Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Salt intake in first degree relations of hypertensive and normotensive Nigerians.

OBJECTIVE To determine the salt taste threshold (STT) and salt threshold (STT) and salt intake(SI) in first degree relations of hypertensive and normotensive Nigerians. Hence to determine the relevance of STT in the genesis of hypertension in the Nigerian Africans. The relevance of salt to the development of systemic hypertension continues to attract researchers. DESIGN A comparative study of STT and salt intake in the first degree offspring of hypertensive and normotensive Nigerians. SETTING University of Benin Teaching Hospital in Benin City, Edo state of Nigeria. SUBJECTS Fifty three normotensives youths (31 males and 22 females) whose parents were undergoing treatment at the university of Benin Teaching Hospital and 42 age and sex matched normotensive youths (22 males and 16 females) of normotensive parents from similar socio-economic background were recruited for the study. METHODS Salt intake was determined with Corning clinical flame photometer using 24 hour urine sample produced by each participants. STT was determined by a double blind method which employed the forced stimulus drop technique. RESULTS STT and UNa+ were significantly higher in OH than in ON (p < 0.001). There was strong positive correlation between STT and UNa+ (r = 0.77); diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (r = 0.61); systolic blood pressure (SBP) (rg = 0.54) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) (r = 0.69) respectively (P < 0.001). UNa+ also strongly correlated with DBP (r = 0.59); MAP r = 0.60, and SBP (r = 0.36) respectively P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The study suggests that OH probably consume more sodium than the ON. This tendency to increased sodium (salt) consumption is most likely genetically determined. There is a suggestion that alteration in STT and change in blood pressure tend to occur simultaneously.
The methodology of focus groups: the importance of interaction between research participants

What are focus groups? How are they distinct from ordinary group discussions and what use are they anyway? This article introduces focus group methodology, explores ways of conducting such groups and examines what this technique of data collection can offer researchers in general and medical sociologists in particular. It concentrates on the one feature which inevitably distinguishes focus groups from one-to-one interviews or questionnaires – namely the interaction between research participants - and argues for the overt exploration and exploitation of such interaction in the research process.
The Super Aged Society : Japan's the KAITEKI Institute studies how to keep the elderly healthy and active

Humankind today is facing an array of challenges? global climate change, the depletion of natural resources, water scarcity, and an aging population, just to name a few. It is more important now than ever for us to address these issues and find solutions to how we and future generations can continue living on this one earth. Business entities, with their influence in society as well as resources far beyond the individual, have great potential to make a difference. We cannot necessarily expect, however, that businesses will relinquish profits for the sake of sustainability and social betterment. What is needed is an innovative form of business in which pursuing sustainability is tied to enhancing corporate value. The approach that Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Company (MCHC) is taking to realize this is embodied in the concept of ? KAITEKI? [1].
22 : 6n-3 DHA inhibits differentiation of prostate fibroblasts into myofibroblasts and tumorigenesis

Prostate cancer is one of the most common malignancies in men. Epidemiological and experimental studies have revealed that stromal cells of the tumour microenvironment contribute to the development of prostate cancers, while long-chain n-3 PUFA-enriched diets reduce the risk of this tumour histotype. These findings prompted us to investigate whether DHA, an n-3 PUFA, may abrogate differentiation of prostate fibroblasts into myofibroblasts, the activated form of fibroblasts generally involved in prostate cancer progression. We used the human prostate carcinoma cell line (PC3) as a prostate adenocarcinoma model and found that DHA (1) inhibits α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, a typical marker of myofibroblast differentiation, in prostate fibroblasts stimulated in vitro with transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), (2) blocks the matrix metalloproteinase-2-dependent enhanced invasiveness of PC3 prostate adenocarcinoma cells migrated in a medium conditioned by TGF-β-stimulated prostate fibroblasts, (3) prevents epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) and invasiveness of PC3 cells promoted by a medium conditioned by TGF-β-stimulated prostate fibroblasts, and (4) reduces the growth rate of tumours obtained in immunodeficient animals injected with PC3 cells plus TGF-β-stimulated prostate fibroblasts. Moreover, DHA was found to revert α-SMA expression and the invasiveness-promoting activity exerted in PC3 cells by tumoral-activated fibroblasts. Thus, DHA represents a suitable agent to inhibit prostate myofibroblast differentiation, invasiveness and EMT, two most important tumour-promoting activities involved in the progression of prostate cancer cells.
Aggressive Content of High School Students' Tv Viewing

