Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Physical activity in urban white, African-American, and Mexican-American women.

PURPOSE AND METHODS The purpose of this study was to analyze physical activity in a large, diverse sample of urban women (N = 521; X = 40.5 +/- 10.5 yr) relative to race/ethnicity, income, age, and education, using a sex-specific physical activity questionnaire. We also examined demographic and behavioral predictors of high levels (> or = 2000 kcal.wk-1) of leisure-time physical activity (LTPA; exercise, sports, recreational activities) in this population. RESULTS The majority of women were sedentary (0-666 kcal.wk-1 in LTPA), and only 8% of African-American women (N = 6), 11% of Mexican-American women (N = 4), and 13% of white women (N = 55) participated in the level of physical activity recommended by the surgeon general (i.e., moderate to vigorous physical activity most days of the week for at least 30 min). Women of color, women over 40, and women without a college education had the lowest levels of participation in LTPA. Logistic regression analysis indicated that education was the only significant predictor of high LTPA in white women (P < 0.01) and marital status was the only significant predictor of high LTPA in minority women (P < 0.001). Age, body mass index (BMI; kg.m-2), income, self-rated health, alcohol intake, and smoking were not significant predictors of high LTPA for any of the women. Because the majority of adult women from this sample do not participate in adequate amounts of physical activity as recommended by the surgeon general, they may be at increased risk for hypokinetic diseases. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that public health efforts to increase physical activity in women should be focused on women of color, women over 40, and women without a college degree. More attention to predictors of physical activity that are specific to race or ethnicity may improve intervention program design and implementation.
Mutation of Tp53 contributes to the malignant phenotype of Abelson virus-transformed lymphoid cells

Abelson murine leukemia virus transforms pre-B cells in vitro and induces rapid-onset pre-B-cell lymphoma in vivo. Expression of an active v-Abl protein tyrosine kinase is required for the oncogenic functions of the virus. Despite the strong growth-stimulatory signal provided by v-Abl, the virus-induced tumors are clonal or oligoclonal, and changes in the growth and oncogenic potential of in vitro transformants occur during the derivation of the cell lines. Both of these features suggest that v-Abl expression must be complemented by changes in expression of one or more cellular genes for cells to acquire a fully malignant phenotype. Such genes could include other oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes. Among the latter is Tp53, a gene mutated in many spontaneous cancers. To determine if mutation of the Tp53 tumor suppressor gene plays a role in Abelson virus transformation, conformation-specific monoclonal antibodies were used to examine p53 expression in a panel of Abelson virus-transformed pre-B cells. Expression of mutant forms of p53 was detected in over 40% of the isolates. Sequence analysis revealed the presence of point mutations affecting the highly conserved central portion of the protein. These mutations interfered with the ability of p53 to activate transcription from a promoter containing p53-responsive elements and to induce apoptosis in response to DNA damage. In addition, cells expressing mutant forms of p53 induced a higher frequency of tumors with a more rapid course compared to transformants expressing wild-type p53. These data suggest that Tp53 is one important cellular gene involved in malignant transformation by Abelson virus.
A Tool Framework for KPI Application Development

This paper describes a KPI (key performance indicator) modeling environment, coined Mozart, where modelers can use formal models to explicitly define the services of KPI and their relationships which are depicted by KPI net. Mozart provides us with methods for mining and modeling KPIs and supports smooth model transformation for generating monitoring applications based on a model driven approach. It also provides us with methods of service composition for KPI applications. We showed how it works with an example scenario of automobile data and found that "mpg" is most strongly influenced by four KPIs. The result showed which KPIs should be focused for human monitoring, and it can be an initial model for monitoring applications.
Study of blood lipids, cortisol and haemodynamic variations under stress in male adults.

