Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ANTIHYPERTENSIVE ACTIVITY OF Ruta chalepensis L. LEAVES

Summary R. chalepensis is claimed in folk medicine and used in Mexico for treatment of hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders. The antihypertensive effect of an aqueous extract of the leaves from R. chalepensis (RCAE) and its methanol fraction (RCMF) was investigated in two models of hypertension. Acute administration of RCAE and RCME caused a significant fall in blood pressure in normotensive anaesthetized rats. RCAE (25 mg/Kg) produced displacement to the right in a dose-response curve to phenylephrine. In other experiments
Economic Perspectives on Health Information Technology

It seems paradoxical that health care spending and examples of inferior health care have been rising rapidly at the same time. An important factor is the slow pace at which the health care system has adopted information technology (IT). This paper discusses the dimensions of the problems that could be mitigated by effective use of IT in the health care system, their consequences, and their potential solutions. It also discusses the economic and institutional barriers to deploying IT and how the inherent economies of scale in IT are likely to lead to new problems of competition within the health care system. Inasmuch as this paper was based on an address followed by a question-and-answer period, it also includes an edited version of the recorded questions and answers.
Contribution of Bicarbonate Assimilation to Carbon Pool Dynamics in the Deep Mediterranean Sea and Cultivation of Actively Nitrifying and CO2-Fixing Bathypelagic Prokaryotic Consortia

Covering two-thirds of our planet, the global deep ocean plays a central role in supporting life on Earth. Among other processes, this biggest ecosystem buffers the rise of atmospheric CO2. Despite carbon sequestration in the deep ocean has been known for a long time, microbial activity in the meso- and bathypelagic realm via the “assimilation of bicarbonate in the dark” (ABD) has only recently been described in more details. Based on recent findings, this process seems primarily the result of chemosynthetic and anaplerotic reactions driven by different groups of deep-sea prokaryoplankton. We quantified bicarbonate assimilation in relation to total prokaryotic abundance, prokaryotic heterotrophic production and respiration in the meso- and bathypelagic Mediterranean Sea. The measured ABD values, ranging from 133 to 370 μg C m−3 d−1, were among the highest ones reported worldwide for similar depths, likely due to the elevated temperature of the deep Mediterranean Sea (13–14°C also at abyssal depths). Integrated over the dark water column (≥200 m depth), bicarbonate assimilation in the deep-sea ranged from 396 to 873 mg C m−2 d−1. This quantity of produced de novo organic carbon amounts to about 85–424% of the phytoplankton primary production and covers up to 62% of deep-sea prokaryotic total carbon demand. Hence, the ABD process in the meso- and bathypelagic Mediterranean Sea might substantially contribute to the inorganic and organic pool and significantly sustain the deep-sea microbial food web. To elucidate the ABD key-players, we established three actively nitrifying and CO2-fixing prokaryotic enrichments. Consortia were characterized by the co-occurrence of chemolithoautotrophic Thaumarchaeota and chemoheterotrophic proteobacteria. One of the enrichments, originated from Ionian bathypelagic waters (3,000 m depth) and supplemented with low concentrations of ammonia, was dominated by the Thaumarchaeota “low-ammonia-concentration” deep-sea ecotype, an enigmatic and ecologically important group of organisms, uncultured until this study.
Selenoprotein P Is Required for Mouse Sperm Development1

