Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prevalence and clinical correlates of peripheral arterial disease in the Framingham Offspring Study.

BACKGROUND Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is associated with an increased risk for mortality. We sought to assess the prevalence of PAD and its risk factors in a population-based sample. METHODS We examined 1554 males and 1759 females with a mean age of 59 years who attended a Framingham Offspring Study examination from 1995 to 1998. PAD was defined by an ankle-brachial blood pressure index of <0.9. Age- and sex-adjusted and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with PAD. RESULTS The prevalences of PAD, current intermittent claudication, lower extremity bruits and surgical intervention were 3.9%, 1.9%, 2.4% and 1.4% in males and 3.3%, 0.8%, 2.3% and 0.5% in females. Hypercholesterolemia, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, diabetes, hypertension, current smoking, pack-years of smoking, body mass index, fibrinogen, and prevalent coronary disease were associated with PAD in age- and sex-adjusted analyses. Odds ratios and 95% CIs for significant associations identified from multivariable analyses are as follows: each 10 years of age, 2.6 (2.0, 3.4); hypertension, 2.2 (1.4, 3.5); smoking, 2.0 (1.1, 3.4); 10 pack-years of smoking, 1.3 (1.2, 1.4); 50 mg/dL of fibrinogen, 1.2 (1.1, 1.4); 5 mg/dL of high-density lipoprotein, 0.9 (0.8, 1.0); coronary disease, 2.6 (1.6, 4.1). CONCLUSIONS Smoking cessation and hypertension control are important goals in the aim to reduce PAD and its associated impact on quality of life, functional decline, and risk for subsequent cardiovascular disease.
Social instability stress in adolescent male rats alters hippocampal neurogenesis and produces deficits in spatial location memory in adulthood

The ongoing development of the hippocampus in adolescence may be vulnerable to stressors. The effects of social instability stress (SS) in adolescence (daily 1 h isolation and change of cage partner postnatal days 30–45) on cell proliferation in the dentate gyrus (DG) in adolescence (on days 33 and 46, experiment 1) and in adulthood (experiment 2) was examined in Long Evans male rats and compared to nonstressed controls (CTL). Additionally, in experiment 2, a separate group of SS and CTL rats was tested on either a spatial (hippocampal‐dependent) or nonspatial (nonhippocampal dependent) version of an object memory test and also were used to investigate hippocampal expression of markers of synaptic plasticity. No memory impairment was evident until the SS rats were adults, and the impairment was only on the spatial test. SS rats initially (postnatal day 33) had increased cell proliferation based on counts of Ki67 immunoreactive (ir) cells and greater survival of immature neurons based on counts of doublecortin ir cells on day 46 and in adulthood, irrespective of behavioral testing. Counts of microglia in the DG did not differ by stress group, but behavioral testing was associated with reduced microglia counts compared to nontested rats. As adults, SS and CTL rats did not differ in hippocampal expression of synaptophysin, but compared to CTL rats, SS rats had higher expression of basal calcium/calmodulin‐dependent kinase II (CamKII), and lower expression of the phosphorylated CamKII subunit threonine 286, signaling molecules related to synaptic plasticity. The results are contrasted with those from previous reports of chronic stress in adult rats, and we conclude that adolescent stress alters the ongoing development of the hippocampus leading to impaired spatial memory in adulthood, highlighting the heightened vulnerability to stressors in adolescence. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Supranormal thymic output up to 2 decades after HIV-1 infection

Objectives:AIDS is caused by CD4+ T-cell depletion. Although combination antiretroviral therapy can restore blood T-cell numbers, the clonal diversity of the reconstituting cells, critical for immunocompetence, is not well defined. Methods:We performed an extensive analysis of parameters of thymic function in perinatally HIV-1-infected (n = 39) and control (n = 28) participants ranging from 13 to 23 years of age. CD4+ T cells including naive (CD27+ CD45RA+) and recent thymic emigrant (RTE) (CD31+/CD45RA+) cells, were quantified by flow cytometry. Deep sequencing was used to examine T-cell receptor (TCR) sequence diversity in sorted RTE CD4+ T cells. Results:Infected participants had reduced CD4+ T-cell levels with predominant depletion of the memory subset and preservation of naive cells. RTE CD4+ T-cell levels were normal in most infected individuals, and enhanced thymopoiesis was indicated by higher proportions of CD4+ T cells containing TCR recombination excision circles. Memory CD4+ T-cell depletion was highly associated with CD8+ T-cell activation in HIV-1-infected persons and plasma interlekin-7 levels were correlated with naive CD4+ T cells, suggesting activation-driven loss and compensatory enhancement of thymopoiesis. Deep sequencing of CD4+ T-cell receptor sequences in well compensated infected persons demonstrated supranormal diversity, providing additional evidence of enhanced thymic output. Conclusion:Despite up to two decades of infection, many individuals have remarkable thymic reserve to compensate for ongoing CD4+ T-cell loss, although there is ongoing viral replication and immune activation despite combination antiretroviral therapy. The longer term sustainability of this physiology remains to be determined.
Cyber risk evaluation framework based on Risk Environment of military operation