BACKGROUND Increased cholesterol in blood plays the role in atherosclerosis formation. It is observed that stress increases cholesterol level. Most of previous studies were conducted on biological risk factors like blood lipids under stress in middle aged persons who remained under investigations for heart problems. OBJECTIVE The study was conducted to evaluate the changes in blood lipids and blood cortisol along with sympatheo-adnergic responses determined by selected haemodynamic parameters during psychological stress. METHODS Male participants (n = 114) were randomly selected. They were examined two times, for stress task of viva-voce (degree examination) and during non-stress period. Final selection of participants was depending on stress assessment and their well being. RESULTS Cortisol, systolic and diastolic blood pressures (SBP and DBP) and heart rate (HR) were significantly increased during stress period with p < 0.001 for each parameter. But different blood lipids levels (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C and TG) were detected with different significant levels. The correlations of changed lipids with raised findings of haemodynamics and cortisol were also evaluated. CONCLUSION Further studies in our population are needed to evaluate the relation of changes in various biological risk factors including IL-9 and sympatho-adernergic activities with stress factors related to our social/ environmental problems, especially genetically based psychological factors.
Two-Period Revenue Surprises and Investor Sentiment in Taiwan

Using revenue announcement data from the Taiwanese stock market, we find that stocks experiencing two consecutive negative revenue surprises will exhibit lower negative returns in adjustment periods when higher investor sentiment exists in prior period. In contrast, the significant return difference does not occur in event periods, albeit which are more close (than adjustment periods) to the very moment when the market receives revenue news. The evidence implies an optimism-driven overpricing over event periods and a delayed downward correction in subsequent adjustment periods. We suggest the role of cognitive dissonance theory in explaining the delayed downward reaction. That is, cognitive dissonance arises when there exists conflicting signals between high investor sentiment and bad revenue surprises, resulting in delayed reaction to bad revenue surprises. The return difference is weaker for stocks with two consecutive positive revenue surprises in pessimism, implying weaker initial underpricing, and thereby corroborating the assertion by Miller (1977) that overpricing is more common than underpricing. The return difference extends for approximately three to six months, confirming the persistence of the delayed reaction predicted by cognitive dissonance theory. The differential return is insensitive to risk factors and various levels of concentrations of retail investors, yet it is stronger among stocks with more binding of short-sale constraints.
Weight control is vital for patients with early-stage endometrial cancer or complex atypical hyperplasia who have received progestin therapy to spare fertility: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objectives: This study aimed to identify potential prognostic factors for patients with complex atypical hyperplasia (CAH) or early-stage endometrial cancer (EC) who received progestin therapy to spare fertility and, thus, improve the management of this patient group. Materials and methods: The PubMed, PMC, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched for correlational studies published in English. Studies that evaluated the prognosis of patients with CAH or early-stage EC were pooled for a systematic review and meta-analysis. Results: In total, 31 eligible studies, including 8 prospective and 23 retrospective studies involving 1099 patients, were included in this analysis. The most commonly used progestin agents were medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA, 47.0%) and megestrol acetate (MA, 25.5%). The total complete response (CR) rate was 75.8% (833/1099), and the median time to CR with first-line progestin therapy was 6 months. In total, 294 (26.8%) patients who achieved CR became pregnant spontaneously (28 cases) or through assisted reproductive technology (127 cases). During the median follow-up of 39 months, 245 (22.3%) women developed recurrence. Only one patient (0.09%) died of the disease. The meta-analysis showed that compared to a BMI<25 kg/m2 and CAH, a body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2 (P=0.0004, odds ratios (OR), 0.4; 95% confidence interval, 0.3–0.6) and EC (P=0.0000, OR, 0.3; 95% confidence interval, 0.2–0.6) were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of a CR. Patients with a BMI≥25 kg/m2 (P=0.0007, OR, 2.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–4.3), PCOS (P=0.0006, OR, 3.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.5–7.9), and EC (P=0.0344, OR, 2.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.4–5.3) had a significantly higher risk of recurrence. Conclusion: In general, patients with CAH or early-stage EC who were treated with progesterone therapy had a favorable prognosis. However, the recurrence risk was not insignificant. Weight control is crucial for improving the clinical management of this patient group.
Preventing catheter-associated urinary tract infection in the United States: a national comparative study.

