Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The inverse relationship between alanine aminotransferase in the normal range and adverse cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular outcomes.

BACKGROUND High serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels have been associated with increased risk of diabetes and with increased mortality, but associations of variations of ALT in the normal range with outcomes have been less well studied. METHODS We studied the relationship between ALT, mortality and cardiovascular events in the West of Scotland Coronary Prevention Study (WOSCOPS) and the Prospective Study of Pravastatin in the Elderly at Risk (PROSPER) trials that explicitly excluded subjects with clinically significant liver damage, plus the Leiden 85-plus, a study of survivors to age 85 years. The associations between ALT and morbidity and mortality outcomes were investigated using Cox proportional hazard models adjusting for a comprehensive panel of cardiovascular risk factors. RESULTS In all three study cohorts, ALT displayed an independent inverse relationship with all-cause mortality so that hazard ratios for fourth versus first quarter of ALT were all below 1.0; HRs 0.64 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50-0.81], 0.86 (0.73-1.01), 0.66 (0.50-0.87); WOSCOPS, PROSPER, Leiden 85-plus, respectively. In WOSCOPS and PROSPER, ALT was also inversely associated with risk of fatal plus non-fatal cardiovascular events, including coronary heart disease (CHD) events and stroke. CONCLUSIONS In three independent populations, ALT in the normal range displayed an inverse relationship with total mortality, cardiovascular events and non-cardiovascular events in middle-to-older aged subjects without evidence of clinically significant liver damage, independent of traditional cardiovascular and other risk factors. These findings indicate that the relationship between ALT and clinical outcomes is more complex than generally appreciated.
The Interaction of Aspiration Pneumonia with Demographic and Cerebrovascular Disease Risk Factors is Predictive of Discharge Level of Care in the Acute Stroke Patient

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate factors that help determine the postacute level of care for stroke patients with aspiration pneumonia (ASPNA). DesignThis was a retrospective observational study of patients admitted to the University of Texas at Houston Medical School Stroke Service between July 2004 and October 2009 with discharge dispositions of home, inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility, or subacute care (n = 3511). Demographics, stroke risk factors, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) values were collected. Interactions were evaluated between ASPNA and aging, ASPNA and NIHSS, ASPNA and use of tube feeding, and ASPNA and history of stroke. Using multivariable logistic regression, the data were analyzed for differences in disposition among patients with ASPNA. ResultsThere were significant correlations between ASPNA and an NIHSS value of 7.44 or greater for discharge to inpatient rehabilitation, skilled nursing facility, or subacute care compared with discharge to home (P = 0.0138); between ASPNA and an NIHSS value of 10.93 or greater for discharge to skilled nursing facility or subacute care compared with inpatient rehabilitation (P < 0.0001); and between ASPNA and age greater than 69.30 yrs for discharge to subacute care compared with a skilled nursing facility (P < 0.0001). ConclusionsPatients with ASPNA and an NIHSS value of 7.44 or greater are more likely to require additional postacute care. ASPNA and an NIHSS value of 10.93 or greater increased the chance of postacute care at a level suggestive of lower functional status (skilled nursing facility or subacute care compared with inpatient rehabilitation). Age greater than 69.30 yrs plus ASPNA increased the likelihood of placement in subacute care vs. a skilled nursing facility.
Release‐independent depression at pyramidal inputs onto specific cell targets: dual recordings in slices of rat cortex