Cyber attacking is one of the most concerning threats in military operation nowadays. In Cyber warfare concept, cyberspace is very logical comparing to the other 4 battlefields including land, water, air, and space. It is almost impossible to identify physical location of hosts in Latitude/Longitude, not even direction or distance from one to another. Traditional boundaries disappear within cyberspace. Moreover, separated activities can be done from many locations via computer network. In this information age, information superiority is translated into combat power. Robust and secure network is significantly needed as a core media for information operation e.g. censoring and sharing. However, Cyber risk environment in the battlefield is not yet clarified. Vulnerability detection, penetration testing, and risk evaluation are parts of network security. Therefore, this paper proposes a cyber-risk evaluation framework that integrates “Network Risk Metric” and “Risk Environment” of military operation together in order to get a better understanding of cyber risk in the battlefield.
Association of MTTP gene variants with pediatric NAFLD: A candidate-gene-based analysis of single nucleotide variations in obese children

Objective We used targeted next-generation sequencing to investigate whether genetic variants of lipid metabolism-related genes are associated with increased susceptibility to nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese children. Methods A cohort of 100 obese children aged 6 to 18 years were divided into NAFLD and non-NAFLD groups and subjected to hepatic ultrasound, anthropometric, and biochemical analyses. We evaluated the association of genetic variants with NAFLD susceptibility by investigating the single nucleotide polymorphisms in each of 36 lipid-metabolism-related genes. The panel genes were assembled for target region sequencing. Correlations between single nucleotide variations, biochemical markers, and clinical phenotypes were analyzed. Results 97 variants in the 36 target genes per child were uncovered. Twenty-six variants in 16 genes were more prevalent in NAFLD subjects than in in-house controls. The mutation rate of MTTP rs2306986 and SLC6A2 rs3743788 was significantly higher in NAFLD subjects than in non-NAFLD subjects (OR: 3.879; P = 0.004; OR: 6.667, P = 0.005). Logistic regression analysis indicated the MTTP variant rs2306986 was an independent risk factor for NAFLD (OR: 23.468, P = 0.044). Conclusions The results of this study, examining a cohort of obese children, suggest that the genetic variation at MTTP rs2306986 was associated with higher susceptibility to NAFLD. This may contribute to the altered lipid metabolism by disruption of assembly and secretion of lipoprotein, leading to reducing fat export from the involved hepatocytes.
Coordinated Adaptive Robust Contouring Controller Design for an Industrial Biaxial Precision Gantry

To achieve excellent contouring performance, it is no longer possible to neglect dynamic coupling phenomena that occur during contouring controls, especially for a linear-motor-driven industrial biaxial precision gantry, which often moves at high speeds. In addition, effects of significant parametric uncertainties and uncertain nonlinearities need to be addressed carefully. In this paper, a discontinuous-projection-based adaptive robust controller that explicitly takes into account the dynamic coupling effect is developed for the high-performance contouring controls of linear-motor-driven high-speed/acceleration systems under various parametric uncertainties and uncertain nonlinearities. Theoretically, the resulting controllers achieve certain guaranteed transient performance and steady-state tracking accuracy. In addition, asymptotic output tracking is achieved under parametric uncertainties only. Comparative experimental results are obtained for a linear-motor-driven biaxial high-speed industrial gantry. The results verify the excellent contouring performance of the proposed schemes, even in the presence of parametric uncertainties and uncertain nonlinearities.
Pyramidal structure types and capital structure: Evidence from China

This paper examines the relationship between the pyramidal structure types and capital structure by using the panel date of 303 listed family companies from 2007 to 2009 in China. We find that the family controlling shareholders using different types of pyramidal structure affect the capital structure distinctly. Relative to the nonseparated pyramidal structures, the listed family businesses using the separated pyramidal structures tend to choose higher capital structure. Relative to the single-line pyramidal structures, the listed family businesses using the multiline pyramidal structures tend to finance from the inside of the enterprise groups. The result also shows that the debt leverage effect of pyramidal structure can increase the rate of bank loan, and financing substitution effect of the internal capital market can increase the rate of non-bank loan.
Effects of amino acids and glucose on mesangial cell aminopeptidase a and angiotensin receptors.

