Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AT 1 Receptor Antagonism Is Proangiogenic in the Brain : BDNF a Novel Mediator s

Candesartan is an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) that has been to shown to limit ischemic stroke and improve stroke outcome. In experimental stroke, candesartan induces a proangiogenic effect that is partly attributable to vascular endothelial growth factor. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family that has been reported to have angiogenic effects and play an important role in recovery after stroke. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the role of BDNF in the proangiogenic effect of candesartan in the brain under hypertensive conditions. Accordingly, spontaneously hypertensive rats were treated with candesartan, and brain tissue samples were collected for quantification of BDNF expression. In addition, human cerebromicrovascular endothelial cells were treated with either low-dose (1 ƒM) or high-dose (1 mM) angiotensin II alone or in combination with candesartan (0.16 mM) to assess the effect of candesartan treatment and BDNF involvement in the behavior of endothelial cells. Candesartan significantly increased the expression of BDNF in the SHR (P , 0.05). In addition, candesartan reversed the antiangiogenic effect of the 1-mM dose of AngII (P5 0.0001). The observed effects of candesartan were ablated by neutralizing the effects of BDNF. Treatment with the AT2 antagonist PD-123319 significantly reduced tube-like formation in endothelial cells. AT2 stimulation induced the BDNF expression and migration (P , 0.05). In conclusion, candesartan exerts a proangiogenic effect on brain microvascular endothelial cells treated with angiotensin II. This response is attributable to increased BDNF expression and is mediated through stimulation of the AT2 receptor.
Quality of Life of Overweight and Obese Patients

The prevalence of overweight and obesity has increased significantly in recent years. This is as a result of changes in dietary habits and lack of physical activity. Quality of life which measures the social, physical and psychological well-being of a person can be affected by a person's weight. The quality of life of an individual is important in directing medical treatment and motivating patients' behavior change and counseling adherence. The aim of the study was to assess the quality of life of overweight and obese patients. A cross-sectional study design was used. One hundred and seven obese and overweight patients with or without any other chronic diseases who reported to the diet therapy departments of two hospitals were recruited. The Short Form -36 which is a standard questionnaire for assessing quality of life was used to obtain information from the patients. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20.0. Data was summarized as means, standard deviations, frequencies, percentages and presented as tables and graphs. T-tests and correlations were used to draw relationships between variables. Results indicated that, 39% of the respondents had impaired physical quality of life as compared to 12% who were impaired mentally. Overall, 81% of the respondents had good quality of life. Majority of the respondents had role physical limitations. Comparing mental and physical health, greater percentage was impaired physically than mentally. Nevertheless, majority of the respondents had good quality of life.
Barriers to cancer clinical trial participation among American Indian and Alaska Native tribal college students.

PURPOSE American Indians and Alaska Natives (AIs/ANs) have some of the highest cancer-related mortality rates of all US racial and ethnic groups, but they are underrepresented in clinical trials. We sought to identify factors that influence willingness to participate in cancer clinical trials among AI/AN tribal college students, and to compare attitudes toward clinical trial participation among these students with attitudes among older AI/AN adults. METHODS Questionnaire data from 489 AI/AN tribal college students were collected and analyzed along with previously collected data from 112 older AI/AN adults. We examined 10 factors that influenced participation in the tribal college sample, and using chi-square analysis and these 10 factors, we compared attitudes toward research participation among 3 groups defined by age: students younger than 40, students 40 and older, and nonstudent adults 40 and older. FINDINGS About 80% of students were willing to participate if the study would lead to new treatments or help others with cancer in their community, the study doctor had experience treating AI/AN patients, and they received payment. Older nonstudent adults were less likely to participate on the basis of the doctor's expertise than were students (73% vs 84%, P = .007), or if the study was conducted 50 miles away (24% vs 41%, P= .001). CONCLUSIONS Finding high rates of willingness to participate is an important first step in increasing participation of AIs/ANs in clinical trials. More information is needed on whether these attitudes influence actual behavior when opportunities to participate become available.
Estabilidad laboral e indemnización: efectos de los costos de despido sobre el funcionamiento del mercado laboral peruano