Abstract Selenoprotein P (SEPP1), an extracellular glycoprotein of unknown function, is a unique member of the selenoprotein family that, depending on species, contains 10–17 selenocysteines in its primary structure; in contrast, all other family members contain a single selenocysteine residue. The SEPP1-null (Sepp1−/−) male but not the female mice are infertile, but the cellular basis of this male phenotype has not been defined. In this study, we demonstrate that mature spermatozoa of Sepp1−/− males display a specific set of flagellar structural defects that develop temporally during spermiogenesis and after testicular maturation in the epididymis. The flagellar defects include a development of a truncated mitochondrial sheath, an extrusion of a specific set of axonemal microtubules and outer dense fibers from the principal piece, and ultimately a hairpin-like bend formation at the midpiece-principal piece junction. The sperm defects found in Sepp1−/− males appear to be the same as those observed in wild-type (Sepp1+/+) males fed a low selenium diet. Supplementation of dietary selenium levels for Sepp1−/− males neither reverses the development of sperm defects nor restores fertility. These data demonstrate that SEPP1 is required for development of functional spermatozoa and indicate that it is an essential component of the selenium delivery pathway for developing germ cells.
The anti‐leukaemic activity of novel synthetic naphthoquinones against acute myeloid leukaemia: induction of cell death via the triggering of multiple signalling pathways

Naphthoquinones, such as menadione, display lower toxicity than anthracyclins used in cancer chemotherapy. Novel anti‐leukaemic compounds comprised of chloro‐amino‐phenyl naphthoquinones with substitutions on the benzoic ring were developed. Structure–activity relationship studies indicated that the analogue with both methyl and amine substitutions (named TW‐92) was the most efficient in killing leukaemic cells. Treatment of U‐937 promonocytic cells with TW‐92 induced apoptotic or necrotic cell death, dependent on incubation and dose conditions. TW‐92 induced rapid phosphorylation of p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) and of extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinases (ERK1/2). The generation of apoptosis was preceded by intracellular H2O2 accumulation accompanied by glutathione depletion, the former inhibited by di‐phenyl‐iodonium (DPI), an inhibitor of NADPH oxidase. TW‐92 induced swelling of isolated rat liver mitochondria, indicative of a direct effect on mitochondria. Apoptosis in intact cells was accompanied by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome c release and caspase activation. In addition, the level of Mcl‐1, an anti‐apoptotic regulatory protein, was down‐regulated, whereas the expression of the pro‐apoptotic BAX was elevated. Finally, TW‐92 exerted strong pro‐apoptotic and necrotic effects in primary acute myeloid leukaemia samples when given in submicromolar concentrations. Together, these findings demonstrate that TW‐92 may provide an effective anti‐leukaemic strategy.
Disparities in care for depression among primary care patients

AbstractCONTEXT: Ethnic minorities traditionally receive less care for depression than do white populations; we examine ethnic minority care for depression in a large cross-national primary care sample. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study of identification and treatment of depression among diverse primary care patients, using self-report of symptoms and care. SUBJECTS: One thousand four hundred and ninety-eight depressed primary care patients participating in four large studies of quality improvement for depression care are examined at baseline. RESULTS: Primary care providers recommend depression treatments for Latino and African-American patients as frequently as they do for white patients. However, Latino and African-American patients are less likely to take antidepressant medications (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.30; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.21 to 0.42 and adjusted OR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.87, respectively) and Latinos are less likely to obtain specialty mental health care (adjusted OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.75). CONCLUSIONS: Primary care providers are now able to recognize depression and recommend treatment for Latino and African-American patients, with this care recommended at equal rates to that of white patients. However, Latino and African-American patients remain less likely to obtain appropriate care, such as antidepressant medications or specialty care. New approaches to improving access to appropriate care for Latino and African-American primary care patients are needed.
A Ricardian analysis of Mexican farms

ABSTRACT This paper measures the impact of climate on Mexican agriculture using a Ricardian analysis. The analysis relies on economic data from 621 individual farms that were collected in 2002. Data on climate, elevation, soils, and distance to nearest city were matched with each farm. The analysis reveals that farmland values in Mexico are sensitive to climate. On average, warmer temperatures reduce land value by 4,000 to 6,000 pesos per degree Celsius. Examining three climate scenarios for 2100, the models predict average losses of between −42% to −54% of land value in Mexico. As a percent of income, rainfed farms will suffer slightly larger damages than irrigated farms but comparisons between small and large farms are mixed.
Mental disorders among Native American children: rates and risk periods for entering treatment.

