Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relation of hearing in the elderly to the presence of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors.

Hearing loss with age (presbycusis) is a substantial problem for the elderly. To investigate the possible relation of presbycusis to cardiovascular disease (CVD), the hearing status of a cohort of 1662 elderly men and women was determined and compared with their 30-year prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Age-adjusted multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to describe the relation of hearing to cardiovascular disease events, cardiovascular disease risk factors, and both events and risk factors separately for the 676 men and for the 996 women. Cardiovascular disease events were the sum of coronary heart disease, stroke, and intermittent claudication. Five groups of risk factors were studied: hypertension and blood pressure; diabetes, glucose intolerance, and blood glucose level; smoking status and number of pack-years of cigarettes; relative weight; and serum lipid levels, including cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoprotein fractions. Low-frequency hearing (low pure-tone average, 0.25 to 1.0 kHz) was related to cardiovascular disease events in both genders but more in the women. For women, the OR of having any cardiovascular disease event for a low pure-tone average of 40 dB hearing level was 3.06 (95% CI, 1.84 to 5.10); for a high pure-tone average (average of 4 to 8 kHz) of 40-dB hearing level, the OR for any cardiovascular disease event was 1.75 (95% CI, 1.28 to 2.40). In men with a low pure tone average of 40-dB hearing level, the OR for stroke was 3.46 (95% CI, 1.60 to 7.45) and for coronary heart disease the OR was 1.68 (95% CI, 1.10 to 2.57). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Autoencoder versus PCA in face recognition

The paper presents the comparative analysis of the computer systems for face recognition. Autoencoder, the typical representative of deep learning is compared with the classical PCA transformation. Both, autoencoder and PCA serve as the tools for feature generation and selection. However, the important difference is the nonlinearity and multilayer structure applied in autoencoder. Final task of recognition is done by the support vector machine or softmax circuit. The numerical results performed on the multiclass base of faces have shown superiority of autoencoding principle, especially when the number of recognized classes is very high.
A Comparative Analysis of College Readiness Assessment Results of Illinois High School Agriculture Students.

Agricultural education is defined by a best practice three-component model of instruction that includes a classroom experience, leadership development and FFA involvement, and an experiencebased activity through a Supervised Agricultural Experience program (SAE). Based on program of activities award criteria, each year state FFA associations recognize top chapters with gold or silver emblem designations. This quantitative study provides a comparison of eleventh grade Illinois agriculture students from Gold and Silver Emblem FFA chapters to all Illinois eleventhgrade students on college assessments. In addition, it provides a comparison of Illinois agriculture students from Gold and Silver Emblem FFA chapters to all juniors tested from the same schools. Student identification numbers were securely collected from agriculture instructors and principals at qualifying schools and data were compiled by the office of the state board of education. The assessment results were analyzed and compared to determine if there were statistically significant differences that emerged between selected agriculture students and their peers using the ACT assessment designed to measure college readiness. Results indicated that the selected group of agriculture students are as college ready as their peers. Further analysis indicated that female agriculture students perform at a higher level than their peers on college readiness assessments.
Analysis and Mitigation of Inverter Output Impedance Impacts for Distributed Energy Resource Interface

In order to provide reliable electric power, the interfacing voltage source inverters in distributed generation often rely on autonomous droop control method integrated with virtual impedance and inner voltage and current control loops. In general, the droop-controlled inverters can be modeled as a controllable voltage source in series with output impedance. However, stability, dynamic performance, and load adaptability in islanding mode are sensitive to the inverter output impedance. In this paper, the detailed impacts of the inverter output impedance are investigated in different operation modes. Furthermore, an inverter current feedforward control scheme is proposed to mitigate the effects. With the implementation of the proposed control scheme, system reliability and load adaptability in islanding mode are enhanced without additional control complexity and extra sensors. Moreover, a voltage magnitude control loop is added to improve the control accuracy of reactive power flow in grid-connected mode. Finally, the proposed strategy is validated with simulation and experiments based on a 15-kVA prototype.
Single-Trial Detection With Magnetoencephalography During a Dual-Rapid Serial Visual Presentation Task

