Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Restless legs syndrome among women: prevalence, co-morbidity and possible relationship to menopause

Objectives Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common neurological movement disorder with a female preponderance and an increasing prevalence with age. During the menopausal transition, sleep is affected. Prior studies suggest that female hormones are associated with the clinical manifestation of RLS. Methods A random sample of 5000 women aged 18–64 years was selected from the general Swedish population. They were sent questions on RLS, general health, sleep problems, reproductive health and menopausal state. Results The response rate was 70.3%; 15.7% of the women were diagnosed with RLS. Prevalence increased with age. RLS subjects more often had symptoms of affected sleep and depressed mood. Co-morbidity with heart disease was more common among RLS subjects, whereas hypertension and diabetes mellitus were not. There was a strong association between vasomotor symptoms and RLS but no statistical relationship between use of hormone replacement therapy, postmenopausal state and RLS. Conclusion The prevalence of RLS among Swedish women is high. RLS sufferers more often suffered from depression and heart disease, whereas no such associations were noted for diabetes or hypertension. We found an increased prevalence of RLS among women with vasomotor symptoms (night sweats) during the menopausal transition but not among women using hormone replacement therapy.
Application of GFAT as a Novel Selection Marker to Mediate Gene Expression

The enzyme glutamine: fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (GFAT), also known as glucosamine synthase (GlmS), catalyzes the formation of glucosamine-6-phosphate from fructose-6-phosphate and is the first and rate-limiting enzyme of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway. For the first time, the GFAT gene was proven to possess a function as an effective selection marker for genetically modified (GM) microorganisms. This was shown by construction and analysis of two GFAT deficient strains, E. coli ΔglmS and S. pombe Δgfa1, and the ability of the GFAT encoding gene to mediate plasmid selection. The gfa1 gene of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe was deleted by KanMX6-mediated gene disruption and the Cre-loxP marker removal system, and the glmS gene of Escherichia coli was deleted by using λ-Red mediated recombinase system. Both E. coli ΔglmS and S. pombe Δgfa1 could not grow normally in the media without addition of glucosamine. However, the deficiency was complemented by transforming the plasmids that expressed GFAT genes. The xylanase encoding gene, xynA2 from Thermomyces lanuginosus was successfully expressed and secreted by using GFAT as selection marker in S. pombe. Optimal glucosamine concentration for E. coli ΔglmS and S. pombe Δgfa1 growth was determined respectively. These findings provide an effective technique for the construction of GM bacteria without an antibiotic resistant marker, and the construction of GM yeasts to be applied to complex media.
Subject Areas : Semiconductor Physics , Spintronics A Viewpoint on : Spin-Pump-Induced Spin Transport in p-Type Si at Room Temperature

In spintronic devices [1–3], digital information is represented by the direction of the quantum-mechanical spin of the charge carriers. A spin pointing in one direction denotes a logical 0, whereas a spin pointing in the opposite direction represents the logical 1. Spintronic devices are almost exclusively fabricated out of n-type semiconductors (electrons carry the current) as opposed to p-type semiconductors (holes carry the current), which may seem surprising since both electrons and holes have spin. The reason is that holes have been assumed to be unable to preserve their spin polarization over distances longer than a few tens of nanometers. This perspective is changing, as several recent experiments have shown that hole spins in p-type silicon can be polarized and retain their polarization for a surprisingly long time. However, experiments that directly probe the spin of the holes as they travel through the material have been lacking.
Evaluation of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation III predictions of hospital mortality in an independent database.

