Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE CONSEQUENCES OF SHORT CRACK CLOSURE ON FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH UNDER VARIABLE AMPLITUDE LOADING

Opening and closure of short cracks has been examined experimentally using small strain gauges fixed to unnotched specimens very close to short fatigue cracks. The results of completely reversed tension-compression constant amplitude tests are that crack opening stresses decrease with increasing stress amplitude and that crack closure occurs at nearly the same strain as crack opening. In variable amplitude loading the crack is subjected to a low crack opening level resulting from larger cycles. Based on the results of this experimental investigation some simple approximation formulas are proposed with which decrease as well as increase of crack opening levels can be described. Using these formulas it is possible to compute crack opening strains for any load sequence. The findings of the investigations have been merged to build an algorithm for the prediction of fatigue lives to initiation of cracks of technical sizes in case of variable amplitude loading. The improvement in accuracy of life predictions compared to results of an existing damage accumulation concept is demonstrated for two materials and two load sequences.
Impact of primary care exercise referral schemes on the health of patients with obesity

Primary care exercise referral schemes (ERSs) are a potentially useful setting to promote physical activity (PA). It is not established, however, whether interventions to increase PA, such as ERSs, have differing health outcomes according to the participants’ body mass index (BMI). This paper summarizes evidence for the impact of primary care ERSs on the health of people with obesity and reports findings of a reanalysis of the EMPOWER study, providing the first data to report differential outcomes of ERSs by BMI category. Our literature review revealed a paucity of published data. A 2011 Health Technology Assessment review and 2015 update were identified, but normal-weight participants were neither excluded nor were results stratified by weight in the included studies. A study of the effect of exercise referral in overweight women reported a significantly greater increase in PA levels in the ERS group than the control group at 3 months. Reanalysis of the EMPOWER study data showed a significant improvement in PA at 3 months in both obese and overweight/normal BMI groups, with the effect size attenuated to 6 months. There was no significant difference from baseline to 6 months in blood pressure for either BMI category. At 6 months, there was a significant decrease in weight from baseline for the obese category. Comparison of crude mean differences between BMI groups revealed a significant mean difference in PA at 3 months favoring the overweight/normal BMI group, but not at 6 months. There were no further significant differences in unadjusted or adjusted mean differences for other outcomes at follow-up. We report some evidence of a differential impact of ERS on PA by BMI category. However, the effect of ERSs in primary care for patients with obesity remains unclear due to the small number of published studies that have reported outcomes by BMI category. Further research is needed.
Review on Production of 89Zr in a Medical Cyclotron for PET Radiopharmaceuticals

This article is intended to provide an overview of the production and application of 89Zr for the professional development of nuclear medicine technologists. It outlines the cyclotron targeting, separation and labeling options, and techniques for the preparation of the radionuclide 89Zr (half-life, 78.4 h [3.3 d]) used in PET. Unlike the commonly used 18F-FDG, with a 109.7-min half-life, the longer half-life of 89Zr makes it possible to use high-resolution PET/CT to localize and image tumors with monoclonal antibody radiopharmaceuticals and thus potentially expand the use of PET. Methods: This paper briefly reviews the cyclotron technique of 89Zr production and outlines the range and preparation techniques available for making 89Y targets as a starting material. It then discusses how cyclotron-produced 89Zr can be separated, purified, and labeled to monoclonal antibodies for PET/CT of specific tumors. Results: We argue that knowledge and understanding of this long-lived PET radionuclide should be part of the professional development of nuclear medicine technologists because it will lead to better patient outcomes and potentially increase the pool of collaborators in this field of research.
Between semelparity and iteroparity: Empirical evidence for a continuum of modes of parity

The number of times an organism reproduces (i.e. its mode of parity) is a fundamental life-history character, and evolutionary and ecological models that compare the relative fitness of strategies are common in life history theory and theoretical biology. Despite the success of mathematical models designed to compare intrinsic rates of increase between annual-semelparous and perennial-iteroparous reproductive schedules, there is widespread evidence that variation in reproductive allocation among semelparous and iteroparous organisms alike is continuous. This paper reviews the ecological and molecular evidence for the continuity and plasticity of modes of parity––that is, the idea that annual-semelparous and perennial-iteroparous life histories are better understood as endpoints along a continuum of possible strategies. I conclude that parity should be understood as a continuum of different modes of parity, which differ by the degree to which they disperse or concentrate reproductive effort in time. I further argue that there are three main implications of this conclusion: (1) That seasonality should not be conflated with parity; (2) that mathematical models purporting to explain the evolution of semelparous life histories from iteroparous ones (or vice versa) should not assume that organisms can only display either an annual-semelparous life history or a perennial-iteroparous one; and (3) that evolutionary ecologists should examine the physiological or molecular basis of traits underlying different modes of parity, in order to obtain a general understanding of how different life history strategies can evolve from one another.
Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK‐3) inhibitors as new promising drugs for diabetes, neurodegeneration, cancer, and inflammation

Glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK‐3) was initially described as a key enzyme involved in glycogen metabolism, but is now known to regulate a diverse array of cell functions. Two forms of the enzyme, GSK‐3α and GSK‐3β, have been previously identified. Small molecules inhibitors of GSK‐3 may, therefore, have several therapeutic uses, including the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, diabetes type II, bipolar disorders, stroke, cancer, and chronic inflammatory disease. As there is lot of recent literature dealing with the involvement of GSK‐3 in the molecular pathways of different diseases, this review is mainly focused on the new GSK‐3 inhibitors discovered or specifically developed for this enzyme, their chemical structure, synthesis, and structure–activity relationships, with the aim to provide some clues for the future optimization of these promising drugs. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Med Res Rev, 22, No. 4, 373–384, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/med.10011
The effect of temperature on the mechanical behavior of nickel-titanium orthodontic initial archwires.

OBJECTIVES To investigate and compare the characteristics of commonly used types of traditional and heat-activated initial archwires at different temperatures by plotting their load/deflection graphs and quantifying three parameters describing the discharge plateau phase. MATERIALS AND METHODS Forty-eight archwires of cross-sectional diameters ranging from 0.010 inches to 0.016 inches were obtained from seven different manufacturers. A modified three-point wire-bending test was performed on three analogous samples of each type of archwire at 55°C and 5°C, simulating an inserted archwire that is subjected to cold or hot drinks during a meal. For each resulting load/deflection curve the plateau section was isolated and the mean value of each parameter for each type of wire was obtained. RESULTS Permanent strain was exhibited by all wires tested at 55°C. Statistically significant differences were found between almost all wires for the three considered parameters when tested at 55°C and 5°C. Loads were greater at 55°C than at 5°C. Differences were also found between traditional and heat-activated archwires, the latter of which generated longer plateaus at 55°C, shorter plateaus at 5°C, and lighter mean forces at both temperatures. The increase in average force seen with increasing diameter tended to be rather stable at both temperatures. CONCLUSIONS All nickel-titanium wires tested showed a significant change related to temperature in terms of behavior and force for both traditional and heat-activated wires. Stress under high temperatures can induce permanent strain, whereas the residual strain detected at low temperatures can be recovered from as temperature increases.
Differential Regulation of Twitching Motility and Elastase Production by Vfr in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

ABSTRACT Vfr, a homolog of Escherichia coli cyclic AMP (cAMP) receptor protein, has been shown to regulate quorum sensing, exotoxin A production, and regA transcription in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We identified a twitching motility-defective mutant that carries a transposon insertion in vfr and confirmed that vfr is required for twitching motility by construction of an independent allelic deletion-replacement mutant of vfr that exhibited the same phenotype, as well as by the restoration of normal twitching motility by complementation of these mutants with wild-type vfr. Vfr-null mutants exhibited severely reduced twitching motility with barely detectable levels of type IV pili, as well as loss of elastase production and altered pyocyanin production. We also identified reduced-twitching variants of quorum-sensing mutants (PAK lasI::Tc) with a spontaneous deletion in vfr (S. A. Beatson, C. B. Whitchurch, A. B. T. Semmler, and J. S. Mattick, J. Bacteriol., 184:3598-3604, 2002), the net result of which was the loss of five residues (EQERS) from the putative cAMP-binding pocket of Vfr. This allele (VfrΔEQERS) was capable of restoring elastase and pyocyanin production to wild-type levels in vfr-null mutants but not their defects in twitching motility. Furthermore, structural analysis of Vfr and VfrΔEQERS in relation to E. coli CRP suggests that Vfr is capable of binding both cAMP and cyclic GMP whereas VfrΔEQERS is only capable of responding to cAMP. We suggest that Vfr controls twitching motility and quorum sensing via independent pathways in response to these different signals, bound by the same cyclic nucleotide monophosphate-binding pocket.
Sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS in Vanuatu: a cause for concern and action.