The purpose of this study was to examine high school students' exposure to television programming with aggressive content and to explore whether consumption of aggressive TV varied by sex and ethnicity. Participants were 472 boys and girls from two high schools, one urban and one suburban. Definitions of both direct and indirect aggression were used to rate TV programs, and the participants' exposure to both was assessed. Analysis yielded a statistically significant effect for sex but not ethnicity as girls watched more TV programs containing indirect aggression. Also, exposure to aggressive TV content peaked in Grade 10 and fell sharply thereafter. The importance of educating adolescents about the images they view is highlighted. Implications for research are discussed.
Structure incorporation of model uncertainty for Bayesian adaptive tracking and its application to maritime surveillance

Structured Incorporation of Model Uncertainty for Bayesian Adaptive Tracking and its Application to Maritime Surveillance by Charles Bradshaw Adaptive visual object tracking (VOT) is one of the fundamental tasks in machine vision, with active research and far-reaching implications. Bayesian methods are commonly used in adaptive VOT. However, we propose that the current tendency is to restrict the inference to a subtask (e.g. classification), rather than phrasing the entire task, including the adaptive observation model, within the Bayesian inference. In this thesis we develop a framework for simultaneous modelling and estimation (SMAE), in which the common Bayesian recursive estimator (BRE) is extended to include estimation of the underlying hidden Markov model (HMM). The framework is developed not only for the task of adaptive VOT, but also for persistent tracking: the long-term task including automatic detection and tracking of multiple targets in a scene in a manner such that performance improves as a function of deployment time. To prove that the framework is usable and leads to tractable implementations, it is applied to the challenging task of maritime surveillance. Oceans provide a non-trivial noisy background against which many adaptive trackers struggle. Our developed adaptive tracker creates a baseline in which the joint distribution across observation model and target state is maintained in an adapted particle filter. A persistent tracker is then built around the adaptive tracker to produce improved results using the information from previous observations. Both the adaptive tracker and the persistent tracker use the holistic Bayesian framework described by SMAE. We find that SMAE does lead to tractable solutions that include the strength of Bayesian methods for the observation model component in adaptive VOT. In addition to this, contributions are made to the current maritime surveillance literature, in the form of a better performing salience filter for maritime and littoral scenes, and a Bayesian means for combining different salience filters. This last contribution may seem trivial, however we were unable to find it in the maritime literature. This work also includes the application of SMAE to more philosophical topics. Although the discussion may seem informal in light of the technical nature of the body of our work, it was an integral part of the development of the framework.
Inhibition of p38 Kinase Reveals a TNF-α-Mediated, Caspase-Dependent, Apoptotic Death Pathway in a Human Myelomonocyte Cell Line1

TNF-α transduces signals of survival or death via its two receptors, R1/p55/p60 and RII/p80/p75. The role of caspases as effectors of cell death is universally accepted, although caspase inhibitors may potentiate TNF cytotoxicity in some instances. In conditions when macromolecular synthesis is blocked, caspases are part of the machinery that executes TNF-triggered apoptotic death in U937, a human myelomonocyte cell line, and in the Jurkat T cell line. However, inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) triggered TNF cytotoxicity in U937 cells and murine splenic macrophages, but not the Jurkat cell line. TNF induced expression of the antiapoptotic protein c-IAP2 (cytoplasmic inhibitor of apoptosis protein 2), and was blocked in the presence of a p38 MAPK inhibitor, which also induced caspase-dependent, TNF-mediated apoptosis in U937 cells. Thus, inhibition of p38 MAPK resulted in the activation of caspase 9 and cleavage of the adaptor molecule BH3 interacting domain death agonist, and blocked NF-κB-mediated transactivation, without affecting the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. Collectively, these data show that activation of p38 MAPK is critical to cell survival by TNF in U937 cells, and demonstrate lineage-specific regulation of TNF-triggered signals of activation or apoptosis.
Distinct roles of the different ionotropic glutamate receptors within the nucleus accumbens in passive‐avoidance learning and memory in mice