OBJECTIVE To assess the accuracy and validity of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III hospital mortality predictions in an independent sample of U.S. intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. DESIGN Nonrandomized, observational, cohort study. SETTING Two hundred eighty-five ICUs in 161 U.S. hospitals, including 65 members of the Council of Teaching Hospitals and 64 nonteaching hospitals. PATIENTS A consecutive sample of 37,668 ICU admissions during 1993 to 1996; including 25,448 admissions at hospitals with >400 beds and 1,074 admissions at hospitals with <200 beds. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS We used demographic, clinical, and physiologic information recorded during ICU day 1 and the APACHE III equation to predict the probability of hospital mortality for each patient. We compared observed and predicted mortality for all admissions and across patient subgroups and assessed predictive accuracy using tests of discrimination and calibration. Aggregate hospital death rate was 12.35% and predicted hospital death rate was 12.27% (p =.541). The model discriminated between survivors and nonsurvivors well (area under receiver operating curve = 0.89). A calibration curve showed that the observed number of hospital deaths was close to the number of deaths predicted by the model, but when tested across deciles of risk, goodness-of-fit (Hosmer-Lemeshow statistic, chi-square = 48.71, 8 degrees of freedom, p< .0001) was not perfect. Observed and predicted hospital mortality rates were not significantly (p < .01) different for 55 (84.6%) of APACHE III's 65 specific ICU admission diagnoses and for 11 (84.6%) of the 13 residual organ system-related categories. The most frequent diagnoses with significant (p < .01) differences between observed and predicted hospital mortality rates included acute myocardial infarction, drug overdose, nonoperative head trauma, and nonoperative multiple trauma. CONCLUSIONS APACHE III accurately predicted aggregate hospital mortality in an independent sample of U.S. ICU admissions. Further improvements in calibration can be achieved by more precise disease labeling, improved acquisition and weighting of neurologic abnormalities, adjustments that reflect changes in treatment outcomes over time, and a larger national database.
Série Scientifique Scientific Series a Domain-specific Risk-taking (dospert) Scale for Adult Populations a Domain-specific Risk-taking (dospert) Scale for Adult Populations

CIRANO Le CIRANO est un organisme sans but lucratif constitué en vertu de la Loi des compagnies du Québec. Le financement de son infrastructure et de ses activités de recherche provient des cotisations de ses organisations-membres, d'une subvention d'infrastructure du Ministère du Développement économique et régional et de la Recherche, de même que des subventions et mandats obtenus par ses équipes de recherche. CIRANO is a private non-profit organization incorporated under the Québec Companies Act. Its infrastructure and research activities are funded through fees paid by member organizations, an infrastructure grant from the Ministère du Développement économique et régional et de la Recherche, and grants and research mandates obtained by its research teams. Le CIRANO collabore avec de nombreux centres et chaires de recherche universitaires dont on peut consulter la liste sur son site web. Les cahiers de la série scientifique (CS) visent à rendre accessibles des résultats de recherche effectuée au CIRANO afin de susciter échanges et commentaires. Ces cahiers sont écrits dans le style des publications scientifiques. Les idées et les opinions émises sont sous l'unique responsabilité des auteurs et ne représentent pas nécessairement les positions du CIRANO ou de ses partenaires. This paper presents research carried out at CIRANO and aims at encouraging discussion and comment. The observations and viewpoints expressed are the sole responsibility of the authors. They do not necessarily represent positions of CIRANO or its partners. Résumé / Abstract Le présent document propose une version révisée de l'échelle originale Domain-Specific Risk-Taking (DOSPERT) mise de l'avant par Weber, Blais, et Betz (2002). Il s'agit d'une version abrégée qui se veut plus générale, s'adressant à un plus large éventail d'âges, de cultures et de degrés de scolarisation. Ce document offre également une traduction française de l'échelle révisée. Nous avons étudié, à l'aide de la modélisation multiniveaux, la relation risque-rendement entre la prise de risque apparente et la perception du risque dans cinq domaines de risque. Les résultats reproduisent les différences déjà notées au sujet du degré de prise de risque et de la perception du risque au niveau moyen de l'analyse. La modélisation multiniveaux démontre, de façon plus intéressante, que la variation dans la prise de risque pour tous les éléments des domaines de l'échelle était sept fois plus grande chez un même participant (i.e., au niveau individuel) que la variation entre les différents participants. Nous étudions les implications des résultats de l'étude en termes du …
Impact of Diffusion-Weighted Imaging Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score on the Success of Endovascular Reperfusion Therapy

