Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sexual assaults in Greenland: characteristics of police reported rapes and attempted rapes

Objectives. The aim of the study was to describe characteristics of reported sexual assaults against adolescents and adults in Greenland society. Study Design. A retrospective review of police files. Methods. Data about victims and alleged offenders were extracted from all available police files concerning reported rapes and attempted rapes in 2002 of persons 12 years and older in all of Greenland. Results. In total, 173 rapes and attempted rapes were reported to the police. Comprehensive data about 82 cases were analysed and showed that the vast majority of assaults occurred in private homes and often in the presence of other people. The offender was closely connected to the victim in 92% of the cases. Both victim and offender were severely intoxicated by alcohol in half of the cases. Conclusions. The incidence of police-reported sexual assaults is high compared with the incidence in other Nordic countries and the pattern of assaults differs from that in many other countries. The studied rape cases were characterized by close relationships between victims and offenders and by both being influenced by alcohol. This is explained by the structure of Greenland society, by people living in small and closed communities and by a relatively high prevalence of binge drinking. Prevention of sexual assaults demands prevention of excessive alcohol abuse. Access to medical and psychosocial counselling and support for all victims of sexual assaults is recommended. Mediation may be considered as a judicial choice in view of the prevalence of close connections between offender and victim.
Diurnal Variation of Soluble E- and P-Selectin, and Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 in Patients with and without Coronary Artery Disease

Background: The more frequent onset of acute coronary syndromes (ACS) in the morning has been known for a long time. Diurnal changes of fibrinolysis such as lower activity of tissue plasminogen activator and higher activity of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) in the morning has been demonstrated previously and correspond with the manifestation of ACS. Less is known about the diurnal variation of soluble adhesion molecules as markers of endothelial or platelet activity in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients and Methods: 80 patients with a history of myocardial infarction and/or chest pain with positive exercise testing admitted for elective coronary angiography were studied. 10 had normal findings on coronary angiography (control group), 70 patients had at least one or more stenoses ≧50% of the diameter of an epicardial vessel. None of the patients suffered from acute inflammation, connective or tumor disease. Blood samples were drawn at 7:00 a.m. and at 7:00 p.m. at rest and plasma concentration of soluble P-selectin (sP-selectin), E-selectin (sE-selectin), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and acute-phase proteins were measured by ELISA. Results: In both groups, no diurnal variation was found in sE-selectin and sICAM-1. sP-selectin levels were significantly higher in the evening (CAD group: 149.8 ± 54.5 vs. 172.2 ± 68.8 ng/ml, p < 0.001; control: 148.7 ± 75.5 vs. 187.5 ± 96.3 ng/ml, p = 0.001, Wilcoxon test). Conclusion: We have demonstrated diurnal variation of sP-selectin in patients with CAD. We conclude that high sP-selectin values in the evening represent the shed forms of the morning membrane-bound P-selectin.
Corporate Donations and Shareholder Value

Do corporate donations enhance shareholder wealth or reflect agency problems? We address this question for a global sample of firms whereby we distinguish between charitable and political donations, as well as between donations in cash and in kind. We find that charitable donations are positively related to financial performance and firm value, which is consistent with the value-enhancement hypothesis. This positive effect on firm value is stronger for cash than in-kind donations. In contrast, political donations do not appear to enhance shareholder value, but rather tend to reflect agency problems, as they are higher for firms with poor internal corporate governance and strong managerial entrenchment. We address endogeneity concerns by using peer firms’ donations as an instrument in a two-stage least squares (2SLS) setting and by conducting a difference-in-difference analysis around a general election.
Heart failure–induced activation of phospholipase iPLA2γ generates hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids opening the mitochondrial permeability transition pore

