Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differential Effects of Chromosome 9p21 Variation on Subphenotypes of Intracranial Aneurysm: Site Distribution

Background and Purpose— Recently, a genome-wide association study identified associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms on chromosome 9p21 and risk of harboring intracranial aneurysm (IA). Aneurysm characteristics or subphenotypes of IAs, such as history of subarachnoid hemorrhage, presence of multiple IAs and location of IAs, are clinically important. We investigated whether the association between 9p21 variation and risk of IA varied among these subphenotypes. Methods— We conducted a case-control study of 981 cases and 699 controls in Japanese. Four single nucleotide polymorphisms tagging the 9p21 risk locus were genotyped. The OR and 95% CI were estimated using logistic regression analyses. Results— Among the 4 single nucleotide polymorphisms, rs1333040 showed the strongest evidence of association with IA (P=1.5×10−6; per allele OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.24-1.66). None of the patient characteristics (gender, age, smoking, and hypertension) was a significant confounder or effect modifier of the association. Subgroup analyses of IA subphenotypes showed that among the most common sites of IAs, the association was strongest for IAs of the posterior communicating artery (OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.26-2.26) and not significant for IAs in the anterior communicating artery (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.96-1.57). When dichotomizing IA sites, the association was stronger for IAs of the posterior circulation-posterior communicating artery group (OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.32-2.26) vs the anterior circulation group (OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.07-1.53). Heterogeneity in these ORs was significant (P=0.032). The associations did not vary when stratifying by history of subarachnoid hemorrhage (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.18-1.71 for ruptured IA; OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.00-1.62 for unruptured IA) or by multiplicity of IA (OR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.21-2.03 for multiple IAs; OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.15-1.61 for single IA). Conclusions— Our results suggest that genetic influence on formation may vary between IA subphenotypes.
Neighborhood Advantage, Relative Status, and Violence Among Foreign-Born Adolescents

Immigrant families and contexts are protective for delinquency, even though recent immigrants are more likely to be poor and reside in disadvantaged settings. Yet it is unclear whether the protective effects of immigrant status depend on the match between family SES and neighborhood advantage. This study examines the interplay among immigrant status, family SES, and neighborhood advantage in predicting adolescent violence. Using multilevel longitudinal data from the Project on Human Development in Chicago Neighborhoods (N = 1,908), findings show that first-generation adolescents from low-SES families have the highest odds of violence in the most advantaged contexts, exceeding that of even third-generation adolescents. In contrast, high-SES first-generation adolescents have the highest probability of violence in less advantaged contexts, but the lowest in the most advantaged neighborhoods. The results identify conditions under which the protective nature of immigrant status is eroded, and highlight the importance of relative status for understanding violence among foreign-born adolescents.
Maximum principle for viscosity solutions on Riemannian manifolds

In this work we consider viscosity solutions to second order partial differential equations on Riemannian manifolds. We prove maximum principles for solutions to Dirichlet problem on a compact Riemannian manifold with boundary. Using a different method, we generalize maximum principles of Omori and Yau to a viscosity version.
The Influence of Discovery Learning Model on Conceptual Understanding and Self-Efficacy of Students at Vocational High School

Problems in this research is students’ difficulty within solving conceptual understanding problems. It is caused by teachers are still using many conventional methods and Discovery Learning model used by teachers is not in accordance with the expected procedure. This research is quasi-experimental in form of non-equivalent control group design. Population in this research is all student of 10 grade of vocational high School Sinar Husni. Randomly, TKJ 3 X class selected as Experiment class treated by Discovery Learning model and TKJ 1 X class as Control Class is treated by conventional approach. The used instruments consisted of early math skills tests, conceptual understanding skills tests and self-efficacy questionnaires. The instrument is stated to have fulfilled the validity and reliability. Data analysis was performed using Mann Whitney U test, Two Path ANOVA and One Path ANAVA. The results showed that the improvement of conceptual understanding ability and students’ Self Efficacy who were given Discovery Learning Model was significantly better compared to the students who were given the conventional approach. In addition, there is a difference in the improvement of ability to understand the concept between high, medium, and low for students who are given Discovery Learning Model, where as there is no difference in students’ Self Efficacy improvement.
A New Species of Cryptosporidium (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) from Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus)

