Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Calcium supplementation prevents obesity, hyperleptinaemia and hyperglycaemia in adult rats programmed by early weaning

It is known that Ca therapy may have anti-obesity effects. Since early weaning leads to obesity, hyperleptinaemia and insulin resistance, we studied the effect of dietary Ca supplementation in a rat model. Lactating rats were separated into two groups: early weaning (EW) – dams were wrapped with a bandage to interrupt lactation in the last 3 d of lactation and control (C) – dams whose pups had free access to milk during the entire lactation period (21 d). At 120 d, EW and C offspring were subdivided into four groups: (1) C, received standard diet; (2) CCa, received Ca supplementation (10 g of calcium carbonate/kg of rat chow); (3) EW, received standard diet; (4) EWCa, received Ca supplementation similar to CCa. The rats were killed at 180 d. The significance level was at P < 0·05. Adult EW offspring displayed hyperphagia (28 %), higher body weight (9 %) and adiposity (77 %), hyperleptinaemia (twofold increase), hypertriacylglycerolaemia (64 %), hyperglycaemia (16 %), higher insulin resistance index (38 %) and higher serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (fourfold increase), but lower adiponectinaemia:adipose tissue ratio (44 %). In addition, they showed Janus tyrosine kinase 2 and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 underexpression in hypothalamus (36 and 34 %, respectively), suggesting leptin resistance. Supplementation of Ca for 2 months normalised these disorders. The EW group had no change in serum insulin, thyroxine or triiodothyronine, and Ca treatment did not alter these hormones. In conclusion, we reinforced that early weaning leads to late development of some components of the metabolic syndrome and leptin resistance. Dietary Ca supplementation seems to protect against the development of endocrine and metabolic disorders in EW offspring, maybe through vitamin D inhibition.
Methylglyoxal-derived modifications in lens aging and cataract formation.

PURPOSE To determine whether the Maillard reaction of methylglyoxal is associated with human lens aging and cataractogenesis and to investigate how glutathione depletion affects methylglyoxal-derived modifications in organ-cultured lenses. METHODS Antibodies against methylglyoxal-derived modifications were developed in rabbits and purified by immunoaffinity chromatography. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured methylglyoxal-derived products in human lens proteins. Lenses of galactosemic rats grown in organ culture were used to assess the role of glutathione-dependent pathways in methylglyoxal metabolism and Maillard reactions. RESULTS Methylglyoxal-derived modifications in the human lens were age dependent, and brunescent lenses had the highest levels of these modifications. Immunofluorescence staining identified antigens distributed throughout the lens, with higher levels in old lenses than in younger ones. Experiments with normal or galactosemic rat lenses grown in organ culture showed that lens proteins do not have an increase in methylglyoxal-modified proteins when cultured in medium containing 500 microM methylglyoxal alone, but they accumulate modified proteins when cultured with DL-glyceraldehyde. Inclusion of 30 mM glucose in the medium marginally increased methylglyoxal-derived products, but there was no correlation between lens glutathione content and methylglyoxal-derived modifications. CONCLUSIONS Methylglyoxal-mediated Maillard reactions that occur in the human lens may play a role in lens aging and cataract formation. Methylglyoxal is probably derived from metabolic pathways within the lens. Decreased glutathione in organ-cultured rat lenses does not significantly influence methylglyoxal-mediated Maillard reactions.
A comparison of two new technologies for percutaneous vertebral augmentation: confidence vertebroplasty vs. sky kyphoplasty.