Congestive heart failure typically arises from cardiac myocyte necrosis/apoptosis, associated with the pathological opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). mPTP opening decreases the mitochondrial membrane potential leading to the activation of Ca2+-independent phospholipase A2γ (iPLA2γ) and the production of downstream toxic metabolites. However, the array of enzymatic mediators and the exact chemical mechanisms responsible for modulating myocardial mPTP opening remain unclear. Herein, we demonstrate that human heart failure activates specific myocardial mitochondrial phospholipases that increase Ca2+-dependent production of toxic hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) and attenuate the activity of phospholipases that promote the synthesis of protective epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs). Mechanistically, HETEs activated the Ca2+-induced opening of the mPTP in failing human myocardium, and the highly selective pharmacological blockade of either iPLA2γ or lipoxygenases attenuated mPTP opening in failing hearts. In contrast, pharmacological inhibition of cytochrome P450 epoxygenases opened the myocardial mPTP in human heart mitochondria. Remarkably, the major mitochondrial phospholipase responsible for Ca2+-activated release of arachidonic acid (AA) in mitochondria from non-failing hearts was calcium-dependent phospholipase A2ζ (cPLA2ζ) identified by sequential column chromatographies and activity-based protein profiling. In contrast, iPLA2γ predominated in failing human myocardium. Stable isotope kinetics revealed that in non-failing human hearts, cPLA2ζ metabolically channels arachidonic acid into EETs, whereas in failing hearts, increased iPLA2γ activity channels AA into toxic HETEs. These results mechanistically identify the sequelae of pathological remodeling of human mitochondrial phospholipases in failing myocardium. This remodeling metabolically channels AA into toxic HETEs promoting mPTP opening, which induces necrosis/apoptosis leading to further progression of heart failure.
Fire responses to postglacial climate change and human impact in northern Patagonia (41–43°S)

Significance Fire is a key ecological process affecting ecosystem dynamics and services. Fire frequency, intensity, and size reflect complex climate–vegetation–human interactions and their evolution through time. The long-term history of these interactions provides insights into the variability of the ecosystem and a context for future environmental change. We use paleoenvironmental data from the Patagonian forest/steppe border and introduce generalized additive models as trend-detection tools in paleoecology to assess the relative influence of climate, vegetation, and humans in shaping the fire regime. Our results suggest that for the last 18,000 y, fires have been predominantly limited by fuel discontinuity rather than by suitable climate conditions. In contrast to extensive present-day anthropogenic impact, Patagonian ecosystems evolved with minimal human influence prior to European settlement. Forest/steppe boundaries are among the most dynamic ecosystems on Earth and are highly vulnerable to changes in climate and land use. In this study we examine the postglacial history of the Patagonian forest/steppe ecotone (41–43°S) to better understand its sensitivity to past variations in climate, disturbance, and human activity before European colonization. We present regional trends in vegetation and biomass burning, as detected by generalized additive models fitted to seven pollen and charcoal records, and compare the results with other paleoenvironmental data, as well as archeological and ecological information to (i) estimate postglacial fire trends at regional scales, (ii) assess the evolution of climate–vegetation–fire linkages over the last 18,000 calibrated (cal) years B.P., and (iii) evaluate the role of humans in altering pre-European landscapes and fire regimes. Pollen and charcoal data indicate that biomass burning was relatively low during warm/dry steppe-dominated landscapes in the late glacial/Early Holocene transition and increased as more humid conditions favored forest development after ca. 10,000 cal years B.P. Postglacial fire activity was thus limited by fuel availability associated with sparse vegetation cover rather than by suitable climate conditions. In contrast to extensive burning by European settlers, variations in indigenous population densities were not associated with fluctuations in regional or watershed-scale fire occurrence, suggesting that climate–vegetation–fire linkages in northern Patagonia evolved with minimal or very localized human influences before European settlement.
Current parathyroid hormone immunoassays do not adequately meet the needs of patients with chronic kidney disease