IMPORTANCE Despite the national goal to reduce catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI) by 25% by 2013, limited data exist describing prevention practices for CAUTI in US hospitals and none associate national practice use to CAUTI-specific standardized infection ratios (SIRs). OBJECTIVES To identify practices currently used to prevent CAUTI and to compare use and SIRs for a national sample of US hospitals with hospitals in the state of Michigan, which launched a CAUTI prevention initiative in 2007 ("Keystone Bladder Bundle Initiative"). DESIGN AND SETTING In 2009, we surveyed infection preventionists at a sample of US hospitals and all Michigan hospitals. CAUTI rate differences between Michigan and non-Michigan hospitals were assessed using SIRs. PARTICIPANTS A total of 470 infection preventionists. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Reported regular use of CAUTI prevention practices and CAUTI-specific SIR data. RESULTS Michigan hospitals, compared with hospitals in the rest of the United States, more frequently participated in collaboratives to reduce health care-associated infection (94% vs 67%, P < .001) and used bladder scanners (53% vs 39%, P = .04), as well as catheter reminders or stop orders and/or nurse-initiated discontinuation (44% vs 23%, P < .001). More frequent use of preventive practices coincided with a 25% reduction in CAUTI rates in the state of Michigan, a significantly greater reduction than the 6% overall decrease observed in the rest of the United States. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE We observed more frequent use of key prevention practices and a lower rate of CAUTI in Michigan hospitals relative to non-Michigan hospitals. This may be related to Michigan's significantly higher use of practices aimed at timely removal of urinary catheters, the key focus area of Michigan's Keystone Bladder Bundle Initiative.
The past ecology of Abies alba provides new perspectives on future responses of silver fir forests to global warming

Paleoecology can provide valuable insights into the ecology of species that complement observation and experiment-based assessments of climate impact dynamics. New paleoecological records (e.g., pollen, macrofossils) from the Italian Peninsula suggest a much wider climatic niche of the important European tree species Abies alba (silver fir) than observed in its present spatial range. To explore this discrepancy between current and past distribution of the species, we analyzed climatic data (temperature, precipitation, frost, humidity, sunshine) and vegetation-independent paleoclimatic reconstructions (e.g., lake levels, chironomids) and use global coupled carbon-cycle climate (NCAR CSM1.4) and dynamic vegetation (LandClim) modeling. The combined evidence suggests that during the mid-Holocene (;6000 years ago), prior to humanization of vegetation, A. alba formed forests under conditions that exceeded the modern (1961–1990) upper temperature limit of the species by ;5–78C (July means). Annual precipitation during this natural period was comparable to today (.700–800 mm), with drier summers and wetter winters. In the meso-Mediterranean to sub-Mediterranean forests A. alba co-occurred with thermophilous taxa such as Quercus ilex, Q. pubescens, Olea europaea, Phillyrea, Arbutus, Cistus, Tilia, Ulmus, Acer, Hedera helix, Ilex aquifolium, Taxus, and Vitis. Results from the last interglacial (ca. 130 000–115 000 BP), when human impact was negligible, corroborate the Holocene evidence. Thermophilous Mediterranean A. alba stands became extinct during the last 5000 years when land-use pressure and specifically excessive anthropogenic fire and browsing disturbance increased. Our results imply that the ecology of this key European tree species is not yet well understood. On the basis of the reconstructed realized climatic niche of the species, we anticipate that the future geographic range of A. alba may not contract regardless of migration success, even if climate should become significantly warmer than today with summer temperatures increasing by up to 5–78C, as long as precipitation does not fall below 700–800 mm/yr, and anthropogenic disturbance (e.g., fire, browsing) does not become excessive. Our finding contradicts recent studies that projected range contractions under global-warming scenarios, but did not factor how millennia of human impacts reduced the realized climatic niche of A. alba.
Coplanar waveguide-to-rectangular waveguide transition using meander slotline