BACKGROUND Cement vertebroplasty has been performed for over a decade to treat painful osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (OVCFs). Kyphoplasty is considered a further step in the evolution of vertebral augmentation. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficiency and safety of two systems to treat OVCF: Confidence Vertebroplasty (CV) compared to Sky Kyphoplasty (SK). METHODS This prospective study included 45 patients with OVCF. Fourteen were treated with CV and 31 with SK. An imaging evaluation using a compression ratio (height of anterior vs. posterior wall) and local kyphotic deformity (Cobb angle) was performed prior to the procedure and 12 months later. Evaluation of pain was carried out using a visual analogue scale. RESULTS The mean compression repair was 12% in the CV group compared to 25% in the SK group. Mean kyphotic deformity restoration achieved using CV was 41% compared to 67% using SK. In both groups the pain severity was equally reduced by a mean of 43%. CONCLUSIONS The SK system is technically superior in restoring the vertebral height and repairing the kyphotic deformity, an advantage that was not manifested in pain relief - the most important variable. Both systems have a high level of safety. The cost-benefit balance clearly favors the CV system.
How to use ants for data stream clustering

We present in this paper a new bio-inspired algorithm that dynamically creates groups of data. This algorithm is based on the concept of artificial ants that move together in a complex manner with simple localization rules. Each ant represents one datum in the algorithm. The moves of ants aim at creating homogeneous groups of data that evolve together in a graph environment. We also suggest an extension to this algorithm to treat data streaming. The extended algorithm has been tested on real-world data. Our algorithms yielded competitive results as compared to K-means and Ascending Hierarchical Clustering (AHC), two well known methods.
N Terminus of Swr1 Binds to Histone H2AZ and Provides a Platform for Subunit Assembly in the Chromatin Remodeling Complex*

Variant histone H2AZ-containing nucleosomes are involved in the regulation of gene expression. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, chromatin deposition of histone H2AZ is mediated by the fourteen-subunit SWR1 complex, which catalyzes ATP-dependent exchange of nucleosomal histone H2A for H2AZ. Previous work defined the role of seven SWR1 subunits (Swr1 ATPase, Swc2, Swc3, Arp6, Swc5, Yaf9, and Swc6) in maintaining complex integrity and H2AZ histone replacement activity. Here we examined the function of three additional SWR1 subunits, bromodomain containing Bdf1, actin-related protein Arp4 and Swc7, by analyzing affinity-purified mutant SWR1 complexes. We observed that depletion of Arp4 (arp4-td) substantially impaired the association of Bdf1, Yaf9, and Swc4. In contrast, loss of either Bdf1 or Swc7 had minimal effects on overall complex integrity. Furthermore, the basic H2AZ histone replacement activity of SWR1 in vitro required Arp4, but not Bdf1 or Swc7. Thus, three out of fourteen SWR1 subunits, Bdf1, Swc7, and previously noted Swc3, appear to have roles auxiliary to the basic histone replacement activity. The N-terminal region of the Swr1 ATPase subunit is necessary and sufficient to direct association of Bdf1 and Swc7, as well as Arp4, Act1, Yaf9 and Swc4. This same region contains an additional H2AZ-H2B specific binding site, distinct from the previously identified Swc2 subunit. These findings suggest that one SWR1 enzyme might be capable of binding two H2AZ-H2B dimers, and provide further insight on the hierarchy and interdependency of molecular interactions within the SWR1 complex.
Separation Risk over Union Duration: An Immediate Itch?

