Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Circulating Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 and Its Binding Protein-3: Metabolic and Genetic Correlates in the Community

Objective—The metabolic and genetic correlates of circulating insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and its main circulating carrier, IGF-1-binding-protein-3 (IGFBP-3), are unclear. Methods and Results—We measured serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 concentrations in a sample of the Framingham Heart Study (N=3977, aged 40±9 years, 46% male) and evaluated their relations to cardiovascular risk factors using multivariable regression. Serum IGF-1 was inversely correlated with age, body mass index, total cholesterol, the presence of diabetes, alcohol consumption, and glomerular filtration rate (all P<0.01), whereas the ratio of IGF-1:IGFBP-3 was lower in women and inversely related to age, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and alcohol consumption (all P<0.0001). Circulating IGF-1 correlated negatively with insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment) (r=−0.1; P<0.0001) and was lower in participants with more components of the metabolic syndrome (Adult Treatment Panel III criteria) (P<0.0001). Additive genetic factors (heritability) accounted for 43% and 39% of the variation of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3, respectively (both P<10−27). Conclusion—Our cross-sectional observations in a large community-based sample link lower circulating IGF-1 to greater metabolic risk burden and underscore substantial genetic influences on IGF-1 concentrations. Prospective studies are warranted to elucidate whether lower IGF-1 concentrations predict greater metabolic risk longitudinally.
Gender differences and the development of L2 English learners' L2 motivational self system and international posture in China

The study is based on Dornyei's (2009a) L2 Motivational Self System and Yashima's (2009) International Posture (IP) with L2 English learners in China, and focuses on gender issues with regards to L2 motivation. A longitudinal research design with a mixed methods approach was used. The statistical analysis from the quantitative data of 240 participants (F = 178; M = 62) showed significant gender differences for ten motivational variables (criterion measures, ideal L2 self, ought-to L2 self, instrumentality A(promotion), instrumentality B (prevention), travel orientation, attitude to learning English, integrativeness, cultural interest and attitudes to the L2 community) within the L2 Motivational Self System and three variables within IP (intergroup approach avoidance tendency, interest in international news and having things to communicate to the world). Over a 12-month period, the repeated measure analysis revealed that female learners had more significant changes in motivational variables than male learners: eight variables for female learners (ought-to L2 Self, family influence, instrumentality A, instrumentality B, integrativeness, attitudes to the L2 community, fear of assimilation and English anxiety) and one variable for male learners (English anxiety). Both female and male learners had significant decrease in two IP variables: intergroup approach avoidance tendency and interest in international vocation/activities. The interactive relationships, over the 12-month period, between ideal L2 self and ought-to L2 self, and between ideal/ought-to L2 self and other motivational/IP variables were also different between female and male learners. Embedding the participants in their social values and L2 English learning contexts, we highlighted the influences of collectivism and social factors on the gender issues of the learners' L2 motivation. Within the L2 Motivational Self System, the social perception of gender bias in language learning and the dominant number of female L2 English learners positively affected female learners but negatively affected male learners' attitudes toward learning English. We argue that collectivistic social values enhanced female learners' ideal L2 self images and built a bond between the female learners' possible selves and their parents' hopes. Within IP, collective social values could prevent female learners from discussing contentious issues while the male learners' inherent interest in politics was also reflected in their L2 English learning.
An LMS-based decision feedback equalizer for IS-136 receivers

