Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hemodynamic correlates of autonomic reflexes in patients with labile and fixed hypertension.

the autonomic sympathetic reflexes to sustained handgrip, upright tilt and the Valsalva maneuver, were tested in 26 patients with labile and 26 with fixed essential hypertension. Sustained handgrip increased systolic (SAP), diastolic (DAP) and mean arterial (MAP) pressure, heart rate (HR), cardiac index (CI), tension time index (TTI) (p less than .01), and had no effect on total peripheral resistance index (TPRI) and left ventricular ejection rate index (LVERI) in both groups of patients. However, the response to upright tilt and the Valsalva maneuver was different in the two groups. Upright tilt in labile hypertensives increased DAP, MAP, HR, and TPRI (p less than .001); decreased CI, stroke index (SI) and LVERI (p less than .01) and had no effect on SAP. In fixed hypertensives, it decreased SAP, MAP, CI, SI and LVERI (p less than .001); increased HR (p less than .01) and had no effect on DAP, and TPRI. The diastolic pressure overshoot of the Valsalva maneuver was attenuated in fixed hypertensives compared to labile (p less then .001). Additionally, when the percent changes from control in DAP, MAP, HR and TPRI to sustained handgrip and upright tilt between the two groups were compared, only differences to upright tilt between the two groups were observed. The results of this investigation suggest that upright tilt and the Valsalva maneuver might serve as better predictors of autonomic reflexes in hypertensive patients than the grip test.
A 3-year longitudinal study of quality-of-life outcomes of elderly patients with implant- and tooth-supported fixed partial dentures in posterior dental regions.

BACKGROUND Clinical studies have mainly been focused on oral health-related quality-of-life (OHRQoL) outcomes of removable dentures. OBJECTIVE To evaluate therapy of elderly patients with implant-supported fixed partial dentures (IFPD) and tooth-supported fixed partial dentures (FPD) in the posterior dental regions. PATIENTS AND METHODS The OHIP49 was used to measure OHRQoL in 64 patients with IFPD and 38 patients with FPD, before, 3 weeks and 3 years after rehabilitation. A control group (CG) consisted of 62 individuals. RESULTS The Oral Health Impact Profile questionnaire (OHIP) follow-up scores of the patients with FPD and the patients with IFPD were significantly smaller in comparison with the baseline scores (p < 0.01). The OHIP scores were further reduced at the 3-year follow-up. The patients with IFPD had significantly higher scores than the patients with FPD and the CG at the baseline and at the follow-ups. In the patients with FPD, both age groups (≤60 and >60) showed equal improvement of the OHRQoL. In the IFPD group, patients older than 60 years showed better improvement (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences dependent on gender and antagonistic teeth (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION The FPD and the IFPD treatment showed significant improvement of OHRQoL. The FPD treatment improved OHRQoL equally in both age groups, while the IFPD treatment improved OHRQoL better in older patients.
A web-based decision support system for dietary analysis and recommendations.

OBJECTIVES Because of lack of integrated databases for Chinese menus and the need for nutrition information by dietitians in Taiwan, we developed a Web-based platform for dietary analysis and recommendations. METHODS The fuzzy decision model was utilized to develop a Web-based support system that searches food composition databases, calculates dietary intake, and provides the guidance for decision making in nutrition counseling. RESULTS The online support system generated menu- or food-based recommendations using a fuzzy decision model. The homogeneity of food composition between five selected menus generated by the fuzzy decision model in a randomly selective case was strongly correlated with a correlation coefficient of 0.31-0.99. The correlation coefficients were 0.42-0.45 and 0.13-0.44 between food composition of five most correlated menus or five selected menus generated by the fuzzy decision model and nutrient requirements computed by the fuzzy decision model, respectively. The most correlated menus and the menus generated by the fuzzy decision model were also similar. CONCLUSIONS The recommended menus generated by the fuzzy decision model are considerably reliable and valid, and the online support system for dietary analysis and recommendations can provide a Web-based and decision-making tool for dietitians in Taiwan.
Validation of Automated Event Triggers Using Laboratory Values Related to Two Problem-Prone Drugs

We used computerized alerts to identify patients with laboratory values that could be related to medication errors associated with digoxin and warfarin. Over a six-week period at two inpatient facilities, we generated 62 laboratory-based alerts for warfarin, and 66 for digoxin. The positive predictive value for these alerts representing a preventable event was 71% and 57% for warfarin and digoxin, respectively.
Household Inequality and the Consumption Response to Aggregate Real Shocks

