Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activation of β3-Adrenoceptor Promotes Rapid Pacing-Induced Atrial Electrical Remodeling in Rabbits

Cardiac electrophysiological function is under the regulatory control of the sympathetic nervous system. In addition to classical β-adrenoceptors (β-AR, including β1- and β2- subtypes), β3-AR is also expressed in human heart and shows its distinctive functions. This study is aimed to elucidate the role of β3-AR in the regulation of atrial fibrillation (AF), especially its role in rapid pacing-induced atrial electrical remodeling in rabbits. The rapid atrial pacing model was established by embedding electrodes in the right atrium pacing at a speed of 600 beats per minute. The protein level of β3-AR in the atria was found significantly upregulated by western blot. The atrial effective refractory period (AERP) and its rate adaptation were decreased after pacing which were further shortened by BRL37344, a selective β3-AR agonist, leading to the increase of AF inducibility and duration. Similarly, β3-AR activation induced time-dependent shortening of action potential duration (APD), together with decrease of L-type calcium current (ICa,L) and increase of inward rectifier potassium current (IK1) and transient outward potassium current (Ito) in rapid pacing atrial myocytes. Meanwhile, all the effects were abolished by specific β3-AR antagonist, SR59230A. In summary, our study represents that activation of β3-AR promotes the atrial electrical remodeling process by altering the balance of ion channels in atrial myocytes, which provides new insights into the pharmacological role of β3-AR in heart diseases.
Tumor suppressor function of Liver kinase B1 (Lkb1) is linked to regulation of epithelial integrity

Although loss of epithelial integrity is a hallmark of advanced cancer, it remains poorly understood whether genetic alterations corrupting this integrity causally facilitate tumorigenesis. We show that conditional deletion of tumor suppressor gene Lkb1 (Par-4) in the mammary gland compromises epithelial integrity manifested by mislocalization of cell polarity markers, lateralization of tight junctions, deterioration of desmosomes and basement membrane (BM), and hyperbranching of the mammary ductal tree. We identify the desmosomal BM remodelling serine protease Hepsin as a key factor mediating Lkb1 loss-induced structural alterations in mammary epithelium and BM fragmentation. Although loss of Lkb1 alone does not promote mammary tumorigenesis, combination of Lkb1 deficiency with oncogenic c-Myc leads to dramatic acceleration in tumor formation. The results coupling Lkb1 loss-mediated epithelial integrity defects to mislocalization of serine protease Hepsin and to oncogenic synergy with c-Myc imply that Lkb1 loss facilitates oncogenic proliferation by releasing epithelial cells from structural BM boundaries.
Hidden Subgroup States are Almost Orthogonal

It is well known that quantum computers can efficiently find a hidden subgroup $H$ of a finite Abelian group $G$. This implies that after only a polynomial (in $\log |G|$) number of calls to the oracle function, the states corresponding to different candidate subgroups have exponentially small inner product. We show that this is true for noncommutative groups also. We present a quantum algorithm which identifies a hidden subgroup of an arbitrary finite group $G$ in only a linear (in $\log |G|$) number of calls to the oracle function. This is exponentially better than the best classical algorithm. However our quantum algorithm requires an exponential amount of time, as in the classical case.
Isolation and recognition of dermatophytes on a new medium (DTM).

A new culture medium (DTM) has been devised for the simplified diagnosis of dermatophytosis. Results can be evaluated by a color change in the medium without detailed knowledge of colony morphology. Although microscopic features are required for positive botanical identification, the nonmycologist can now recognize a griseofulvin-sensitive infection quite well by noting the change of the color of the agar from yellow to red. The medium is superior to currently available commercial preparations in eliminating bacterial contamination, reducing fungal contaminants, and allowing a higher recovery rate of dermatophytic fungi and Candida albicans.
Executing queries over schemaless RDF databases

Recent advances in Linked Data Management and the Semantic Web have led to a rapid increase in both the quantity as well as the variety of Web applications that rely on the SPARQL interface to query RDF data. Thus, RDF data management systems are increasingly exposed to workloads that are far more diverse and dynamic than what these systems were designed to handle. The problem is that existing systems rely on a workload-oblivious physical representation that has a fixed schema, which is not suitable for diverse and dynamic workloads. To address these issues, we propose a physical representation that is schemaless. The resulting flexibility enables an RDF dataset to be clustered based purely on the workload, which is key to achieving good performance through optimized I/O and cache utilization. Consequently, given a workload, we develop techniques to compute a good clustering of the database. We also design a new query evaluation model, namely, schemaless-evaluation that leverages this workload-aware clustering of the database whereby, with high probability, each tuple in the result set of a query is expected to be contained in at most one cluster. Our query evaluation model exploits this property to achieve better performance while ensuring fast generation of query plans without being hindered by the lack of a fixed physical schema.
Cognitive Processing in Phobias

