Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social networks and health status: a longitudinal analysis

Panel data are employed to test the proposition that network engagement, particularly in conjunction with a high sense of control (vs. powerlessness), is associated with favorable health behavior. Field interviews were conducted with a representative sample of Los Angeles County in 1976 and again in 1977, with intervening systematic telephone call-backs to monitor self-rated health status, illness management, and preventive health activities. Two forms of network engagement ("instrumental support" and "consultation"), and two powerlessness factors ("personal mastery" and "general control") are distinguished. On the whole, (1) integration in a "support" network is modestly associated with positive health; (2) "consultation" networks are less sanguine (e.g., such engagement goes with less preventive health behavior); (3) the two sense-of-control indices are independently related to favorable health; and (4) the poorest health is associated with a combination of low support and low sense of control. The findings are interpreted in their bearing on the Durkheimian thesis concerning the buffering effect of social integration and related alienation processes.
Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate as a Useful Predictor of Mortality in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Primary Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Background:This study evaluated the impact of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on 30-day and 1-year mortalities in patients with an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods:Between January 2002 and November 2009, 1432 consecutive patients who had experienced STEMI with an onset of chest pain <12 hours of undergoing primary PCI were prospectively enrolled. Patients were categorized into group 1 (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2), group 2 (eGFR = 30–60 mL/min/1.73 m2) and group 3 (eGFR >60 mL/min/1.73 m2). Results:The incidence of a high Killip class (defined as class ≥3) upon presentation, a requirement for mechanical ventilatory support for respiratory failure and intra-aortic balloon pump support for hemodynamic instability, and duration of hospitalization were substantially higher in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3, and notably higher in group 2 compared with group 3 (all P < 0.001). Conversely, the procedural success of primary PCI was remarkably lower in group 1 compared with groups 2 and 3, and it was also notably lower in group 2 than in group 3 (all P < 0.001). Additionally, both 30-day and 1-year mortalities were markedly increased in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3, and significantly higher in group 2 than in group 3 (all P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 was a significantly independent predictor of 30-day and 1-year mortalities (all P < 0.001). Conclusions:eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2 was strongly and independently predictive of poor short-term and long-term prognostic outcomes in patients with STEMI undergoing primary PCI.
Archaeosome Vaccine Adjuvants Induce Strong Humoral, Cell-Mediated, and Memory Responses: Comparison to Conventional Liposomes and Alum

ABSTRACT Ether glycerolipids extracted from various archaeobacteria were formulated into liposomes (archaeosomes) possessing strong adjuvant properties. Mice of varying genetic backgrounds, immunized by different parenteral routes with bovine serum albumin (BSA) entrapped in archaeosomes (∼200-nm vesicles), demonstrated markedly enhanced serum anti-BSA antibody titers. These titers were often comparable to those achieved with Freund's adjuvant and considerably more than those with alum or conventional liposomes (phosphatidylcholine-phosphatidylglycerol-cholesterol, 1.8:0.2:1.5 molar ratio). Furthermore, antigen-specific immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1), IgG2a, and IgG2b isotype antibodies were all induced. Association of BSA with the lipid vesicles was required for induction of a strong response, and >80% of the protein was internalized within most archaeosome types, suggesting efficient release of antigen in vivo. Encapsulation of ovalbumin and hen egg lysozyme within archaeosomes showed similar immune responses. Antigen-archaeosome immunizations also induced a strong cell-mediated immune response: antigen-dependent proliferation and substantial production of cytokines gamma interferon (Th1) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) (Th2) by spleen cells in vitro. In contrast, conventional liposomes induced little cell-mediated immunity, whereas alum stimulated only an IL-4 response. In contrast to alum and Freund's adjuvant, archaeosomes composed of Thermoplasma acidophilum lipids evoked a dramatic memory antibody response to the encapsulated protein (at ∼300 days) after only two initial immunizations (days 0 and 14). This correlated with increased antigen-specific cell cycling of CD4+ T cells: increase in synthetic (S) and mitotic (G2/M) and decrease in resting (G1) phases. Thus, archaeosomes may be potent vaccine carriers capable of facilitating strong primary and memory humoral, and cell-mediated immune responses to the entrapped antigen.
GENDER-ROLE ORIENTATION AS A DETERMINANT OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SELF-EFFICACY

Entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) is often included in entrepreneurial intentions models to explain why some individuals are more likely than others to become entrepreneurs. An unsettled question among researchers is whether ESE differs between men and women. While early studies seem to suggest that men have higher ESE than women, more recent studies are inconclusive. Lacking empirical support for gender differences in ESE compels researchers to look for other factors to explain variation in entrepreneurial self-efficacy.The present study confirms two recent studies by finding no significant difference in ESE between men and women in a representative sample of MBA students. This finding leads to an investigation of gender-role orientation as a possible determinant of differences in entrepreneurial self-efficacy. Results indicate that the relationship between gender-role orientation and entrepreneurial self-efficacy is complex and multifaceted. Early in the venture creation process, the searching and planning tasks demand creativity and innovation where a strong mix of masculine and feminine traits (androgyny) improves performance. Later in the venture creation process, an individual (male or female) with a strong masculine orientation seems better suited for undertaking entrepreneurial tasks associated with persuading and leading others.
QoS Evaluation of VANET Routing Protocols

Traffic jams and traffic accidents have become a major concern in current society. VANET (vehicle ad hoc network) is an emerging attractive application to solve such problems. Quality of service (QoS) in VANET becomes a hot topic own to its increasing challenge about unique features, such as limited transporting distance, high mobility, and poor link quality. The main goal of this paper is to analyze the main quality criteria among popular routing protocols with an integrated VANET test bed. Typical topology-based routing protocols are reviewed. To study QoS performance of different protocols, evaluating models of frame loss ratio, PSNR and connectivity probability are illustrated. Three typical routing protocols: DSDV, AODV and GPSR are chosed to testify the QoS according to the statistics result of video transmission over VANET testbed. QoS performance is analyzed under several conditions of different distance of routing data transmission and vehicles’ arriving rate. Test results show that Pro-active protocol is not suitable for high mobility VANET, and Position-based hybrid protocol is more suitable for video transmission over VANET than Re-active protocol. Comparing with other research, the result shows that our model is better and more efficient for the evaluation platform.
Study of three different doses of epidural neostigmine coadministered with lidocaine for postoperative analgesia.

BACKGROUND Intrathecal neostigmine produces analgesia in volunteers and patients. However, the use of epidural neostigmine has not been investigated. The purpose of the current study was to define the analgesic effectiveness of epidural neostigmine coadministered with lidocaine and side effects in patients after minor orthopedic procedures. METHODS After Institutional Review Board approval and informed consent, 48 patients (n = 12) undergoing knee surgery were randomly allocated to one of four groups and studied in a prospective way. After 0.05-0.1 mg/kg intravenous midazolam premedication, patients were randomized to receive 20 mg intrathecal bupivacaine plus epidural lidocaine (85 mg) with saline (control group); 1 microg/kg epidural neostigmine (1 microg group); 2 microg/kg epidural neostigmine (2 microg group); or 4 microg/kg epidural neostigmine (4 microg group). The concept of the visual analog scale, which consisted of a 10-cm line with 0 equaling "no pain at all" and 10 equaling "the worst possible pain" was introduced. Postoperatively, pain was assessed using the visual analog scale, and intramuscular 75 mg diclofenac was available at patient request. RESULTS Groups were demographically the same and did not differ in intraoperative characteristics (blood pressure, heart rate, ephedrine consumption, oxyhemoglobin saturation, sensory loss before start of surgery, or duration of sensory motor block). The visual analog scale score at first rescue analgesic and the incidence of adverse effects were similar among groups (P > 0.05). The time (min +/- SD) to first rescue analgesic was as follows: control group: 205+/-48; 1-microg group: 529+/-314; 2-microg group: 504+/-284; 4-microg group: 547+/-263 (P < 0.05). The analgesic consumption (number of intramuscular diclofenac injections [mean, 25th-75th percentile]) in 24 h was as follows: control group: 3 [3 or 4]; 1-microg group: 1 [1 or 2]; 2-microg group: 2 [1 or 2]; 4-microg group: 2 [1-3] (P < 0.05). The 24-h-pain visual analog scale score (cm +/- SD) that represents the overall impression for the last 24 h was as follows: control group: 5+/-1.6; 1-microg group: 1.6+/-1.8; 2-microg group: 1.4+/-1.6; 4-microg group: 2.2+/-1.9 (P < 0.005). The incidence of adverse effects was similar among groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Epidural neostigmine (1, 2, or 4 microg/kg) in lidocaine produced a dose-independent analgesic effect (approximately 8 h) compared to the control group (approximately 3.5 h), and a reduction in postoperative rescue analgesic consumption without increasing the incidence of adverse effects.
Acute Hyperglycemia and Early Hemorrhagic Transformation in Ischemic Stroke