The authors compared national data on use of outpatient mental health services by Native American children in 1974 with 1969 national data on non-Indian children. At all ages except 5 to 9 years, Indian children were at higher riskfor entering the treatment system than were nonIndian children. In addition, utilization patterns varied by age and sex. The authors discuss possible reasons frr the higher risk rates demonstrated by Indian children; these include schools and the effects of poverty.
Inter-professional identities and cultures in Education, Health and Social Care: implications for higher education research and practice

Inter-professional identities and cultures in Education, Health and Social Care: implications for higher education research and practice Conference or Workshop Item How to cite: Floyd, Alan and Morrison, Marlene (2012). Inter-professional identities and cultures in Education, Health and Social Care: implications for higher education research and practice. In: Society for Research into Higher Education Annual Conference, 11-13 Dec, Celtic Manor Resort, Wales.
Metformin suppresses azoxymethane‐induced colorectal aberrant crypt foci by activating AMP‐activated protein kinase

Metformin is widely used for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is known to be activated by metformin and to inhibit the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway. The mTOR pathway plays an important role in the protein translational machinery and cell proliferation. We examined the effect of metformin on the suppression of colorectal carcinogenesis in chemical carcinogen‐induced models. Seven‐wk‐old BALB/c mice were intraperitoneally (i.p.) injected with azoxymethane (AOM, 10 mg/kg) and then treated with or without metformin (250 mg/kg/d) for 6 wk (for the investigation of aberrant crypt foci [ACF] formation) or 32 wk (for polyp formation). We next investigated colonic epithelial proliferation using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) and the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling indices. Furthermore, to examine the indirect effect of metformin, the insulin resistance status and the serum lipid levels were assessed. Treatment with metformin significantly reduced ACF formation. The effect of metformin on colon polyp inhibition was relatively modest. No significant difference in body weight or glucose concentration was observed. The BrdU and PCNA indices decreased in mice treated with metformin. A Western blot analysis revealed that the phosphorylated mTOR, S6 kinase, and S6 protein levels in the colonic mucosa decreased significantly in mice treated with metformin. In conclusion, metformin suppresses colonic epithelial proliferation via the inhibition of the mTOR pathway through the activation of AMPK. As metformin is already used daily as an antidiabetic drug, it might be a safe and promising candidate for the chemoprevention of colorectal cancer. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Two-Layer Model for Microgrid Real-Time Dispatch Based on Energy Storage System Charging/Discharging Hidden Costs

Real-time dispatch in microgrid (MG) is to balance the fluctuating supply and demand resulted from load and renewable generation by dispatching the energy storage system (ESS) and controllable generators. However, it is difficult to evaluate the real-time charging and discharging costs of ESS. In this paper, two hidden costs, discharging opportunity cost and marginal charging cost, are proposed and modeled for ESS from the perspective of real-time operation, which lead to more efficient coordination between ESS and controllable generators. A two-layer model is presented for MG real-time operation. The upper layer is a look-ahead dispatch that optimally allocates power for each generator. Then, two hidden costs of ESS are analyzed and modeled according to the Lagrangian formulation of the look-ahead dispatch problem. On the basis of the two hidden costs, a practical, efficient, and time-saving corrective strategy is proposed for the lower layer real-time dispatch. Feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method are verified on a typical MG system. Simulation results validate the correctness of the two hidden costs of ESS. Further, the proposed method has proven to outperform existing real-time dispatch methods by a comparative study.
The dynamics of French public debt: Paths for fiscal consolidations

We analyze possible targets for the French debt-to-GDP ratio with a small model. The role of the US and German GDP growth, prices of raw materials, ECB monetary policy, and domestic policy is analyzed in the debt dynamics. We find that external conditions, together with policies to stimulate growth and to generate a government surplus, play a fundamental role in the French fiscal consolidation.
Welfare Safety Net or Tenure of Choice? The Dilemma Facing Social Housing Policy in England