1 Paired intracellular recordings were performed in slices of adult rat neocortex and hippocampus to examine presynaptic depression. A novel form of depression that occurs even in the absence of transmitter release during conditioning activity was observed at a subset of synaptic connections. 2 In each pair studied, a pyramidal neurone was presynaptic and inputs onto a range of morphologically identified postsynaptic target cells were analysed; high probability connections exhibiting the more traditional forms of release‐dependent depression, as well as low probability connections exhibiting facilitation, were tested (n= 35). 3 Connections were tested with presynaptic spike pairs and trains of spikes with a range of interspike intervals. Sweeps in which the first action potential elicited no detectable response (apparent failures of transmission) and sweeps in which the first action potential elicited large EPSPs were selected. Second EPSPs that followed apparent failures were then compared with second EPSPs that followed large first EPSPs. 4 Release‐independent depression was apparent when second EPSPs at brief interspike intervals (< 10–15 ms) were on average smaller than second EPSPs at longer interspike intervals, even following apparent failures and when the second EPSP amplitude at these short intervals was independent of the amplitude of the first EPSP. 5 Release‐independent depression appeared selectively expressed. Depressing inputs onto some interneurones, such as CA1 basket‐like and bistratified cells, and facilitating inputs onto others, such as some fast spiking neocortical interneurones, exhibited this phenomenon. In contrast, depressing inputs onto 10/10 neocortical pyramids and facilitating inputs onto 7/7 oriens‐lacunosum moleculare and 5/5 burst firing, sparsely spiny neocortical interneurones did not.
Structure and genetic basis of Yersinia similis serotype O:9 O-specific polysaccharide

The O-polysaccharide (OPS, O-Ag) cap of LPS is a major virulence factor of Yersinia species and also serves as a receptor for the binding of lytic bacteriophage φR1-37. Currently, the OPS-based serotyping scheme for the Yersinia pseudotuberculosis complex includes 21 known O-serotypes that follow three distinct lineages: Y. pseudotuberculosis sensu stricto, Y. similis and the Korean group of strains. Elucidation of the Y. pseudotuberculosis complex OPS structures and characterization of the OPS genetics (altogether 18 O-serotypes studied thus far) allows a better understanding of the relationships among the various O serotypes and will facilitate the analysis of the evolutionary processes giving rise to new serotypes. Here we present the characterization of the OPS structure and gene cluster of Y. similis O:9. Bacteriophage φR1-37, which uses the Y. similis O:9 OPS as a receptor, also infects a number of Y. enterocolitica serotypes, including O:3, O:5,27, O:9 and O:50. The Y. similis O:9 OPS structure resembled none of the receptor structures of the Y. enterocolitica strains, suggesting that φR1-37 can recognize several surface receptors, thus promoting broad host specificity.
Performance of Activity Classification Algorithms in Free-Living Older Adults.

PURPOSE The objective of this study is to compare activity type classification rates of machine learning algorithms trained on laboratory versus free-living accelerometer data in older adults. METHODS Thirty-five older adults (21 females and 14 males, 70.8 ± 4.9 yr) performed selected activities in the laboratory while wearing three ActiGraph GT3X+ activity monitors (in the dominant hip, wrist, and ankle; ActiGraph, LLC, Pensacola, FL). Monitors were initialized to collect raw acceleration data at a sampling rate of 80 Hz. Fifteen of the participants also wore GT3X+ in free-living settings and were directly observed for 2-3 h. Time- and frequency-domain features from acceleration signals of each monitor were used to train random forest (RF) and support vector machine (SVM) models to classify five activity types: sedentary, standing, household, locomotion, and recreational activities. All algorithms were trained on laboratory data (RFLab and SVMLab) and free-living data (RFFL and SVMFL) using 20-s signal sampling windows. Classification accuracy rates of both types of algorithms were tested on free-living data using a leave-one-out technique. RESULTS Overall classification accuracy rates for the algorithms developed from laboratory data were between 49% (wrist) and 55% (ankle) for the SVMLab algorithms and 49% (wrist) to 54% (ankle) for the RFLab algorithms. The classification accuracy rates for SVMFL and RFFL algorithms ranged from 58% (wrist) to 69% (ankle) and from 61% (wrist) to 67% (ankle), respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our algorithms developed on free-living accelerometer data were more accurate in classifying the activity type in free-living older adults than those on our algorithms developed on laboratory accelerometer data. Future studies should consider using free-living accelerometer data to train machine learning algorithms in older adults.
Does Providing Care for Uninsured Patients Decrease Emergency Room Visits and Hospitalizations?

