Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incidence and association factors for the development of chronic post-hysterectomy pain at 4- and 6-month follow-up: a prospective cohort study

Chronic pain has major adverse effects on health-related quality of life and contributes to significant socioeconomic burden. Hysterectomy is a very common gynecological surgery, resulting in chronic post-hysterectomy pain (CPHP), an important pain syndrome. We conducted a prospective cohort study in 216 Asian women who underwent abdominal or laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign conditions. Demographic, psychological, and perioperative data were recorded. Postoperative 4- and 6-month phone surveys were conducted to assess the presence of CPHP and functional impairment. The incidence rates of CPHP at 4 and 6 months were 32% (56/175) and 15.7% (25/159), respectively. Women with CPHP at 4 and 6 months had pain that interfered with their activities of daily living. Independent association factors for CPHP at 4 months were higher mechanical temporal summation score, higher intraoperative morphine consumption, higher pain score in the recovery room, higher pain score during coughing and itching at 24 hours postoperatively, and preoperative pain in the lower abdominal region. Independent association factors for CPHP at 6 months were preoperative pain during sexual intercourse, higher mechanical temporal summation score, and higher morphine consumption during postoperative 24 and 48 hours. In a majority of cases, CPHP resolved with time, but may have significant impact on activities of daily living.
On The Collapse of the q-Gram Filtration

In the approximate pattern matching problem, the text area to be searched for an occurrence of a pattern can be pruned by applying a ﬁltration condition. A q -gram based ﬁltration condition deﬁnes potential text areas in terms of pattern q -grams, i.e., strings of length q . A text area will be checked by an accurate method only if the set of the q -grams in the text area satisﬁes a certain condition. One hopes that the ﬁltration limits the number of checks to a minimum, thus making the algorithm quite efﬁcient. However, computer experiments show that the ﬁltration method works ﬁne for cases when the allowed error level k is relatively small compared to the pattern length, but loses its efﬁciency quite sharply with an increasing k . This is a phase transition phenomenon that is quite often observed in nature. In this paper, we present a theoretical explanation for this phenomenon which will excuse us to introduce advanced mathematical analysis based on certain languages, correlation polynomials, generating functions and complex analysis. It is our view that nothing can be more exciting and rewarding than ﬁnding a theoretical justiﬁcation for an abrupt manifestation of nature.
Solid state synthesis of celsian barium aluminosilicate by a multistep firing technique

Abstract In this paper, synthesis of monoclinic celsian barium aluminosilicate was studied by multistep sintering technique with or without addition of CaO. For fabrication of samples, BaCO3, SiO2 and Al2O3 were used as raw materials and CaO was selected as mineraliser. In the first step, BaCO3 and SiO2 were reacted at 1150 °C initially in order to yield BaSi2O5 then this compound was reacted with Al2O3 at 1200 °C to form hexacelsian (BaAl2Si2O5; BAS). At the last step, the powders of hexacelsian were mixed with mineraliser then were cold pressed and heat treated at different temperatures for 4 h. Sample phase structure was studied by XRD and its morphology was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Results revealed that, using 10 mol% CaO, complete transformation of hexacelcian to monoclinic celsian occurred at 1250 °C and fabricated samples were pure and had 65 nm average crystallite sizes. Samples were fully dense, didn’t reveal open porosity and their average hardness was about 57 Rockwell C.
TREC – 2010 Legal Track Interactive Task Guidelines

In 2010, the TREC Legal Track will again be featuring an interactive task (along with a learning task, for more on which see the Learning Task Guidelines [4]). This document contains guidelines for this year's interactive task, with particular focus on aspects of task design that are new in 2010; the document also covers specific steps that those interested in participating should take to begin the task.
The Signaling Hypothesis: Evidence From The Nairobi Securities Exchange

This study investigates the signaling hypothesis by testing the displacement property of dividends. The study uses Ohlson (1995; 2001) model and follows Hand and Landsman (2005) approach. The study however varies the methodology by using pooled Time Series Cross Section data and Panel Corrected Standard Error estimation and also control for size to take care of scale effects. The study’s findings provide further empirical evidence that dividends are used as signals about future earnings prospects of the firm. After following Thakor (2003) approach in testing for the free cashflow hypothesis, the study’s results do not provide evidence in favour of the cashflow hypothesis it is therefore ruled out. The study’s results shed further insights on the controversy regarding the information content of dividend changes about future profitability.
Relationship between Phylogeny and Immunity Suggests Older Caribbean Coral Lineages Are More Resistant to Disease