Cryptosporidium macropodum n. sp is described. Oocysts of C. macropodum from the feces of kangaroos (Macropus spp.) are morphologically indistinguishable from other mammalian Cryptosporidium species, including C. parvum, C. hominis, C. suis, and C. canis. The oocysts are fully sporulated on excretion, lack sporocysts, and have an average width of 4.9 μm (4.5– 6.0), a length of 5.4 μm (5.0–6.0), and a length:width ratio of 1.1. Phylogenetic analyses of the 18S ribosomal RNA, actin, and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) loci demonstrate that C. macropodum is genetically distinct from all described Cryptosporidium species, including others found in marsupials. The parasite seems to be highly host-specific, because it has been found only in marsupials to date. Therefore, based on biological and molecular data, we consider C. macropodum a new species.
Effects of sodium nitroprusside on splanchnic microcirculation in a resuscitated porcine model of septic shock.

BACKGROUND We tested the hypothesis that sodium nitroprusside (SNP) might improve the impairment of hepatosplanchnic microcirculatory blood flow (MBF) in septic shock. METHODS Fourteen pigs were anaesthetized and their lungs mechanically ventilated. Sepsis was induced with i.v. infusion of live Pseudomonas aeruginosa [1x10(8) colony forming units (CFU) ml(-1) kg(-1)] for 1 h. Sixty minutes later, the animals received in a random succession either SNP or normal saline for 30 min. Mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac index (CI), mean pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP), carbon dioxide tension of the ileal mucosa (PCO2; by gas tonometry), ileal mucosal and hepatic MBF by laser Doppler flowmetry, blood gases, and lactates were assessed before, during administration, and 30 min after discontinuing the test drug. RESULTS Bacterial infusion promoted hypodynamic shock (MAP -18%, CI -33%, ileal MBF -19%, and hepatic MBF -27%), which was converted to normodynamic shock by resuscitation. During SNP infusion, ileal mucosal MBF significantly increased (+19%) compared with control (P = 0.033). Although hepatic MBF increased (+42% from baseline), this did not differ from control. In order to maintain a constant central venous pressure and MAP, fluid loading and norepinephrine (P < 0.01) were increased. Acid-base status was not altered by SNP. CONCLUSIONS In a resuscitated porcine model of the early phase of septic shock, SNP improved ileal mucosal MBF but required a concomitant increase in fluid and norepinephrine supplements to maintain constant systemic haemodynamic parameters.
Continuity of the Itô-map for Hölder rough path with applications to the Support Theorem in Hölder norm (To appear at

Rough path theory is currently formulated in p-variation topology. We show that in the context of Brownian motion, enhanced to a rough path β, a more natural Hölder metric ρ (on both levels) can be used. The (Lipschitz-type) fine-estimates in Lyons' celebrated Universal Limit Theorem then yield Lipschitz-continuty of the Itoˆ-map (between rough path spaces equipped with ρ). This Limit Theorem becomes concrete when we establish that a class of piece-wise linear approximations (including the dyadics) converges to β w.r. t. the Hölder-metric ρ. We think of our results on enhanced Brownian motion as a toolbox for Brownian Rough Paths, ready for use to the non rough-path specialist, that can prove useful in several situations. As one concrete application, we obtain the famous Support Theorem w.r. t. Hölder topology as immediate corollary. We note that the Support Theorem has been considered via Rough Paths, [LQZ]. However, using the standard (= p-variation) Rough Path Theory the well-known Hölder-topology result ([BGL], [MS], [ST]) could not be recovered. Also, their proof is still far from being a direct corollary of Rough Path Theory (Khatri-Sidak correlation inequality, lengthy computations).
Predictions for Higgs and SUSY spectra from SO ( 10 ) Yukawa Unification with μ > 0

