da sociedade sobre os inúmeros serviços ambientais prestados por estas e seu papel essencial na qualidade ambiental urbana. Para avaliar como os diferentes métodos de valoração vêm sendo pesquisados no mundo, foram selecionados artigos publicados de 2001 a 2010, em 11 periódicos nacionais e internacionais para a confecção de um painel sobre as pesquisas nesta área. A maioria dos artigos publicados teve origem em estudos realizados na Europa e América do Norte, com predominância do uso da valoração hedônica, porém com tendência ao aumento de estudos sobre valoração contingente e dos métodos de fórmula. Concluiu-se que a diversidade de estudos sobre valoração deve ser estimulada, especialmente no contexto nacional, uma vez que não existe um método perfeito para valoração das florestas urbanas, em razão das múltiplas características e serviços prestados por estas. O entendimento do contexto, dos objetivos e limitações de cada método é fundamental para sua aplicação.
HIV-Specific CD8+ T Cells Exhibit Markedly Reduced Levels of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL1

Human immunodeficiency virus-specific CD8+ T cells are highly sensitive to spontaneous and CD95/Fas-induced apoptosis, and this sensitivity may impair their ability to control HIV infection. To elucidate the mechanism behind this sensitivity, in this study we examined the levels of antiapoptotic molecules Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL in HIV-specific CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected individuals. Bcl-2 expression was markedly decreased in HIV-specific CD8+ T cells compared with CMV-specific and total CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected individuals as well as total CD8+ T cells from healthy donors. CD8+ T cell Bcl-2 levels inversely correlated with spontaneous and CD95/Fas-induced apoptosis of CD8+ T cells from HIV-infected individuals. HIV-specific CD8+ T cells also had significantly lower levels of Bcl-xL compared with CMV-specific CD8+ T cells. Finally, IL-15 induces both Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL expression in HIV-specific and total CD8+ T cells, and this correlated with apoptosis inhibition and increased survival in both short- and long-term cultures. Our data indicate that reduced Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL may play an important role in the increased sensitivity to apoptosis of HIV-specific CD8+ T cells and suggest a possible mechanism by which IL-15 increases their survival.