This paper considers the future role of social rented housing in England. It is based on an analysis of policy trends over the past 30 years, and a critical examination of current policy dilemmas. The central contention is that there are fundamental tensions underlying the present government's policy objectives to maintain the ‘safety net’ role of social housing but at the same time widen access to the sector so that it becomes a more mixed ‘tenure of choice’. The paper charts the marked change of direction seen since 2000, with a switch from a highly rule-bound approach emphasising equity in housing allocations, to a more consumerist system stressing choice. Survey data and statistical returns are analysed to illustrate the changing mix of households entering social rented housing and to reveal the sector's varying role in regions characterised by contrasting housing market conditions. The paper charts the spread of the ‘choice-based lettings’ approach and discusses the possible implications of this development for the pattern of rehousing outcomes, and for the sector's broader role. It is concluded that, in higher demand regions such as London and the South, it remains very difficult to see how a social sector continuing to contract can widen its role from that of safety net for the most disadvantaged.
Synaptogenesis and ultrastructural localization of the polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule in the developing striatum

The polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA‐NCAM) plays a role in axonal development and synaptic plasticity. Its pattern of expression is regulated temporally and topographically in the brain during development. However, it is unclear whether or not its subcellular location also changes. We have examined PSA‐NCAM expression in relation to synapse formation in the developing rat striatum with immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy. Early in development, PSA‐NCAM was present along the cytoplasmic membranes of neurons and in growth cones. PSA‐NCAM expression became progressively confined to pre‐ and postsynaptic elements as neurons matured morphologically. Confirming previous results, a marked increase in the density of asymmetric synapses determined by using the physical dissector method was observed in the dorsolateral striatum between postnatal day 14 (P14) and P18. It was followed by a reduction between P18 and P25, when asymmetric synapse density reached adult levels. In contrast, the density of symmetric synapses had surpassed adult levels by P14. In the dorsomedial striatum, the density of asymmetric and symmetric synapses was similar at P18, at P25, and in adults. PSA‐NCAM was associated with most asymmetric and symmetric synapses at P14 and P18 and was expressed in both pre‐ and postsynaptic elements of a majority (P14) or approximately half (P18) of the synapses. Most synapses lost PSA‐NCAM expression between P18 and P25 in the dorsolateral striatum and between P25 and adult in the dorsomedial striatum. The data indicate that PSA‐NCAM expression becomes restricted topographically during neuronal maturation but remains strategically associated with developing synapses during late postnatal development in the striatum. J. Comp. Neurol. 405:216–232, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A pragmatic framework for single-site and multisite data quality assessment in electronic health record-based clinical research.

INTRODUCTION Answers to clinical and public health research questions increasingly require aggregated data from multiple sites. Data from electronic health records and other clinical sources are useful for such studies, but require stringent quality assessment. Data quality assessment is particularly important in multisite studies to distinguish true variations in care from data quality problems. METHODS We propose a "fit-for-use" conceptual model for data quality assessment and a process model for planning and conducting single-site and multisite data quality assessments. These approaches are illustrated using examples from prior multisite studies. APPROACH Critical components of multisite data quality assessment include: thoughtful prioritization of variables and data quality dimensions for assessment; development and use of standardized approaches to data quality assessment that can improve data utility over time; iterative cycles of assessment within and between sites; targeting assessment toward data domains known to be vulnerable to quality problems; and detailed documentation of the rationale and outcomes of data quality assessments to inform data users. The assessment process requires constant communication between site-level data providers, data coordinating centers, and principal investigators. DISCUSSION A conceptually based and systematically executed approach to data quality assessment is essential to achieve the potential of the electronic revolution in health care. High-quality data allow "learning health care organizations" to analyze and act on their own information, to compare their outcomes to peers, and to address critical scientific questions from the population perspective.
Field-Oriented Control and Direct Torque Control for Paralleled VSIs Fed PMSM Drives With Variable Switching Frequencies