Goal: The detection of brain responses corresponding to the presentation of a particular class of images is a challenge in brain-machine interface. Current systems based on the detection of brain responses during rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) tasks possess advantages for both healthy and disabled people, as they are gaze independent and can offer a high throughput. Methods: We propose a novel paradigm based on a dual-RSVP task that assumes a low target probability. Two streams of images are presented simultaneously on the screen, the second stream is identical to the first one, but delayed in time. Participants were asked to detect images containing a person. They follow the first stream until they see a target image, then change their attention to the second stream until the target image reappears, finally they change their attention back to the first stream. Results: The performance of single-trial detection was evaluated on both streams and their combination of the decisions with signal recorded with magnetoencephalography (MEG) during the dual-RSVP task. We compare classification performance across different sets of channels (magnetometers, gradiometers) with a BLDA classifier with inputs obtained after spatial filtering. Conclusion: The results suggest that single-trial detection can be obtained with an area under the ROC curve superior to 0.95, and that an almost perfect accuracy can be obtained with some subjects thanks to the combination of the decisions from two trials, without doubling the duration of the experiment. Significance: The present results show that a reliable accuracy can be obtained with the MEG for target detection during a dual-RSVP task.
Cointegration and Causality among Dollar, Oil, Gold and Sensex across Global Financial Crisis

Over the globe, the various financial markets are becoming integrated and the linkages among variables Gold prices, Crude Oil prices, US Dollar rate and Stock market (GODS) invite a special attention of various financial analysts and investors. For an import-dependent country like India, the interplay among these variables is vital. Thus in this study, we investigate the cointegration and causality relationship among gold, crude oil, us dollar and stock market (Sensex) across the global financial crisis of 2008. We use Johansen's cointegration technique, Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), Vector Auto Regression (VAR), VEC Granger Causality/Block Exogeneity Wald Test and Granger Causality, and Variance Decomposition to study cointegration and strength & direction of causality for three sub-periods. Johansen's cointegration test results indicate that there is long-run equilibrium relationship among the variables in the pre-crisis and the crisis periods but not in post-crisis period. VECM results report that none of four models of the variables show long-run causality in the pre-crisis period at 5% level of significance. During the crisis period, both crude oil and Sensex models show long run causality. However, in some cases short-run causality is indicated in results. Granger causality test results show that there is one-way causality from USD and Sensex to crude oil, and from gold and Sensex to USD. Thus, we conclude that the relationship among GODS is dynamic and has been affected by global financial crisis of 2008.
Distinct effects of Vibrio cholerae haemagglutinin/protease on the structure and localization of the tight junction‐associated proteins occludin and ZO‐1

Vibrio cholerae produces a little‐studied cytotoxin, haemagglutinin/protease (HA/P), in addition to several better‐characterized enterotoxins, i.e. cholera toxin (CT), zonula occludens toxin (ZOT) and accessory cholera enterotoxin (Ace). We have found recently that HA/P perturbs the barrier function of Mardin–Darby canine kidney epithelial cell line I (MDCK‐I) by affecting the intercellular tight junctions (TJs) and the F‐actin cytoskeleton. In the present study we have assessed more specifically how TJs are affected by HA/P by investigating the cellular localization and biochemical integrity of two well‐characterized TJ‐associated proteins, occludin and ZO‐1. Western blot analysis showed that occludin bands of 66–85 kDa were digested by HA/P to two predominant bands of around 50 kDa and 35 kDa, and that this degradation was greatly attenuated when the specific bacterial metalloproteinase inhibitor Zincov was co‐administered. Trypsin, on the other hand, did not degrade occludin when it was applied in the same way, suggesting that the degradation of occludin by HA/P is an early and specific event. The other TJ‐associated protein ZO‐1 was not degraded by HA/P in parallel experiments, suggesting the selectivity of HA/P‐associated protein degradation. Moreover, immunofluorescence labelling and confocal microscopy showed that ZO‐1, but not occludin, around cell–cell boundaries was rearranged by HA/P treatment. Since ZO‐1 is located on the inside of the plasma membrane and is directly associated with occludin, the results indicate that breakdown of occludin may send signals to ZO‐1 that affect its organization and the structure of the F‐actin cytoskeleton. Our finding that the zinc‐containing metalloprotease of V. cholerae specifically degraded occludin suggests that specific degradation of important host proteins by bacterial zinc‐containing metalloproteases may be an important mechanism in microbial pathogenesis.
Treatment of Crohn's disease with fusidic acid: an antibiotic with immunosuppressive properties similar to cyclosporin