A inicios de la decada de los noventa los costos de despido impuestos por la legislacion laboral peruana eran aun bastante elevados. La estabilidad laboral absoluta y los altos pagos de indemnizacion por despido funcionaban en la practica como impuestos a la contratacion que convertian al empleo formal en un factor de produccion cuasi-fijo. En 1991 se inicio un proceso de cambios en la legislacion laboral que ha llevado a que el Peru sea uno de los paises que mas ha flexibilizado su mercado de trabajo durante la decada pasada. Las reformas permitieron una reduccion importante en los costos de despido, principalmente debido a la abolicion de la estabilidad laboral y la paulatina reduccion del pago de indemnizacion por despido. En esta investigacion se analiza la evolucion y el impacto de los componentes del costo de despido (determinados por la interaccion de la legislacion sobre estabilidad laboral, la indemnizacion por despido y el periodo de prueba) sobre el mercado laboral peruano. A traves de estimaciones de demanda de trabajo en empresas formales se muestra que los cambios legislativos han reducido el impacto negativo de los costos de despido sobre el nivel de empleo, que la velocidad de ajuste del empleo a su nivel optimo ha aumentado ligeramente, y que la elasticidad producto se ha incrementado en los ultimos anos. Por otro lado, el analisis realizado muestra que una parte importante del crecimiento del empleo durante la decada del noventa se dio bajo la modalidad de contratos temporales y de la informalizacion de las relaciones laborales, como forma de eludir los costos de despido. Finalmente, el analisis muestra tambien una reduccion marcada de la duracion media del empleo y un incremento de la rotacion de los trabajadores de un empleo a otro, en particular a partir de 1993. El estudio sugiere que parte de la reduccion en la duracion y el incremento en la rotacion del empleo puede atribuirse a la mayor utilizacion de contratos temporales y a la reduccion en los costos de despido.
The Acceptability of Treatment for Depression Among African-American, Hispanic, and White Primary Care Patients

Background. Ethnic minority patients are less likely than white patients to receive guideline-concordant care for depression. It is uncertain whether racial and ethnic differences exist in patient beliefs, attitudes, and preferences for treatment. Methods. A telephone survey was conducted of 829 adult patients (659 non-Hispanic whites, 97 African Americans, 73 Hispanics) recruited from primary care offices across the United States who reported 1 week or more of depressed mood or loss of interest within the past month and who met criteria for Major Depressive Episode in the past year. Within this cohort, we examined differences among African Americans, Hispanics, and whites in acceptability of antidepressant medication and acceptability of individual counseling. Results. African Americans (adjusted OR, 0.30; 95% CI 0.19–0.48) and Hispanics (adjusted OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.26–0.76) had lower odds than white persons of finding antidepressant medications acceptable. African Americans had somewhat lower odds (adjusted OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.35–1.12), and Hispanics had higher odds (adjusted OR, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.08–9.89) of finding counseling acceptable than white persons. Some negative beliefs regarding treatment were more prevalent among ethnic minorities; however adjustment for these beliefs did not explain differences in acceptability of treatment for depression. Conclusions. African Americans are less likely than white persons to find antidepressant medication acceptable. Hispanics are less likely to find antidepressant medication acceptable, and more likely to find counseling acceptable than white persons. Racial and ethnic differences in beliefs about treatment modalities were found, but did not explain differences in the acceptability of depression treatment. Clinicians should consider patients’ cultural and social context when negotiating treatment decisions for depression. Future research should identify other attitudinal barriers to depression care among ethnic minority patients.
Meiotic recombination in a duplication strain of Aspergillus nidulans.