Background There are significant differences in plasma parathyroid hormone (PTH) results obtained by current immunoassay methods. However, many clinical guidelines relevant to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) that recommend PTH target values do not take account of these differences. This raises major questions about the validity of the evidence underpinning current use of PTH measurements in the management of CKD as well as of published relevant audit data. Methods PTH was measured in plasma from patients with CKD in six commercially available immunoassays. The initial pilot study included 19 patients while 98 patients were included in a second extended study. Data from the second study were analysed by regression analysis to obtain assay-specific targets for each immunoassay. Results Although similar PTH reference intervals are provided by most manufacturers, both studies confirmed substantial between-method differences in observed PTH for all patients, with results varying by as much as 4.2-fold between the lowest and highest reading methods. These differences were sufficient to have treatment implications for 79% of the patients in the pilot study. Applying the assay-specific targets derived here to results from the extended study decreased treatment misclassifications from 53% to 12%. Conclusions Existing between-method differences in PTH measurements clearly have treatment implications. International initiatives to address these differences are in progress and will require support and input from all stakeholders. Adoption of assay-specific target values such as those reported here provides a convenient and practical interim solution that should lead to significant improvement in patient management, while also enabling meaningful audit.
What is microcirculatory shock?

Purpose of reviewMicrocirculatory shock is a condition defined by the presence of tissue hypoperfusion despite the normalization of systemic and regional blood flow. In this article, we discuss the characteristics of the microcirculation in septic shock, the main form of microcirculatory shock, along with its interaction with systemic hemodynamics, and the response to different therapies. Recent findingsIn septic shock, microcirculatory abnormalities are common, and more severe in nonsurvivors. In addition, the microcirculation shows a behavior that is frequently dissociated from that of systemic hemodynamics. Therefore, microcirculatory alterations may persist despite correction of systemic hemodynamic variables. Sublingual and intestinal microcirculation might also display divergent behaviors. Moreover, microvascular alterations may improve in response to hemodynamic resuscitation, but the response might depend on the underlying microcirculatory alterations. Particularly, the response to fluids seems to be related to both its basal state and the magnitude of the increase in cardiac output. SummaryThe optimal treatment of microcirculatory shock might require monitoring and therapeutic goals targeted on the microcirculation, more than in systemic variables. The clinical benefits of this approach should be demonstrated in clinical trials.
Developing register-based measures for assessment of working time patterns for epidemiologic studies.

OBJECTIVES Epidemiological studies suggest that long working hours and shift work may increase the risk of chronic diseases, but the "toxic" elements remain unclear due to crude assessment of working time patterns based on self-reports. In this methodological paper, we present and evaluate objective register-based algorithms for assessment of working time patterns and validate a method to retrieve standard payroll data on working hours from the employer electronic records. METHODS Detailed working hour records from employers' registers were obtained for 12 391 nurses and physicians, a total 14.5 million separate work shifts from 2008-2013. We examined the quality and validity of the obtained register data and designed 29 algorithms characterizing four potentially health-relevant working time patterns: (i) length of the working hours; (ii) time of the day; (iii) shift intensity; and (iv) social aspects of the working hours. RESULTS The collection of the company-based register data was feasible and the retrieved data matched with the originally published shift plans. The transferred working time records included <0.01% missing data. Two percent were duplicates that could be easily removed. The 29 variables of working time patterns, generated for each year, were stable across the follow-up (year-to-year correlation coefficients from r=0.7-0.9 for 23 variables), their distributions were as expected, and correlations of the variables within the four main dimensions of working hours were plausible. CONCLUSION The developed method and algorithms allow a detailed characterization of four main dimensions of working time patterns potentially relevant for health. We recommend this method for future large-scale epidemiological studies.
Proximal Metatarsal Osteotomies: A Comparative Geometric Analysis Conducted on Sawbone Models

