Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Primary Care Survey Of Awareness And Control Of Hypertension: A Hospital-based Study

The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to determine awareness degree, treatment status, and control of hypertension and its predictors in a consecutive group of attendees at a Buenos Aires University School Hospital primary care setting from April 2003 to May 2006. Results for 1733 hypertensive subjects, all of them white (578 men and 1155 women), were available for analyses. Mean age of hypertensive subjects was 66.61 ± 12.34 years. Eighty-seven percent of hypertensive patients knew their diagnosis. Prevalence of hypertension was consistently higher in overweight-obese than in normal weight subjects (P < 0.001). Overall prevalence of hypertension treatment was 62%, and blood pressure (BP) control rate was 30%. Among knowledgeable treated hypertensive patients, 80.4% used only one antihypertensive drug, 17.6% used two, and 2% used three (P < 0.001). Only 8% of hypertensive patients carried out consensus-recommended dietarian guidelines. A prevention index performed with periodic general prevention measures during the past 5 years was calculated. Logistic regression model showed that independent variables more likely to be associated with poor BP control were being overweight (odds ratio [OR] 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.057-2.208), obesity (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.307-3.286), and previous stroke (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.099-7.652). Conversely, the higher the prevention index, the less odds of uncontrolled BP (OR 0.841, 95% CI 0.725-0.975). These results highlight the consistency of general primary care prevention measures with achieving BP control. The poor control rates of BP found in patients who already suffered from stroke suggest that, after hospital discharge for that event, antihypertensive therapy was inadequate and document the challenge that these situations impose on primary care physicians.
Inner ear histopathology in patients treated with Cis‐Platinum.

Temporal bone histopathology was studied in five patients (aged 51–67) who received cis‐diamminedichloroplatinum (DDP) chemotherapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. In each case, a sensorineural hearing loss occurred during the course of treatment and temporal bones were acquired 3–5 hours postmortem for anatomical study.
Quantum mechanical calculation of hole mobility in silicon inversion layers under arbitrary stress

We have developed a quantum anisotropic transport model for holes which, for the first time, allows mobility to be studied under both uniaxial and arbitrary stress in PMOS inversion layers. The anisotropic bandstructure of a 2D quantum gas is computed from a 6-band stress dependent k.p Hamiltonian. Our unique momentum-dependent scattering model also captures the anisotropy of scattering. A comprehensive study has been performed for uniaxial stress, biaxial stress, and their nonlinear interactions. The results are compared with device bending data and piezoresistance data, showing very good agreement.
Microvascular pressures in isolated perfused immature lamb lungs: effects of flow rate, left atrial pressure and surfactant therapy.

To determine the effect of some physical factors on microvascular pressures in immature lungs, we studied the lungs of 125-day gestation immature lambs (term 150 days). Lambs were delivered and ventilated for 30 min prior to isolation of the lungs. Nine had surfactant (Survanta, 100 mg/kg) instilled into the lungs prior to delivery, and 7 did not (control group). Lungs were kept distended with airway pressure at 20 cm H2O and perfused with autologous blood, using a steady flow pump. Papaverine was added to the blood to eliminate vasomotion. We measured pulmonary artery and arterial, double and venous occlusion pressures, with flow at 100, 200 and 260 ml.kg-1.min-1 and left atrial pressure (Pla) at 0, 10 and 15 mm Hg. We found that the vascular pressure profile was similar in control and surfactant-treated lungs under similar conditions of flow and Pla. Our data show that elevation of Pla results in significant increases in capillary (double occlusion) pressure; however, the preterm lung accommodates increases in flow with little change in capillary pressure. An increase in flow rate in the presence of elevated Pla had the greatest effect on capillary pressure. All lungs became hemorrhagic when capillary pressure exceeded 30 mm Hg. We speculate that in preterm infants, stress failure of pulmonary capillaries and hemorrhage will occur when there is marked elevation of capillary pressures resulting from increased blood flow in the presence of pulmonary venous construction or left ventricular dysfunction.
Lactate-Utilizing Bacteria, Isolated from Human Feces, That Produce Butyrate as a Major Fermentation Product

