Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Satisfaction with Life Scale

This article reports the development and validation of a scale to measure global life satisfaction, the Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS). Among the various components of subjective well-being, the SWLS is narrowly focused to assess global life satisfaction and does not tap related constructs such as positive affect or loneliness. The SWLS is shown to have favorable psychometric properties, including high internal consistency and high temporal reliability. Scores on the SWLS correlate moderately to highly with other measures of subjective well-being, and correlate predictably with specific personality characteristics. It is noted that the SWLS is Suited for use with different age groups, and other potential uses of the scale are discussed.
Collision detection using sphere-tree construction

Fast and accurate collision detection between general geometric models is a fundamental problem in modeling, robotics, manufacturing and computer-simulated environments. Most of the earlier algorithms are either restricted to a class of geometric models, say convex polytopes, or are not fast enough for practical applications. We present a new algorithm for collision detection between general polygonal models. The algorithm makes use of hierarchical representations along with frame to frame coherence to rapidly detect collisions. It has been implemented as part of a motion planning package. In practice, it can accurately detect the contacts between large geometries composed of thousands of polygons at interactive rates.
Müllerian inhibiting substance inhibits testosterone synthesis in adult rats.

Müllerian inhibiting substance (MIS) is a gonadal hormone that causes regression of the Müllerian ducts during male sexual differentiation. Postnatally, MIS inhibits the proliferation and differentiation of immature Leydig cells, and transgenic mice that overexpress MIS have decreased serum testosterone concentrations. To elucidate the effects of MIS on androgen regulation in the postnatal testis, we examined testosterone synthesis in adult Sprague-Dawley rats following intratesticular and intraperitoneal injections of MIS. Intratesticular MIS injection achieved high local concentrations of MIS (574.0 +/- 60.0 ng/mL) at 4 hours, with a corresponding decline in serum testosterone concentrations to 0.7 +/- 0.1 ng/mL, compared to 1.1 +/- 0.2 ng/mL with intraperitoneal MIS and 1.6 +/- 0.1 ng/mL with intratesticular vehicle (IT-Veh) (P < .001). Intratesticular administration of MIS (IT-MIS) resulted in much higher serum and testicular interstitial fluid MIS concentrations than the intraperitoneal route. To directly examine the testosterone production rate in MIS-treated animals, we isolated Leydig cells from MIS and vehicle-injected testes. Primary Leydig cells exposed to MIS had a lower testosterone production rate and decreased expression of p450c17 (hydroxylase/lyase) and luteinizing hormone (LH) receptor mRNAs than that of vehicle-injected controls or the noninjected contralateral testis. In conclusion, intratesticular administration of MIS caused a decline in serum testosterone concentrations by decreasing the rate of testosterone biosynthesis, confirming that MIS can regulate adult Leydig cell androgen production. The ability of MIS to down-regulate mRNA expression of the p450c17 and LH receptor genes suggests that this effect is mediated transcriptionally. These data indicate that, in addition to its role in embryonic differentiation of the male reproductive tract, MIS has a regulatory function in the postnatal testis. We conclude that one such function is for MIS to directly inhibit adult Leydig cell steroidogenesis.
In vivo mutation in gene A of splenic lymphocytes from ΦX174 transgenic mice

Single‐burst analysis was applied to a forward assay for gene A mutation in splenic lymphocytes of ΦX174 transgenic mice for the purpose of optimizing analytical parameters for identifying in vivo mutations. The effect of varying the cutoff value for an in vivo burst on induced mutant frequency, fold increase, and the significance of the difference between control and N‐ethyl‐N‐nitrosourea (ENU)‐treated mice was calculated by two different methods. The plating density was reduced to an average of less than 10 background mutant plaques per aliquot in order to separate in vitro bursts. The spectrum of mutations contributing < 60 plaques per aliquot from control animals was not significantly different from the control spectra from E. coli or transgenic ΦX174 cells in culture. The mutant spectra from ENU‐treated animals was highly different between mutant bursts of > 80 plaques per aliquot compared to mutations contributing < 60 plaques per aliquot (P < 0.000001), the former fitting the spectrum expected for ENU‐induced mutations. The latter spectrum was also different from control animals and E. coli (P < 0.000001), suggesting the difference was caused by ex vivo mutation. With the mutations found in this study, the total number of reported target sites for gene A is now 33. The results support the interpretation that, in contrast to results for the lacI transgene, 100% of mutants isolated in gene A from control animals and cells were fixed in E. coli. We attribute the difference between the two genes to hot‐spot sites for mutation in gene A and to a testable hypothesis that the mosaic plaque assay for the lacI transgene underestimates the frequency of ex vivo mutants. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 44:128–150, 2004. Published 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Electrical Design and Techniques for an Embedded High-Pin-Count LSI Chip Package

