Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of renin-angiotensin system blockade on soluble Klotho in patients with type 2 diabetes, systolic hypertension, and albuminuria.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Soluble Klotho is an anti-aging phosphaturic protein associated with vascular-renal protection. In vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade increases soluble Klotho levels. The effect of RAS blockers on soluble Klotho in patients with diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is unknown. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Plasma-soluble Klotho was measured in a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled clinical trial performed at a single university hospital center (ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT001715, from March 2003 to September 2006). Seventy-six patients with type 2 diabetes and DKD (all with albuminuria and serum creatinine <1.7 mg/dl) were studied at baseline and at 24 weeks (study end) after randomization to valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide (n=37) or amlodipine (n=39) treatment. Aortic-pulse wave velocity by applanation tonometry and albuminuria (from three timed urine collections) were also measured at baseline and 24 weeks. RESULTS Valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide treatment significantly increased mean (± SD) soluble Klotho (from 432.7 ± 179 to 506.4 ± 226.8 pg/ml; P=0.01) and reduced serum phosphate (from 3.25 ± 1.18 to 2.60 ± 0.96 mg/dl; P=0.04) compared with amlodipine (from 430.1 ± 145.8 to 411.9 ± 157.6 pg/ml and from 2.94 ± 0.56 to 2.69 ± 1.52 mg/dl, respectively). There was a significant difference between treatment groups in soluble Klotho (mean 91.9 pg/ml; 95% confidence interval, 19.9 to 162) and serum phosphate levels (mean -0.68 mg/dl; 95% confidence interval, -0.15 to -1.33) with valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide treatment (P=0.03 and P=0.04, respectively). Attained BP was similar in the two groups and levels of soluble Klotho were not associated with aortic-pulse wave velocity and albuminuria, variables that fell significantly only with valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide. CONCLUSIONS Treatment with a RAS blocker, valsartan, is associated with an increase in soluble Klotho, which may contribute to the BP-independent cardiorenal benefits of these drugs in DKD.
The application of macroprudential policy tools to affect concentration in the Polish banking sector

Banking sectors in particular EU Member States are characterized by different profitability and concentration. In the literature there are divergent views on the appropriate concentration level from the perspective of supervisory authorities, consumers or banks themselves. However, the research carried out for Poland shows that there is positive correlation between concentration and profitability. Moreover, since 2009 a wave of mergers and acquisitions has occurred in the Polish banking sector, which is detrimental to consumers. This conclusion has been drawn from the Lerner index values that have been computed owing to the econometric model with transcendental logarithmic function for the total cost. Thus, if concentration is too high, the supervisory authorities could consider preventing further mergers or acquisitions using new macroprudential policy tools, instead of old administrative ones. Especially important here is the capital buffer that is set on other systemically important institutions. It can be accompanied by the systemic risk buffer. Nevertheless, the results of the comparative analysis show that diverse solutions are currently applied across EU Member States.
Efficacy of the left gastric artery as a route for catheterization of the right gastric artery.

OBJECTIVE Our aim was to evaluate the efficacy of the left gastric artery as a route for embolization of the right gastric artery before port-catheter implantation for hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 88 patients (61 men and 27 women; mean age, 63.4 years; range, 25-83 years) with unresectable advanced liver cancer, retrograde catheterization of the right gastric artery through the left gastric artery was performed to embolize the right gastric artery. RESULTS The right gastric artery was successfully catheterized and embolized in 79 patients (89.8%). In two of the nine patients in whom the procedure was not successful, we found that no right gastric artery existed after we succeeded in retrograde advancement of the microcatheter toward the hepatic site. The only procedure-related complication was misplacement of a microcoil into the hepatic artery site in two patients. CONCLUSION The left gastric artery is an appropriate route for selective embolization of the right gastric artery as preparation for long-term hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy.
Foliar application of microdoses of sucrose to reduce codling moth Cydia pomonella L. (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) damage to apple trees.