In this paper, a coplanar waveguide-to-rectangular waveguide transition using the meander slotline is proposed. The proposed transition can achieve 34% 15-dB fractional bandwidth, which almost covers the whole X-band (8.2–12.4 GHz). Besides, since the meander slotline is incorporated with the coplanar strip, the transition size can be reduced. As compared with our previous work [9], the coplanar waveguide-to-rectangular waveguide transition using the meander slotline has 10% reduction in the transition size and 6% reduction in the 15-dB fractional bandwidth as a trade off. In order to verify the simulation results, a back-to-back coplanar waveguide-to-rectangular waveguide transition using the meander slotline is fabricated and measured where the simulation results are in good agreement with the measurement results.
Surgery‐related shedding of breast cancer cells as determined by RT‐PCR assay

Surgery could result in the shedding of cancer cells into the circulation. These cells were investigated with reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) assay for cytokeratin 19 (CK19) and β‐subunit of human chorionic gonadotropin (β‐hCG).
The Accuracy of Prevalence Estimations for Suicide Attempts. How Reliably Do Adolescents and Young Adults Report Their Suicide Attempts?

This study explores the accuracy of prevalence estimations for suicide attempts. Data came from the Early Developmental Stages of Psychopathology (EDSP) Study, a prospective community study (mean follow-up period was 42 months) of 3,021 respondents aged 14 to 24 years at the outset of the study. Suicide attempters are at least 1.6 times more likely to drop out than subjects with no suicide attempts and suicidal ideas. A total of 8% of all suicide attempters answered in the negative the depression-related gate questions of all surveys. One-third of all baseline suicide attempters did not report their suicide attempt again at the four years later assessment. In particular, 80% of all nonreporters were female, and almost 60% were aged 14–17 at baseline.
Current Strategies in Cancer Gene Therapy.

Cancer is one of the most lethal diseases in the world. Traditional methods for cancer treatment are surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Early stage cancer patients may be cured by radical surgery and (or) chem(radio-)therapy. However, advanced cancer patients usually suffer from chem(radio-)resistance or metastasis, most of which can not be controlled by current therapy. Furthermore, traditional chem(radio-)therapy will bring patients with severe side effects as they not only kill cancer cells, but also normal cells. Many investigators believe the potential to make great progress in cancer treatment lies in understanding the molecular biology of cancer and exploiting effective agents targeting abnormal molecules which regulate the growth and metastasis of tumor (Ku and Ilson, 2010). This is called targeting therapy, which can selectively kill cancer cells with minor side effects. Effective targeting therapy lies on good targets chosen and the methods used to deliver targets into the tumor mass safely and efficiently. During the past decades, various important tumor targets were exploited.
A GIS Approach to Estimation of Building Population for Micro‐spatial Analysis

Population data used in GIS analyses is generally assumed to be homogeneous and planar (i.e. census tracts, townships or prefectures) due to the public unavailability of building population data. However, information on building population is required for micro‐spatial analysis for improved disaster management and emergency preparedness, public facility management for urban planning, consumer and retail market analysis, environment and public health programs and other demographic studies. This article discusses a GIS approach using the Areametric and Volumetric methods for estimating building population based on census tracts and building footprint datasets. The estimated results were evaluated using actual building population data by visual, statistical and spatial means, and validated for use in micro‐spatial analysis. We have also implemented a standalone GIS tool (known as ‘PopShape GIS’) for generating new building footprint with population attribute information based on user‐defined criteria.
The causes of rising wage inequality: the race between institutions and technology

