Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MULTIPLE BIRTHS IN FORMER ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE USERS

Multiple births were studied in a cohort of 2953 former oral contraceptive users and 13 630 controls, all the women were interviewed post partum. There were 238 multiple births, a rate of 14·4/1000 deliveries. Former oral contraceptive users had 13·5/1000 sets of multiple births compared to 14·5/1000 in the controls. When women who had received treatment for anovulation were excluded, these rates were 11·1 and 12·7/1000 respectively, a difference which is not statistically significant. There was, however, a significant deficit of multiple births among the small group of former pill users who were underweight in relation to their height at the time of conception. Multiple births were also increased after stopping sequential pills and preparations containing high doses of oestrogen, and there was an excess of multiple births following breakthrough pregnancies. These findings, although statistically significant, are based on small numbers, and require confirmation from other studies.
Effect of luminal angiotensin II and ANP on early and late cortical distal tubule HCO3- reabsorption.

Bicarbonate reabsorption was evaluated by stationary microperfusion "in vivo" early distal (ED) and late distal (LD) segments of at kidney. Intratubular pH was recorded by double-barreled of H+ exchange resin/reference (1 M KCl) microelectrodes for the determination of HCO3- reabsorption. In the presence of angiotensin II (ANG II) (10(-12) M), a significant increase in HCO3- reabsorption was observed both in ED (from 0.930 +/- 0.060 to 2.64 +/- 0.210 nmol.cm-2.s-1 in luminally perfused tubules and from 0.850 +/- 0.040 to 2.03 +/- 0.210 nmol.cm-2.s-1 during capillary perfusion) and LD segments from 0.310 +/- 0.130 to 2.16 +/- 0.151 nmol.cm-2.s-1 during luminal perfusion and from 0.530 +/- 0.031 to 2.16 +/- 0.211 nmol.cm-2.s-1 with capillary perfusion). The addition of the AT1-receptor antagonist losartan (10(-6) M) to luminal perfusion blocked luminal ANG II-mediated stimulation in ED and LD segments. 5-(N,N-hexamethylene)amiloride (10(-4) M) added to luminal perfusion inhibited luminal ANG II-mediated stimulation in ED (by 81%) and LD (by 54%) segments. The addition of bafilomycin A1 (2 x 10(-7) M) to luminal perfusion does not affect luminal ANG II-mediated stimulation in ED segments but reduces it in LD segments (by 33%). During the addition of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) (10(-6) M) or ANG II plus ANP in both segments, no significant differences in HCO3- reabsorption were observed. Our results indicate that luminal ANG II acts to stimulate Na+/H+ exchange in ED and LD segments via activation of AT1 receptors, as well as the vacuolar H(+)-adenosinetriphosphatase in LD segments. ANP does not affect HCO3- reabsorption in either ED or LD segments and does not impair the stimulation caused by ANG II.
Retrieval of 30-m-Resolution Leaf Area Index From China HJ-1 CCD Data and MODIS Products Through a Dynamic Bayesian Network

The leaf area index (LAI) is a characteristic parameter of vegetation canopies. This parameter is significant in research on global climate change and ecological environments. The China HJ-1 satellite has a revisit cycle of four days and provides CCD (HJ-1 CCD) data with a resolution of 30 m. However, the HJ-1 CCD is incapable of obtaining observations at multiple angles. This is problematic because single-angle observations provide insufficient data for determining the LAI. This article proposes a new method for determining the LAI using the HJ-1 CCD data. The proposed method uses background knowledge of the dynamic land surface processes that is extracted from MODerate resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LAI data with a resolution of 1 km. The proposed method was implemented in a dynamitic Bayesian network scheme by integrating an LAI dynamic process model and a canopy reflectance model with the remotely sensed data. The validation was conducted using field LAI data collected in the Guantao County of the Hebei Province in China. The results showed that the determination coefficient between the estimated and the measured LAI was 0.791, and the RMSE was 0.61. The results suggest that this algorithm can be widely applied to determine high-resolution leaf area indexes using data from the China HJ-1 satellite even if the information from single-angle observations are insufficient for quantitative application.
Mediterranean Adequacy Index of Italian diets