To what extent does household inequality affect the response of aggregate consumption to aggregate real shocks? We first review two state-of-the-art papers with household heterogeneity and aggregate uncertainty. They teach us that having a larger fraction of poor and borrowing constrained households, who have a high marginal propensity to consume, amplifies the drop in aggregate consumption in response to a negative aggregate real shock. We then move on to the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) and Equifax data to quantify the fraction of people that are constrained in their consumption choices and to study how that fraction has changed before and after the Great Recession. We argue that the role of constraints cannot be adequately captured by only having a large share of households with no wealth before a recession. We find that, for all of the measures that we consider, the fraction of households that are borrowing constrained has drastically increased since the onset of the Great Recession and that it has remained high, or even increased, all the way through 2012, the last year for which we currently have PSID data. Thus, it is not surprising that aggregate consumption has experienced such a large drop and remained depressed for a long time.
Femmes et emploi informel dans la wilaya de Béjaia (Algérie) : un modèle probit

es difficultes liees a la crise economique et a l'ajustement structurel et les solutions d'adaptation developpees par les differentes couches de la population font ressortir l'importance du secteur informel dans l'economie algerienne (Adair et Bellache, 2012). Ces activites informelles contribuent pour une part non negligeable au PIB (Vanek et al., 2014). Les activites feminines du secteur informel sont celles qui subissent le plus les effets de la crise (CNES, 2004). Or, leur role est croissant pour subvenir aux besoins du menage. C'est dans la recherche de cette survie qu'apparait le dynamisme des femmes dans le secteur informel. Les femmes se voient cantonnees dans des activites hautement concurrentielles, faiblement capitalisees et peu remuneratrices avec une forte predominance du travail a domicile. Les femmes exercent leurs activites dans des secteurs differents de ceux des hommes (Lakjaa, 1997). Ces activites demeurent entravees par des contraintes qui tendent a revetir un caractere sexospecifique, telles que les normes culturelles, l'inegalite des chances en matiere d'emploi, et l'acces restreint au financement (Bellal, 2013). La segmentation du marche du travail dans les economies en developpement est le plus souvent illustree par l'opposition entre le secteur formel et le secteur informel (Jutting et Laiglesia, 2009). Tout en s'inscrivant dans la logique de validation de la segmentation du marche du travail, de celle des strategies de survie des menages et de celle du capital humain (Trzcinski et Randolph, 1991), la presente etude propose d'etudier le phenomene selon une perspective de genre. Les recherches economiques sur l'activite des femmes dans le secteur informel en Algerie sont tres rares (Charmes et Remaoun, 2014). Notre etude vise a identifier les determinants de l'acces des femmes au secteur informel, ainsi que les logiques de leur comportement. La premiere partie a pour objet le cadre theorique de l'etude, plus precisement la definition du secteur et de l'emploi informels et les differentes theories qui expliquent la presence des femmes dans le secteur informel. Nous faisons l'hypothese que la decision de participer au marche du travail depend des caracteristiques individuelles de la femme, lesquelles sont conditionnees par les caracteristiques du menage dans lequel elle vit (taille du menage, milieu de residence) et du chef de menage (revenu, niveau d'instruction, secteur d'activite formel ou informel dans lequel il exerce). La deuxieme partie presente le modele probit applique a un echantillon de 726 femmes, tire d'une enquete sur 1016 menages realisee a Bejaia en 2012, une region situee dans le centre-est de l'Algerie. La troisieme partie presente les resultats de l'etude.
Inhibition of intracellular protein transport in the mouse exocrine pancreas induced by vinblastine.

The effect of vinblastine on the intracellular transport of newly synthesized protein in the mouse exocrine pancreas in vivo was studied by electron microscopic autoradiography after administration of 3H-leucine. Vinblastine (1.1 mumole/mouse; i.v. injection) was in general given 1 h before radioleucine and 2-4 h before fixation of the pancreas by perfusion with glutaraldehyde. Vinblastine causes the disappearance of microtubules, mainly present in controls in the apical portion of the acinar cell. After injection of vinblastine, zymogen granules from clusters located throughout the cell but often associated with Golgi areas. The latter are enlarged mainly due to the accumulation of small vesicles. In addition, Golgi areas are displaced, most often in an apical direction. Electron microscopic autoradiography demonstrated that vinblastine delays the appearance of labeled protein in zymogen granules; even 2 h after injection of radioleucine the majority of silver grains is located over the rough endoplasmic reticulum while very few grains are related to zymogen granules. This finding might be related to the structural changes of the Golgi areas observed. Although intracellular migration of protein is retarded, zymogen granules are formed. However, many of the labeled granules are found in peculiar locations, often distant from the acinar lumen. The present study suggests that vinblastine, possibly due to its effect on microtubules, influences both the formation and the translocation of zymogen granules.
Adaptive Dual High-Gain Output Feedback Global in Unknown Parameters for a Class of Nonlinear Systems

