Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
International Quit and Win 1996: comparative evaluation study in China and Finland

OBJECTIVES To compare background and process variables, as well as follow up status, of the participants in the International Quit and Win '96 contests of China and Finland, and analyse factors contributing to sustained maintenance. DESIGN A standardised 12 month follow up was conducted in both countries with random samples of participants. The sample sizes were 3119 in China and 1448 in Finland, with response rates of 91.2% and 65.2%, respectively. INTERVENTIONS The International Quit and Win '96 contest was the second coordinated, multinational smoking cessation campaign targeted at adult daily smokers. Altogether 25 countries participated, including China with 15 000 and Finland with 6000 smokers registered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Conservative (considering all non-respondents relapsed) and non-conservative (based on respondents only) estimates were calculated for one month abstinence, 12 month continuous abstinence, and point abstinence at the time point of follow up. RESULTS Great differences were found in the background and process variables, as well as in the outcome measures. At one year follow up, the conservative continuous abstinence rates show that the Chinese participants maintained their abstinence better (38%) compared to the Finnish ones (12%). In China women reached higher abstinence rate (50%) than men (36%), whereas in Finland men achieved a better result (14%) than women (9%). CONCLUSIONS The Quit and Win contest is a mass smoking cessation method feasible in countries showing great variance in smoking habits and rates. However, in countries with different stages of anti-smoking development, such as China and Finland, different practical implementation strategies may be needed.
Cognitive Features Associated With Depressive Symptoms in Adolescence: Directionality and Specificity

In this study we examined cognitive features that have been posited to contribute to depressive vulnerability in adolescents. Using a longitudinal sample of 331 young adolescents followed from 6th to 7th grade, cross-lagged structural equation analyses were conducted. Controlling for baseline levels of depressive, conduct, and anxiety symptoms, low self-worth was associated with a vulnerability to both depressive symptoms and conduct problems, whereas rejection sensitivity was uniquely predictive of increases in anxiety. In support of cognitive “scar” models, baseline depressive and conduct problems were both predictive of a more negative attributional style. Depressive symptoms also predicted more rejection sensitivity, whereas conduct problems predicted lower self-esteem.
Celecoxib for the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis is a debilitating form of chronic inflammatory arthritis which primarily affects the spine. Treatment is based on non-pharmacological therapy, largely exercise, and pharmacological therapy, with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) recommended as first-line treatment. One of the most well studied pharmacological treatments for patients with ankylosing spondylitis is the cyclooxygenase-2 selective NSAID celecoxib. This short review highlights the importance of inflammation in the pathology of the disease. Data from randomized, controlled clinical trials of celecoxib in patients with ankylosing spondylitis is reviewed with respect to efficacy and safety. In addition, more recent data from longer-term trials suggest that celecoxib may have disease modifying properties. In addition, more recent data from longer-term trials suggest that celecoxib may have disease modifying properties, with the benefits perhaps being more pronounced in patients with syndesmophytes and elevated inflammation levels indicative of more severe disease. With the benefits perhaps being more pronounced in patients with syndesmophytes and elevated inflammation levels indicative of more severe disease.
The Effect of Anti‐Immunoglobulin Antibodies on Fc Rosettes

This study demonstrated that Fc rosettes detected by antibody‐labeled bovine erythrocytes can be inhibited by immune complexes of rabbit IgG (b4 allotype) and anti‐b4 IgG, thus showing that these complexes effectively compete for the receptor for erythrocyte‐antibody rosettes. Incubation of mouse lymphocytes with goat f (ab′)2 anti‐mouse IgG did not inhibit Fc rosettes. When immunoglobulin on murine and human B lymphocytes was redistributed in a polar cap on the membrane by interaction with anti‐immunoglobulin antibodies, the number of Fc rosettes after ‘capping’ was unchanged; most of the indicator erythrocytes, however, were distributed in a cap as well. This erythrocyte cap was superimposed on the immunoglobulin cap.
Urinary neopterin levels in acute viral hepatitis

