Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Transcranial Measurement of Cerebral Microembolic Signals During Pulmonary Vein Isolation: A Comparison of Two Ablation Techniques

Background—Pulmonary vein isolation has increasingly been used to cure atrial fibrillation, but concerns have recently been raised that subclinical brain damage may occur because of microembolization during these procedures. We compared the occurrence of bubble formation seen on intracardiac echocardiography and the microembolic signals (MESs) detected by transcranial Doppler on the use of different ablation techniques and anticoagulation strategies. Methods and Results—This prospective study included 35 procedures in 34 consecutive patients (age, 52; SD, 12.8 years; female:male 9:25). Pulmonary vein isolation was performed with a cryoballoon and the conventional anticoagulation protocol (activated clotting time >250 s) in 10 procedures (group 1), with a multipolar duty-cycled radiofrequency pulmonary group 2), and with regime a pulmonary vein ablation catheter with an aggressive anticoagulation (activated clotting time >320 s) in 13 procedures (group 3). The mean total numbers of MESs detected during the procedures were 833.7 (SD, 727.4) in group 1, 3142.6 (SD, 1736.4) in group 2, and 2204.6 (SD, 1078.1) in group 3 (P=0.0005). MESs were detected mostly during energy delivery in the pulmonary vein ablation catheter groups, whereas a relatively even distribution of emboli formation was seen during cryoballoon ablations. A significant correlation was found in all groups between the degree of bubble formation on intracardiac echocardiography and the number of MESs (P=0.0000). Conclusions—Duty-cycled radiofrequency ablation is associated with significantly more MESs, even when more aggressive anticoagulation is applied. With both techniques most of these microemboli are gaseous in nature.
Congregations in America

Congregations in America. By Mark Chaves. Cambridge, Mass. : Harvard University Press, 2004. 262 pp. $29.95 (cloth). Much of American congregational life goes unseen, or is visible only through the blurry lens of region or the reflection of denomination. In Congregations in America, Mark Chaves offers description and analysis using sociology and the results of the 1998 National Congregations Study (NCS), the first nationally representative survey of U.S. congregations. A specialist in religious culture, Chaves enhances the NCS picture with case study and research results from the last twenty years. In a conversation of congregations based on personal perspectives, Chaves utters the word en masse-and from there unfolds the great breadth of American congregational life. Chaves presents the results in clear prose for the non-specialist. About size and attendance, he writes: "most congregations are small, but most people are associated with large congregations" (p. 19). Attendance has declined since the 1960s, though more Americans engage in congregation-based activity than any other modern industrialized society. More people lune donated more money to congregations, as much as a 63 percent increase between 1968 and 1998. What are congregations at their core? Congregations, writes Chaves, "mainly traffic in ritual, knowledge, and beauty through the cultural activities of worship, education, and the arts; they do not mainly pursue charity or justice through social services or politics" (p. 14). Though perceptions may be that congregations ofier substantial social services and provide an army of volunteers, Chaves says, in fact congregations are best at emergency relief involving small numbers of volunteers. Fewer than 10 percent of all congregations have programs that address durable social issues, such as healthcare, education, domestic violence, or substance abuse. Lines of distinction and similarity emerge, with terms like liberal and evangelical used concretely with reference to quantifiable traits. Points of similarity often bring to light strange bedfellows, like congregations that are joined by worship style across denominational lines. Social class and education trump denominational affiliation, and have been positively correlated with worship style. Congregational leaders will better understand their contexts in light of the National Congregation Surveys many points of comparison. Strategic planners and those who work with groups of congregations have much to learn from this book and from the discourse Chaves's method makes possible. The broad vistas of a national survey are obtained with general traits, losing some warmth and color along the way. …
Exploiting Multiple Levels of Parallelism in Sparse Matrix-Matrix Multiplication

Sparse matrix-matrix multiplication (or SpGEMM) is a key primitive for many high-performance graph algorithms as well as for some linear solvers, such as algebraic multigrid. The scaling of existing parallel implementations of SpGEMM is heavily bound by communication. Even though 3D (or 2.5D) algorithms have been proposed and theoretically analyzed in the flat MPI model on Erdos-Renyi matrices, those algorithms had not been implemented in practice and their complexities had not been analyzed for the general case. In this work, we present the first ever implementation of the 3D SpGEMM formulation that also exploits multiple (intra-node and inter-node) levels of parallelism, achieving significant speedups over the state-of-the-art publicly available codes at all levels of concurrencies. We extensively evaluate our implementation and identify bottlenecks that should be subject to further research.
Sale of raw milk in northern Italy: food safety implications and comparison of different analytical methodologies for detection of foodborne pathogens.