A programme of research is described which investigates the cognitive processing of phobic stimuli. Phobics show good perceptual “pick-up” of phobic words on a version of the Stroop test. However, their encoding appears to be poor, as indexed by recognition memory for phobic stimuli. Consistent with this, cognitive representations of phobic stimuli are poorly elaborated and differentiated. Brief desensitization was found to have stronger effects on perceptual and encoding phenomena than on cognitive representations. Finally, spider phobics were found to have poor recall of phobic words. This contrasts with the opposite phenomenon that has been reported for agrophobics and depressives.
Comparison of bieimpedance spectroscopy and mu It if requency biei m pedance analysis for the assessment of extracellular and total body water in surgical patients

1. Measurements of extracellular and total body water provide useful information on the nutritional status of surgical patients and may be estimated from whole-body bio-impedance measurements at different frequencies. 2. Resistance and reactance were measured at 50 frequencies from 5kHz to 1MHz in 29 surgical patients (17 males, 12 females) with a wide range of extracellular to total body water ratios. 3. A fit to the spectrum of reactance versus resistance data gave predicted resistances a t frequencies zero and infinity. Values of extracellular and total body water determined by this bio-impedance spectroscopy technique were regressed against values obtained from radioisotope dilution. The standard errors of the estimate were 1.8931 and 3.2591 respectively. 4. Resistance indices ( height2/resistance) at selected frequencies gave the highest correlations with extracellular and total body water at 5kHz and 2OOkHz respectively, and prediction equations derived from multiple stepwise regressions also showed these to be the optimum frequencies. The standard errors of the estimate for this multi-frequency bio-impedance analysis method were 1.9371 and 2.6061 for extracellular and total body water respectively. 5. To assess the ability of the two methods to measure changes in extracellular and total body water, reproducibility was assessed from repeat measurements 10min apart in a subgroup of 15 patients. Bio-impedance spectroscopy gave mean coefficients of variation for extracellular and total body water of 0.9% and 3.0% respectively. For multifrequency bio-impedance analysis the corresponding coefficients of variation were 0.9% and 0.6%. 6. It is concluded that a simple imbedance analyser operating at only two frequencies compares favourably with the more complex spectroscopy technique for the determination of extracellular and total body water in surgical patients. INTRODUCTION
Typical Phases of Transformative Learning

Empirical models of transformative learning offer important insights into the core characteristics of this concept. Whereas previous analyses were limited to specific social groups or topical terrains, this article empirically typifies the phases of transformative learning on the basis of a comparative analysis of various social groups and topical terrains. In contrast to the models proposed by Mezirow and others, the typology of five phases used in the present article underpins the incidental character of the beginning of transformative learning and accords a different meaning to crises and dilemmas—and to reflection. These empirical results point to the practical basis of transformative learning and necessitate revisions of its theory.
Evaluation of the Consonant Vowel Consonant (CVC) Test as an Assessment and Screening Instrument for Mild Cognitive Impairment

Objective: Traditional word learning tasks have been criticised for being affected by ceiling effects. The Consonant Vowel Consonant (CVC) test is a non-word verbal learning task designed to be more difficult and therefore have a lower risk of ceiling effects.Method: The current study examines the psychometric properties of the CVC in 404 middle-aged persons and evaluates it as a screening instrument for mild cognitive impairment by comparing it to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Differences between currently depressed and non-depressed participants were also examined.Results: CVC characteristics are similar to traditional verbal memory tasks but with reduced likelihood of a ceiling effect. Using the standard cut-off on the MoCA as an indication of mild cognitive impairment, the CVC performed only moderately well in predicting this. Depressed participants scored significantly lower on the CVC compared with non-depressed individuals.Conclusions: The CVC may be similar in psychometric properties to the traditional word learning tests but with a higher ceiling. Scores are lower in depression.
Surgical anatomy of the sternoclavicular joint: a qualitative and quantitative anatomical study.

