Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Relationship between caffeine and coffee consumption and exfoliation glaucoma or glaucoma suspect: a prospective study in two cohorts.

PURPOSE We examined the association between caffeine and caffeinated beverage consumption in relation to the risk of exfoliation glaucoma or exfoliation glaucoma suspect (EG/EGS). METHODS We followed 78,977 women from the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and 41,202 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS) who were at least 40 years of age, did not have glaucoma, and reported undergoing eye examinations from 1980 (NHS) or 1986 (HPFS) to 2008. Information on consumption of caffeine-containing beverages and potential confounders were repeatedly ascertained in validated follow-up questionnaires. Confirmation with medical record review revealed 360 incident EG/EGS cases. Multivariate rate ratios (RRs) for EG/EGS were calculated in each cohort and then pooled using meta-analytic techniques. RESULTS Compared with participants whose cumulatively updated total caffeine consumption was <125 mg/day, participants who consumed ≥ 500 mg/day had a trend toward increased risk of EG/EGS that was not statistically significant (RR = 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98-2.08); P trend = 0.06). Compared to abstainers, those who drank ≥ 3 cups of caffeinated coffee daily were at increased risk of EG/EGS (RR = 1.66; 95% CI, 1.09-2.54; P trend = 0.02). These results were not materially altered after adjustment for total fluid intake. Associations were stronger among women with a family history of glaucoma (P interaction = 0.06 for coffee; P interaction = 0.03 for caffeine). We did not find associations with consumption of other caffeinated products (caffeinated soda, caffeinated tea, decaffeinated coffee or chocolate) and risk of EG/EGS (P trend ≥ 0.31). CONCLUSIONS We observed a positive association between heavier coffee consumption with risk of EG/EGS in this large prospective study.
MUTATIONS ET MOUVEMENTS : QUELLE STRATÉGIE GAGNANTE DANS UN ENVIRONNEMENT TURBULENT? UNE ANALYSE DE DEUX ACTEURS ALGÉRIENS INSTALLES A LA LUMIÈRE DE LEURS COMPORTEMENTS ET ATTITUDES

L'observation de l’acceleration des mutations de l’environnement dans la plupart des secteurs, vient remettre en question les approches classiques de la strategie d’entreprise. A ce titre, l’objet de cet article est de repondre aux divergences sur l’aptitude strategique a adopter dans ces environnements evolutifs. Le terrain de reference est celui du marche des produits laitiers frais en Algerie. La recherche est centree sur une comparaison entre les actions de deux acteurs etablis. Les resultats montrent que la firme perturbatrice a su tirer profit de son comportement agressif, ce qui lui a meme permis, d’absorber l’acteur passif. Il ressort que la strategie de perturbation semble etre un choix strategique performant voire vital pour les entreprises existantes
Local and Systemic Responses of Antioxidants to Tobacco Mosaic Virus Infection and to Salicylic Acid in Tobacco (Role in Systemic Acquired Resistance)

Changes in ascorbate and glutathione levels and in activities of ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were investigated in tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-inoculated lower leaves and in non-inoculated upper leaves of Nicotiana tabacum L. cv Xanthi-nc. In separate experiments the effects of exogenous salicylic acid (SA) were also studied. Symptom appearance after TMV inoculation was preceded by a slight, transient decline of ascorbate peroxidase, GR, GST, and SOD activities in the inoculated lower leaves, but after the onset of necrosis these activities and the glutathione level substantially increased. Ascorbic acid level and DHAR activity declined and dehydroascorbate accumulated in the inoculated leaves. In upper leaves, the glutathione level and the activities of GR, GST, and SOD increased 10 to 14 d after TMV inoculation of the lower leaves, concomitantly with the development of systemic acquired resistance. From the six distinct SOD isoenzymes found in tobacco leaves, only the activities of Cu,Zn-SOD isoenzymes were affected by TMV. SA injection induced DHAR, GR, GST, and SOD activities. Catalase activities were not modified by TMV infection or SA treatment. It is supposed that stimulated antioxidative processes contribute to the suppression of necrotic symptom development in leaves with systemic acquired resistance.
Preoperative Particle and Glue Embolization of Meningiomas: Indications, Results, and Lessons Learned from 117 Consecutive Patients

