Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Missed conceptions or misconceptions: perceived infertility among unmarried young adults in the United States.

CONTEXT Perceived infertility is an individual's belief that she or he is unable to conceive or impregnate, regardless of whether this belief is medically accurate. This perception may lead to contraceptive nonuse, which may, in turn, lead to unintended pregnancy. Little research has examined perceived infertility among young adults, including potential associations with contraceptive behaviors. METHODS The frequency of perceived infertility among young adults was assessed using 2009 data from a nationally representative telephone survey of 1,800 unmarried men and women aged 18-29. Multinomial regression analyses assessed associations between respondents' perceived infertility and selected background, reproductive knowledge, sexual experience and contraceptive use characteristics. RESULTS Overall, 19% of women and 13% of men believed that they were very likely to be infertile. Hispanic women and women who had received public assistance in the past year had elevated odds of perceived infertility (odds ratios, 3.4 and 3.0, respectively), as did Hispanic men and men of other racial or ethnic minorities, except blacks (2.5 and 6.1, respectively). Men who had some college education, had received sex education or were not in a current relationship had decreased odds of thinking they were very likely to be infertile (0.3-0.4). Among men, perceived infertility was associated with the belief that they were likely to have sex without using a contraceptive in the next three months (2.6). CONCLUSIONS A substantial proportion of young adults believe they are infertile. Improved provider counseling and sex education may be useful in helping them to better understand their actual probability of infertility, and this knowledge may lead to improved contraceptive use.
A rare malignant Brenner tumor of the ovary in a 77-year-old woman: a case report.

BACKGROUND A malignant Brenner tumor is a rare form of invasive epithelial ovarian cancer and is extremely uncommon in women > 65 years of age. We present a case of an invasive Brenner tumor of the ovary in a woman greater than age 70. CASE A 77-year-old woman presented with a rare, invasive Brenner tumor of the ovary. She was referred for evaluation of a complex pelvic mass and elevated serum CA-125. Treatment included complete surgical resection and staging procedure. Pathology revealed a malignant Brenner tumor. Immunohistochemical staining with cytokeratin 7 was positive, with cytokeratin 20 was negative, and was positive for uroplakin III and thrombomodulin. CONCLUSION The histologic appearance of malignant Brenner tumor is similar to that of transitional cell cancer of the ovary and transitional epithelium of the urinary bladder. Immunohistochemical staining of malignant Brenner tumor often demonstrates positivity for uroplakin III, thrombomodulin and cytokeratin 7 and negativity to cytokeratin 20. The mainstay of treatment is surgical resection, but the exact regimen and benefit of adjuvant therapy remain unknown.
The Human Specific CCR1 Antagonist CP-481,715 Inhibits Cell Infiltration and Inflammatory Responses in Human CCR1 Transgenic Mice

We previously described the in vitro characteristics of the potent and selective CCR1 antagonist, CP-481,715. In addition to being selective for CCR1 vs other chemokine receptors, CP-481,715 is also specific for human CCR1 (hCCR1), preventing its evaluation in classical animal models. To address this, we generated mice whereby murine CCR1 was replaced by hCCR1 (knockin) and used these animals to assess the anti-inflammatory properties of CP-481,715. Cells isolated from hCCR1 knockin mice were shown to express hCCR1 and migrate in response to both murine CCR1 and hCCR1 ligands. Furthermore, this migration is inhibited by CP-481,715 at dose levels comparable to those obtained with human cells. In animal models of cell infiltration, CP-481,715 inhibited CCL3-induced neutrophil infiltration into skin or into an air pouch with an ED50 of 0.2 mg/kg. CP-481,715 did not inhibit cell infiltration in wild-type animals expressing murine CCR1. In a more generalized model of inflammation, delayed-type hypersensitivity, CP-481,715 significantly inhibited footpad swelling and decreased the amount of IFN-γ and IL-2 produced by isolated spleen cells from sensitized animals. It did not, however, induce tolerance to a subsequent challenge. These studies illustrate the utility of hCCR1 knockin animals to assess the activity of human specific CCR1 antagonists; demonstrate the ability of the CCR1 antagonist CP-481,715 to inhibit cell infiltration, inflammation, and Th1 cytokine responses in these animals; and suggest that CP-481,715 may be useful to modulate inflammatory responses in human disease.
Amoeba-Based Fuzzy Computing for Uncertain Knowledge Processing

