Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Creatinine versus specific gravity-adjusted urinary cadmium concentrations

Abstract The aim was to assess how urinary creatinine is affected by age, gender, body size and meat intake, and to determine to what extent such factors might affect the creatinine adjustment of urinary cadmium. The study was based on three Swedish studies: (1) 67 non-smoking women aged 20–50 years (24-h urine samples); (2) 289 men and 434 women aged 16–81 years (spot urine samples); and (3) 98 men and 105 women aged 19–72 years (spot urine samples). The effects of age, body surface area (as an indicator of muscle mass), and meat intake on urinary creatinine and cadmium were analysed using multiple regression analyses. Gender- and age-related variations in urinary creatinine and cadmium adjusted for creatinine or specific gravity were compared by ANOVA or ANCOVA. In the multiple regression analyses, body surface area, gender, age and meat intake were the major determinants of urinary creatinine. Urinary cadmium adjusted for creatinine and specific gravity were also dependent on body size, gender and age. Urinary cadmium adjusted for creatinine was 15–92% higher in women or older individuals than in men or younger individuals. Women or older individuals had –3 to 79% higher urinary cadmium adjusted for specific gravity than men or younger individuals had, and such a difference between gender or age group was less obvious in specific gravity adjustment than in creatinine adjustment. Thus, urinary cadmium adjusted for creatinine is more affected by age, gender, body size and meat intake than is specific gravity adjustment. When comparing individuals or populations with large differences in muscle mass or meat intake, such effects can be especially important. In such studies, specific gravity adjustment seems to be more appropriate.
Birds and biogeography of Mount Mecula in Mozambique’s Niassa National Reserve

The montane forests of northern Mozambique’s isolated massifs are inhabited by numerous range-restricted and threatened bird species, but until recently were extremely little-known. We report on a first avifaunal survey of the isolated montane habitats of Mt Mecula (1 442 m), Niassa National Reserve, notable as the only currently protected montane area in northern Mozambique. Mount Mecula’s moist forest is small (approximately 136 ha in total) and patchy, and although known botanically to have some montane affinities, was found to support an avifauna more typical of riparian forests of medium to low altitude. The only montane forest species recorded was Lemon Dove Aplopelia larvata. Other montane elements included Vincent’s Bunting Emberiza (capensis) vincenti, one of six species recorded new to the Niassa National Reserve list. Overall, it appears that despite its intermediate location, Mt Mecula does not represent a biogeographical ‘stepping stone’ for montane forest bird species. This probably owes to its remoteness from the Eastern Arc Mountains of Tanzania to the north and the massifs of other parts of northern Mozambique, to the south and west.
Structure and Topographic Distribution of Oral Denticles in Elasmobranch Fishes

The placoid scales, or denticles, of the external epidermis of elasmobranchs are well known as a hard protective coat over the skin to reduce abrasion or as elements to reduce hydrodynamic drag. However, the structure and function of denticles within the oral cavity is uncertain. Using stereological and scanning electron microscopy, this study examines the structure and distribution of oral denticles in a range of elasmobranchs. Of the batoids analyzed, only members of the Rhinobatidae possessed oral denticles, with no denticles found in the members sampled in the Gymnuridae or Dasyatidae. In contrast, oral denticles were located in all the selachians examined, except for members of the Orectolobidae. Within the selachians, the denticles of the Carcharhinidae have a grooved surface and a central spine, which is angled toward the posterior of the mouth. These denticular adaptations are beneficial to reduce hydrodynamic drag, an advantage for these free-swimming species with ram ventilation. Alternatively, members of the Hemiscyllidae have broad bulbous denticles that often overlap, providing a hard surface to protect the epithelium from abrasion during the consumption of hard-bodied prey. The distribution and high number of oral denticles appears to spatially compromise the capacity for oral (taste) papillae to populate the oropharyngeal cavity but provides increased friction and grip on prey items as they are manipulated within the mouth.
Lowering copayments: impact of simvastatin patent expiration on patient adherence.

OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of a decrease in statin copayments on medication adherence and demand for statins. STUDY DESIGN Quasi-experimental, pre/post design. METHODS Patients in more than 700 health plans from June 2005 to May 2007 were evaluated. The intervention group (n = 13,319) and matched control group (n = 26,569) included patients who had at least 1 branded simvastatin or non-simvastatin statin purchase, respectively, before the simvastatin patent expired in June 2006. Intervention and control patients had to have purchased at least 1 generic simvastatin and non-simvastatin statin, respectively, after patent expiration. Intervention patients were matched to control patients up to 1:2 on incident statin use (yes/no) and pre-patent expiration copay (+/- $2). Adherence was calculated with the medication possession ratio (MPR). Adjusted and unadjusted changes in MPR were compared between groups. Elasticity of demand for statins was estimated. RESULTS A small but statistically significant difference was observed between groups in the change in MPR (intervention = 0.52% adjusted mean increase, control = 2.02% adjusted mean decrease; adjusted P <.01). A marginally higher percentage of intervention patients (10.5%) compared with control patients (10.0%) increased their MPR from <80% in the preperiod to > or = 80% in the postperiod (adjusted P <.01). Elasticity of demand for statins was estimated at 0.02 and -0.02 for the copayment reduction categories of $0 to $5 and >$15, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Decreasing statin copayments was associated with adherence increases. However, the overall increase in medication adherence was modest and its clinical significance uncertain.
In Vivo Function of the Posterior Cruciate Ligament during Weightbearing Knee Flexion

Background Current knowledge of posterior cruciate ligament function is mainly based on in vitro cadaveric studies. There are few studies on the in vivo function of the posterior cruciate ligament. The objective of the study was to quantify the multidimensional deformation of the posterior cruciate ligament. Hypothesis During in vivo weightbearing flexion, the posterior cruciate ligament undergoes complex 3-dimensional deformations, including elongation, twist, and changes in orientation. Study Design In vivo biomechanical study. Methods Magnetic resonance images of 5 human knees were used to create 3-dimensional computer models of each subject's knee, including the insertion areas of the posterior cruciate ligament. Orthogonal fluoroscopic images of each subject's knee were acquired as a quasi-static lunge was performed. The images and computer models were used to reproduce the in vivo motion of the knee. The relative motion of the femoral and tibial insertions was described in terms of elongation, twist, elevation (the angle between the tibial plateau and posterior cruciate ligament, measured in the sagittal plane), and deviation (mediolateral orientation, measured in plane of tibial plateau). Results The length of the posterior cruciate ligament increased significantly with increasing flexion. It twisted almost 80° as the knee flexed from 0° to 90°. The elevation angle remained relatively constant at 50°. The deviation angle was medially oriented by 20° at full extension, then decreased to approximately 10° at 30° through 90° of flexion. Conclusion The posterior cruciate ligament undergoes a complex twisting motion as it elongates with flexion. Clinical Relevance During reconstruction, the tunnels and graft may need to be placed such that the multidimensional deformation of the intact posterior cruciate ligament is reproduced.
Androgen metabolism in the juvenile oscine forebrain: a cross-species analysis at neural sites implicated in memory function.

Juvenile songbirds are useful models for studying the neural bases of memory. Memory-reliant behaviors demonstrated at this stage include song learning (most songbirds) and food caching (food-storing songbirds). Sex steroids are implicated in the modulation of memory processes in several vertebrates. The songbird forebrain expresses aromatase, 5alpha-reductase and 5beta-reductase, enzymes which convert testosterone to estradiol, 5alpha-, and 5beta-dihydrotestosterone, respectively. To explore the role of local androgen metabolism on memory processes, we documented the activities of these enzymes in the anterior neostriatum (NAN), caudomedial neostriatum (NCM), and hippocampus (HP) of four species of juvenile songbird, two of which are food storers. Areas were dissected, homogenized, and provided with radiolabeled substrate; and formed estrogens, and 5alpha- and 5beta-reduced androgens were measured. In the NAN, 5beta-reductase was the predominant enzyme, suggesting that local inactivation of testosterone may preserve the sensitive period of song acquisition. In the NCM, estrogens were formed in abundance despite high 5beta-reductase, suggesting that locally high estrogen synthesis may play a role in processes of song perception. In the HP, both estrogens and 5alpha reduced androgens were formed, suggesting that HP function may be modulated by both estrogens and androgens. Finally, a derived measure of steroid-differential reveals that food-storing songbirds differ from nonstorers in the steroidal milleiu within the HP, but not in the NAN or NCM. Thus, distinct loci within the juvenile songbird forebrain are exposed to different patterns of androgen metabolites. This local conversion may play a role in the neuroendocrine modulation of memory in these birds.
Amplifier-Free Bias-Free Receiver Based on Low-Capacitance Nanophotodetector

The substantial energy dissipation of photoreceivers will obstruct dense photonic–electronic integration in keeping the development of processors and communications on a chip. Nanophotodetectors offer the opportunity to overcome this problem by allowing us to realize an amplifier-free bias-free receiver. Low device capacitance and forward-biased operation are the keys to achieving such a receiver, which can operate with signal light alone, namely without extra electrical energy. A photonic-crystal waveguide combined with an embedded absorber is a good candidate for this purpose, since our simulation reveals that light confinement and carrier depletion in a narrow dimension lead to fast and efficient operation. We also carry out circuit analyses to investigate the receiver performance and compare it with that of a conventional receiver with amplifiers. We show that an amplifier-free bias-free receiver can be expected to offer advantages in terms of energy consumption, signal-to-noise ratio, footprint, and delay.
A Prospective Study of Emotional Disorders in Childbearing Women

