Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Serum glycated hemoglobin level as a predictor of atrial fibrillation: A systematic review with meta-analysis and meta-regression

Background and Aim Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) is a long-term measure of glucose control. Although recent studies demonstrated a potential association between HbA1c levels and the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), the results have been inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the utility of HbA1c level in predicting AF. Methods PubMed and the Cochrane Library databases were searched for relevant studies up to March 2016. Prospective cohort studies and retrospective case-control studies were included. Relative risk (RR) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of AF development were determined for different HbA1c levels. The random effect model was conducted according to the test of heterogeneity among studies. Subgroup analyses and meta-regression models were carried out to identify potential sources of heterogeneity. Results Eight prospective cohort studies with 102,006 participants and 6 retrospective case-control studies with 57,669 patients were finally included in the meta-analysis. In the primary meta-analysis, HbA1c levels were not associated with an increased risk of AF whether as a continuous (RR, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.96–1.18) or categorical variable (RR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.83–1.18). Nevertheless, prospective studies showed about 10% increased risk of AF with elevated HbA1c levels both as a continuous (RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.06–1.16) and as a categorical variable (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.00–1.18). In subgroup analyses, pooled results from studies with longer follow-up durations, published after 2012, aged < 63 years, with exclusion of cardiac surgery patients demonstrated an increased risk of AF for every 1% increase in HbA1c levels, while studies conducted in the United States with longer follow-up (more than 96 months), larger sample size and higher quality score (≥6) showed an increased risk of AF for higher HbA1c level as a categorical variable. Conclusions Elevated serum HbA1c levels may be associated with an increased risk of AF, but further data are needed. Serum HbA1c levels might be considered as a potential biomarker for prediction of AF.
Coupled temperature and strain rate effects on non-linear mechanical behaviour of amorphous polymers : Experimental characterisation and modelling of strain rate-temperature superposition

The present PhD thesis proposes a simplified and accurate strategy for characterising and modelling the mechanical behaviour of amorphous polymers from the quasi-fluid state up to the solid state.The study was carried out on PMMAs with different molar masses and crosslinking degree.First, we addressed the mechanical behaviour in the linear viscoelastic domain using DMTA and rheological tests. Results showed that increasing the molar mas and crosslinking degree increased the elastic and loss moduli as the α-transition. In parallel, using the time-temperature superposition principle allowed determining “equivalent strain rates at reference temperature”. Then, we performed uniaxial tensile and shear uploading-unloading tests at high temperature and coupled with DIC, to characterise the mechanical behaviour at large strain. Additionally, strain rate and temperature effects were coupled by means of the “equivalent strain rate at reference temperature” extracted from observations in the linear domain. Results showed that targeting the same equivalent strain rate lead to the same stress-strain curves, i.e. same mechanical response. This allows reducing the number of experimental tests needed to characterise the mechanical behaviour of amorphous polymers.Finally, a constitutive modelling based in a thermodynamics framework, was used to reproduce the mechanical response of the PMMAs at large deformation. The model presented a good agreement with the experimental data, being able to reproduce viscoelastoplastic, viscoelastic, hyperelastic and viscohyperelastic behaviours for cyclic loading tensile.
But We’re Not Laughing: White Male College Students’ Racial Joking and What This Says About “Post-Racial” Discourse

This study critically analyzes White male college student narratives regarding racial joking. Through semi-structured interviews, 29 participants described a pattern of behavior and rationalization: they heard and told racist jokes frequently; the jokes were framed as not racist; and the jokes were told only among White people, because the participants viewed minorities as overly sensitive. These students were far from post-racial (i.e., in a state where race no longer matters), despite the prevalence of this discourse, and this highlighted a shared responsibility in the perpetuation of racist practices among joke tellers, listeners, and institutions of higher education.
Rapid detection of porins by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry

The rapid and cost-efficient determination of carbapenem resistance is an important prerequisite for the choice of an adequate antibiotic therapy. A MALDI-TOF MS-based assay was set up to detect porins in the current study. A loss of the components of porin alone such as OmpK35/OmpK36 or together with the production of carbapenemases will augment the carbapenem resistance. Ten strains of Escherichia coli and eight strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were conducted for both sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and MALDI-TOF MS analysis. MALDI-TOF/TOF MS analysis was then performed to verify the correspondence of proteins between SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF MS. The results indicated that the mass spectrum of ca. 35,000, 37,000, and 38,000-m/z peaks of E. coli ATCC 25922 corresponded to OmpA, OmpC, and OmpF with molecular weight of approximately ca. 38, 40, and 41 kDa in SDS-PAGE gel, respectively. The band of OmpC and OmpF porins were unable to be distinguished by SDS-PAGE, whereas it was easy to be differentiated by MALDI-TOF MS. As for K. pneumoniae isolates, the mass spectrum of ca. 36,000 and 38,600-m/z peaks was observed corresponding to OmpA and OmpK36 with molecular weight of approximately ca. 40 and 42 kDa in SDS-PAGE gel, respectively. Porin OmpK35 was not observed in the current SDS-PAGE, while a 37,000-m/z peak was found in K. pneumoniae ATCC 13883 and carbapenem-susceptible strains by MALDI-TOF MS which was presumed to be the characteristic peak of the OmpK35 porin. Compared with SDS-PAGE, MALDI-TOF MS is able to rapidly identify the porin-deficient strains within half an hour with better sensitivity, less cost, and is easier to operate and has less interference.
The Odd Man Out