Fusidic acid is an antibiotic with T‐cell specific immunosuppressive effects similar to those of cylosporin. Because of the need for the development of new treatments for Crohn's disease, a pilot study was undertaken to estimate the pharmacodynamics and tolerability of fusidic acid treatment in chronic active, therapy‐resistant patients. Eight Crohn's disease patients were included. Fusidic acid was administered orally in a dose of 500 mg t.d. s. and the treatment was planned to last 8 weeks. The disease activity was primarily measured by a modified individual grading score. Five of 8 patients (63%) improved during fusidic acid treatment: 3 at two weeks and 2 after four weeks. There were no serious clinical side effects, but dose reduction was required in two patients because of nausea, Biochemically, an increase in alkaline phosphatases was noted in 5 of 8 cases (63%), and the greatest increases were seen in those who had elevated levels prior to treatment. All reversed to pre‐treatment levels after cessation of treatment.
Unconventional aspects of electronic transport in delafossite oxides

The electronic transport properties of the delafossite oxides are usually understood in terms of two well-separated entities, namely the triangular and ( layers. Here, we review several cases among this extensive family of materials where the transport depends on the interlayer coupling and displays unconventional properties. We review the doped thermoelectrics based on and , which show a high-temperature recovery of Fermi-liquid transport exponents, as well as the highly anisotropic metals , , and , where the sheer simplicity of the Fermi surface leads to unconventional transport. We present some of the theoretical tools that have been used to investigate these transport properties and review what can and cannot be learned from the extensive set of electronic structure calculations that have been performed. Graphical Abstract
Endogenous, Adipocyte-Derived Lipids Signal the Recruitment of Proinflammatory Immune Cells

Obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes have reached epidemic levels in Western countries. Work over the past decade has established that the adipose tissue in obesity is characterized by a state of chronic, low-grade inflammation, which plays a primary role in the development of systemic insulin resistance (1). Critical to the development of adipose tissue inflammation in obesity is the recruitment of specific immune cells, such as proinflammatory macrophages (M1 macrophages) and neutrophils (1–3). However, the precise signals that stimulate the recruitment of these immune cells into the expanding adipose tissue are not well understood. In this issue, Tynan et al. (4) demonstrate that endogenous oils (EOs) isolated from human adipocytes are a potent inflammatory signal. Initially, the authors sought to determine whether EOs derived from human omental adipocytes could enhance antigen-specific immune responses in mice. Remarkably, EOs were as effective as incomplete Freund’s adjuvant at inducing antigen-specific antibody responses. Importantly, fractionation of EOs into lipid and nonlipid components demonstrated that the lipid fraction of EOs were the immunogenic component. To explore their inflammatory properties further, the authors used a model of inflammation in which the recruitment of immune cells was examined following the injection of EOs into the peritoneum of mice. EOs induced a marked shift in the immune cell profile of the peritoneum, characterized by …
Comparison of Pain Tolerance between Opioid Dependent Patients on Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) and Opioid Naive Individuals.