In a recent result, we proposed a dynamic dual high-gain observer/controller architecture for nonlinear systems of the generalized output-feedback canonical form. The designed output-feedback controller was shown to be robust to functional and parametric uncertainties coupled with all states. However, a magnitude bound on the unknown parameters was required. In this paper, we propose two output-feedback controllers, one time-varying and the other time-invariant that can handle time-varying nonlinear parametric uncertainty coupled with all states without requiring any a priori magnitude bounds on the unknown parameters. The proposed dynamic controller designs provide globally asymptotically stabilizing output-feedback solutions for the benchmark open problem proposed in our earlier work with no magnitude bounds or sign information on the unknown parameter being necessary.
Akt promotes tumorigenesis in part through modulating genomic instability via phosphorylating XLF

To maintain genome stability, mammalian cells have developed a delicate, yet efficient, system to sense and repair damaged DNA, including two evolutionarily conserved DNA damage repair (DDR) pathways: homologous recombination (HR) and non-homologous-end-joining (NHEJ). Deregulation in these repair pathways may lead to genomic instability and subsequent human diseases, including cancer. On the other hand, hyper-activation of the oncogenic Akt signaling pathway has been observed in almost all solid tumors. Emerging evidence has begun to reveal a possible role of active Akt in regulating DDR, possibly through suppression of HR. However, whether and how Akt regulates NHEJ remains largely undefined. To this end, we recently reported that Akt impairs NHEJ by phosphorylating XLF at T181, to trigger its dissociation from the functional DNA ligase IV (LIG4)/XRCC4 complex. Here, we provide an additional perspective discussing how Akt is activated upon DNA damage to regulate DNA repair pathways as well as the cellular apoptotic responses.
Deep brain stimulation of subthalamic nucleus and caudal zona incerta in patients with Parkinson ’ s disease : A perceptual study of effects on articulatory precision 78

Background Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a viable surgical treatment method for Parkinson’s disease (PD). It has positive effects on the classical motor symptoms, but effects on speech and voice are not equally beneficial. The speech disorder related to PD is hypokinetic dysarthria, with impaired articulatory precision as a prominent symptom. Studies have shown effects on different aspects of speech due to DBS of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) but the effects of stimulation of the caudal zona incerta (cZi) are less explored. Aims The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of STN-DBS and cZi-DBS on perceptually measured articulatory precision in PD patients. Method Read speech productions were collected from 19 DBS-treated PD patients, ten STN and nine cZi. The recordings were made before surgery and 12 months postoperatively with stimulator on and off. Levodopa medication was always on. From the reading passage, three-syllable words were selected and isolated. Articulatory precision of the words was rated in two different assessments; an overall rating of articulatory precision and an identification of occurring misarticulations. Results The results from the perceptual assessment showed a decrease in articulatory precision after surgery for both groups. The decrease was significant for the cZi group, but not for the STN group. There was no significant difference between the groups. The frequency of observed misarticulations increased as an effect of DBS for both patient groups, with significant increase for the STN group but not for the cZi group. There was no significant difference between the groups. The most commonly observed misarticulation categories were stop-plosive reduced in quality, fricative realized as other fricative and stop-plosive realized as fricative. Conclusions The results obtained in the current study show that STN-DBS and cZi-DBS may have adverse effects on articulatory precision in PD patients.
Identifying cycling-inducing neighborhoods: A latent class approach

ABSTRACT Understanding how spatial attributes of cities and neighborhoods induce cycling is relevant for urban planning and policy making. In this work, ordered logit and latent class models are specified and estimated to analyze how the built environment affects bicycle-commuting frequency. Data come from a survey to 1,487 people in the city of Santiago, Chile, including sociodemographic information, travel behavior patterns and place of residence and work. Using geographic information systems tools, the built environment was characterized with variables calculated for a 500-m-radius buffer around the residential and work locations of each individual. Two models are estimated, first an ordered logit model confirms that built environment variables effect on cycling is similar to what has been reported in the literature, with some new findings such as an increase in cycling when public transport accessibility is low and the role of built environment attributes at the destination. Second, a latent class ordered logit is used to identify two classes of neighborhood in term of their cycling patterns, as a function of their density, presence of cycling infrastructure and distance to the main activity center of the city. This result allows to map the class membership probabilities, potentially helping to identify neighborhoods that encourage cycling and providing relevant information for policy making and infrastructure decisions.
Proteolysis is a confounding factor in the interpretation of faecal calprotectin