This study examines the risk of separation over union duration. Previous research reports a risingfalling pattern of divorce risk over marriage duration consistent with psychological notions of ‘honeymoon’ and ‘seven-year itch’. Little is known about the variation of the separation risk over cohabitation duration or over marriage duration when the length of partnership is measured from the beginning of coresidence. We include data on non-marital and marital unions and propose a novel way of treating cohabitation and marriage as episodes of the same union. We use Finnish large-scale register data and control for individuals’ observed and unobserved characteristics. Our results show that in cohabitations, the separation rate is highest at the beginning of union. Entry into marriage is followed by a significant drop in separation levels and a modest rising-falling pattern, which is independent of the length of premarital cohabitation. Marriage entails permanence, with a short ‘honeymoon’ effect and a long-term ‘effect’, much of which probably reflects self-selection of committed and satisfied cohabiters to marriage.
Haplotypes spanning the complement factor H gene are protective against age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a devastating disorder that adversely affects the quality of life of nearly 2 million Americans who have advanced forms of the disease. Besides the well-known risk imparted by carrying the Y402H variant in the complement factor H (CFH) gene on chromosome 1, recent evidence of the existence of protective haplotypes spanning CFH has been reported. METHODS The haplo.stats program was used to test for association of the protective haplotypes after adjusting for age in the dataset of 584 sporadic cases and 248 control samples. Logistic regression modeling and likelihood ratio tests were used to investigate an interaction between a particular haplotype and smoking status. The HBAT option of FBAT was used to confirm the associations in an independent dataset of 201 families. RESULTS Two protective (P) haplotypes in a family-based dataset (P1 = CAATTTAG, P = 0.021; and P2 = CGGCTTAG, P = 0.018) were identified for the first time. Age-adjusted score statistics provided support for these protective haplotypes in the case-control dataset (P1 frequency in cases approximately 13%, in controls approximately 20%, P = 0.001; P2 frequency in cases approximately 5%, in controls approximately 8%, P = 0.077). There was also tentative evidence of an interaction between one of the protective haplotypes and cigarette smoking (P = 0.04 likelihood ratio test for P2-smoking interaction). CONCLUSIONS Replication of the association between the protective haplotypes and decreased AMD susceptibility provides increased evidence that these associations have biological meaning. The suggestion of a haplotype-smoking interaction adds to the growing body of evidence that smoking is an important environmental covariate in AMD that should be considered in genetic studies. Identification of the protective variant(s) carried within these haplotypes is critical for understanding the etiology of AMD.
The altering of reported experiences.

OBJECTIVES The unreliability of human memory is well documented in the literature, yet psychiatrists and other mental health care professionals rely on patient self-report in history-taking. This study provides new evidence from a longitudinal study of autobiographical memory and discusses implications for the development and implementation of appropriate treatment plans and goals. METHOD Seventy-three mentally healthy 14-year-old males were studied in 1962. Sixty-seven of these subjects were reinterviewed face-to-face at age 48. Questions concerning areas of family relationships, home environment, dating, sexuality, religion, parental discipline, and general activities were asked in both interviews. RESULTS Significant differences were found between adult memories of adolescence and what was actually reported during adolescence. Accurate memory was generally no better than expected by chance. CONCLUSIONS If the accurate memory of one's past is not better than chance in the mentally healthy individual, even more care probably should be taken in obtaining accurate historical information in the medically, psychologically, or otherwise health-compromised individual. It would be more constructive to treat recollections as existential reconstructions.
Young rhyodacite dikes found in the Queens Tunnel beneath Woodside, Queens

One of the most scientifically startling and unforeseen discoveries made during detailed mapping of the subsurface geology of the Queens Tunnel has been the identification of a suite of red-colored, rhyodacite dikes ~800’ beneath Woodside, Queens. The dikes are found to crosscut Proterozoic granulite facies rocks of the Queens Tunnel Complex with which they are genetically and temporally unrelated. Field, geochemical, and petrographic studies all support the conclusion that the rocks are rhyodacitic in composition and exhibit textures and contact relationships typical of hypabyssal volcanic rocks. The shallow-level rhyodacite dikes are found to intrude a high-grade bedrock series that was exhumed from depths of roughly 40 km. The dikes cut gneissic layering, folds, and most faults in the tunnel but are cut by a relatively young NNE-trending fault system. The presence of relatively young rhyodacitic dikes proximate to their initial injection site adds a hitherto unknown volcanic formation to the developmental geology of the NYC region.
Making gender quota mechanics work: a paired comparison of Brazil and Peru

