Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Construct Validity and Invariance of Four Factors Associated with Colorectal Cancer Screening across Gender, Race, and Prior Screening

Understanding individuals' perceptions of colorectal cancer screening (CRCS) is important for developing effective interventions to increase adherence to screening guidelines. Theory-based cognitive and psychosocial constructs have been associated with CRCS in the literature, but few studies have evaluated the psychometric properties of such measures. We hypothesized a correlated four-factor model, including CRCS perceived pros, cons, social influence, and self-efficacy. We also examined measurement invariance across subgroups based on gender, race (white; African American), and prior CRCS experience (never; overdue for repeat screening). We used baseline (n = 1,250) and 2-week (n = 1,036) follow-up survey data from participants in a behavioral intervention trial designed to increase CRCS. Only minor modifications were made to the hypothesized model to improve fit, and the final model was confirmed with a random half of the sample, as well as with follow-up data. Results support the hypothesized unidimensional construct measures and suggest that the items may be appropriate for all subgroups examined. Greater variance in responses to items assessing the perceived cons of CRCS was found among African Americans compared with whites, suggesting that race may moderate the association between perceived cons and CRCS in this sample. Pros, cons, social influence, and self-efficacy are associated with CRCS; therefore, using scales with known psychometric properties strengthens researchers' ability to draw conclusions about group differences and changes over time and to compare their results with other studies. Replication studies in other populations are needed to provide further evidence of construct validity for the scales reported here. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(9):2231–7)
Multi‐decadal variability of drought risk, eastern Australia

A number of previous studies have identified changes in the climate occurring on decadal to multi‐decadal time‐scales. Recent studies also have revealed multi‐decadal variability in the modulation of the magnitude of El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) impacts on rainfall and stream flow in Australia and other areas. This study investigates multi‐decadal variability of drought risk by analysing the performance of a water storage reservoir in New South Wales, Australia, during different climate epochs defined using the Inter‐decadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) index. The performance of the reservoir is also analysed under three adaptive management techniques and these are compared with the reservoir performance using the current ‘reactive’ management practices. The results indicate that IPO modulation of both the magnitude and frequency of ENSO events has the effect of reducing and elevating drought risk on multi‐decadal time‐scales. The results also confirm that adaptive reservoir management techniques, based on ENSO forecasts, can improve drought security and become significantly more important during dry climate epochs. These results have marked implications for improving drought security for water storage reservoirs. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Acute myocardial infarction associated with high dose intravenous immunoglobulin infusion for autoimmune disorders. A study of four cases

OBJECTIVE To report on four patients with autoimmune disorders who developed acute myocardial infarction (MI) during or soon after treatment with high dose intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) and to determine the clinical profile of patients prone to this complication. METHODS The clinical history of the four patients is reported with details concerning age, sex, indication for IVIG treatment, risk factors, timing of the MI and outcome. The relevant medical literature has been reviewed. RESULTS The patients, three men and one woman, aged 42–67, received IVIG treatment for different autoimmune disorders. All had a history of atherosclerosis or previous risk factors such as hypertension, stroke, hyperlipidaemia and obesity. Two of the patients suffered a MI after the first infusion of IVIG while the others—after the 5th and 15th pulses. MI occurred during the infusion in two patients and after a few days in the others. All the patients recovered from the acute event. These observations are in concert with sporadic cases of IVIG related thrombosis reported in the medical literature. CONCLUSION In patients with vascular risk factors such as old age, hypertension, history of stroke or coronary artery disease, the possibility of IVIG related vascular complications should be considered and IVIG prescribed with a cautious reweighted risk/benefit consideration.
Psychology and socioculture affect injury risk, response, and recovery in high‐intensity athletes: a consensus statement

