Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Value of QT/RR Slope in Predicting Mortality in Patients with Congestive Heart Failure

Introduction: Repolarization dynamics, reflecting adaptation of QT to changing heart rate, is considered a marker of unfavorable prognosis in patients with heart diseases. We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of QT/RR slope in predicting total mortality (TM) and sudden death (SD) in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).
Fatigue properties of friction welded joints with flash by austenitic stainless steel and various machine part carbon steels

The purpose of this study was to achieve high performance and high function of an industrial product under low cost. The fatigue test of SUS304/S35C and SUS304/S55C friction welded joints with flash was investigated by the rotating bending fatigue test. The experimental results were as follows. (1) The broken part of friction welded joints of SUS304/S35C and SUS304/S55C was changed by amplitude stress, its part was toe of flash of S35C and S55C when amplitude stress was low. And, in the case of the high amplitude, it was specimen parallel part of SUS304. (2) The stress concentration factor of toe of flash of S35C and S55C was the increased with an increase in upset pressure. This tendency was slightly in the case of SUS304, and in the case of carbon steel, it was increased remarkably with increase of carbon. (3) When amplitude stress was low, the broken part of S35C and S55C joints was toe of flash, this fatigue strength was decreased remarkably with an increase in upset pressure. This main reason was the increased stress concentration factor. (4) When amplitude stress was high, the broken part of the SUS304 was the parallel part and the reason was that it was red hot. Heat occurred because of internal friction and low thermal conductivity. But this red-hot temperature was prevented completely by dropping water at 50 ml/min. (5) When the parallel part the length of SUS304 was < 25 mm, the amplitude stress broken by red-hot temperature was increased with a decrease in the parallel part length.
Stem Cell-Like Gene Expression in Ovarian Cancer Predicts Type II Subtype and Prognosis

Although ovarian cancer is often initially chemotherapy-sensitive, the vast majority of tumors eventually relapse and patients die of increasingly aggressive disease. Cancer stem cells are believed to have properties that allow them to survive therapy and may drive recurrent tumor growth. Cancer stem cells or cancer-initiating cells are a rare cell population and difficult to isolate experimentally. Genes that are expressed by stem cells may characterize a subset of less differentiated tumors and aid in prognostic classification of ovarian cancer. The purpose of this study was the genomic identification and characterization of a subtype of ovarian cancer that has stem cell-like gene expression. Using human and mouse gene signatures of embryonic, adult, or cancer stem cells, we performed an unsupervised bipartition class discovery on expression profiles from 145 serous ovarian tumors to identify a stem-like and more differentiated subgroup. Subtypes were reproducible and were further characterized in four independent, heterogeneous ovarian cancer datasets. We identified a stem-like subtype characterized by a 51-gene signature, which is significantly enriched in tumors with properties of Type II ovarian cancer; high grade, serous tumors, and poor survival. Conversely, the differentiated tumors share properties with Type I, including lower grade and mixed histological subtypes. The stem cell-like signature was prognostic within high-stage serous ovarian cancer, classifying a small subset of high-stage tumors with better prognosis, in the differentiated subtype. In multivariate models that adjusted for common clinical factors (including grade, stage, age), the subtype classification was still a significant predictor of relapse. The prognostic stem-like gene signature yields new insights into prognostic differences in ovarian cancer, provides a genomic context for defining Type I/II subtypes, and potential gene targets which following further validation may be valuable in the clinical management or treatment of ovarian cancer.
Monitoring APC/C activity in the presence of chromosomal misalignment in unperturbed cell populations

Chromosome segregation is under strict control of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). The SAC regulates anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C)-dependent proteolysis of securin and cyclin B. Unattached or misaligned chromosomes trigger SAC-mediated mitotic delay by stabilizing securin and cyclin B due to inhibition of APC/C until the problem is solved. Here we present a hitherto unavailable model facilitating the simultaneous depiction of chromosome movements and pulse-chased cyclin B proteolysis in every single cell within a cell population. During chromosome misalignment, we observed slow cyclin B degradation, which changed to fast degradation once the SAC was satisfied, initiating chromosome separation and mitotic exit. Slow degradation during a SAC-mediated mitotic delay is part of a tightly regulated balance between cyclin B synthesis and degradation. Since chromosomal misalignment is a rare event, the ability to study entire cell populations enabled us to monitor for the first time SAC surveillance in living cells without the need of highly artificial perturbation by spindle poisons.
A Novel Modeling Approach to Quantify the Influence of Nitrogen Inputs on the Oxygen Dynamics of the North Sea