AIMS This article argues that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS in Vanuatu are a cause for concern and that a strong response is needed to stem an epidemic. METHODS Three sources of data are used: studies and policy documents on STIs and HIV/AIDS in Vanuatu; analysis of reported STI cases from public health facilities; and key informant interviews with 14 policy stakeholders. RESULTS In Port Vila (capital of Vanuatu), more than a quarter of the women attending antenatal clinics were positive for at least one STI. Although Vanuatu Ministry of Health (MoH) case records for gonorrhoea, genital ulceration, and syphilis show national prevalence rates have remained relatively constant between 1.2% and 2%, there is probably gross under-reporting because MoH data exclude trichomoniasis and chlamydiasis cases; surveillance systems are poor; and patient access to services is limited. High STI prevalence and several socioeconomic factors create a high-risk environment for the rapid spread of HIV/AIDS. DISCUSSION The need for a strategic response in Vanuatu is pressing. Priorities for action include the scaling up of awareness programmes for young people, particularly girls, and the development of surveillance systems. Government capacity weaknesses mean the MoH should explore possible partnerships with the non-government organisation (NGO) sector and point to the need for international support to implement a new government Strategic Plan.
A Publication of the Institute of Food Technologists Expert Panel on Food Safety and Nutrition

V iruses have emerged as causes of foodborne disease, according to data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. During 198387 in the United States, Norwalk virus was the fifth leading cause of foodborne disease among outbreak-associated illnesses; hepatitis A virus was the sixth; and other viruses (principally rotaviruses) were tenth (Bean et al., 1990). By 19881992, the most recent period for which data have been issued, Hepatitis A virus had risen to the fourth leading cause and Norwalk-like viruses first appeared on the top 10 list as the ninth leading cause (Bean et al., 1996). The numbers of reported foodborne illnesses are fewer than actually occur because the CDCs passive data collection system records only illnesses occurring as outbreaks, rather than those occurring sporadically. Hepatitis A, which is notoriously under reported in the United States (Cliver, 1985), is the only foodborne viral disease in which official reporting is mandatory for all diagnosed cases. Thus, records of the incidence of the other viral diseases are certain to be less accurate. And, just as with Norwalk-like viruses, other new viral agents are likely to appear among the top 10 causes of foodborne disease in future compilations. Particle as the Transmissible Form. Viruses pass from host to host in the form of inert particles. The particles are roughly spherical, with diameters of 25 to 35 nm (picornavirus and calicivirus; for example, hepatitis A and Norwalk-like viruses, respectively) or as large as 75 nm (rotaviruses; Table 1). The smaller foodborne viruses contain single-stranded RNA, whereas the rotaviruses contain double-stranded RNA. Human enteric viruses containing DNA are known, but none have been proven to be transmitted via food or water. The outer surface of the particle is a highly specific protein coat that protects the RNA, interacts with a susceptible host cell to initiate infection, and acts as the antigen against which the hosts immune responses are mounted. Because these particles are totally inert, they cannot multiply in foods or anywhere outside the host. Neither can they carry out any metabolic activity, nor respond to stresses encountered in the environment. Viral Infection. The virus particle will enter only a suitable host cell. Specificity depends on the interaction of the coat protein with receptors on the host cell. Only certain cells in the bodies of certain species can be infected; essentially all viruses transmitted to humans via foods are specific for humans and …
Corporate prediction markets: evidence from google, ford, and firm X

Despite the popularity of prediction markets among economists, businesses and policymakers have been slow to adopt them in decision making. Most studies of prediction markets outside the lab are from public markets with large trading populations. Corporate prediction markets face additional issues, such as thin- ness, weak incentives, limited entry and the potential for traders with ulterior motives raising questions about how well these markets will perform. We examine data from prediction markets run by Google, Ford and Firm X (a large private materials company). Despite theoretically adverse conditions, we find these markets are relatively efficient, and improve upon the forecasts of experts at all three firms by as much as a 25% reduction in mean squared error. The most notable inefficiency is an optimism bias in the markets at Google and Ford. The inefficiencies that do exist generally become smaller over time. More experienced traders and those with higher past performance trade against the identified inefficiencies, suggesting that the markets efficiency improves because traders gain experience and less skilled traders exit the market.
Conservation and human behaviour: lessons from social psychology.

