Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of pravastatin on total kidney volume, left ventricular mass index, and microalbuminuria in pediatric autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES In autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), progressive kidney cyst formation commonly leads to ESRD. Because important manifestations of ADPKD may be evident in childhood, early intervention may have the largest effect on long-term outcome. Statins are known to slow progressive nephropathy in animal models of ADPKD. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial was conducted from 2007 to 2012 to assess the effect of pravastatin on height-corrected total kidney volume (HtTKV) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and urine microalbumin excretion (UAE) in children and young adults with ADPKD. DESIGNS, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS There were 110 pediatric participants with ADPKD and normal kidney function receiving lisinopril who were randomized to treatment with pravastatin or placebo for a 3-year period with evaluation at 0, 18, and 36 months. The primary outcome variable was a ≥ 20% change in HtTKV, LVMI, or UAE over the study period. RESULTS Ninety-one participants completed the 3-year study (83%). Fewer participants receiving pravastatin achieved the primary endpoint compared with participants receiving placebo (69% versus 88%; P=0.03). This was due primarily to a lower proportion reaching the increase in HtTKV (46% versus 68%; P=0.03), with similar findings observed between study groups for LVMI (25% versus 38%; P=0.18) and UAE (47% versus 39%; P=0.50). The percent change in HtTKV adjusted for age, sex, and hypertension status over the 3-year period was significantly decreased with pravastatin (23% ± 3% versus 31% ± 3%; P=0.02). CONCLUSIONS Pravastatin is an effective agent to slow progression of structural kidney disease in children and young adults with ADPKD. These findings support a role for early intervention with pravastatin in this condition.
A Peptide from the Beta‐strand Region of CD2 Protein that Inhibits Cell Adhesion and Suppresses Arthritis in a Mouse Model

Cell adhesion molecules play a central role at every step of the immune response. The function of leukocytes can be regulated by modulating adhesion interactions between cell adhesion molecules to develop therapeutic agents against autoimmune diseases. Among the different cell adhesion molecules that participate in the immunologic response, CD2 and its ligand CD58 (LFA‐3) are two of the best‐characterized adhesion molecules mediating the immune response. To modulate the cell adhesion interaction, peptides were designed from the discontinuous epitopes of the β‐strand region of CD2 protein. The two strands were linked by a peptide bond. β‐Strands in the peptides were nucleated by inserting a β‐sheet‐inducing Pro‐Gly sequence with key amino acid sequences from CD2 protein that binds to CD58. Using a fluorescence assay, peptides that exhibited potential inhibitory activity in cell adhesion were evaluated for their ability to bind to CD58 protein. A model for peptide binding to CD58 protein was proposed based on docking studies. Administration of one of the peptides, P3 in collagen‐induced arthritis in the mouse model, indicated that peptide P3 was able to suppress rheumatoid arthritis in mice.
The Sectoral Effects of Real Depreciations in Latin America

This papers explores the effects of real exchange rate depreciations on growth across sectors, identifying export, cost, and import-penetration channels. It tests the existence and magnitude of these channels in a panel difference-in-difference methodology. Sectors that export more to begin with, grow relatively more in response to a depreciation. The same is true of sectors where import penetration in final demand is higher. There is no evidence that depreciations reduce growth by making imported inputs more expensive. A 10 percent real depreciation would increase growth of nontraditional sectors in Latin America by 0.6-2 percentage points mostly through the export channel.
Adaption of a Privilege Management Infrastructure (PMI) Approach to Industry 4.0

The essential prerequisite for successfully implementing Industry 4.0 is the secure and trustworthy handling of data as well as the reliable protection of cross-company communication against attacks. Confidentiality and integrity are crucial for a secure cyber-physical communication infrastructure. Using a Privilege Management Infrastructure (PMI) is basis to achieve the security objectives. The paper modifies PMI to achieve a scalable access rule management system, with enhancement by introducing trust levels for PMI, associated with extended Attribute Certificates (AC). It further discusses Industry 4.0 challenges and use cases that show the need of the PMI adaption.
Histone locus regulation by the Drosophila dosage compensation adaptor protein CLAMP

Rieder et al. report that conserved GA repeat cis elements within the bidirectional histone3–histone4 promoter direct histone locus body (HLB) formation in Drosophila. In addition, the CLAMP zinc finger protein binds these GA repeat motifs, increases chromatin accessibility, enhances histone gene transcription, and promotes HLB formation.
Neuroimaging and frontal-subcortical circuitry in obsessive-compulsive disorder

