Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The functional contrariety of JNK

The JNK proteins are activated by multiple and diverse stimuli, leading to varied and seemingly contradictory cellular responses. In particular, JNKs have been reported to have a role in the induction of apoptosis, but have also been implicated in enhancing cell survival and proliferation. Thus the JNK proteins seem to represent an archetype of contrariety of intracellular signaling. The opposing roles of JNKs have been attributed to the observation that JNKs activate different substrates based on specific stimulus, cell type or temporal aspects. Because of their analogous expression in apparently almost every tissue, JNK1 and JNK2 have most often been considered to have overlapping or redundant functions. In spite of this assessment, research evidence suggests that the functions of JNKs should be addressed in a manner that differentiates between their precise contributions. Specifically in this review, we examine evidence regarding whether the JNKs proteins might play distinctive roles in cellular processes associated with carcinogenesis. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function in responders and non-responders to cardiac resynchronization therapy

Introduction The aim of this study was to determine whether baseline right ventricular (RV) function assessed by standard echocardiography may indicate patients who will respond to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Material and methods The data of 57 patients (54 men, 95%), aged 66.4 ±8.7 years with heart failure (HF) having a CRT device implanted were collected. All patients had left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 35% and QRS complex duration ≥ 120 ms. Echocardiographic examination with tissue Doppler imaging techniques and complex RV evaluation were performed at baseline and three months after CRT onset. Results Three months after CRT implantation, patients responding to CRT, defined as a reduction of left ventricle end-systolic volume (LVESV) of at least 10% (n = 34), compared to patients with a reduction of LVESV of less than 10% (n = 23), had at baseline a smaller right atrium diameter (47.85 ±11.33 mm vs. 52.65 ±8.69 mm; p = 0.028), higher TAPSE (14.56 ±2.57 mm vs. 13.04 ±2.93 mm; p = 0.030) and lower grade of tricuspid valve regurgitation (1.82 ±0.97 vs. 2.3 ±0.88; p = 0.033). Conclusions This study showed that there are differences in baseline right ventricular function between responders and non-responders to CRT. Yet in our study, none of the baseline RV parameters provided any value in identifying patients who would respond to CRT.
A SMOKING IDENTITY: INVESTIGATING SMOKER IDENTITY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL REACTANCE AS VARIABLES ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ANTISMOKING PSA AND ATTITUDE CHANGE

OF THE THESIS A Smoking Identity: Investigating Smoker Identity and Psychological Reactance as Variables on the Relationship between Antismoking PSA and Attitude Change by Roy Gabriel Hernandez Master of Arts in Communication San Diego State University, 2015 Antismoking PSAs are a common tool used to educate and persuade individuals about the dangers of smoking. These antismoking PSAs have had much success but most is attributed to prevention of smoking initiation rather than increased cessation rates. Recent research has begun to highlight the role that identification as a smoker plays in processing antismoking messages. This thesis examines the relationship between smoker identity, psychological reactance, antismoking PSA and attitude change. In order to test the hypotheses, an online experiment was released which measured pretest attitudes about smoking, smoker identity and randomly assigned participants to either a control group or an experimental group who viewed an antismoking PSA. Psychological reactance was measured following the PSA as well as posttest attitudes about smoking. One hypothesis was fully supported and one was partially supported. Reactance was discovered in response to the PSA as well as an increase in attitudes in favor of smoking and perceived weight management benefits. Interpretation of results, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.
Testosterone Administration Decreases Generosity in the Ultimatum Game