Summary A group of first-time mothers (119) were interviewed repeatedly at fixed intervals during their pregnancies and until their babies were a year old; they were then followed up at four years. A similar investigation was carried out on 38 other primiparae and 39 multiparae, but only postnatally. The incidence of depressive neurosis rose significantly in early pregnancy and in the first three months after delivery (10 per cent and 14 per cent of the main sample respectively). Subjects mainly suffered either from antenatal or postnatal depression, not both. Marital conflict and severe doubts about having the baby were associated with depression at either time. Bereavement and preterm birth were the only life events to relate with the onset of depression and bereavement had a greater impact during pregnancy. Depressed mothers were more likely to express negative or mixed feelings about their three-month-old babies. Many who had become depressed for the first time in their lives continued to experience psychological problems for up to four years after childbirth.
Mitoxantrone for multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND Mitoxantrone (MX) has been shown to be moderately effective in reducing the clinical outcome measures of disease activity in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. OBJECTIVES The objective was to assess the efficacy and safety of MX in relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), progressive relapsing MS (PRMS) and secondary progressive MS (SPMS). SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane MS Group Trials Register (searched April 2005), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 4, 2004), MEDLINE (Pub Med) (January 1966 to April 2005), EMBASE (January 1974 to April 2005), and reference lists of articles. We also undertook hand searching and contacting trialists and pharmaceutical companies. SELECTION CRITERIA The trials were selected if double-blinded, placebo-controlled, randomised, irrespective of eventual additive therapy (such as steroids). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Three reviewers independently selected articles for inclusion, assessed trials' quality and extracted data. MAIN RESULTS Four trials involving 270 participants were included. MX was found to reduce the progression of disability at 2 years follow-up (proportion of participants with 6-months confirmed progression of disability: Odds Ratios (OR) 0.3, p = 0.05). Similar figures were found regarding the reduction in annualised relapse rate and the proportion of patients free from relapses at 1 and 2 years, as well as the number of patients with active MRI lesions at 6 months/ 1 year only. Side effects reported in the trials were more frequent in treated patients than in controls. Caution must be exercised in drawing conclusions from such data because of the heterogeneous quality and characteristics of the included trials, which are different in terms of treatment schedule and type of enrolled patients. More than half of the included patients came from a single study. Moreover, from the included trials, it was not possible to estimate the long-term efficacy and safety of MX, which may raise concerns about the risk of cardiotoxicity and therapy-related leukemias, which is increasingly reported in the literature. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS MX is moderately effective in reducing the disease progression and the frequency of relapses in patients affected by RR, PR and SP MS in the short-term follow-up (2 years), even if the results are based on trials heterogeneous in terms of drug dosage and inclusion criteria. No major neoplastic or symptomatic cardiotoxicity related to MX have been reported from the trials. However, longer follow-up studies are highly warranted to better explore the efficacy and safety of the drug, mainly as regards the long-term risk of therapy-related leukemias and cardiotoxicity. As a conclusion, MX has a partial efficacy, but, due to its unclear long-term safety profile, it should be used to treat patients with worsening RR and SP MS with evidence of worsening disability.
Reliable measurement of the Seebeck coefficient of organic and inorganic materials between 260 K and 460 K.

UNLABELLED A new experimental setup for reliable measurement of the in-plane Seebeck coefficient of organic and inorganic thin films and bulk materials is reported. The system is based on the "Quasi-Static" approach and can measure the thermopower in the range of temperature between 260 K and 460 K. The system has been tested on a pure nickel bulk sample and on a thin film of commercially available PEDOT PSS deposited by spin coating on glass. Repeatability within 1.5% for the nickel sample is demonstrated, while accuracy in the measurement of both organic and inorganic samples is guaranteed by time interpolation of data and by operating with a temperature difference over the sample of less than 1 K.
Turbulent diffusion of chemically reacting gaseous admixtures.