Abstract Background: Calprotectin is a 36 kDa calcium and zinc binding protein. An increased level of calprotectin points towards inflammatory bowel disease. However, the biomarker calprotectin shows 14 potential cleavages sites for trypsin. Next to trypsin, also the presence of its inhibitor α1-antitrypsin after a gastrointestinal bleeding may affect calprotectin testing. In this study, effects of trypsin and α1-antitrypsin as potential confounders for faecal calprotectin testing are investigated. Methods: An in vitro model was created. As calprotectin source, leukocytes were isolated and subsequently lysed (1% Triton X-100) and diluted in faecal matrix. Trypsin digestion was carried out by adding trypsin. Incubation occurred for 24 h or 48 h (37 °C). To study the influence of α1-antitrypsin on trypsin, the same experiment was repeated after adding serum containing α1-antitrypsin. Results: In vitro experiments enabled monitoring of the faecal calprotectin digestion, leading to loss of immunoreactivity. Trypsin activity was a potential confounder in the interpretation of calprotectin, in particular for proximal lesions, where exposure of calprotectin to trypsin is prolonged. Relative calprotectin loss was proportional to the amount of trypsin. Decrease of calprotectin was more pronounced after 48 h of incubation in comparison to 24 h of incubation. Analogue experiments also showed stable calprotectin values after adding α1-antitrypsin. Conclusions: Transit time, trypsin activity and addition of blood as a source of α1-antitrypsin may be regarded as potential confounders in the interpretation of calprotectin results. Age-related cut-off values depending on the anatomical localisation of the lesions could improve the diagnostic efficiency of calprotectin testing.
Lacrosse helmet facemask removal.

CONTEXT Facemask removal (FMR) is required to access the airway of a catastrophically injured football or ice hockey athlete. However, the best method of caring for the helmeted lacrosse athlete with suspected catastrophic injury remains unclear. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of sex and grip strength on the speed and ease of use of various FMR methods across different lacrosse helmet types. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. Setting : Athletic training laboratory. PATIENTS OR OTHER PARTICIPANTS Fourteen athletic trainers (7 men, 7 women). INTERVENTION(S) Removal method (cordless screwdriver [CSD], Face Mask Extractor 2 [FMX], pruner, Trainer's Angel [TA]), helmet type (Cascade CPX, Cascade Pro7, Riddell Revolution, Brine Triumph, Warrior Venom), and sex. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Facemask removal time and participant-reported ease of use of the removal method (6-point Likert scale). RESULTS We found a 2-way interaction for removal method and sex only for the ease-of-use scores (F3,246 = 4.67, P = .01). A main effect for removal method for time (F3,200 = 19.41, P < .001) and ease of use (F3,200 = 53.78, P < .001) was seen. The fastest times (32.32 ± 11.70 seconds) and highest ease-of-use scores (4.94 ± 0.30) were recorded for the CSD. We noted a main effect for helmet type only for time (F4,200 = 5.34, P < .001), with the fastest removal times (72.75 ± 74.67 seconds) recorded for the CPX. We discovered a main effect for sex only for time (F1,200 = 17.57, P < .001), with slower times recorded for women (115.51 ± 110.80 seconds) than men (75.71 ± 83.87 seconds). We found correlations between FMR time and grip strength only when using the FMX (r = -0.40, P = .001), pruner (r = -0.26, P = .04), and TA (r = -0.26, P = .047). CONCLUSIONS Based on our results, FMR of lacrosse helmets should be attempted with a CSD. We recommend carrying a pruner as a backup cutting tool in case the CSD fails, practicing FMR regularly, and inspecting helmets for faulty hardware to reduce the chance of CSD failure.
Polymorphism, recombination, and linkage disequilibrium within the HLA class II region.

Thirty-nine CEPH (Centre d'Etude du Polymorphisme Humain) families, comprised of 502 individuals, have been typed for the HLA class II genes DRB1, DQA1, DQB1, and DPB1 using nonradioactive sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes to analyze polymerase chain reaction amplified DNA. This population, which consists of 266 independent chromosomes, contains 27 DRB1, 7 DQA1, 12 DQB1, and 17 DPB1 alleles. Analysis of the distribution of allele frequencies using the homozygosity statistic, which gives an indication of past selection pressures, suggests that balancing selection has acted on the DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1 loci. The distribution of DPB1 alleles, however, suggests a different evolutionary past. Family data permits the estimation of recombination rates and the unambiguous assignment of haplotypes. No recombinants were found between DRB1, DQA1, and DQB1; however, recombinants were detected between DQB1 and DPB1, resulting in an estimated recombination fraction of greater than or equal to 0.008 +/- 0.004. Only 33 distinct DRB1-DQA1-DQB1 haplotypes were found in this population which illustrates the extreme nonrandom haplotypic association of alleles at these loci. A few of these haplotypes are unusual (previously unreported) for a Caucasian population and most likely result from past recombination events between the DR and DQ subregions. Examination of disequilibrium across the HLA region using these data and the available serologic HLA-A and HLA-B types of these samples shows that global disequilibrium between these loci declines with the recombination fraction, approaching statistic nonsignificance at the most distant interval, HLA-A to HLA-DP.DR-DQ haplotypes in linkage disequilibrium with DPB1 and B are noted and, finally, the evolutionary origin of certain class II haplotypes is addressed.