Research on the role of the nucleus accumbens in behaviour has been largely focused on the functions of this structure in conditioning to appetitive stimuli. It has been suggested that a network comprising the nucleus accumbens and its convergent inputs might mediate dissociable functions in the acquisition, the consolidation and the retrieval of information. However, findings related to a role of this structure in aversive conditioning are somewhat contradictory, and its involvement in this form of learning is still under debate. Moreover, very little evidence is available on the step of information processing mediated by the accumbens. Thus the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the blockade of the AMPA and NMDA glutamate receptors, which have been suggested to mediate the transmission of information from the limbic system to this structure, on a classical aversive conditioning task – the one‐trial step through inhibitory avoidance paradigm (24 h interval between training and testing). Intra‐accumbens focal injections of AP‐5 and DNQX (NMDA and AMPA antagonists, respectively) were performed immediately after training, before training and before testing in mice. The NMDA antagonist (37.5, 75 and 150 ng per side) impaired animal performance only if administered immediately after but not before training or before testing. Conversely, DNQX (0.5, 1.0 and 5.0 ng per side) reduced the step through latencies when administered before training and before testing. These findings suggest that NMDA receptor activation within the accumbens is necessary in formation but not expression of memory for inhibitory avoidance. AMPA receptors, instead, are necessary for the acquisition and the expression but not consolidation of inhibitory avoidance memory.
Fuentes de incertidumbre, probabilidades condicionales y la opción de abandono en activos reales Sources of uncertainty, conditional probabilities and the abandonment option for real assets

The real options approach captures the strategic flexibility of the investment in real assets, being the binomial model the tool for its valuation. Whit various sources of uncertainty about the value of the real asset, the model is polynomial. This paper proposes a framework for value the strategic flexibility of an investment with many sources of uncertainty. The main points are: (a) introduction of the real options approach and the valuation tools: binomial and multinomial la ttice, (b) inputs for the treatment of the uncertainty, building lattice and real op tions valuation: Bayes´ Theorem, Geometric Brownian Motions and certain equivalents, (c) overall framework of five steps for the implementation of the val uation method: Case of
Expression of the long and short leptin receptor isoforms in peripheral blood mononuclear cells: implications for leptin's actions.

Leptin, the adipocyte-derived hormone, is secreted into the blood and regulates body weight via its receptors in the hypothalamus. Leptin receptors are also present in many peripheral tissues implicating leptin in the regulation of other body functions, including reproduction, liver and enteric metabolism, hematopoiesis, and immunity. Four splice variants of the leptin receptor have been identified in humans: the long isoform that has full intracellular signaling capacity and 3 shorter isoforms that differ in the length of their cytoplasmic tail. Here, we report the quantification by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) of the relative expression levels of the 2 major leptin receptor splice variants, the long (OB-RL) and the shortest membrane bound variant (OB-RS) in mononuclear cells from peripheral blood of 15 healthy human subjects (9 women and 6 men), with a body mass index (BMI) that ranged from 19.7 to 41.6. Both OB-RL and OB-RS were coexpressed in all mRNAs tested. However, the expression of the short form (OB-RS), was on average 8-fold higher than the expression of the long form (OB-RL) (120.8 +/- 12.9 v 14.6 +/- 3.0 relative intensity units, P < .001). The predominance of the short splice variant over the long one was apparent in all samples and ranged from 4- to 27-fold. There was no significant difference in the expression of either isoform between men and women. However, the relative expression of both OB-RS and OB-RL isoforms was significantly lower in the overweight (BMI > 26), compared with the lean subjects (BMI < 25) (78.8 +/- 9.1 and 6.2 +/- 1.1 v148.8 +/- 14.4 and 18.9 +/- 4.0 relative intensity units, respectively, P < .03) and was inversely correlated with the BMI and plasma leptin levels (P < .01). In conclusion, the expression of OB-RS and OB-RL leptin receptor isoforms appears to be reduced in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells from obese individuals, with OB-RS remaining the predominant leptin receptor isoform. This might have implications for the bioavailability and/or action of circulating leptin not only on these cells, but also on other target tissues.
Selective Attention to Visual Stimuli Using Auditory Distractors Is Altered in Alpha-9 Nicotinic Receptor Subunit Knock-Out Mice

