Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Atrial fibrillation is an independent determinant of low cognitive function: a cross-sectional study in elderly men.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Cerebrovascular disease is increasingly recognized as a cause of dementia and cognitive decline. We have previously reported an association between hypertension and diabetes and low cognitive function in the elderly. Atrial fibrillation is another main risk factor for cerebrovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether atrial fibrillation is associated with low cognitive function in elderly men with and without previous manifest stroke. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study based on a cohort of 952 community-living men, aged 69 to 75 years, in Uppsala, Sweden. Cognitive functions were assessed by the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Trail Making Tests, and a composite z score was calculated. The relation between atrial fibrillation and cognitive z score was analyzed, with stroke and other vascular risk factors taken into account. RESULTS All analyses were adjusted for age, education, and occupational level. Men with atrial fibrillation (n=44) had lower mean adjusted cognitive z scores (-0.26+/-0.11) than men without atrial fibrillation (+0.14+/-0.03; P=0.0003). The exclusion of stroke patients did not alter this relationship; the mean cognitive z score was -0.24+/-0.12 in the 36 men with atrial fibrillation and +0.17+/-0.03 in those without atrial fibrillation (P=0.0004), corresponding to a difference of 0.4 SDs between groups. Adjustments for 24-hour diastolic blood pressure and heart rate, diabetes, and ejection fraction did not change this relationship. Men with atrial fibrillation who were treated with digoxin (n=27) performed markedly better (-0.05+/-0.21) than those without treatment (n=9; -1.14+/-0.34; adjusted P=0.0005). Previous myocardial infarction was not associated with impaired cognitive results. CONCLUSIONS In these community-living elderly men, we found an association between atrial fibrillation and low cognitive function independent of stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Interventional studies are needed to answer the question of whether optimal treatment of atrial fibrillation may prevent or postpone cognitive decline and dementia.
Interobserver Reliability in the Assessment of Coronary Stenoses by Multidetector Computed Tomography

Objective: To determine the interobserver reliability for grading coronary stenosis severity with coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). Methods: Five readers independently reviewed 40 CCTA studies, first the axial images alone, then in combination with multiplanar reconstructions. The stenosis severity in each segment was scored on a 5-point scale. Intraclass correlation (ICC) analysis was performed to assess interobserver reliability on a segmental basis. Results: The reliability was good to moderate in the right coronary artery, left main artery, left anterior descending artery and branches, and the proximal circumflex (ICC: 0.44-0.75) but fair to poor for the posterior descending artery, the posterolateral branch, the obtuse marginal branches, and the distal circumflex (ICC: 0.15-0.39). The ICC correlated with the reference diameter. Although there was no significant difference in the ICC between the scanner types, there were more unevaluable segments in the 16-row scanner compared with the 64-row scanner (2.4 vs 1.4 segments/patient). Addition of multiplanar reconstruction to axial images led to fewer uninterpretable segments and reclassification of stenosis grade in 23% of the segments. Conclusions: Interobserver reliability for stenosis severity by CCTA varies between segments and correlates with the reference diameter.
Transposase makes critical contacts with, and is stimulated by, single‐stranded DNA at the P element termini in vitro

P elements transpose by a cut‐and‐paste mechanism. Donor DNA cleavage mediated by transposase generates 17 nucleotide (nt) 3′ single‐strand extensions at the P element termini which, when present on oligonucleotide substrates, stimulate both the strand‐transfer and disintegration reactions in vitro. A significant amount of the strand‐transfer products are the result of double‐ended integration. Chemical DNA modification–interference experiments indicate that during the strand‐transfer reaction, P element transposase contacts regions of the substrate DNA that include the transposase binding site and the duplex portion of the 31 bp inverted repeat, as well as regions of the terminal 17 nt single‐stranded DNA. Together these data suggest that the P element transposase protein contains two DNA‐binding sites and that the active oligomeric form of the transposase protein is at least a dimer.
Gill remodeling in fish – a new fashion or an ancient secret?

SUMMARY While a large respiratory surface area is good for gas exchange, it also poses several problems, including energetically unfavorable fluxes of water and ions. As a result, fishes appear to have a respiratory surface area that is matched to their oxygen demands. When faced with changes in their need for oxygen uptake, e.g. through altered physical activity or altered ambient oxygen levels, fishes have long been known to make two different adjustments: (1) to change the water flow over the gills or (2) to change the blood flow inside the gills. It has recently become clear that at least some teleosts have a third option: to reversibly remodel the gill morphology. Studies have shown that the lamellae of crucian carp Carassius carassius gills are embedded in a cell mass during normoxic conditions or at low temperature, while much of this cell mass dies off in hypoxia and at higher temperatures, thereby exposing a much larger respiratory surface area. Gill remodeling has subsequently been seen in two more cyprinids and in the mangrove killifish Kryptolebias marmoratus. In the latter case it appears to be an adaptation to periods of air exposure. Gill remodeling in response to changing respiratory requirements could be an ancient mechanism, occurring in many more teleosts than presently known. It is tempting to suggest that gill remodeling has been overlooked in many fishes, either because it is relatively subtle in some species, or because fishes are often kept at the warmer end of their temperature range where they need fully protruding lamellae.
Resilient allocation of service Function chains

Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) is an emerging initiative where standard IT virtualization evolves to consolidate network functions onto high volume servers, switches and storage that can be located anywhere in the network. One of the main challenges to implement NFV is the problem of allocating Virtual Network Functions (VNFs) on top of the physical network infrastructure. Up to now, existing approaches dealing with this problem have not considered the possibility of failures in this infrastructure. This paper discusses several measures on how backup resources can be integrated into the embedding of VNFs in order to protect network services from failures; furthermore, a resource allocation algorithm is proposed that considers resilience constraints. The algorithm exploits the benefits of sharing backup network resources in order to reduce the resource cost spent for providing resilient allocations.
Specialization, Transactions Technologies, and Money Growth

This paper develops a differentiated product model with endogenous specialization in which either money or a costly alternative transactions technology can be used for market purchases. The authors discuss the real effects of monetary growth in this model--which differ from those in standard cash-in-advance models--and the implied interest sensitivity of money demand in general equilibrium. Copyright 1992 by Economics Department of the University of Pennsylvania and the Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association.
Compassion and Mental Health Nursing

In this column, we attempt to define what compassion is, consider related concepts such as empathy and unconditional positive regard, and ask whether the notion of compassion fatigue is a contradiction in terms. In doing so we note that compassion is embedded within relationships and should underpin high quality mental health care. The idea of compassion is widely recognized, yet it is difficult to fully define because it is a complex concept that can manifest differently depending on context and meanings can vary according to individuals and circumstances (Dewar, Pullin, & Tocheris, 2011). Research shows that mental health consumers’ understanding of compassion devolves on professionals valuing them as people worthy of intrinsic respect and interacting with them in ways that maintain their personal dignity (Lloyd & Carson, 2011). These attitudes and behaviors are equivalent to Carl Rogers’ humanist values that pivot on the provision of unconditional positive regard to encourage patients to hope, gain meaning in their life, and facilitate a realistic and practical journey in the direction of recovery (Rogers, 1961).
Magnetic Resonance Classification of Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Degeneration

Study Design. A reliability study was conducted. Objectives. To develop a classification system for lumbar disc degeneration based on routine magnetic resonance imaging, to investigate the applicability of a simple algorithm, and to assess the reliability of this classification system. Summary of Background Data. A standardized nomenclature in the assessment of disc abnormalities is a prerequisite for a comparison of data from different investigations. The reliability of the assessment has a crucial influence on the validity of the data. Grading systems of disc degeneration based on state of the art magnetic resonance imaging and corresponding reproducibility studies currently are sparse. Methods. A grading system for lumbar disc degeneration was developed on the basis of the literature. An algorithm to assess the grading was developed and optimized by reviewing lumbar magnetic resonance examinations. The reliability of the algorithm in depicting intervertebral disc alterations was tested on the magnetic resonance images of 300 lumbar intervertebral discs in 60 patients (33 men and 27 women) with a mean age of 40 years (range, 10–83 years). All scans were analyzed independently by three observers. Intra- and interobserver reliabilities were assessed by calculating kappa statistics. Results. There were 14 Grade I, 82 Grade II, 72 Grade III, 68 Grade IV, and 64 Grade V discs. The kappa coefficients for intra- and interobserver agreement were substantial to excellent: intraobserver (kappa range, 0.84–0.90) and interobserver (kappa range, 0.69–0.81). Complete agreement was obtained, on the average, in 83.8% of all the discs. A difference of one grade occurred in 15.9% and a difference of two or more grades in 1.3% of all the cases. Conclusion. Disc degeneration can be graded reliably on routine T2-weighted magnetic resonance images using the grading system and algorithm presented in this investigation.
Uncertainty and sensitivity analysis for camera calibration

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a unified approach to uncertainty and sensitivity analysis for camera calibration.Design/methodology/approach – The approach is based on the fact that camera calibration is a problem of parameter estimation and the parameters of interest are given by the optimal solution of a least‐squares problem.Findings – A system of linear equations relating the errors of the extracted feature points to the errors of the estimated parameters is derived, and the expression of the covariance matrix of the estimated parameters is given. Also, a system of linear equations characterizing the influence of the uncalibrated parameters on the calibrated ones is presented. Simulation results show that the camera's position and orientation are less sensitive to the lens distortion than the offset of the image center.Research limitations/implications – The models developed can be applied to optimize the layout of the calibration marks and design multiple‐stage calibration algorith.
A Review of Integrity Tests in Personnel Selection