ABSTRACT The microbial community of the human colon contains many bacteria that produce lactic acid, but lactate is normally detected only at low concentrations (<5 mM) in feces from healthy individuals. It is not clear, however, which bacteria are mainly responsible for lactate utilization in the human colon. Here, bacteria able to utilize lactate and produce butyrate were identified among isolates obtained from 10−8 dilutions of fecal samples from five different subjects. Out of nine such strains identified, four were found to be related to Eubacterium hallii and two to Anaerostipes caccae, while the remaining three represent a new species within clostridial cluster XIVa based on their 16S rRNA sequences. Significant ability to utilize lactate was not detected in the butyrate-producing species Roseburia intestinalis, Eubacterium rectale, or Faecalibacterium prausnitzii. Whereas E. hallii and A. caccae strains used both d- and l-lactate, the remaining strains used only the d form. Addition of glucose to batch cultures prevented lactate utilization until the glucose became exhausted. However, when two E. hallii strains and one A. caccae strain were grown in separate cocultures with a starch-utilizing Bifidobacterium adolescentis isolate, with starch as the carbohydrate energy source, the l-lactate produced by B. adolescentis became undetectable and butyrate was formed. Such cross-feeding may help to explain the reported butyrogenic effect of certain dietary substrates, including resistant starch. The abundance of E. hallii in particular in the colonic ecosystem suggests that these bacteria play important roles in preventing lactate accumulation.
Clinical Outcome and Pharmacokinetics After Addition of Low‐Dose Cyclosporine to Methotrexate: A Case Study of Five Patients with Treatment‐Resistant Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Introduction: This study reports the clinical outcome, toxicity, and methotrexate pharmacokinetics after the addition of low‐dose cyclosporine to methotrexate in patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Methods: Three patients with steroid‐refractory ulcerative colitis and two patients with steroid refractory Crohn's disease who failed monotherapy with subcutaneous methotrexate 25 mg/week for 16 weeks were treated with the combination of methotrexate and low‐dose oral cyclosporine (3 mg/kg/day) for an additional 16 weeks. Clinical response was measured with the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (IBDQ) score. Concentrations of erythrocyte methotrexate, plasma methotrexate, and plasma 7‐hydroxymethotrexate were also determined. Results: Both patients with Crohn's disease withdrew from the study for toxicity (headaches, seizure). The three patients with ulcerative colitis experienced clinical improvement with a mean increase in the IBDQ score from 164 to 190 points, p = 0.01. The mean serum creatinine in the three patients who completed the study increased from 0.9 mg/dL at baseline to 1.2 mg/dL at week 16, p = 0.04. One patient developed hypertension. There was no significant change from baseline in the concentrations of erythrocyte methotrexate, plasma methotrexate, and plasma 7‐hy‐droxymethotrexate. Conclusions: Combination therapy with methotrexate and low‐dose oral cyclosporine did not alter methotrexate pharmacokinetics and resulted in high rates of cyclosporine‐associated toxicity.
Persistent Viral Infection Elevates Central Nervous System MHC Class I through Chronic Production of Interferons1

Persistence of even the stealthiest viruses can perturb immune function either to the benefit or detriment of the host. Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) establishes lifelong, systemic persistence when introduced in utero or at birth. Despite a highly evolved host-pathogen relationship, LCMV cannot escape detection by the innate immune system, which results in chronic stimulation of the type 1 IFN pathway in adult carrier mice. In this study we demonstrate that IFN-β is chronically up-regulated in peripheral lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues (but not the CNS) of mice persistently infected from birth with LCMV and that dendritic cells (DCs) represent at least one source of IFN-β. Interestingly, chronic stimulation of this innate pathway significantly elevated MHC class I expression in the CNS as well as the periphery. Elevated MHC I expression was dependent on IFN-αβ receptor but not MyD88-dependent signaling, as only genetic deletion of the former reduced MHC I to normal levels. An increase in circulating virus was also observed in the IFN-αβ receptor deficient carrier mice, signifying that type I IFN continually exerts anti-viral pressure during a LCMV carrier state. Finally, to determine whether heightened CNS MHC I could be therapeutically corrected, we purged LCMV carrier mice of their persistent infection using adoptive immunotherapy. This treatment significantly reduced CNS MHC I expression. Collectively, these data demonstrate that even a well adapted pathogen can chronically stimulate the innate immune system and consequently alter the expression of Ag presenting machinery in an immunologically specialized compartment like the CNS.
Tumor Spectrum in the p53 Heterozygous Zeta Globin-Promoted Tg.AC (v-Ha-ras) Bitransgenic Mouse Model