We evaluated the change in position of the first metatarsal head using a three-dimensional digitizer on sawbone models. Crescentic, closing wedge, oblique shaft (Ludloff 8° and 16°), reverse oblique shaft (Mau 8° and 16°), rotational “Z” (Scarf), and proximal chevron osteotomies were performed and secured using 3-mm screws. The 16° Ludloff provided the most lateral shift (9.5 mm) and angular correction (14.5°) but also produced the most elevation (1.4 mm) and shortening (2.9 mm). The 8° Ludloff provided lateral and angular corrections similar to those of the crescentic and closing wedge osteotomies with less elevation and shortening. Because the displacement osteotomies (Scarf, proximal chevron) provided less angular correction, the same lateral displacement, and less shortening than the basilar angular osteotomies, based upon this model they can be more reliably used for a patient with a mild to moderate deformity, a short first metatarsal, or an intermediate deformity with a large distal metatarsal articular angle. These results can serve as recommendations for selecting the optimal osteotomy with which to correct a deformation.
Differential effects of ethanol on baroreceptor heart rate responses of conscious spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive rats.

This study investigated the acute effects of ethanol (0.25, 0.5, or 1 g/kg, iv) on mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and gain of the baroreceptor reflex control of heart rate (BRS) in conscious spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and age-matched Wistar rats. BRS was substantially lower in the SHRs as compared with the Wistar rats when measured by phenylephrine (-0.95 +/- 0.16 vs. -2.02 +/- 0.22 beats/min/mm Hg) or nitroprusside (-1.90 +/- 0.2 vs -3.02 +/- 0.32 beats/min/mm Hg). None of the doses of ethanol influenced BRS in the SHR. In contrast, ethanol attenuated BRS in Wistar rats, but this effect was dependent on the dose used and the type of response. The lower doses attenuated the reflex tachycardic response, but had no effect on the reflex bradycardic response. On the other hand, the 1 g/kg dose of ethanol attenuated the reflex bradycardic but not the tachycardic response. Ethanol produced a pressor effect (15-25 mm Hg; 5-min duration), which was neither dose- nor strain-dependent. However, only in the SHR mean arterial pressure remained elevated (10-15 mm Hg above control) for 20 min in response to the 0.5 g/kg dose of ethanol, and its recovery coincided with the occurrence of a slowly developing negative chronotropic response. Ethanol produced a dose-related negative chronotropic effect in both strains of rats that was of longer duration in the SHR, particularly with the 1 g/kg dose. It is possible that the bradycardic effect of ethanol influenced negatively its pressor effects. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
EFFECTS OF CIGARETTE SMOKING ON COGNITIVE PROCESSING

Several previous studies have reported that cigarette smoking enhances performance of cognitive processing. These enhancements are generally attributed to the pharmacological effects of nicotine, while there is some debate whether the effects of smoking/nicotine are a result of recovery from abstinence. Evoked potentials (EPs) and event related potentials (ERPs) of the brain have been applied as an index of information processing in a wide variety of normal and cognitive impaired subjects. This study was carried out on 20 healthy students (23 ± 2.3 years old) from the medical faculty of City University. Study population comprised ten chronic cigarette smokers consuming an average of 14 ± 4.2 cigarettes per day, with a history of smoking for more than one year. Ten non--smokers served as control. Standard oddball paradigm was presented, and EEG activity was recorded at the Fz, Cz, Pz electrode sites. Twenty responses to target stimuli were averaged at each location. N1, P2, N2, and P300 components were evaluated in these recordings. Amplitudes were measured relative to prestimulus baseline, and peak latencies were defined as the time point of maximum amplitude. It was found that there were no significant differences between either N1, P2, N2, P300 amplitudes or peak latency values of cigarette smokers and non smokers. As a result, chronic cigarette smoking generally does not improve cognitive processing
Fracture toughness of si thin film at very low temperatures by tensile test