Fuzzy systems have extensively been applied to process uncertain information and knowledge, and have mostly been implemented on traditional silicon based chips or electronic circuits. This paper proposes a new, non-silicon based paradigm called amoeba-based computing. In this scheme, fuzzy systems, such as fuzzy logic (e.g., inference) and control, will be implemented by means of behavior of an amoeboid organism and an associated control system. Recently there has been a growing interest in amoeba-based, massively parallel computing that utilizes chaotic behavior of the amoeba. Amoebabased fuzzy computing inherits advantages of both amoeba-based computing and fuzzy systems, and provides unique computing capability of uncertain information and knowledge.
Patient Choice in Diabetes Education Curriculum: Nutritional versus standard content for type 2 diabetes

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of patient choice between two education curriculums that emphasized either the standard or nutritional management of type 2 diabetes on class attendance and other outcomes among a mostly Hispanic patient population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A total of 596 patients with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to either a choice or no choice condition. Patients in the choice condition were allowed to choose their curriculum, while patients in the no choice condition were randomly assigned to one of the two curriculums. Outcomes were assessed at baseline and at a 6-month follow-up. RESULTS When given a choice, patients chose the nutrition curriculum almost four times more frequently than the standard curriculum. Contrary to our hypothesis, however, patients who had a choice did not significantly increase their attendance rates or demonstrate improvements in other diabetes outcomes compared with patients who were randomly assigned to the two curriculums. Patients in the nutrition curriculum had significantly lower serum cholesterol at a 6-month follow-up, whereas patients in the standard curriculum had significant improvements in glycemic control. Of the randomized patients, 30% never attended any classes; the most frequently cited reasons for nonattendance were socioeconomic. Hispanic patients, however, were just as likely as non-Hispanic patients to attend classes and participate at the follow-up. Patients who attended all five classes of either curriculum significantly increased their diabetes knowledge, gained less weight, and reported improved physical functioning compared with patients who did not attend any classes. CONCLUSIONS Although providing patients with a choice in curriculums at the introductory level did not improve outcomes, differential improvements were noted between patients who attended curriculums with different content emphasis. We suggest that diabetes education programs should provide the opportunity for long-term, repetitive contacts to expand on the modest gains achieved at the introductory level, as well as provide more options to match individual needs and interests and to address socioeconomic barriers to participation.
An Econometric Analysis of Patient Flows in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit

This paper explores the rationing of bed capacity in a cardiac intensive care unit (ICU). We find that the length of stay for patients admitted to the ICU is influenced by the occupancy level of the ICU. In particular, a patient is likely to be discharged early when the occupancy in the ICU is high. This in turn leads to an increased likelihood of the patient having to be readmitted to the ICU at a later time. Such “bounce-backs” have implications for the overall ICU effective capacity---an early discharge immediately frees up capacity, but at the risk of a (potentially much higher) capacity requirement when the patient needs to be readmitted. We analyze these capacity implications, shedding light on the question of whether an ICU should apply an aggressive discharge strategy or if it should follow the old quality slogan and “do it right the first time. ” By comparing the total capacity usage for patients who were discharged early versus those who were not, we show that an aggressive discharge policy applied to patients with lower clinical severity levels frees up capacity in the ICU. However, we find that an increased number of readmissions of patients with high clinical severity levels occur when the ICU is capacity constrained, thereby effectively reducing peak bed capacity.
Glutamine Synthesis in the Developing Porcine Placenta1