During selective attention, subjects voluntarily focus their cognitive resources on a specific stimulus while ignoring others. Top-down filtering of peripheral sensory responses by higher structures of the brain has been proposed as one of the mechanisms responsible for selective attention. A prerequisite to accomplish top-down modulation of the activity of peripheral structures is the presence of corticofugal pathways. The mammalian auditory efferent system is a unique neural network that originates in the auditory cortex and projects to the cochlear receptor through the olivocochlear bundle, and it has been proposed to function as a top-down filter of peripheral auditory responses during attention to cross-modal stimuli. However, to date, there is no conclusive evidence of the involvement of olivocochlear neurons in selective attention paradigms. Here, we trained wild-type and α-9 nicotinic receptor subunit knock-out (KO) mice, which lack cholinergic transmission between medial olivocochlear neurons and outer hair cells, in a two-choice visual discrimination task and studied the behavioral consequences of adding different types of auditory distractors. In addition, we evaluated the effects of contralateral noise on auditory nerve responses as a measure of the individual strength of the olivocochlear reflex. We demonstrate that KO mice have a reduced olivocochlear reflex strength and perform poorly in a visual selective attention paradigm. These results confirm that an intact medial olivocochlear transmission aids in ignoring auditory distraction during selective attention to visual stimuli. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The auditory efferent system is a neural network that originates in the auditory cortex and projects to the cochlear receptor through the olivocochlear system. It has been proposed to function as a top-down filter of peripheral auditory responses during attention to cross-modal stimuli. However, to date, there is no conclusive evidence of the involvement of olivocochlear neurons in selective attention paradigms. Here, we studied the behavioral consequences of adding different types of auditory distractors in a visual selective attention task in wild-type and α-9 nicotinic receptor knock-out (KO) mice. We demonstrate that KO mice perform poorly in the selective attention paradigm and that an intact medial olivocochlear transmission aids in ignoring auditory distractors during attention.
Industrial Research and the Pursuit of Corporate Security: The Early Years of Bell Labs

Among the industries that owe their existence to technological innovation, voice communication by wire and by radio is an outstanding example. Professor Reich explains that during its first quarter century, however, the telephone enterprise developed a “business-technology mind-set” (he credits Reese Jenkins with the term) that held back further progress until after the thoroughgoing reorganization of American Telephone & Telegraph in 1907. Thereafter, an initial strong focus on applied science was gradually modified as the company sought to solve problems that stood in the way of important new services, such as long-distance telephony; to stay in the vanguard of major innovations, such as radio, that threatened the dominance of wired telephone systems; and to extend new capabilities into as many alternative techniques as necessary to “box the compass” of the patent laws. In the process, AT&T developed a highly structured research and development facility that pushed businessmen's respect for science and technology to new heights.
Effects of a New Hospital-Wide Surgical Consultation Protocol in Patients with Clostridium difficile Colitis.