This consensus statement summarizes key contemporary research themes relevant to understanding the psychology and socioculture of sport injury. Special consideration is given toward high‐intensity sport in which elite athlete training and performance efforts are characterized by explosive physical speed and strength, mental fortitude to push physical limits, and maximum effort and commitment to highly challenging goals associated with achieving exceptional performance. Sport injury occurrence in high‐intensity sport is an adverse and stressful health event associated with a complex multitude of risks, consequences and outcomes. A biopsychosocial ( Engel, 1980 ) view is advocated which contextualizes an understanding of the psychological aspects of sport injury in light of influential sociocultural, ethical, and biomedical issues. Outcomes related to athlete health and performance excellence are of equal importance in considering how psychological scholarship, expertise and services can be used to improve efforts focused on the prevention and management of sport injury among high‐intensity athletes. The consensus view is that psychology and socioculture do affect sport injury risk, response and recovery in high‐intensity athletes, and that continued efforts in psychological research and professional practice are needed to protect athlete physical and mental health and contribute toward performance excellence and career longevity.
Polarization dependence and efficiency in a fiber four-wave mixing phase conjugator with orthogonal pump waves

We study the influence of pump separation on polarization dependence and on conversion efficiency in a fiber-based optical phase-conjugator with two orthogonal pump waves at different wavelengths. The polarization dependence is found to be minimized when the pump wavelength separation is small. Furthermore, both theory and experiments show that the efficiency is maximized if the signal wavelength is located close to one of the pumps.
The forearm and hand musculature of semi‐terrestrial rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) and arboreal gibbons (Fam. Hylobatidae). Part I. Description and comparison of the muscle configuration

Primates live in very diverse environments and, as a consequence, show an equally diverse locomotor behaviour. During locomotion, the primate hand interacts with the superstrate and/or substrate and will therefore probably show adaptive signals linked with this locomotor behaviour. Whereas the morphology of the forearm and hand bones have been studied extensively, the functional adaptations in the hand musculature have been documented only scarcely. To evaluate whether there are potential adaptations in forelimb musculature to locomotor behaviour, we investigated the forearm and hand musculature of the highly arboreal gibbons (including Hylobates lar, Hylobates pileatus, Nomascus leucogenys, Nomascus concolor, Symphalangus syndactylus) and compared this with the musculature of the semi‐terrestrial rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) by performing complete and detailed dissections on a sample of 15 unembalmed specimens. We found that the overall configuration of the upper arm and hand musculature is highly comparable between arboreal gibbons and semi‐terrestrial macaques, and follows the general primate condition. Most of the identified differences in muscle configuration are located in the forearm. In macaques, a prominent m. epitrochleoanconeus is present, which potentially helps to extend the forearm and/or stabilize the elbow joint during quadrupedal walking. The m. flexor carpi radialis shows a more radial insertion in gibbons, which might be advantageous during brachiation, as it can aid radial deviation. The fingers of macaques are controlled in pairs by the m. extensor digiti secondi et tertii proprius and the m. extensor digiti quarti et quinti proprius—a similar organization can also be found in their flexors—which might aid in efficient positioning of the hand and fingers on uneven substrates during quadrupedal walking. In contrast, extension of the little finger in gibbons is controlled by a separate m. extensor digiti minimi, whereas digits 2 to 4 are extended by the m. extensor digitorum brevis, suggesting that simultaneous extension of digits 2–4 in gibbons might be important when reaching or grasping an overhead support during brachiation. In conclusion, the overall configuration of the forelimb and hand musculature is very similar in gibbons and macaques, with some peculiarities which can be linked to differences in forelimb function and which might be related to the specific locomotor behaviour of each group.
The Arachidonic Acid Cascade, Eicosanoids, and Signal Transduction a