Oxygen (O2) deficiency , i.e., dissolved O2 concentrations below 6mgO2L-1, is a common feature in the southern North Sea. Its evolution is governed mainly by the presence of seasonal stratification and production of organic matter, which is subsequently degraded under O2 consumption. The latter is strongly influenced by riverine nutrient loads, i.e., nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P). As riverine P loads have been reduced significantly over the past decades, this study aims for the quantification of the influence of riverine and non-riverine N inputs on the O2 dynamics in the southern North Sea. For this purpose, we present an approach to expand a nutrient-tagging technique for physical-biogeochemical models – often referred to as ‘trans-boundary nutrient transports’ (TBNT) – by introducing a direct link to the O2 dynamics. We apply the expanded TBNT to the physical-biogeochemical model system HAMSOM-ECOHAM and focus our analysis on N-related O2 consumption in the southern North Sea during 2000–2014. The analysis reveals that near-bottom O2 consumption in the southern North Sea is strongly influenced by the N supply from the North Atlantic across the northern shelf edge. However, riverine N sources – especially the Dutch, German and British rivers – as well as the atmosphere also play an important role. In the region with lowest simulated O2 concentrations (around 56°N, 6.5°E), riverine N on average contributes 39% to overall near-bottom O2 consumption during seasonal stratification. Here, the German and the large Dutch rivers constitute the highest riverine contributions (11% and 10%, respectively). At a site in the Oyster Grounds (around 54.5°N, 4°E), the average riverine contribution adds up to 41%, even exceeding that of the North Atlantic. Here, highest riverine contributions can be attributed to the Dutch and British rivers adding up to almost 28% on average. The atmospheric contribution results in 13%. Our results emphasize the importance of anthropogenic N inputs ans seasonal stratification for the O2 conditions in the southern North Sea. They further suggest that reductions in the riverine and atmospheric N inputs may have a relevant positive effect on the O2 levels in this region.
γ-Tocotrienol prevents oxidative stress-induced telomere shortening in human fibroblasts derived from different aged individuals

The effects of palm γ-tocotrienol (GGT) on oxidative stress-induced cellular ageing was investigated in normal human skin fibroblast cell lines derived from different age groups; young (21-year-old, YF), middle (40-year-old, MF) and old (68-year-old, OF). Fibroblast cells were treated with γ-tocotrienol for 24 hours before or after incubation with IC50 dose of H2O2 for 2 hours. Changes in cell viability, telomere length and telomerase activity were assessed using the MTS assay (Promega, USA), Southern blot analysis and telomere repeat amplification protocol respectively. Results showed that treatment with different concentrations of γ-tocotrienol increased fibroblasts viability with optimum dose of 80 µM for YF and 40 µM for both MF and OF. At higher concentrations, γ-tocotrienol treatment caused marked decrease in cell viability with IC50 value of 200 µM (YF), 300 µM (MF) and 100 µM (OF). Exposure to H2O2 decreased cell viability in dose dependent manner, shortened telomere length and reduced telomerase activity in all age groups. The IC50 of H2O2 was found to be; YF (700 µM), MF (400 µM) and OF (100 µM). Results showed that viability increased significantly (p < 0.05) when cells were treated with 80 µM and 40 µM γ-tocotrienol prior or after H2O2-induced oxidative stress in all age groups. In YF and OF, pretreatment with γ-tocotrienol prevented shortening of telomere length and reduction in telomerase activity. In MF, telomerase activity increased while no changes in telomere length was observed. However, post-treatment of γ-tocotrienol did not exert any significant effects on telomere length and telomerase activity. Thus, these data suggest that γ-tocotrienol protects against oxidative stress-induced cellular ageing by modulating the telomere length possibly via telomerase.
Bending and Compression Properties of ABS and PET Structural Materials Printed Using FDM Technology

The bend and compression mechanical properties of 3D-printed polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) rectangular and cylindrical specimens (fully-dense and with circular, hexagonal, and rectangular perforations) are presented. In three-point bending, fully-dense PET flexural strength was 69 MPa, yield stress was 48.9 MPa, and yield stress from compression was 31.4 MPa. For ABS, these values were 59, 41.7, and 51.2 MPa, respectively – not significantly different from those of polymers manufactured by common techniques. Whereas perforation reduced density, the strength values were significantly lower, decreased for the circular perforation to a value of 20% strength for the fully-dense specimen. Specific strengths dropped quite significantly for the specimens tested in bending, whereas they did not differ significantly when tested by compression.
Mechanisms of noncovalent β subunit regulation of NaV channel gating

