Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
I wonder if robots will take care of me when I am old: Positive aging representations of professionals working in health promotion services

How the social and institutional context is structured and represented by its actors has an impact on positive aging representations. This qualitative study explores professionals’ views on positive aging, how they promote positive aging in their practice and what disparities occur between their discourses and the actual practice of promoting positive aging. Interviews were conducted with professionals from different active aging promotion services and analyzed with thematic coding. Findings show professionals hold negative views on aging while trying to promote positive views in their work, illustrating an existing theory-practice gap. Strategies used in practice can be integrated in existing agency models and inform interventions and active aging policies.
Verzerrungen von Konsumentenpreisindizes und ihr Einfluss auf das reale Wirtschaftswachstum: Dargestellt am Beispiel der USA

The paper reviews the sources of "Upward bias" and "Downward bias" in the USConsumer Price Index (CPI) and discusses the changes the Bureau of Labor Statistics has introduced in order to eliminate them. The remaining biases are quantified. Also, the question is raised how much the changes to the CPI have lifted the growth rates of "real" US-GDP upward. It is shown that the divergence in growth rates between the US and the European Union since 1997 can be explained almost entirely in terms of differing statistical methods.
ERK1/2 signalling protects against apoptosis following endoplasmic reticulum stress but cannot provide long-term protection against BAX/BAK-independent cell death

Disruption of protein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) causes ER stress. Activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) acts to restore protein homeostasis or, if ER stress is severe or persistent, drive apoptosis, which is thought to proceed through the cell intrinsic, mitochondrial pathway. Indeed, cells that lack the key executioner proteins BAX and BAK are protected from ER stress-induced apoptosis. Here we show that chronic ER stress causes the progressive inhibition of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) signalling pathway. This is causally related to ER stress since reactivation of ERK1/2 can protect cells from ER stress-induced apoptosis whilst ERK1/2 pathway inhibition sensitises cells to ER stress. Furthermore, cancer cell lines harbouring constitutively active BRAFV600E are addicted to ERK1/2 signalling for protection against ER stress-induced cell death. ERK1/2 signalling normally represses the pro-death proteins BIM, BMF and PUMA and it has been proposed that ER stress induces BIM-dependent cell death. We found no evidence that ER stress increased the expression of these proteins; furthermore, BIM was not required for ER stress-induced death. Rather, ER stress caused the PERK-dependent inhibition of cap-dependent mRNA translation and the progressive loss of pro-survival proteins including BCL2, BCLXL and MCL1. Despite these observations, neither ERK1/2 activation nor loss of BAX/BAK could confer long-term clonogenic survival to cells exposed to ER stress. Thus, ER stress induces cell death by at least two biochemically and genetically distinct pathways: a classical BAX/BAK-dependent apoptotic response that can be inhibited by ERK1/2 signalling and an alternative ERK1/2- and BAX/BAK-independent cell death pathway.
Ratio quantification of gene dosage by Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer for detection of somatic gene deletions

We applied the Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer, a microfluidics-based electrophoresis instrument, and introduced an accurate and consistent parameter, the relative product yield ratio (ROY), to detect somatic gene deletions in tumor cells. Briefly for such purpose, the Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer quantified the ROY of a target gene to an endogenous internal control, both of which were initially co-amplified by Robust-Dosage PCR (RD- PCR). Herein, we extensively validated this approach. We first tested the effect of well positions on the Agilent DNA chip. We found that no matter which wells the samples were loaded in, the ROY was consistent with coefficient of variation (CV) < 2%. Then we tested the effect of product concentrations that varied 8-fold, and the ROY was also consistent with CV < 3.5%. Furthermore, we applied this approach to identify six somatic KRAS deletions in non-small cell lung cancer patients, confirming our previous findings. Thus, the Agilent 2100 Bioanalyzer is simple, accurate, quick, and ultimately able to replace conventional gel electrophoresis for the detection of somatic gene deletions.
Machine learning for identifying Randomized Controlled Trials: An evaluation and practitioner's guide