Since the concept of "integrity" was proposed, the integrity tests have received extensive attention. This paper will review the researches and literature on this topic around five themes: (1) The definition of integrity test and the way of pencil-and-paper test. (2) The factors influencing integrity. (3) The criterion-related validity studies of integrity. (4) The faking of integrity tests. (5) The prospect of application in China. The conclusion is that, based on the consideration of culture, the key to the application of integrity test in China is the development of inventory and the technical details, and make it conform to the domestic patterns of behavior.
EXPLAINING VARIATION IN PERCEPTIONS OF RED TAPE: A PROFESSIONALISM‐MARKETIZATION MODEL

In the public administration literature, ways in which perceptions of red tape vary between different parts of the public sector remains relatively unexplored. In this article we define organizational red tape as a subject-dependent concept; that is, we expect to see variations in the level and type of red tape between different internal stakeholder groups. We then explain variations with two organizational-based variables, professionalization and marketization. The empirical analysis is undertaken on nearly 800 English local government services. The framework correctly predicts that officials in highly professionalized and marketized services perceive higher levels of red tape, while those in less professionalized and marketized services report lower levels. We then summarize our findings and comment on their theoretical and practical significance.
One Money, One Market: Estimating the Effect of Common Currencies on Trade

A gravity model is used to asses the separate effects of exchange rate volatility and currency unions on international trade. The panel data set I use includes bilateral observations for five years spanning 1970 through 1990 for 186 countries. In this data set, there are over one hundred pairings and three hundred observations, in which both countries use the same currency. I find a large positive effect of a currency union on international trade, and a small negaitve effect of exchange rate volatility, even after controlling for a host of features, including the endogenous nature of the exchange rate regime. These effects are statistically significant and imply that two countries that share the same currency trade three times as much as theoy would with different currencies. EMU may thus lead to a large increase in internationel trade, with all that entails.
Socio‐economic disparities in the Mediterranean

Mediterranean countries are characterized by differing degrees of socio‐economic development. There are many disparities that can be measured by demographic, social, economic and other indicators. Today it is standard practice to generalize about industrialized northern countries and less developed southern ones. The Human Development Index proposed by the United Nations is a good overall indicator that makes it possible to classify countries according to general levels of development. It is more comprehensive than indicators of economic growth since it is based on levels of GNP, life expectancy, literacy and schooling. For illustrations of economic disparities, there is useful UN data on income, employment, trade, agriculture, industy and so on. In the case of regional trade, it is possible to go beyond the basic data and elaborate a ‘Partnership Index’. However, comparison between countries solely on the basis of quantitative data is insufficient, for indicators can be subjective and culture‐dependent.
Applying Marketing to the Public Sector: The Case of Local Authority Leisure Centres

An overview of the relevance of marketing to the public sector is given and three main divisions of the UK public sector are identified. The focus of discussion is how and where marketing can be applied best to the public sector and local authority leisure centres are considered as a case example. The various marketing techniques and principles which could be applied in this situation are reviewed.
Society's Metabolism

“Societal metabolism” provides the appropriate conceptual basis for the rapidly growing development and analylical and policy interest in materials flow analysis (MFA). Following the review of the earlier intellectual background of societal metabolism in the first installment of this two‐part article, this paper focuses on the current state of the art by examining more recent research referring t o societal metabolism in terms of material and substance flows. An operational classification of the literature according to frame of reference (socioeconomic system, ecosystem), system level (global, national, regional, functional, temporal), and types of flows under consideration (materials, energy, substances) highlights some of its characteristic features. There follows an integrated discussion of some of the major conceptual and methodological properties of MFA, with a particular focus on the field of bulk materials flows on a national level, comparing the major empirical results. Finally, the theoretical stringency research productivity, and political relevance of the MFA‐related studies are assessed.
Isolation and characterization of string-forming female germline stem cells from ovaries of neonatal mice