The use of a bitransgenic mouse model for cancer is an effective approach for studying the impact of specific carcinogens and the occurrence of tissue-specific lesions. We studied the novel p53 heterozygous zeta globin-promoted Tg.AC (v-Ha-ras) mouse model because these mice contain a carcinogen-inducible ras oncogene and one functional p53 tumor suppressor allele, both of which occur frequently in human cancers. Our aim was to characterize the short-term control and chemically induced tumor spectrum in this novel model. Mice were placed on basal semipurified diet containing 20% soy protein for 2 weeks prior to random allocation to groups. Subsequently, 15 male and 15 female mice were administered corn oil vehicle alone or containing benzo(a)pyrene (20 mg/kg body weight) via oral gavage 2 times per week for 10 weeks with subsequent observation for 18 weeks. Mice exhibited lesions characteristic of FVB/N, p53 heterozygous and Tg.AC mouse models. However, an array of unique, novel lesions were observed including uterine leiomyosarcomas, mammary gland carcinomas, mammary squamous cell carcinomas, and parotid salivary gland carcinomas suggesting tissue-specific interactions of the 2 genotypes. Thus, this bitransgenic model may provide further insight into the mechanistic interaction of 2 genes commonly mutated in neoplasia.
Multi-voltage aware resistive open fault modeling

Resistive open fault (ROF) represents common manufacturing defects causing extra delays and reliability risks in affected circuits. ROF behavior is sensitive to the supply voltage and the resistance of open (RO). Modeling this fault behavior and detectability with the supply voltage helps in distinguishing between faults as well as testing of multi-voltage designs. While previous ROF models did not explicitly consider these dependencies. Therefore in this paper, these dependencies were investigated by exhaustive parametric SPICE simulation considering different technology models. A voltage aware model is proposed by dividing the full RO continuum into resistance intervals and ranges.
Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Transcription Factor-1 Gene Variation and Medication Load Influence White Matter Structure in Schizophrenia

Background: Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) studies have shown a widespread disruption of white matter (WM) microstructure in schizophrenia. Furthermore, higher fractional anisotropy (FA) has been consistently correlated with the severity of psychotic symptoms. Antipsychotic drugs (APDs) affect lipid homeostasis. Gene polymorphisms in sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor (SREBF)-1 and SREBF-2 have been associated with schizophrenia. Methods: In a sample of 65 patients affected by chronic schizophrenia, we investigated the effect of ongoing APD medication, SREBF-1 rs11868035 polymorphism and SREBF-2 rs1052717 polymorphism on the WM microstructure, using tract-based spatial statistics with threshold-free cluster enhancement. Results: We reported increased FA associated with the risk rs11868035 G/G genotype in several WM tracts, mainly located in the left hemisphere, and opposite effects of the APD medication load, with reduced FA and generally increased diffusivity. These opposite effects overlapped in the forceps minor, cingulum, uncinate fasciculus, the superior and inferior longitudinal fasciculi, the corticospinal tract, inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and the anterior thalamic radiation. Conclusion: We suggest that changes of WM structure could be an as yet poorly explored biomarker of the effects of APDs, to be further investigated in prospective studies correlating long-term clinical effects with changes of DTI measures in specific WM tracts contributing to the functional integrity of the brain.
Integrative Environmental Genomics of Cod (Gadus morhua): The Proteomics Approach

Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) is an essential species in North Atlantic fisheries and increasingly relevant as an aquaculture species. However, potential conflicts with both coastal industry and petroleum industry expanding into northern waters make it important to understand how effluents (produced water, pharmaceuticals, food contaminants, and feed contaminants) affect the growth, reproduction, and health of this species in order to maintain a sustainable cod population and a healthy human food source, and to discover biomarkers for environmental monitoring and risk assessment. The ongoing genome sequencing effort of Atlantic cod has opened the possibility for a systems biology approach to elucidate molecular mechanisms of toxicity. Our study aims to be a first step toward such a systems toxicology understanding of genomic responses to environmental insults. A toxicogenomic approach was initiated that is combining data generated from proteomics analyses and transcriptomics analyses, and the concurrent development of searchable expressed sequence tags (EST) databases and genomic databases. This interdisciplinary study may also open new possibilities of gene annotation and pathway analyses.
Toll-like receptor 4 ( TLR 4 ) / nuclear factor-κ B ( NF-κ B ) signaling-mediated neuroinflammation contributes to secondary brain damage in ischemic stroke

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling-mediated neuroinflammation contributes to secondary brain damage in ischemic stroke; therefore, antiinflammatory therapy via suppression of the TLR4/NF-κB pathway could be a promising strategy for the treatment of stroke and post-stroke disabilities. Gua Lou Gui Zhi decoction (GLGZD) has long been used in China to clinically treat dysfunction after stroke such as muscular spasticity, but the precise mechanisms are largely unknown. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-inflammatory effect of GLGZD and investigated the underlying molecular mechanisms using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV-2 microglial cells as an in vitro inflammatory model of neural cells. We found that GLGZD inhibited the inflammatory response in microglial cells as it significantly reduced LPS-induced expression of pro-inflammatory nitric oxide, tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β in BV-2 cells, in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, GLGZD treatment significantly decreased the protein expression of TLR4 and myeloid differentiation factor 88, inhibited the phosphorylation of IκB and blocked the nuclear translocation of NF-κB in BV-2 cells, demonstrating its inhibitory effect on the activation of TLR4/NF-κB signaling. Collectively, our findings suggest that inhibition of the inflammatory response via suppression of the TLR4/ NF-κB pathway may be one of the mechanisms through which GLGZD ameliorates the damage in ischemic cerebral tissues.
Once-daily venlafaxine extended release (XR) compared with fluoxetine in outpatients with depression and anxiety. Venlafaxine XR 360 Study Group.

BACKGROUND We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the efficacy and safety of once-daily venlafaxine extended release (XR) and fluoxetine in outpatients with major depression and concomitant anxiety. METHOD Patients who met DSM-IV criteria for major depressive disorder and satisfied eligibility criteria were randomly assigned to once-daily venlafaxine XR, fluoxetine, or placebo for 12 weeks. Efficacy was assessed with the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D), Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety (HAM-A), and Clinical Global Impressions scale. RESULTS Among 359 outpatients, venlafaxine XR and fluoxetine were significantly superior (p < .05) to placebo on the HAM-D total score beginning at week 2 and continuing to the end of the study. Venlafaxine XR but not fluoxetine was significantly better than placebo at week 2 on the HAM-D depressed mood item. At week 12, the HAM-D response rate was 43% on placebo, 67% on venlafaxine XR, and 62% on fluoxetine (p < .05). The HAM-D remission rate was significantly higher (p < .05) at weeks 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and final evaluation with venlafaxine XR and at weeks 8, 12, and final evaluation with fluoxetine than with placebo. The HAM-A response rate was significantly higher (p < .05) with venlafaxine XR than with fluoxetine at week 12. The incidence of discontinuation for adverse events was 5% with placebo, 10% with venlafaxine XR, and 7% with fluoxetine. CONCLUSION Once-daily venlafaxine XR is effective and well tolerated for the treatment of major depression and concomitant anxiety and provides evidence for superiority over fluoxetine.
Critical Values for Almost Stochastic Dominance Based on Relative Risk Aversion

We derive critical values for the violation area in Nth order Almost Stochastic Dominance based on the Nth degree coefficient of relative risk aversion of reasonable utility functions. Our critical values are consistent with existing experimental estimates but apply for a broader range of choice problems by accounting for prior information about risk aversion and the relative range of the outcomes.
"Fiscal Decentralisation in Kerala: Participation and Accountability of Local Self-Governments".