Background and Purpose— In acute ischemic stroke patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis, a diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS) is an independent factor of functional outcomes. Our aim was to assess the impact of pretreatment DWI-ASPECTS on outcomes after endovascular therapy, with a specific emphasis on recanalization. Methods— We analyzed data collected between April 2007 and March 2013 in a prospective clinical registry of acute ischemic stroke patients treated by endovascular approach. Every patient with a documented internal carotid artery or middle cerebral artery occlusion who underwent an acute DWI-MRI before treatment was eligible for this study. The primary outcome was a favorable outcome defined by modified Rankin Scale of 0 to 2 at 90 days. Results— Two hundred ten patients were included and median DWI-ASPECTS was 7 (interquartile range, 4–8). DWI-ASPECTS ≥5 was the optimal threshold to predict a favorable outcome (area under the curve=0.69; sensitivity, 90%; specificity, 38%). In a multivariate analysis including confounding variables, the adjusted odds ratio for favorable outcomes associated with a DWI-ASPECTS of ≥5 was 5.06 (95% confidence interval, 1.86–13.77; P=0.002). Nonetheless, the occurrence of a complete recanalization was associated with an increased rate of favorable outcomes in patients with DWI-ASPECTS under 5 (50% versus 3%, P<0.001). Conclusions— DWI-ASPECTS ≥5 seems to be the optimal threshold to predict favorable outcomes among patients undergoing endovascular reperfusion within 6 hours. Selected patients with a DWI-ASPECTS of <5 may still benefit when a complete reperfusion is achieved.
Resting-State Functional Connectivity in Late-Life Depression: Higher Global Connectivity and More Long Distance Connections

Functional magnetic resonance imaging recordings in the resting-state (RS) from the human brain are characterized by spontaneous low-frequency fluctuations in the blood oxygenation level dependent signal that reveal functional connectivity (FC) via their spatial synchronicity. This RS study applied network analysis to compare FC between late-life depression (LLD) patients and control subjects. Raw cross-correlation matrices (CM) for LLD were characterized by higher FC. We analyzed the small-world (SW) and modular organization of these networks consisting of 110 nodes each as well as the connectivity patterns of individual nodes of the basal ganglia. Topological network measures showed no significant differences between groups. The composition of top hubs was similar between LLD and control subjects, however in the LLD group posterior medial-parietal regions were more highly connected compared to controls. In LLD, a number of brain regions showed connections with more distant neighbors leading to an increase of the average Euclidean distance between connected regions compared to controls. In addition, right caudate nucleus connectivity was more diffuse in LLD. In summary, LLD was associated with overall increased FC strength and changes in the average distance between connected nodes, but did not lead to global changes in SW or modular organization.
A Novel Bayesian Similarity Measure for Recommender Systems

Collaborative filtering, a widely-used user-centric recommendation technique, predicts an item's rating by aggregating its ratings from similar users. User similarity is usually calculated by cosine similarity or Pearson correlation coefficient. However, both of them consider only the direction of rating vectors, and suffer from a range of drawbacks. To solve these issues, we propose a novel Bayesian similarity measure based on the Dirichlet distribution, taking into consideration both the direction and length of rating vectors. Further, our principled method reduces correlation due to chance. Experimental results on six real-world data sets show that our method achieves superior accuracy.
On the discrete logarithm problem in class groups of curves

We study the discrete logarithm problem in degree 0 class groups of curves over finite fields, with particular emphasis on curves of small genus. We prove that for every fixed g ≥ 2, the discrete logarithm problem in degree 0 class groups of curves of genus g can be solved in an expected time of O(q 2-2/g ), where F q is the ground field. This result generalizes a corresponding result for hyperelliptic curves given in imaginary quadratic representation with cyclic degree 0 class group, and just as this previous result, it is obtained via an index calculus algorithm with double large prime variation. Generalizing this result, we prove that for fixed g 0 > 2 the discrete logarithm problem in class groups of all curves C/F q of genus g ≥ g 0 can be solved in an expected time of O((q g ) 2/g 0 (1-1/g 0 ) ) and in an expected time of O( #Cl 0 (C) 2/g 0 (1- 1/g0) ). As a complementary result we prove that for any fixed n ∈ ℕ with n > 2 the discrete logarithm problem in the groups of rational points of elliptic curves over finite fields F q n, q a prime power, can be solved in an expected time of O(q 2-2/n ). Furthermore, we give an algorithm for the efficient construction of a uniformly randomly distributed effective divisor of a specific degree, given the curve and its L-polynomial.
Antidepressant-induced jitteriness/anxiety syndrome: systematic review