Elevated neopterin levels in blood or urine have been shown to be a marker for the activation of cell‐mediated immunity in vitro and in vivo. To evaluate whether neopterin levels are elevated in patients with acute viral hepatitis, we measured urinary levels in 13 patients with hepatitis A, 26 with hepatitis B, 12 with non‐A, non‐B hepatitis, 8 with jaundice and/or cholestasis due to biliary and pancreatic disorders and 3 with alcoholic hepatitis and in 62 apparently healthy HBsAg carriers. Neopterin levels in patients with virus‐induced hepatitis were significantly higher than those in patients with other diagnoses. Urinary neopterin levels were above normal in 49 of 51 patients with viral hepatitis and elevations during the course of hepatitis showed a pattern similar to that of the usual liver biochemical tests, suggesting that neopterin levels were related to the clinical activity of the viral disease. In patients with non‐viral biliary and hepatic disorders, neopterin levels were usually normal and did not correlate with other liver biochemical tests. These findings suggest that cell‐mediated immune mechanisms are activated during viral hepatitis and that neopterin measurement may be of value as an additional surrogate marker for non‐A, non‐B hepatitis.
Author's Reply to: “Comment on: What is the Best Training for Vascular Access Surgery?”

We have read with interest the letter by Aitken et al and we appreciate their constructive views as many of them are in agreement with our concepts expressed in our recent article on training in vascular access (1). However we believe they misunderstood our point regarding the effect of juniors’ training on outcome. We have never stated in our article that “training impacts negatively the service provision,” on the contrary we have proved that arteriovenous (AV) fistula creation is safe and of equal quality when delivered by residents. We came to this conclusion performing meta-analysis of all existing studies comparing the outcomes of AV fistulas created by consultants vs. trainees and getting no statistically significant results (1). Additionally we agree heartily with the concept expressed in Aitken et al’s letter that AV fistulae can be effectively performed by any surgeon interested and trained in this type of surgery. On the other hand we totally understood experts’ vote in the questionnaire that vascular surgeons should be those that more effectively create access, because vascular surgeons are those most familiar with both surgical and interventional techniques, using them in their everyday practice in hybrid suites and in various areas of the body. This view is supported by the fact that treatment of access thromboses in the UK is mainly carried out by vascular surgeons (2). Finally regarding the ideal facility for access creation that obviously interferes with training, Aitken et al support centralization of services. The latter is consistent with studies demonstrating the hospital volume–outcome effect in other areas of vascular surgery as aneurysm and carotid surgery (3, 4). Centralization in access is also recommended by many, but there are no quantitative data, in contrast to aneurysm and carotid surgery, demonstrating its success or justifying the existence of access centers (5). In our discussion we emphasized the pros and cons of centralization and although the evidence of centralization appears robust, it might not be as simple as that. There is a clear trade-off between advantages associated with a high-volume center and difficulties caused by prolonged travel times for patients and relatives and such centralization has been debated even for aneurysm surgery (6). These negative effects of centralization are known as “distance decay. ” From the patients’ perspective there may be benefits to local service including convenience and continuity of care with familiar physicians, especially as complications and subsequent revisions in access surgery are more frequent than in any other area of vascular surgery. In our view centralization in access surgery remains a controversial issue.
Locality Attributes and Networks Serving to Reveal Amazonian Urbanization beyond the Cities

Beyond the Amazonian cities, distinct spatial units arranged in networks compose an extended urban space, usually invisible to government agencies and public polities. This article empirically reveals this space by studying the localities’ characteristics and connections. In southwestern Pará, Brazil, 236 communities were sampled using field expeditions. Variables related to the locality organization, history, health and education services, urban infrastructure, and land use were explored in a fuzzy cluster analysis. Local production and consumption flows were considered in the locality network analysis. The fuzzy analysis allowed identifying a hierarchy of localities for which the geographical location influences the spatial distribution patterns of five groups. On the other hand, consumption and production networks identified different locality's articulations, with persistent dependence on cities. These results characterize extensive urbanization at the local level and highlights the participation of the local populations configuring the Amazonian territory.
The evolution of female ornaments and weaponry: social selection, sexual selection and ecological competition

