Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rasch analysis of the Western Ontario MacMaster Questionnaire (WOMAC) in 2205 patients with osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and fibromyalgia

OBJECTIVE Advances in health measurement have led to the application of Rasch Item Response Theory (IRT) analysis (Rasch analysis) to evaluate instruments measuring health status and quality of life of patients, including the Health Assessment Questionnaire and SF-36. This study investigated the extent to which the Western Ontario MacMaster osteoarthritis questionnaire (WOMAC) satisfies the Rasch model, particularly in respect to unidimensionality, item separation, and linearity. METHODS The study included a total of 2205 patients, 1013 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), 655 with osteoarthritis of the knee or hip (OA), and 537 with fibromyalgia. All patients completed the WOMAC as part of a longitudinal study of rheumatic disease outcomes. To examine whether the WOMAC pain and function scales each fits the Rasch model, the Winsteps program was used to assess item difficulty, scale unidimensionality, item separation, and linearity. RESULTS Although the WOMAC worked best in OA, regardless of disorder, both the pain and function scales were unidimensional, had adequate item separation, and had a long range (25–150) of linearity in the function scale. Several functional items, however, had a high information weight fit (INFIT) statistic, indicating poor fit to the model. These items included “getting in and out of the bath” and “going down stairs. ” CONCLUSION The WOMAC generally satisfies the requirements of Rasch item response theory across all disorders studied, and is an appropriate measure of lower body function in OA, RA and fibromyalgia. Although some individual items do not fit well, it is not likely that removing such items would result in more than overall minimal differences, and it will be difficult to remove traces of multidimensionality while keeping the central constructs of progressive lower body musculoskeletal abnormality intact. In addition, it is possible that a “purer”, still more unidimensional instrument would be less useful in clinical trials and epidemiological studies by restricting the range of the scale.
An improved exponential-time algorithm for k-SAT

We propose and analyze a simple new algorithm for finding satisfying assignments of Boolean formulae in conjunctive normal form. The algorithm, ResolveSat, is a randomized variant of the DDL procedure by M. Davis et al. (1962) or Davis-Putnam procedure. Rather than applying the DLL procedure to the input formula F, however; ResolveSat enlarges F by adding additional clauses using limited resolution before performing DLL. The basic idea behind our analysis is the same as by R. Paturi (1997): a critical clause for a variable at a satisfying assignment gives rise to a unit clause in the DLL procedure with sufficiently high probability, thus increasing the probability of finding a satisfying assignment. In the current paper, we analyze the effect of multiple critical clauses (obtained through resolution) in producing unit clauses. We show that, for each k, the running time of ResolveSat on a k-CNF formula is significantly better than 2/sup n/, even in the worst case. In particular we show that the algorithm finds a satisfying assignment of a general 3-CNF in time O(2/sup .446n/) with high probability; where the best previous algorithm has running time O(2/sup .582n/). We obtain a better upper bound of O(2/sup (2ln2-1)/n+0(n))=O(2/sup 0.387n/) for 3-CNF that have at most one satisfying assignment (unique k-SAT). For each k, the bounds for general k-CNF are the best known for the worst-case complexity of finding a satisfying solution for k-SAT, the idea of succinctly encoding satisfying solutions can be applied to obtain lower bounds on circuit site. Here, we exhibit a function f such that any depth-3 AND-OR circuit with bottom fan-in bounded by k requires /spl Omega/(2(c/sub k/n/k)) gates (with c/sub k/>1). This is the first such lower bound with c/sub k/>1.
Ultralight, ultrastiff mechanical metamaterials