How do human beings decide when to be selfish or selfless? In this study, we gave testosterone to 25 men to establish its impact on prosocial behaviors in a double-blind within-subjects design. We also confirmed participants' testosterone levels before and after treatment through blood draws. Using the Ultimatum Game from behavioral economics, we find that men with artificially raised T, compared to themselves on placebo, were 27% less generous towards strangers with money they controlled (95% CI placebo: (1.70, 2.72); 95% CI T: (.98, 2.30)). This effect scales with a man's level of total-, free-, and dihydro-testosterone (DHT). Men in the lowest decile of DHT were 560% more generous than men in the highest decile of DHT. We also found that men with elevated testosterone were more likely to use their own money punish those who were ungenerous toward them. Our results continue to hold after controlling for altruism. We conclude that elevated testosterone causes men to behave antisocially.
Prehospital 12-Lead ECG to Triage ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction and Emergency Department Activation of the Infarct Team Significantly Improves Door-to-Balloon Times: Ambulance Victoria and MonashHEART Acute Myocardial Infarction (MonAMI) 12-Lead ECG Project

Background—American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association guidelines recommend >75% of patients with an ST-elevation myocardial infarction receive primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PPCI) within 90 minutes. Despite these recommendations, this goal has been difficult to achieve. Methods and Results—We conducted a prospective interventional study involving 349 patients undergoing PPCI at a single tertiary referral institution to determine the impact of prehospital 12-lead ECG triage and emergency department activation of the infarct team on door-to-balloon time (D2BT). The median D2BT of all patients (n=107) who underwent PPCI after field ECG and emergency department activation of the infarct team (MonashHEART Acute Myocardial Infarction [MonAMI] group) was 56 minutes (interquartile range, 36.5 to 70) compared with the median time of a contemporary group (n=122) undergoing PPCI during the same period but not receiving field triage (non-MonAMI group) of 98 minutes (73 to 126.45). The median D2BT time of 120 consecutive patients who underwent PPCI before initiation of the project (pre-MonAMI group) was 101.5 minutes (72.5 to 134; P<0.001). The proportion of patients who achieved a D2BT of ≤90 minutes increased from 39% in the pre-MonAMI group and 45% in the non-MonAMI group to 93% in the MonAMI group (P<0.001). Conclusions—The performance of prehospital 12-lead ECG triage and emergency department activation of the infarct team significantly improves D2BT and results in a greater proportion of patients achieving guideline recommendations.
Solitary parotid metastasis from columnar cell carcinoma of the thyroid: A diagnostic dilemma

A 65‐yr‐old woman presented in May 1998 with a left parotid mass of 2 yr duration. The cytology and histopathology of the parotid lesion showed features of a columnar cell carcinoma. In November, 1967, she was diagnosed to have a classic papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Ultrasound examination revealed a persistent thyroid nodule, the aspiration cytology of which confirmed columnar cell variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma (CCV‐PTC). CCV‐PTC is a recently described rare tumor of the thyroid that has been associated with an aggressive clinical course. Our case was peculiar in that the patient presented with an isolated metastasis in the parotid gland. Second, after an indolent course following the initial diagnosis of usual PTC 31 yr ago, she had now developed a more aggressive variant of the tumor. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2003;28:72–75. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Post)constructivism on Technoscience

Zmodyfikowane tlumaczenie tekstu (Post)konstruktywizm na temat technonauki, „Zagadnienia Naukoznawstwa”, 2010, nr 2, 231-251, przel. Monika Wludzik.
Some Call it Love: Exploring Norwegian Systemic Couple Therapists' Discourses of Love, Intimacy and Sexuality

This thesis is a qualitative study based on interviews and video material, of five therapists conducting couple therapy. Norwegian systemic couple therapists' discourses about love and intimate relationships have been explored with the aim of shedding light on couple therapy as a professional field in which discourses about love, sexuality and intimate relationship are drawn on, exchanged and negotiated. The method of analysis is discourse analysis, and poststructuralist theory has informed the design and underpinned my epistemological stance. A main issue has been to explore how systemic couple therapists occupy a position of power as clients' expectations of them as professionals are linked to notions of objective knowledge. This is simultaneously a challenge because most couple therapy issues are discursive. I have looked specifically at how a discursive dynamic has unfolded in couple therapy and how dominant discourses of love, as for instance 'the romantic,' stabilize and reproduce heteronormativity. This analysis is intended to provide new insight into the field of systemic couple therapy practice in relation to the importance of self-reflexivity. The limitations of the study are discussed, reflexivity issues are explored and ideas for further research are proposed. The implications of the study for therapeutic work with couples and training of couple therapists has been elaborated.
Delaying Bacillus Calmette-Guérin Vaccination from Birth to 4 1/2 Months of Age Reduces Postvaccination Th1 and IL-17 Responses but Leads to Comparable Mycobacterial Responses at 9 Months of Age