Abstract Objective: To assess, particularly in longitudinal studies, how close or far the food intakes of population groups are from a reference dietary pattern. Design: Computation of an index, called the Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI), by dividing the sum of the percentage of total energy from typical Mediterranean food groups by the sum of the percentage of total energy from non-typical Mediterranean food groups. The reference Italian–Mediterranean diet utilised was that of subjects from Nicotera in 1960. Setting: Different areas in Italy. Subjects: Men aged 45–65 years at the start of the study from rural areas of Italy in the Seven Countries Study followed for 26 years (Crevalcore and Montegiorgio), elderly men and women from Perugia followed for 11 years, men and women from Pollica (Salerno) followed for 32 years, and families from Rofrano (Salerno) followed for 41 years. Results: The median value of MAI among 40–59-year-old men from Nicotera in 1960 was 7.2; in Crevalcore it was 2.9 in 1965 and 2.2 in 1991; and in Montegiorgio, 5.6 in 1965 and 3.9 in 1991. In Pollica, the values in men ranged from 5.6 to 6.3 in 1967 and from 2.4 to 4.5 in 1999; for women, the corresponding ranges were 4.2–7.2 and 2.7–4.1. In elderly men of Perugia, median MAI value was 4.9 in 1976 and 3.2 in 1987; for women, the corresponding values were 3.1 and 2.6. Conclusions: The diet of these Italian population groups has changed over the last four decades, progressively abandoning the nutritional characteristics of the reference Italian–Mediterranean diet. The MAI proposed is simple to compute; it has satisfactory discriminating power particularly for longitudinal dietary data with only a few limitations.
The state spends first: Logic, facts, fictions, open questions

ABSTRACT Keynesian (or Kaleckian) logic leads post Keynesian economists to presume that a variation of state revenues from taxes and sales of Treasury bonds are the result of a variation in state spending and not the other way around. In the past two decades, the exponents of modern monetary theory (MMT) have been at the forefront in asserting the Keynesian (or Kaleckian) logic of this proposition, filling a theoretical vacuum in post Keynesian thinking. The question is that MMT consolidates the Treasury and Central Bank (CB) so that the latter automatically creates purchasing power in favor of decisions of the former to spend. Critics, however, point out that most institutional arrangements forbid CBs to finance the Treasury directly. After Lavoie (2013), the debate has moved forward and seen some convergence. The present paper critically reviews for unfamiliar readers an otherwise almost esoteric but fundamental discussion.
Algorithms of setup operation for measuring the materials permittivity in millimeter wave range

In this paper the principles of algorithms functioning for the setup operation in a real-time, positioning of stepper motor mirror reflector, automated determination of normal incidence angle and filtering and processing of data were described. The proposed algorithms were used to improve the process of the permittivity measurement in the millimeter wave range. The approbation of setup was performed on samples of quartz crystals and optical glass.
DNA sequence analysis, gene product identification, and localization of flagellar motor components of Escherichia coli

The Escherichia coli operon designated flaA contains seven flagellar genes; among them are two switch protein genes whose products are believed to interface with the motility and chemotaxis machinery of the cell. Complementation analysis using several plasmids carrying different portions of the flaA operon and analysis of expression of these plasmids in minicells allowed the identification of two flagellar gene products. The MotD (now called FliN) protein, a flagellar switch protein, was determined to have an apparent molecular weight of 16,000, and the FlaAI (FliL) protein, encoded by a previously unidentified gene, had an apparent molecular weight of 17,000. DNA sequence analysis of the motD gene revealed an open reading frame of 414 base pairs. There were two possible initiation codons (ATG) for motD translation, the first of which overlapped with the termination codon of the upstream gene, flaAII (fliN). The wild-type flaAI gene on the chromosome was replaced with a flaAI gene mutated in vitro. Loss of the flaAI gene product resulted in a nonmotile and nonflagellated phenotype. The subcellular location for both the MotD and FlaAI proteins was determined; the FlaAI protein partitioned exclusively in the insoluble fraction of a whole minicell sonic extract, whereas the MotD protein remained in both the soluble and insoluble fractions. In addition, we subcloned a 2.2-kilobase-pair DNA fragment capable of complementing the remaining four genes of the flaA operon (flbD [fliO], flaR [fliP], flaQ [fliQ], and flaP [fliR]).
Risk Factors Associated with Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes Contamination of Produce Fields