In order to achieve the excellent electrical performance, as well as low warpage and high heat removal, electrical design techniques for an ultrathin large-scale integration (LSI) package embedding a high-pin-count LSI chip in the thin package substrate have been developed. The embedded chip package we designed is 27 mm × 27 mm in size and 0.71 mm in thickness with a heat spreader. The package is attained with only three metal layers against the six metal layers of the product flip-chip ball grid array package using the same chip, even though the package size is the same. Although the two power plane layers have been removed from the substrate, the low impedance of the power distribution network is achieved by utilizing many bundles of fine vias. A 0.5-mm-thick Cu plate attached to the LSI chip's backside provides the signal return path, and contributes to the flatness of this thin package. It also effectively removes heat from the chip. In addition, it functioned as a shield component and results in electromagnetic interference suppression. Our design for a fully operative LSI chip with approximately 1500 pins demonstrates excellent electrical performance as well as small thickness, low warpage, and a high rate of heat removal. Function tests using an LSI tester and a PC-like system board successfully demonstrate the outstanding performance of the LSI chip. Finally, the advantage of a heat sink connected to ground plane of the package is discussed. It is found that, for excellent near-field noise suppression effects, the heat sink must be connected to the ground plane.
Development of a computerized adverse drug event monitor.

Adverse events during drug therapy are receiving renewed attention. Some adverse drug events (ADEs) are identified only after the widespread clinical use of a drug. The Food and Drug Administration advocates post-marketing surveillance systems to provide early warnings of previously undetected ADEs. The identification of ADEs by U.S. hospitals is now required by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. We developed a series of computer programs and data files on the HELP System to help identify ADEs. The HELP System monitors laboratory test results, drug orders, and data entered through a computerized ADE reporting program. A nurse or pharmacist verifies computer alerts of possible ADEs. The computerized system identified 401 ADEs during the first year of use compared to 9 by voluntary reporting methods during the previous year (p less than 0.001). This paper describes the development and early use of the computerized ADE surveillance system.
The therapeutic efficacy of allyl isothiocyanate in cows with bovine digital dermatitis

Bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) is the most prevalent infectious cause of lameness in cattle. Because Treponema infection is a major etiology of BDD, the most common treatment of BDD is an antibiotic. Nonetheless, dairy cows require a withdrawal period after antibiotic treatment before their milk can be marketed. To address the problem, in this study, we tested whether 3 nonantibiotic agents (used separately)—allyl isothiocyanate (AITC), sodium alginate, and calcium hydroxide—alleviate BDD lesions in dairy cows. The AITC treatment improved the BDD lesions, whereas the sodium alginate and calcium hydroxide treatments did not. Therapeutic efficacy of AITC was similar to that of lincomycin, a topical antibiotic prescribed for BDD. These results suggest that AITC is a promising nonantibiotic agent for BDD treatment in dairy cows.
Child pedestrians: The role of parental beliefs and practices in promoting safe walking in urban neighborhoods

The purpose of this study was to describe parents’ child pedestrian safety practices, knowledge, risk perceptions, and beliefs. We surveyed 732 parents from four elementary schools in urban neighborhoods that differed in income, and child pedestrian injury risks. Findings indicated that most parents taught their children street safety. Few (16%) knew basic pedestrian safety facts; 46% believed children younger than 10 years could safely cross streets alone; 50% believed a child pedestrian crash was likely. Parents in lower income neighborhoods reported the highest rates of unpleasant walking environments and concerns about drug dealers, crime, violence, and trash. We conclude that education should focus on children’s risk, developmental capabilities, and supervision needs. Promoting physical activity in urban neighborhoods, especially lower income ones, must address concerns about the physical and social environment.
“Wait anaphase” signals are not confined to the mitotic spindle