Background Early worsening of anxiety, agitation and irritability are thought to be common among people commencing antidepressants, especially for anxiety disorders. This phenomenon, which may be termed jitteriness/anxiety syndrome, is cited as an explanation for early treatment failure and caution in using selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). However, we believe that it is inconsistently defined and that robust evidence to support the phenomenon is lacking. Aims To review systematically all evidence relating to jitteriness/ anxiety syndrome to identify: constituent symptoms; medications implicated; disorders in which it was reported; incidence; time course; management strategies; relationship of this syndrome to therapeutic response; distinction between syndrome and akathisia; relationship between syndrome and suicide; and genetic predispositions. Method A systematic search identified articles and these were included in the review if they addressed one of the above aspects of jitteriness/anxiety syndrome. Results Of 245 articles identified, 107 articles were included for review. No validated rating scales for jitteriness/anxiety syndrome were identified. There was no robust evidence that the incidence differed between SSRIs and tricyclic antidepressants, or that there was a higher incidence in anxiety disorders. Published incidence rates varied widely from 4 to 65% of people commencing antidepressant treatment. Common treatment strategies for this syndrome included a slower titration of antidepressant and the addition of benzodiazepines. Conclusive evidence for the efficacy of these strategies is lacking. There was conflicting and inconclusive evidence as to whether the emergence of this syndrome had a predictive value on the response to treatment. It appears to be a separate syndrome from akathisia, but evidence for this assertion was limited. The effect of jitteriness/anxiety syndrome on suicide rates has not been evaluated. Three studies examined genetic variations and side-effects from treatment, but none was specifically designed to assess jitteriness/anxiety syndrome. Conclusions Jitteriness/anxiety syndrome remains poorly characterised. Despite this, clinicians' perception of this syndrome influences prescribing and it is cited to support postulated mechanisms of drug action. We recommend systematised evaluation of side-effects at earlier time points in antidepressant trials to further elucidate this clinically important syndrome.
Nurse executive transformational leadership found in participative organizations.

OBJECTIVE The study examined a national sample of 396 randomly selected hospital nurse executives to explore transformational leadership, stage of power, and organizational climate. BACKGROUND Results from a few nurse executive studies have found nurse executives were transformational leaders. As executives were more transformational, they achieved better staff satisfaction and higher work group effectiveness. This study integrates Bass' transformational leadership model with Hagberg's power stage theory and Likert's organizational climate theory. METHODS Nurse executives (396) and staff reporting to them (1,115) rated the nurse executives' leadership style, staff extra effort, staff satisfaction, and work group effectiveness using Bass and Avolio's Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire. Executives' bosses (360) rated executive work group effectiveness. Executives completed Hagberg's Personal Power Profile and ranked their organizational climate using Likert's Profile of Organizational Characteristics. RESULTS Nurse executives used transformational leadership fairly often; achieved fairly satisfied staff levels; were very effective according to bosses; were most likely at stage 3 (power by achievement) or stage 4 (power by reflection); and rated their hospital as a Likert System 3 Consultative Organization. Staff satisfaction and work group effectiveness decreased as nurse executives were more transactional. Higher transformational scores tended to occur with higher educational degrees and within more participative organizations. CONCLUSIONS Transformational qualities can be enhanced by further education, by achieving higher power stages, and by being within more participative organizations.
Antibacterial effect of coffee: calcium concentration in a culture containing teeth/biofilm exposed to Coffea Canephora aqueous extract