ABSTRACT Why do similar quotas affect descriptive representation differently and different quotas produce similar results across states? Extant research posits that quota mechanics, which include quota design features and enforcement mechanisms, shape election outcomes. Quota mechanics uses electoral cycles as a common framework with critical junctures for cross-national comparison. A paired comparison of quota mechanics in Brazil and Peru juxtaposes an analysis of their similar 30 percent legislated quotas in sequential election cycles to identify differences that shape their divergent levels of descriptive representation. The findings suggest that quotas can foster critical mass representation in open-list proportional representation systems with the knowledge of quota mechanics. In other words, an understanding of how thresholds, placement mandates and voting procedures shape different stages of the electoral process and of how enforcement is a crucial component for an effective quota. The conclusion summarizes the benefits of the paired-comparison model, in particular for the large number of open-list proportional representation systems worldwide, and future research should further explore the quota mechanics across the world to better understand the process of political representation.
Targeted inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor‐tyrosine kinase by ZD1839 (‘Iressa’) induces cell‐cycle arrest and inhibits proliferation in prostate cancer cells

The epidermal growth factor (EGF) plays a role in the development of prostate cancer, which becomes essential after androgen resistance has emerged. The EGF receptor (EGFR) is therefore a potential target for anticancer therapy. We evaluated the effects of ZD1839 (‘Iressa’), an orally active EGFR—tyrosine kinase inhibitor, on prostate cancer cell lines. The effects of ZD1839 were evaluated on the anchorage dependent and independent growth of androgen‐responsive (LNCaP) and androgen‐independent (DU145 and PC3) cells by a cell proliferation assay, cell counting, and soft agar analysis. Flow cytometric analysis and Western blotting were used to assess the effects on the cell‐cycle and on protein expression levels, respectively. ZD1839 caused a dose‐ and time‐dependent growth inhibition in all three cell lines. A dose‐dependent supra‐additive increase in growth inhibition was observed when ZD1839 was combined with the antiandrogen flutamide or ionizing radiation (IR). The antiproliferative effect of ZD1839 was mainly cytostatic and associated with a block in the G0/G1 phase of the cell‐cycle, evident after about 12 h of treatment. In the DU145 cells this block was associated with an increase in expression of the CDK inhibitor p27Kip1, both in the cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions. The increase in p27Kip1 was not evident in the LNCaP and PC3 cells. No changes were observed in the expression of cyclin D1 protein. These results demonstrate the antiproliferative effects of ZD1839 on the growth of prostate cancer cells and suggest that inhibition of EGFR‐associated signal transduction pathway might represent a promising novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of prostate cancer. J. Cell. Physiol. 201: 97–105, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Factors Associated With Development of Nonunion or Delayed Healing After an Open Long Bone Fracture: A Prospective Cohort Study of 736 Subjects

Objectives: To determine factors associated with developing nonunion or delayed healing after open fracture. Design: Prospective cohort between 2001 and 2009. Setting: Three level 1 Canadian trauma centers. Participants: Seven hundred thirty-six (791 fractures) subjects were enrolled. Six hundred eighty-nine (94%) subjects (739 fractures) provided adequate outcome data. Intervention: Subjects were followed until fracture(s) healed; phone interviews and chart reviews were conducted 1 year after fracture. Patient, fracture, and injury information, and time to surgery and antibiotics were recorded during hospitalization. Main Outcome Measurements: Nonunion defined as unplanned surgical intervention after definitive wound closure or incomplete radiographic healing at 1 year and delayed healing defined as 2 consecutive clinical assessments showing no radiographic progression or incomplete radiographic healing between 6 months and 1 year. Results: There were 413 (52%) tibia/fibular, 285 (36%) upper extremity, and 93 (13%) femoral fractures. Nonunion developed in 124 (17%) and delayed healing in 63 (8%) fractures. The median time to surgery was not different for fractures that developed nonunion compared with those who did not (P = 0.36). Deep infection [Odd ratio (OR) 12.75; 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.07–26.8], grade 3A fractures (OR 2.49; 95% CI, 1.30–4.78), and smoking (OR 1.73; 95% CI, 1.09–2.76) were significantly associated with developing a nonunion. Delayed healing was also significantly associated with deep infection (OR 4.34; 95% CI, 1.22–15.48) and grade 3B/C fractures (OR 3.69; 95% CI, 1.44–9.44). Multivariate regression found no association between nonunion and time to surgery (P = 0.15) or antibiotics (P = 0.70). Conclusions: Deep infection and higher Gustilo grade fractures were associated with nonunion and delayed healing. Level of Evidence: Prognostic Level I. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Prognostic value of asymptomatic skin sensitization to aeroallergens