BACKGROUND The quantitative anatomical relationships of the main ligamentous, tendinous, and osseous structures of the sternoclavicular joint have not been widely investigated. The purpose of this study was to provide a quantitative description of the sternoclavicular joint in relation to relevant surgical landmarks. METHODS We dissected eleven nonpaired, fresh-frozen cadaveric sternoclavicular joints from four men and seven women (mean age at death, fifty-three years; range, thirty-three to sixty-four years) and measured the ligaments, musculature, and osseous landmarks with use of a three-dimensional coordinate-measuring device. RESULTS The clavicular pectoralis ridge, located at the 9:30 clock-face position on a right clavicle, served as a reliable osseous landmark for reference to the soft-tissue attachments around the sternoclavicular joint. The costoclavicular ligament was the largest ligament of the sternoclavicular joint, with 80% greater footprint area than that of the posterior sternoclavicular ligament. Articular cartilage covered 67% of the medial end of the clavicle and was located anteroinferiorly. The sternohyoid muscle inserted directly over the posterior sternoclavicular joint and the medial end of the clavicle, whereas the sternothyroid muscle inserted 9.5 mm inferior to the posterior-superior articular margin of the manubrium and coursed 19.8 mm laterally along the first rib. An avascular plane that can serve as a "safe zone" for posterior dissection was observed in each specimen, posterior to the sternoclavicular joint and anterior to the sternohyoid and sternothyroid muscles. CONCLUSIONS The clavicular pectoralis ridge can be used as an intraoperative guide for clavicle orientation and tunnel placement in sternoclavicular ligament reconstruction. Sternoclavicular joint resection arthroplasty should avoid injuring the costoclavicular ligament, which is the largest sternoclavicular joint ligament. Resection of only the anteroinferior aspect of the medial end of the clavicle may provide adequate decompression while preserving the stability of the clavicle. The location of the sternohyoid and sternothyroid musculotendinous insertions appear to provide a "safe zone" for posterior clavicle and manubrial dissection.
A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between Spirituality and Quality of Life

Abstract.The relationship between spirituality and various dimensions of health and quality of life has been extensively examined during the past decade. Though several literature reviews have been conducted in an attempt to synthesize research findings pertaining to the relationship between spirituality and health, a meta-analysis of studies examining spirituality in relation to quality of life has not been identified. The present study was designed to: (a) determine whether there is empirical support for a relationship between spirituality and quality of life, (b) provide an estimate of the strength of this relationship, and (c) examine potential moderating variables affecting this relationship. The research design followed accepted methods for quantitative meta-synthesis. Potential moderating effects of several methodological differences and sample characteristics were examined using meta-analytic approaches with multivariate linear regression and analysis of variance. An extensive multidisciplinary literature search resulted in 3,040 published reports that were manually screened according to pre-established selection criteria. Subsequent to the selection process, 62 primary effect sizes from 51 studies were included in the final analysis. A random effects model of the bivariate correlation between spirituality and quality of life resulted in a moderate effect size (r= 0.34, 95% CI: 0.28–0.40), thereby providing support for the theoretical framework underlying the study wherein spirituality was depicted as a unique concept that stands in relationship to quality of life. Subsequent regression analyses indicated that differences among operational definitions of spirituality and quality of life were associated with the variability in estimates of the magnitude of the relationship (R2 = 0.27). Other potential moderators, such as age, gender, ethnicity, religious affiliation and sampling method were examined but the findings pertaining to these variables were inconclusive because of limitations associated with the sample of primary studies. The implications of this study are mostly theoretical in nature and raise questions about the commonly assumed multidimensional conceptualization of quality of life.
Investigation of Dissolution Enhancement of Itraconazole by Solid Dispersion in Superdisintegrants

Solid dispersions of itraconazole (ITR) in lactose, microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), and three superdisintegrants (Primogel, Kollidon CL, and Ac-Di-Sol) and their formulation into tablets were investigated with an objective of enhancing the dissolution rate of ITR from tablet formulations. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used to characterize the dispersions. A marked enhancement in the dissolution rate of ITR was observed with all the excipients. The order for the excipients to enhance the dissolution rate was Ac-Di-Sol > Kollidon CL > Primogel > MCC > lactose. Solid dispersions in superdisintegrants gave much higher rates of dissolution than the dispersions in other excipients. Ac-Di-Sol gave the most improvement (28-fold) in the dissolution rate of ITR at a 1:1 drug: excipient ratio. Solid dispersions in superdisintegrants could be formulated into tablets. These tablets, apart from fulfilling all official and other specifications, exhibited higher rates of dissolution and dissolution efficiency (DE) values. XRD indicated the presence of ITR in amorphous form in the dispersions. DSC indicated a weak interaction between ITR and the excipients. Micronization and conversion of the drug into the amorphous form and the fast disintegrating and dispersing action of the superdisintegrants contribute to the enhancement of the dissolution rate of ITR from its solid dispersions in superdisintegrants and their corresponding tablet formulations.
Assessment of Sexual Violence and Associated Factors among High School Students in Harari Regional State, Harar Town, Eastern Ethiopia