Many inequality scholars view skill-biased technological change—the computerization of workplaces that favours high-skilled workers—as the main cause of rising wage inequality in America, while institutional factors are generally relegated to a secondary role. The evidence presented in this article, however, does not support this widely held view. Using direct measures for computers and pay-setting institutions at the industry level, this article provides the first rigorous analysis of the independent effect of technological and institutional factors on rising wage inequality. Analysing data on 43 US industries between 1968 and 2012, we find that declining unions and the fall in the real value of the minimum wage explain about half of rising inequality, while computerization explains about one-quarter. This suggests that much of rising inequality in the USA is driven by worker disempowerment rather than by market forces—a finding that can resolve the puzzle on the diverging inequality trends in USA and Europe.
Stretching Exercise and Soccer: Effect of Stretching on Range of Motion in the Lower Extremity in Connection with Soccer Training

Forty-eight players from four senior, male soccer teams were tested for ranges of motion (ROM) in the lower extremity before, immediately after, and 24 h after different forms of soccer training. The players were tested after regular soccer training (A), after soccer training with contract-relax stretching prior to beginning the session (B), and after soccer training with stretching added at the end of the program (C). Each training session lasted 1.5 h. In group A all six ROMs were decreased 24 h after the training. In group B the only change in ROM noted was an increase in knee flexion directly after the training. In group C there was an increase in hip extension, hip flexion, and knee flexion directly after the training.
Trends and Directions in Environmental Justice: From Inequity to Everyday Life, Community, and Just Sustainabilities

This article begins with a review and synthesis of some of the key theories, scholars, case examples, debates, methods, and (multiple) interpretations of environmental justice (EJ), as well as its expansion and globalization. We then look to some newly emerging themes, actions, and strategies for EJ and just sustainabilities. First, we look at the practices and materials of everyday life, illustrated by food and energy movements; second, the ongoing work on community and the importance of identity and attachment, informed by urban planning, food, and climate concerns; third, the growing interest in the relationship between human practices and communities and nonhuman nature. We also expand on the longstanding interest in just sustainabilities within this movement, illustrated by a wide range of concerns with food, energy, and climate justice. These new areas of work illustrate both recent developments and a set of paths forward for both the theory and practice of EJ.
Effect of pulsatile and non-pulsatile left ventricular assist devices on the renin-angiotensin system in patients with end-stage heart failure.

INTRODUCTION Left ventricular assist devices have been successfully used as a bridge to cardiac transplantation. Because many patients exhibit marked clinical improvement of their heart failure after LVAD implantation, we studied the physiological effect of pulsatile and non-pulsatile devices on the neurohormonal axis and exercise capacity. METHODS We prospectively included 20 patients (17 men, 3 women) undergoing LVAD implantation between November 2001 and January 2004. Ten patients (1 woman and 9 men) were treated with the non-pulsatile INCOR-LVAD (Berlin Heart(c)) and ten patients received the pulsatile EXCOR LVAD (Berlin Heart(c)). Blood samples for plasma renin activity (PRA) were taken once a week over a period of ten weeks. All blood samples were collected in the morning before mobilization. Blood pressure, body weight, fluid intake and urine production were measured once a day. All patients received standard hospital diet with no limitation in fluid intake. RESULTS Body weight remained constant in both groups throughout the ten weeks' examination, and fluid intake and urine production were balanced in all patients. Although there was no significant difference in mean blood pressure (INCOR: 70 +/- 10 mmHg; EXCOR: 73 +/- 10 mmHg), plasma renin activity was substantially elevated in patients with non-pulsatile left ventricular support (INCOR: 94.68 +/- 33.97 microU/ml; EXCOR: 17.06 +/- 15.94 microU/ml; P < 0.05). Furthermore plasma aldosterone levels were significantly higher in patients supported by non-pulsatile INCOR LVAD (INCOR: 73.4 +/- 9.6 microg/ml; EXCOR: 20.6 +/- 4.6 microg/ml; P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that pulsatile as well as non-pulsatile left ventricular assist devices are equally able to treat chronic heart failure. However pulsatile devices seem to have a greater impact on reversing the changes in plasma renin activity and might thus offer a greater advantage when recovery of left ventricular function is expected.