Microlattices make marvelous materials Framework or lattice structures can be remarkably strong despite their very low density. Using a very precise technique known as projection microstereolithography, Zheng et al. fabricated octet microlattices from polymers, metals, and ceramics. The design of the lattices meant that the individual struts making up the materials did not bend under pressure. The materials were therefore exceptionally stiff, strong, and lightweight. Science, this issue p. 1373 Ultralow-density materials that deform through tension or compression rather than bending show much higher stiffness. The mechanical properties of ordinary materials degrade substantially with reduced density because their structural elements bend under applied load. We report a class of microarchitected materials that maintain a nearly constant stiffness per unit mass density, even at ultralow density. This performance derives from a network of nearly isotropic microscale unit cells with high structural connectivity and nanoscale features, whose structural members are designed to carry loads in tension or compression. Production of these microlattices, with polymers, metals, or ceramics as constituent materials, is made possible by projection microstereolithography (an additive micromanufacturing technique) combined with nanoscale coating and postprocessing. We found that these materials exhibit ultrastiff properties across more than three orders of magnitude in density, regardless of the constituent material.
BZ-FAD: A Low-Power Low-Area Multiplier Based on Shift-and-Add Architecture

In this paper, a low-power structure called bypass zero, feed A directly (BZ-FAD) for shift-and-add multipliers is proposed. The architecture considerably lowers the switching activity of conventional multipliers. The modifications to the multiplier which multiplies A by B include the removal of the shifting the B register, direct feeding of A to the adder, bypassing the adder whenever possible, using a ring counter instead of a binary counter and removal of the partial product shift. The architecture makes use of a low-power ring counter proposed in this work. Simulation results for 32-bit radix-2 multipliers show that the BZ-FAD architecture lowers the total switching activity up to 76% and power consumption up to 30% when compared to the conventional architecture. The proposed multiplier can be used for low-power applications where the speed is not a primary design parameter.
Serum deprivation response inhibits breast cancer progression by blocking transforming growth factor‐β signaling

Serum deprivation response (SDPR), a key substrate for protein kinase C, play a critical role in inducing membrane curvature and participate in the formation of caveolae. However, the function of SDPR in cancer development and progression is still not clear. Here, we found that SDPR is downregulated in human breast cancer. Overexpression of SDPR suppresses cell proliferation and invasion in MDA‐MB‐231 cells, while depletion of SDPR promotes cell proliferation and invasion in MCF10A cells. Subsequently, SDPR depletion induces epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)‐like phenotype. Finally, knockdown of SDPR activates transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) signaling by upregulation of TGF‐β1 expression. In conclusion, our results showed that SDPR inhibits breast cancer progression by blocking TGF‐β signaling.
Physiology of Aging Invited Review : Aging and human temperature regulation

Kenney, W. Larry, and Thayne A. Munce. Invited Review: Aging and human temperature regulation. J Appl Physiol 95: 2598–2603, 2003; 10.1152/japplphysiol.00202. 2003. —This mini-review focuses on the effects of aging on human temperature regulation. Although comprehensive reviews have been published on this topic (Kenney WL. Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews, Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins, 1997, p. 41–76; Pandolf KB. Exp Aging Res 17: 189–204, 1991; Van Someren EJ, Raymann RJ, Scherder EJ, Daanen HA, and Swaab DF. Ageing Res Rev 1: 721–778, 2002; and Young AJ. Exp Aging Res 17: 205–213, 1991), this mini-review concisely summarizes the present state of knowledge about human temperature regulation and aging in thermoneutral conditions, as well as during hypoand hyperthermic challenges. First, we discuss age-related effects on baseline body core temperature and phasing rhythms of the circadian temperature cycle. We then examine the altered physiological responses to cold stress that result from aging, including attenuated peripheral vasoconstriction and reduced cold-induced metabolic heat production. Finally, we present the age-related changes in sweating and cardiovascular function associated with heat stress. Although epidemiological evidence of increased mortality among older adults from hypoand hyperthermia exists, this outcome does not reflect an inability to thermoregulate with advanced age. In fact, studies that have attempted to separate the effects of chronological age from concurrent factors, such as fitness level, body composition, and the effects of chronic disease, have shown that thermal tolerance appears to be minimally compromised by age.
A MEMS based electrochemical seismic sensor