In digital mobile communication systems, intersymbol interference is one of the main causes of degrading system performance. Decision feedback equalization (DFE) is the commonly used remedy for this problem. Since the channel is fast-varying, an adaptive algorithm possessing a fast convergence property is then required. The least mean square (LMS) algorithm is well known for its simplicity and robustness; however, its convergence is slow. As a consequence, the LMS algorithm is rarely considered in this application. In this paper, we consider an LMS-based DFE for the North American IS-136 system. We propose an extended multiple-training LMS algorithm accelerating the convergence process. The convergence properties of the multiple-training LMS algorithm are also analyzed. We prove that the multiple-training LMS algorithm can converge regardless of its initial value and derive closed-form expressions for the weight error vector power. We further take advantage of the IS-136 downlink slot format and divide a slot into two subslots. Bidirectional processing is then applied to each individual subslot. The proposed LMS-based DFE has a low computational complexity and is suitable for real-world implementation. Simulations with a 900-MHz carrier show that our algorithm can meet the 3% bit error rate requirement for mobile speeds up to 100 km/hr.
Correlates of fear of falling and activity limitation among persons with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVES To examine factors associated with fear of falling, activity limitation due to fear of falling, and how persons modified their activities in response to fear of falling, among older persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS Participants in a panel study of RA who were over age 50 (n = 570) were questioned about whether they experienced fear of falling and whether and how they limited activities due to fear of falling. RESULTS Fifty percent reported fear of falling, and 38% modified activities due to fear of falling. Correlates of fear of falling included female gender, depressive symptoms, poor physical functioning, minor fall-related injuries, and a greater number of painful joints. Correlates of limiting activities due to fear of falling included worse self-rated health, poor physical functioning, and high painful joint count. Activities commonly affected included stair climbing, walking, and outings. CONCLUSIONS Fear of falling and limiting activities are common problems for persons with RA. Persons at risk should be targeted for appropriate interventions.
Flexible Instance: Meeting Deadlines of Delay Tolerant Jobs in the Cloud with Dynamic Pricing

A wide range of cloud computing jobs are delay tolerant up to a predefined deadline. Existing IaaS services offer either high cost and high fulfillment ratio or low cost without fulfillment ratio guarantee, where the fulfillment ratio is the ratio of job execution time to the time between job submission and completion. Neither of the services represents a cost-effective way to exploit job elasticity. This work proposes flexible instance, a cloud service where user-specified service fulfillment ratio, as a new pricing factor, is guaranteed by the provider to meet deadlines. Job elasticity is exploited by the provider to enhance resource utilization, by regulating demand fluctuation through computation arbitrage across the temporal domain. We leverage a two-stage pricing framework to agilely adapt cloud resource price to the demand-supply dynamics. The first stage uses an online strategy to reserve resources for each cloud user to guarantee its specified fulfillment ratio. We set the price of resources dynamically according to resource utilization, with a pricing curve O(ln p)-competitive to the optimal fixed-price offline strategy in provider revenue. The second stage allows cloud users to submit a small budget to compete for extra service fulfillment ratio for execution speedup. A Nash bargaining framework is explored to achieve fairness, resource efficiency, and revenue maximization simultaneously. Extensive simulations driven by real-world traces show that flexible instance can reduce user cost for job execution while increasing provider revenue.
Inapproximability Results for the Closest Vector Problem with Preprocessing over infty Norm

We show that the Closest Vector Problem with Preprocessing over `1 norm (CVPP1) is NP-hard to approximate to within a factor of (logn) 1/2 � , unless NPDTIME (2 polylog(n) ). The result is the same as that in (19) by Regev and Rosen, but our proof methods are different from theirs. Their reductions are based on norm embeddings. However, our reductions are based on the reduction of (2) and the property of Hadamard matrix.
Finite-Time Blowup for Wave Equations with a Potential

First we give a truly short proof of the major blowup result [T. C. Sideris, J. Differential Equations, 52 (1984), pp. 378--406] on higher-dimensional semilinear wave equations. Using this new method, we also establish blowup phenomenon for wave equations with a potential. This complements the recent interesting existence result by [V. Georgiev, C. Heiming, and H. Kubo, Comm. Partial Differential Equations, 26 (2001), pp. 2267--2303], where the blowup problem was left open.
Applying Social Cognition to Consumer-Focused Strategy