BACKGROUND High protein diets and diabetes increase renal renin angiotensin system (RAS) activity, which is associated with glomerular injury. Aminopeptidase A (APA) is a cell surface metalloprotease that degrades angiotensin II (AII) in the mesangium. Mesangial cells (MC) also possess receptors for AII; the type 1 (AT1 receptor) promotes proliferation and fibrosis, while the type 2 (AT2 receptor) opposes these effects. We evaluated whether amino acids and glucose alter expression of APA, AT1 receptor and AT2 receptor in a manner that further augments RAS activity. METHODS Confluent rat MC were grown in serum-free media for 48 hours prior to exposing to experimental conditions: control (C), high amino acids (HA, mixed amino acid solution added to raise concentrations 5- to 6-fold over C), high glucose (HG 30, mM glucose). Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to assess mRNA for APA, AT1 receptor, AT2 receptor, and beta-actin. Values are expressed relative to beta actin. RESULTS Both HA and HG reduced APA mRNA (HG 1.13 plus minus 0.19, HA 1.12 plus minus 0.16 versus C 1.27 plus minus 0.16 P < 0.05, N = 8). HA increased AT1 receptor mRNA (HA 2.11 plus minus 0.43 versus C 1.14 plus minus 0.28 P < 0.05, N = 8). HG increased AT2 receptor mRNA (HG 1.31 plus minus 0.43 versus C 0.82 plus minus 0.33 P < 0.05, N = 6). CONCLUSIONS A reduction of APA, in response to high levels of amino acids or glucose, could contribute to increased AII as a result of decreased degradation in MC. The effect of amino acids to increase AT1 receptor expression may further enhance adverse hemodynamic and pro-fibrotic actions of AII. Conversely, glucose increased AT2 receptor expression, which could modulate responses mediated by the AT1 receptor.
A single cycle of rituximab for the treatment of severe pemphigus.

BACKGROUND The combination of multiple cycles of rituximab and intravenous immune globulins has been reported to be effective in patients with severe pemphigus. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of a single cycle of rituximab in severe types of pemphigus. METHODS We studied 21 patients with pemphigus whose disease had not responded to an 8-week course of 1.5 mg of prednisone per kilogram of body weight per day (corticosteroid-refractory disease), who had had at least two relapses despite doses of prednisone higher than 20 mg per day (corticosteroid-dependent disease), or who had severe contraindications to corticosteroids. The patients were treated with four weekly infusions of 375 mg of rituximab per square meter of body-surface area. The primary end point was complete remission 3 months after the end of rituximab treatment; complete remission was defined as epithelialization of all skin and mucosal lesions. RESULTS Eighteen of 21 patients (86%; 95% confidence interval, 64 to 97%) had a complete remission at 3 months. The disease relapsed in nine patients after a mean of 18.9+/-7.9 months. After a median follow-up of 34 months, 18 patients (86%) were free of disease, including 8 who were not receiving corticosteroids; the mean prednisone dose decreased from 94.0+/-10.2 to 12.0+/-7.5 mg per day (P=0.04) in patients with corticosteroid-refractory disease and from 29.1+/-12.4 to 10.9+/-16.5 mg per day (P=0.007) in patients with corticosteroid-dependent disease. Pyelonephritis developed in one patient 12 months after rituximab treatment, and one patient died of septicemia 18 months after rituximab treatment. These patients had a profound decrease in the number of circulating B lymphocytes but normal serum levels of IgG. CONCLUSIONS A single cycle of rituximab is an effective treatment for pemphigus. Because of its potentially severe side effects, its use should be limited to the most severe types of the disease. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00213512 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
Bone oedema predicts erosive progression on wrist MRI in early RA--a 2-yr observational MRI and NC scintigraphy study.