This paper presents a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) based electrochemical seismic sensor where insulating spacers and sensing electrodes were contained in a plexiglass tube filled with an ion-rich electrolyte solution. Sensing electrodes and insulation spacers were fabricated based on MEMS processes and assembled by adhesive bonding in a layer-by-layer manner. The device performance was first characterized in a customized experimental platform, with a quantified bandwidth of 0.2-5 Hz and a linear voltage output as a function of the input vibration amplitude. A random-vibration testing in the laboratory environment was conducted, where response correlations among seven devices were calculated as 0.976±0.017, suggesting high device repeatability. This newly proposed seismic sensor may function as a promising seismic motion detecting device in the field of geophysical prospecting where low-frequency seismic motion detection is requested.
Characterization of clear cell renal cell carcinoma with diffusion kurtosis imaging: correlation between diffusion kurtosis parameters and tumor cellularity

The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of diffusion kurtosis imaging (DKI) in the characterization of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and to correlate DKI parameters with tumor cellularity. Fifty‐nine patients with pathologically diagnosed ccRCCs were evaluated by DKI on a 3‐T scanner. Regions of interest were drawn on the maps of the mean diffusion coefficient (MD) and mean diffusion kurtosis (MK). All ccRCCs were histologically graded according to the Fuhrman classification system. Tumor cellularity was measured by the nuclear‐to‐cytoplasm (N/C) ratio and the number of tumor cell nuclei (NTCN). ccRCCs were classified as grade 1 (n = 23), grade 2 (n = 24), grade 3 (n = 10) and grade 4 (n = 3). Both MD and MK could readily discriminate between normal renal parenchyma and ccRCCs (p < 0.001), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis showed that MK exhibited a better performance with an area under the ROC curve of 0.874 and sensitivity/specificity of 68.33%/100% (p < 0.001). Further, MD and MK were significantly different between grade 1 and grades 3 and 4 (p = 0.01, p < 0.001) and between grade 2 and grades 3 and 4 (p = 0.015, p < 0.005), respectively. However, no significant difference was found between grade 1 and grade 2 (p > 0.05) for both MD and MK. With regard to NTCN, no significant difference was found between any two grades (p > 0.05), and the N/C ratio changed significantly with grade (p < 0.01, between any two grades). Negative correlations were found between MK and MD (r = –0.56, p < 0.001), and between MD and N/C ratio (r = –0.36, p < 0.005), whereas MK and the N/C ratio were positively correlated (r = 0.45, p = 0.003). DKI could quantitatively characterize ccRCC with different grades by probing non‐Gaussian diffusion properties related to changes in the tumor microenvironment or tissue complexities in the tumor. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Noise-induced hearing loss increases the temporal precision of complex envelope coding by auditory-nerve fibers

While changes in cochlear frequency tuning are thought to play an important role in the perceptual difficulties of people with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), the possible role of temporal processing deficits remains less clear. Our knowledge of temporal envelope coding in the impaired cochlea is limited to two studies that examined auditory-nerve fiber responses to narrowband amplitude modulated stimuli. In the present study, we used Wiener-kernel analyses of auditory-nerve fiber responses to broadband Gaussian noise in anesthetized chinchillas to quantify changes in temporal envelope coding with noise-induced SNHL. Temporal modulation transfer functions (TMTFs) and temporal windows of sensitivity to acoustic stimulation were computed from 2nd-order Wiener kernels and analyzed to estimate the temporal precision, amplitude, and latency of envelope coding. Noise overexposure was associated with slower (less negative) TMTF roll-off with increasing modulation frequency and reduced temporal window duration. The results show that at equal stimulus sensation level, SNHL increases the temporal precision of envelope coding by 20–30%. Furthermore, SNHL increased the amplitude of envelope coding by 50% in fibers with CFs from 1–2 kHz and decreased mean response latency by 0.4 ms. While a previous study of envelope coding demonstrated a similar increase in response amplitude, the present study is the first to show enhanced temporal precision. This new finding may relate to the use of a more complex stimulus with broad frequency bandwidth and a dynamic temporal envelope. Exaggerated neural coding of fast envelope modulations may contribute to perceptual difficulties in people with SNHL by acting as a distraction from more relevant acoustic cues, especially in fluctuating background noise. Finally, the results underscore the value of studying sensory systems with more natural, real-world stimuli.
Drivers of attitudes toward luxury brands: A Cross-National Investigation into the roles of Interpersonal Influence and Brand Consciousness