Background Neuroimaging studies provide strong evidence that the pathophysiology of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves abnormal functioning along specific frontal-subcortical brain circuits. Method A literature search was carried out for all brain imaging studies of patients with OCD. We also reviewed the basic science literature on the functional neuroanatomy of cortico-basal ganglia circuits, and integrated this information with neuroimaging data in OCD to formulate a theoretical model of brain mediation of OCD symptoms and response to treatment. Results At least a subgroup of patients with OCD may have abnormal basal ganglia development. Functional neuroimaging studies indicate that OCD symptoms are associated with increased activity in orbitofrontal cortex, caudate nucleus, thalamus and anterior cingulate gyrus. Conclusions OCD symptoms are mediated by hyperactivity in orbitofrontal-subcortical circuits, perhaps due to an imbalance of tone between direct and indirect striatopallidal pathways. We present a model which describes how frontal-subcortical brain circuitry may mediate OCD symptomatology, and suggest a hypothesis for how successful treatments may ameliorate symptoms, via their effects on circuit activity.
Adenosine modulates the excitability of layer II stellate neurons in entorhinal cortex through A1 receptors

Stellate neurons in layer II entorhinal cortex (EC) provide the main output from the EC to the hippocampus. It is believed that adenosine plays a crucial role in neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission in the CNS, however, the function of adenosine in the EC is still elusive. Here, the data reported showed that adenosine hyperpolarized stellate neurons in a concentration‐dependent manner, accompanied by a decrease in firing frequency. This effect corresponded to the inhibition of the hyperpolarization‐activated, cation nonselective (HCN) channels. Surprisingly, the adenosine‐induced inhibition was blocked by 3 μM 8‐cyclopentyl‐1,3‐dipropylxanthine (DPCPX), a selective A1 receptor antagonists, but not by 10 μM 3,7‐dimethyl‐1‐propargylxanthine (DMPX), a selective A2 receptor antagonists, indicating that activation of adenosine A1 receptors were responsible for the direct inhibition. In addition, adenosine reduced the frequency but not the amplitude of miniature EPSCs and IPSCs, suggesting that the global depression of glutamatergic and GABAergic transmission is mediated by a decrease in glutamate and GABA release, respectively. Again the presynaptic site of action was mediated by adenosine A1 receptors. Furthermore, inhibition of spontaneous glutamate and GABA release by adenosine A1 receptor activation was mediated by voltage‐dependent Ca2+ channels and extracellular Ca2+. Therefore, these findings revealed direct and indirect mechanisms by which activation of adenosine A1 receptors on the cell bodies of stellate neurons and on the presynaptic terminals could regulate the excitability of these neurons. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
From ‘Youth Language’ to contemporary urban vernaculars

In what follows I would like to do three things. First, I want to show that what we have been talking about as urban youth language is actually quite durable, both historically and biographically, so something like ‘youth style’ doesn’t really work as a label. Second, I shall argue that we would do better just talking about ‘contemporary urban vernaculars’, though, third, I would like to nest this in a broadly practice-theory perspective that I will elaborate on in the last part of my talk. I will start with some data.
Allergic rhinitis and its impact on otorhinolaryngology

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a disease with growing impact on everyday medical practice, as its prevalence has steadily increased during the last decades. Immunoglobulin‐E (IgE)‐mediated airway inflammation may manifest itself as AR, asthma or both. Allergic inflammation in upper and lower airways is now considered as one airway disease, with manifestation of symptoms in upper, lower or global airway. This insight into allergic inflammation of the whole respiratory tract has consequences for the diagnostic and therapeutic approach of affected patients, as highlighted in the ARIA document. In contrast to asthma, the link between AR and associated conditions in the upper airways like rhinosinusitis, nasal polyps, recurrent viral infections, adenoid hypertrophy, tubal dysfunction, otitis media with effusion and laryngitis remains less explored. It is however of utmost importance to consider the aetiological role of IgE‐mediated inflammation of the nasal mucosa in several diseases of the upper respiratory tract, as they represent a large body of patient population seen by the general practitioner as well as the paediatrician, allergologist and otorhinolaryngologist. We here aim at reviewing the current literature on the relationship between AR and conditions in upper airways frequently encountered in everyday clinical practice, and highlight the need for further studies exploring the role of allergic inflammation in the development of these diseases.
[Determination of apparent aqueous solubility and apparent oil-water partition coefficients of three bufadienolides composition].