Abstract Glutamine plays a vital role in fetal carbon and nitrogen metabolism and exhibits the highest fetal:maternal plasma ratio among all amino acids in pigs. Such disparate glutamine levels between mother and fetus suggest that glutamine may be actively synthesized and released into the fetal circulation by the porcine placenta. We hypothesized that branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) metabolism in the placenta plays an important role in placental glutamine synthesis. This hypothesis was tested by studying conceptuses from gilts on Days 20, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 60, 90, or 110 of gestation (n = 6 per day). Placental tissue was analyzed for amino acid concentrations, BCAA transport, BCAA degradation, and glutamine synthesis as well as the activities of related enzymes (including BCAA transaminase, branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase, glutamine synthetase, glutamate-pyruvate transaminase, and glutaminase). On all days of gestation, rates of BCAA transamination were much greater than rates of branched-chain α-ketoacid decarboxylation. The glutamate generated from BCAA transamination was primarily directed to glutamine synthesis and, to a much lesser extent, alanine production. Placental BCAA transport, BCAA transamination, glutamine synthesis, and activities of related enzymes increased markedly between Days 20 and 40 of gestation, as did glutamine in fetal allantoic fluid. Accordingly, placental BCAA levels decreased after Day 20 of gestation in association with a marked increase in BCAA catabolism and concentrations of glutamine. There was no detectable catabolism of glutamine in pig placenta throughout pregnancy, which would ensure maximum output of glutamine by this tissue. These novel results demonstrate glutamine synthesis from BCAAs in pig placentae, aid in explaining the abundance of glutamine in the fetus, and provide valuable insight into the dynamic role of the placenta in fetal metabolism and nutrition.
SURVIVAL OF LISTERIA MONOCYTOGENES IN SOIL

The hypothesis of soil serving as a natural reservoir for Listeria monocytogenes is not unattractive, since the distribution of the organism over an area ranging from the Arctic to Africa involving man and many other species of animals suggests a common source of infection (Murray, 1955; Seeliger, 1955; in a personal communication, Dr. M. L. Gray, who has kept an up-to-date record of Listeriae isolations, lists 29 animals, 14 birds, and 1 trout). The title of a paper by Olsuf'ev and Petrov (1949) suggests the isolation of Listeriae from spring water. Gray (1960) reports the isolation of Listeriae from mice that were fed silage which previously was implicated in listeric abortion of cattle. Although the organism has not been found in the soil, some have considered it possible (Seeliger and Cherry, 1957). The present paper is concerned with the survival of L. monocytogenes in soil under experimental conditions.
Tomographie ultrasonore osseuse : Caractérisation de la diaphyse des os par inversion d'un champ acoustique diffracté ; Intérêt pour l'imagerie pédiatrique

Depuis plusieurs annees, l'equipe "Propagation & Imagerie" du Laboratoire de Mecanique et d'Acoustique UPR CNRS 7051 s'interesse a la tomographie ultrasonore pour inverser le champ acoustique rayonne par une structure osseuse corticale, i.e. reconstruire une image numerique et parametrique en coupe transversale 2D de la diaphyse des os longs. Les premiers resultats in vitro sur des echantillons adultes sont tres encourageants et pertinents. Aujourd'hui, nous orientons nos travaux vers l'imagerie du tissu osseux chez l'enfant. Les dimensions, la constitution ou encore l'elasticite de ces "plus petits" os se pretent bien aux approximations et modelisations envisagees. Lors de cette soutenance, je me propose de faire une synthese des actions passees, presentes et futures sur ce sujet, en exposant l'interet de la methode mais aussi ses limites, en presentant les strategies mises en oeuvre pour l'inversion (methodes experimentales ou numeriques basees sur l'approximation de Born et/ou Born distordu, et basees sur l'approximation par des objets canoniques - ICBA). J'exposerai nos travaux sur les developpements experimentaux, sur la propagation dans ces milieux complexes et sur les protocoles d'acquisition et de traitement des signaux que nous avons elabores.
Targeted Screening of Fabry Disease in Male Hemodialysis Patients in Brazil Highlights Importance of Family Screening