BACKGROUND The effects of foliar applications of microdoses of sucrose to reduce the damage by the codling moth have been reported from nine trials carried in France and Algeria from 2009 to 2014. The activity of sucrose alone was assessed by comparison with an untreated control and some treatments with the Cydia pomonella granulovirus or a chemical insecticide. The addition of sucrose to these different treatments was also investigated. RESULTS The application of sucrose at 0.01% reduced the means of infested fruits with a value of Abbott's efficacy of 41.0 ± 10.0%. This involved the induction of resistance by antixenosis to insect egg laying. Indeed, it seems that acceptance of egg laying on leaves treated with sucrose was reduced. The addition of sucrose to thiacloprid improved its efficacy (59.5% ± 12.8) by 18.4%. However, the sucrose had no added value when associated with C. pomonella granulovirus treatments. CONCLUSION Foliar applications of microdoses of sucrose every 20 days in commercial orchards can partially protect against the codling moth. Its addition to thiacloprid increases the efficacy in integrated control strategies, contrary to C. pomonella granulovirus treatments. This work opens a route for the development of new biocontrol strategies. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry.
An Approach for Requirement Prioritization Using B-Tree

A software projects is bounded by number of constraints such as time, features, budget and resources. The needs & expectations of the customer are dynamic and depend on the various factors which keep changing. In order find out their relevance [24], to increase the customer satisfaction [23], planning the release of new prototype or version the requirements [16] prioritization have gained importance and have became an essential characteristic of requirements [24]. This is also important when there are strict constraints on schedule & resources one must negotiate & prioritize the most essential features to be incorporated as to make project successful. In industrial projects, there are many requirements which keep on increasing as the projects undergo development, so prioritization is must [23, 24, 26, 27] but often it is dropped because of large number of growing requirements need more number of comparisons. "Yet there has been little progress to date, either theoretical or practical, on the mechanisms for prioritizing software requirements [2]. "[1]. This paper encourages the industry to prioritize requirement, with help of B-Tree method in which the number of comparison required by the proposed method can be kept low.
Clinical response to adalimumab: relationship to anti-adalimumab antibodies and serum adalimumab concentrations in rheumatoid arthritis

Background: A substantial proportion of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) do not respond, or lose initial response, to adalimumab treatment. One explanation for non-response is that patients develop anti-adalimumab antibodies. Objectives: To evaluate the incidence of formation of antibody against adalimumab and the association with serum adalimumab concentrations and clinical response. Methods: In a cohort of 121 consecutive patients with RA treated with adalimumab, serum adalimumab concentrations and antibodies against adalimumab were measured together with clinical response variables before and up to 28 weeks after the start of treatment. Results: Anti-adalimumab antibodies were detected in 21 patients (17%) during 28 weeks of treatment. EULAR non-responders had antibodies significantly more often than good responders (34% vs 5%; p = 0.032). Patients with antibodies showed less improvement in disease activity (mean (SD) delta DAS28 0.65 (1.35)) than patients without antibodies (mean delta DAS28 1.70 (1.35)) (p = 0.001). Patients with antibodies during follow-up had lower serum adalimumab concentrations at 28 weeks than patients without antibodies (median 1.2 mg/l, range 0.0–5.6 vs median 11.0 mg/l, range 2.0–33.0, respectively; p<0.001). Good responders had higher serum adalimumab concentrations than moderate responders (p = 0.021) and non-responders (p = 0.001). Concomitant methotrexate use was lower in the group with anti-adalimumab antibodies (52%) than in the group without antibodies (84%) (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Serum antibodies against adalimumab are associated with lower serum adalimumab concentrations and non-response to adalimumab treatment.
The Analysis of Real Exchange Rate Volatility and Stock Exchange Return with PANEL-GARCH Approach (Case Study: D8 Countries)

