Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression levels of neuroimmune biomarkers in hypothalamus of allergic mice after phthalate exposure

Previously, we demonstrated that maternal exposure to phthalates enhances atopic dermatitis in male mouse offspring. However, whether phthalate exposure affects neuroimmune biomarkers in allergic mice has not yet been studied. Di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and di‐isononyl phthalate (DINP) are environmental chemicals that are commonly used as plasticizers. This study was designed to investigate the expression levels of neuroimmune biomarkers in the hypothalamus of a murine model of allergic asthma after phthalate exposure throughout juvenility until adulthood. Six‐week‐old C3H/HeJ Jcl male mice were treated with DEHP or DINP (0, 0.02, 0.4 or 8 nmol per body per week) and ovalbumin (OVA; 1 µg per body per 2 weeks) for 7 weeks intratracheally. On the day after the completion of the phthalate and OVA treatment, the hypothalamus from each mouse was collected, and the mRNA expression levels of neuroimmune biomarkers were examined using a real‐time RT‐PCR analysis. The mRNA expression levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)‐1β and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, the chemokine CCL3, the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)‐κB, the oxidative stress marker heme‐oxygenase (HO)1, a nerve growth factor, and the microglia marker Iba1 were remarkably up‐regulated in the hypothalami of mice treated with 8 nmol of DEHP in the presence of the allergen. However, no significant changes were observed, except for reductions in the TNF‐α and CCL2 mRNA levels, in mice exposed to DINP combined with the allergen. This study is the first report to show that high‐dose DEHP exposure throughout juvenility until adulthood may induce neuroinflammation by modulating neuroimmune biomarkers in the hypothalami of allergic mice. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Risk Factors for Breast Cancer: A Reanalysis of Two Case-control Studies From 1926 and 1931

Background: The first major case-control study, published by Janet Lane-Claypon in 1926, provided the first epidemiologic evidence that low fertility increases breast cancer risk. This study in the United Kingdom was replicated in 1931 by JM Wainwright using a US sample. Neither study used modern statistical inference to interpret their data. We have evaluated and reanalyzed data from both studies to assess the validity of the original conclusions about the etiology of breast cancer. Methods: We abstracted data from the published contingency tables for age at menarche, age at menopause, parity, age at marriage (as a proxy for age at first birth), and duration of lactation for each childbirth (as a proxy for lifetime duration of lactation). Study-specific odds ratios and associated 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Findings from the quantitative reanalysis were consistent with contemporary epidemiologic evidence for age at menopause, parity, age at first birth, and duration of lactation. Conclusions: Lane-Claypon's scientific efforts, as manifested in the 1926 UK study, are an excellent example of how one investigator's work can help develop a field of scientific inquiry.
Blood pressure in Afghan male immigrants to Denmark

Immigration from a Third‐World society to a Western society can be associated with higher blood pressure and salt sensitivity. We therefore tested whether immigrants from Afghanistan to Denmark compared with non‐immigrant Danes exhibit a (i) higher 24‐h ambulatory blood pressure (24‐h ABP) and (ii) blunted renin response to a change in salt intake.
Voltage measurements and the sparsity of coefficient matrices in distribution systems state estimation

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the coefficient matrices of Distribution System State Estimators in the presence of voltage measurements. Two State Estimators designed to distribution systems as well as two solutions approaches, Normal Equation and Sparse Tableau, are analyzed. These State Estimators were selected once they result in constant coefficient matrices and, therefore, in smaller computational times. As voltage measurements are included, the sparsity of the matrices to be factorized changes depending on the number and the location of the voltage measurements as well as the coefficient matrix (Jacobian, Gain, Tableau), affecting the computational efforts. Therefore, choosing the Distribution System State Estimators may account for the approach, the solution technique, the size of the network and the available measurements.
The effects of human activity and environmental variability on long-term changes in Adelie Penguin populations at Palmer Station, Antarctica