In this paper, three control schemes with variable switching frequencies are proposed and analyzed for the paralleled voltage source inverters (VSIs) fed permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive. The proposed schemes could be applied in the low-speed operation region of high-power drive system, where the frequency modulation index is high. First, the field-oriented control (FOC) with phase-shifted chaotic space vector modulation (SVM) under synchronous frame and the FOC with phase-shifted chaotic sinusoidal pulse width modulation under stationary frame is proposed for the paralleled VSIs fed PMSM drive. The proposed phase-shifted chaotic PWM schemes not only eliminate specific switching harmonics completely but also suppress all remaining switching harmonic peaks in the spectrum. The avoidance of inherent circulating current is also considered in designing these two schemes. Second, the direct torque control (DTC) for the paralleled VSIs fed PMSM drive is proposed with circulating current suppression. Besides inheriting the advantages of DTC, the output currents of paralleled VSIs are kept balanced. The working principles of these three methods are presented in detail. Experimental results on a laboratory prototype are given to verify the validity of the three proposed control schemes for the paralleled VSIs fed PMSM with variable switching frequencies.
MORTALITY OF COAL-MINERS FROM CARCINOMA OF THE LUNG

The results are presented from an investigation into the mortality of miners and ex-miners employed by the National Coal Board, from a comprehensive survey of respiratory disease in a Welsh mining community, and from a study of the comparative mortality from lung cancer in Welsh mining and non-mining towns. These results, together with previously published data which have been reviewed, show that in Great Britain the death rate of coal-miners from cancer of the lung is appreciably lower than the national rate for men of comparable age. This occupational trend is not explicable by any of the factors which are known to influence the prevalence of the disease in the general population. In particular there is much evidence that the cigarette consumption of miners at least equals that of men in other occupations. The exclusion of this and other recognized aetiological factors suggests that the reduced mortality of miners from this disease is a specific effect of their occupation. This effect might be a consequence of the inhalation of coal-dust, for there is some evidence that the incidence of death from lung cancer is lowest among miners whose exposure to coal-dust has been greatest.
Testing the Existence of Hedonic Adaptation and Inertia to Income with implications for Islamic economics: a case of Pakistan

The fact that happiness does not increase as income increases (Easterlin Paradox) has puzzled a number of scholars for a number of decades. The latest research on this topic concludes that happiness increases with an increment in income in the short term but it adapts to this income increment in the long term. What is the Islamic economics explanation for hedonic adaptation to income? It is argued that Islamic economics should predict a non-existence of hedonic adaptation to income for a society completely following Islamic code of life since it, fully or partially, delinks happiness from income. Testing the existence of hedonic adaptation to income is, therefore, an indirect way to assess whether a society pursing a materialistic goals or following a life enjoin in Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him). The first objective of this research is to test whether happiness adapts to income increase in the short run using two-period panel survey in Pakistan. The second objective is to formulate happiness function by incorporating dimensions of zakat and remembrance of Allah (zikr) to highlight possibility of sustain happiness without adaptation to income in the light of Islamic teachings. The paper applies Random Effect Ordered Probit model to investigate the hedonic adaptation effect using various formulations used in the happiness literature. The results show that there is no adaptation to income in Pakistan given the time period. The result is consistent with the studies that show no adaptation during a short period. However, the models used here are not controlled for zakat and zikr due to data unavailability. Hence, Islamic economics implications are derived only theoretically. The significance of the present research lies in the fact that it is the first study in Pakistan that tests the hedonic adaptation to income and hence contributes to the evidence on happiness dynamics. Moreover, it is also the first study that formulates a happiness function from Islamic perspective and highlights happiness dimension of zakat. These are important contributions in Islamic economics literature.