A measurement system was newly developed to evaluate the mechanical properties of micro-sized materials at very low temperature ranging from −130 °C to room temperature, using liquid nitrogen cooling. In this work, we conducted the fracture toughness tests of single crystal silicon films with thicknesses of about 1 µm at low temperature and found the temperature dependence on the fracture toughness, especially the drastically change between −20 and −50 °C. A change of fracture behavior was also observed in the fracture specimens, from simple cleavage on the (110) surface at lower temperature to the (111) at higher. These results suggest that the transition of the fracture mode is similar to usual behavior that is variation from brittle failure to ductile observed over 600 °C in bulk silicon.
Design and implementation of blended learning model in Semiconductor Device course

There has been a paradigm shift in the modern teaching and learning method from face-to-face to blended learning style. However, most of the lecturers having difficulty in determining whether the blended learning style can be used as one of the approach to increase the student understanding on the engineering subject. Aiming to explore the effectiveness of blended learning model in engineering subjects, an innovative blended learning model was designed and implemented in the Semiconductor Device course to increase student achievement in this subject. The blended learning model implemented in this research integrate face-to-face, E-learning, groupwork and self-work. A survey and final examination results were used to evaluate the effectiveness of each of the teaching and learning activities implemented for this subject. It was found that a minimum of 10 students agreed that face-to-face module consists of tutorial and lecture together with mind map and on-line assignment were the most effective method for the students. Less than 4 students agreed that a Java applet and video is most effective. The results of the comparative study show the effectiveness of the proposed model. 15% of the students from this semester score A compared to previous student with only 7% score A in this course. The failure rate also reduced from 10% to 2% by implementing this blended learning model.
The Mediated and Moderated Effects of Family Support on Child Maltreatment

Previous research has linked parents’ social support to decreased child maltreatment, but questions remain surrounding the mechanisms explaining this association. Furthermore, it is unclear whether this association applies to support provided by family alone (and not friends), and whether it is moderated by the presence of neighborhood violence. Based on a sample of parents of children aged 3 to 15 years in Chicago, the authors find that parents’ family support is associated with a lower risk of child maltreatment. This association is partly mediated by reduced parental depression, but only in neighborhoods with average or high levels of violence. In neighborhoods with low levels of violence, the inverse association between family support and maltreatment is equally strong, but it is not mediated by reduced depression.
Relationship between neointimal regrowth and mechanism of acute lumen gain during the treatment of in‐stent restenosis with or without supplementary intravascular radiation

We investigated whether neointimal regrowth is related to the mechanism of acute lumen gain during the treatment of in‐stent restenosis (ISR) lesions both with and without adjunct intravascular brachytherapy. From the WRIST (Washington Radiation for In‐Stent Restenosis Trial) cohort, 54 ISR patients (192Ir, 29; placebo, 25) were treated with nonrepeat stenting percutaneous interventions (excimer laser, rotational atherectomy, and/or balloon angioplasty) prior to 192Ir or placebo therapy. Using Simpson's method, serial volumetric intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analyses (pre‐ and posttreatment and 6‐month follow‐up) were analyzed to obtain stent, lumen, and intimal hyperplasia (IH) volumes that were then adjusted for stent length to create stent, lumen, and IH volume indexes. In the placebo group, the acute reduction of neointima (1.6 ± 1.4 mm3/mm) was counteracted by intimal regrowth (2.1 ± 1.7 mm3/mm). The amount of intimal regrowth correlated directly with the intimal reduction due to the intervention (r = 0.76; P < 0.001), but not with the amount of additional stent expansion. In the 192Ir‐treated group, intimal regrowth was significantly less than in the placebo group (−0.3 ± 0.1 vs. 2.1 ± 1.7 mm3/mm; P < 0.001) despite a similar initial intimal reduction (1.3 ± 0.9 vs. 1.6 ± 1.4 mm3/mm; P = NS). No correlation was found between intimal reduction at the time of the procedure and intimal regrowth in the 192Ir group. In this study, neointimal regrowth following treatment of ISR lesions correlates directly with the extent of acute intimal volume reduction, but not with the extent of additional stent expansion. This relation is not seen in ISR segments treated with radiation, where intimal regrowth is substantially inhibited. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2003;58:162–167. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.