Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protective effect of alcohol consumption for fatty liver but not metabolic syndrome.

AIM To investigate the effect of alcohol on the metabolic syndrome (MS) and fatty liver in Japanese men and women. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted in a medical health checkup program at a general hospital. This study involved 18 571 Japanese men and women, 18-88 years of age, with a mean body mass index of 22.6 kg/m(2). A standardized questionnaire was administered. The total amount of alcohol consumed per week was calculated, and categorized into four grades. Fatty liver was examined by ultrasound modified criteria of the revised National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III and the new International Diabetes Federation. RESULTS The prevalence of fatty liver decreased in men and women with light to moderate alcohol consumption, whereas the prevalence of MS was not so changed. The prevalence of fatty liver of any grade in men was lower than that in those with no or minimal alcohol consumption. In women with light to moderate alcohol consumption, prevalence of fatty liver was lower than that in women with no or minimal alcohol consumption. By logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio (OR) for MS in women with light alcohol consumption was decreased to < 1.0, but this change was not clear in men. The OR for fatty liver was clearly < 1.0 in men with any level of alcohol consumption and in women with light to moderate consumption. CONCLUSION Light to moderate alcohol consumption has a favorable effect for fatty liver, but not for MS in Japanese men and women.
Rural Sanctuaries as ‘Smart Destinations’ – Sustainability Concerns (Mazovia Region, Poland)

Abstract The general objective of this paper is to present and discuss the factors that need to be taken into account to ensure that the development and management of religious tourism at rural sites was sustainable from an economic, environmental and socio-cultural point of view. Among other issues, sustainable religious tourism means accessibility to the sanctuaries, protection of cultural and heritage values of the local community, benefits for the local residents and meaningful experience for visitors. Authors were especially interested in the less popular, more remotely located holy sites in Mazovia Region (Poland) and two concerns: readiness to respond the needs of persons with different disabilities and local community opinion on tourists. As was documented by our research outcomes despite the recent numerous improvements, the most popular rural sanctuaries in Mazovia Region, remain only partially accessible for persons with disabilities. As masses of pilgrims have a significant effect on wellbeing and everyday life quality of residents (contributing both to positive and to negative effects), those who accept that tourists are important for economic development, benefit from it, creating ‘smart host area’. These rural communities which are not knowledgeable about positive impacts – see only negative consequences.
The Optimal Taxation of Risky Capital Income: The Rate of Return Allowance

We study the optimality of taxing capital income according to a Rate-of-Return Allowance proposed by the Mirrlees Review. In a mean-variance framework the optimal tax on risk-free returns is zero with constant returns to scale in private investment, but positive with decreasing returns to scale, and vice versa. The optimal tax rate on excess returns to risky assets is positive if the stochastic tax revenue is returned to the household by variable public good provision. If it is returned as a stochastic lump sum, the optimal tax on excess returns is irrelevant with only aggregate risk, and approaches 100 % if there is also idiosyncratic risk.
Alcohol Availability, Prenatal Conditions, and Long-Term Economic Outcomes

This study examines how a policy that sharply increased alcohol availability during 8.5 months affected the labor productivity of those exposed to it in utero. Compared to the surrounding cohorts, the prenatally exposed children have substantially worse labor market and educational outcomes and lower cognitive and noncognitive ability. Effects on earnings are found throughout the distribution but are largest below the median. Males are more affected than females, consistent with growing evidence that boys are less resilient to early environmental insults. The long-term effects seem primarily driven by changes in prenatal health rather than changes in the childhood environment.
Delayed Addition of Glucocorticoids Selectively Suppresses Cytokine Production in Stimulated Human Whole Blood

ABSTRACT Glucocorticoids (GC) are potent drugs proven to effectively treat inflammatory diseases, although patients typically begin therapy after the onset of symptoms. Clinical studies with cytokine inhibitors prove that these mediators drive inflammatory responses in diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease. Despite the clear sequence of cytokine-induced inflammation followed by effective GC treatment, most basic science investigations have examined the ability of GC to prevent an inflammatory response rather than halt its progression. The current studies used the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) agonist palmitoyl3-cysteine-serine-lysine4 (PAM) or the TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to stimulate human whole blood and determine whether postponing the addition of the GC dexamethasone (DEX) limits its ability to decrease cytokine production. Twenty-four hours after stimulation, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and IL-8 levels were measured, in addition to the cytokine inhibitors IL-1 soluble receptor II (SRII), IL-1 receptor antagonist, and TNF SRII. LPS rapidly induced all of the proinflammatory mediators over 24 h while failing to induce any of the cytokine inhibitors. PAM stimulation also induced IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8. Concomitant addition of DEX plus LPS or PAM significantly suppressed all cytokine levels. Delaying the addition of DEX until 6 h after LPS stimulation failed to decrease TNF or IL-6. In contrast, delayed DEX addition significantly suppressed PAM-induced IL-1β, IL-6, or IL-8 and also suppressed LPS-induced IL-1β and IL-8. Our results show that cytokines which typically increase in concentration between 6 and 24 h after stimulation were significantly suppressed by the addition of DEX 6 h after stimulation.
Capitalization of green spaces into housing values in the city of Angers: a hedonic approach