Machine learning (ML) algorithms have proven highly accurate for identifying Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) but are not used much in practice, in part because the best way to make use of the technology in a typical workflow is unclear. In this work, we evaluate ML models for RCT classification (support vector machines, convolutional neural networks, and ensemble approaches). We trained and optimized support vector machine and convolutional neural network models on the titles and abstracts of the Cochrane Crowd RCT set. We evaluated the models on an external dataset (Clinical Hedges), allowing direct comparison with traditional database search filters. We estimated area under receiver operating characteristics (AUROC) using the Clinical Hedges dataset.
The Internet Will Drive Corporate Monitoring

Using the internet for shareholder proxy voting will not just save money. It will give shareholders unprecedented influence over the policies of large corporations, by making "corporate monitoring" possible. Rational voter apathy will be counteracted by the internet's ability to make information exchange cheap and easy. Likely benefits include higher profits, support for social goals, and more realistic levels of CEO pay. Compared to other countries, America has more stock held by individuals who use the internet, so America will lead this trend.
Studies on the mechanism of rapid activation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation activities, particularly c‐Src kinase, by TCDD in MCF10A

While the process of the Ah receptor activation leading to cytochrome P450 induction has been well studied, the mechanism and the process through which the Ah receptor activates tyrosine kinases, within a few minutes of its ligand binding, is not known. Previously, it was reported by Tannheimer et al. (Carcinogenesis 1998; 19:1291–1297) that TCDD causes rapid induction of tyrosine phosphorylation activities in the MCF10A human mammary epithelial cell line. To study the mechanistic aspect of this phenomenon, particularly that occurs within a few minutes after administration, we first studied the effect of insulin on MCF10A under serum free conditions with added EGF. The addition of insulin induced a rapid (5 min) tyrosine phosphorylation on several 160–190 kDa proteins which was followed by significant dephosphorylation activities on these proteins by 15 min. TCDD increased the rate of tyrosine phosphorylation on those proteins but at 15 min, the level of phosphorylation was still high. When insulin and TCDD were added together, the ability of insulin to induce de‐phosphorylation by 15 min disappeared. Such an action of TCDD was accompanied by an increase in the titer of the activated form of Src kinase (i.e. c‐Src protein with 418 tyrosine phosphorylation), and a concomitant decrease in the level of 529 tyrosine phosphorylated form (an inactivated form). The TCDD‐induced activation of c‐Src could be blocked by pretreated MCF10A cells with antisense oligonucleotides against c‐src or with a specific inhibitor of Src kinase, PP‐2. These results support the conclusion that c‐Src kinase is at least one of the earliest and the most upstream components of toxic signaling of the Ah‐receptor activated by TCDD through the post‐transcriptional process. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 18:313–321, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/jbt.20041
APOE-epsilon4 is associated with weight loss in women with AD: a population-based study.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether the APOE-epsilon4 allele is associated with weight loss in patients with AD or in nondemented elderly subjects. BACKGROUND Weight loss has been considered a typical feature of AD. APOE-epsilon4 is a risk factor for AD and was recently proposed to be associated with weight loss in elderly women. It is not known whether APOE-epsilon4 is associated with weight loss in patients with AD or in the general population. METHODS Weight and BMI measurements at an average interval of 3.5 years and APOE phenotype determination were performed in an elderly population (n = 980), including 46 patients with AD and 911 control subjects at the end of the follow-up. RESULTS On average, patients with AD with the epsilon4 allele lost 1.9 +/- 4.0 kg (BMI 0.8 +/- 1.8 kg/m2) whereas epsilon4 noncarriers gained 1.2 +/- 3.8 kg (BMI 0.4 +/- 1.5 kg/m2) (both p < 0.05), after controlling for diabetes and exercise. However, when men and women were analyzed separately, weight loss was observed only in those women with AD with the epsilon4 allele. Clinically significant weight loss, defined as loss of > or = 5% of body weight, occurred more frequently in both patients with AD (30% versus 6%; p < 0.05) and control subjects (28% versus 18%; p < 0.001) carrying the epsilon4 allele. CONCLUSIONS The APOE-epsilon4 allele may contribute to the unexplained weight loss in AD, especially in women.
Instrument to detect syncope and the onset of shock