Voltage-gated Na+ (NaV) channels comprise a macromolecular complex whose components tailor channel function. Key components are the non-covalently bound &bgr;1 and &bgr;3 subunits that regulate channel gating, expression, and pharmacology. Here, we probe the molecular basis of this regulation by applying voltage clamp fluorometry to measure how the &bgr; subunits affect the conformational dynamics of the cardiac NaV channel (NaV1.5) voltage-sensing domains (VSDs). The pore-forming NaV1.5 &agr; subunit contains four domains (DI–DIV), each with a VSD. Our results show that &bgr;1 regulates NaV1.5 by modulating the DIV-VSD, whereas &bgr;3 alters channel kinetics mainly through DIII-VSD interaction. Introduction of a quenching tryptophan into the extracellular region of the &bgr;3 transmembrane segment inverted the DIII-VSD fluorescence. Additionally, a fluorophore tethered to &bgr;3 at the same position produced voltage-dependent fluorescence dynamics strongly resembling those of the DIII-VSD. Together, these results provide compelling evidence that &bgr;3 binds proximally to the DIII-VSD. Molecular-level differences in &bgr;1 and &bgr;3 interaction with the &agr; subunit lead to distinct activation and inactivation recovery kinetics, significantly affecting NaV channel regulation of cell excitability.
On the use of causal criteria.

BACKGROUND Two recent accounts of the use of causal criteria make opposite claims: that criteria should be used more often to avoid bias in assessments of weak associations and, in direct contrast, that criteria are scientifically invalid. METHODS A recent review of the current practice of causal inference in epidemiology, as well as some more theoretical concerns, reveals errors in the two claims. RESULTS In practice, epidemiologists often use the criteria of consistency, strength, dose-response, and biological plausibility, but not often temporality, when judging weak associations. These criteria are used for causal assessments as well as for making public health recommendations. In theory, causal criteria can be used to either refute or predict causal effects. CONCLUSION Research on causal inference methodology should be encouraged, including research on underlying theory, methodology, and additional systematic descriptions of how causal inference is practised. Specific research questions include: to what extent can consensus be achieved on definitions and accompanying rules of inference for criteria, the relationship of meta-analysis to the criterion of consistency, and the interrelationships of criteria such as consistency, strength of association, and biological plausibility.
Information seeking and sharing in design teams

Information retrieval is generally considered an individual activity, and information retrieval research and tools reflect this view. As digitally mediated communication and information sharing increase, collaborative information retrieval merits greater attention and support. We describe field studies of information gathering in two design teams that had very different products, disciplinary backgrounds, and tools. We found striking similarities in the kinds of information they sought and the methods used to get it. For example, each team sought information about design constraints from external sources. A common strategy was to propose ideas and request feedback, rather than to ask directly for recommendations. Some differences in information seeking and sharing reflected differences in work contexts. Our findings suggest some ways that existing team collaboration tools could support collaborative information retrieval more effectively.
Laboratory evaluation of moisture damage and rutting potential of WMA foam mixes

This study was conducted to evaluate the rutting and moisture damage distresses which are the two major concerns in warm mix asphalt (WMA) performance. Two different methods were used to produce WMA mixes using foam bitumen technology. In the first method, the samples were prepared by transforming total bitumen of the mix into foam bitumen, whereas in the second method, two bitumens (soft and hard), the latter in foaming state, were added to the mix resulting in the same bitumen penetration in the final cured samples. The results of testing indicated that lowering the mixing and compaction temperatures resulted in increased moisture susceptibility and rutting potential of both WMA foam mixes. The Marshall quotient values and wheel tracking test results showed that the rutting potential of the WMA foam mixes were significantly greater than the control hot mix asphalt. The addition of hydrated lime powder was found to be effective in decreasing rutting and moisture susceptibility of the WMA foam mixes.
Benjamin Telicity , Atomicity and the Vendler Classification of Verbs

This paper develops the idea that the telicity is derived from atomicity. An atomic predicate is a singular predicate denoting a set of individuals which count as one individual on some scale of measurement, i.e. must be formally of the form λa. P(a) ∧ MEAS(a) = <1,U>. Atomic sets of this kind are derived via a maximalisation operation (Filip and Rothstein 2005, Rothstein 2007b). While in the nominal domain, there is a distinction between count predicates which denote sets of atoms and mass predicates which do not, the set of verbs contains only count predicates, i.e. basic verbal denotations at the V and VP level are of the form λe. P(e) ∧ MEAS(e) = <1,U>. However, there is a division between those verbal predicates for which a value for U is specified and those for which it is not. The former are telic and the latter are not. We see that the different Vendler classes contribute to determining the telicity of the VPs they head in different ways, depending on their inherent properties. We show that only atomic (i.e. singular) predicates are telic, and thus plural (distributive) predicates are necessarily atelic.
The Putt and the Pendulum: Ironic Effects of the Mental Control of Action