We use t, b, τ Yukawa unification to constrain SUSY parameter space. We find a narrow region survives for µ > 0 (suggested by b → sγ and the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon) with A 0 ∼ −1.9 m 16 , m 10 ∼ 1.4 m 16 , m 16 ∼ 1200−3000 GeV and µ, M 1/2 ∼ 100−500 GeV. Demanding Yukawa unification thus makes definite predictions for Higgs and sparticle masses.
The Contrasting Relationships between Betaine and Homocysteine in Two Clinical Cohorts are Associated with Plasma Lipids and Drug Treatments

Background Urinary betaine excretion positively correlated with plasma homocysteine in outpatients attending a lipid disorders clinic (lipid clinic study). We aimed to confirm this in subjects with established vascular disease. Methods The correlation between betaine excretion and homocysteine was compared in samples collected from subjects 4 months after hospitalization for an acute coronary episode (ACS study, 415 urine samples) and from 158 sequential patients visiting a lipid disorders clinic. Principal findings In contrast to the lipid clinic study, betaine excretion and plasma homocysteine did not correlate in the total ACS cohort. Differences between the patient groups included age, non-HDL cholesterol and medication. In ACS subjects with below median betaine excretion, excretion correlated (using log transformed data) negatively with plasma homocysteine (r = −0.17, p = 0.019, n = 199), with no correlation in the corresponding subset of the lipid clinic subjects. In ACS subjects with above median betaine excretion a positive trend (r = +0.10) between betaine excretion and homocysteine was not significant; the corresponding correlation in lipid clinic subjects was r = +0.42 (p = 0.0001). In ACS subjects, correlations were stronger when plasma non-HDL cholesterol and betaine excretion were above the median, r = +0.20 (p = 0.045); in subjects above median non-HDL cholesterol and below median betaine excretion, r = −0.26 (p = 0.012). ACS subjects taking diuretics or proton pump inhibitors had stronger correlations, negative with lower betaine excretion and positive with higher betaine excretion. Conclusions Betaine excretion correlates with homocysteine in subjects with elevated blood lipids.
Organizational Citizenship Behavior And Job Satisfaction Among Call Centre Representatives In Relation To Stressful Environment

CENTRE REPRESENTATIVES IN RELATION TO STRESSFUL ENVIRONMENT Abstract In today’s competitive environment, managing the ever escalating customer expectations and need is a key to survival and growth for any company. Considering the consumer-centric nature of the service industry, particularly the call centre industry, developing, managing and retaining the job satisfaction of call center representatives (CCRs) is a key challenge for the call centre industry. However, job satisfaction in call centres has not been researched as extensively within the Indian context. Consequently, the present study is been conducted to on a sample of 267 CCRs of call centre companies in Northern India including Delhi and NCR. The study found a strong relationship between stress, job satisfaction and organizational citizenship behaviour, which is consistent with previous studies. Keyword: Stress, Job Satisfaction, Organizational Citizenship Behavior, Call Centre Representatives (CCRs).
Evaluation of PCR Testing of Ethanol-Fixed Nasal Swab Specimens as an Augmented Surveillance Strategy for Influenza Virus and Adenovirus Identification