S tock returns of companies listed on the stock exchange is one of the most important criteria in assessing the macroeconomic. This study investigates the effect of exchange rate Volatility on the stock exchange Returns of D8 countries. It takes monthly data during the period (2008:1-2015:6) constituting 90 observations. At first we used Panel-GARCH model to estimate Exchange Rate Volatility Index, and then we used Panel data method to investigate the effect of index on the stock exchange return of D8 countries. Simulation results show that exchange rate volatility affects positively and significantly on stock exchange return in four countries, namely Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia and Bangladesh. The variables of oil price, real interest rate, inflation rate, real exchange rate and gold price have been utilized for model analysis. Results show that the variables of real exchange rate and inflation rate have negative effects but oil price has positive effect on stock returns, while interest rate and gold price do not have any significant effect.
Perceptions of middle-class mothers of their children with special needs participating in motor and sport programs

This exploratory research studied middle-class mother's primary reason for registering their young children, mean age 6.9 years, in adapted motor and sports programs and their perceptions of their children upon entering the program and upon completion. Analyses also examined the possible relationship between mothers' age, education or children's age with their perceived favorable changes in the children's development. Fifty-one mothers participated in the study. The mothers completed a survey examining their perceptions of their children's developmental function along seven domains: understanding direction, communication, general physical functioning, fine motor skills, activities of daily living, vigilance and attention, and social behavior. The children were categorized by primary reason of referral to three categories: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, motor difficulties, and social/behavioral difficulties. Findings suggest that middle-class mothers showed awareness and understanding of their children's needs by identifying the general physical function as the desirable domain to be addressed by the motor group, vigilance and attention as associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and understanding directions and communication as the desirable domain by the social/behavioral group. The findings are discussed in terms of the complexity of mother's perception of their children participating in sports and motor programs as relating to the different domains as well as to their perceived needs of their children.
Pharmacological and Pharmacokinetic Properties of a Structurally Novel, Potent, and Selective Metabotropic Glutamate 2/3 Receptor Agonist: In Vitro Characterization of Agonist (–)-(1R,4S,5S,6S)-4-Amino-2-sulfonylbicyclo[3.1.0]-hexane-4,6-dicarboxylic Acid (LY404039)

Group II metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor agonists, including (1S,2S,5R,6S)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1. 0]hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate monohydrate (LY354740) and (–)-2-oxa-4-aminobicyclo[3.1. 0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylate (LY379268), have demonstrated efficacy in animal models of anxiety and schizophrenia, and LY354740 decreased anxiety in human subjects. Herein, we report the in vitro pharmacological profile and pharmacokinetic properties of another potent, selective, and structurally novel mGlu2/3 receptor agonist, (–)-(1R,4S,5S,6S)-4-amino-2-sulfonylbicyclo[3.1. 0]hexane-4,6-dicarboxylic acid (LY404039) and provide comparisons with LY354740. Similar to LY354740, LY404039 is a nanomolar potent agonist at recombinant human mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors (Ki = 149 and 92, respectively) and in rat neurons expressing native mGlu2/3 receptors (Ki = 88). LY404039 is highly selective for mGlu2/3 receptors, showing more than 100-fold selectivity for these receptors, versus ionotropic glutamate receptors, glutamate transporters, and other receptors targeted by known anxiolytic and antipsychotic medications. Functionally, LY404039 potently inhibited forskolin-stimulated cAMP formation in cells expressing human mGlu2 and mGlu3 receptors. Electrophysiological studies indicated that LY404039 suppressed electrically evoked excitatory activity in the striatum, and serotonin-induced l-glutamate release in the prefrontal cortex; effects reversed by LY341495. These characteristics suggest LY404039 modulates glutamatergic activity in limbic and forebrain areas relevant to psychiatric disorders; and that, similar to LY354740, it works through a mechanism that may be devoid of negative side effects associated with current antipsychotics and anxiolytics. Interestingly, despite the slightly lower potency (∼2–5-fold) of LY404039 versus LY354740 in binding, functional, and electrophysiological assays, LY404039 demonstrated higher plasma exposure and better oral bioavailability in pharmacokinetic experiments. Collectively, the current data indicate that LY404039 may be valuable in the treatment of neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety and psychosis.
Womens economic contribution to households in Thailand. Implication for national development and social welfare.