The (I; II) duplication strain of Aspergillus nidulans contains a terminal segment of chromosome I twice, one copy being in the normal position, and the other one translocated to a tip of chromosome II. We show that in selfed cleistothecia (homozygous for the duplication) crossing-over between the two segments of the duplication followed by the appropriate disjunction and distribution of the meiotic chromosomes, results in segregation of recessive markers in the duplication. Alternative segregation mechanisms like the deletion mechanism responsible for mitotic non-conformity, cannot explain the observations. The average segregation frequency of the marker yA 2 is 11%. Using the mathematical model outlined in the Appendix to this paper, we estimated the recombination frequency between the translocation breakpoint and the yA locus from the segregation frequency. The essential feature of the model is the computation of the probabilities of combinations of different tetrad types in quadrivalents. Application of the model leads to the qualitative conclusion that the meiotic recombination frequency within the duplication is increased over the normal level. Elsewhere in the genome the frequencies are either unchanged or decreased. Also in crosses heterozygous for the duplication, an increase by at least a factor of two is found. As judged from the appearance of certain recombinant classes, the quadrivalent frequency in homozygous and heterozygous crosses is 2/3 (random pairing) or slightly higher. The increased recombination is attributed to the same lesions that are responsible for the occurrence of deletions in duplication strains of A. nidulans .
What is the evidence for less shift work tolerance in older workers?

This paper explores the suggestion that older people would be less tolerant to shift work. Field studies on age–shift work interaction effects on sleep, fatigue, performance, accidents and health were reviewed. Studies on age–shift (morning, afternoon, night) and age–shift system (roster) interactions were also reviewed. In nine studies, shift and day workers were compared and interactions with age were addressed. Two studies reported more problems in older people, four studies reported opposite results, while in five studies no significant age–shift work interaction was observed. From across-shift comparisons (six studies), it was deduced that older compared with younger workers have more sleep problems with night shifts, while the opposite is true for morning shifts. This review did find some differences between older and younger workers, but did not find evidence for the suggestion of more shift work problems in older workers. Statement of Relevance: This systematic review reveals the limited evidence that exists concerning shift work tolerance in older workers, highlighting an area for future research. Some interactions between age and shift type and shift system have been found, however. In view of these, it is argued that age-specific aspects should be considered in shift work planning.
Selective feeding habits of anophelines amongst Africans of different ages.

Summary In 26 night catches, 695 blood-fed Anopheles gambiae and funestus were taken in huts containing 3, 4, or 5 Africans sleeping under natural conditions, in a district in Tanganyika, East Africa, where the average number of inhabitants of a hut is 3.3. By the use of the method of leukocyte correlation of the blood of the human occupants of the hut with the blood in the stomach of the fed mosquito, it appeared that there was no consistent deviation of anophelines to certain human age groups.
Patient Record Systems

The pessimists may argue that rnedicine is now technically and organisationally so large and complex that it cannot be practised effectively by people, and furthermore that health care is becoming unaffordable. This view is extreme but it does reflect the widespread concern over the effectiveness and efficiency of health care services. There is now an established need to ensure that appropriate health care is delivered effectively, and to demonstrate that both human and financial resources are used efficiently. This is just as true for a rural clinic in India as it is for a large· hospital complex in North America. Good information systems are considered essential to meeting those needs, and patient record systems are increasingly recognised as the ce~tral component ofthose systems.
La docencia universitaria desde la perspectiva de los alumnos frente a la de los profesores

Esta investigacion examina las diferencias entre la docencia universitaria desde la perspectiva de los alumnos y la de los profesores mediante un diseno ex post facto transversal y correlacional bivariado. Desde el punto de vista de los alumnos resaltan las actitudes del profesor hacia ellos y hacia el ejercicio de la docencia, junto con una didactica profesional digna y dignificante. Por otro lado, los profesores destacan los habitos asociados al cultivo de las relaciones academicas con otros colegas, con ser un estudioso de su disciplina, y el ejercicio de un liderazgo que enjuicia la realidad institucional con objetividad, rigor y serenidad. Se ha podido establecer que un nivel bajo de desempeno docente desde la perspectiva de los alumnos, suele asociarse con valores altos de desempeno desde la perspectiva del profesor.
Effect of variation in filter length on adaptive equalization in frequency selective channels