Ornaments, weapons and aggressive behaviours may evolve in female animals by mate choice and intrasexual competition for mating opportunities—the standard forms of sexual selection in males. However, a growing body of evidence suggests that selection tends to operate in different ways in males and females, with female traits more often mediating competition for ecological resources, rather than mate acquisition. Two main solutions have been proposed to accommodate this disparity. One is to expand the concept of sexual selection to include all mechanisms related to fecundity; another is to adopt an alternative conceptual framework—the theory of social selection—in which sexual selection is one component of a more general form of selection resulting from all social interactions. In this study, we summarize the history of the debate about female ornaments and weapons, and discuss potential resolutions. We review the components of fitness driving ornamentation in a wide range of systems, and show that selection often falls outside the limits of traditional sexual selection theory, particularly in females. We conclude that the evolution of these traits in both sexes is best understood within the unifying framework of social selection.
Poincaré plot quantification for assessing glucose variability from continuous glucose monitoring systems and a new risk marker for hypoglycemia: application to type 1 diabetes patients switching to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion.

BACKGROUND The Poincaré plot (PCP) is a valuable tool for describing glucose variability (GV) from continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) but remains only visual and qualitative. The aim of this work was to validate metrics for the geometry of the PCP in type 1 diabetes and to apply them to the study of a series of patients switching to continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII). PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed the CGM profiles of 44 patients with type 1 diabetes. A subgroup (n=13) used CGM before and after 6 months on CSII. Additionally, we prospectively collected seven recordings from healthy controls. The new PCP metrics were correlated with hypoglycemia and classical GV indices and were compared between groups. RESULTS SDs related to the PCP fitting ellipse (SD1, SD2) and area and shape of the fitting ellipse (SFE) were all higher in diabetes patients than in the controls and decreased significantly on CSII. SD1 represented short-term GV and was equivalent to continuous overlapping net glycemic action (CONGA). SD2 represented long-term GV and correlated with the SD of glucose levels (r ≥ 0.98), mean of daily differences (r ≥ 0.91), and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (r ≥ 0.88). SFE correlated positively with CONGA at 1 h but not with the other indices and was inversely correlated with hypoglycemic episodes (Spearman's ρ=-0.42), independently of the coefficient of variation and the Low Blood Glucose Index in a multivariate analysis (partial r=-0.34). CONCLUSIONS PCP metrics are correlated with known GV indices and may be used for the study of CGM recording series in type 1 diabetes. SFE is a new risk marker for hypoglycemia.
Tumor necrosis factor-&agr; decreases sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase expressions via the promoter methylation in cardiomyocytes*

Objectives:Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases (SERCA2a) plays an essential role in the Ca2+ homeostasis and cardiac functions. Tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (TNF-&agr;) decreases the SERCA2a, which may underlie cardiac dysfunction during sepsis and heart failure. Because the promoter region of SERCA2a contains CpG islands, gene methylation should be critical in regulating SERCA2a. The present study was to evaluate whether TNF-&agr; can modulate SERCA2a via enhancing methylation and to investigate the underlying mechanisms. Design:Controlled laboratory experiment. Setting:University research laboratory. Subjects:HL-1 cardiomyocytes. Interventions:TNF-&agr; (1-50 ng/mL) was administered in HL-1 cardiomyocytes with and without co-administration of an NF-&kgr;B inhibitor (SN-50, 50 &mgr;g/mL), antioxidant agents (ascorbic acid, 100 &mgr;M, or coenzyme Q10, 10 &mgr;M), or methylation inhibitor (5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine, 0.1, 1 &mgr;M). Measurements and Main Results:TNF-&agr; (50 ng/mL) decreased the SERCA2a RNA and protein by quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunoblot. Furthermore, TNF-&agr; (50 ng/mL) increased the methylation in the SERCA2a promoter region, which was not influenced by the co-administration of SN-50, ascorbic acid, or coenzyme Q10, but was attenuated by 5-aza-2′-deoxycytidine (0.1 &mgr;M). Additionally, TNF-&agr; (50 ng/mL) increased the expression of DNA methyltransferase 1. Conclusions:TNF-&agr; increased DNA methyltransferase levels, thus enhancing the methylation in the SERCA2a promoter region with a result of reducing SERCA2a. These findings suggest that inhibition of hypermethylation may be a novel treatment strategy for cardiac dysfunction.
Huellas de la memoria: los telares de Mampuján como artefactos de comunicación vinculante