Human activity associated with tourism and research along the western Antarctic Peninsula has increased significantly over the past 25 years and predictions are this trend will continue. The potential effect these activities may have on wildlife populations has thus become an important wildlife conservation issue because wildlife and human activity tend to converge on the same ice-free areas. To examine if human activities due to tourism and research were negatively impacting Addie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae), I undertook a study that compared long-term population trends and other demographic parameters at visited and non-visited (control) sites on Torgersen Island, a popular destination near Palmer Station, Anvers Island. A necessary prerequisite for detecting human impacts on wildlife populations is an understanding of the underlying factors associated with natural demographics. Recent evidence suggests that variability in Adelie penguin demography may be due in part to interactions between the topography of the breeding habitat and patterns of snow deposition. To test this idea, I developed a hillshade model of the island and used regression and discriminant function analyses (DFA) to examine population/landscape interactions. I then applied the results of these analyses to human impact questions. Results suggest that population trends on Torgersen Island are strongly affected by colony aspect and colony area. Colonies with south-facing aspects are decreasing faster than co lonies with north-facing aspects. Smaller colonies are also decreasing faster than larger colonies. Both trends are likely due to interactions between the effects of enhanced snow deposition and decreasing egg/chick survival due to predation and flooding. To look for possible human effects, I paired co lonies by area and aspect on visited and control sides of Torgersen Island. Tourism appears to be having no detectable impact on Adelie penguin breeding population size or breeding success on Torgersen Island; comparisons between population trends in visited and control sides of the island were either not significant or inconsistent with site-specific tourist visitation patterns. Some types of research, however, especially when associated with small CO lonies, may be detrimental to the long-term survival of these colonies.
Neuropeptide Y Y2 receptor‐mediated attenuation of neurogenic plasma extravasation acting through pertussis toxin‐sensitive mechanisms

1 The effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) receptor agonists (administered intravenously) were examined on plasma protein ([125I]‐bovine serum albumin) leakage within dura mater evoked by unilateral trigeminal ganglion stimulation (0.6 mA, 5 ms, 5 Hz, 5 min), capsaicin (1 μmol kg−1, i.v.) or substance P (1 nmol kg−1, i.v.) in anaesthetized Sprague‐Dawley rats. 2 NPY (EC50: 5.6 nmol kg−1) and NPY fragment 13–36 [NPY (13–36)] (ED50: 4.3 nmol kg−1), an NPY Y2 receptor agonist, dose‐dependently attenuated [125I]‐bovine serum albumin extravasation from meningeal vessels when administered 10 min prior to electrical stimulation. [Leu31, Pro34]‐NPY, an NPY Y1 and Y3 receptor agonist, inhibited the response at a higher dose only (23 nmol kg−1) (P < 0.05). 3 NPY also significantly decreased plasma protein extravasation induced by capsaicin (1 μmol kg−1) but not by substance P (1 nmol kg−1). 4 Pertussis toxin (20 μg kg−1, administered intracisternally 48 h prior to stimulation) blocked completely the inhibitory effect of NPY and NPY (13–36) but did not inhibit extravasation alone. 5 We conclude that NPY inhibits neurogenically‐mediated plasma protein extravasation acting through presynaptic pertussis toxin‐sensitive NPY Y2 receptors, possibly by inhibition of neuropeptide release from perivascular trigeminovascular afferents.
Development of Kazakhstan's social and economic potential based on public-private partnership activation