Bacillus Camette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine is the only licensed vaccine against tuberculosis, yet its protective efficacy is highly variable between different geographical regions. We hypothesized that exposure to nontuberculous mycobacteria attenuates BCG immunogenicity by inducing mycobacterial-specific regulatory T cells (Tregs). Gambian neonates were recruited at birth and randomized to receive BCG vaccination either at birth or at 4 1/2 mo. Mycobacterial immune responses were assessed at birth, 4 1/2, and 9 mo of age. At 4 1/2 mo of age the BCG naive individuals had detectable mycobacterial responses, including increased IL-10 production suggesting environmental priming. Vaccination at birth significantly enhanced Th1, Th2, IL-6, IL-17, and Treg responses in mycobacterial cultures at 4 1/2 mo compared with the BCG naive group. Analyzing results at 4 1/2 mo postvaccination revealed lower IFN-γ, IL-6, and IL-17 responses in the delayed BCG vaccine group compared with those vaccinated at birth, but this did not relate to Treg levels prevaccination. When comparing responses pre- and post-BCG vaccination in the delayed vaccine group, there was no priming of mycobacterial IL-17. Mycobacterial responses waned over 9 mo in those vaccinated at birth, leading to comparable mycobacterial immunity in both groups at 9 mo of age. Overall, these data suggest that vaccination at birth induces a broad Th1/Th2/IL-17/Treg mycobacterial response but the Th1/Th-17 response was reduced when delaying the vaccine. The evidence did not suggest that mycobacterial specific naturally occurring Tregs accounted for this attenuated immunogenicity.
Switching Loss Calculation (SLC) and Positive/Negative Slope Compensation Dynamic Droop Scaling (PNC-DDS) Technique for High-Efficiency Multiple-Input–Single-Output (MISO) Systems

Power management is implemented in a multiple-input-single-output system in this paper. Actually, the design of the switching loss calculation circuit in a dynamic droop system (DDS) can decide the optimum driving solution according to the loading condition, i.e., more than one input source is disabled to reduce the switching loss at light loads. On the other hand, multiple-input sources are preferred to reduce the conduction loss at heavy loads. In other words, DDS with power management can achieve low drop output voltage and high efficiency over a wide load range. The positive/negative-compensated technique enhances the performance of the output voltage stability. Experimental results show that efficiency can be improved approximately 12% at light loads when two input sources are regulated at the switching frequency equal to 5 MHz. Simultaneously, good current sharing is also guaranteed.
Cascading Stall of Many Induction Motors in a Simple System

After an initial fault lowers bus voltage, induction motors connected to the bus can successively stall in a cascading process that can lead to a voltage collapse or delayed voltage recovery. There are typically many induction motors connected to the bus, and models that aggregate the motors do not capture the cascading stall. We study the cascading stall in a simple power system with many induction motors using a quasistatic assumption and randomization of some motor parameters, and hence efficiently estimate the distribution of the number of motors stalled. This approach is also extended to a simple four-bus system and a simple motor dynamics and similar results are obtained. These distributions can often be fit with a high-level and generic probabilistic model of cascading failure, showing a commonality between cascading motor stall and other cascading processes.
Physical activity participation among Caribbean Hispanic women living in New York: relation to education, income, and age.