Contents: Preface. Part I: New Perspectives on Consumer Information Processing. R.S. Wyer, Jr., The Role of Information Processing in Single-Alternative and Multiple-Alternative Judgments and Decisions. S.S. Posavac, G.J. Fitzsimons, F.R. Kardes, D.M. Sanbonmatsu, Implications of Selective Processing for Marketing Managers. D.H. Silvera, D. Laufer, Recent Developments in Attribution Research and Their Implications for Consumer Judgments and Behavior. Part II: New Perspectives on Consumer Information Processing and Research Methods. J.E. Machin, G.J. Fitzsimons, Marketing by Mistake: The Unintended Consequences of Consumer Research. M. Chandrashekaran, K. Rotte, R. Grewal, Knowledge in Error: Decoding Consumer Judgement With the JUMP Model. B.C. Tietje, F.F. Brunel, Toward a Unified Implicit Brand Theory R. March, A.G. Woodside, Advancing Theory on Consumer Plans, Actions, and How Marketing Information Affects Both. Part III: New Perspectives on Motivation and Consumer Information Processing. A.B. Markman, C.M. Brendl, Goals, Policies, Preferences, and Actions. W.Y. Chun, A.W. Kruglanski, Consumption as a Multiple- Goal Pursuit Without Awareness. F.R. Kardes, M.L. Cronley, S.S. Posavac, Using Implementation Intentions to Increase New Product Consumption: A Field Experiment. A. Florack, M. Scarabis, S. Gosejohann, Regulatory Focus and Consumer Information Processing. Part IV: New Perspectives on Consumer Information Processing and Persuasion. E.J. Strahan, S.J. Spencer, M.P. Zanna, Subliminal Priming and Persuasion: How Motivation Affects the Activation of Goals and the Persuasiveness of Messages. C.V. Dimofte, R.F. Yalch, Consumer Responses to False Information: Is Believability Necessary for Persuasion? P.J. Mazzocco, D.D. Rucker, T.C. Brock, Implications for Advertising Effectiveness of Divergence Among Measured Advertising Effects. R.C. Goodstein, D.A. Cours, B.K. Jorgensen, J. Sengupta, The Positive Effects of Negative Advertising: It's a Matter of Time. S. Yoon, P.T. Vargas, When "What Might Have Been" Leads to What Isn't Best: Dysfunctional Counterfactual Thinking in Consumer Affect and Cognition. J. Eighmey, W. Siu, Complementary Roles of Dual-Process Models, Theory of Reasoned Action, Media Priming, and the Concept of Consideration in the Development of Advertising Message Strategies: A Case Study Concerning Youth Views of Military Service Amidst September 11, 2001. P.M. Herr, J. Nantel, F.R. Kardes, The Promise of Sociocognitive Consumer Psychology.
Electrophysiological monitoring in clinical trials

Electrophysiological testing remains an important efficacy parameter in clinical neuropathy trials. The quality of nerve conduction studies in reported trials varies greatly, and may be responsible for negative results. We report the utilization of an expert core lab for electrophysiological testing. With the core lab, the variability of repeat testing is comparable to that of a single, excellent laboratory. Motor conduction velocities demonstrated a coefficient of variation of 3% and sensory conduction velocities 4% across 60 study sites. The distal motor evoked potential amplitudes varied by 13% at the ankle, and 10% at the wrist. The sensory potential amplitudes varied by 16% at the ankle, and 11% at the wrist in 60 sites. The overall monitoring rate in all submitted nerve conduction tracings was 36.6%. Our results show that an expert core lab can improve the electrophysiological quality of clinical trial data with the potential to show small changes in nerve conduction velocities and in both motor and sensory potential amplitudes. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Muscle Nerve 21: 1368–1373, 1998
The Dose-Response Relationship at a College Counseling Center

Abstract Most college counseling centers have adopted session limits for their psychotherapy clients though little evidence exists to support such cutoff points. In the past eight years, a few studies have been published using survival analysis statistics for investigating the speed of recovery in psychotherapy. The outcome of clients at a university counseling center was studied to assess change across time, on a session-by-session basis. The analysis of these data showed that 14 sessions of psychotherapy were required for 51% of clients to meet criteria for clinically significant change. Results were interpreted as suggesting that limiting psychotherapy at college counseling centers may result in improvements that are not clinically meaningful for the majority of clients receiving services.
Quantitative MR imaging of the electric properties and local SAR based on improved RF transmit field mapping