The safety of raw milk sold in Northern Italy was investigated in relation to hygiene quality parameters and presence of Salmonella spp. , Listeria monocytogenes, thermotolerant Campylobacter, and Verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157:H7. The performance of different analytical methods used-official culture method (ISO), modified Bacteriological Analytical Manual cultural method (mBAM), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-was evaluated. The presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) was investigated only by PCR. All samples met regulations for alkaline phosphatase and inhibitory substance, while 18% and 44.8% of samples collected from vending machines had, respectively, somatic cell count (SCC) >300,000/mL and total bacterial count (TBC) >50,000 CFU/mL. The correlation between hygienic quality parameters in samples collected from bulk tank and vending machines showed a significant increase of TBC in vending machines meaning that raw milk was mishandled during distribution and sale. All pathogens investigated were detected in raw milk sold at vending machines; a total of five samples (5%) had at least one pathogen, of which two were detected by PCR and three by mBAM. None of the samples was positive by cultural ISO methods. Even if the comparison of analytical methods showed that none performs significantly better than the others, testing a higher volume of milk (25 versus 210 mL) affects significantly the detection rate of pathogens. Three samples (3%) were positive for Map, suggesting that raw milk is a significant source of Map exposure for consumers. The observed TBC increase and the detection of several pathogenic bacteria pose questions on the safety of raw milk; the use of ISO seems inefficient in detecting a low contamination level of pathogens in milk and consequently not appropriate as official method for testing. In order to ensure consumer's safety, a new approach for the raw milk chain is required.
EVALUATION OF CAFFEINE CONSUMPTION AND EFFECT DURING PREGNANCY AMONG WOMEN IN THE UAE

Objective: To investigate the relationship between caffeine consumption among pregnant women in the UAE and spontaneous abortion and stillbirth. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional survey has been conducted on 97 pregnant ladies randomly selected from Al Ain city in the UAE. Only pregnant women with caffeine intake were included in the study. Results: The results showed that: 61.9% of women consumed coffee, 34% consumed tea, and 4.1% consumed soft drinks during pregnancy. 43% of women who consumed caffeine during pregnancy had at least one spontaneous abortion, 10.3% suffered from stillbirth and 17.5% gave birth to underweight babies. Cross tabulation between spontaneous abortion and caffeine consumption did not show high significance using Pearson Chi-Square for correlation (p-value 0.103), The likelihood ratio shows significant results (p-value 0.039). Conclusion: Providing comprehensive counselling for pregnant women is essential in order to prevent the negative impact of caffeine consumption. Keywords: Caffeine, Pregnant, Abortion, Miscarriage
Head and neck cancer--emotional management.

The complete care of a patient with head and neck cancer should attend to the emotional as well as the physical aspects of the disease; usually the physical component of the disease is emphasized, while care of the emotional response of the patient and family is rarely addressed. There is no single, caring way to respond or cope with the emotional aspects of this disease. Nonetheless, it should be underscored that communication between the providers of health care (i.e., physician, nurse, aid, therapist, etc.) and the patient and family should be maintained during all phases of care. This article describes an approach to providing emotional support to cancer patients and their families during the phases of initial diagnosis and treatment, posttherapy, rehabilitation, recurrence, dying, and death. The emotional response of the health care provider in these circumstances is also addressed.
Mechanistic in vitro studies confirm that inhibition of the renal apical efflux transporter multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) 1, and not altered absorption, underlies the increased metformin exposure observed in clinical interactions with cimetidine, trimethoprim or pyrimethamine

Metformin is a common co‐medication for many diseases and the victim of clinical drug‐drug interactions (DDIs) perpetrated by cimetidine, trimethoprim and pyrimethamine, resulting in decreased active renal clearance due to inhibition of organic cation transport proteins and increased plasma exposure of metformin. To understand whether area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) increases relate to absorption, in vitro inhibitory potencies of these drugs against metformin transport by human organic cation transporter (OCT) 1, and the apical to basolateral absorptive permeability of metformin across Caco‐2 cells in the presence of therapeutic intestinal concentrations of cimetidine, trimethoprim or pyrimethamine, were determined. Whilst all inhibited OCT1, none enhanced metformin's absorptive permeability (~0.5 × 10−6 cm/sec) suggesting that DDI AUC changes are not related to absorption. Subsequently, to understand whether inhibition of renal transporters are responsible for AUC increases, in vitro inhibitory potencies against metformin transport by human OCT2, multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) 1 and MATE2‐K were determined. Ensuing IC50 values were incorporated into mechanistic static equations, alongside unbound maximal plasma concentration and transporter fraction excreted values, in order to calculate theoretical increases in metformin AUC due to inhibition by cimetidine, trimethoprim or pyrimethamine. Calculated theoretical fold‐increases in metformin exposure confirmed solitary inhibition of renal MATE1 to be the likely mechanism underlying the observed exposure changes in clinical DDIs. Interestingly, clinically observed increases in metformin AUC were predicted more closely when the renal transporter fraction excreted value derived from oral metformin administration, rather than intravenous, was utilized in theoretical calculations, likely reflecting the “flip‐flop” pharmacokinetic profile of the drug.
Imaging deductive reasoning and the new paradigm