ABSTRACT Viral culture isolation has been widely accepted as the “gold standard” for laboratory confirmation of viral infection; however, it requires ultralow temperature specimen storage. Storage of specimens in ethanol at room temperature could expand our ability to conduct active surveillance and retrospective screenings of viruses with rapid and inexpensive real-time PCR tests, including isolates from remote regions where freezing specimens for culture is not feasible. Molecular methods allow for rapid identification of viral pathogens without the need to maintain viability. We hypothesized that ethanol, while inactivating viruses, can preserve DNA and RNA for PCR-based methods. To evaluate the use of ethanol-stored specimens for augmenting surveillance for detection of influenza viruses A and B and adenoviruses (AdV), paired nasal swab specimens were collected from 384 recruits with febrile respiratory illness at Fort Jackson, S.C. , in a 2-year study. One swab was stored at ambient temperature in 100% ethanol for up to 6 months, and the other swab was stored at −70°C in viral medium. For viral detection, frozen specimens were cultured for a variety of respiratory viruses, and ethanol-fixed specimens were tested with TaqMan (TM) probe and LightCycler SYBR green (SG) melting curve assays with at least two different PCR targets for each virus. The sensitivities of the TM and SG assays on specimens stored in ethanol for 1 month were 75% and 58% for influenza A, 89% and 67% for influenza B, and 93 to 98% and 57% for AdV, respectively. Lower specificities of the real-time assays corresponded to the increased detection of PCR-positive but culture-negative specimens. Influenza virus RNA was detected as well or better after 6 months of storage in ethanol.
Determination of XUV optical constants by reflectometry using a high-repetition rate 46.9-nm laser

We report the measurement of the optical constants of Si, GaP, InP, GaAs, GaAsP, and Ir at a wavelength of 46.9 nm (26.5 eV). The optical constants were obtained from the measurement of the variation of the reflectivity as a function of angle utilizing, as an illumination source, a discharge pumped 46.9-nm table-top laser operated at a repetition rate of 1 Hz. These measurements constitute the first application of an ultrashort wavelength laser to materials research.
Attitudes of Nursing Students Towards Learning Communication Skills

Introduction: Attitudes of nursing students towards learning nurse-patient communica- tion skills have for long been a concern of lecturers, planners and policy-makers. The objectives of our study were to explore the attitudes of nursing students towards learning communication skills. Methodology and methods: The study used a quantitative non-experimental survey. Nursing students’ attitudes were assessed using the Communication Skills Attitudes Scale (CSAS), which is comprised two scales measuring positive and negative attitudes. The reliability coefficient for two subscales was calculated using Cronbach’s α, with the positive attitude scale (PAS) found to be 0.855, and the negative attitude scale (NAS) 0.733. Results: The mean score for PAS was 52.8, and the mean score for NAS was 32.7. There were no statistically significant differences identified when examining the positive attitude scale results and previous education (t = 1.434; p = 0.155) or mode of study (t = 1.566; p = 0.120), but we found statistically significant differences (F = 10.950; p < 0.001) according to the year of the study. Principal component analysis identified three factors, which explained 74% of the variance in the results. Conclusion: CSAS measures may be helpful for monitoring the effect of different teach- ing strategies on students’ attitudes about communication skills during nursing education. It is recommended that communication skills training programmes are designed and incorporated into all nursing curriculum.
Coordination of arm and wrist motion during a reaching task

An analysis of arm movements involving forward projection of the hand in order to reach for and grasp a target at different orientations is presented. The reaching movements required shoulder flexion, elbow extension, and wrist pronation or supination. The relation between elbow and shoulder instantaneous angular position proved to be consistent from trial to trial of each task, independent of movement speed. Further, this relation was not influenced by the presence or absence of a concomitant wrist rotation. During the deceleratory phase of the movement, the slope of elbow angular velocity to shoulder angular velocity was constant and independent of target orientation. Wrist motion was instead highly variable in timing, course, and duration. Supinatory movements tended to be fractionated. On average, the duration of wrist movements was shorter than that of shoulder and elbow motions. The pattern of biceps EMG activity during supinatory and pronatory movements was different. Since motion at the shoulder and elbow was virtually identical in the two cases, net flexor torque at the elbow was also little different. It is concluded that other elbow flexors and extensors also exhibit a task-dependent patterning of activity so as to produce the same net torque. The results are discussed in the context of the internal constraints present during the movements that we examined. These constraints are the inertial coupling between shoulder and elbow motion and those which derive from the bifunctional nature of many of the muscles participating in the movement.
A Spherical Model for Starless Cores of Magnetic Molecular Clouds and Dynamical Effects of Dust Grains