BACKGROUND: Preoperative embolization of meningiomas remains contentious, with persisting uncertainty over the safety and efficacy of this adjunctive technique. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety of presurgical embolization of meningiomas and its impact on subsequent transfusion requirement with respect to the extent of embolization and technique used. METHODS: One hundred seventeen consecutive patients between 2001 and 2010 were referred for embolization of presumed intracranial meningioma before surgical resection. Glue and/or particles were used to devascularize the tumor in 107 patients, all of whom went on to operative resection. The extent and nature of embolization-related complications, degree of angiographic devascularization, and the intraoperative blood transfusion requirements were analyzed. RESULTS: Mean blood transfusion requirement during surgery was 0.8 units per case (range, 1-14 units). Blood transfusion was significantly lower in patients whose meningiomas were completely, angiographically devascularized (P = .035). Four patients had complications as a direct result of the embolization procedure. These included intratumoral hemorrhage in 2, sixth cranial nerve palsy in 1, and scalp necrosis requiring reconstructive surgery in 1 patient. CONCLUSION: The complication rate was 3.7%. No relationship between the embolic agent and the degree of devascularization was observed. Achieving a complete devascularization resulted in a lower blood transfusion requirement, considered an indirect measure of operative blood loss. This series demonstrates that preoperative meningioma embolization is safe and may reduce operative blood loss. We present distal intratumoral injection of liquid embolic as a safe and effective alternative to more established particle embolization techniques.
Brief and repeated noise exposure produces different morphological and biochemical effects in noradrenaline and adrenaline cells of adrenal medulla

Exposure to stressful stimuli is known to activate the peripheral sympathetic nervous system and the adrenal gland. In this study, we evaluated the effects of single or repeated bouts of exposure to a readily measurable stressful stimulus (loud noise) on the catecholamine content and ultrastructure of the rat adrenal medulla. In particular, we measured tissue levels of dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline and metabolites. In parallel studies, we evaluated the fine ultrastructure of catecholamine cells, including a detailed study of catecholamine granules and a morphometric analysis of adrenaline and noradrenaline medullary cells. Animals were exposed either to a single (6 h) session of loud (100 dBA) noise, or to this noise stimulus repeated every day for 21 consecutive days. There was a marked correlation between biochemical indexes of catecholamine activity and the ultrastructural morphometry of specific catecholamine granules. Exposure to loud noise for 6 h induced a parallel increase in dopamine, noradrenaline, adrenaline and their metabolites, a polarization and an increased numerical density of noradrenaline and adrenaline granules in the cells. After repeated noise exposure, noradrenaline levels were significantly higher than in controls, and adrenaline decreased significantly. In addition, adrenaline cells also exhibited ultrastructural alterations consisting of wide homogeneous cytoplasmic areas and large, pale vesicles.
Consumer potential of households, its differentiation and dynamics in the new economy: evidence from Russia

Household is a production unit of a special kind, producing basic consumer goods directly included in its utility function. The production function of the household and full satisfaction of needs determines the formation of human potential. Due to under-consumption, the quality of human potential suffers. Most of the household consumption is a productive consumption aimed at the reproduction and accumulation of the household’s human potential. Consumer activity in the new economy complement the concept of "human potential" through the realization of consumer potential, which is reproduced in the form of consumer capital. Consumer potential of the household determined primarily by income. In the case of Russian transitional economy, the polarization of consumption characteristics is only an external manifestation of the socioeconomic processes took place at the previous stages of economic development. Consumer behavior of the population of Russia shows a very high marginal propensity to consume that generally fluctuates between 0.7 and 0.9 over the years. The consumption function of Russian households in 2001-2015 shows that the relationship between income and consumer spending is clear. A low level of real incomes forces people to direct the income growth mainly to consumer spending. During periods of stabilization of the economic situation in Russia, the marginal propensity to consume decreases.
Accurate quantification of cells recovered by bronchoalveolar lavage.