Diseases affect coral species fitness and contribute significantly to the deterioration of coral reefs. The increase in frequency and severity of disease outbreaks has made evaluating and determining coral resistance a priority. Phylogenetic patterns in immunity and disease can provide important insight to how corals may respond to current and future environmental and/or biologically induced diseases. The purpose of this study was to determine if immunity, number of diseases and disease prevalence show a phylogenetic signal among Caribbean corals. We characterized the constitutive levels of six distinct innate immune traits in 14 Caribbean coral species and tested for the presence of a phylogenetic signal on each trait. Results indicate that constitutive levels of some individual immune related processes (i.e. melanin concentration, peroxidase and inhibition of bacterial growth), as well as their combination show a phylogenetic signal. Additionally, both the number of diseases affecting each species and disease prevalence (as measures of disease burden) show a significant phylogenetic signal. The phylogenetic signal of immune related processes, combined with estimates of species divergence times, indicates that among the studied species, those belonging to older lineages tend to resist/fight infections better than more recently diverged coral lineages. This result, combined with the increasing stressful conditions on corals in the Caribbean, suggest that future reefs in the region will likely be dominated by older lineages while modern species may face local population declines and/or geographic extinction.
Inferring network topology from complex dynamics

Inferring the network topology from dynamical observations is a fundamental problem pervading research on complex systems. Here, we present a simple, direct method for inferring the structural connection topology of a network, given an observation of one collective dynamical trajectory. The general theoretical framework is applicable to arbitrary network dynamical systems described by ordinary differential equations. No interference (external driving) is required and the type of dynamics is hardly restricted in any way. In particular, the observed dynamics may be arbitrarily complex; stationary, invariant or transient; synchronous or asynchronous and chaotic or periodic. Presupposing a knowledge of the functional form of the dynamical units and of the coupling functions between them, we present an analytical solution to the inverse problem of finding the network topology from observing a time series of state variables only. Robust reconstruction is achieved in any sufficiently long generic observation of the system. We extend our method to simultaneously reconstructing both the entire network topology and all parameters appearing linear in the system's equations of motion. Reconstruction of network topology and system parameters is viable even in the presence of external noise that distorts the original dynamics substantially. The method provides a conceptually new step towards reconstructing a variety of real-world networks, including gene and protein interaction networks and neuronal circuits.
Bacterial Community Composition in the Gut Content and Ambient Sediment of Sea Cucumber Apostichopus japonicus Revealed by 16S rRNA Gene Pyrosequencing

The composition of the bacterial communities in the contents of the foregut and hindgut of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and in the ambient surface sediment was surveyed by 16S rRNA gene 454-pyrosequencing. A total of 188,623 optimized reads and 15,527 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were obtained from the ten gut contents samples and four surface sediment samples. The sequences in the sediments, foregut contents, and hindgut contents were assigned to 38.0±4.7, 31.2±6.2 and 27.8±6.5 phyla, respectively. The bacterial richness and Shannon diversity index were both higher in the ambient sediments than in the gut contents. Proteobacteria was the predominant phylum in both the gut contents and sediment samples. The predominant classes in the foregut, hindgut, and ambient sediment were Holophagae and Gammaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria and Deltaproteobacteria, respectively. The potential probiotics, including sequences related to Bacillus, lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus, Lactococcus, and Streptococcus) and Pseudomonas were detected in the gut of A. japonicus. Principle component analysis and heatmap figure showed that the foregut, hindgut, and ambient sediment respectively harbored different characteristic bacterial communities. Selective feeding of A. japonicus may be the primary source of the different bacterial communities between the foregut contents and ambient sediments.
Mutagenicity and DNA Damage of Bisphenol a and its Structural Analogues in Hepg2 Cells