Eicosanoid biosynthesis in animal cells either results from agonist-stimulated phospholipase activation (endogenous pathway) or from lipoprotein receptor-mediated uptake and lysosomal lipid hydrolase-dependent release of AA (exogenous pathway) (see Fig. 1 for schematic representation). LDL stimulates eicosanoid formation through delivery of substrate AA to enzymes of oxidative AA metabolism. The classical LDL receptor is a control point of the effects of LDL AA on eicosanoid formation in different tissues: LDL AA metabolism occurs in several cell types of mesenchymal and epithelial origin and generates the formation of distinct eicosanoid patterns in each case. The LDL AA pathway does appear to couple directly to the PGH synthase reaction, whereas it does not couple directly to the 5-lipoxygenase reaction. We expect that a more complete characterization of the LDL unsaturated fatty acid pathway in different tissue will yield additional information on the biochemistry of lipoproteins, AA, and eicosanoids.
TCDD Exposure‐Response Analysis and Risk Assessment

We examined the relation between cancer mortality and time‐dependent cumulative exposure to 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐p‐dioxin (TCDD) estimated from a concentration‐ and age‐dependent kinetic model of elimination, and we estimated incremental cancer risks at age 75. Data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health study of 3,538 workers with occupational exposure to TCDD were analyzed using standardized mortality ratios and Cox regression procedures. Analyses adjusted for potential confounding by age, year of birth, and race and considered exposure lag periods of 0, 10, or 15 years. Other potential confounders including smoking and other occupational exposures were evaluated indirectly. To explore the influence of extreme values of cumulative TCDD ppt‐years, we restricted the analysis to observations with exposure below the 95th percentile or used logarithmic (ln) transformed exposure values. We applied penalized smoothing splines to examine variation in the exposure‐response relation across the exposure range. TCDD was not statistically significantly associated with cancer mortality using the full data set, regardless of the lag period. When we restricted the analysis to observations with exposure below the 95th percentile, TCDD was associated positively with cancer mortality, particularly when a 15‐year lag was applied (untransformed exposure data: regression coefficient , standard error (s.e.) = 1.4 × 10−6, p < 0.05; ln‐transformed exposure data: , s.e. = 2.9 × 10−2, p < 0.05). The estimated incremental lifetime risk of mortality at age 75 from all cancers was about 6 to more than 10 times lower than previous estimates derived from this cohort using exposure models that did not consider the age and concentration dependence of TCDD elimination.
Homocysteine inhibits angiogenesis through cytoskeleton remodeling

Homocysteine (Hcy) is an intermediate non-diet amino acid connecting methionine and folate cycles. Elevated total Hcy level in blood, denoted as hyperhomocysteinemia, has emerged as a prevalent and strong risk factor for multiple diseases including atherosclerotic vascular disease in coronary, cerebral, and peripheral vessels. Its detrimental effect on vascular system implies the potential application as an inhibitor of angiogenesis. However, the detailed mechanism is unveiled. Inhibitory effect of Hcy was assessed on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced cell proliferation and migration with endothelial cell (EC) culture system. Its effect on angiogenesis was further examined in vitro and in vivo. After Hcy treatment, key angiogenic factors were measured by RT-qPCR. Cellular skeletal structure was also evaluated by actin stress fiber staining. VEGF-induced human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) proliferation and migration were dramatically down-regulated by Hcy in a dose-responsive manner. Hcy treatment significantly inhibited the VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vitro by tube formation assay and chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) vessel formation in vivo. Key angiogenic factors like VEGFR1/2 and angiopoietin (Ang)1/2 were substantially reduced by Hcy in HUVEC- and VEGF-induced actin stress fiber cytoskeletal structure was abolished. We demonstrated that Hcy could inhibit angiogenesis by targetting key angiogenic factor and disruption of actin cytoskeleton which is crucial for cell migration.
“It is always now” (Beloved): Notes on the Urgency of Enslavism Theory, and Studies