In the current paradigm, isolated low-mass stars form out of magnetic molecular clouds as the clouds evolve because of ambipolar diffusion. A quantitative understanding of this process remains incomplete, because of both physical and technical complexities. As a step toward a quantitative theory for star formation, I explore further the evolution of magnetic clouds with a simplifying spherical geometry, studied first by Safier, McKee, & Stahler. The spherical model has several desirable features as well as some potentially serious difficulties. It highlights the pressing need for two-dimensional, fully dynamic models that treat the coupling between the magnetic field and the cloud matter properly. The model clouds exhibit substantial inward motion during the late stage of core formation, with velocities of order one-half the isothermal sound speed or more over most of the cloud, after a central density enhancement of about 102 (say, from 103 to 105 cm-3). Such precollapse motion may have been detected recently by Tafalla et al. and Williams et al. in the starless core L1544. The motion may also explain why starless dense cores typically last for only a few dynamic times and why they have small but significant nonthermal line widths. The clouds that I study have relatively low mass (of order 10 M☉) and initial magnetic pressure comparable to thermal pressure. They evolve into a density profile of a flat central plateau surrounded by an envelope whose density decreases with radius roughly as a power law, as found previously. The density decline in the envelope is significantly steeper than those obtained by Mouschovias and collaborators, who considered disklike magnetic clouds whose initial magnetic pressure is much larger than the thermal pressure. As the cloud density increases above approximately 105 cm-3, dust grains become dynamically important. Depending on their size distribution, dust grains can enhance the coupling coefficient between the magnetic field and the neutral cloud matter by as much as an order of magnitude or even more. The enhanced coupling makes it difficult for magnetic flux to escape during the advanced, more dynamic phase of the core formation. In spherical geometry, this trapping of magnetic flux leads to an almost homologous collapse of a central region with substantial mass. The implied extremely rapid assemblage of protostellar mass, with more than 0.5 M☉ of material reaching the origin in about 103 yr or less for a typical set of cloud parameters, poses a serious accretion "luminosity problem. " Magnetic tension in two-dimensional models may help alleviate the problem.
Asynchronous indoor positioning system based on visible light communications

Abstract. Indoor positioning has become an attractive research topic within the past two decades. However, no satisfying solution has been found with consideration of both accuracy and system complexity. Recently, research on visible light communications (VLC) offer new opportunities in realizing accurate indoor positioning with relatively simple system configuration. An indoor positioning system based on VLC technology is introduced, with no synchronization requirement on the transmitters. Simulation results show that, with over 95% confidence, the target receiver can be located with an accuracy of 5.9 cm, assuming indirect sunlight exposure and proper installation of light-emitting diode bulbs.
Effects of major depression on remission and relapse of substance dependence.

BACKGROUND The effects of major depressive disorder (MDD) on the course of substance dependence may differ depending on the temporal relationship of depression to dependence. We investigated the effects of MDD on the outcome of substance dependence under 3 circumstances: (1) lifetime onset of MDD prior to lifetime onset of dependence onset, (2) current MDD occurring during a period of abstinence, and (3) current MDD during substance use that exceeded the expected effects of intoxication or withdrawal. METHODS A sample of 250 inpatients with DSM-IV cocaine, heroin, and/or alcohol dependence were followed up at 6, 12, and 18 months. The Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM) was used to make DSM-IV diagnoses. Using Cox proportional hazards models, stable remissions (those lasting at least 26 weeks) from DSM-IV cocaine, heroin, and/or alcohol dependence and from use were studied, as well as subsequent relapses of dependence and use. RESULTS Patients with current substance-induced MDD were less likely to remit from dependence (adjusted hazards ratio, 0.11) than patients with no baseline MDD. A history of MDD prior to lifetime onset of substance dependence also reduced the likelihood of remission relative to the absence of such a history (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.49). Major depressive disorder during sustained abstinence predicted dependence relapse (adjusted hazards ratio, 3.07) and substance use after hospital discharge compared with those without abstinence MDD (adjusted hazards ratio, 1.45). CONCLUSION The timing of depressive episodes relative to substance dependence served as an important factor in the remission and relapse of substance dependence and substance use.