A partir de una experiencia de memoria exponemos un acercamiento delectura y significación sobre los telares de las mujeres de Mampuján, corregimientode María La Baja, Bolívar, como artefactos de comunicación vinculante. Partimosdel hecho de que los telares -como práctica sociocultural- recogen una situaciónde violencia y terror vivida, padecida, por los habitantes de la vereda Las Brisas yMampuján, representada en la tela, y de cómo las víctimas-testigos sobrevivientes seapropian de su historia pasada como condición para construir una nueva interlocucióncon la sociedad, con miras a rehacer sus vidas, proyectar sus esperanzas en el futuroy ser sujetos históricos de verdad y justicia.
The Complex Containing Drosophila Myb and RB/E2F2 Regulates Cytokinesis in a Histone H2Av-Dependent Manner

ABSTRACT In Drosophila, mutation of the oncogene Myb reduced the expression of mitotic genes, such as polo and ial, and caused multiple mitotic defects, including disrupted chromosome condensation and abnormal spindles. We now show that binucleate cells, the hallmark phenotype of cytokinesis failure, accumulate in Myb-null ovarian follicle cell and wing disc epithelia. Myb functions as an activator in the generally repressive Drosophila RBF, E2F2, and Myb (dREAM)/Myb-MuvB complex. Absence of the dREAM subunit Mip130 or E2F2 suppressed the Myb-null cytokinesis defect. Therefore, we used Myb-null binucleate cells as a quantitative phenotypic readout of transcriptional repression by the dREAM complex. In the absence of Myb, the complex was sensitive to the dose of the subunits E2F2, Mip120, Caf1, and Lin-52 but not Mip130 or Mip40. Surprisingly, reduction of the dose of His2Av/H2A.z also suppressed the Myb-null binucleate cell phenotype, suggesting a novel role for this variant histone in transcriptional repression by the dREAM complex.
The role of position a in determining the stability and oligomerization state of α‐helical coiled coils: 20 amino acid stability coefficients in the hydrophobic core of proteins

We describe here a systematic investigation into the role of position a in the hydrophobic core of a model coiled‐coil protein in determining coiled‐coil stability and oligomerization state. We employed a model coiled coil that allowed the formation of an extended three‐stranded trimeric oligomerization state for some of the analogs; however, due to the presence of a Cys‐Gly‐Gly linker, unfolding occurred from the same two‐stranded monomeric oligomerization state for all of the analogs. Denaturation from a two‐stranded state allowed us to measure the relative contribution of 20 different amino acid side chains to coiled‐coil stability from chemical denaturation profiles. In addition, the relative hydrophobicity of the substituted amino acid side chains was assessed by reversed‐phase high‐performance liquid chromatography and found to correlate very highly (R = 0.95) with coiled‐coil stability. We also determined the effect of position a in specifying the oligomerization state using ultracentrifugation as well as high‐performance size‐exclusion chromatography. We found that nine of the analogs populated one oligomerization state exclusively at peptide concentrations of 50 μM under benign buffer conditions. The Leu‐, Tyr‐, Gln‐, and His‐substituted analogs were found to be exclusively three‐stranded trimers, while the Asn‐, Lys‐, Orn‐, Arg‐, and Trp‐substituted analogs formed exclusively two‐stranded monomers. Modeling results for the Leu‐substituted analog showed that a three‐stranded oligomerization state is preferred due to increased side‐chain burial, while a two‐stranded oligomerization state was observed for the Trp analog due to unfavorable cavity formation in the three‐stranded state.
Frequency-diversity spread-spectrum communication system to counter bandlimited Gaussian interference