BACKGROUND Inadequate participation in physical activity is a serious public health issue in the United States, with significant disparities among population groups. In particular, there is a scarcity of information about physical activity among Caribbean Hispanics, a group on the rise. METHODS Our goal was to accumulate data on physical activity among Caribbean Hispanic women living in New York and determine the relation between physical activity and age, marital status, education, income, primary language, and children in the household. To this end, a survey adapted from the National Health Interview Survey of the National Center for Health Statistics assessing type, frequency, and duration of physical activity was administered. RESULTS There were 318 self-identified Hispanic women who participated. Total activity time, mean 385 +/- 26 minutes, and education (r = 0.14, p < 0.01) were significantly related. Women who had attended some college had greater total activity time than those with some high school education (p = 0.046) or < 8th grade education (p = 0.022). Walking as a form of transportation was the most frequent pursuit, 285 +/- 21 minutes. Age (r = -0.34, p < 0.001) and education (r = 0.25, p < 0.001) correlated with nonwalking activity time (leisure time). Nonwalking activity times were greater in younger, that is, 18-29 years (p < 0.001) and college-educated women (p < 0.001). Physical activity recommendations were met by 11%; and 17% reported no physical activity. CONCLUSIONS Among Caribbean Hispanic women living in New York City, the current recommendations for physical activity are met by 11%, and physical activity and education are significantly related. Our observation that education is a critical factor related to physical activity suggests that programs to address the promotion of a physically active lifestyle are needed.
Patterns of benzylpiperazine/trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine party pill use and adverse effects in a population sample in New Zealand.

INTRODUCTION AND AIMS A large legal market for party pills containing benzylpiperazine (BZP) and trifluoromethylphenylpiperazine (TFMPP) developed in New Zealand after 2004. The use of these party pills has been associated with adverse health effects. The purpose of this paper was to assess a general population sample of party pill users to investigate the relationship between (1) patterns of use of BZP/TFMPP party pills and concurrent use of other drug types, and (2) adverse side effects from BZP/TFMPP party pill use. DESIGN A national household survey of the use of BZP/TFMPP party pills was conducted using a computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) facility. The quantity of BZP and TFMPP in each brand of party pill was obtained from the National Poisons Centre. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of having experienced adverse side effects from party pills. RESULTS The mean quantity of BZP/TFMPP taken on an occasion of greatest use was 533 mg (median 400 mg, range 43-2500 mg). Being female, using cannabis and other drugs concurrently with BZP/TFMPP party pills, taking large quantities of party pills in a single session and taking 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) recovery pills at the same time as party pills were independent predictors of having experienced an adverse problem from party pills. CONCLUSIONS Females may be at greater risk of experiencing problems from BZP/TFMPP party pills due to their smaller physical size. Taking 5-HTP 'recovery' pills with party pills may increase the risk of adverse effects as both substances increase users' levels of serotonin.
Decentralized Renewable Energy Pricing and Allocation for Millimeter Wave Cellular Backhaul

In this paper, a renewable energy powered millimeter wave (mmW) backhaul network is studied. In the considered model, the wireless operator must request renewable energy from multiple renewable power suppliers (RPSs) to serve the end mobile users using the mmW backhaul. The unit price of renewable energy depends on the RPS's production capacity/lead time for the corresponding backhaul node. A lead time-dependent pricing scheme is proposed thus enabling the operator to manage the traffic latency over the backhaul and co-ordinate independent RPSs' decisions on the renewable energy storage levels with uncertain wireless traffic demand. Toward this end, the problem is formulated as a Stackelberg game between the operator and multiple RPSs. In this game, the operator first specifies a pricing scheme for RPSs and each RPS should then make its own decision in stocking the renewable energy. Then, efficient distributed algorithms are proposed to find the operator's optimal pricing scheme, and the RPSs' Pareto equilibrium storage strategies, respectively. Our results provide useful insights for understanding the tradeoff between the benefit of energy savings and the cost of quality-of-service (QoS) reducing for the operator. Also, simulation results show how renewable energy production capacities affect the revenue of individual RPSs in decentralized renewable-powered backhaul systems. The results also show that the proposed scheme can enable the operator to achieve more profit compared to a centralized solution.
Clearance Pricing Optimization for a Fast-Fashion Retailer