Background: Hyperglycemia has been claimed to be associated with hemorrhagic transformation (HT) in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with thrombolysis. The aim of this study was to assess whether the admission blood glucose level is related to HT in a prospective study in consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods: Consecutive patients admitted for ischemic stroke to 4 Italian hospitals were included in this prospective cohort study. Results: Among 1,125 consecutive patients included in the analysis, 98 (8.7%) had HT: 62 (5.5%) had hemorrhagic infarction (HI) and 36 (3.2%) parenchymal hematoma (PH). A blood glucose level >110 mg/dl was found in 42.4% of the patients, a level between 110 and 149 mg/dl in 25.2%, and a level >150 mg/dl in 17.2%. At 3 months, 7 patients were lost at follow-up, 326 patients (29.2%) were disabled (modified Rankin score ≥3) and 129 died (11.5%). PH was associated with an increased risk of death or disability (OR 15.29, 95% CI 2.35–99.35). However, this was not the case for HT overall and HI. At logistic regression analysis, PH was predicted by high levels of admission blood glucose (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.01 for 1 added mg/dl). The rate of PH was 2.1% in patients with <110 mg/dl, 3.6% in patients with a level between 110 and 149 mg/dl and 6.4% in patients with a level >150 mg/dl. The curve estimation regression model showed a significant linear increase in the risk of PH related to an increase in blood glucose levels (R2 = 0.007, p = 0.007). Conclusions: Hyperglycemia during acute ischemic stroke predisposes to PH, which in turn determines a nonfavorable outcome at 3 months. This relationship seems to be linear.
Entrainment of breast (cancer) epithelial cells detects distinct circadian oscillation patterns for clock and hormone receptor genes

Most physiological and biological processes are regulated by endogenous circadian rhythms under the control of both a master clock, which acts systemically and individual cellular clocks, which act at the single cell level. The cellular clock is based on a network of core clock genes, which drive the circadian expression of non-clock genes involved in many cellular processes. Circadian deregulation of gene expression has emerged to be as important as deregulation of estrogen signaling in breast tumorigenesis. Whether there is a mutual deregulation of circadian and hormone signaling is the question that we address in this study. Here we show that, upon entrainment by serum shock, cultured human mammary epithelial cells maintain an inner circadian oscillator, with key clock genes oscillating in a circadian fashion. In the same cells, the expression of the estrogen receptor α (ER A) gene also oscillates in a circadian fashion. In contrast, ER A-positive and -negative breast cancer epithelial cells show disruption of the inner clock. Further, ER A-positive breast cancer cells do not display circadian oscillation of ER A expression. Our findings suggest that estrogen signaling could be affected not only in ER A-negative breast cancer, but also in ER A-positive breast cancer due to lack of circadian availability of ER A. Entrainment of the inner clock of breast epithelial cells, by taking into consideration the biological time component, provides a novel tool to test mechanistically whether defective circadian mechanisms can affect hormone signaling relevant to breast cancer.
Low birthweight and subsequent emotional and behavioural outcomes in 12-year-old children in Soweto, South Africa: findings from Birth to Twenty.