In the context of globalization, the current global economic situation has an impact on the development of Kazakhstan. The prospect of the country’s further socio-economic modernization on the basis of largescale innovative transformations is seen in the integration of market and state management tools. In this regard, the search for solutions to create an effective model of interaction between the state and the business community is becoming relevant. The formation process of the institution of public-private partnership, whose distinctive feature is non-hierarchy, predetermines the need to develop a real and effective mechanism that will ensure its widespread use and effective functioning. Investments play a key role in ensuring economic growth and increasing employment by creating new jobs. Limited budget resources, focused on covering budgetary investment needs, contributed to the development of public-private partnerships in the world. The effectiveness of attracting investments in the economy through the mechanism of pooling the resources of public and RESUMEN: En el contexto de la globalización, la actual situación económica mundial tiene un impacto en el desarrollo de Kazajstán. La perspectiva de una mayor modernización socioeconómica del país sobre la base de transformaciones innovadoras a gran escala se ve en la integración de las herramientas de gestión del mercado y del Estado. En este sentido, la búsqueda de soluciones para crear un modelo efectivo de interacción entre el Estado y la comunidad empresarial se está volviendo pertinente. El proceso de formación de la institución de la asociación público-privada, cuya característica distintiva es la no jerarquía, predetermina la necesidad de desarrollar un mecanismo real y efectivo que garantice su uso generalizado y su funcionamiento efectivo. Las inversiones desempeñan un papel clave para garantizar el crecimiento económico y aumentar el empleo mediante la creación de nuevos puestos de trabajo. Los limitados recursos presupuestarios, centrados en cubrir las necesidades presupuestarias de inversión, contribuyeron al desarrollo de asociaciones público-privadas en el mundo. La eficacia de la private partners, which is aimed at improving the quality of public services and developing the infrastructure and life support systems of the population, is confirmed by the world practice. This study examines the theoretical and practical aspects of public-private partnership development. It is noted that the most important tool for solving the key socioeconomic problems of Kazakhstan is a partnership between the state and business, focused on infrastructure development, an increase in innovation activities and creation of conditions for the expansion of high-tech and knowledge-intensive industries.
Development of a glutamate biosensor based on glutamate oxidase using smart-biochips

A highly sensitive L-glutamate biosensor based on glutamate oxidase (GLOx) has been fabricated on N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) activated thioglycolic acid (TGA) self assembled monolayer (SAM) on smart-biochips, where K3Fe(CN)6 and TGA-SAM are used as a mediator and an enzyme immobilization matrix, respectively. The glutamate biosensor displayed a fast response, a low detection limit (DL, 0.072 μM), a wide linear dynamic range (LDR, 0.1 μM to 10.0 mM), good linearity (R=0.9843), and higher sensitivity (17.89 μAmM−1cm−2), small sample volume (70.0 μl), as well as good stability and reproducibility. The Au/TGA system exemplified a simple and efficient approach to the assimilation of GLOx and electrodes, which can provide analytical access to a large group of enzymes for wide range of bio-electrochemical applications in health care fields.
Pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN): molecular confirmation of a Turkish patient with a rare frameshift mutation in the coding region of the PANK2 gene.

Here we report the clinical, neuroimaging, and molecular findings of a classic pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) patient of Turkish origin. Our patient is the first reported case of PKAN in Turkey with molecular genetic confirmation of the diagnosis. The frameshift mutation c. 821_822delCT of the PANK2 gene detected in our patient has only been described in such classic patients to date, and our case provides further evidence of the association of this mutation with the classic PKAN phenotype. Since this mutation is a rare disease-causing mutation in other populations, further studies of more Turkish PKAN patients will show if it is the result of a founder effect in this population. In our case, molecular diagnosis allowed accurate prenatal genetic testing and counseling for this family. This case report highlights the importance of magnetic resonance imaging and molecular investigation in children who have progressive neurodegenerative symptoms of parkinsonism, dystonia, pyramidal features, and dementia.
Competitive Innovation and the Emergence of Technological Epochs