In recent years, quantitative imaging methods gained increasing interest in magnetic resonance imaging. In contrast to standard anatomical imaging, quantitative imaging is expected to improve reliability, accuracy, and reproducibility. This work presents three new methods and their validation and comparison to reference measurements. Firstly, a new method for simultaneous mapping of Bp and T1 is developed via a generalization of the standard Actual Flip-angle Imaging (AFI), based on a dual-TR steady-state sequence. An analytical description of the magnetization of a steady-state sequence with an arbitrary number of TRs is derived and forms the basis of the new Multiple TR Bp / T1 Mapping (MTM). The MTM method outperforms standard AFI in terms of signalto-noise ratio and Bp mapping accuracy. Both, MTM Bp and T1 mapping are validated using gold standard references and are successfully applied in in vivo experiments. Secondly, Electric Properties Tomography (EPT), a method for quantitative imaging of dielectric properties of tissue, is presented. The method is based on the measurement of the active component of the excitation field. It is validated in simulation and phantom studies. Based on EPT, a new approach is developed, which allows separate (phase-based) conductivity and (amplitude-based) permittivity measurements. These methods are validated in phantom studies and successfully applied in in vivo experiments. Quantitative maps of the human brain are obtained within clinically reasonable imaging times. Particularly phase-based conductivity imaging seems to be mature for clinical evaluation. Thirdly, a method for patient-specific local specific absorption rate (SAR) measurements is presented. It is based on excitation field measurements and the subsequently reconstructed dielectric properties. Again, the new method is tested and validated in simulation and phantom studies and applied to in vivo experiments. Here, local SAR distribution has been measured in the human head, showing good agreement with corresponding, patient-individual simulations.
High-School Seniors and the Nuclear Threat, 1975–1984: Political and Mental Health Implications of Concern and Despair

That a full-scale nuclear war would emotionally devastate any surviving segment of the population is virtually indisputable; Lifton & Erikson suggest that the survivors would not envy so much as resemble the dead [1]. In recent years, scientists, politicians, and the media have focused on the more subtle problem of whether the nuclear threatthe persistent possibility of nuclear war in the near or distant futureaffects mental health as well. Findings have suggested that "nuclear anxiety' ' is widespread , is becoming more predominant , and is harmful to mental health. This paper examines the meaning of nuclear anxiety and explores the above propositions about its breadth and impact. Since 1962 [2-3], researchers have demonstrated that large proportions of American and other populations are concerned about the threat of nuclear war. (See Eisenbud, Van Hoorn, & Gould [4] or Van Hoorn1 for reviews of domestic and international research.) Reviews of survey data indicate that nuclear anxiety has become increasingly widespread [5]; in December 1983 the Gallup survey listed "fear of war/international problems" as the nation's major fear [6]. One widely cited trend has been reported by the Monitoring the Future project, based on its
Age differences in long-term adjustment and psychosocial outcomes in a large multi-site sample 5-10 years after heart transplant

AGE DIFFERENCES IN LONG-TERM ADJUSTMENT AND PSYCHOSOCIAL OUTCOMES IN A LARGE MULTI-SITE SAMPLE 5-10 YEARS AFTER HEART TRANSPLANT By: ANDREA M. SHAMASKIN, B.S. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2011 Major Director: Bruce D. Rybarczyk, Ph.D. Associate Professor Department of Psychology Research on age differences in heart transplant patients has focused primarily on medical outcomes, with mixed findings regarding mortality and morbidity rates and limited research regarding age differences in psychosocial and quality of life outcomes. To gain a more complete understanding of psychosocial adjustment after heart transplant, this study examined age differences in: satisfaction with quality of life, satisfaction with social support, depressive symptoms, negative affect, symptom distress, stress related to heart transplant, overall health functioning, coping strategies, and aspects of adherence. Results indicate that older patients, compared to younger patients, report better adjustment and quality of life across numerous outcomes 5-10 years after heart transplant. These findings are consistent with previous literature examining age differences in developmental changes with emotion regulation and coping. This study hopes to contribute to the discussion of age and heart transplant, highlighting the importance of considering quality of life in addition to medical outcomes.
Myophosphorylase deficiency impairs muscle oxidative metabolism