Abstract This article argues for the necessity, for white scholars, to turn to the study of what I call enslavism, a term necessary to situate current anti-Black practices in the “future that had been created by men and women in chains” (Hartman, Saidiya V. [2007]. Lose Your Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route. New York, NY: Farrar, 233) and thus to critique them as the ongoing afterlife of enslavement, instead of addressing slavery as an event in bygone history. Conceptualizing their work with this term, white scholars may labor to contribute to Black Studies by way of “sitting with” (see Sharpe, Christina [2016]. In the Wake: On Blackness and Being. Durham, NC: Duke University Press) black knowledge which can enable us to produce a critical protocol, to paraphrase Hortense Spillers, of enslavism as the ongoing afterlife of social, cultural and political anti-Blackness in the future that transatlantic enslavement has made. To produce those critical protocols means to re-read the longue durée of humanism in a way that abolishes the human’s ontological reign of life, and of knowledge, based as it has been on black non-existence for the human.
Experimental evaluation of a 2DOF haptic device with four-state rotary programmable brakes

Safety is an important factor for human-machine interface devices. Brake actuated devices are potentially safer than those that rely on motors for force-feedback generation. However, manipulators using conventional frictional brakes do have limitations. This paper presents the experimental evaluation of a newly developed four-state rotary programmable brake in a 2DOF manipulator. The experimental results show improved performance compared to the results obtained when manipulators with conventional frictional brakes are used.
Plesiomonas shigelloides diarrhea in Enugu area of south eastern Nigeria: Incidence, clinical and epidemiological features

The role of Plesiomonas shigelloides was determined in patients attending health centres and cottage hospitals in parts of Enugu State of Nigeria had diarrhoea. During the 12-month study (March 2012 - Feb 2013), P. shigelloides was isolated from 51 (7.2%) patients who had diarrhoea and none from 500 patients without diarrhoea (p 0,05). A seasonality distribution in favour of rainy season was also observed with the highest cases recruited in the periods June - August (54.9%) and September - October (23.5%). Only 2 (3.9%) were recruited between December and February. Thirty-seven (5.2%) patients had single infection with Plesimonas while 14 (2.0%) were co-infected with other bacterial pathogens. No parasitic agents were detected in the samples analysed. Twenty-seven (73%) of the patients with simple Plesimonas infection had watery diarrhoea; 24 (64.8%) had abdominal pain; 12 (32.4%) had fever, 7 (18.9 %) had visible mucus in stool, 6 (16.2%) had bloody diarrhoea while 5 (13.5%) were vomiting. Of the 5 children up to 5 years of age who had single infection, 3(60%) were clinically dehydrated. Of the 37 who had single infection, 8 (21.6%) had diarrhoea >/- 14 days. The antibiogram shows that the Plesimonas strains were highly resistant to the more available antibiotics in the area, with Ampicillin having a resistivity of 90.2%, Trimetoprim sulphamethoxazole (66.7%) and Tetracycline 51%, while the less available ones like Imipenem (2%), Aztreneonam and Cefotaxime (3.9%) each, and Laevofloxacillin (5.9%), had the least resistance. The findings may be of Public Health importance for creating awareness among physicians about the clinical profile and management strategy of P. shigelloides-diarrhoea in the area.
Stretchable e-Skin Patch for Gesture Recognition on the Back of the Hand

Gesture recognition is important for human–computer interaction and a variety of emerging research and commercial areas including virtual and augmented reality. Current approaches typically require sensors to be placed on the forearm, wrist, or directly across finger joints; however, they can be cumbersome or hinder human movement and sensation. In this paper, we introduce a novel approach to recognize hand gestures by estimating skin strain with multiple soft sensors optimally placed across the back of the hand. A pilot study was first conducted by covering the back of the hand with 40 small 2.5 mm reflective markers and using a high-precision camera system to measure skin strain patterns for individual finger movements. Optimal strain locations are then determined and used for sensor placement in a stretchable e-skin patch prototype. Experimental testing is performed to evaluate the stretchable e-skin patch performance in classifying individual finger gestures and American Sign Language 0–9 number gestures. Results showed classification accuracies of 95.3% and 94.4% for finger gestures and American Sign Language 0–9 gestures, respectively. These results demonstrate the feasibility of a stretchable e-skin patch on the back of the hand for hand gesture recognition and their potential to significantly enhance human–computer interaction.
Therapeutic administration of a recombinant human monoclonal antibody reduces the severity of chikungunya virus disease in rhesus macaques