Introduction: Fabry disease (FD) is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by enzyme α galactosidase A (α-Gal A) deficiency due to mutations in the galactosidase alpha (GLA) gene. It leads to damage several organs, such as the kidneys, due to progressive accumulation of glycosphingolipids. Objective: To estimate the prevalence of FD among male hemodialysis (HD) patients in a northern state of Brazil. Methods: Screening was performed using a dried blood spot on filter paper to identify patients with low α-Gal A enzyme activity (≤2.2 µmol/l/h). Those with low enzyme activity underwent genetic analysis of the GLA gene. Family screening was conducted in the index cases. Results: 2,583 male HD patients (age: 52 (18-91 years)) were screened. The α-Gal A assay identified 72 males (2.78%) with low enzyme activity. Genotyping identified 3 patients with GLA mutations: W204X, A368T, both previously reported; and C52F, a novel missense mutation. Only the patient with W204X mutation had classic FD. The prevalence rate was 0.12%. Family screening of the index cases identified 23 family members with the same mutations. Conclusions: The prevalence of FD amongst male HD patients found in the Northern of Brazil was low (0.12%). However, family screening of the 3 index cases identified family members at an early stage of the disease, which may benefit from earlier treatment.
Extending the expectation-confirmation model with quality and flow to explore nurses' continued blended e-learning intention

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to propose a hybrid model based on the expectation-confirmation model (ECM), flow theory, and updated DeLone and McLean information system (IS) success model to examine whether quality factors as the antecedents to nurse beliefs affected nurses’ intention to continue using the blended electronic learning (e-learning) system. Design/methodology/approach – Sample data for this study were collected from nurses at five hospitals in Taiwan. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed, 396 (79.2 percent) questionnaires were returned. Consequently, 378 usable questionnaires were analyzed in this study, with a usable response rate of 75.6 percent. Collected data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. Findings – Information quality, system quality, support service quality, and instructor quality contribute significantly to perceived usefulness (PU), confirmation, and flow, which together explain nurses’ satisfaction with the usage of the blended e-learning syste.
Input filter design for current-programmed regulators

The design of input filters for switched-mode regulators is discussed, and it is shown that the filter's effect on the power system depends on the control method used in the regulator's DC-DC converter. Design inequalities are reviewed for duty-ratio programmed converters, and specific expressions are presented for current-programmed converters. Examples of application to practical regulator circuits are given, where current-programmed criteria, computer-driven measurement tools, and numerical evaluations of analytic expressions are used to design input filters from laboratory data or from specified black box parameters. <<ETX>>
Phenylketonuria with a Study of the Effect upon it of Glutamic Acid

Since Foiling (1934) in Norway first drew attention to the association of mental defect with the excretion of phenylpyruvic acid in the urine, this syndrome has been reported from many parts of the world. In institutions for mental defect it has become possible to separate, by a simple urine test, a group of patients of the lower grades who are found also to have certain general physical characteristics in common. Names for this inborn error of metabolism range from the descriptive but unwieldy term ' phenylpyruvic oligophrenia ' to ' Folling's disease. ' ' Phenylketonuria ' was suggested by Quastel and adopted by Penrose (1935). It has been studied in great detail as a problem in genetics, chiefly by Penrose (1946) and Munro (1947) in Britain, and by Jervis (1939) in the U.S.A. The conclusion reached is that it is inherited as a Mendelian recessive characteristic. In a large series of families, it is found that the proportion of affected siblings is about one in four, and that there is a greater than average incidence of consanguinity amongst the parents (in Munro's series, 10% compared with a normal rate of 1 %). Fortunately the fertility of phenylketonuric patients is so low that it rarely occurs in both parents and offspring. In a series of 50 cases (Jervis, 1937) only one parent was definitely affected. It has been suggested (Penrose, 1935) that depression with persecutory ideas and other types of mental disturbance are more common amongst the parents of these patients than amongst the average population. Munro (1947) compared the parents from 47 phenylketonuric families with the parents of a large group of idiots and imbeciles of. other types, and found the incidence of psychoses to be about the same.
PERSEPSI DAN PREFERENSI PENGUNJUNG TERHADAP KAWASAN WISATA PANTAI MALALAYANG