The evolution of economic goods is modeled as a stochastic process of recombination conducted by purposive agents in a large population. There is an initial ‘seed set’ of goods, each having an intrinsic economic fitness. Every agent adopts some subset of these based on its subjective evaluation. The innovation process involves individual agents inventing new goods by combining extant ones, with most new items having low economic fitness. The few inventions able to provide high welfare can be adopted. The adoption process involves each agent considering a new good, developing an idiosyncratic assessment of its value, and accepting it only if this value exceeds the least valuable item it holds. This simple model has several robust properties. First, the population of goods is transient, with all goods having finite lifetimes. Second, the total number of goods present in the economy is highly variable and fluctuates with heavy tails. Third, agent welfare increases over time. Fourth, periods of technological stasis, in which few inventions are successful, are punctuated by brief periods of abrupt technological progress leading to episodes of creative destruction. Fifth, new inventions that coexist at any instant often share many of the same ‘components’ but this is not true of inventions that are separated by long periods of time, leading naturally to the notion of technological epochs based on dominant designs. Finally, each realization of the model generates a graph of technological antecedents from which lineages can be determined. Overall, our simple model quantifies many of the qualitative ideas surrounding the evolution of technology 1 For helpful comments we thank participants at the Heraeus Seminar #401 in Bad Honnef, Germany, the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) in Washington, D.C., the Department of Computational Social Science at George Mason, and the Santa Fe Institute. Conversations over the years with Brian Arthur, Doyne Farmer, Stu Kauffman, Chris Magee, and Eric Beinhocker have shaped our thinking on this subject, while Stefan Bornholdt and Gerry Silverberg made specific suggestions on the model. Financial support from the National Science Foundation (award 0915657) is gratefully acknowledged. Author contributions: Designed research: RLA, WK Designed model and wrote computer code: RLA, RC, WL Analyzed data: RLA, RC, MH, WL Wrote the paper: RLA, RC, MH, WK
Clinicopathologic correlation of retinal angiomatous proliferation.

OBJECTIVES To correlate clinical and histopathologic features of an eye with retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP) secondary to age-related macular degeneration and to investigate the expression of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in this condition. METHODS Histopathologic features from serial sections through the globe of an 87-year-old woman with RAP were studied and compared with fluorescein angiography and color fundus photographs obtained 4 months before death. Commercially available anti bodies were used to detect expression of VWF and VEGF in tissue sections. RESULTS The pathologic correlate of RAP was a circumscribed intraretinal angiomatous complex within the outer part of the neurosensory retina overlying a large pigment epithelial detachment. There were no breaks in the Bruch membrane. No choroidal neovascularization was present. Endothelial cells within the RAP lesion immunostained positively for VWF and VEGF. The Bruch membrane expressed VWF adjacent to the RAP. CONCLUSIONS Fundus examination and fluorescein angiography images of RAP in a patient with age-related macular degeneration correlated histopathologically with a neovascular intraretinal angiomatous complex, without the presence of sub-retinal pigment epithelial neovascularization. Immunostaining demonstrated that RAP expresses VWF and VEGF.
Authentication Systems for Securing Clinical Documentation Workflows

Summary Context: Integration of electronic signatures embedded in health care processes in Germany challenges health care service and supply facilities. The suitability of the signature level of an eligible authentication procedure is confirmed for a large part of documents in clinical practice. However, the concrete design of such a procedure remains unclear. Objective: To create a summary of usable user authentication systems suitable for clinical workflows. Data Source: A Systematic literature review based on nine online bibliographic databases. Search Keywords included authentication, access control, information systems, information security and biometrics with terms user authentication, user identification and login in title or abstract. Searches were run between 7 and 12 September 2011. Relevant conference proceedings were searched manually in February 2013. Backward reference search of selected results was done. Selection: Only publications fully describing authentication systems used or usable were included. Algorithms or purely theoretical concepts were excluded. Three authors did selection independently. Data Extraction and Assessment: Semi-structured extraction of system characteristics was done by the main author. Identified procedures were assessed for security and fulfillment of relevant laws and guidelines as well as for applicability. Suitability for clinical workflows was derived from the assessments using a weighted sum proposed by Bonneau. Results: Of 7575 citations retrieved, 55 publications meet our inclusion criteria. They describe 48 different authentication systems; 39 were biometric and nine graphical password systems. Assessment of authentication systems showed high error rates above European CENELEC standards and a lack of ap -plicability of biometric systems. Graphical passwords did not add overall value compared to conventional passwords. Continuous authentication can add an additional layer of safety. Only few systems are suitable partially or entirely for use in clinical processes. Conclusions: Suitability strongly depends on national or institutional requirements. Four authentication systems seem to fulfill requirements of authentication procedures for clinical workflows. Research is needed in the area of continuous authentication with biometric methods. A proper authentication system should combine all factors of au -thentication implementing and connecting secure individual measures.
Struktura aktywów spółki a struktura kapitału w połączeniach polskich jednostek gospodarczych w latach 2002–2013