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne virus that causes a febrile syndrome in humans associated with acute and chronic debilitating joint and muscle pain. Currently no licensed vaccines or therapeutics are available to prevent or treat CHIKV infections. We recently isolated a panel of potently neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), one (4N12) of which exhibited prophylactic and post-exposure therapeutic activity against CHIKV in immunocompromised mice. Here, we describe the development of an engineered CHIKV mAb, designated SVIR001, that has similar antigen binding and neutralization profiles to its parent, 4N12. Because therapeutic administration of SVIR001 in immunocompetent mice significantly reduced viral load in joint tissues, we evaluated its efficacy in a rhesus macaque model of CHIKV infection. Rhesus macaques that were treated after infection with SVIR001 showed rapid elimination of viremia and less severe joint infiltration and disease compared to animals treated with SVIR002, an isotype control mAb. SVIR001 reduced viral burden at the site of infection and at distant sites and also diminished the numbers of activated innate immune cells and levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. SVIR001 therapy; however, did not substantively reduce the induction of CHIKV-specific B or T cell responses. Collectively, these results show promising therapeutic activity of a human anti-CHIKV mAb in rhesus macaques and provide proof-of-principle for its possible use in humans to treat active CHIKV infections.
Evaluation of cost of home therapy for patients with terminal diseases

Palliative care and palliative medicine embrace the philosophy and the body of knowledge regarding the correct treatment of patients with terminal disease. Palliative treatments can be delivered intramurally (eg, in a hospice or palliative care unit) or at home (home care hospice). The optimal delivery pattern consists of the co-utilization of both care settings, to allow patients who need palliative, supportive, and terminal care to benefit from each setting. In obtaining the available resources, health service costs in Western countries have lately become exorbitant. Home care hospice is a system capable of defeating the challenge on two fronts: to meet the patients' needs and to fulfill this task through economically advantageous practices. Home care hospice is undoubtedly more cost-effective than conventional or generic home care, conventional care (hospitalization), and inpatient hospice care. Its advantage is more evident in the last 3 months of life, due to shorter hospitalization and nonutilization of high-technology interventions and high-cost drugs. The development of a range of palliative care programs integrating primary territorial care and specialized palliative services can constitute the ideal synthesis to respond to patients' needs in a threefold manner: firstly, the patient's right to qualified palliative and terminal care; secondly, the requirements of health services, and lastly, cost containment through a correct and tailored use of available resources.
Stable “zeta” peptides that act as potent antagonists of the high-affinity IgE receptor

Recently we described a family of peptides, unrelated in sequence to IgE, that form stable β-hairpins in solution and inhibit IgE activity in the μM range [Nakamura, G. R. , Starovasnik, M. A. , Reynolds, M. E. & Lowman, H. B. (2001) Biochemistry 40, 9828–9835]. Using an expanded set of peptide–phage libraries, we found a simpler motif, X2CPX2CYX, for binding to the high-affinity IgE receptor. In solution, one of these peptides spontaneously formed a covalent antiparallel dimer. We subsequently linked these monomers in a single-chain construct on phage and optimized receptor binding. Ultimately, peptides with 30 nM affinity were produced. NMR studies showed that the peptide adopts a stable fold consisting of two “zeta” (ζ)-shaped moieties. Structure–activity analyses reveal a single binding site created by the zeta-dimer, with two tyrosine residues important for structural stability and two proline residues important for FcɛRI binding. The peptides inhibit histamine release from cultured cells and are extremely stable in biological fluids. The zeta peptides appear to act as competitive IgE inhibitors and suggest possibilities for design of novel IgE antagonists.