Research about parent experiences with the special education system is largely dominated by the perspectives of mothers. Using purposeful sampling techniques, we interviewed 20 active fathers about their experiences navigating the special education system. All the fathers described three primary roles they experienced, including acting as a partner, advocate, and student. With respect to each of these roles, the fathers also described feeling as if they were not a part of the team, describing themselves as “the odd man out. ” Each construct is discussed in detail, along with implications for practice.
Optimal statistical operators for 3-dimensional rotational data: geometric interpretations and application to prosthesis kinematics

Rotational data in the form of measured three-dimensional rotations or orientations arise naturally in many fields of science, including biomechanics, orthopaedics and robotics. The cyclic topology of rotation spaces calls for special care and considerations when performing statistical analysis of rotational data. Relevant theory has been developed during the last three decades, and has become a standard tool in some areas. In relation to the study of human kinematics and motion however, these concepts have hardly been put to use. This paper gives an introduction to the intricacies of three-dimensional rotations, and provides a thorough geometric interpretation of several approaches to averaging rotational data. A set of novel, simple operators is presented. Simulations and a prosthetics-related real-world example involving wrist kinematics illuminate important aspects of the results. Finally generalizations and related subjects for further research are suggested.
Intelligent advisory system for screening mammography

The paper presents the first results of a Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) system development project for automatic detection of breast cancer. The primary aim of the R&D project is to develop an intelligent advisory system for analyzing mammographic images, and to help radiologists in making diagnosis. One of these results is the set-up of an image library of 10,000 digitalized and qualified mammograms. This work has been started and that will support research and education both in the field of medical sciences and in medical engineering. It is also important that in the frame of the project a prototype of a mammography workstation will be developed and tested. Research tasks are already in an advanced state, algorithms has been developed and tested for microcalcification detection using hierarchical neural nets, and also for lesion characterization using hybrid methods and texture analyses. Current results on a moderate size database are encouraging and we can expect further advances from the utilization of the large image database.
When Do Financial Incentives Reduce Intrinsic Motivation? Comparing Behaviors Studied in Psychological and Economic Literatures

Objective: To review existing evidence on the potential of incentives to undermine or “crowd out” intrinsic motivation, in order to establish whether and when it predicts financial incentives to crowd out motivation for health-related behaviors. Method: We conducted a conceptual analysis to compare definitions and operationalizations of the effect, and reviewed existing evidence to identify potential moderators of the effect. Results: In the psychological literature, we find strong evidence for an undermining effect of tangible rewards on intrinsic motivation for simple tasks when motivation manifest in behavior is initially high. In the economic literature, evidence for undermining effects exists for a broader variety of behaviors, in settings that involve a conflict of interest between parties. By contrast, for health related behaviors, baseline levels of incentivized behaviors are usually low, and only a subset involve an interpersonal conflict of interest. Correspondingly, we find no evidence for crowding out of incentivized health behaviors. Conclusion: The existing evidence does not warrant a priori predictions that an undermining effect would be found for health-related behaviors. Health-related behaviors and incentives schemes differ greatly in moderating characteristics, which should be the focus of future research.
Validation of a single‐stage fixed‐rate step test for the prediction of maximal oxygen uptake in healthy adults

Healthcare professionals with limited access to ergospirometry remain in need of valid and simple submaximal exercise tests to predict maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max). Despite previous validation studies concerning fixed‐rate step tests, accurate equations for the estimation of VO2max remain to be formulated from a large sample of healthy adults between age 18–75 years (n > 100). The aim of this study was to develop a valid equation to estimate VO2max from a fixed‐rate step test in a larger sample of healthy adults. A maximal ergospirometry test, with assessment of cardiopulmonary parameters and VO2max, and a 5‐min fixed‐rate single‐stage step test were executed in 112 healthy adults (age 18–75 years). During the step test and subsequent recovery, heart rate was monitored continuously. By linear regression analysis, an equation to predict VO2max from the step test was formulated. This equation was assessed for level of agreement by displaying Bland–Altman plots and calculation of intraclass correlations with measured VO2max. Validity further was assessed by employing a Jackknife procedure. The linear regression analysis generated the following equation to predict VO2max (l min−1) from the step test: 0·054(BMI)+0·612(gender)+3·359(body height in m)+0·019(fitness index)−0·012(HRmax)−0·011(age)−3·475. This equation explained 78% of the variance in measured VO2max (F = 66·15, P<0·001). The level of agreement and intraclass correlation was high (ICC = 0·94, P<0·001) between measured and predicted VO2max. From this study, a valid fixed‐rate single‐stage step test equation has been developed to estimate VO2max in healthy adults. This tool could be employed by healthcare professionals with limited access to ergospirometry.
Bisexuality: The State of the Union