Quantification of the differential cell count and total number of cells recovered from the lower respiratory tract by bronchoalveolar lavage is a valuable technique for evaluating the alveolitis of patients with inflammatory disorders of the lower respiratory tract. The most commonly used technique for the evaluation of cells recovered by lavage has been to concentrate cells by centrifugation and then to determine total cell number using a hemocytometer and differential cell count from a Wright-Glemsa-stained cytocentrifuge preparation. However, we have noted that the percentage of small cells present in the original cell suspension recovered by lavage is greater than the percentage of lymphocytes identified on cytocentrifuge preparations. Therefore, we developed procedures for determining differential cell counts on lavage cells collected on Millipore filters and stained with hematoxylin-eosin (filter preparations) and compared the results of differential cell counts performed on filter preparations with those obtained using cytocentrifuge preparations. When cells recovered by lavage were collected on filter preparations, accurate differential cell counts were obtained, as confirmed by performing differential cell counts on cell mixtures of known composition, and by comparing differential cell counts obtained using filter preparations stained with hematoxylin-eosin with those obtained using filter preparations stained with a peroxidase cytochemical stain. The morphology of cells displayed on filter preparations was excellent, and interobserver variability in quantitating cell types recovered by lavage was less than 3%. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Sustainable Development of Urban Rail Transit Networks: A Vulnerability Perspective

Urban rail transit (URT) systems are critical to modern public transportation services. Unfortunately, disruptions in URT systems can lead to dysfunction and threaten sustainable development. This study analyses URT network sustainability from a vulnerability perspective. Two network attack scenarios, including random attacks and intentional attacks, are designed to assess different kinds of disruptions to URT networks. Under random attacks, nodes are randomly removed from the network. In contrast, under intentional attacks, key nodes are identified and removed based on topological metrics and passenger flow volume. Then, URT network vulnerability is evaluated by quantifying the changes in network efficiency and structural integrity under the network attacks from a spatio-temporal point of view. The real-world case of the Shanghai URT system from 1993 to 2020 is used to illustrate the vulnerability in the evolution of the URT system. The results indicate that the URT network is increasingly fault-tolerant and structurally robust over time. The URT network is more vulnerable to intentional attacks than to random failures. Additionally, there are significant spatial differences in the vulnerability of Shanghai URT network. Stations in the central activity zone (CAZ) are more fault-tolerant and robust than stations located outside of the CAZ. Furthermore, stations with large centrality and greater passenger flow volumes and lines with many key nodes and greater passenger flow volumes, are vulnerable to disruptions in the URT networks. This study provides a new index to comprehensively quantify node centrality; it also fills a research gap by analysing the vulnerability of URT networks based on both longitudinal and spatial patterns. Finally, this paper highlights significant practical implications for the sustainable development of URT networks, as well as the sustainable development of public transportation services.
New insights into the anti-diabetic actions of metformin: from the liver to the gut

ABSTRACT Introduction: Metformin is established as the first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes (T2DM), but its mode of action remains elusive. Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying the anti-diabetic action of metformin may have the potential to optimise its glucose-lowering efficacy and lead to the development of agents acting on novel targets for the management of type 2 diabetes. Areas covered: This review highlights key pharmacokinetic features of metformin, summarises recent insights into its hepatic and gastrointestinal actions relevant to blood glucose homeostasis, and discusses the common gastrointestinal side effects of metformin. Literature concerning these areas was reviewed on PubMed. Expert commentary: The mechanisms by which metformin improves glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes are complex. Although novel hepatic pathways continue to be reported in preclinical studies, there is a lack of human evidence for most of these. Considering the fundamental role of the gastrointestinal tract in the regulation of blood glucose homeostasis and pleiotropic actions of metformin on several gastrointestinal targets relevant to glycaemic control, the gut is likely to represent at least as important a site of metformin action as the liver in the management of type 2 diabetes.
PELUANG DAN TANTANGAN PENERAPAN ACTIVITY-BASED COSTING DALAM PROSES PENYUSUNAN ANALISA STANDAR BELANJA PEMERINTAH DAERAH PROVINSI PAPUA DAN RELEVANSINYA TERHADAP PENGANGGARAN PEMERINTAH DAERAH

