Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
T-Wave Alternans and Arrhythmogenesis in Cardiac Diseases

T-wave alternans, a manifestation of repolarization alternans at the cellular level, is associated with lethal cardiac arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. At the cellular level, several mechanisms can produce repolarization alternans, including: (1) electrical restitution resulting from collective ion channel recovery, which usually occurs at fast heart rates but can also occur at normal heart rates when action potential is prolonged resulting in a short diastolic interval; (2) the transient outward current, which tends to occur at normal or slow heart rates; (3) the dynamics of early after depolarizations, which tends to occur during bradycardia; and (4) intracellular calcium cycling alternans through its interaction with membrane voltage. In this review, we summarize the cellular mechanisms of alternans arising from these different mechanisms, and discuss their roles in arrhythmogenesis in the setting of cardiac disease.
Evaluation of the Color Stability of Methyl Methacrylate and Nylon Base Polymer

Statement of the Problem: Evaluation of the color stability of materials used for the fabrication of the base of complete and partial removable dentures provides important information in relation to their clinical service. The color stability of nylon-based polymers as denture bases, compared to that of acrylic resins, has not been extensively evaluated since to date. Purpose: The aim of the present in vitro study was to evaluate the color stability of conventional polymethyl methacrylate and nylon-based polymer materials used for the fabrication of the base of complete and partial removable dentures. Materials and Method: Twenty samples were evaluated in the present in vitro study. One nylon-based polymer and one heat-cured acrylic resin were seleted for the purpose of the study. Ten disk samples, measuring 10 mm in diameter and 2 mm in thickness, were prepared from each material according to the manufacturers’ instructions. The samples were evaluted with the CIELAB sysem using spectrophtometery at baseline and after irradiation with UV light for 100 and 200 hours and thermocycling. One-way ANOVA and post hoc paired t-test were used to compare the color stability of the two groups. Statistical significance was set at p< 0.05. Results: After 100 hours of irradiation with UV light and thermocycling, color changes were tangible in both materials. After 200 hours of irradiation with UV light and thermocycling, both materials exhibited a decrease in glaze. In general, chromatic changes in the acrylic resin were more noticeable. Conclusion: Accelerated aging affected the color stability of the acrylic resin and nylon-based polymer, p< 0.05 for Δa200 and Δb200 and ΔL100; however, at the end of the study both materials exhibited clinically acceptable color stability (ΔE<3.7).
Age differences in attitudes toward safer sex practices in heterosexual men using an Australian Internet dating service.

Background This cross-sectional study investigated sexually transmissible infection (STI) knowledge, safer sex attitudes and behaviours of sexually active, heterosexual men using an Internet dating service, and explored factors associated with protective attitudes. METHODS An anonymous online survey was sent to men who had logged onto an Internet dating service within the previous year. Factors associated with discussing STIs before sex and condom use intention with a new partner were analysed. RESULTS In total, 2339 responses were analysed. Men had lower STI knowledge scores, lower use of condoms and greater beliefs that condoms reduced interest in sex as age increased. Younger men (aged 18-29 years) were more likely to report intentions of only having sex with a new partner if a condom was used compared with older men aged over 60 years. Predictors of having a discussion about STIs with a new partner were older age, better knowledge of STIs, greater distress at a potential diagnosis of an STI and stronger future condom use intention. Intention to only have sex with a new female partner if a condom was used was associated with higher STI knowledge, discussing STIs with a new partner and distress at a diagnosis of an STI. Men with a higher number of sexual partners in the last year were less likely to have an STI discussion with new partners or intend to use a condom with a new partner. CONCLUSIONS Older Internet-dating, heterosexual men are vulnerable to STIs. Health promotion interventions to increase STI awareness, condom use and STI testing in older men are warranted.
Estimation of demo‐genetic model probabilities with Approximate Bayesian Computation using linear discriminant analysis on summary statistics

Comparison of demo‐genetic models using Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) is an active research field. Although large numbers of populations and models (i.e. scenarios) can be analysed with ABC using molecular data obtained from various marker types, methodological and computational issues arise when these numbers become too large. Moreover, Robert et al. (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2011, 108, 15112) have shown that the conclusions drawn on ABC model comparison cannot be trusted per se and required additional simulation analyses. Monte Carlo inferential techniques to empirically evaluate confidence in scenario choice are very time‐consuming, however, when the numbers of summary statistics (Ss) and scenarios are large. We here describe a methodological innovation to process efficient ABC scenario probability computation using linear discriminant analysis (LDA) on Ss before computing logistic regression. We used simulated pseudo‐observed data sets (pods) to assess the main features of the method (precision and computation time) in comparison with traditional probability estimation using raw (i.e. not LDA transformed) Ss. We also illustrate the method on real microsatellite data sets produced to make inferences about the invasion routes of the coccinelid Harmonia axyridis. We found that scenario probabilities computed from LDA‐transformed and raw Ss were strongly correlated. Type I and II errors were similar for both methods. The faster probability computation that we observed (speed gain around a factor of 100 for LDA‐transformed Ss) substantially increases the ability of ABC practitioners to analyse large numbers of pods and hence provides a manageable way to empirically evaluate the power available to discriminate among a large set of complex scenarios.
Characterization of Erythrocytic Uptake and Release and Disposition Pathways of Nitrite, Nitrate, Methemoglobin, and Iron-Nitrosyl Hemoglobin in the Human Circulation