Inhibitory “wait anaphase” signals derived from unbound kinetochores in a mitotic spindle diffuse into the cytoplasm. These diffusible signals can synchronize anaphase onset of neighboring spindles in multinucleate cells. The extent and activity of these signals are subject to diffusion barriers and cytoplasmic dilution.
Assessment of cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of pyracarbolid by Allium test and micronucleus assay

Abstract The present study evaluates the cytotoxic and genotoxic potential of pyracarbolid using both micronuleus (MN) assay, in human lymphocytes, and Allium cepa assay, in the root meristem cells. In Allium test, EC50 value was determined in order to selecting the test concentrations for the assay and the root tips were treated with 25 ppm (EC50/2), 50 ppm (EC50) and 100 ppm (EC50 × 2) concentrations of pyracarbolid. One percent of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and methyl methane sulfonate (MMS) were used as negative and positive controls, respectively. In the micronucleus assay, the cultures were treated with four concentrations (250, 500, 750 and 1000 µg/ml) of pyracarbolid for 24 and 48 h, negative and positive controls were also used in the experiment parallely. The results showed that mitotic index (MI) significantly reduced with increasing the pyracarbolid concentration at each exposure time. It was also obtained that prophase and metaphase index decreased significantly in all concentration at each exposure time. Anaphase index decreased as well and results were found to be statistically significant, except 24 h. A significant increase was observed in MN frequency in all concentrations and both treatment periods when compared with the controls. Pyracarbolid also caused a significant reduction in the cytokinesis block proliferation index (CBPI) in all concentration and both exposure time.
High versus low ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery in rectal cancer

The argument for and against high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery in rectal cancer has yet to be resolved. Between 1948 and 1983, 4250 patients underwent surgery for rectal carcinoma at St. Mark's Hospital, London. From these, 250 patients were selected who had undergone curative anterior resection of a Dukes' C adenocarcinoma and their records were examined. In 150 (60 per cent) the inferior mesenteric artery was ligated above the origin of the left colic artery. The outcome was analysed using the Dukes', Gastrointestinal Tumour Study Group and Astler‐Coller classifications, either alone or in combination. Tumour differentiation and extent of local invasion were also considered. Despite this detailed analysis, no improved survival was seen in patients when the inferior mesenteric artery was ligated above the origin of the left colic artery.
Health insurance and household income associated with mammography utilization among American women, 2000 - 2008.

BACKGROUND National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) has provided free or low-cost mammograms to low-income or no health insurance women in all of the states of the United States (US) since 1997. The objective of this study was to understand whether health insurance and annual household income impacted the mammography utilization since the implementation of NBCCEDP, in order to evaluate how the implementation of NBCCEDP impacted mammography utilization among American women. METHODS Data were from the database of Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) of the CDC in US. Mammography utilization was measured by whether the American woman aged 40 to 64 years had the mammography within the last two years. The chi square test and multivariate Logistic regression were used to evaluate the associations between mammography utilization and health insurance, annual household income, and other factors for any given year. RESULTS From 2000 to 2008, the rate of mammography utilization among participants had a steady decrease on the whole from 86.7% to 83.8%. The results showed that the mammography utilization correlated significantly with health insurance and annual household income for any given year. The results also showed that compared with participants who were uninsured, those who were insured had a greater times higher rate of mammography in 2008 than any other year from 2000 to 2008, and compared with participants whose annual household income was below $15 000, those whose annual household income was above $50 000 had a greater times higher rate of mammography in 2008 than in 2004 and 2006. CONCLUSIONS Health insurance and annual household income impacted the mammography utilization for any given year from 2000 to 2008, and the implementation of NBCCEDP has not achieved its original goal on breast cancer screening.
Recognition Memory, Orcadian Rhythms, and Sleep