Background: Sexual violence is any sexual act that is perpetrated against someone's willingness including a completed and or attempt nonconsensual, abusive sex act. This study aimed to determine sexual violence and associated factors among high school students in Harar town, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among youth in high school students. Self administered questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data from randomly selected 432 students and four focus group discussions were held with students by using interview guide semi-structured questionnaire to collect qualitative data. Data were entered to SPSS version 16.0 was used to analyze. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were computed to quantify sexual violence and associated factors. Statistical association was measured 95% confidence interval and adjusted odd ratio. Results: Sexual violence among in school adolescents were 25%. Students used addictive drugs like alcohol (18%), chat and shish (7.2%) as very important contributing factors for sexual violence’s. Use of physical force (15%), false promise (43%) and use of power (7.2%) reported contributing factors. Females dressing style, their act, peer pressure, revenge and males emotionality identified as contributing factors for sexual violence. Sexual violence had different consequences like abortion (32.2%), vaginal discharge (28.6%), genital trauma (25%), and unwanted pregnancy (14.2%). Conclusion: Sexual violence was common problem of in-school adolescents in Harar town. Female students’ behavior also contributed for their sexual violence. Sexual and reproductive health issue information should be provided to create awareness about reproductive rights and life skill.
Is it Better to be a Boy? A Disaggregated Outlay Equivalent Analysis of Gender Bias in Papua New Guinea

The demographic evidence of gender bias in many countries has provided an impetus for finding ways to study the status of women in developing countries. Because of the lack of accurate intra-household data, Deaton [1989] introduced a method for using household expenditure data to infer discrimination in the allocation of goods between boys and girls. Few studies of discrimination using the method, however, have detected bias even though alternative indicators suggest it is a serious problem. In this paper, we study the case of Papua New Guinea, a country in which there are many indicators of severe gender bias. Discrimination in the allocation of goods between boys and girls within households in Papua New Guinea is examined using Deaton's outlay-equivalent ratio method. Adding a boy to the household reduces expenditure on adult goods by as much as would a nine-tenths reduction in total outlay per member, but girls have no effect on adult goods expenditure. The hypothesis of Haddad and Reardon [1993] that gender bias is inversely related to the importance of female labour in agricultural production is not supported. Sensitivity analysis shows that bias in rural areas occurs equally regardless of the age of the household head, while bias against girls may be less in regions of the country that have ethnic groups which practice matrilineal descent.
Emotionally-driven behaviours among undergraduate women: A preliminary study

here is considerable evidence that a number of apparently impulsive or addictive behaviours (e.g., self - harm, alcohol or substance misuse) can be triggered by negatively valenced affective states, and that the behaviours serve the f unction of blocking awareness of intolerable emotions. However, the evidence base for this pattern of emotionally - driven blocking behaviours is relatively patchy, because there has been little systematic investigation of the emotions that trigger different blocking behaviours. In this preliminary study of emotionally - driven blocking behaviours, 53 non - clinical women completed a self - report measure of the link between specific affective states (anger, anxiety, boredom, depression, loneliness) and different b locking behaviours (smoking; aggression; drinking alcohol; overeating; compulsive spending; stealing; self - harm; ‘risky’ sexual behaviour). The results indicate a relatively specific pattern of association between different emotions and blocking behaviours . In addition, that linkage was stronger when the individual had a higher level of behavioural impulsivity, particularly where the emotion was loneliness or anger. These findings suggest that individuals who display such behaviours might benefit from skill s training for adaptive affect regulation, although further research is needed to determine the generalizability of these results to broader clinical and non - clinical populations.
Improved Distances to Type Ia Supernovae with Multicolor Light-Curve Shapes: MLCS2k2

We present an updated version of the multicolor light-curve shape method to measure distances to Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia), incorporating new procedures for K-correction and extinction corrections. We also develop a simple model to disentangle intrinsic color variations and reddening by dust and expand the method to incorporate U-band light curves and to more easily accommodate prior constraints on any of the model parameters. We apply this method to 133 nearby SNe Ia, including 95 objects in the Hubble flow (cz ≥ 2500 km s-1), which give an intrinsic dispersion of less than 7% in distance. The Hubble flow sample, which is of critical importance to all cosmological uses of SNe Ia, is the largest ever presented with homogeneous distances. We find that the Hubble flow SNe with H0dSN ≥ 7400 km s-1 yield an expansion rate that is 6.5% ± 1.8% lower than the rate determined from SNe within that distance, and this can have a large effect on measurements of the dark energy equation of state with SNe Ia. Peculiar velocities of SN Ia host galaxies in the rest frame of the Local Group are consistent with the dipole measured in the cosmic microwave background. Direct fits of SNe Ia that are significantly reddened by dust in their host galaxies suggest that their mean extinction law may be described by RV ≃ 2.7, but optical colors alone provide weak constraints on RV.