This study determined the changes of calcium concentration in a medium containing teeth/biofilm exposed to Coffea canephora extract (CCE). Enamel fragments were randomly fixed into two 24‐well polystyrene plates containing BHI. Pooled human saliva was added to form biofilm on fragments. Specimens were divided into treatment groups (G, n = 8 per group) and treated with 50 μl daily for 1 min per week, as follows: G1, 20% CCE; G2, Milli‐Q water (negative control); G3, antibiotic (positive control). Six fragments represented the blank control (G4). The calcium content was observed at baseline, 4 and 7 days of treatment by atomic‐absorption spectrophotometry. Cross‐sectional hardness of enamel was a demineralization indicator. Calcium increased in the medium after 4 and 7 days of treatment in G1 (3·80 ± 1·3 mg l−1 and 4·93 ± 2·1 mg l−1, respectively) and G3 (4th day = 5·7 ± 1·8 mg l−1; 7th day = 6·7 ± 3·5 mg l−1) (P > 0·05). Calcium from G2 decreased after 7 days, which was different from G3 (P < 0·05). The lower calcium content, at the end of the experiment, was represented by G4, 2·16 ± 0·2 mg l−1. The increase in calcium after treatment with CCE is probably due to its antibacterial effect, which caused the bacterial lysis and consequent release of calcium in the medium.
Single dose of a dopamine agonist impairs reinforcement learning in humans: Evidence from event‐related potentials and computational modeling of striatal‐cortical function

Animal findings have highlighted the modulatory role of phasic dopamine (DA) signaling in incentive learning, particularly in the acquisition of reward‐related behavior. In humans, these processes remain largely unknown. In a recent study, we demonstrated that a single low dose of a D2/D3 agonist (pramipexole)—assumed to activate DA autoreceptors and thus reduce phasic DA bursts—impaired reward learning in healthy subjects performing a probabilistic reward task. The purpose of this study was to extend these behavioral findings using event‐related potentials and computational modeling. Compared with the placebo group, participants receiving pramipexole showed increased feedback‐related negativity to probabilistic rewards and decreased activation in dorsal anterior cingulate regions previously implicated in integrating reinforcement history over time. Additionally, findings of blunted reward learning in participants receiving pramipexole were simulated by reduced presynaptic DA signaling in response to reward in a neural network model of striatal‐cortical function. These preliminary findings offer important insights on the role of phasic DA signals on reinforcement learning in humans and provide initial evidence regarding the spatiotemporal dynamics of brain mechanisms underlying these processes. Hum Brain Mapp, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acetate transport in the S3 segment of the rabbit proximal tubule and its effect on intracellular pH

We monitored intracellular pH (pHi) in isolated perfused S3 segments of the rabbit proximal tubule, and studied the effect of acetate (Ac-) transport on pHi. pHi was calculated from the absorbance spectrum of 4',5'-dimethyl-5-(and 6) carboxyfluorescein trapped intracellularly. All solutions were nominally HCO3(-)-free. Removal of 10 mM Ac- from bath and lumen caused pHi to rapidly rise by approximately 0.2, and then to decline more slowly to a value approximately 0.35 below the initial one. Removal of only luminal Ac- caused pHi changes very similar to those resulting from bilateral removal of Ac-. When Ac- was removed from bath only, pHi rose rapidly at first, and then continued to rise more slowly. Readdition of Ac- to bath caused pHi to rapidly fall to a value slightly higher than the one prevailing before the removal of Ac- from the bath. In experiments in which Ac- was first removed from both bath and lumen, readdition of 10 mM Ac- to only lumen caused a rapid but small acidification, followed by a slower alkalinization that brought the pHi near the value that prevailed before the bilateral removal of Ac-. The alkalinizing effects caused by the readdition of 10 or 0.5 mM Ac- were indistinguishable. When Ac- was returned to only lumen in the absence of luminal Na+, there was a small and rapid pHi decrease, but no pHi recovery. Removal of Na+ from bath did not affect the pHi transients caused by the addition of Ac- to lumen. In experiments in which Ac- was first removed bilaterally, readdition of Ac- to only bath caused a large and sustained drop in pHi, whereas the subsequent removal of Ac- from the bath caused a slight alkalinization. These pHi changes caused by readdition or removal of Ac- from baths were unaffected by the absence of external Na+. We conclude that there is a Na+/Ac- cotransporter at the luminal membrane, and pathways for acetic acid transport at both luminal and basolateral membranes. The net effect of Ac- transport on pHi is to alkalinize the cell as a result of the luminal entry of Na+/Ac-, which is followed by the luminal and basolateral exit of acetic acid.