Abstract In many contemporary Occidental societies, bisexuality is paradoxical. Commonly conceived as a combination of heterosexuality and homosexuality, bisexuality as such became conceivable only after the popularization of the hetero/homosexual dichotomy during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Paradoxically, however, the concepts of hetero- and homosexuality, reflecting the cultural belief that an individual's feelings of sexual attraction are naturally directed toward the other sex or, alternatively, toward the same sex, simultaneously renders bisexuality—as an attraction to both genders—inconceivable. In this article, I review the historical and cultural processes that produced the paradoxical conceivability of bisexuality. I then discuss the cultural attitudes toward bisexuality that result from this paradox and show how scientific research on bisexuality has been guided by popular conceptions of, and attitudes toward, bisexuality. Finally, I review efforts to reconceptualize bisexuality for both political and scientific purposes, and summarize recent research on bisexuality using these reconceptualizations. This summary includes research on the prevalence of bisexuality, prejudice against bisexuals, patterns of bisexual behavior, and the meaning of bisexual self-identity.
Teaching Behaviors of Middle School and High School Band Directors in the Rehearsal Setting

The study was designed to investigate specific rehearsal behaviors exhibited by band directors in rehearsal settings. Of particular interest was the amount of time band directors engaged in conceptual teaching behaviors, defined as verbal behaviors of band directors in rehearsal settings in which the band director attempts to make students aware of, have an understanding of, and/or be able to transfer any musical concept. Participants (N = 18) were full-time middle school or high school band, directors teaching in Florida. Each participant prepared a videotape of two or three regular band rehearsals. Randomly ordered 20-minute segments counterbalanced across all examples were extracted from each videotape for data analyses. Two trained observers viewed the prepared videotapes and simultaneously manipulated the dial of a Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI) to indicate perceived teacher behaviors. The CRDI dial was partitioned along a 256-degree arc into seven specific teacher behaviors. Results indicated that, on average, directors spent less than 3% of observed teaching time engaged in conceptual teaching behaviors. Percentages of time were computed for additional instructional, non-interactive, and feedback behaviors.
Effects of severe mental illness on survival of people with diabetes

Background People with mental health problems are more likely to die prematurely than the general population but no study has examined this in individuals with diabetes. Aims To compare survival rates in people with diabetes with and without schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. Method A total of 43 992 people with diabetes were drawn from the QRESEARCH database population of over 9 million patients. Survival rates during the study period, between 1 April 2000 and 1 April 2005, and hazard ratios for deaths associated with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder were adjusted by age and gender and additionally for socioeconomic status, obesity, smoking and use of statins. Results Among the participants, we identified 257 people diagnosed with schizophrenia, 159 with bipolar disorder and 14 with both conditions. Although crude survival rates did not show significant differences between the groups during the study period, people with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder and diabetes, compared with those with diabetes alone, had a significantly increased risk of death after adjusting for age and gender, with hazard ratios for schizophrenia of 1.84 (95% CI 1.42–2.40) and for bipolar disorder of 1.51 (95% CI 1.10–2.07). After adjusting for the other factors, hazard ratios were 1.52 (95 CI 1.17–1.97) for schizophrenia and 1.47 (95% CI 1.07–2.02) for bipolar disorder. Conclusions People with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder in addition to diabetes have a relatively higher mortality rate. This suggests that diabetes either progresses more rapidly or is more poorly controlled in these individuals, or that they have higher levels of comorbidity and so are more likely to die of other causes.
The Demand for Stepsons

Literature has shown that firstborn girls (as opposed to firstborn boys) increase the probability of parental divorce or living without a father in the United States. In this paper, I present evidence that firstborn girls also reduce the probability for their mothers of finding a new partner. That is, firstborn girls are more likely to be living without a stepfather in the United States. Men not only show a stronger demand for biological sons, they also show a greater preference for stepsons. On the other hand, stepmothers do not have any particular demand for the sex of their stepchildren.
SEXUAL IDENTITY STEREOTYPING: PERSPECTIVES OF HETEROSEXUAL FEMALE PRE-SERVICE PHYSICAL EDUCATION TEACHERS