ABSTRACT Identification of management practices associated with preharvest pathogen contamination of produce fields is crucial to the development of effective Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs). A cross-sectional study was conducted to (i) determine management practices associated with a Salmonella- or Listeria monocytogenes-positive field and (ii) quantify the frequency of these pathogens in irrigation and nonirrigation water sources. Over 5 weeks, 21 produce farms in New York State were visited. Field-level management practices were recorded for 263 fields, and 600 environmental samples (soil, drag swab, and water) were collected and analyzed for Salmonella and L. monocytogenes. Management practices were evaluated for their association with the presence of a pathogen-positive field. Salmonella and L. monocytogenes were detected in 6.1% and 17.5% of fields (n = 263) and 11% and 30% of water samples (n = 74), respectively. The majority of pathogen-positive water samples were from nonirrigation surface water sources. Multivariate analysis showed that manure application within a year increased the odds of a Salmonella-positive field (odds ratio [OR], 16.7), while the presence of a buffer zone had a protective effect (OR, 0.1). Irrigation (within 3 days of sample collection) (OR, 6.0), reported wildlife observation (within 3 days of sample collection) (OR, 6.1), and soil cultivation (within 7 days of sample collection) (OR, 2.9) all increased the likelihood of an L. monocytogenes-positive field. Our findings provide new data that will assist growers with science-based evaluation of their current GAPs and implementation of preventive controls that reduce the risk of preharvest contamination.
Is the severity of congenital heart disease associated with the quality of life and perceived health of adult patients?

Objective: To explore whether the severity of congenital heart disease is associated with the quality of life and perceived health status of adult patients. Design: Descriptive, cross sectional study. Setting: Adult congenital heart disease programme in one tertiary care centre in Belgium. Patients: 629 patients (378 men, 251 women) with a median age of 24 years. Main outcome measures: Disease severity was operationalised in terms of initial diagnosis (classification of Task Force 1 of the 32nd Bethesda Conference), illness course (disease severity index), and current functional status (New York Heart Association (NYHA) class, ability index, congenital heart disease functional index, and left ventricular ejection fraction). Quality of life was measured by a linear analogue scale, the satisfaction with life scale, and the schedule for evaluation of individual quality of life. Perceived health status was also assessed with a linear analogue scale. Results: Scores derived from the disease severity classification systems were weakly negatively associated with quality of life and health status, ranging from −0.05 to −0.27. The NYHA functional class and ability index were consistently associated with quality of life and perceived health. Conclusions: This study showed that the severity of congenital heart disease is marginally associated with patients’ quality of life and perceived health. Functional status was more related to patients’ assessment of their quality of life than was the initial diagnosis or illness course.
Hypothalamic POMC Deficiency Improves Glucose Tolerance Despite Insulin Resistance by Increasing Glycosuria

Hypothalamic proopiomelanocortin (POMC) is essential for the physiological regulation of energy balance; however, its role in glucose homeostasis remains less clear. We show that hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (Arc)POMC-deficient mice, which develop severe obesity and insulin resistance, unexpectedly exhibit improved glucose tolerance and remain protected from hyperglycemia. To explain these paradoxical phenotypes, we hypothesized that an insulin-independent pathway is responsible for the enhanced glucose tolerance. Indeed, the mutant mice demonstrated increased glucose effectiveness and exaggerated glycosuria relative to wild-type littermate controls at comparable blood glucose concentrations. Central administration of the melanocortin receptor agonist melanotan II in mutant mice reversed alterations in glucose tolerance and glycosuria, whereas, conversely, administration of the antagonist Agouti-related peptide (Agrp) to wild-type mice enhanced glucose tolerance. The glycosuria of ArcPOMC-deficient mice was due to decreased levels of renal GLUT 2 (rGLUT2) but not sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 and was associated with reduced renal catecholamine content. Epinephrine treatment abolished the genotype differences in glucose tolerance and rGLUT2 levels, suggesting that reduced renal sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity is the underlying mechanism for the observed glycosuria and improved glucose tolerance in ArcPOMC-deficient mice. Therefore, the ArcPOMC-SNS-rGLUT2 axis is potentially an insulin-independent therapeutic target to control diabetes.
Impairment of executive function but not memory in first-degree relatives of patients with bipolar I disorder and in euthymic patients with unipolar depression.