Purpose of reviewAsymptomatic skin sensitization to aeroallergens is frequently encountered in epidemiological studies and in everyday clinical life. Correct management of the condition is essential to avoid both progression into allergic disease and unnecessary intervention. Understanding immunological mechanisms in asymptomatic skin sensitization might provide new insights into the natural history and treatment of respiratory allergy. Recent findingsResearch on asymptomatic skin sensitization is rare, and the present review unites previous studies with recent findings. It is a common condition affecting 8-30% of the population when using a local standard panel of aeroallergens. Clinically, immediate but not late-phase reactions are induced by allergen challenge. Absent eosinophil stimulation and migration and low IL-5 levels appear to be sentinel mechanisms. Prospective studies show that 30-60% become allergic, depending on allergens and follow-up period. No prospective intervention studies have been performed; however, allergen avoidance seems efficacious in reducing allergy development to occupational and domestic allergens. Asymptomatic skin sensitization due to an erroneously positive skin test must be ruled out before allergen avoidance measures are initiated. SummarySurprisingly few papers exist on asymptomatic skin sensitization epidemiology and immunology, despite the intriguing question as to why symptoms do not develop in IgE-sensitized patients. It is a common condition and a risk factor for later development of respiratory allergic disease. Cross-sectional intervention studies suggest that allergy development is reduced by allergen avoidance. Immunologically, control of eosinophil stimulation and migration seems to be pivotal. How this control is maintained remains to be elucidated.
The absence of concordant population genetic structure in the black‐tailed prairie dog and the flea, Oropsylla hirsuta, with implications for the spread of Yersinia pestis

The black‐tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) is a keystone species on the mid‐ and short‐grass prairies of North America. The species has suffered extensive colony extirpations and isolation as a result of human activity including the introduction of an exotic pathogen, Yersinia pestis, the causative agent of sylvatic plague. The prairie dog flea, Oropsylla hirsuta, is the most common flea on our study colonies in north‐central Montana and it has been shown to carry Y. pestis. We used microsatellite markers to estimate the level of population genetic concordance between black‐tailed prairie dogs and O. hirsuta in order to determine the extent to which prairie dogs are responsible for dispersing this potential plague vector among prairie dog colonies. We sampled fleas and prairie dogs from six prairie dog colonies in two regions separated by about 46 km. These colonies were extirpated by a plague epizootic that began months after our sampling was completed in 2005. Prairie dogs showed significant isolation‐by‐distance and a tendency toward genetic structure on the regional scale that the fleas did not. Fleas exhibited higher estimated rates of gene flow among prairie dog colonies than the prairie dogs sampled from the same colonies. While the findings suggested black‐tailed prairie dogs may have contributed to flea dispersal, we attributed the lack of concordance between the population genetic structures of host and ectoparasite to additional flea dispersal that was mediated by mammals other than prairie dogs that were present in the prairie system.
Evaluation of Self-Sufficiency in Lentil Production in Turkey

Lentil in the legume family, with vegetable protein and minerals it contains, is a high nutritional value product. Also it is a healthy nutritional source with its low calorie level. Therefore the lentil production and the self-suffiency level is a very important issue for Turkey as it is for many other countries. Nevertheless, while in the past Turkey was one of the leading countries in the production and export of lentil; the production gradually decreased and in 1994 for the first time lentil was imported. In the later years, the lentil production gradually decreased and import gradually increased in Turkey. In this study, the lentil production area and production, consumption, export, import and the prices in the last eleven years (2005-2015) were evaluated; the developments were shown with the method of chain index because the fluctuation intensity in the period was different. In the context both red lentil and green lentil are included. The trend analysis done with the data of the last sixteen years (2000-2015) in order to predict future trends in terms of self-sufficiency. According to the results of analysis, the production will decrease, export will remain stable, but consumption and import will increase.