Increasing population and urbanization in French cities is not only contributing to urban pressure but also is likely to increase the demand for green amenities. In order to determine whether this later are capitalize into housing values, we employ a hedonic pricing model in the city of Angers (France) for 1260 real estate transactions between 2004 and 2005. We improve the traditional hedonic model by using various landscape metrics calculated with geographic information systems. We find, in particular, that the distance and the density of green spaces are important factors in residential choices. Being closer by 100 meters to a green space leads to an increase of 1.3 % of the average price of apartments.
Klebsiella pneumoniae Sequence Type 11 from Companion Animals Bearing ArmA Methyltransferase, DHA-1 β-Lactamase, and QnrB4

ABSTRACT Seven Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates from dogs and cats in Spain were found to be highly resistant to aminoglycosides, and ArmA methyltransferase was responsible for this phenotype. All isolates were typed by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) as ST11, a human epidemic clone reported worldwide and associated with, among others, OXA-48 and NDM carbapenemases. In the seven strains, armA was borne by an IncR plasmid, pB1025, of 50 kb. The isolates were found to coproduce DHA-1 and SHV-11 β-lactamases, as well as the QnrB4 resistance determinant. This first report of the ArmA methyltransferase in pets illustrates their importance as a reservoir for human multidrug-resistant K. pneumoniae.
User Control of Force-directed Layouts

Force-directed layouts are typically used for minimizing overlaps in node-link graphs. This can make it easier to interpret and derive meaning from the resulting visualization. Once such a layout is put in motion, however, the person interacting with it has little control over the “final” layout. This paper describes an approach that puts even inexperienced users in charge of force-directed layouts that are not limited to network diagrams. The visual interface to a powerful but relatively easy to use visualization grammar has been augmented with sliders for controlling the strength of constraints applied to visual objects. Users can change the balance of power between constraints while the visualization is running, specify different constraints for groupings of visual objects, turn off all or some of the constraints affecting the layout, or return a layout to its pre-constraintsolving specification. This approach is a step towards addressing the need for tools with which all users can control and interact with force-directed layouts.
Analysis of Three Ptx2 Splice Variants on Transcriptional Activity and Differential Expression Pattern in the Brain

Abstract: Three different transcripts of the homeodomain gene termed pituitary homeobox (Ptx) 2 (Pitx2/Brx/Rieg/Solurshin/Arp) were cloned from different species encoding proteins belonging to the paired‐like family of homeodomain proteins. Ptx2a (324 amino acids), Ptx2b (271 amino acids), and Ptx2c (318 amino acids) share the C terminus, including the homeodomain, and have different N termini. Here we report the comparative analysis of all three different Ptx2 splice variants for their transcriptional activity and their expression pattern in the adult rat brain. Ptx2 is able to trans‐activate via different model promoters in different cell lines. A mild difference in trans‐activating potential is observed among the splice variants, but the underlying mechanism is at present unknown. It is surprising that all Ptx2 transcripts displayed an identical expression pattern in the brain. This markedly restricted pattern is limited to the following brain areas: the anterior and intermediate lobes of the pituitary gland, the subthalamic nucleus, the posterior hypothalamic nucleus, the mammillary bodies, the red nucleus, and the deep gray layer of the superior colliculus. The data presented suggest that all variants of Ptx2 are involved in the development and regulation of distinct neuronal cell groups and the pituitary gland.
Keynes the Stock Market Investor: A Quantitative Analysis

The consensus view of the influential economist John Maynard Keynes is that he was a stellar investor. We provide an extensive quantitative appraisal of his performance over a quarter-century in both calendar and event time, and present detailed empirical analysis of his archived trading records. His top-down approach generated disappointing returns in the 1920s and we find no evidence of any market-timing ability. However, from the early 1930s his performance improved as he evolved into a bottom-up stock-picker with high tracking error, substantial active risk, and pronounced size and value tilts. Our careful reconstruction of Keynes’ stock trading provides a unique record of realized performance and sheds light on how equity focussed investing developed historically.
Long term effects of early adversity on cognitive function