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk melihat dan mengetahui kemungkinan penerapan metoda activity based costing di lingkungan organisasi pemerintah daerah, dan sekaligus mengetahui perbedaan pengaplikasian metoda activity based costing dibandingkan dengan metoda tradisional khususnya dalam perhitungan kegiatan penyediaan jasa surat menyurat di lingkungan Pemerintah Provinsi Papua . Penelitian ini hanya menggunakan simulasi sederhana perhitungan pada kegiatan penyediaan jasa surat menyurat pada beberapa SKPD terpilih dilingkungan Pemerintah Provinsi Papua untuk Tahun Anggaran 2015. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa metoda activity based costing sangat potensial digunakan sebagai dasar perhitungan alolakasi biaya pada kegiatan penyediaan jasa surat menyurat, dari simulasi yang dilakukan terlihat efisiensi sampai dengan 18,85% dibandingkan dengan perhitungan menggunakan metoda tradisional. Kata kunci: activity based costing, metoda tradisional, analisis standar belanja
Cubature kalman filter-based state estimation for distributed drive electric vehicles

Improvement of electric vehicle handling stability and active safety depends strongly on real-time knowledge of important vehicle states in vehicle dynamics control systems, which is difficult to measure directly for both technical and economic reasons in fact. This paper presents a novel method to estimate critical vehicle states such as vehicle sideslip angle and lateral tire forces by utilizing real-time measurements only from sensors that have already been integrated in modern cars. By considering load transfer and nonlinear Dugoff tire, the four-wheel nonlinear vehicle dynamics model with the eight degrees of freedom is built. To address vehicle dynamics system nonlinearities, the vehicle state estimator based on cubature kalman filter is derived and investigated. Simulation with double lane change manoeuvre is carried out in the platform of Matlab/Simulink-Carsim. It is found from the simulation results that the proposed estimator can effectively estimate the vehicle sideslip angle and lateral tire forces.
A polymorphism in the poliovirus receptor gene differs in motor neuron disease

Poliovirus has been implicated in the etiology of sporadic motor neuron disease. DNA polymorphisms in the poliovirus receptor gene (PVR) are associated with persistent poliovirus infection in cell culture. PVR DNA polymorphisms were therefore studied in 110 cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, 30 cases of progressive muscular atrophy (a disorder of lower motor neurons) and 280 normal controls. In exon 2 of PVR the heterozygous Ala67Thr change was detected in 20.0% of progressive muscular atrophy, 11.8% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 6.8% of control subjects. The frequency of the polymorphism was significantly higher in patients with progressive muscular atrophy than in controls. Differences in the poliovirus receptor gene may result in slowly progressive viral cytopathic effects that lead to lower motor neuron forms of motor neuron disease.
Boundary estimation for a diffusion-reaction PDE driven by an unknown periodic Neumann input

Abstract In this paper, we design exponentially convergent observers for a class of parabolic partial differential equations (PDEs) driven by an unknown periodic Neumann input with only boundary sensing available. The problem is posed as a problem of designing an invertible coordinate transformation of the observer error system into an exponentially stable system. Observer gains (output injection function) are shown to satisfy a well-posed hyperbolic PDE. Moreover, the observer gains are obtained in closed form. Simulation results are presented.
Laboratories of Democracy Reform: State Constitutions and Partisan Gerrymandering