We studied oxidative metabolism during bicycle exercise in 4 patients with myophosphorylase deficiency. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2 max) was low (14.0 ± 1.4ml·kg−1 · min−1, mean ± SE) compared with that in normal subjects (37.7 ± 1.9; n = 12) and patients with myalgia (24.9 ± 1.8; n = 10). Carbohydrate oxidation, as estimated by the respiratory exchange ratio (R), was low relative to workload (max R, mean ± SE: McArdle's disease, 0.96 ± 0.02; normal subject, 1.13 ± 0.02; myalgia, 1.09 ± 0.02). Intravenous glucose administration increased maximal oxygen uptake about 20% in those with McArdle's disease, but both VO2 max and R remained lower than in control subjects. These findings suggest that the capacity for dynamic exercise in McArdle's disease is limited by the availability of oxidative substrate, and indicate that blood glucose is unable to substitute fully for muscle glycogen as an oxidative fuel. We also found that exercise cardiac output (Q) was excessive relative to oxygen uptake in affected patients (δQ̇/δV̇O2, mean ± SE: McArdle's disease, 11.6 ± 1.7; normal subjects, 48 ± 0.2; myalgia, 5.6 ± 0.2). This hyperkinetic circulation in exercise may serve to increase the delivery of blood‐brone oxidative substrate to working muscle.
Teacher Attitudes towards the Inclusion of Children with Mild Hearing Impairments into the Regular School Settings

The study examined the attitudes of a sample of Zimbabwean teachers towards the inclusion of children with mild hearing impairments. Two hundred and forty-six primary school teachers participated in the study. The teachers completed the modified Attitude Toward Mainstreaming Questionnaire (ATMQ) (Larrivee & Cook, 1979). In addition, they also completed four measures on implementation concerns of inclusive education of children with mild hearing impairments (i.e., academic, management, social, and knowledge concerns). Analysis related the scores from these four measures to teachers' attitudes, school type, class sizes, professional qualifications and position in the school. Compared with teachers with lower professional qualifications, teachers with higher professional qualifications had more favourable attitudes towards children with hearing impairment. Teachers who taught at ordinary schools with special needs resource units had more favourable attitudes towards students with hearing impairment than those at schools without such units. Resource unit teachers welcomed social inclusion of children with mild hearing impairments. School administrators were concerned about the practice of including children with hearing impairments in regular school setting before inducting teachers.
IDENTIFICATION OF THE CYTOSOLIC CARBOXYLESTERASE CATALYZING THE 5′-DEOXY-5-FLUOROCYTIDINE FORMATION FROM CAPECITABINE IN HUMAN LIVER

Capecitabine, a prodrug of 5-fluorouracil, is first metabolized to 5′-deoxy-5-fluorocytidine (5′-DFCR) by carboxylesterase (CES), which is mainly expressed in microsomes. Recently, we clarified that 5′-DFCR formation was catalyzed by the enzyme in cytosol as well as microsomes in human liver. In the present study, the cytosolic enzyme involved in 5′-DFCR formation from capecitabine was identified. This enzyme was purified in the cytosolic preparation by ammonium sulfate precipitation, Sephacryl S-300 gel filtration, Mono P chromatofocusing, and Superdex 200 gel filtration. The purified enzyme was identified by the amino acid sequence analysis to be CES1A1 or a CES1A1 precursor. Based on the result of the N-terminal amino acid sequence analysis, the purified enzyme has no putative signal peptide, indicating that it was CES1A1. The apparent Km and Vmax values of 5′-DFCR formation were 19.2 mM and 88.3 nmol/min/mg protein, respectively. The 5′-DFCR formation catalyzed by the purified enzyme was inhibited by both diisopropylfluorophosphate and bis(p-nitrophenyl)phosphate in a concentration-dependent manner. 7-Ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38) formation from irinotecan also occurred in the purified enzyme, cytosol, and microsomes. In conclusion, the cytosolic enzyme involved in 5′-DFCR formation from capecitabine would be CES1A1. It is suggested that the cytosolic CES has significant hydrolysis activity and plays an important role as the microsomal CES in drug metabolism. It is worthy to investigate the metabolic enzyme in cytosol involved in the activation of ester-type prodrugs such as capecitabine.