Data from the 1988 Socioeconomic Survey of Thailand and in-depth interviews are used to identify some determinants of womens economic security. The authors posit that participation in the labor force and management of the household budget may not secure economic well-being. Important factors are marital status and spouses economic status. For example in female-headed households which include children economic security is dependent on time spent in wage work the amount of earnings and social factors such as the lack of compensation for child care and housework obligations to care for children and gender bias in the labor market. Women in households with economically irresponsible husbands due to involvement with alcohol drugs or other women may not have economic security even though women control management of the household. Thai society prescribes the role of a wife as a budget manager. A good wife is expected to manage the budget effectively and to meet her husbands demands. A refusal of a husbands request for money can bring about marital discord. The qualitative analysis confirms that womens actual decisions on household expenditures are constrained by norms and by bargaining power over household material resources. Womens labor force participation in Thailand is very high (82% for women vs. 92% for men). The survey does include nonpaid family labor. Women have higher levels of unpaid family work than men in urban and rural areas. 58% of urban men and 39% of urban women are engaged in wage work. 22% of urban women and 8% of rural women are housewives. Strategies that Thai women have developed for supporting dependent children alone or with an unreliable sources of income from their husband include renting out land having children work fostering children out of the family moving in with parents or relatives migrating and leaving children with parents or relatives borrowing money seeking help from available sources or becoming a minor wife.
Dam-Induced Development and Environmental and Social Sustainability: The Bakun Industrialization Strategy Revisited

Malaysia changed rapidly from an agriculturally based economy in the 1960s to an industrially oriented nation in the 1990s. Its rapid industrial development momentum is further intensified under the Malaysian Third Outline Perspective Plan (OPP3) 2001-2010 a long-term development plan which aims to develop Malaysia into a fully industrialized country by 2020 (EPU 2001a). This long-term vision of growth is often known as "Vision 2020. " Unmistakably, one of the main conditions for achieving this vision of growth is the increasing availability of energy, particularly the supply of electricity to spur its industrialization process. As claimed by the Ministry of Resource and Planning, for instance, "[w]ith industrialization as our national vision, we must have sufficient energy to realize our plans" (Sarawak Forest Department, undated). It is in this setting that the government has ventured into developing one of the largest dams in the world the Bakun Dam. The dam, which will cost about $2.5 billion, is in the state of Sarawak in Malaysia (see figure 1). It has an installed capacity of 2,400 megawatts (MW) and a life cycle between thirty and fifty years. The dam measures 205 meters (m) high, 740 m long, and 560 m wide. It is the largest dam in Southeast Asia. The impoundment of water behind the dam will completely submerge 69,640 hectares of tropical forest ecosystem an area larger than the size of Singapore. The project also requires a forced displacement of the entire indigenous population, consisting of some 10,000 inhabitants who have been living in the Bakun interior for 450 years.
A vaccine directed to B cells and produced by cell-free protein synthesis generates potent antilymphoma immunity

Clinical studies of idiotype (Id) vaccination in patients with lymphoma have established a correlation between the induced anti-Id antibody responses and favorable clinical outcomes. To streamline the production of an Id vaccine, we engineered a small diabody (Db) molecule containing both a B-cell–targeting moiety (anti-CD19) and a lymphoma Id. This molecule (αCD19-Id) was designed to penetrate lymph nodes and bind to noncognate B cells to form an antigen presentation array. Indeed, the αCD19-Id molecule accumulated on B cells in vivo after s.c. administration. These noncognate B cells, decorated with the diabody, could then stimulate the more rare Id-specific B cells. Peptide epitopes present in the diabody linker augmented the response by activating CD4+ helper T cells. Consequently, the αCD19-Id molecule induced a robust Id-specific antibody response and protected animals from tumor challenge. Such diabodies are produced in a cell-free protein expression system within hours of amplification of the specific Ig genes from the B-cell tumor. This customized product can now be available to vaccinate patients before they receive other, potentially immunosuppressive, therapies.
Assessment of threatened flora susceptibility to Phytophthora cinnamomi by analysis of disease progress curves in shadehouse and natural environments