OBJECTIVES To investigate if disease assessment by contrast-enhanced dynamic and static magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and quantitative nanocolloid (NC) scintigraphy gives useful additional information in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Twenty-seven patients with early RA (disease duration < or =12 months) were followed up for 1 yr and 24 of them for 2 yrs with contrast-enhanced MRI and NC scintigraphy of the wrist joint. Synovial inflammation was assessed by measuring time-dependent enhancement rates (E-rate) from dynamic MRI scans and technetium(99m)-labelled nanocolloid ((99m)Tc-NC) uptake from scintigraphy scans. Synovial membrane hypertrophy, bone oedema and erosions were semiquantitatively scored according to the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials RA-MRI scoring system from static MR images. Response to the treatment was evaluated based on whether or not > or = 50% improvement was achieved in the tender and swollen joint scores and the Health Assessment Questionnaire score, with normal C-reactive protein (CRP) or erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) levels. Progression of the erosion score on wrist MRI was evaluated as the outcome. RESULTS The baseline MRI bone oedema score (rho= 0.67), MRI synovitis score (rho= 0.57), ESR (rho= 0.56), CRP (rho= 0.48), E-rate (rho= 0.47) and (99m)Tc-NC uptake (rho= 0.45) were related with the change in the MRI erosion score from baseline to 2 yrs (rho= Spearman's correlation). In the multivariate logistic regression model, the bone marrow oedema score was the only baseline variable that predicted erosive progression at 2 yrs' follow-up (OR 4.2, 95% CI 1.3-13.8). The median (interquartile range) change in the erosion score from baseline to 2 yrs was 0 (0, 0) and 4 (2, 5) in the patients with (n= 9) and without (n= 15) a persistent clinical response over the 2 yrs, respectively (P= 0.001). The non-responders who presented with erosive progression from 1 yr to 2 yrs had higher MRI synovitis scores, bone oedema scores, E-rate and (99m)Tc-NC uptake at 1-yr follow-up than the non-responders without progressive bone damage. CONCLUSION The degree of local synovial inflammation at baseline, evaluated by dynamic and static MRI and quantitative NC scintigraphy, is closely related to the progression of wrist joint erosions during the first 2 yrs of the disease. Furthermore, at follow-up, if no persistent clinical response is achieved, these imaging methods may help to predict future erosiveness and help in clinical therapeutic decision making.
Titanium dioxide nanoparticles produce phototoxicity in the developing zebrafish

Abstract Exposure of humans and other organisms to nanomaterials is increasing exponentially. It is important, but difficult, to predict the biological consequences of these exposures. We hypothesized that the unique chemical properties that make nanoparticles useful might also be the key in predicting their biological impact. To investigate this, we chose titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2NPs) and developing zebrafish embryos as model systems. TiO2NPs absorb photons to generate electron–hole pairs that react with water and oxygen to form cytotoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). Here, we show that the exposure of zebrafish embryos to TiO2NPs produces malformation and death, but only if the fish are also illuminated. TiO2NPs are taken up into the developing fish, but the egg chorion is a barrier to uptake until the embryos hatch. Chemical probes and a transgenic reporter line confirm photo-dependent production of ROS in vivo, and the addition of an ROS scavenger rescues fish embryos from toxicity. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show a photo-dependent toxic response in a whole organism from exposure to TiO2NPs. Of further significance, our study highlights the relationship between the property of the material that makes it useful and the biological effect that is produced. This concept should serve as a guide for future nanotoxicological studies aiming to identify potential hazardous effects on organisms.
Diversification of Lupine Bradyrhizobium Strains: Evidence from Nodulation Gene Trees

ABSTRACT Bradyrhizobium strains isolated in Europe from Genisteae and serradella legumes form a distinct lineage, designated clade II, on nodulation gene trees. Clade II bradyrhizobia appear to prevail also in the soils of Western Australia and South Africa following probably accidental introduction with seeds of their lupine and serradella hosts. Given this potential for dispersal, we investigated Bradyrhizobium isolates originating from a range of native New World lupines, based on phylogenetic analyses of nodulation (nodA, nodZ, noeI) and housekeeping (atpD, dnaK, glnII, recA) genes. The housekeeping gene trees revealed considerable diversity among lupine bradyrhizobia, with most isolates placed in the Bradyrhizobium japonicum lineage, while some European strains were closely related to Bradyrhizobium canariense. The nodA gene tree resolved seven strongly supported groups (clades I to VII) that correlated with strain geographical origins and to some extent with major Lupinus clades. All European strains were placed in clade II, whereas only a minority of New World strains was placed in this clade. This work, as well as our previous studies, suggests that clade II diversified predominately in the Old World, possibly in the Mediterranean. Most New World isolates formed subclade III.2, nested in a large “pantropical” clade III, which appears to be New World in origin, although it also includes strains originating from nonlupine legumes. Trees generated using nodZ and noeI gene sequences accorded well with the nodA tree, but evidence is presented that the noeI gene may not be required for nodulation of lupine and that loss of this gene is occurring.
High speed fully differential second generation current conveyor