OBJECTIVE The authors' goal was to characterize cognitive flexibility and verbal learning in relatives of patients with bipolar disorder and in euthymic patients with recurrent major depression. METHOD The intradimensional/extradimensional shift task and California Verbal Learning Test were administered to 27 first-degree relatives of probands with bipolar I disorder, 15 euthymic outpatients with recurrent unipolar depression, and 47 healthy comparison subjects. RESULTS The relatives of patients with bipolar I disorder and the euthymic patients with unipolar depression were more likely to fail the intradimensional/extradimensional shift task than the healthy comparison subjects. The impairments at the extradimensional shift stage were pronounced. Verbal learning, delayed recall, and recognition were unimpaired in all groups. CONCLUSIONS Attentional set shifting may represent an endophenotype in mood disorder, related to underlying vulnerability rather than the actual disease phenotype.
Evaluation of long-term patient satisfaction and experience with the Baha® bone conduction implant

Abstract Objective: Evaluate long-term patient satisfaction with bone-anchored hearing aids (the BahaR, now referred to by Cochlear as a ‘bone conduction implant’) in our hospital clinic spanning the eighteen-year period from the inception of our Baha program. The researchers further wished to analyse the various factors leading to patient satisfaction/dissatisfaction with their Baha. We developed a new questionnaire to obtain a comprehensive impression of individual patient practices, general satisfaction, and experiences with their Baha in respect to time spent using Baha, sound quality, annoyance from noise disturbance, ease of communication, cosmetic appearance, and satisfaction with the Baha amongst patient relatives, an aspect not previously investigated. Design: The study design was retrospective and executed as a postal questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed by the authors of this paper. Study sample: Patients operated on for a Baha at our hospital from 1989 to 2007. Results: The response rate was 92.4%. Eighty-six percent were satisfied or very satisfied with their Baha. Ninety-one percent of respondents could communicate using their Baha in a one-on-one conversational setting. A primary factor leading to dissatisfaction, experienced by 70% of responding patients, was annoyance from wind noise. Conclusions: Baha was found to yield good overall patient satisfaction over the long-term, and it was possible to identify specific factors attributing to satisfaction/dissatisfaction.
Transcriptional diversity and allelic variation in nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum

Sequence analysis of 168 cDNA clones encoding 12 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunits, Tcasα1–Tcasα11 and Tcasβ1, from the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, revealed extensive post‐transcriptional modification and multiple alleles. The greatest diversity was found for Tcasa6, where 18 unique transcripts, as a result of alternative and optional exon usage, were seen. A novel alternative exon 8d was found in one Tcasα6 transcript. Tcasα5 transcripts did not contain previously reported exons 8–10. Six subunits had transcripts that contained unspliced introns, which introduced premature stop codons. Intron 3′ splice site variants were seen at six intron boundaries across five subunits. A‐to‐I RNA editing was seen only in Tcasα6. Alleles were found for all subunit genes, except Tcasα1 and Tcasα10. Transcriptional and allelic diversity are discussed with respect to receptor function and potential interactions with insecticides.
Secretin‐dependent HCO3− secretion from pancreas and liver

Abstract. Ultrastructural studies performed on pigs revealed that numerous cytoplasmic tubulovesicles were present in resting pancreatic duct cells. Elevation of systemic arterial PCO2 from 5.5 to 11 kPa increased the number of vesicles more than twofold. Following secretin administration, concurrent with the onset of HCO3− secretion (JHCO3). the cytoplasm became devoid of vesicles, and the basolateral plasma membrane surface area more than doubled. Similar phenomena were observed in bile duct cells. After pretreatment with the microtubulus‐inhibiting drug colchicine, secretin failed to reduce duct cell vesicle density, and JHCO3 was reduced by c. 50% compared to the control. These ultrastructural changes resemble those described in other H+/HCO3−‐transporting organs such as the distal nephron and the urinary bladder. Our findings are compatible with the notion that cytoplasmic vesicles containing H+‐ATPases are incorporated into the basolateral plasma membrane of secretory cells during secretin stimulation. Active transport of H+ into interstitial fluid might therefore be the driving force underlying JHCO3.
Monoclonality in normal epithelium and in hyperplastic and neoplastic lesions of the breast