PURPOSE This study compared pain sensitivity among opioid dependent patients on methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) and opioid naive subjects. METHODS The three hundred participants comprised 152 opioid naive subjects and 148 opioid dependent patients. Opioid naive subjects had not taken any opioids including morphine and methadone to their best knowledge and were presumed so after two consecutive negative urine screenings for drugs. All opioid dependent patients were stabilized in treatment, defined as having been enrolled in the program for more than one month with no change of methadone dosage over the past one month. Excluded from the study were individuals with chronic or ongoing acute pain and individuals with a history of analgesics ingestion within 3 d before the cold pressor test (CPT). Pain tolerance to CPT was evaluated at 0 h, and at 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h post-methadone dose. RESULTS Patients exhibited a significantly shorter mean pain tolerance time of 34.17 s (95% CI 24.86, 43.49) versus 61.36 (52.23, 70.48) [p < 0.001] compared with opioid naive subjects. Time-dependent mean pain tolerance was also significantly different when naive subjects were compared to patients (p = 0.016). CONCLUSIONS This study revealed hyperalgesia amongst patients on MMT, as manifested by their quicker hand withdrawal. The complaints of pain in this population should not be underestimated and the pain should be evaluated seriously and managed aggressively.
Disinhibition of the primary somatosensory cortex in patients with fibromyalgia

Abstract Fibromyalgia (FM) is a chronic widespread pain condition linked to central sensitization. Altered excitability of sensorimotor cortex has been proposed as an underlying pathology of FM. This study aimed to investigate intracortical excitability of the primary somatosensory cortex (S1) and its potential role in clinical pain in patients with FM. Somatosensory evoked magnetic fields were recorded in 17 right-handed females with FM and 21 age-, sex-, and handedness-matched healthy control subjects. Paired-pulse median nerve stimulation was delivered to the left and right wrist. We assessed the peak-to-peak amplitudes of the N20m–P35m and peak amplitude of each N20m and P35m component. Paired-pulse suppression (PPS) of the second response was quantified as the ratio of the amplitudes of the second to the first response. Patients with FM displayed significantly higher PPS ratio for the N20m–P35m in both hemispheres, indicating reduced intracortical inhibition in the S1. Notably, PPS ratio for the P35m was higher in patients with FM than in healthy controls, whereas no differences were apparent in PPS ratio for the N20m in both hemispheres. For both the N20m–P35m and the P35m in the left hemisphere, PPS ratios were positively associated with the sensory pain on the short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire. This study demonstrated that intracortical inhibition in the S1 is compromised bilaterally in patients with FM, and the extent of disinhibition can be closely associated with increased clinical pain. Our results suggest that changes of intracortical inhibition of the S1 may contribute to the pathophysiology of FM pain.
Effects of Parietal Lesions in Humans on Color and Location Priming

To determine whether the parietal lobes contribute to the selection of nonspatial features known to be processed in the ventral stream, the current study examined the effect of chronic unilateral parietal lobe lesions in humans on color and location priming. Patients and normal controls performed a go/no-go color discrimination task in which either the same color and different color pairs of stimuli (prime and probe) were projected sequentially either in the same hemifield or in opposite hemifields. Control subjects and patients both showed independent effects of color and location priming. In the patients, primes in either field produced color priming for target probes in the ipsilesional field but not for probes in the contralesional field. This observation implicates the parietal cortex in processing activated codes of stimulus attributes not only for spatial information but also for visual features processed in the ventral visual pathways.
RGS9 proteins facilitate acute tolerance to mu‐opioid effects

This paper reports that regulators of G‐protein signalling (RGS) proteins modulate the timing and amplitude of opioid signals by a push–pull mechanism. This is achieved without noticeable changes in the binding properties of opioids, e.g. β‐endorphin to mu‐opioid receptors. The expression of RGS proteins was reduced by blocking their mRNA with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN). Knock down of RGS2 or RGS3 diminished morphine and β‐endorphin analgesia, whereas that of RGS9 or RGS12 enhanced this activity. In mice with impaired RGS9, but not impaired RGS2, the potency and, in particular, the duration of opioid antinociception increased. Further, the animals did not exhibit acute tolerance generated by a single and efficacious dose of morphine, nor did they develop tolerance after a daily i.c. v. injection of the opioid for 4 days. In a model of sustained morphine treatment, the impairment of RGS9 proteins facilitated increases in the response to the delivered opioid. This was only effective for 2–3 h after the subcutaneous implantation of an oily morphine pellet; later, tolerance developed. To reduce the impact of the chronic morphine acting on opioid receptors, other RGS proteins presumably substitute the GTPase‐activating function of RGS9 on morphine‐activated Gα‐GTP subunits. The desensitization of mu‐opioid receptors appears to be a cell membrane‐limited process facilitated by RGS9′s sequestering of agonist‐segregated Gα subunits.
Identification of a CA/TG Repeat Polymorphism Proximal to the Human DLX3 Gene