Previous research has indicated that, due to mostly increasing involvement in sports and physical activities, female athletes and physical education (PE) teachers may risk being stereotyped as lesbians regardless of their actual sexual orientation. The purpose of this study was to examine the perception of sexual identity stereotyping (SIS) of heterosexual female PE pre-service teachers (PTs). The four specific questions the study explored were: (a) to what degree PTs understood the term SIS, (b) to what extent PTs encountered SIS, (c) how PTs reacted to and coped with any SIS that they might have encountered, and (d) how PTs perceived SIS would impact their future careers. Participants were five heterosexual female PTs in a physical education teacher education (PETE) programme of a university located in the south-eastern USA. Data were collected by formally interviewing each PT and analysed by employing an analytic induction and constant comparison approach. Results indicated that the PTs generally had a good understanding of SIS and that four of them had encountered it. Only one of the PTs, however, gave a personal experience of gender stereotyping. The personal experience of the five heterosexual female PTs may help pre-service and in-service PE teachers to see and understand the sociocultural tapestry of PE regarding SIS.
Response of Iron Deficiency Anemia to Intravenous Iron Sucrose in Pediatric Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

OBJECTIVES The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous iron sucrose (IS) in iron deficient children with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in remission. METHODS Electronic medical records at a university based pediatric children's hospital were searched for patients in age range 0 to 18 years with diagnosis of IBD and treatment with IS over a 1-year period. Response to IS treatment was assessed by posttreatment changes in ferritin, hemoglobin (Hb), and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). Patients with recorded symptoms of active disease were excluded from analysis of treatment response. RESULTS Twelve patients were identified by the search criteria, 10 with Crohn's disease (CD), 2 with ulcerative colitis (UC). Data represent 8 patients in remission, 7 with CD and 1 with UC, who received a total of 34 IS infusions. Iron sucrose was administered in cycles of 2 infusions, 2.5 to 3.5 mg/kg/dose (maximum 200 mg), 1 week apart. Mean ferritin increased from 21.4 ± 9.2 to 52.9 ± 10.1 ng/mL (p = 0.0005), Hb from 10.9 ± 0.4 to 11.3 ± 0.3 g/dL (p = 0.02), and MCV from 76.9 ± 2 to 79.4 ± 2 fl (p = 0.006). Iron sucrose treatment normalized ferritin in 6 of 7, Hb in 2 of 8, and MCV in 2 of 5 patients with low pretreatment levels. No adverse effects were recorded. CONCLUSIONS Two IS infusions of 2.5 to 3.5 mg/kg/dose (maximum 200 mg), given 1 week apart normalized ferritin levels in most pediatric IBD patients in remission without adverse effects. Further studies are needed to determine optimal dosing schedules.
Extracellular miR-1246 promotes lung cancer cell proliferation and enhances radioresistance by directly targeting DR5

MiRNAs in the circulation have been demonstrated to be a type of signaling molecule involved in intercellular communication but little is known about their role in regulating radiosensitivity. This study aims to investigate the effects of extracellular miRNAs induced by ionizing radiation (IR) on cell proliferation and radiosensitivity. The miRNAs in the conditioned medium (CM) from irradiated and non-irradiated A549 lung cancer cells were compared using a microarray assay and the profiles of 21 miRNAs up and down-regulated by radiation were confirmed by qRT-PCR. One of these miRNAs, miR-1246, was especially abundant outside the cells and had a much higher level compared with that inside of cells. The expressions of miR-1246 in both A549 and H446 cells increased along with irradiation dose and the time post-irradiation. By labeling exosomes and miR-1246 with different fluorescence dyes, it was found that the extracellular miR-1246 could shuttle from its donor cells to other recipient cells by a non-exosome associated pathway. Moreover, the treatments of cells with miR-1246 mimic or its antisense inhibitor showed that the extracellular miR-1246 could enhance the proliferation and radioresistance of lung cancer cells. A luciferase reporter-gene transfer experiment demonstrated that the death receptor 5 (DR5) was the direct target of miR-1246, and the kinetics of DR5 expression was opposite to that of miR-1246 in the irradiated cells. Our results show that the oncogene-like extracellular miR-1246 could act as a signaling messenger between irradiated and non-irradiated cells, more importantly, it contributes to cell radioresistance by directly suppressing the DR5 gene.
Mediating hope

In an attempt to reimagine the concept of resistance in media studies this article argues for a reconsideration of the concept of political hope in non-mainstream mediated political mobilization that will take us beyond a focus on resistance to one of political project(s). The critical first step in such an endeavour is to reach beyond the confines of media and communication studies. This article draws on political science, sociology, social movement studies and cultural geography, among other subjects, to consider the ways in which new media may allow a reimagining of hope so that a collective consciousness can be developed and maintained. In doing so the article suggests that if, as scholars, we wish to enhance our political purchase then the notion of resistance in media and communication studies should be made to engage with the struggle of changing the terms of the polity.