Disease progress curves were evaluated for the assessment of the susceptibility of the flora of the South-West Botanical Province of Western Australia threatened by Phytophthora cinnamomi infection. Disease progress was analysed with the logistic model because this model describes numerous observed disease progress curves. In addition, the three logistic model parameters, upper asymptote (Kmax), lag time (t1/2K) and intrinsic rate of increase (r), have rational physical interpretations. Because the logistic model parameters for percentage of plants with collar lesions were significantly related to parameters for percentage mortality, only the logistic model parameters for percentage mortality were used in subsequent analysis. Susceptible hosts had the greatest Kmax, shortest t1/2K and fastest r. These parameters change to lowest Kmax, longest t1/2K and slowest r for resistant plant taxa. There was a greater change of Kmax with t1/2K than with r. The Kmax and r parameters did not differ significantly between isolates of the pathogen. Variation in mortality curve parameters between years was greater for Banksia grandis than for the more susceptible B. brownii. There was no significant linear relationship between mortality curve parameters for B. brownii and temperature variables. For B. grandis there were four significant linear relationships between a mortality curve parameter and a temperature variable. Potting mix soil favoured greatest disease progress with the shortest t1/2K and fastest r. Susceptibility to P. cinnamomi determined in a shadehouse environment following soil inoculation was significantly positively correlated with susceptibility recorded in disease centres in natural environments.
Active reduction of electrical machines magnetic noise by the control of low frequency current harmonics

A previous study has shown that the current low frequency harmonics, even with low amplitudes, have a strong influence on the global vibrations of a wound rotor synchronous machine. Therefore an harmonic dedicated regulation of the machine currents, allowing to manage in a low cost way their harmonic content, can drastically improve the acoustic noise of this machine. The main goal of this paper is to experimentally demonstrate the acoustic gain that could be attempted while decreasing the harmonic content of the currents using a harmonic dedicated regulation. A particular attention is given to the regulation of the 5th and 7th currents harmonics. The strong link between current harmonics and magnetic forces is theoretically introduced in the first part of this study, harmonic regulation principle is then detailed and finally experimental results present the important gains allowed by this technique.
Carbon Dioxide Fixation in Neuronal and Astroglial Cells in Culture

Abstract: The concentration of potassium in the extracellular fluid has been found to stimulate the rate of CO2 fixation by astroglial cells grown in primary culture. Raising the concentration of extracellular potassium increased both the initial rate of formation of the 14C‐labeled products of 14CO2 fixation and the final steady‐state level of these products within the cells. In contrast, neither veratridine nor l‐glutamate affected the rate of CO2 fixation in astroglial cells. The very low rate of CO2 fixation found in primarily neuronal cultures was unaffected by increased extracellular potassium as was CO2 fixation in fibroblasts. When cultured alone, astroglial cells release a large fraction of the 14C‐labeled products of CO2 fixation into the surrounding medium. Mixed cultures of astroglia and neurons also fix CO2 but, in contrast to astroglia cultured alone, release only a small fraction of the 14C‐labeled products into the culture medium.
Transcriptional Expression of Escherichia coli Glutamate-Dependent Acid Resistance Genes gadA and gadBC in an hns rpoS Mutant

ABSTRACT Resistance to being killed by acidic environments with pH values lower than 3 is an important feature of both pathogenic and nonpathogenic Escherichia coli. The most potent E. coli acid resistance system utilizes two isoforms of glutamate decarboxylase encoded by gadA and gadB and a putative glutamate:γ-aminobutyric acid antiporter encoded by gadC. The gad system is controlled by two repressors (H-NS and CRP), one activator (GadX), one repressor-activator (GadW), and two sigma factors (σS and σ70). In contrast to results of previous reports, we demonstrate that gad transcription can be detected in an hns rpoS mutant strain of E. coli K-12, indicating that gad promoters can be initiated by σ70 in the absence of H-NS.