In India, fiscal decentralisation is currently emerging as the concept of academic debate and policy interest. The fiscal decentralisation is considered very important and it is necessary in a country or a state for its economic benefits, enhanced political and financial accountability and improved effectiveness. In addition, there are some issues like declined investment in social infrastructures, macro-economic instability and increased horizontal inequities and conflicts. In this study, the fiscal decentralisation in Kerala has been analysed with respect to the participation and accountability of local government. The aim of the research is to investigate in detail about the fiscal decentralisation in Kerala in terms of participation and accountability of local self-governments. Therefore, the main objective of this studies that to analyse the participation and accountability of local government (Gram Panchayats) in fiscal decentralisation in Kerala. This study uses the secondary data for the analysis and do not include the primary data. This study adopts the positivism research approach. It is inferred from the study that the expenditure is more than the revenues in Kerala, which leads to deficit. In addition, there is a gap in the minimum and the maximum allocation of local governments in each district of Kerala. This could be rectified by means of increasing the standards of accountability and participation of local self-governments in Kerala by means of introducing innovative tools of responsibility in Kerala.
Heterogeneous integration of vaporliquidsolid grown silicon microprobe arrays/(111) and MOSFETs/(100) using a silicon on insulator substrate

Herein we report heterogeneous integration of vertically-aligned silicon (Si) microprobe arrays/(111) with MOSFET circuits/(100) by IC processes and subsequent selective vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) growth of silicon. A hybrid silicon-on-insulator (SOI) substrate with a (100) topSi/buried oxide (BOX)/(111) handle-Si system was utilized for the integration technique. MOSFETs were fabricated on (100) topSi, and VLS-Si probe arrays were assembled at the exposed (111) handle-Si wafer where the (100) top-Si region was removed by anisotropic etching. The different Si layers of the MOSFETs and probes were electrically connected by a 3D metallization technique. Additionally, we investigated the electrical properties of 3D metallization and the MOSFETs. The results indicate potential for heterogeneous integration of VLS probes/(111) and MOSFETs/(100). The proposed technique also promises further integrations of numerous microdevices/different species of substrates and microelectronics/(100) on the same chip.
Patterns of occupational mobility among new immigrants to Israel.

One of the major issues of the integration of immigrants in Israel concerns the dramatic and often contradictory changes which the immigrants have experienced after arrival with respect to many social fields. The pace of changes has varied from one immigrant group to another as well as from one field to another. The process of some changes continues beyond the life of the immigrants others affect only or almost only the immigrants offspring and still others are effective soon after the immigrants arrival to Israel. Immigrants arriving to Israel usually face a number of problems; they have to look for suitable housing and to set up a new social network (friends leisure culture etc.); almost all of them have to learn the national language Hebrew; and those intending to work in Israel have to adapt themselves to the local labour market conditions. The complementary processes of moving or not from one economic condition or occupation to another which all shape the occupational restructure of the immigrants are the concern of this study; these processes generally start just after the arrival of the immigrants but they are likely to act for a long time after the immigration. In this study we are concerned with mobility by economic condition and occupation among the new immigrants at the very beginning of their stay in Israel i.e. their first three years in the country this being a very crucial period for the overall integration process. A basic assumption of this study is that most immigrants to Israel are interested in maintaining the economic condition and/or occupation they had before immigration. This assumption is broadly held also by the Israel agencies dealing with immigrant integration even though some retraining frames have been set up. (excerpt)