In this paper, a high speed fully differential second generation current conveyor (FDCCII+) is presented. The proposed FDCCII+ is based on using fully differential buffer [1] and class AB push-pull output stage with a new standby current control circuitry. The circuit is realized using 90nm CMOS TSMC technology model under 1.2V single supply voltage. The proposed realization of FDCCII+ input differential voltage dynamic range is from −0.45V to 0.45V. The total power dissipation of the circuit is 1.7mW. The simulated bandwidth of the FDCCII+ is 254MHz under 10KΩ load at X and Z terminals. All the circuit simulations are done using Cadence Virtuoso SPECTRE circuit simulator.
Code Breakers: The Inside Story of Bletchley Park.

Introduction - the influence of Ultra in World War II, F.H. Hinsley. Part 1 The production of Ultra intelligence: life in and out of Hut 3, William Millward the duty officer Hut 3, Ralph Bennett a naval officer in Hut 3, Edward Thomas the Z watch in Hut 4 part I, Alec Dakin the Z watch in Hut 4 part II, Walter Eytan Italian naval decrypts, Patrick Wilkinson Naval Section VI, Vivienne Alford Anglo-American signals intelligence co-operation, Telford Taylor an American at Bletchley, Robert M. Slusser Bletchley Park, the Admiralty and naval Enigma, F.H. Hinsley. Part 2 Enigma: the Enigma machine - its mechanism and use, Alan Stripp Hut 6 - early days, Stuart Milner-Barry Hut 6 - 1941-1945, Derek Taunt Hut 8 and naval Enigma part I, Joan Murray Hut 8 and naval Enigma part II, Rolf Noskwith the Abwehr Enigma, Peter Twinn the bombes, Diana Payne Part 3 Fish: an introduction to Fish, F.H. Hinsley Enigma and Fish, Jack Good the Tunny machine, Ken Halton Operation Tunny, Gil Hayward. Part 4 Field ciphers and tactical codes: recollections of Bletchley Park, France and Cairo, Henry Dryden army Ultra's poor relations, Noel Currer-Briggs navy Ultra's poor relations, Christopher Morris tactical signals of the German air force, Peter Gray Lucas. Part 5 Japanese codes: Japanese naval codes, Michael Loewe Bedford - Bletchley - Kilindini - Colombo, Hugh Denham Japanese military codes, Maurice Wiles Japanese army air force codes at Bletchley Park and Delhi, Alan Stripp recollections of "temps perdu" at Bletchley Park, Carmen Blacker. Appendix: how the Bletchley Park buildings took shape, Bob Watson.
Beneficial effect of nisoldipine in repeated coronary reperfusion

BackgroundWe have demonstrated that when repeated reperfusion is performed after reocclusion, there is a decrease in the amount of myocardial salvage, despite early reperfusion. It is unknown whether this deleterious effect of repeated reperfusion can be antagonized. Therefore, we studied the effect of nisoldipine (a dihydropyridine calcium antagonist) on infarct size, using a repeated-reperfusion model. MethodsThe left anterior descending coronary artery was occluded in anaesthetized dogs. Thirty minutes after occlusion, dogs were allocated randomly to either the treatment group (n = 6; 6 μg/kg per min nisoldipine infused intravenously throughout the experiment) or the control group (n = 8; saline). Occlusion was maintained for 2 h, followed by 1 h of reperfusion, then 1 h of reocclusion and 2 h of second reperfusion. An in vivo area at risk was determined by gentian-violet staining, and mfarct size was defined and quantitated by triphenyl-tetrazolium-chloride staining. ResultsHaemodynamic measurements were similar in both groups. Mass of necrosis/mass at risk was significantly smaller in the nisoldipine group (33.3 ± 5.8%, mean ± SEM) compared with controls (46.8 ± 4.8%; P<0.05). ConclusionTreatment with nisoldipine induces a beneficial effect by reduction of infarct size in repeated coronary reperfusion.