Germline stem cells are essential in the generation of both male and female gametes. In mammals, the male testis produces sperm throughout the entire lifetime, facilitated by testicular germline stem cells. Oocyte renewal ceases in postnatal or adult life in mammalian females, suggesting that germline stem cells are absent from the mammalian ovary. However, studies in mice, rats, and humans have recently provided evidence for ovarian female germline stem cells (FGSCs). A better understanding of the role of FGSCs in ovaries could help improve fertility treatments. Here, we developed a rapid and efficient method for isolating FGSCs from ovaries of neonatal mice. Notably, our FGSC isolation method could efficiently isolate on average 15 cell “strings” per ovary from mice at 1–3 days postpartum. FGSCs isolated from neonatal mice displayed the string-forming cell configuration at mitosis (i.e. a “stringing” FGSC (sFGSC) phenotype) and a disperse phenotype in postnatal mice. We also found that sFGSCs undergo vigorous mitosis especially at 1–3 days postpartum. After cell division, the sFGSC membranes tended to be connected to form sFGSCs. Moreover, F-actin filaments exhibited a cell-cortex distribution in sFGSCs, and E-cadherin converged in cell–cell connection regions, resulting in the string-forming morphology. Our new method provides a platform for isolating FGSCs from the neonatal ovary, and our findings indicate that FGCSs exhibit string-forming features in neonatal mice. The sFGSCs represent a valuable resource for analysis of ovary function and an in vitro model for future clinical use to address ovarian dysfunction.
Interest Rate Volatility and Contagion in Emerging Markets: Evidence from the 1990s

In this paper we use high frequency interest rate data for a group of Latin American countries to analyze the behavior of volatility through time. We are particularly interested in understanding whether periods of high volatility spillover across countries. Our analysis relies both on univariate and bivariate switching volatility models. Our results indicate that high-volatility episodes are, in general, shortlived, lasting from two to seven weeks. We find some weak evidence of volatility co-movements across countries. Overall, our results are not overly supportive of “contagion” stories.
Leadership and union militancy: The case of the RMT

The National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers (RMT), which represents the majority of mainline railway and London Underground workers, is currently one of the most militant and left-wing trade unions in Britain. Drawing on the study of leadership provided by mobilisation theory, this article explores the extent to which union leadership, dominated by left-wing activists at every level of the union, has been an important contributory catalyst, symptom and beneficiary of union militancy relative to other influencing factors such as the impact of privatisation, managerial belligerence, and immediate grievances over pay and conditions.
Androgens regulate Hedgehog signalling and proliferation in androgen‐dependent prostate cells

Prostate cancer (PCa) is androgen sensitive in its development and progression to metastatic disease. Hedgehog (Hh) pathway activation is important in the initiation and growth of various carcinomas including PCa. We and others have observed aberrations of Hh pathway during the progression of PCa to the castration‐resistant state. The involvement of androgen signalling in Hh pathway activation, however, remains largely elusive. Here we investigate the direct role of androgen signalling on Hh pathway. We examined the effect of Dihydrosterone (DHT), antiandrogen, bicalutamide, and Hh pathway inhibitor, KAAD‐cyclopamine in four human prostate cell lines (two cancerous: LNCaP, VCaP, and two normal: PNT2 and PNT2‐ARm which harbours a mutant version of androgen receptor (AR) that is commonly found in LNCaP). Cell proliferation as well as Hh pathway members (SHH, IHH, DHH, GLI, PTCH) mRNA expression levels were assessed. We showed that KAAD‐cyclopamine decreased cell proliferation of DHT‐stimulated LNCaP, VCaP and PNT2‐ARm cells. SHH expression was found to be downregulated by DHT in all AR posititve cells. The negative effect of DHT on SHH expression was counteracted when cells were treated by bicalutamide. Importantly, KAAD‐cyclopamine treatment seemed to inhibit AR activity. Moreover, bicalutamide as well as KAAD‐cyclopamine treatments induced GLI and PTCH expression in VCaP and PNT2‐ARm. Our results suggest that Hh pathway activity can be regulated by androgen signalling. Specifically, we show that the DHT‐induced inhibition of Hh pathway is AR dependent. The mutual interaction between these two pathways might be important in the regulation of cell proliferation in PCa.
Appropriate macroeconomic policies for Nigeria’s economic growth, 1981–2010: an econometric analysis

Policymakers in Nigeria are aware of the importance of sustained economic growth as a macroeconomic policy. The paper is aimed at examining the effects of stabilisation policy instruments on economic growth. We used modern econometric techniques and the empirical results based on annual data spanning the period 1981-2010. Econometric results show that fiscal policy instrument had a negative impact on GDP growth. CEF took a negative sign in all the three models. All monetary policy variables except PRM had a positive impact on GDP growth. Nominal exchange rate growth had a positive impact on growth except in model 1. All three models had a good fit. This study recommends that expansionary fiscal policy measures be pursued with caution not to worsen inflationary trend in the economy. A less volatile interest rate regime would increase reliability and confidence of investors in the economy. It is also relevant for monetary authorities and other players in the economy to encourage economy-wide international trade competitiveness so as to maintain positive growth in exchange rate of the naira which will contribute to bringing about the desired GDP growth in the Nigerian economy and other developing economies.