Background: Access to primary care could reduce use of more costly health care by uninsured individuals through prevention and early treatment. We analyzed data from a program providing free primary care to test this hypothesis. Methods: We compared emergency room (ER) visits and hospitalizations among uninsured, low-income adults who received immediate versus delayed access to a program providing free primary care, including labs, X-rays, and specialty consultation. We used surveys to identify ER visits and hospitalizations during the 12 months preceding and following program enrollment or wait list entry. Results: Hospitalizations decreased from the year before entry to the year following entry in participants with immediate and delayed (6.0% vs 8.8% decrease) access. ER use also decreased in both groups (11.2% vs 15.4%). Conclusions: Free primary care services and specialty consultation did not reduce use of more costly health care services during its first year. More prolonged availability of primary care might have greater impact.
Outcomes of Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease based on clinical phenotype

The effect of the clinical phenotype of Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) lung disease on treatment outcome and redevelopment of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) lung disease after treatment completion has not been studied systematically. We evaluated 481 treatment-naïve patients with MAC lung disease who underwent antibiotic treatment for ≥12 months between January 2002 and December 2013. Out of 481 patients, 278 (58%) had noncavitary nodular bronchiectatic (NB) disease, 80 (17%) had cavitary NB disease and 123 (25%) had fibrocavitary disease. Favourable outcome was higher in patients with noncavitary disease (88%) than in patients with cavitary disease (76% for fibrocavitary and 78% for cavitary NB disease; p<0.05). Cavitary disease was independently associated with unfavourable outcomes (p<0.05). Out of 402 patients with favourable outcomes, 118 (29%) experienced redevelopment of NTM lung disease, with the same MAC species recurring in 65 (55%) patients. The NB form was an independent risk factor for redevelopment of NTM lung disease (p<0.05). In patients with recurrent MAC lung disease due to the same species, bacterial genotyping revealed that 74% of cases were attributable to reinfection and 26% to relapse. Treatment outcomes and redevelopment of NTM lung disease after treatment completion differed by clinical phenotype of MAC lung disease. Treatment outcomes differ according to clinical phenotype in patients with Mycobacterium avium complex lung disease http://ow.ly/g4WU30dbLHQ
Novel Mutation Causing Derepression of Several Enzymes of Sulfur Metabolism in Neurospora crassa

A group of enzymes of sulfur metabolism (arylsulfatase, cholinesulfatase, and a number of others) are normally repressed in Neurospora crassa by an abundant supply of a “favored” sulfur source such as methionine or inorganic sulfate. A mutant called sconc was isolated in which the formation of each of these enzymes is largely or completely nonrepressible. The structural genes for three of these enzymes have been mapped; sconc is not linked to any of them. It is also not linked to cys-3, another gene which is involved in control of the same group of enzymes. Two alleles of the structural gene for arylsulfatase [ars+ and ars(UFC-220)] produce electrophoretically distinguishable forms of arylsulfatase. Heterokaryons with the constitution sconc ars+ + scon+ars(UFC-220) were prepared. These heterokaryons produce both forms of arylsulfatase under conditions of sulfur limitation, but produce only the wild-type (ars+) form under conditions of sulfur abundance. When the alleles of ars and scon are in the opposite relationship, only the ars(UFC-220) form of arylsulfatase can be detected under conditions of sulfur abundance. Thus the effect of the sconc mutation seems to be limited to its own nucleus. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Learning‐dependent neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb determines long‐term olfactory memory