Environmental oestrogen bisphenol A (BPA) and its analogues are widespread in our living environment. Because their production and use are increasing, exposure of humans to bisphenols is becoming a significant issue. We evaluated the mutagenic and genotoxic potential of eight BPA structural analogues (BPF, BPAF, BPZ, BPS, DMBPA, DMBPS, BP-1, and BP-2) using the Ames and comet assay, respectively. None of the tested bisphenols showed a mutagenic effect in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA98 and TA100 in either the presence or absence of external S9-mediated metabolic activation (Aroclor 1254-induced male rat liver). Potential genotoxicity of bisphenols was determined in the human hepatoma cell line (HepG2) at non-cytotoxic concentrations (0.1 μmol L-1 to 10 μmol L-1) after 4-hour and 24-hour exposure. In the comet assay, BPA and its analogue BPS induced significant DNA damage only after the 24-hour exposure, while analogues DMBPS, BP-1, and BP-2 induced a transient increase in DNA strand breaks Sažetak Okoljski estrogen, bisfenol A (BPA), in njegovi strukturni analogi so v veliki meri prisotni v našem okolju. Ker njihova proizvodnja in uporaba naraščata, je vse pomembneje ovrednotiti njihovo toksičnost zaradi izpostavljenosti ljudem. Z Amesovim in kometnim testom smo ovrednotili mutagenost in genotoksičnost osmih strukturnih analogov BPA (BPF, BPAF, BPZ, BPS, DMBPA, DMBPS, BP-1 in BP-2). Nobeden od testiranih bisfenolov ni izkazoval mutagenega delovanja na sevih TA98 in TA100 Salmonelle tryhimurium v prisotnosti in odsotnosti metabolne aktivacije (z Aroklorom 1254 inducirani encimi podganjih jeter). Potencialno genotoksičnost pa smo določali s kometnim testom na celični liniji humanega hepatoma (HepG2) pri necitotoksičnih koncentracijah (0.1 μmol L-1 do 10 μmol L-1) po 4-urni in 24-urni izpostavljenosti. BPA in njegov analog BPS sta pri kometnem testu povzročila poškodbe DNA samo po 24-urni izpostavljenosti, medtem ko so analogi DMBPS, BP-1 in BP-2 povzročili prehodne poškodbe DNA (samo po 4-urni izpostavljenosti). BPF, BPAF, BPZ in DMBPA niso povzročili poškodb DNA.
Studies on the Effect of Tool Wear on the Production Process in Two Stage Shear Cutting

The formability requirements of high-strength steels are increasing as a result of progressive lightweight construction. An innovative two-stage shear cutting process has been developed in order to meet these requirements. It significantly reduces the edge crack sensitivity of the material in the cutting zone. Studying the effect of worn tool elements on process safety is a key focus for the ongoing improvement of this production process. A production-based tool condition was simulated by creating different cutting edge radii on the active tool elements. Collaring tests showed a reduction of residual formability through wear of up to 65% for high-strength heavy plates (plate thickness > 3 mm).
Combination anti-Aβ treatment maximizes cognitive recovery and rebalances mTOR signaling in APP mice

Drug development for Alzheimer’s disease has endeavored to lower amyloid &bgr; (A&bgr;) by either blocking production or promoting clearance. The benefit of combining these approaches has been examined in mouse models and shown to improve pathological measures of disease over single treatment; however, the impact on cellular and cognitive functions affected by A&bgr; has not been tested. We used a controllable APP transgenic mouse model to test whether combining genetic suppression of A&bgr; production with passive anti-A&bgr; immunization improved functional outcomes over either treatment alone. Compared with behavior before treatment, arresting further A&bgr; production (but not passive immunization) was sufficient to stop further decline in spatial learning, working memory, and associative memory, whereas combination treatment reversed each of these impairments. Cognitive improvement coincided with resolution of neuritic dystrophy, restoration of synaptic density surrounding deposits, and reduction of hyperactive mammalian target of rapamycin signaling. Computational modeling corroborated by in vivo microdialysis pointed to the reduction of soluble/exchangeable A&bgr; as the primary driver of cognitive recovery.
Decrements in knee extensor and flexor strength are associated with performance fatigue during simulated basketball game-play in adolescent, male players

ABSTRACT This study quantified lower-limb strength decrements and assessed the relationships between strength decrements and performance fatigue during simulated basketball. Ten adolescent, male basketball players completed a circuit-based, basketball simulation. Sprint and jump performance were assessed during each circuit, with knee flexion and extension peak concentric torques measured at baseline, half-time, and full-time. Decrement scores were calculated for all measures. Mean knee flexor strength decrement was significantly (P < 0.05) related to sprint fatigue in the first half (R = 0.65), with dominant knee flexor strength (R = 0.67) and dominant flexor:extensor strength ratio (R = 0.77) decrement significantly (P < 0.05) associated with sprint decrement across the entire game. Mean knee extensor strength (R = 0.71), dominant knee flexor strength (R = 0.80), non-dominant knee flexor strength (R = 0.75), mean knee flexor strength (R = 0.81), non-dominant flexor:extensor strength ratio (R = 0.71), and mean flexor:extensor strength ratio (R = 0.70) decrement measures significantly (P < 0.05) influenced jump fatigue during the entire game. Lower-limb strength decrements may exert an important influence on performance fatigue during basketball activity in adolescent, male players. Consequently, training plans should aim to mitigate lower-limb fatigue to optimise sprint and jump performance during game-play.
Stylet Penetration Behaviors of Graphocephala atropunctata (Signoret) (Hemiptera, Cicadellidae): EPG Waveform Characterization and Quantification