People sometimes find themselves making movement errors that represent the ironic opposite of what they intended to do. These studies examined this tendency in the case of putting a golf ball and swinging a handheld pendulum, and found that ironic errors were particularly likely when participants who were instructed to avoid them tried to do so under mental load or physical load. The idea that such errors may be prompted by a monitoring process that increases sensitivity to the most undesirable outcome of an intention was supported by the finding of a tendency for ironic errors to be more evident when participants were allowed to monitor their action visually than when they could not.
Adaptive local scanning: A comprehensive and intelligent method for fast scanning of indiscrete objects

A pixel-by-pixel scanning that is usually performed by a single point-like sensor or probe is being widely used in the applications such as scanning probe microscopy techniques. Typically their scanning time is several seconds to minutes long due to a raster scanning that needs to be conducted for capturing every single point on the surface of the sample area. To improve the scanning efficiency, recent research has been focused on investigating effective scanning patterns and methods. This work presents an adaptive local scanning method for efficiently sampling indiscrete objects like string-like one-piece connected objects under the microscopy. An initial scanning pattern is firstly investigated. Once the initial scanning reaches the object, an adaptive sinusoidal scanning method that can on-line adjust its scanning frequency and amplitude by predicting both the curvatures and the shape of the object is employed. The method also addresses scanning intersections and bifurcations associated with objects. Based on extensive implementation, it was validated that our method has high performance as it has high scanning efficiency and the scanned results match objects with high precision and high accuracy.
Circulating 25-Hydroxy Vitamin D Relative to Vitamin D Receptor Polymorphism after Vitamin D3 Supplementation in Breast Cancer Women: A Randomized, Double-Blind Controlled Clinical Trial

Objective: The influence of vitamin D receptor (VDR) genetic variation on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels [25(OH)D] after vitamin D3 supplementation remains unclear. We aimed to investigate changes of 25(OH)D in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, according to VDR genotype, after provision of vitamin D3 to breast cancer cases for a 2-month period. Methods: Participants were assigned to two treatment arms: placebo (n = 28) and vitamin D3 supplementation (n =28). The supplementation group received 50,000 IU of vitamin D every week for 2 months. Blood samples were collected at baseline and after intervention to measure serum 25(OH)D3. Genotypes were assessed for FokI, BsmI, ApaI, and TaqI polymorphisms. Results: After eight weeks supplementation, the intervention group showed a significant increase in the serum concentration of 25 (OH)D3 (28±2.6 to 39±3.5; p=0.004). Subjects were then classified into twelve subgroups according to different VDR genotypes. Subjects with ff/Ff, TT/Tt, and Bb genotypes had significantly higher increases in serum 25(OH)D compared to those with FF, tt, and BB/bb genotypes post-intervention. Serum vitamin D3 levels with the AA genotype were lower than with aa/Aa. No differences were found among other subgroups. Conclusion: Vitamin D3 supplementation increases serum 25(OH)D in women with breast cancer. Serum vitamin D3 in TT/Tt, ff/Ff, and Bb carriers was more responsive to vitamin D supplementation than in those with FF/ff and tt genotypes. Other subgroups might gain less from vitamin D3 supplementation.
On-line learning of language models with word error probability distributions

We are interested in the problem of learning stochastic language models on-line (without speech transcriptions) for adaptive speech recognition and understanding. We propose an algorithm to adapt to variations in the language model distributions based on speech input only and without its true transcription. The on-line probability estimate is defined. as a function of the prior and word error distributions. We show the effectiveness of word-lattice based error probability distributions in terms of receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves and word accuracy. We apply the new estimates P/sub adapt/(w) to the task of adapting on-line an initial large vocabulary trigram language model and show improvement in word accuracy with respect to the baseline speech recognizer.
Breeding losses of red grouse in Glen Esk (NE Scotland): comparative studies, 30 years on

Hatching success, brood survival and predation rates of red grouse chicks were examined at four sites in north-east Scotland over two years (1994-1995). Two of these sites have previously been the focus of a large-scale population study on grouse during the late 1950s enabling a comparison to be made. A total of 85 hens were radio-tracked and their breeding success monitored over the two years. Compared with studies undertaken in the 1950s, mean clutch size had risen from 7.2 to 8.6 eggs. Of the 76 nests monitored, 17 (22.4%) broods were lost either through egg or chick predation or by the adult being taken by a predator during incubation. Stoats appeared to be responsible for the largest amount of egg predation. There was a significant increase in predation levels, although hatching success was not significantly different from the 1950s. Chick mortality was highest within the first ten days, a similar result to that found in the 1950s. Overall, mean brood survival from hatching to 20 days was 55.1%. Possible reasons for larger clutch sizes, and the apparent increase in predation levels, are discussed.