BACKGROUND The fetal origins hypothesis suggests that an adverse prenatal environment, indexed by low birthweight (LBW), may increase the risk of developing later disease. Recently the hypothesis has been extended to psychological outcomes, especially depression. The aim of this analysis was to test, for the first time in a developing country setting, the association between LBW and psychological symptoms, in Soweto, South Africa. METHODS A sample of 1029 children was drawn from Birth to Twenty, a longitudinal cohort followed from pregnancy to young adulthood. This sample completed the Youth Self Report at age 12 years, a validated psychological measure of behavioural and emotional adjustment. Scores were compared between LBW (<2500 g) and normal birthweight children using multivariate analysis with adjustment for potential birth and life events confounding factors. RESULTS No associations were found between LBW and total [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.69-1.74], internalizing (adjusted OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.52-1.28) or externalizing profiles (adjusted OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.49-1.36). The only difference detected was for the internalizing sub-profile of Somatic Complaints (adjusted OR 2.02, 95% CI 1.21-3.38), which on subgroup analysis was greatest among females. CONCLUSIONS We found no convincing evidence of an association between LBW and emotional and behavioural outcomes in 12-year olds in this sample in urban South Africa. To our knowledge, this is the first published assessment of this association in a developing world context.
Hyperparameter-free DOA estimation under power constraints

Based on the covariance-like fitting criterion we propose a direction of arrival (DOA) estimation algorithm that embeds a weighting scheme in the objective function without selection of any hyperparameters. With an assumption of uncorrelated sources, we formulate the problem of DOA estimation as a linearly constrained quadratic optimization under power constraints. Numerical results show that the proposed method not only is robust to this assumption but also has the superior performance in comparison with some other sparsity-driven methods.
The impact of MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms on information seeking effectiveness

To what extent do MeSH (Medical Subject Headings) terms improve search effectiveness of different kinds of users? We observed four different kinds of searchers using an experimental information retrieval (IR) system: (1) search novices; (2) domain experts; (3) search experts and (4) medical librarians. The information needs were a subset of the relatively difficult topics originally created for the Text REtrieval Conference (TREC). By experimental design, we used 20 search topics in an IR user experiment to alleviate search topic variability. Effectiveness of retrieval was based on the relevance judgments set provided by TREC. Thirty-two participants searched either using a version of the system in which abstracts and MeSH terms were displayed or another version in which they had to formulate their own terms based only on the display of abstracts. We found that MeSH terms were more useful for domain experts than for search experts in terms of the precision measure, even though domain experts did not perceive that MeSH terms were useful. We speculate that because of the technical topics, only the domain experts had the knowledge to understand and therefore make use of the MeSH terms. The primary contributions of this research are: (1) assessment of relative impact of searchers characteristics of domain knowledge and search training on search effectiveness and (2) design and methodology for assessing the usefulness of controlled vocabulary. The effort to create MeSH terms is worthwhile for domain experts' searches on technical topics.
Effects of Right and Left Hemisphere Damage on Performance of the “Right Hemisphere Communication Battery”

A Hebrew adaptation of Gardner and Brownell's (1986) "Right Hemisphere Communication Battery" (HRHCB) was administered to 27 right brain-damaged (RBD) patients, 31 left brain-damaged (LBD) patients, and 21 age-matched normal controls. Both patient groups showed deficits relative to controls and overall there was no difference between the two patient groups. A factor analysis of patients' scores on the HRHCB yielded two interpretable factors, a verbal and a nonverbal one. These factors were not lateralized. Performance of patients on the HRHCB correlated significantly and positively with performance on most tests of basic language functions, measured with a Hebrew adaptation of the "Western Aphasia Battery" (HWAB) and with other cognitive functions measured with standardized neuropsychological tests. There were stronger correlations of HRHCB with subtests of the HWAB in LBD patients and with nonlanguage cognitive tests in RBD patients. In the LBD group, HRHCB subtests' scores correlated negatively with lesion extent in frontal and temporal perisylvian regions. Such localization was not observed in RBD patients. The results argue against selective right hemisphere (RH) involvement in the RHCB, alleged to measure pragmatic aspects of language use, and show, instead, bilateral involvement. The results also argue against a modular organization of these functions of language use, especially in the RH.
Mach number dependence of the onset of dynamo action