There has been a great expansion of research into human reasoning at all of Marr’s explanatory levels. There is a tendency for this work to progress within a level largely ignoring the others which can lead to slippage between levels (Chater et al., 2003). It is argued that recent brain imaging research on deductive reasoning—implementational level—has largely ignored the new paradigm in reasoning—computational level (Over, 2009). Consequently, recent imaging results are reviewed with the focus on how they relate to the new paradigm. The imaging results are drawn primarily from a recent meta-analysis by Prado et al. (2011) but further imaging results are also reviewed where relevant. Three main observations are made. First, the main function of the core brain region identified is most likely elaborative, defeasible reasoning not deductive reasoning. Second, the subtraction methodology and the meta-analytic approach may remove all traces of content specific System 1 processes thought to underpin much human reasoning. Third, interpreting the function of the brain regions activated by a task depends on theories of the function that a task engages. When there are multiple interpretations of that function, interpreting what an active brain region is doing is not clear cut. It is concluded that there is a need to more tightly connect brain activation to function, which could be achieved using formalized computational level models and a parametric variation approach.
Automated Segmentation of Hippocampal Subfields in Drug-Naïve Patients with Alzheimer Disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although a few automated hippocampal subfield segmentation methods have been developed, there is no study on the effects of the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease on the hippocampal subfield volume with in vivo MR imaging. The aim of this study was to investigate hippocampal subfield volume differences between drug-naïve subjects with AD and healthy elderly controls by using an automated hippocampal subfield segmentation technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one drug-naïve subjects with AD and 33 group-matched healthy control subjects underwent 3T MR imaging, and hippocampal subfield volume was measured and compared between the groups. RESULTS: Subjects with AD had significantly smaller volumes of the presubiculum, subiculum, CA2–3, and CA4 DG compared with healthy subjects (uncorrected, P < .001). In addition, we found significant positive correlations between the presubiculum and the subicular volumes and the MMSE-K and the CERAD-K verbal delayed recall scores in the AD group. CONCLUSIONS: We are unaware of previous imaging studies of automated hippocampal subfield segmentation in AD. These structural changes in the hippocampal presubiculum, subiculum, and CA2–3 might be at the core of underlying neurobiologic mechanisms of hippocampal dysfunction and their relevance to verbal delayed recall impairments in AD.
Unimodular integer circulants

We study families of integer circulant matrices and methods for determining which are unimodular. This problem arises in the study of cyclically presented groups, and leads to the following problem concerning polynomials with integer coefficients: given a polynomial f(x) is an element of Z[x], determine all those n is an element of N such that Res(f(x), x(n) - 1) = +/-1. In this paper we describe methods for resolving this problem, including a method based on the use of Strassman's Theorem on p-adic power series, which are effective in many cases. The methods are illustrated with examples arising in the study of cyclically presented groups and further examples which illustrate the strengths and weaknesses of the methods for polynomials of higher degree.
Expected Profiles and Temporal Stability of The LOOK

Expected Profiles and Temporal Stability of The LOOK Sierra Marie Baird Department of Counseling Psychology and Special Education, BYU Doctor of Philosophy The LOOK is an iOS based iPad app designed to measure viewing time as an estimate of sexual interest. Participants used a 7-point Likert scale to rate 154 images based on sexual attractiveness. The images belonged to 14 differentiated gender and age categories from infants to elderly adults. Before rating each image participants were asked to complete an additional task of locating and touching a small dot found in one of the four corners of the screen. This was included to make sure that participants we attending to each image, and to add another level of information to the results. The purpose of this study was to establish the expected reference group viewing time expected patterns and temporal stability using the LOOK, for nonpedophilic, exclusively heterosexual, college-age males and females. 56 male and 75 female undergraduate students from BYU psychology classes participated. The expected patterns were established and are similar to previously established sexual attraction patterns with slight difference due to the additional categories in the LOOK. The results are broken up into three different sections: dot time (the time from when the image appears to when the dot is touched), rate time (the time from when the dot is touched to when the image is rated), and total time (the combined dot and rate time). Results of the analysis indicate that dot time stability is 96.43% for males and 100% for females. Rate time stability is 64.29% for males, and 73.33% for females. And the total temporal stability is 98.21% for males and 100% for females.
Autobiographical memory after acute stress in healthy young men