Nitrite-hemoglobin reactions have been studied extensively in vitro, but there is a lack of information on the kinetics of nitrite and its metabolites in humans. In this study, we developed a nine-compartment physiological pharmacokinetic model to describe the in vivo erythrocytic uptake and release and disposition pathways of nitrite, nitrate, methemoglobin, and iron-nitrosyl hemoglobin in the human circulation. Our model revealed that nitrite entered erythrocytes rapidly with a rate constant of 0.256 min−1 (i.e., half-life = 2.71 min). The formation of iron-nitrosyl hemoglobin from nitrite, which involves the reduction of nitrite by deoxyhemoglobin to generate nitric oxide (NO) and reaction of NO with deoxyhemoglobin to form iron-nitrosyl hemoglobin, occurred rapidly as well (k = 2.02 min−1; half-life = 0.343 min = 21 s). The disposition kinetics of methemoglobin was complex. Nitrate formation occurred primarily in erythrocytes through the nitrite-oxyhemoglobin reaction and was higher when nitrite was administered intra-arterially than intravenously. Nitrate reduction was an insignificant metabolic pathway. This study is the first to comprehensively evaluate the kinetics of nitrite and its metabolites in humans and provides unique insights into the rapid equilibrium of nitrite into erythrocytes and conversion to NO in the red cell, which is kinetically associated with vasodilation.
The Combination of Zidovudine and Interferon AIpha-2B in the Treatment of Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is frequently a very aggressive malignancy with a poor survival despite aggressive multiagent chemotherapy. The combination of the antiretro-viral drug zidovudine (AZT) and interferon alpha (IFNα) has been reported to induce remissions in patients with ATL. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical response and toxicity following administration of a combination of IFNα-2b and AZT in patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I)-associated ATL. Eighteen patients with ATL (chronic, crisis, acute or lymphoma type) were treated with the combination of AZT (50–200 mg orally 5 times a day) and IFNα-2b (2.5–10 million units subcutaneously daily). Three patients had objective responses lasting more than one month. One patient had a clinical complete remission, lasting 21.6 months and two patients had partial remissions lasting 3.7 and 26.5 months. Six patients were not considered evaluable for response due to short and/or interrupted periods of treatment. Seventeen patients have died with a median survival time after initiation of therapy of 6 months. Neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were the dose limiting toxicities. In conclusion, the response rate in this study was lower than noted in the two previous published series. This may be due to the amount and type of prior treatment our patients had received.
A Study of Critical Thinking and Research Utilization Among Nurses

Previous studies have suggested that critical thinking influences research utilization; however, empirical support for the link between critical thinking dispositions and research utilization is nonexistent. In this article, critical thinking dispositions and research utilization habits are detailed, and the relationship of critical thinking dispositions to research utilization in a sample of 141 nurses working on two acute surgical units and five pediatric units in four tertiary care hospitals are examined. Results indicate a significant positive correlation between the total critical thinking disposition score and overall research utilization. Overall critical thinking disposition correlates significantly with all forms of research utilization, with the exception of symbolic research utilization. These findings indicate a need to foster critical thinking in both nursing education and the work environment.
Calreticulin Is a Receptor for Nuclear Export

In previous work, we used a permeabilized cell assay that reconstitutes nuclear export of protein kinase inhibitor (PKI) to show that cytosol contains an export activity that is distinct from Crm1 (Holaska, J.M., and B.M. Paschal. 1995. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 95: 14739–14744). Here, we describe the purification and characterization of the activity as calreticulin (CRT), a protein previously ascribed to functions in the lumen of the ER. We show that cells contain both ER and cytosolic pools of CRT. The mechanism of CRT-dependent export of PKI requires a functional nuclear export signal (NES) in PKI and involves formation of an export complex that contains RanGTP. Previous studies linking CRT to downregulation of steroid hormone receptor function led us to examine its potential role in nuclear export of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). We found that CRT mediates nuclear export of GR in permeabilized cell, microinjection, and transfection assays. GR export is insensitive to the Crm1 inhibitor leptomycin B in vivo, and it does not rely on a leucine-rich NES. Rather, GR export is facilitated by its DNA-binding domain, which is shown to function as an NES when transplanted to a green fluorescent protein reporter. CRT defines a new export pathway that may regulate the transcriptional activity of steroid hormone receptors.
Relationship between cefamandole and cefuroxime activity against oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis and oxacillin resistance phenotype