Inhibitory interneurons of the olfactory bulb are subjected to permanent adult neurogenesis. Their number is modulated by learning, suggesting that they could play a role in plastic changes of the bulbar network associated with olfactory memory. Adult male C57BL/6 mice were trained in an associative olfactory task, and we analyzed long‐term retention of the task 5, 30, and 90 d post‐training. In parallel, we assessed the fate of these newborn cells, mapped their distribution in the olfactory bulb and measured their functional implication using the immediate early gene Zif268. In a second set of experiments, we pharmacologically modulated glutamatergic transmission and using the same behavioral task assessed the consequences on memory retention and neurogenesis. Finally, by local infusion of an antimitotic drug, we selectively blocked neurogenesis during acquisition of the task and looked at the effects on memory retention. First we demonstrated that retrieval of an associative olfactory task recruits the newborn neurons in odor‐specific areas of the olfactory bulb selected to survive during acquisition of the task and that it does this in a manner that depends on the strength of learning. We then demonstrated that acquisition is not dependent on neurogenesis if long‐term retention of the task is abolished by blocking neurogenesis. Adult‐born neurons are thus involved in changes in the neural representation of an odor; this underlies long‐term olfactory memory as the strength of learning is linked to the duration of this memory. Neurogenesis thus plays a crucial role in long‐term olfactory memory. —Sultan, S. , Mandairon, N. , Kermen, F. , Garcia, S. , Sacquet, J., Didier, A. Learning‐dependent neurogenesis in the olfactory bulb determines long‐term olfactory memory. FASEB J. 24, 2355–2363 (2010). www.fasebj. org
Case Characteristics, Hyperacute Treatment, and Outcome Information from the Clinical Research Center for Stroke-Fifth Division Registry in South Korea

Characteristics of stroke cases, acute stroke care, and outcomes after stroke differ according to geographical and cultural background. To provide epidemiological and clinical data on stroke care in South Korea, we analyzed a prospective multicenter clinical stroke registry, the Clinical Research Center for Stroke-Fifth Division (CRCS-5). Patients were 58% male with a mean age of 67.2±12.9 years and median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of 3 [1-8] points. Over the 6 years of operation, temporal trends were documented including increasing utilization of recanalization treatment with shorter onset-to-arrival delay and decremental length of stay. Acute recanalization treatment was performed in 12.7% of cases with endovascular treatment utilized in 36%, but the proportion of endovascular recanalization varied across centers. Door-to-IV alteplase delay had a median of 45 [33-68] min. The rate of symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation (HT) was 7%, and that of any HT was 27% among recanalization-treated cases. Early neurological deterioration occurred in 15% of cases and were associated with longer length of stay and poorer 3-month outcomes. The proportion of mRS scores of 0-1 was 42% on discharge, 50% at 3 months, and 55% at 1 year after the index stroke. Recurrent stroke up to 1 year occurred in 4.5% of patients; the rate was higher among older individuals and those with neurologically severe deficits. The above findings will be compared with other Asian and US registry data in this article.
Using assertions for wireless system monitoring and debugging

Debugging of embedded wireless systems is a challenge as the amount of information available from the nodes is limited. To enable system-level debugging of wireless networks, we have devised a distributed assertion support based on SystemVerilog Assertions (SVA). In this work, we have modeled wireless sensors at the transaction level in SystemVerilog. The proposed approach indicates that the assertions detect failure conditions along with a reduction in network traffic. This is due to embedding critical assertions within the sensor and eliminating the related trace messages. Experimental result shows 56% improvement in traffic.
[Association between self-assessed somatotypes and symptom depression among children and adolescents].

OBJECTIVE To examine the association between self-assessed somatotypes and depression related symptoms. METHODS The study sample included 5555 students aged 9 to 18 years who had attended the Physical Fitness and Health Surveillance of Chinese School Students (2010) in Chizhou city, Anhui province. Association between self-assessed somatotypes, body mass index (BMI) and depression symptom were examined. RESULTS There was a slight consistency between self-assessed somatotypes and BMI in both boys and girls (Kappa = 0.217, P = 0.000; Kappa = 0.203, P = 0.000). Significant difference in the prevalence of depression was found among weight misperception groups in both genders (χ(2) = 145.223, P = 0.000). The prevalence of underestimation of somatotypes was significantly higher in boys than in girls, while the result was reversive on the prevalence of overestimation. Additionally, the prevalence of depression was higher in girls than in boys (χ(2) = 5.199, P = 0.023). Through logistic regression, data showed that self-assessed somatotypes and miscalculated groups were significantly associated with depressive symptoms. Compared to the group that self-assessment as being normal, those students when self-assessed as being slim, overweight or obesity were more likely to be depressive, with odds ratio (ORs) as 1.255 (95%CI: 1.066 - 1.478), 1.538 (95%CI: 1.275 - 1.856) and 1.713 (95%CI: 1.035 - 2.834), respectively. Overestimated and underestimated somatotypes appeared to be risk factors causing symptoms of depression (OR = 1.705, 95%CI: 1.382 - 2.105; OR = 1.241, 95%CI: 1.059 - 1.454). CONCLUSION Slight consistency was found between self-assessed somatotypes and BMI, while the misjudged somatotypes were the risk factor related to depressive symptoms. It was suggested that life skills education should be carried out as preventive intervention approach, to improve the physical and mental health well-being of children and adolescents.
Evolución De Precios De Acciones De Empresa De Energía Y Su Relación Con Las Variables Macroeconómicas: Evidencia De Argentina (Evolution of Energy Company Share Prices and Their Relationship with Macroeconomic Variables: Evidence from Argentina)