The effect of compressibility on the onset of non-helical turbulent dynamo action is investigated using both direct simulations as well as simulations with shock-capturing viscosities, keeping, however, the regular magnetic diffusivity. It is found that the critical magnetic Reynolds number increases from about 35 in the subsonic regime to about 70 in the supersonic regime. Although the shock structures are sharper in the high-resolution direct simulations compared with the low-resolution shock-capturing simulations, the magnetic field looks roughly similar in both cases and does not show any shock structures. Similarly, the onset of dynamo action is not significantly affected by the shock-capturing viscosity.
Effect of disease duration on personality type in multiple sclerosis patients and healthy individual

Background: Multiple sclerosis may have profound emotional consequences. The relation between psychological and physical factors could lead patients toward unforeseen disease. This study focuses on multiple sclerosis (MS) disease duration on personality type A and B in relation to individuals' behaviors. Materials and Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted in Isfahan Alzahra hospital in 2013. Three hundred MS patients and 100 healthy individuals were determined. The distributed questionnaires related to MS patients and considering the descriptive statistics such as demographic variables. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 18) based on Chi-square test and independent T-test. Results: Disease duration varied between 1 to 38 years: 30% (1-4 years), 38% (5-10 years), 20% (10-20 years), and 12% (more than 20 years). Significant relationship was observed between disease duration and tendency to type A (higher stress). This relation was positive and significant in Relapsing Remitting MS patients; but negative correlation was seen in Secondary Progressive MS patients. These patients tended to type B (lower stress) when disease duration increased. Conclusions: Individuals with disease duration of one year and less than one year tend to type A personality, while patients with increment of disease duration have tendency to type B.
Applications of Image Processing in Agriculture: A Survey

Image processing has been proved to be effective tool for analysis in various fields and applications. Agriculture sector where the parameters like canopy, yield, quality of product were the important measures from the farmers’ point of view. Many times expert advice may not be affordable, majority times the availability of expert and their services may consume time. Image processing along with availability of communication network can change the situation of getting the expert advice well within time and at affordable cost since image processing was the effective tool for analysis of parameters. This paper intends to focus on the survey of application of image processing in agriculture field such as imaging techniques, weed detection and fruit grading. The analysis of the parameters has proved to be accurate and less time consuming as compared to traditional methods. Application of image processing can improve decision making for vegetation measurement, irrigation, fruit sorting, etc.
Dental “silver” tooth fillings: a source of mercury exposure revealed by whole‐body image scan and tissue analysis

Mercury (Hg) vapor is released from dental “silver” tooth fillings into human mouth air after chewing, but its possible uptake routes and distribution among body tissues are unknown. This investigation demonstrates that when radioactive 203Hg is mixed with dental Hg/silver fillings (amalgam) and placed in teeth of adult sheep, the isotope will appear in various organs and tissues within 29 days. Evidence of Hg uptake, as determined by whole‐body scanning and measurement of isotope in specific tissues, revealed three uptake sites: lung, gastrointestinal, and jaw tissue absorption. Once absorbed, high concentrations of dental amalgam Hg rapidly localize in kidneys and liver. Results are discussed in view of potential health consequences from long‐term exposure to Hg from this dental material. —Hahn, L. J.; Kloiber, R. ; Vimy, M. J.; Takahashi, Y. ; Lorscheider, F. L. Dental “silver” tooth fillings; a source of mercury exposure revealed by whole‐body image scan and tissue analysis, FASEB J. 3: 2641‐2646; 1989.