The activity of cefamandole and cefuroxime against oxacillin-resistant staphylococcus epidermidis was studied in vitro to determine whether there was any relationship between oxacillin resistance phenotypes and cephalosporin activity. Oxacillin resistance phenotypes were determined by efficiency-of-plating studies on Mueller-Hinton agar containing oxacillin, with and without NaCl, and incubated at 30 and 35 degrees C. On the basis of MIC and MBC determinations, cefamandole was more active than cefuroxime against oxacillin-resistant S. epidermidis. Although temperature had minimal effect on the activity of either cefamandole or cefuroxime, NaCl significantly decreased the activity of cefuroxime but not of cefamandole. Neither cephalosporin consistently produced greater than or equal to 99.9% bactericidal activity within 24 h in timed killing-curve studies. No consistent relationship was observed between cefamandole or cefuroxime activity and oxacillin resistance phenotype.
Height, Wealth, and Disease among the Native-born in the Rural, Antebellum North

Height at young and adult ages reflects the cumulative nutritional experience of the individual both during the growth years and during the fetal period. Hence, mean height in a population is not only an indicator of economic fortune but also a predictor of morbidity and mortality (Waaler 1984; Barker et al. 1990; Fogel, Haines, et al. 1991; Costa 1993). Economic historians have been able to use time series of heights to describe trends in economic well-being and in mortality (Fogel, Engerman, and Trussell 1982; Margo and Steckel 1982; Fogel 1986; Brinkman et al. 1988; Floud et al. 1990). Cross-sectional analyses of the determinants of heights have provided clues to changes in morbidity and mortality trends. Investigations of heights have taken advantage of the significant quantities of military records that are available. The data obtained from military muster rolls for the United States consist of name, age, height, occupation, place and date of enlistment, and place of birth.
Evaluation of anterior segment parameters in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome using Scheimpflug imaging.

PURPOSE To evaluate anterior segment parameters in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PXS) using Scheimpflug imaging. METHODS Forty-three PXS patients and 43 healthy control subjects were included in this cross-sectional study. All participants underwent a detailed ophthalmologic examination. Anterior segment parameters were measured using a Scheimpflug system. RESULTS Considering the PXS and control groups, the mean corneal thicknesses at the apex point (536 ± 31 and 560 ± 31 µm, respectively, p=0.001), at the center of the pupil (534 ± 31 and 558 ± 33 µm, respectively, p=0.001), and at the thinnest point (528 ± 30 and 546 ± 27 µm, respectively, p=0.005) were significantly thinner in PXS patients. Visual acuity was significantly lower (0.52 ± 0.37 versus 0.88 ± 0.23, p<0.001) and axial length was significantly longer (23.9 ± 0.70 mm versus 23.2 ± 0.90 mm, p=0.001) in the PXS eyes than in the control eyes. There were no statistically significant differences in the mean values of keratometry, anterior chamber angle, anterior chamber depth, corneal volume, and anterior chamber volume between the PXS and control eyes. CONCLUSIONS The patients with PXS had thinner corneas, worse visual acuity, and longer axial length compared with those in the healthy controls.
Different circumstances of the first venous thromboembolism among younger or older heterozygous carriers of the G20210A polymorphism in the prothrombin gene.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The G20210A polymorphism in the prothrombin gene is a common cause of inherited thrombophilia. Scarce information is available about the circumstances of the heralding thrombotic manifestation at different ages. The aim of this study was to determine the risk of spontaneous or secondary venous thromboembolism (VTE) among younger and older carriers of the G20210A prothrombin polymorphism. DESIGN AND METHODS We performed a case-control study, investigating 650 patients with a first objectively documented deep venous thrombosis of the legs or pulmonary embolism and 703 individuals with no history of vascular disease. In all of them we carried out laboratory screening for antithrombin III, protein C and protein S deficiencies, and for the presence of the factor V Leiden and the G20210A prothrombin polymorphisms. RESULTS After adjustment for other inherited causes of thrombophilia (deficiency of antithrombin III, protein C or S, factor V Leiden) the overall risk for VTE associated with the prothrombin polymorphism was 3.4 times higher than in the controls (95% CI, 2.0 to 5.8). Stratification according to the age and to the circumstances of the first event revealed an increased risk of spontaneous VTE only among the patients older than 45 years in comparison with age-matched controls (odds ratio 4.4, 95% CI 1.8 to 10.6); among the younger individuals the risk was increased for secondary VTE (odds ratio 4.8, 95% CI, 2.3 to 9.8) but not for spontaneous VTE. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS The clinical penetrance of the thrombotic tendency associated with the G20210A prothrombin polymorphism is more expressed in the presence of a circumstantial risk factor (oral contraceptives, pregnancy, surgery, trauma) and in the presence of older age, which acts as an additional circumstantial risk factor. Accordingly, such situations should not discourage from carrying out laboratory screening.
A Model for Adjusting for Nonignorable Verification Bias in Estimation of the ROC Curve and Its Area with Likelihood‐Based Approach