Purpose – Limited attention has been paid to the cultural influences on the formation of consumer attitudes toward luxury brands (LUX). The purpose of this paper is to investigate this relationship by developing a model that additionally employs the constructs of susceptibility to normative interpersonal influence (SNII) and brand consciousness (BCO). Design/methodology/approach – Sample data were gathered through surveys administered to 383 college students in the UK and Taiwan. The model of cultural influences on attitudes toward luxury brands was empirically tested using multi-group structural equation modeling to evaluate its applicability across the two countries. Findings – Results are presented in two parts: first, the exogenous construct part of the model establishing the reliability and validity of the cultural dimension constructs (horizontal individualism, vertical individualism, horizontal collectivism, and vertical collectivism) that are antecedent to consumer SNII and 2) the endogenous part .
Predicting Student College Completion Intention: A Discriminant Analysis

Abstract Many universities are dealing with problems concerning the graduation of their students. Using discriminant analysis, a model was developed to predict students’ college completion intention. The constructs of perceived institutional support, academic self-efficacy, institutional commitment, classroom learning environment, and social support are examined as predictors that discriminate between students with low, moderate, and high levels of intention to complete college. Results indicate that students with low, moderate, or high intention to complete college can be discriminated from each other based on their perception of institutional support and their perception of their academic self-efficacy. Implications for universities are discussed. Keywords: college completion intention, discriminant analysis
Role of the mecA Gene in Oxacillin Resistance in a Staphylococcus aureus Clinical Strain with a pvl-Positive ST59 Genetic Background

ABSTRACT The most prevalent community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (C-MRSA) strains in Taiwan, sequence type 59 (ST59) clones, carry staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) type V and, to a lesser extent, type IV. These strains show wide variation in sensitivity to oxacillin, but the reasons for this variation are unknown. Here we compared the sequences of the mecA genes from clinical strains of different SCCmec types and found that they contain different mecA promoter mutations. Analysis of mecA promoter activity by reporter gene fusions showed that single base substitutions in the promoter have a strong influence on mecA transcription. The different mecA variants, including promoter sequences, were expressed in the methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strain C195 (ST59 background). PBP 2a production among the parental strains and strains with promoter mutant mecA genes showed a close correlation with mecA transcription levels. Furthermore, the quantity of PBP 2a also closely correlated with the level of oxacillin resistance in the C195 background. Our data suggest that mecA promoter mutations play an important role in determining the level of oxacillin resistance. The mecA promoter mutation G-25A (25 bases upstream of the mecA translation start site) was found to be associated with a high oxacillin MIC (256 μg/ml), G-7T conferred a moderate oxacillin MIC (32 to 64 μg/ml), strains with C-33T showed a low oxacillin MIC (4 to 8 μg/ml), and A-38G reversed the effect of the C-33T mutation, restoring the oxacillin resistance level in the A-38G C-33T double mutant. These observations may explain why C-MRSA strains in Taiwan carrying SCCmec type IV or V have such enormous variations in oxacillin MICs.
Pregnancy Differentially Impacts Performance of Latent Tuberculosis Diagnostics in a High-Burden Setting