The human DLX3 and DLX7 genes are known to reside in close proximity on chromosome 17q21 [1]. We have recently determined the organization of the human DLX3 gene [2]. The nucleotide sequence of the DLX3 gene including flanking and protein-coding regions was determined (GenBank AF028233). The human DLX3 gene consists of three exons with the homeobox region being contained in exons 2 and 3. Exons 1 and 2 are separated by a 1.1-kb intron; exons 2 and 3 are separated by a 1.6-kb intron. A novel CA/TG repeat polymorphism was identified 440 bp from the initiation ATG codon (GenBank AF028234) of DLX3. Primer sequences used to amplify the microsatellite were as follows:
Análisis financiero: enfoques en su evolución

El presente artículo tiene como propósito analizar los avances teóricos del análisis financiero, luego de una revisión detallada, selectiva y crítica de la bibliografía publicada en torno a la temática. Para ello, inicialmente se establecieron criterios de búsqueda de fuentes bibliográficas de trayectoria internacional (pertinencia, originalidad e índice de citación), bajo los cuales se identificaron libros de editoriales arbitradas y artículos de revistas indexadas en bases de datos de reconocida trayectoria como WEB OF SCIENCE, SCOPUS, SCIENCE DIRECT y EBSCO. Con ello, se conformaron categorías de análisis y síntesis relacionadas en procesos deductivo-inductivos, para dar paso a la interpretación teórica global. Los resultados evidencian que el análisis financiero es un tema abordado por muchos autores desde diferentes enfoques. Sobresalen el tradicional o común, ampliamente estudiado por las principales escuelas de negocios y académicos de universidades a nivel mundial. Otros autores defienden la idea de que el análisis financiero debe complementarse con datos cualitativos en igualdad de importancia que los cuantitativos –generalmente extraídos de los estados financieros e información conexa–. Los autores han denominado a este enfoque sinérgico. Se concluye que el análisis financiero, independientemente del enfoque donde se ubique, es actualmente una herramienta de suma importancia para la gestión empresarial y toma estratégica de decisiones.
RESEARCH ARTICLE: Myelin Abnormalities without Oligodendrocyte Loss in Periventricular Leukomalacia

The cellular basis of myelin deficits detected by neuroimaging in long‐term survivors of periventricular leukomalacia (PVL) is poorly understood. We tested the hypothesis that oligodendrocyte lineage (OL) cell density is reduced in PVL, thereby contributing to subsequent myelin deficits. Using computer‐based methods, we determined OL cell density in sections from 18 PVL and 18 age‐adjusted control cases, immunostained with the OL‐lineage marker Olig2. Myelination was assessed with myelin basic protein (MBP) immunostaining. We found no significant difference between PVL and control cases in Olig2 cell density in the periventricular or intragyral white matter. We did find, however, a significant increase in Olig2 cell density at the necrotic foci, compared with distant areas. Although no significant difference was found in the degree of MBP immunostaining, we observed qualitative abnormalities of MBP immunostaining in both the diffuse and necrotic components of PVL. Abnormal MBP immunostaining in PVL despite preserved Olig2 cell density may be secondary to arrested OL maturation, damage to OL processes, and/or impaired axonal‐OL signaling. OL migration toward the “core” of injury may occur to replenish OL cell number. This study provides new insight into the cellular basis of the myelin deficits observed in survivors of PVL.