Fast-fashion retailers such as Zara offer continuously changing assortments and use minimal in-season promotions. Their clearance pricing problem is thus challenging because it involves comparatively more different articles of unsold inventory with less historical price data points. Until 2007, Zara used a manual and informal decision-making process for determining price markdowns. In collaboration with their pricing team, we since designed and implemented an alternative process relying on a formal forecasting model feeding a price optimization model. As part of a controlled field experiment conducted in all Belgian and Irish stores during the 2008 fall-winter season, this new process increased clearance revenues by approximately 6%. Zara is currently using this process worldwide for its markdown decisions during clearance sales.
Contribution A ZERO-CROSSING STRAIN ESTIMATOR FOR ELASTOGRAPHY

A novel zero-crossing tracking strain estimator (ZCT) has been developed for elastography. This technique is based on tracking the zero-crossings between the preand postcompression A-lines, and does not require global or adaptive A-line stretching. For multicompression elastography, ZCT can be implemented as a tracking scheme, where a temporal track of the zero-crossings between successive radiofrequency (RF) A-lines is obtained, or as an averaging scheme, where a cumulation of the interframe strains is performed, to yield high elastographic signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Other advantages of the scheme include fast processing and its potential to be implemented in hardware. The limitations of the technique are the need for small compression steps due to lack of robustness when large compression steps (> 3% applied compression) are used. Simulations and experiments were performed to illustrate its utility as an alternative strain-estimation technique. This technique provides lower SNR but higher contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) than the conventional strain-estimation techniques in elastography. (E-mail: Jonathan.Ophir@uth.tmc.edu) © 2003 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.
Utilizing List Exchange and Nondirected Donation through ‘Chain’ Paired Kidney Donations

In a list exchange (LE), the intended recipient in an incompatible pair receives priority on the deceased donor waitlist (DD‐waitlist) after the paired incompatible donor donates a kidney to a DD‐waitlist candidate. A nondirected donor's (ND‐D) kidney is usually transplanted directly to a DD‐waitlist candidate. These two established practices would help even more transplant candidates if they were integrated with kidney paired donation (KPD).
Risk Stratification in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy–Associated Desmosomal Mutation Carriers

Background—We investigated the role of phenotypic characteristics in stratifying the risk of sustained ventricular arrhythmias in patients harboring arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy–associated mutations. Methods and Results—Clinical, electrocardiographic, and arrhythmic outcome (composite measure of first occurrence of sustained ventricular tachycardia/resuscitated sudden cardiac death/sudden cardiac death/appropriate implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy) data were obtained for 215 patients (104 families; 85% PKP-2). During a mean follow-up of 7 years, 86 (40%) patients experienced the arrhythmic outcome. Event-free survival was significantly lower among probands (P<0.001) and symptomatic (P<0.001) patients. Integration of ECG repolarization and depolarization abnormalities allowed for differential risk categorization. Event-free survival at 5 years for the low-risk ECG group (0–1 T inversions or minor depolarization changes) was 97% versus 81% for the intermediate-risk ECG group (2 T inversions+minor depolarization changes) versus 33% for the high-risk ECG group (≥3 T inversions±major or minor depolarization changes; P<0.001). Incremental arrhythmic risk was seen in patients with increasing premature ventricular complex count on a Holter (P<0.001). Proband status (hazard ratio, 7.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.8–22.5; P<0.001), ≥3 T-wave inversions (hazard ratio, 4.2; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–14.5; P=0.035), and male sex (hazard ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.2–2.8; P=0.004) were independent predictors of the first arrhythmic event on multivariable analysis. Conclusions—Pedigree evaluation, an ECG, and a Holter examination provide for comprehensive arrhythmic risk stratification in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy–associated mutations. We propose an approach to risk stratification based on these variables.