Background Targeted screening for latent TB infection (LTBI) in vulnerable populations is a recommended TB control strategy. Pregnant women are at high risk for developing TB and likely to access healthcare, making pregnancy an important screening opportunity in developing countries. The sensitivity of the widely-used tuberculin skin test (TST), however, may be reduced during pregnancy. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study comparing the TST with the QuantiFERON Gold In-tube (QGIT) in 401 HIV-negative women presenting antepartum (n = 154), at delivery (n = 148), or postpartum (n = 99) to a government hospital in Pune, India. A subset of 60 women enrolled during pregnancy was followed longitudinally and received both tests at all three stages of pregnancy. Results The QGIT returned significantly more positive results than the TST. Of the 401 women in the cross-sectional study, 150 (37%) had a positive QGIT, compared to 59 (14%) for the TST (p<0.005). Forty-nine (12%) did not have their TST read. Of 356 who had both results available, 46 (13%) were concordant positive, 91 (25%) were discordant (12 (3%) TST+/QGIT-; 79 (22%) TST−/QGIT+), and 206 (57%) concordant negative. Comparison by stage of pregnancy revealed that QGIT percent positivity remained stable between antepartum and delivery, unlike TST results (QGIT 31–32% vs TST 11–17%). Median IFN-γ concentration was lower at delivery than in antepartum or postpartum (1.66 vs 2.65 vs 8.99 IU/mL, p = 0.001). During postpartum, both tests had significantly increased positives (QGIT 31% vs 32% vs 52%, p = 0.01; TST 17% vs 11% vs 25%, p<0.005). The same trends were observed in the longitudinal subset. Conclusions Timing and choice of LTBI test during pregnancy impact results. QGIT was more stable and more closely approximated the LTBI prevalence in India. But pregnancy stage clearly affects both tests, raising important questions about how the complex immune changes brought on by pregnancy may impact LTBI screening.
Mechanisms of error detection : Relation between behavioral measures and electrophysiological correlates

_________________________________________________________ IV Zusammenfassung __________________________________________________ V 1. General introduction. 1 2. Study 1: Modeling behavioral measures of error detection in choice tasks: Response monitoring versus conflict monitoring . 4 2.1. Abstract . 4 2.2. Introduction. 5 2.3. Experiment . 22 Method ______________________________________________________ 23 Results_______________________________________________________ 24 Discussion ____________________________________________________ 29 2.4. Model Fit. 31 Results and Discussion __________________________________________ 35 2.5. General Discussion . 37 2.6. Appendix A . 44 2.7. Appendix B . 49 3. Study 2: Is the Error-related negativity amplitude related to error detectability? Evidence from effects of different error types. 54 3.1. Abstract . 54 3.2. Introduction. 55 3.3. Experiment 1 . 58 Method ______________________________________________________ 58 Results_______________________________________________________ 60
Cognitive Tempo in Children and Their Parents

An adoption study was conducted to determine if cognitive tempo (as characterized by errors and latencies on the Matching Familiar Figures Test) is more similar between parents and their biological children or between parents and their adopted children. Zero-order correlations between parents and children were not significant (regardless of familial relationship), but the results of canonical correlations for mean of parents' scores with those of biological and adopted children respectively were consonant with hypothesized values, suggesting a degree of heritability exists. A slight trend for parents' latency to be consistently related to their biological children's latency was noted, but no such trend was present for errors. The heritability of latency versus errors in cognitive tempo is discussed.
Resiliencia y Síndrome de Burnout en estudiantes de enfermería y su relación con variables sociodemográficas y de relación interpersonal

The aim of this research was to determine resilience and burnout levels among nursing students, and to analyze the relationship between these two variables and the sociodemographic profile of the sample. This sample was composed of 218 second grade nursing students belonging to the University of Murcia. Three instruments were used: an ad hoc questionnaire which included sociodemographic and relationship with peers and teachers questions, a Spanish adaptation of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI-GS) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). The results showed a high level of emotional exhaustion in 28% of the sample, and a high level of cynicism in 19.7%. In addition, the data support the relationship between resilience and burnout in the sample of students analyzed (r Resilience-emotional fatigue = -0.25, r-Realization Personal Resilience / efficiency = 0.52). In conclusion of the study, we emphasize that students who showed a higher level of resilience experienced less emotional exhaustion and greater personal accomplishment. Similarly, the quality of relationship with teachers was associated with a higher presence of burnout syndrome.