Aims: To investigate long term effects of early adverse circumstances on cognitive function. Methods: Associations between early material home circumstances, parental divorce, maternal management and understanding, and cognitive function in childhood, adolescence, and adulthood were analysed using multiple linear regression, controlling for sex, parental SES, and birth order in 1339 males and females from the MRC National Survey of Health and Development. Results: Early adverse circumstances were strongly associated with lower cognitive ability in childhood and adolescence, and were detectable on measures of verbal ability, memory, and speed and concentration in midlife. However, these long term effects were mostly explained by the effects of adversity on childhood or adolescent cognitive ability or by differences in educational attainment and adult social class. An exception was the effect of poor material home conditions on visual search speed at 53 years, which was maintained after controlling for adolescent ability, as well as further control for educational attainment, adult social class, physical growth, cigarette smoking, and affective state. There was no evidence of more rapid decline in memory and psychomotor function across middle age in those exposed to early adversity. Conclusions: The effect of early adversity on cognitive function tracks across the life course at least as far as middle age, although there was little evidence from this study of effect amplification over this interval. Nevertheless, in view of the persistence of child poverty in the industrialised world, these findings give cause for concern.
Screening tools for multidimensional health problems warranting a geriatric assessment in older cancer patients: an update on SIOG recommendations†.

BACKGROUND Screening tools are proposed to identify those older cancer patients in need of geriatric assessment (GA) and multidisciplinary approach. We aimed to update the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) 2005 recommendations on the use of screening tools. MATERIALS AND METHODS SIOG composed a task group to review, interpret and discuss evidence on the use of screening tools in older cancer patients. A systematic review was carried out and discussed by an expert panel, leading to a consensus statement on their use. RESULTS Forty-four studies reporting on the use of 17 different screening tools in older cancer patients were identified. The tools most studied in older cancer patients are G8, Flemish version of the Triage Risk Screening Tool (fTRST) and Vulnerable Elders Survey-13 (VES-13). Across all studies, the highest sensitivity was observed for: G8, fTRST, Oncogeriatric screen, Study of Osteoporotic Fractures, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group-Performance Status, Senior Adult Oncology Program (SAOP) 2 screening and Gerhematolim. In 11 direct comparisons for detecting problems on a full GA, the G8 was more or equally sensitive than other instruments in all six comparisons, whereas results were mixed for the VES-13 in seven comparisons. In addition, different tools have demonstrated associations with outcome measures, including G8 and VES-13. CONCLUSIONS Screening tools do not replace GA but are recommended in a busy practice in order to identify those patients in need of full GA. If abnormal, screening should be followed by GA and guided multidisciplinary interventions. Several tools are available with different performance for various parameters (including sensitivity for addressing the need for further GA). Further research should focus on the ability of screening tools to build clinical pathways and to predict different outcome parameters.
Assessment of a New Anti-HER2 Monoclonal Antibody, SV2-61γ: A Best Concordance With HER2 FISH

It is critical to evaluate the overexpression of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) adequately in breast cancer cases. The aim of the present study is to assess the characteristics and usefulness of a novel monoclonal antibody, clone SV2-61γ. The overexpression of HER2 was studied on paraffin sections of 50 breast cancers using a polyclonal antibody assay (HercepTest) and monoclonal antibodies (clones SV2-61γ and CB11). Gene amplification of HER2 was determined by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using a HER2/CEP17DNA probe kit. Fifty tumors were scored as 0 (50.0%), 1+ (26.0%), 2+ (4.0%), or 3+ (20.0%) by immunohistochemistry using a monoclonal antibody, clone SV2-61γ. The specificities of immunohistochemistry were 72.0% for the polyclonal antibody, 97.0% for SV2-61γ, and 92.0% for CB11. The concordances with FISH were 78.0% for the polyclonal antibody, 98.0% for SV2-61γ, and 94.0% for CB11. The positive predictive value of SV2-61γ (92.0%) was higher than those of the polyclonal antibody (50.0%) and CB11 (79.0%). A monoclonal antibody clone SV2-61γ showed very specific staining, with the best concordance with FISH, and it is useful for the evaluation of HER2 overexpression.
Simple micellar electrokinetic chromatography method for the determination of hydrogen sulfide in hen tissues

A new method for the determination of hydrogen sulfide in hen tissues has been developed and validated. For estimation of hydrogen sulfide content, a sample (0.1 g) of hen tissue was treated according to the procedure consisted of some essential steps: simultaneous homogenization of a tissue and derivatization of hydrogen sulfide to its S‐quinolinium derivative with 2‐chloro‐1‐methylquinolinium tetrafluoroborate, separation of so‐formed derivative by micellar electrokinetic chromatography with sweeping, and detection and quantitation with the use of UV detector set to measure analytical signals at 375 nm. Effective electrophoretic separation was achieved using fused silica capillary (effective length 41.5 cm, 75 μm id) and 0.05 mol/L, pH 8 phosphate buffer with the addition of 0.04 mol/L SDS and 26% ACN. The lower limit of quantification was 0.12 μmol hydrogen sulfide in 1 g of tissue. The calibration curve prepared in tissue homogenate for hydrogen sulfide showed linearity in the range from 0.15 to 2.0 μmol/g, with the coefficient of correlation 0.9978. The relative standard deviation of the points of the calibration curve varied from 8.3 to 3.2% RSD.
The Arctic mutation accelerates Aβ aggregation in SDS through reducing the helical propensity of residues 15–25