Kawasan wisata pantai Malalayang memiliki potensi jual di Kota Manado. Dilihat berdasarkan tingkat kunjungan pengunjung pada hari sabtu, hari minggu dan hari libur lainnya. Kegiatan berkunjung di kawasan wisata pantai Malalayang belum didukung dengan pelayanan yang memadai oleh pihak pengelola, dari aspek daya tarik wisata, fasilitas wisata dan aksesibilitas yang memadai serta promosi dan informasi yang dapat menarik wisatawan untuk berkunjung. Pengelola belum mengerti persepsi dan preferensi pengunjung yang merupakan salah satu komponen pariwisata yang utama. Dimana pengunjung memiliki persamaan persepsi dan preferensi terhadap kawasan wisata pantai Malalayang dan kawasan wisata pantai Malalayang memiliki daya tarik tersendiri bagi warga Kota Manado dan sekitarnya. Pengambilan sampel dalam penelitian ini dilakukan dengan menggunakan metode pengambilan sampel acak sederhana random sampling . Metode pengambilan sampel acak sederhana adalah teknik pengambilan sampel yang dilakukan secara acak atau random. Analisa data menggunakan metode tabulasi. Dimana metode tabulasi pada prinsipnya pemberian skor pada jumlah kriteria yang menjadi aspek dalam penelitian. Kriteria yang dipilih dalam studi ini adalah yang dapat mengambarkan karakter kondisi kawasan wisata pantai Malalayang dan responden diminta untuk menilai pada kuesioner yang disediakan. Hasil dari kuesioner akan diolah dalam table dengan perhitungan statistik sederhana yang sudah dibobotkan pada setiap atribut. Kesimpulan dari penelitian bahwa persepsi dengan rata-rata bobot 3.28 yaitu aspek daya tarik wisata dengan sub aspek baik dengan rata-rata bobot 3.75 adalah pemandangan alam. Pemandangan alam di kawasan wisata pantai Malalayang berbeda dengan tempat-tempat lain di pesisir teluk Kota Manado. Preferensi pengunjung terhadap kawasan wisata pantai Malalayang dengan rata-rata bobot terbesar atau 4.36 adalah sub aspek kios makan.
Stathmin: a protein with many tasks. New biomarker and potential target in cancer

Introduction: Stathmin is a microtubule-destabilizing phosphoprotein, firstly identified as the downstream target of many signal transduction pathways. Several studies then indicated that stathmin is overexpressed in many types of human malignancies, thus deserving the name of Oncoprotein 18 (Op18). At molecular level, stathmin depolymerizes microtubules by either sequestering free tubulin dimers or directly inducing microtubule-catastrophe. A crucial role for stathmin in the control of mitosis has been proposed, since both its overexpression and its downregulation induce failure in the correct completion of cell division. Accordingly, stathmin is an important target of the main regulator of M phase, cyclin-dependent kinase 1. Areas covered: Recent evidences support a role for stathmin in the regulation of cell growth and motility, both in vitro and in vivo, and indicate its involvement in advanced, invasive and metastatic cancer more than in primary tumors. Expert opinion: Many studies suggest that high stathmin expression levels in cancer negatively influence the response to microtubule-targeting drugs. These notions together with the fact that stathmin is expressed at very low levels in most adult tissues strongly support the use of stathmin as marker of prognosis and as target for novel anti-tumoral and anti-metastatic therapies.
Ligation of the Inferior Mesenteric Artery in the Surgery of Rectal Cancer: Anatomical Considerations

Background: No agreement has been found in the literature concerning the safest point of ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery (ima) in order to avoid nerve damage during the surgery of rectal cancer. Study Design: The distance between the origin of the ima and the left paraortic trunk was measured, as was the distance between the left paraortic trunk and the origin of the left colic artery (lca). The measurements were carried out on 20 cadavers and during 22 operations for rectal cancer. Results: The left paraortic trunk always runs posterior to the ima: its distance from the origin of the ima is on average 1.2 cm; the distance of the left paraortic trunk from the origin of the lca is on average 0.4 cm. The point at which the ima and the left paraortic trunk cross varies greatly, but it is never near the origin of the ima. Conclusions: From an anatomical point of view the safest point of ligation of the ima is at its origin. At this point, the left paraortic trunk never runs; so there isn’t any risk to damage the nerve involving it during the ligation of the artery.