Despite increased effort from non-governmental organisations, academics and governments over recent decades, several threats continue to cause species declines and even extinctions. Resource use by a growing human population is a significant driver of biodiversity loss, so conservation scientists need to be interested in the factors that motivate human behaviour. Economic models have been applied to human decision making for many years; however, humans are not financially rational beings and other characteristics of the decision maker (including attitude) and the pressure that people perceive to behave in a certain way (subjective norms) may influence decision making; these are characteristics considered by social psychologists interested in human decision making. We review social-psychology theories of behaviour and how they have been used in the context of conservation and natural-resource management. Many studies focus on general attitudes towards conservation rather than attitudes towards specific behaviours of relevance to conservation and thus have limited value in designing interventions to change specific behaviours (e.g. reduce hunting of a threatened species). By more specifically defining the behaviour of interest, and investigating attitude in the context of other social-psychological predictors of behaviour (e.g. subjective norms, the presence of facilitating factors and moral obligation), behaviours that have an impact on conservation goals will be better understood, allowing for the improved design of interventions to influence them.
Group therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder

Aim: To investigate the acceptability and feasibility of adapted group therapy for anxiety in children with autism spectrum disorder in a pilot randomised controlled trial. Method: A total of 32 children aged 9–13 years were randomised to immediate or delayed therapy using the ‘Exploring Feelings’ manual (Attwood, 2004). Child and parent groups were run in parallel, for seven weekly sessions, under the supervision of experienced psychologists. The primary blinded outcome measures addressed change in overall functioning and in severity of the primary anxiety diagnosis after 3 months. Results: Children met diagnostic criteria for 1–6 anxiety disorders (median 3). At end point, both parents and children in the immediate therapy group were more likely to report a reduction in anxiety symptoms. Fidelity of delivery of the group therapy was high, and attendance was 91%. Conclusions: This pilot trial established that children and families were willing to be recruited and randomised, the outcome measures were acceptable, the format and content of the groups were feasible within UK child and adolescent mental health services, the intervention was appreciated by families and attrition was very small.
Nonequilibrium Calcium Dynamics Regulate the Autonomous Firing Pattern of Rat Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons

Striatal cholinergic interneurons discharge rhythmically in two patterns associated with different afterhyperpolarization timescales, each dictated by a different calcium-dependent potassium current. Single spiking depends on a medium-duration afterhyperpolarization (mAHP) generated by rapid SK currents that are associated with N-type calcium channels. Periodic bursting is driven by a delayed and slowly decaying afterhyperpolarization (sAHP) current associated with L-type channels. Using calcium imaging we show that the calcium transients underlying these currents exhibit two corresponding timescales throughout the somatodendritic tree. This result is not consistent with spatial compartmentalization of calcium entering through the two calcium channels and acting on the two potassium currents, or with differences in channel gating kinetics of the calcium dependent potassium currents. Instead, we show that nonequilibrium dynamics of calcium redistribution among cytoplasmic binding sites with different calcium binding kinetics can give rise to multiple timescales within the same cytoplasmic volume. The resulting independence of mAHP and sAHP currents allows cytoplasmic calcium to control two different and incompatible firing patterns (single spiking or bursting and pausing), depending on whether calcium influx is pulsatile or sustained. During irregular firing, calcium entry at both timescales can be detected, suggesting that an interaction between the medium and slow calcium-dependent afterhyperpolarizations may underlie this firing pattern.
Impaired Arteriogenic Response to Acute Hindlimb Ischemia in CD4-Knockout Mice

Background—T lymphocytes, components of the immune and inflammatory systems, are involved in such normal processes as wound healing and host defense against infection and in such pathological processes as tumor growth and atherosclerotic plaque development. Angiogenesis is a mechanism common to each. Because CD4+ T lymphocytes are active in regulating humoral and cellular responses of the immune system, we determined whether CD4+ cells contribute to collateral vessel development by using the mouse ischemic hindlimb model. Methods and Results—One week after ischemia, CD4−/− mice showed reduced collateral flow induction, macrophage number, and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the ischemic muscle compared with wild-type mice. There was also delayed recovery of hindlimb function and increased muscle atrophy/fibrosis. Spleen-derived purified CD4+ T cells infused into CD4−/− mice selectively localized to the ischemic limb and significantly increased collateral flow as well as macrophage number and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in the ischemic muscle. Muscle function and damage also improved. Conclusions—These results indicate an important role of CD4+ cells in collateral development, as demonstrated by a 25% decrease in blood flow recovery after femoral artery ligation. Our data also suggest that CD4+ T cells control the arteriogenic response to acute hindlimb ischemia, at least in part, by recruiting macrophages to the site of active collateral artery formation, which in turn triggers the development of collaterals through the synthesis of arteriogenic cytokines.