Adaptive equalizer is an integral component of modern communication systems that combats the effects of channel fading especially in multipath environment. In long term evolution (LTE) the number of multipath are standardized as seven and nine for extended pedestrian and extended vehicular-A channel respectively. The number of filter taps is an important design parameter that determines the performance and the rate of convergence of the adaptive filter. This paper analyzes the effect of the mentioned parameter on the overall performance of the system and quantifies the loss for a given range of signal to noise ratio (SNR). The performance is measured in terms of bit error rate (BER) and mean square error (MSE) both for least mean square (LMS) and recursive least square (RLS) techniques. The channel under consideration is frequency selective and time invariant in nature with an exponentially decaying power delay profile (PDP). Through simulations it is demonstrated that using RLS for channel equalization in a digital communication system it has an overall of 4 dB SNR gain as compared to LMS. Further more the convergence is almost same in case of LMS by increasing filter taps but at the cost of abrupt change in BER while in RLS the convergence time becomes slow by increasing filter length but with a small change in BER based performance.
Inflammation and Pregnancy

Inflammation is a process by which tissues respond to various insults. It is characterized by upregulation of chemokines, cytokines, and pattern recognition receptors that sense microbes and tissue breakdown products. During pregnancy, the balance of Th1 (cell-mediated immunity) and Th2 (humoral immunity) cytokines is characterized by an initial prevalence of Th2 cytokines, followed by a progressive shift toward Th1 predominance late in gestation, that when is abnormal, may initiate and intensify the cascade of inflammatory cytokine production involved in adverse pregnancy outcomes. Maternal and placental hormones may affect the inflammatory pathway. Hypoxia and the innate immune response are 2 adaptive mechanisms by which organisms respond to perturbation in organ function, playing a major role in spontaneous abortion, intrauterine growth restriction, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery. The interaction between tissue remodeling factors, like matrix metalloproteinases, and vasoactive/hemostatic factors, like prostaglandin and coagulation factors, mediates this adaptive response.
Physical and mechanical properties of heat treated wood from Aspidosperma populifolium, dipteryx odorata and mimosa scabrella

Heat treatment improves some wood properties namely: equilibrium moisture, dimensional stability and durability and mechanical properties. In this study, the heat treatment was applied to woods of three natural species from Brazil: Aspidosperma populifolium (peroba mica), Dipteryx odorata (cumaru) and Mimosa scabrella (bracatinga). The woods were heated in an oven under vacuum and under nitrogen, at 180, 200, and 220°C for one hour. The untreated and heat-treated woods were characterized in relation to equilibrium moisture content, basic density, shrinkage, Janka hardness, and bending MOR and MOE according to NBR 7190 standards. All the thermal rectified woods showed a reduction in the hygroscopic equilibrium content, especially when the heating was under vacuum from 13-15% in the untreated woods to 1-3% for vacuum treatment at 220 °C. The dimensional stability was improved to only a small extent e.g. volumetric shrinkage tended to decrease with increasing temperature. The mechanical properties were affected differently for the three wood species. Heat-treated cumarushowed increased Janka hardness, MOR and MOE; and peroba mica increased MOR and MOE but not Janka hardness; while bracatinga was less influenced by the heat treatment.
Design and Dining – Traditional Heritage and Contemporary Habits

Despite the fact that we often perceive it as a ‘modern’ discipline, design is closely linked to traditional heritage. Eventhough it is mostly related to the technological development which has marked the last two hundred years, design has stemmed from much older concepts of shaping our material reality, a constitutive part of traditional heritage. But that is not all. Traditional heritage in all its complexities can present an eternal source of theoretical and practical inspiration for future projects. The culture of food and dining is just one of many fields in which there are objective conditions for the high quality developmental politics based on traditional values.
Privacy concerns and protection measures in online behavioural advertising