Despite multiple opportunities to address the issue, the Supreme Court has declined to take action on partisan gerrymandering. Here we argue that the Court has successfully laid out several intellectual paths toward effective regulation - but that the best route for applying such reasoning goes not through federal law, but state constitutions. In Gill v. Whitford, 138 S.Ct. 1916 (2018), Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Kagan proposed differing theories for justiciable tests for partisan gerrymandering. Chief Justice Roberts described how a claim of individual harm to a voter could lead to a valid claim in a single district. Justice Kagan described how a claim of associational harm could be advanced at a statewide level. We propose that Roberts’ and Kagan’s theories can be used to bring partisan gerrymandering challenges in state court, with claims based on state constitutions and not the U.S. Constitution. We argue that such a federalist approach offers the most promising route to remedying partisan gerrymandering in America. All fifty state constitutions contain rights and protections which could be used to bring a partisan gerrymandering claim. These include analogues of the First and Fourteenth Amendments, guarantees of pure, free, and fair elections, and redistricting-specific guarantees such as geographic compactness. Because each of these protections involves either individualized or associational harms, the Roberts and Kagan opinions offer state courts persuasive guidance for how to analyze their own constitutional provisions to a partisan gerrymandering claim. Advancing such claims on a state by state basis allows courts to adapt the reasoning to local circumstances. Taken together, our arguments describe a federalist approach for eliminating partisan gerrymandering, a major bug in American democracy.
A challenge for regenerative medicine: Proper genetic programming, not cellular mimicry

Recent progress in stem cell biology and the reprogramming of somatic cells to a pluripotent phenotype has generated a new wave of excitement in regenerative medicine. Nonetheless, efforts aimed at understanding transdifferentiation, dedifferentiation, and the plasticity of cells, as well as the ability of somatic cells to be reprogrammed, has raised as many questions as those that have been answered. This review proffers the argument that many reports of transdifferentiation, dedifferentiation, and unexpected stem cell plasticity may be due to aberrant processes that lead to cellular look‐alikes (cellular mimicry). In most cases, cellular look‐alikes can now be identified readily by monitoring gene expression profiles, as well as epigenetic modifications of DNA and histone proteins of the cells involved. This review further argues that progress in regenerative medicine will be significantly hampered by failing to address the issue of cellular look‐alikes. Developmental Dynamics 236:3199–3207, 2007. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Atherothrombosis: A Major Health Burden

Atherosclerosis involves structural change to the intima and media of medium- and large-sized arteries. Although an atherosclerotic plaque may remain clinically silent, it is prone to disruption, leading to local platelet activation and aggregation. Therefore, the major complication of atherosclerosis is thrombosis, with local occlusion or distal embolism – a generalized disease process known as atherothrombosis. The three main clinical manifestations of atherothrombosis are coronary heart disease (myocardial infarction and angina), peripheral arterial disease and cerebral ischaemia. Atherothrombosis is a leading cause of mortality, and stroke is the leading cause of disability in adults, the second most important cause of dementia and the third most common cause of death in Western countries. Ischaemic stroke accounts for 80% of strokes and atherothrombosis accounts for approximately 20% of all strokes. Criteria for atherothrombotic stroke are evidence of a 50% (or greater) stenosis of a cervical artery and exclusion of other potential causes. The incidence of cerebrovascular events is 2,900 per million inhabitants per year, consisting of 500 transient ischaemic attacks and 2,400 strokes, of which 75% are first-ever stroke. The prevalence of stroke in the same population is 12,000, of which 800 patients (7%) per year have recurrences. The risk of ipsilateral stroke is 5% per year and the risk of a cardiac event is higher at 7%. Besides optimal management of risk factors for atherothrombosis and carotid surgery, antiplatelet therapy is the cornerstone of vascular prevention. In secondary prevention, antiplatelet agents are effective in reducing the risk of further ischaemic events in patients with atherothrombosis. Clopidogrel, a newly licensed ADP receptor antagonist, is the only antiplatelet agent to have demonstrated its superiority versus aspirin for the reduction of major ischaemic events (myocardial infarction, ischaemic stroke, vascular death) in patients whose initial manifestation of atherothrombosis was one of the three main clinical manifestations of the disease (recent ischaemic stroke, myocardial infarction, established peripheral arterial disease).