Autobiographical memories have been found to be less specific after hydrocortisone administration in healthy men, resembling memory deficits in, for example, depression. This is the first study to investigate the effects of stress-induced elevated cortisol levels on autobiographic memory specificity and experience in healthy young men. Autobiographical memories were elicited by neutral and negative cue words, with instructions to recall either recent or remote memories. No effect of psychosocial stress was found on memory specificity or experience, but cortisol increases tended to be related to less specific, recent memories elicited by neutral cue words, especially when participants were physically aroused during memory retrieval. These results indicate that autobiographical memories are fairly resistant to an acute stressor in healthy young men, but that endogenous cortisol increases might be related to autobiographical memory retrieval. More research into the relation between endogenous cortisol increases and autobiographic memory retrieval is needed, especially in stress-related disorders.
Urinary, Circulating, and Tissue Biomonitoring Studies Indicate Widespread Exposure to Bisphenol A

Background Bisphenol A (BPA) is one of the highest-volume chemicals produced worldwide, and human exposure to BPA is thought to be ubiquitous. Thus, there are concerns that the amount of BPA to which humans are exposed may cause adverse health effects. Importantly, results from a large number of biomonitoring studies are at odds with the results from two toxicokinetic studies. Objective We examined several possibilities for why biomonitoring and toxicokinetic studies could come to seemingly conflicting conclusions. Data sources We examined > 80 published human biomonitoring studies that measured BPA concentrations in human tissues, urine, blood, and other fluids, along with two toxicokinetic studies of human BPA metabolism. Data extraction and synthesis The > 80 biomonitoring studies examined included measurements in thousands of individuals from several different countries, and these studies overwhelmingly detected BPA in individual adults, adolescents, and children. Unconjugated BPA was routinely detected in blood (in the nanograms per milliliter range), and conjugated BPA was routinely detected in the vast majority of urine samples (also in the nanograms per milliliter range). In stark contrast, toxicokinetic studies proposed that humans are not internally exposed to BPA. Some regulatory agencies have relied solely on these toxicokinetic models in their risk assessments. Conclusions Available data from biomonitoring studies clearly indicate that the general population is exposed to BPA and is at risk from internal exposure to unconjugated BPA. The two toxicokinetic studies that suggested human BPA exposure is negligible have significant deficiencies, are directly contradicted by hypothesis-driven studies, and are therefore not reliable for risk assessment purposes.
Tweets, Texts, and Tablets

Students with behavior problems often lack the self-regulation skills necessary for success. One strategy shown to improve these skills is self-monitoring. Traditionally, self-monitoring has been done using paper and pencil, with some sort of prompt to complete the procedures. Prompts have involved teacher cues as well as technology. Current innovation has resulted in using technology to both prompt and record self-monitored behaviors. This column explores the literature on technology-based self-monitoring, describes steps in the self-monitoring process with considerations for incorporating technology, and offers a classroom example of a student with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder using a self-monitoring application (i.e., app) on an iPad to improve behavior.
Alberto Mammalian Neuromuscular Junctions Activity-Dependent Synaptic Competition

Int. Union Physiol. Sci./Am.Physiol. Soc. ESSN: 1548-9221. Visit our website at http://www.the-aps.org/. December by the American Physiological Society, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda MD 20814-3991. © 2004 physiological developments. It is published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October, and (formerly published as News in Physiological Science) publishes brief review articles on major Physiology by gest on N ovem er 4, 2016 http://physioline.physiology. org/ D ow nladed fom
A study of quality of life among perimenopausal women in selected coastal areas of Karnataka, India

Background: To study the menopause related symptoms affecting the quality of life (QOL) of perimenopausal women in order to understand the prevalence and plan for the interventions. Materials and Methods: Two hundred and nine women were evaluated for perimenopausal symptoms using a 29 item MENQOL questionnaire. Results: The physical and psychosocial symptoms were found to be more prevalent than the vasomotor and sexual symptoms. Conclusion: Perimenopausal symptoms widely vary in women populations, accurate recording and understanding of which is essential to plan effective interventions to improve the QOL.
easyLINKAGE: a PERL script for easy and automated two-/multi-point linkage analyses

UNLABELLED We have generated the program easyLINKAGE that combines automated setup and performance of linkage analyses and simulation under an easy to handle graphical user interface for Microsoft Windows 2000/XP and standard UNIX systems. The program package supports two-point linkage analyses (FastLink v4.1 and SPLink v1.09), multi-point linkage analyses [GENEHUNTER v2.1, GENEHUNTER-PLUS with the emendation by Kong and Cox v1.2 (allele sharing modelling)] and the simulation package SLINK v2.65, and provides genome-wide as well as chromosomal postscript plots of LOD scores, NPL scores, P-values and other parameters. AVAILABILITY http://www.uni-wuerzburg.de/nephrologie/molecular_genetics/molecular_genetics. htm SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Supplementary information is available on the website.