Online Behavioural Advertising (OBA), the practice of showing advertisements based on a person’s web browsing behaviour, has become a vital component of the ad-supported web. The tracking of users’ browsing behaviour that is needed for OBA, however, raises privacy concerns. We give an overview of the OBA landscape, and describe which user information is collected, which techniques are used to perform the collection, and how user information is shared between companies. Moreover, we discuss the privacy concerns that are raised by current OBA practices. After identifying privacy concerns, we describe a range of existing techniques to protect user privacy in online advertising. These techniques are compared based on their feasibility in the current advertising ecosystem, including the potential utility they offer advertising companies and how well they can be integrated with current trends in online behavioural advertising. Finally, we identify open problems in the protection of user privacy in online advertising.
Perspective image modeling for segmentation

This paper proposes a novel thresholding method for real time perspective image segmentation based on an image gray level probability distribution model. A perspective image can be modeled as a mixture of the background and the object in the image, which are farther modeled as two independent Gaussian distributions. Therefore, given an input perspective image, our method firstly derives the gray level distributions of the background and the object, respectively, based on the image histogram analysis. Then the optimum threshold can be obtained from the intersection of the derived distributions of the background and the object. Experimental results on currency watermark image segmentation for real time printing quality inspection are rather encouraging.
Mechanism of longitudinal bone growth and its regulation by growth plate chondrocytes

Growth plate chondrocytes play a pivotal role in promoting longitudinal bone growth. The current review represents a brief survey of the phenomena involved in this process at the cellular level; it delineates the contributions made by various activities during the course of the chondrocyte life cycle, notably proliferation and hypertrophy, and illustrates how the relative contributions may be modulated according to the particular needs of an organism at critical phases of growth. The cellular mechanisms by which a few well characterized growth‐promoting substances exert their influences are discussed in the light of recent findings pertaining to epiphyseal plate chondrocytes in vivo. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
GENETIC DIVERSITY IN FINE GRAIN AND AROMATIC LANDRACES OF RICE ( Oryza sativa L . ) USING MICROSATELLITE MARKERS

A total of thirty microsatellite molecular markers were used across 21 rice genotypes for their characterization and discrimination. The number of alleles per locus ranged from three (RM165, RM219, RM248, RM463, RM470 and RM517) to nine (RM223), with an average of 4.53 alleles across the 30 loci obtained in the study. The polymorphism information content (PIC) values ranged from 0.30 (RM219) to 0.84 (RM223) in all 30 loci. RM223 was found the best marker for the identification of 21 genotypes as revealed by PIC values. The frequency of the most common allele at each locus ranged from 24% (RM223 and RM334) to 81% (RM219). A two dimensional principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) with 21 genotypes showed that the genotypes Supper Basmoti, Basmati370, BasmatiD, Keora, Chinisakkora, Thakurbhog, Benaful, Kolgochi, Buchi, Awnedtapl and Kalijira-11 were found far away from centroid of the cluster than rest of the genotypes which placed around the centroid. The pair-wise genetic dissimilarity coefficients indicated that the highest genetic distance was obtained between Thakurbhog and Supper Basmoti (0.81) as well as between Benaful and Keora (0.81). Basmati (Basmoti D, Super Basmati, Basmati 370) and Kalijira (Kalijira 11, 12, 13, 14) genotypes had close similarity among them but showed wide dissimilarity with other local genotypes. Being grouped into distant clusters, SupperBasmoti, Thakurbhog, Keora, and Benaful could be utilized as potential parents for the improvement of fine grain aromatic rice varieties. Genotypes Kolgochi and Buchi (having zero dissimilairty) might be possessed same genetic background. The microsatellite marker based molecular fingerprinting could serve as a sound basis in the identification of genetically distant accessions as well as in the duplicate sorting of the morphologically close accessions.