Currently the diagnosis of hemorrhagic shock is essentially clinical, relying on the expertise of nurses and doctors. One of the first measurable physiological changes that marks the onset of hemorrhagic shock is a decrease in capillary blood flow. Diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) quantifies this decrease. DCS collects and analyzes multiply scattered, coherent, near infrared light to assess relative blood flow. This work presents a preliminary study using a DCS instrument with human subjects undergoing a lower body negative pressure (LBNP) protocol. This work builds on previous successful DCS instrumentation development and we believe it represents progress toward understanding how DCS can be used in a clinical setting.
Automatic Fiscal Stabilizers in Sweden 1998-2009

In this note, I examine how the responsiveness of the Swedish public budget to business-cycle conditions has developed between 1998 and 2009. I document substantial changes in three components behind the budget elasticity: (i) the average level of personal income taxes has fallen substantially, (ii) the progressivity of personal income taxation has increased, and (iii) spending on unemployment compensation has fallen. The first two changes have opposing effects on the budget elasticity, and I find that the higher progressivity has had a marginally larger impact on the elasticity than the tax cuts. Also allowing for the lower unemployment compensations, the three effects add up to a small and non-substantial fall in the budget elasticity. Considering that most of the components behind the budget elasticity are imprecisely estimated, there is no clear evidence that the Swedish budget elasticity has changed during the last decade.
[Clinicopathologic features of calcifying fibrous tumor with reappraisal of its histogenesis].

OBJECTIVE To study the clinicopathologic features and histogenesis of calcifying fibrous tumor (CFT). METHODS The clinical manifestations, histopathologic characteristics and immunophenotype were analyzed in 11 cases of CFT. RESULTS The male-to-female ratio was 5:6, with a mean age of 38 years and age range of 25 to 52 years. The sites of involvement included abdominopelvic cavity (n=6), soft tissue (n=4) and scrotum (n=1). Most patients presented with a gradually enlarging and painless mass. Nearly half of the cases were associated with other diseases or history of inflammation, trauma or surgical intervention. One third of the tumors represented incidental findings and showed no recurrence after resection. Imaging revealed a solitary solid soft tissue mass or multiple nodules with clear borders and associated high-density calcifications. Macroscopically, the tumors were well-circumscribed but non-encapsulated. They ranged from 0.5 to 20.0 cm in diameter and were tan-greyish, round to oval, lobulated or irregular and solid with rubbery consistency. The cut surface was whitish to tan-yellowish, gritty and showed scattered spotty yellowish discoloration corresponding to the foci of dystrophic calcifications. Histologically, CFT was composed of hyalinized fibrous tissue and thickened vessel walls with interspersed bland spindly fibroblastic cells, scattered psammomatous calcifications, dystrophic calcification and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. In addition, focal cloak-like polymorph infiltration at the tumor periphery and entrapment of adipocytes and nerves were demonstrated in some cases. Foci resembling solitary fibrous tumor, fibromatosis, keloid or inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor were observed. Immunohistochemical study showed that the tumor cells were diffusely positive for vimentin and focally positive for CD34, factor VIII-related antigen and beta-catenin. The admixed plasma cells were notably IgG positive, with more than 50% being IgG4 positive. CONCLUSIONS CFT has characteristic histopathologic manifestations and shows morphologic and immunohistochemical overlaps with known IgG4-related sclerosing diseases. It is possible that CFT may represent another example of IgG4-related diseases. It often runs a benign clinical course, with rare recurrence after surgical resection. Previous inflammation and trauma may be the precipitating factors of CFT.
Evaluation of the Developmental Toxicity of Acetyl Cedrene