Summary In estimation of the ROC curve, when the true disease status is subject to nonignorable missingness, the observed likelihood involves the missing mechanism given by a selection model. In this article, we proposed a likelihood‐based approach to estimate the ROC curve and the area under the ROC curve when the verification bias is nonignorable. We specified a parametric disease model in order to make the nonignorable selection model identifiable. With the estimated verification and disease probabilities, we constructed four types of empirical estimates of the ROC curve and its area based on imputation and reweighting methods. In practice, a reasonably large sample size is required to estimate the nonignorable selection model in our settings. Simulation studies showed that all four estimators of ROC area performed well, and imputation estimators were generally more efficient than the other estimators proposed. We applied the proposed method to a data set from research in Alzheimer's disease.
The Collective Strategy Framework: An Application to Competing Predictions of Isomorphism

The author gratefully acknowledges the comments of Hugh Arnold, Martin Evans, Bob House, Marshall Meyer, and Jitendra Singh. The author also wishes to express her appreciation to Agnes Meinhard and David Tucker for their support in using the data contained in this study and to the ASO editors and anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments. This paper investigates empirically the competing predictions of three perspectives on the determinants of organizational isomorphism-population ecology, institutionalization, and strategic choice-through a collective strategy framework, which categorizes organizations in an interorganizational field by their relationships with one another. The methodological approach, based on a network analysis of multiple organizational relations in a population of voluntary social service organizations, operationalizes the collective strategy typology and links homogeneity among organizations to their location in the organizational field. The results of the investigation offer strongest support for a strategic choice perspective and suggest that the environment is not highly deterministic in shaping organizational characteristics. '
Dietary Fatty Acids and Recurrence of Colorectal Adenomas in a European Intervention Trial

Epidemiological studies have provided inconsistent data about the role of dietary fatty acids in colorectal cancer, and few studies have addressed their role in colorectal adenoma. The aim of the study was to assess the risk of overall adenoma recurrence associated with dietary consumption of total fat, subtypes of fat, and specific fatty acids (oleic acid, linoleic acid, α-linolenic acid). The study sample was composed of 523 patients with confirmed adenomas at the index colonoscopy, 35 to 75 yr old, who completed the European fiber-calcium intervention trial and had an initial dietary assessment using a qualitative and quantitative food questionnaire. The overall 3-yr recurrence rate was 22.6% (118 out of 523 patients). There were no significant associations between overall adenoma recurrence and either total fat, subtypes of fat, or specific fatty acids. However, polyunsaturated fatty acids and linoleic acid were both moderately but significantly associated with distal and multiple recurrence. No significant associations were observed with recurrence of proximal or advanced adenomas. Our findings do not support the hypothesis of strong associations between dietary fatty acids and recurrence of colorectal adenomas. The hypothesis of a differential role of specific fatty acids according to colorectal subsites deserves further investigation.
An Novel Scheduling Algorithm for Video Stream in LTE

With the development of the wireless communication technology, users can enjoy more and more network services no matter where they are. Although the bandwidth of wireless channels grows fast in recent years, the network loads are still high due to the plenty number of users and various network services as the network resources are exhausted by heavy traffics, many strategies will deeply affect system performances the adopted scheduling scheme is absolutely one of the important factors which affect the performance. A a good scheduling algorithm can significantly improve network system performances in terms of throughput, transmission delay and so on. From users' point of view, a well scheduling algorithm is able to greatly enhance the quality of network services and bring better network services. at the critical moment that wireless technologies will stride toward next-generation, to design good scheduling algorithms for LTE is necessary and urgent. We propose an efficient scheduling algorithm to improve the service quality of video streaming in LTE. Considering the layered coding scheme of the video streaming, the proposed algorithm tries to determine how much enhancement layer information should be transmitted under different network loads. by controlling the amount of enhancement layers transmitted in each scheduling round, the proposed scheduling algorithm has better packet delivery ratio for base layer information and maintains better service qualities.