The clonal nature of neoplastic lesions such as invasive breast cancer and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) has been widely proven by several proliferative, genetic or other malignancy‐associated markers. The aim of this study is to clarify whether benign hyperplastic lesions such as ductal hyperplasia of usual type (DH) and papilloma can be distinguished from neoplastic lesions such as DCIS by X‐chromosome inactivation analysis. Clonal analysis was performed using a polymerase chain reaction‐based assay for non‐random X‐chromosome inactivation of the human androgen receptor gene (HUMARA). Formalin‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded archival tissue of ten DCIS, sixteen DH, nine papillomas, and seven normal terminal ductal lobular units (TDLUs) was laser‐microdissected to avoid contamination with surrounding tissue. All of the cases analysed revealed a monoclonal origin. Furthermore, in one of these cases, opposite X chromosomes were inactivated within the same breast. X‐linked inactivation analysis clearly demonstrates that, at least in the breast, monoclonality is not restricted to neoplastic processes. The data support the hypothesis that the mammary gland is organized into distinct stem cell‐derived monoclonal patches and that TDLUs are monoclonal in origin. Any proliferative lesion arising within such a pre‐existing clonal patch should therefore be clonal, irrespective of whether it originates from one or more patch cells. Thus, X‐chromosome inactivation analysis cannot be considered a valid method for distinguishing between neoplastic and hyperplastic breast lesions. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pseudopollen in Eria Lindl. section Mycaranthes Rchb.f. (Orchidaceae).

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Pseudopollen is a whitish, mealy material produced upon the labella of a number of orchid species as labellar hairs either become detached or fragment. Since individual hair cells are rich in protein and starch, it has long been speculated that pseudopollen functions as a reward for visiting insects. Although some 90 years have passed since Beck first described pseudopollen for a small number of Eria spp. currently assigned to section Mycaranthes Rchb.f. , we still know little about the character of pseudopollen in this taxon. The use of SEM and histochemistry would re-address this deficit in our knowledge whereas comparison of pseudopollen in Eria (S.E. Asia), Maxillaria (tropical and sub-tropical America), Polystachya (largely tropical Africa and Madagascar) and Dendrobium unicum (Thailand and Laos) would perhaps help us to understand better how this feature may have arisen and evolved on a number of different continents. METHODS Pseudopollen morphology is described using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Hairs were tested for starch, lipid and protein using IKI, Sudan III and the xanthoproteic test, respectively. KEY RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS The labellar hairs of all eight representatives of section Mycaranthes examined are identical. They are unicellular, clavate with a narrow 'stalk' and contain both protein and starch but no detectable lipid droplets. The protein is distributed throughout the cytoplasm and the starch is confined to amyloplasts. The hairs become detached from the labellar surface and bear raised cuticular ridges and flaky deposits that are presumed to be wax. In that they are unicellular and appear to bear wax distally, the labellar hairs are significantly different from those observed for other orchid species. Comparative morphology indicates that they evolved independently in response to pollinator pressures similar to those experienced by other unrelated pseudopollen-forming orchids on other continents.
Evidence Based health care system using Big Data for disease diagnosis

Health care analysis poses a consistent challenge to physicians and is the area of research in which trillions of amounts are being spent by all countries. The Institute of Medicine proposes several recommendations to increase the quality of health care. Different data mining algorithms have been applied on the voluminous health records to aid decision making process. In this proposed system, the patient health conditions are analyzed and exact disease is diagnosed using Big Data analytics with Evidence Based methodology. Patient's medical history and current evidences are considered to diagnose and drug suggestion. Patient analysis report is generated to monitor the recovery and patient feedback of the suggested drug is recorded to witness the success-rate of the diagnosis process.