The developmental toxicity of acetyl cedrene (AC), a widely used fragrance ingredient, was evaluated in pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (25/group). Gavaged dosages of 0 (corn oil), 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg/day were administered on days 7 through 17 of gestation (GDs 7 to 17). First and last day dosing suspensions were analyzed for AC content. All rats were observed daily for viability, clinical signs, abortions, and premature deliveries. Body weights were recorded at frequent intervals. Cesarean-sectioning and necropsy examinations were performed on GD 21. Uteri were examined for number and distribution of implantations, live and dead fetuses, and early and late resorptions. The number of corpora lutea in each ovary was also recorded. Fetuses were weighed and examined for gender and gross external changes and soft tissue or skeletal alterations. Totals of 25, 23, 21, and 24 rats became pregnant in the 0 (control), 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg/day groups, respectively, and analysis of dosage preparations verified that administered dosages reflected calculated dosages ±10%. No deaths or premature deliveries occurred in the study. Clinical signs included excessive salivation, which was attributed to the administration of AC. When compared to controls, significant reductions in feed consumption and body weight gains occurred only at 100 mg/kg/day. Both absolute (g/day) and relative (g/kg/day) feed consumption values were significantly decreased on GDs 7 to 12. Relative values were decreased significantly on GDs 15 to 18. Body weight gains were significantly reduced on GDs 7 to 10. Mean maternal body weights remained significantly lower than controls on GDs 9 to 14, but a marked compensatory increase in feed consumption on GDs 15 to 18 prevented further deterioration in body weight gains. No cesarean-sectioning or litter parameters were affected by dosages of AC and necropsy of the dams after cesarean section did not reveal any gross changes attributable to AC. No gross external, soft tissue, or skeletal fetal alterations (malformations or variations) were attributed by dosages AC. The average number of ossifications sites per fetus per litter did not differ among the groups. Based on these data, maternal and developmental no-observable-adverse-effect levels (NOAELs) of 50 and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively, were established for AC.
Large scale brain models of epilepsy: dynamics meets connectomics

The brain is in a constant state of dynamic change, for example switching between cognitive and behavioural tasks, and between wakefulness and sleep. The brains of people with epilepsy have additional features to their dynamic repertoire, particularly the paroxysmal occurrence of seizures. Substantial effort over decades has produced a detailed description of many human epilepsies and of specific seizure types; in some instances there are known causes, sometimes highly specific such as single gene mutations, but the mechanisms of seizure onset and termination are not known. A large number of in vivo animal models and in vitro models based on animal tissues can generate seizures and seizure-like phenomena. Although in some instances there is much known about the mechanism of seizure onset and termination, across the range of models there is a bewildering range of mechanisms. There is a pressing need to bridge the gap between microscale mechanisms in experimental models and mechanisms of human epilepsies. Computational models of epilepsy have advanced rapidly, allowing dynamic mechanisms to be revealed in a computer model that can then be tested in biological systems. These models are typically simplified, leaving a need to scale up these models to the large scale brain networks in which seizures become manifest. The emerging science of connectomics provides an approach to understanding the large scale brain networks in which normal and abnormal brain functions operate. The stage is now set to couple dynamics with connectomics, to reveal the abnormal dynamics of brain networks which allow seizures to occur.
Circulating microRNA Signatures in Patients With Idiopathic and Postmenopausal Osteoporosis and Fragility Fractures.