We study turbulent diffusion of chemically reacting gaseous admixtures in a developed turbulence. In our previous study [Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 69 (1998)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.80. 69] using a path-integral approach for a delta-correlated in a time random velocity field, we demonstrated a strong modification of turbulent transport in fluid flows with chemical reactions or phase transitions. In the present study we use the spectral τ approximation that is valid for large Reynolds and Peclet numbers and show that turbulent diffusion of the reacting species can be strongly depleted by a large factor that is the ratio of turbulent and chemical times (turbulent Damköhler number). We have demonstrated that the derived theoretical dependence of a turbulent diffusion coefficient versus the turbulent Damköhler number is in good agreement with that obtained previously in the numerical modeling of a reactive front propagating in a turbulent flow and described by the Kolmogorov-Petrovskii-Piskunov-Fisher equation. We have found that turbulent cross-effects, e.g., turbulent mutual diffusion of gaseous admixtures and turbulent Dufour effect of the chemically reacting gaseous admixtures, are less sensitive to the values of stoichiometric coefficients. The mechanisms of the turbulent cross-effects differ from the molecular cross-effects known in irreversible thermodynamics. In a fully developed turbulence and at large Peclet numbers the turbulent cross-effects are much larger than the molecular ones. The obtained results are applicable also to heterogeneous phase transitions.
Structure-based discovery of fiber-binding compounds that reduce the cytotoxicity of amyloid beta

Amyloid protein aggregates are associated with dozens of devastating diseases including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and diabetes type 2. While structure-based discovery of compounds has been effective in combating numerous infectious and metabolic diseases, ignorance of amyloid structure has hindered similar approaches to amyloid disease. Here we show that knowledge of the atomic structure of one of the adhesive, steric-zipper segments of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) protein of Alzheimer’s disease, when coupled with computational methods, identifies eight diverse but mainly flat compounds and three compound derivatives that reduce Aβ cytotoxicity against mammalian cells by up to 90%. Although these compounds bind to Aβ fibers, they do not reduce fiber formation of Aβ. Structure-activity relationship studies of the fiber-binding compounds and their derivatives suggest that compound binding increases fiber stability and decreases fiber toxicity, perhaps by shifting the equilibrium of Aβ from oligomers to fibers. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.7554/eLife.00857. 001
Measurements of a 1 to 13 GHz model of a dual polarized low-profile log-periodic feed for US-SKA

We present measured results for a dual polarized 1 to 13 GHz laboratory model of a feed for use in reflector antennas. The main goals of the laboratory model were achieved: it provides dual polarization and can provide more than a decade bandwidth. The aperture efficiency in a primary fed reflector system is greater than 56% over the entire band, and the input reflection coefficient of the feed is better than -5.5 dB. The results agree well with computed values.
Photoperiodic and thermosensory pathways interact through CONSTANS to promote flowering at high temperature under short days.

Plants detect changes in day length to induce seasonal patterns of flowering. The photoperiodic pathway accelerates the flowering of Arabidopsis thaliana under long days (LDs) whereas it is inactive under short days (SDs), resulting in delayed flowering. This delay is overcome by exposure of plants to high temperature (27°C) under SDs (27°C-SD). Previously, the high-temperature flowering response was proposed to involve either the impaired activity of MADS-box transcription factor (TF) floral repressors or PHYTOCHROME-INTERACTING FACTOR 4 (PIF4) TF-mediated activation of FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT), which encodes the output signal of the photoperiodic pathway. We integrate these observations by studying several PIFs, the MADS-box SHORT VEGETATIVE PHASE (SVP) and the photoperiodic pathway under 27°C-SD. We find that the mRNAs of FT and its paralogue TWIN SISTER OF FT (TSF) are increased at dusk under 27°C-SD compared with 21°C-SD, and that this requires PIF4 and PIF5 as well as CONSTANS (CO), a TF that promotes flowering under LDs. The CO and PIF4 proteins are present at dusk under 27°C-SD, and they physically interact. Although Col-0 plants flower at similar times under 27°C-SD and 21°C-LD the expression level of FT is approximately 10-fold higher under 21°C-LD, suggesting that responsiveness to FT is also increased under 27°C-SD, perhaps as a result of the reduced activity of SVP in the meristem. Accordingly, only svp-41 ft-10 tsf-1 plants flowered at the same time under 21°C-SD and 27°C-SD. Thus, we propose that under non-inductive SDs, elevated temperatures increase the activity and sensitize the response to the photoperiod pathway.
A Novel Method of Extracting Plasmid DNA from Helicobacter Species

Plasmids are extra‐chromosomal DNA that may encode products that aid in virulence, pathogenesis, and the spread of antibiotic resistance among a wide spectrum of bacteria. Plasmids have been detected in Helicobacter pylori, H. felis, H. fennelliae, and H. cinaedi. However, no function has been attributed to the Helicobacter plasmids studied to date. Moreover, the characterization of plasmids in other Helicobacter species is an as yet unexplored area of research. Several laboratories have reported difficulties in the extraction and isolation of plasmid DNA from H. pylori and H. felis isolates due to the presence of large amounts of DNase, necessitating cumbersome and time‐consuming purification steps. The development of a method for extracting plasmid DNA from Helicobacter species would be useful for future systematic studies of plasmids in this important group of microorganisms.