A spread spectrum system to counter bandlimited Gaussian interference is proposed. The optimum receiver for this system is easy to build. Frequency diversity which allows the receiver to distinguish unjammed signal replicas from their jammed versions is used. The system can also resist bandlimited partial-time jamming. The only choice left to a smart jammer to maximize the error probability is to spread its signal like the communicator. The optimum receiver, which jointly performs symbol detection and interference rejection, is derived. Side information needed by this receiver can easily be estimated. However, if the interference bandwidth is narrow compared to the signal bandwidth, side information on noise and interference levels is not needed by a simpler and near-optimum receiver. Bit-error probability is evaluated for quaternary phase shift keying (QPSK) modulation and compared to that of direct sequence spread spectrum. We also propose the use of polyphase filters for simple system implementation.
Information Systems Success Research: The "20-Year Update?" Panel Report from PACIS, 2011

This article summarizes a panel held at the 15 Pacific Asia Conference on Information Systems (PACIS) in Brisbane, Austrailia, in 2011. The panelists proposed a new research agenda for information systems success research. The DeLone and McLean IS Success Model has been one of the most influential models in Information Systems research. However, the nature of information systems continues to change. Information systems are increasingly implemented across layers of infrastructure and application architecture. The diffusion of information systems into many spheres of life means that information systems success needs to be considered in multiple contexts. Services play a much more prominent role in the economies of countries, making the "service" context of information systems increasingly important. Further, improved understandings of theory and measurement offer new opportunities for novel approaches and new research questions about information systems success.
Ways to constrain neutron star equation of state models using relativistic disc lines

Relativistic spectral lines from the accretion disc of a neutron star low-mass X-ray binary can be modelled to infer the disc inner edge radius. A small value of this radius tentatively implies that the disc terminates either at the neutron star hard surface, or at the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO). Therefore an inferred disc inner edge radius either provides the stellar radius, or can directly constrain stellar equation of state (EoS) models using the theoretically computed ISCO radius for the space–time of a rapidly spinning neutron star. However, this procedure requires numerical computation of stellar and ISCO radii for various EoS models and neutron star configurations using an appropriate rapidly spinning stellar space–time. We have fully general relativistically calculated about 16 000 stable neutron star structures to explore and establish the above mentioned procedure, and to show that the Kerr space–time is inadequate for this purpose. Our work systematically studies the methods to constrain EoS models using relativistic disc lines, and will motivate future X-ray astronomy instruments.
Autonomy and Control in Dyads: Effects on Interaction Quality and Joint Creative Performance

Two studies examined interaction quality and joint performance on two creative tasks in unacquainted dyads primed for autonomy or control orientations. It was hypothesized that autonomy-primed dyads would interact more constructively, experience more positive mood, and engage the task more readily, and as a result these dyads would perform better. To test this, Study 1 primed orientation and explored verbal creative performance on the Remote Associates Task (RAT). In Study 2, dyads were primed with autonomy and control orientation and videotaped during two joint creative tasks, one verbal (RAT) and one nonverbal (charades). Videotapes were coded for behavioral indicators of closeness and task engagement. Results showed that autonomy-primed dyads felt closer, were more emotionally and cognitively attuned, provided empathy and encouragement to partners, and performed more effectively. The effects of primed autonomy on creative performance were mediated by interpersonal quality, mood, and joint engagement.