CONTEXT Established bone turnover markers do not reflect fracture risk in idiopathic male and premenopausal osteoporosis and the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in these patients is currently unclear. miRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression and bone tissue homeostasis. They are considered a new class of endocrine regulators with promising potential as biomarkers. OBJECTIVE Evaluation of circulating miRNA signatures in male and female subjects with idiopathic and postmenopausal osteoporotic low-traumatic fractures. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PATIENTS This was a case-control study of cross-sectional design of 36 patients with prevalent low-traumatic fractures and 39 control subjects Main Outcome Measures: One hundred eighty-seven miRNAs were quantified in serum by qPCR, compared between groups and correlated with established bone turnover markers. RESULTS Significant differences in serum levels of circulating miRNAs were identified in all three subgroups (46 in premenopausal, 52 in postmenopausal, 55 in male). A set of 19 miRNAs was consistently regulated in all three subgroups. Eight miRNAs [miR-152-3p, miR-30e-5p, miR-140-5p, miR-324-3p, miR-19b-3p, miR-335-5p, miR-19a-3p, miR-550a-3p] were excellent discriminators of patients with low-traumatic fractures, regardless of age and sex, with area under the curve values > 0.9. The 11 remaining miRNAs showed area under the curve values between 0.81 and 0.89. Correlation analysis identified significant correlations between miR-29b-3p and P1NP, and miR-365-5p and iPTH, TRAP5b, P1NP and Osteocalcin, as well as BMDL1-L4 and miR-19b-3p, miR-324-3p, miR-532-5p, and miR-93-5p. CONCLUSIONS Specific serum miRNA profiles are strongly related to bone pathologies. Therefore miRNAs might be directly linked to bone tissue homeostasis. In particular, miR-29b-3p has previously been reported as regulator of osteogenic differentiation and could serve as a novel marker of bone turnover in osteoporotic patients as a member of a miRNA signature.
Abacavir/Dolutegravir/Lamivudine (Triumeq)–Induced Liver Toxicity in a Human Immunodeficiency Virus–Infected Patient

Abstract Drug-induced liver injury related to Triumeq (abacavir/lamivudine/dolutegravir) has not been reported in clinical trials. We report a case of hepatotoxicity related to Triumeq exposure in a human immunodeficiency virus–infected patient. Clinicians should remain aware of the risk for acute and late-onset hepatitis with these agents. Close monitoring is recommended.
Transfection of CD40 in a human oral squamous cell carcinoma keratinocyte line upregulates immune potency and costimulatory molecules

Background There is upregulation of class II molecules of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) by keratinocytes in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and inflammatory diseases such as lichen planus. The significance of this expression, or whether it is accompanied by upregulation of membrane‐bound costimulatory molecules, is unknown.
The Effect of the Means Testing of Venefits on Household Income and the Incentives to Work of the Wives of Unemployed Men

This paper assesses the effect of the means testing of benefits on the income of households n which the head is unemployed in Britain. Potential houselds income is simulated using microdata from the 1983- 1984 Living Standards during Unemployment Survey for different hours of work of the wives of unemployed men at the three dates before and after their husbands become unemployed. The resultant income patterns for different labour suppy options are then compared with the expect patterns, and discrepancies explained. Data on wives' attitudes to work are also examined to assess to what extent attitudes are shaped by the degree of means testing.
Brain Volume Differences and Proactive Interference: A VBM Investigation of Healthy Cognitive Aging

Research on aging and memory has consistently demonstrated decreased memory performance in older adults, specifically on tasks measuring verbal and spatial memory. Memory decline in aging is partially related to interference from competing information. In older adults, the learning of new information is more adversely affected by already-formed memories (i.e. proactive interference) than in younger adults. However, interference of new information on already- formed memories (retroactive interference) is less affected by age. The present investigation examined the association between proactive and retroactive interference, and brain volume in young and older adults. Proactive and retroactive interference were assessed with a Modified modified free recall (MMFR) test. Participants (n=39) first studied AB and DE word pairs three times before undergoing a cued recall test. Following AB-DE testing, participants had only one study-test cycle of AC and FG word pairs. Finally, participants completed the MMFR test to evaluate their memory for all previously studied and tested words. Results revealed that older adults experienced significantly more proactive interference than younger adults (performance on MMFR-AC minus MMFR-FG), but both age groups performed similarly on the retroactive interference measures. It was hypothesized that brain volume, and specifically Hippocampal and prefrontal volume, would be significantly correlated to memory performance; however no significant correlations were found with any specific brain regions.