<b>Spanish Abstract:</b> En un contexto de mercados informados, las noticias se esparcen con rapidez en un mundo globalizado, por lo cual es razonable pensar que los activos financieros se desplieguen de manera uniforme siguiendo el ritmo de las variables económicas centrales. El trabajo tiene por objetivo determinar las variables que permitan explicar el comportamiento de las acciones de la industria petrolera desde el 30/12/2012 hasta el 31/08/2015 mediante la regresión de determinadas variables tomadas en cuenta de acuerdo con su significatividad; el objetivo, en esta primera etapa, es seleccionar los indicadores macroeconómicos mas significativos para determinar el precio de las acciones del sector en el mercado. Uno de los resultados hallados, fue que mediante la aplicación de modelos econométricos se pudo evidenciar la relación que existe entre el precio de los activos financieros y las variables macroeconómicas seleccionadas para la realización del análisis. Se deja abierta una nueva línea de investigación a efectos de evaluar si la afirmación anterior es posible generalizarla al resto de las principales industrias representadas en el panel del Merval. <b>English Abstract:</b> In the context of informed markets, news spreads with speed. In a globalized world, it is reasonable think that active finance is a deployed method to organize central economic variables. This determines variables that explain the behavior of actions by the industry oil from December 2012 through August 2015. We use regression of certain variables in accordance with their significance. The goal at this early stage, is to select significant macroeconomic indicators in determining the share prices of the sector in the market. Results demonstrate, through the application of econometric models, the relationship that exists between the price of financial assets and the macroeconomic variables selected for analysis. A new line of research is left open for the purposes of assessing the generalizability of the results other major industries.
Bearings-only tracking and Doppler-bearing tracking with inequality constraint

This paper aims to find an appropriate approach to improve estimation accuracy of bearings-only tracking (BOT) and Doppler bearing tracking (DBT) by making use of the constraint on target speed. Targets usually travel within a valid speed zone so this contextual information (speed inequality constraint) should hypothetically help tracking algorithms (filters) achieve better accuracy. However the inequality constraint filters, usually implemented using the rejection sampling approach, have high computational cost. This paper will study the accuracy improvement brought by the inequality constraint as well as the computational cost introduced in the BOT and DBT problems. Furthermore, we will also propose cost effective approach, which is the speed and range parameterized multiple model (MM) filter with different initial states in the valid range and speed zone. This MM-BOT/DBT, inspired from the range parameterized BOT (RP-BOT), applies the speed inequality constraint at track initial stage. Simulation test results show that the MM approach outperforms others in terms of estimation accuracy and computational efficiency.
The emergence and activities of women’s recruiting groups in the U.S.

ABSTRACT Unlike many other countries, the U.S. has not adopted sets of laws or voluntary policies, such as quotas or “all-women short lists” in the U.K., to increase women’s representation. In lieu of official policy, an informal network of groups has grown around the need to increase the number of women candidates vying for political office in the U.S. Though researchers and the media discuss these groups often, we lack a complete picture of how many groups exist and what they do. This paper builds a descriptive profile of women’s recruitment and training in the U.S. using a new census of active women candidate groups. We highlight patterns in where they operate, partisanship, abortion litmus tests, and their participation in recruiting, training, and funding women candidates. We find that organizations operate in all states, but that these organizations are not equally accessible to all groups of women.