Cel – Celem artykulu jest zidentyfikowanie zalezności miedzy strukturą aktywow a strukturą kapitalu spolek powstalych w wyniku polączenia jednostek. Badanie obejmuje wylącznie polskie spolki, polączone w okresie 2002–2013. Metodologia badania – Zaleznośc miedzy zmiennymi (zaleznymi i niezaleznymi) określane są klasyczną metodą najmniejszych kwadratow. Wynik – W grupie wszystkich badanych spolek (z wylączeniem skrajnych przypadkow – po 5% najmniejszych i najwiekszych wynikow) zaleznośc miedzy strukturą aktywow a strukturą kapitalu byla istotna statystycznie. Wspolczynnik zalezności byl dodatni i wynosil 0,066. Badane spolki zostaly podzielone na trzy grupy, w zalezności od wartości sumy bilansowej aktywow (w badaniu przyjeto logarytm naturalny z sumy bilansowej aktywow). W grupie najwiekszych spolek zaleznośc miedzy badanymi zmiennymi byla istotna statystycznie, a wspolczynnik zalezności byl najwiekszy i wynosil 0,153. Dodatkowo w wyniku badania stwierdzono, ze w spolkach o najwyzszym udziale kapitalu wlasnego (25% spolek o najwiekszym wskaźniku udzialu kapitalu wlasnego) wystepuje istotna statystycznie zaleznośc miedzy strukturą aktywow a strukturą kapitalu. Wartośc wspolczynnika wynosi 0,55. Oryginalnośc/wartośc – Istotnym wkladem do nauki jest sprawdzenie, czy w grupie polączonych polskich spolek istnieje zaleznośc miedzy strukturą aktywow i kapitalu.
Review: From Hypertension to Heart Failure — Are There Better Primary Prevention Strategies?

Although in the developed world the incidence of and mortality from coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke have been declining over the last 15 years, heart failure is increasing in incidence, prevalence and overall mortality, despite advances in the diagnosis and management of the condition. Hypertension, alone or in combination with CHD, precedes the development of heart failure in the majority of both men and women. Whilst there have been improvements in the overall management of hypertension, as reflected in rates of diagnosis, awareness, treatment and control of blood pressure (BP), there are still many patients with hypertension who remain undiagnosed or untreated and of those who do receive treatment many fail to achieve current targets for BP control. Placebo controlled trials in hypertension, largely based on diuretic and beta-blocker-based regimens, have unequivocally demonstrated that the treatment of hypertension can significantly reduce the incidence of heart failure. Newer treatment strategies offer theoretical and proven practical advantages over established antihypertensive therapy. In particular, AT1-receptor blockers appear to provide benefits beyond BP control and are effective in the treatment of both hypertension and heart failure. Thus, the primary prevention of heart failure in hypertensive patients should be based upon strategies that provide tight and sustained BP control necessitating the use of multiple drugs. However, there is now compelling evidence to suggest that this therapy should include an antihypertensive agent that inhibits the reninangiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS).
Error injection aimed at fault removal in fault tolerance mechanisms-criteria for error selection using field data on software faults

Fault injection allows a detailed study of complex interactions between faults and fault handling mechanisms. It can be a useful complement to analytical modeling and formal verification techniques in the testing of fault tolerant systems. However, work on fault injection has not matured adequately to provide industry with cost effective alternatives for the validation of fault tolerant systems. This study analyzes 408 customer discovered faults (defects) in a release of a large operating system product. We discuss methods to select the error types for an error injection experiment in the system test environment, aimed at fault removal. Using four levels of severity and a total of 24 error types as recorded in the customer defects records, we analyze the faults in terms of fault types and system test triggers as defined in ODC. Our work shows examples of criteria that can be used to select errors for injection that use the information from the field reported defects.