Abstract Mutations within the β-amyloid peptide (Aβ) sequence that cause early onset familial Alzheimer’s disease (FAD) have been shown to promote Aβ aggregation. How these FAD-related mutants increase the aggregative ability of Aβ is not fully understood. Here, we characterized the effect of the Arctic variant (E22G) on the conformational stability of Aβ using various forms of spectroscopy and kinetic analyses, including nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The E22G mutation in the Arctic variant reduced the α-helical propensity and conformational stability of Aβ on residues 15–25. This mutation also caused an increase in both α-helix-to-β-strand conversion and fibril nucleation rates. Our results suggest that the α-helical propensity of residues 15–25 may play a determinant role in the aggregative ability of Aβ. This may provide a structural basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of Aβ aggregation.
Mapping Wnt/β-catenin signaling during mouse development and in colorectal tumors

Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays key roles in several developmental and pathological processes. Domains of Wnt expression have been extensively investigated in the mouse, but the tissues receiving the signal remain largely unidentified. To define which cells respond to activated β-catenin during mammalian development, we generated the β-catenin-activated transgene driving expression of nuclear β-galactosidase reporter (BAT-gal) transgenic mice, expressing the lacZ gene under the control of β-catenin/T cell factor responsive elements. Reporter gene activity is found in known organizing centers, such as the midhindbrain border and the limb apical ectodermal ridge. Moreover, BAT-gal expression identifies novel sites of Wnt signaling, like notochord, endothelia, and areas of the adult brain, revealing an unsuspected dynamic pattern of β-catenin transcriptional activity. Expression of the transgene was analyzed in mutant backgrounds. In lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6-null homozygous mice, which lack a Wnt coreceptor, BAT-gal staining is absent in mutant tissues, indicating that BAT-gal mice are bona fide in vivo indicators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Analyses of BAT-gal expression in the adenomatous polyposis coli (multiple intestinal neoplasia/+) background revealed βcatenin transcriptional activity in intestinal adenomas but surprisingly not in normal crypt cells. In summary, BAT-gal mice unveil the entire complexity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in mammals and have broad application potentials for the identification of Wnt-responsive cell populations in development and disease.
Predictability Improvement as an Asymmetrical Measure of Interdependence in bivariate Time Series

In many signal processing applications, especially in the analysis of complex physiological systems, an important problem is to detect and quantify the interdependencies between signals (or time series). In this paper, we focus on asymmetrical relations between two time series with the aim of quantification of the directional influences between them in the sense of "who drives whom and how strongly". To meet this aim, we modify the mixed state analysis, which was proposed by Wiesenfeldt et al. [2001] to detect primarily the nature of the coupling (unidirectional or bidirectional), for the quantification of the strength of coupling in each direction. We introduce the predictability improvement of one time series by additional consideration of another time series. The newly developed measure is an analogue of the information theoretic concept of transfer entropy and is applicable to short time series. We demonstrate the application of this approach to coupled deterministic systems and to EEG data.
p53 Alterations and Protein Accumulation in Benign Breast Tissue and Breast Cancer Risk: A Cohort Study

Disruption of p53 gene function seems to have a pivotal role in carcinogenesis. p53 gene changes occur before the development of breast cancer and therefore might influence breast cancer risk. We investigated the association between p53 protein accumulation and p53 mutations detected in benign breast tissue and risk of subsequent breast cancer. We conducted a case-control study nested within the cohort of 4,888 women in the Canadian National Breast Screening Study who were diagnosed with biopsy-confirmed benign breast disease during active follow-up. Cases were women with benign breast disease who subsequently developed breast cancer; five controls were matched to each case. p53 protein accumulation was assessed immunohistochemically using sections of paraffin-embedded benign breast tissue from 104 cases and 385 controls; for 82 of these cases and 327 of the controls, DNA was successfully extracted from the breast tissue for p53 gene analysis using PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism/direct sequencing. p53 protein accumulation was associated with a 2-fold increase in risk of progression to breast cancer [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 2.16; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.08-4.30], whereas p53 nucleotide changes overall were not associated with altered risk (adjusted OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.68-2.19); those with both p53 immunopositivity and a p53 nucleotide change had an OR (95% CI) of 3.20 (1.21-8.50). Nonpolymorphic intronic changes were associated with a 2.8-fold increase in risk (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.09-7.41). The results of this study suggest that p53 protein accumulation and nonpolymorphic intronic changes in p53 are associated with increased risk of progression to breast cancer in women with benign breast disease. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(7):1316–23)