OBJECTIVE To investigate apparent aqueous solubility and apparent oil-water partition coefficients of three bufadienolides composition. METHOD A high performance liquid chromatography method was established to determine apparent aqueous solubility of three bufadienolides composition; apparent oil-water partition coefficients of three bufadienolides composition was determined by shaking flask method. RESULT The solubility of three bufadienolides composition reached the top value, 76.29 microg x mL(-1) (RBG), 51.85 microg x mL(-1) (CBG), 32.76 microg x mL(-1) (BL) respectively and a total of 160.9 microg x mL(-1) in the condition of 37 degrees C and pH 7.0, therefore three bufadienolides composition can be defined as insoluble products. The solubility of the three decreased in weak acid or base environment to some extent. RBG, CBG, BL are liposoluble components and the sequence of log P is RBG > BL > CBG. CONCLUSION RBG, CBG, BL is water-insoluble and hydrophobic. Surfactants can be applied to increase the solubility of three bufadienolides composition.
Global Determinants of the Gold Price: A Multivariate Cointegration Analysis

The present paper follows publications which have investigated the influence of global liquidity developments on commodity prices and asset price indices. It contributes to the literature by analyzing how global developments in money, output, and inflation can be related to developments in gold prices in a long‐run perspective. Applying a multivariate cointegration (CVAR) analysis, this study investigates long‐run relationships between these variables. The results suggest a significant influence of excess global liquidity on real gold prices and a co‐movement of real gold prices and global inflation.
Autoantibodies in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Abstract: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders defined behaviorally by abnormalities in social, verbal, and nonverbal communication. The etiologies of ASD are unknown, likely to be the result of a variety of numerous genetic, neurological, environmental, and immunological interactions that lead to a general behavioral phenotype defined as ASD. This review will focus on the various immune system anomalies, in particular, autoantibodies, which have been reported in subjects with ASD. In addition, we will discuss recent studies performed by our group concerning the presence of autoantibodies directed against neural antigens, which are observed in patients with ASD.
Exercise training below and above the lactate threshold in the elderly.

In this study we report the effects of training at intensities below and above the lactate threshold on parameters of aerobic function in elderly subjects (age range 65-75 yr). The subjects were randomized into high-intensity (HI, N = 8; 75% of heart rate reserve = approximately 82% VO2max = approximately 121% of lactate threshold) and low-intensity (LI, N = 9; 35% of heart rate reserve = approximately 53% VO2max = approximately 72% of lactate threshold) training groups which trained 4 d.wk-1 for 30 min.session-1 for 8 wk. Before and after the training, subjects performed an incremental exercise test for determination of maximal aerobic power (VO2max) and lactate threshold (LT). In addition, the subjects performed a 6-min single-stage exercise test at greater than 75% of pre-training VO2max (SST-High) during which cardiorespiratory responses were evaluated each minute of the test. After training, the improvements in VO2max (7%) for LI and HI were not different from one another (delta VO2max for LI = 1.8 +/- 0.7 ml.kg-1.min-1; delta VO2max for HI = 1.8 +/- 1.0 ml.kg-1.min-1) but were significantly greater (P = 0.02) than the post-testing change observed in the control group (N = 8). Training improved the LT significantly (10-12%; P less than 0.01) and equally for both LI and HI (delta LT for for LI = 2.3 +/- 0.6 ml O2.kg-1.min-1; delta LT for HI = 1.8 +/- 0.8 ml O2.kg-1.min-1). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The role played by the regime of collective and certification marks in the protection of geographical indications-Comparative study of law and practice in France, the EU and China

The US way of protecting geographical indications (GIs) as collective or certification marks and the European way of treating GIs as sui generis intellectual property rights represent practices that could make a country's legislation conform to the TRIPS Agreement. However, the US trademark system and the European sui generis system are common knowledge, whereas the trademark regime in Europe and other countries with similar sui generis systems is less well known. This article shows how the different trademark systems, more specifically the systems of collective and certification marks, can be "designed" and thus shows the different roles that they will have in GI protection. This article has chosen to compare Europe and China because they both have developed the sui generis GI regime but have adopted contrasting approaches to an alternative tool, the trademark regime. Europe confines trademark use to a complementary purpose, which is reflected in the EU trademark reform of 2015 and the European Court of Justice case law. China is adapting the system to meet the needs of GI protection that the European trademark law is unwilling to cater to. A discussion of different ways of "designing" trademark systems will shed light on their multifaceted role. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
An Observational Study of 2,248 Patients Presenting With Headache, Suggestive of Subarachnoid Hemorrhage, Who Received Lumbar Punctures Following Normal Computed Tomography of the Head.