Abstract We analyzed the probing (stylet penetration) behaviors of the sharpshooter leafhopper Graphocephala atropunctata (Signoret) on grape with an alternating current (AC) electrical penetration graph (EPG) monitor. We characterized waveforms likely to represent stylet penetration pathway phase and xylem ingestion. The total probing duration of the cohort represented 68% of all 20-h monitoring periods for all insects, yet only a small proportion of that probing time was spent in high amplitude/pathway activities. Few changes in behavior occurred once a probe had started. This was shown by the low number of waveform events (i.e., uninterrupted occurrences of a behavior) per probe for each waveform type, which varied from a mean of 1–2.43. Conditional probability analysis supported that hypothesis, because insects usually terminated a probe and began a new one after ingestion-related events, rather than repeating in the same probe the previously performed waveforms. The size of grape leaves used for the assays directly influenced the amount of time insects ingested from xylem or performed other low-amplitude waveforms. Information from this work establishes benchmarks for future research addressing the mechanisms of Xylella fastidiosa Wells et al. transmission and sharpshooter ecology.
Effect of personalised citizen assistance for social participation (APIC) on older adults’ health and social participation: study protocol for a pragmatic multicentre randomised controlled trial (RCT)

Introduction The challenges of global ageing and the growing burden of chronic diseases require innovative interventions acting on health determinants like social participation. Many older adults do not have equitable opportunities to achieve full social participation, and interventions might underempower their personal and environmental resources and only reach a minority. To optimise current practices, the Accompagnement-citoyen Personnalisé d’Intégration Communautaire (APIC), an intervention demonstrated as being feasible and having positive impacts, needs further evaluation. Methods and analysis A pragmatic multicentre, prospective, two-armed, randomised controlled trial will evaluate: (1) the short-term and long-term effects of the APIC on older adults’ health, social participation, life satisfaction and healthcare services utilisation and (2) its cost-effectiveness. A total of 376 participants restricted in at least one instrumental activity of daily living and living in three large cities in the province of Quebec, Canada, will be randomly assigned to the experimental or control group using a centralised computer-generated random number sequence procedure. The experimental group will receive weekly 3-hour personalised stimulation sessions given by a trained volunteer over the first 12 months. Sessions will encourage empowerment, gradual mobilisation of personal and environmental resources and community integration. The control group will receive the publicly funded universal healthcare services available to all Quebecers. Over 2 years (baseline and 12, 18 and 24 months later), self-administered questionnaires will assess physical and mental health (primary outcome; version 2 of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey, converted to SF-6D utility scores for quality-adjusted life years), social participation (Social Participation Scale) and life satisfaction (Life Satisfaction Index-Z). Healthcare services utilisation will be recorded and costs of each intervention calculated. Ethics and dissemination The Research Ethics Committee of the CIUSSS Estrie – CHUS has approved the study (MP-31-2018-2424). An informed consent form will be read and signed by all study participants. Findings will be published and presented at conferences. Trial registration number NCT03161860; Pre-results.
Effects of Fragmentation and Sea-Level Changes upon Frog Communities of Land-Bridge Islands off the Southeastern Coast of Brazil

We investigate the composition of anuran communities of land-bridge islands off the southeastern coast of Brazil. These islands provide natural long-term experiments on the effects of fragmentation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF). We hypothesize that Pleistocene sea-level changes, in combination with other abiotic variables such as area and habitat diversity, has affected anuran species richness and community composition on these islands. Data from the literature and collections databases were used to produce species lists for eight land-bridge islands and for the mainland adjacent to the islands. We assess the effects of area, number of breeding habitats and distance to the mainland upon anuran species richness on land-bridge islands. Additionally we use nestedness analysis to quantify the extent to which the species on smaller and less habitat-diverse islands correspond to subsets of those on larger and more diverse ones. We found that area has both direct and indirect effects on anuran species richness on land-bridge islands, irrespective of distance to the mainland. However, on islands with comparable sizes, differences in species richness can be attributed to the number and quality of breeding habitats. Anuran communities on these islands display a nested pattern, possibly caused by selective extinction related to habitat loss. Common lowland pond-breeders were conspicuous by their absence. In the BAF, the conservation of fragments with a high diversity of breeding habitats could compensate for the generally negative effect of small area upon species richness. We suggest that sea-level changes have an important role in shaping composition of anuran species on coastal communities.