BACKGROUND Fulminant Clostridium difficile colitis (fCDC) occurs in 2%-8% of patients with CDC and carries a high death rate. Prompt operation may reduce death. Our aim was to determine whether a standardized hospital-wide protocol for surgical referral in CDC would result in earlier surgical consultation, earlier identification of patients who could benefit from surgical therapy, and reduced deaths from fCDC. METHODS A multidisciplinary team developed consensus criteria for surgical consultation. Compliance was evaluated by prospective review of all inpatient CDC cases. Outcomes of the prospective cohort (POST) were compared to an historic control group (PRE). RESULTS From November 1, 2010 to October 31, 2012, we identified 1,106 inpatients with CDC; 339 patients matched the consultation criteria, of whom 213 received a surgical consultation, resulting in an overall compliance rate of 62.8%. All those with fCDC received a surgical consultation, with a median time to surgical referral of three hours. Of 46 patients with fCDC, 11 (23.9%) died, compared with 34.8% in the historical control group (p = 0.15). The death rate was 14.7% in the POST group, when excluding patients with limitations of care and those transferred to our institution in a fulminant state. There was a shorter interval between admission and surgical intervention for those who required operation in the POST group-three (1-11) days versus 1.5 (0-3) days, respectively, in the PRE and POST groups (p = 0.018), and a shorter adjusted median hospital length of stay (adjusted difference 9.0, 95% CI 2.2-12.3, p = 0.007) Conclusions: A hospital-wide protocol with established criteria for surgical consultation resulted in faster intervention and a shorter adjusted median hospital length of stay. The overall death rate for fCDC patients without limitations of life-sustaining treatment who presented to our emergency department or in whom fCDC developed while they were admitted to our hospital was 14.7%.
A novel compact harmonic RFID sensor in paper substrate based on a variable attenuator and nested antennas

This paper presents the design of a novel chipless harmonic RFID sensor in paper substrate based on a variable attenuator implemented as a π resistive network, which drives a single Schottky diode frequency doubler and a system of nested tapered annular slot antennas. The passive tag is interrogated by a signal at f0 = 1.2 GHz and the signal transmitted back to the reader is converted to 2f0 = 2.4 GHz in order for the system to be immune to clutter returns. The sensor information is encoded in the magnitude of the re-transmitted signal and a dynamic range around 20 dB is experimentally demonstrated.
Kinematics and efficiency of steady swimming in adult axolotls (Ambystoma mexicanum)

The kinematics of steady swimming at a wide range of velocities was analysed using high-speed video recordings (500 frames s-1) of eight individuals of Ambystoma mexicanum swimming through a tunnel containing stationary water. Animals in the observed size range (0.135­0.238 m total body length) prefer to swim at similar absolute speeds, irrespective of their body size. The swimming mechanism is of the anguilliform type. The measured kinematic variables ­ the speed, length, frequency and amplitude (along the entire body) of the propulsive wave ­ are more similar to those of anguilliform swimming fish than to those of tadpoles, in spite of common morphological features with the latter, such as limbs, external gills and a tapering tail. The swimming speed for a given animal size correlates linearly with the tailbeat frequency (r2=0.71), whereas the wavelength and tail-tip amplitude do not correlate with this variable. The shape of the amplitude profile along the body, however, is very variable between the different swimming bouts, even at similar speeds. It is suggested that, for a given frequency, the amplitude profile along the body is adjusted in a variable way to yield the resulting swimming speed rather than maintaining a fixed-amplitude profile. The swimming efficiency was estimated by calculating two kinematic variables (the stride length and the propeller efficiency) and by applying two hydrodynamic theories, the elongated-body theory and an extension of this theory accounting for the slope at the tail tip. The latter theory was found to be the most appropriate for the axolotl's swimming mode and yields a hydromechanical efficiency of 0.75±0.04 (mean ± s.d.), indicating that Ambystoma mexicanum swims less efficiently than do anuran tadpoles and most fishes. This can be understood given its natural habitat in vegetation at the bottom of lakes, which would favour manoeuvrability and fast escape.