OBJECTIVES The objective was to determine the incidence of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) diagnosed by lumbar puncture (LP) when the head computed tomography (CT) was reported as demonstrating no subarachnoid blood. METHODS Data were obtained on patients who received LP to diagnose or exclude SAH attending six hospitals over 5 years. Subsequent investigations and outcomes were reviewed in all patients with LPs that did not exclude SAH. RESULTS A total of 2,248 patients were included. A total of 1,898 LPs were suitable for biochemical analysis, of which 92 (4.8%) were positive for blood, suggesting SAH; 1,507 (79.4%) were negative; and 299 (15.6%) were inconclusive. Of the 92 patients with positive cerebrospinal fluid analysis, eight patients (0.4%) had aneurysms on further imaging, and one had a carotid cavernous fistula. CONCLUSIONS In patients presenting to the emergency department with acute severe headache, LP to diagnose or exclude SAH after negative head CT has a very low diagnostic yield, due to low prevalence of the disease and uninterpretable or inconclusive samples. A clinical decision rule may improve diagnostic yield by selecting patients requiring further evaluation with LP following nondiagnostic or normal noncontrast CT brain imaging.
Overproduction of the Lon protease triggers inhibition of translation in Escherichia coli: involvement of the yefM‐yoeB toxin‐antitoxin system

In Escherichia coli, the Lon ATP‐dependent protease is responsible for degradation of several regulatory proteins and for the elimination of abnormal proteins. Previous studies have shown that the overproduction of Lon is lethal. Here, we showed that Lon overproduction specifically inhibits translation through at least two different pathways. We have identified one of the pathways as being the chromosomal yefM‐yoeB toxin‐antitoxin system. The existence of a second pathway is demonstrated by the observation that the deletion of the yefM‐yoeB system did not completely suppress lethality and translation inhibition. We also showed that the YoeB toxin induces cleavage of translated mRNAs and that Lon overproduction specifically activates YoeB‐dependent mRNAs cleavage. Indeed, none of the other identified chromosomal toxin‐antitoxin systems (relBE, mazEF, chpB and dinJ‐yafQ) was involved in Lon‐dependent lethality, translation inhibition and mRNA cleavage even though the RelB and MazE antitoxins are known to be Lon substrates. Based on our results and other studies, translation inhibition appears to be the key element that triggers chromosomal toxin‐antitoxin systems. We propose that under Lon overproduction conditions, translation inhibition is mediated by Lon degradation of a component of the YoeB‐independent pathway, in turn activating the YoeB toxin by preventing synthesis of its unstable YefM antidote.
The relationship between Output Uncertainty and Economic Growth-Evidence from India

This study examines the causal nexus between output growth and its uncertainty for India using monthly time series data for the period from April 1980 to April 2011. In this regard, both simultaneous equation method and two-step procedure methods are estimated. In two-step procedure method, conventional Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroskedasticity (GARCH) models and Stochastic Volatility (SV) models are used to measure output uncertainty. The empirical evidence suggests for both measures of uncertainty, there exists a unidirectional causality from output growth to its uncertainty with a positive sign. The results for both pre and post economic reform period in India are also same and identical.
The Perceived Effects of Drug Messages on Use Patterns in Adolescents

Following a survey of over 5,000 students in north central Idaho and southeast Washington, an interviewing strategy was implemented with 223 adolescents randomly selected by their principals. The strategy was designed to learn: 1) which sources have utility and credibility with youth in providing drug information; 2) whether different message content and delivery style have differential effects upon that group; and 3) whether widely held perceptions voiced by parents and teachers about their ineffectiveness as information sources were accurate. Double-blind interviews, arranged to protect respondent anonymity, were conducted by trained interviewers from a research methods class. No interview was held when either an interviewer or respondent knew the other. Among the important findings of the study were that: 1) parents and teachers are trusted, credible sources of drug information; 2) doctors, nurses, law officers, and clergy are also credible but not visible to youth; 3) the evil media and celebrity fears of parents and teachers are largely ungrounded in adolescent perception; and 4) factual information from credible sources emphasizing the range of types of negative consequences associated with drug use can exert powerful effects upon adolescents' reported personal use of drugs.
The epidemiology of injuries in powerlifting at the London 2012 Paralympic Games: An analysis of 1411 athlete‐days

Sport injury epidemiology has received increased recognition as a field of sport medicine research that can improve the health and safety of athletes. Injuries among Paralympic powerlifters have not previously been systematically studied. The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to characterize injuries among Paralympic powerlifters. Athletes competing in the sport of powerlifting were followed over the 7‐day competition period of the 2012 London Paralympic Games. The main outcome measurements were injury incidence rate (IR; number of injuries per 1000 athlete‐days) and injury incidence proportion (IP; injuries per 100 athletes). A total of 38 injuries among 163 powerlifters were documented. The overall IR was 33.3 injuries/1000 athlete‐days (95% CI 24.0–42.6) and the overall IP was 23.3 injuries per 100 athletes (95% CI 16.8–29.8). The majority of injuries were chronic overuse injuries (61%). The most commonly injured anatomical region was the shoulder/clavicle (32% of all injuries), followed by the chest (13%) and elbow (13%). The information obtained in this study opens the door for future study into the mechanisms and details of injuries into powerlifters with physical impairments.