One set of 20 subjects learned a list of words early in the morning while another set of 20 learned the same material in the midafternoon. Half of the subjects (n=10) were tested after an intervening four hours of sleep, while the other 10 were tested after four hours of waking activity. Subjects in the afternoon groups performed better on a recognition task than those in the morning groups, while subjects who had intervening periods of sleep between learning and testing performed better than their counterparts who remained awake. Finally, those subjects who learned in the afternoon and slept prior to testing did best on the recognition task, while those who learned in the morning and remained awake did worst. These results are consistent with the notion that both sleep and circadian rhythms play a role in the memory process.
CDK‐inhibitors‐associated kinase activity: A possible determinant of malignant potential in smooth muscle tumors of the external soft tissue

There has been accumulating histological observation of leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma of the external soft tissue regarding their differential diagnosis. The definitive diagnostic tools have not been established, however, nor have the pathological mechanisms of cell proliferation in these tumors been clarified. Herein, expression of the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors (CKIs), p21, p27 and p57 and their associated kinase activities were examined in 61 cases of soft tissue smooth muscle tumors. Immunohistochemical staining showed that all 3 inhibitor proteins were expressed in all cases of leiomyoma and leiomyosarcoma, but that the mean values of their labeling indices (LIs) were higher in the cases of leiomyosarcoma. In addition, the LIs of p21 and p27 were inversely correlated in total cases. Immunoblotting revealed that these proteins are expressed at higher levels in tumors, in particular, in leiomyosarcoma. When CKIs were immunoprecipitated from tissue extracts, cyclin/cdk protein complexes associated with, at least, 1 CKI were detectable only in tumor tissues. Furthermore, cdk2 or cdk4 kinase activity manifested by these cyclin/cdk/CKI complexes (CKI‐associated kinase activity) was detectable exclusively from leiomyosarcoma, but not from leiomyoma. Among the cases of leiomyosarcoma, cdk2 activity was generally found associated either with p21 or p27, but not both. Statistical analysis indicated that p21‐ and p27 LIs are predictive of positive or negative clinical outcome, respectively. In conclusion, the participation of CKIs in active cyclin/cdk complexes in a reciprocal and redundant manner and subsequent CKI‐ associated kinase activity are the characteristic profiles of malignant phenotype in these tumors. Moreover, immunohistochemical detection of CKIs may provide a useful tool for evaluating patients' prognosis. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Continuous-variable entanglement sharing in noninertial frames

We study the distribution of entanglement between modes of a free scalar field from the perspective of observers in uniform acceleration. We consider a two-mode squeezed state of the field from an inertial perspective, and analytically study the degradation of entanglement due to the Unruh effect, in the cases of either one or both observers undergoing uniform acceleration. We find that for two observers undergoing finite acceleration, the entanglement vanishes between the lowest frequency modes. The loss of entanglement is precisely explained as a redistribution of the inertial entanglement into multipartite quantum correlations among accessible and unaccessible modes from a non-inertial perspective. We show that classical correlations are also lost from the perspective of two accelerated observers but conserved if one of the observers remains inertial.
Inférence grammaticale sur des alphabets ordonnés : application à la découverte de motifs dans des familles de protéines. (Grammatical inference on ordered alphabets : application to pattern discovery in proteins)

Durant cette these, nous avons travaille sur l'adaptation des algorithmes d'inference grammaticale pour la recherche des proprietes communes a un ensemble de proteines. L'inference grammaticale positive cherche a generer, a partir d'un ensemble de mots appartenant a un langage cible particulier inconnu, une representation grammaticale qui est "optimale" par rapport a ce langage, c'est-a-dire qui rassemble et organise les particularites des mots du langage. Nous avons utilise le diagramme de Taylor, qui classe les acides amines suivant leurs proprietes physico-chimiques, pour construire, sous forme de treillis, un ordre sur les groupes d'acides amines. Nous avons aussi developpe une methode d'inference (SDTM) qui calcule les meilleurs alignements locaux entre les paires de proteines suivant un score fonde a la fois sur cet ordre et sur les proprietes statistiques de l'ensemble de proteines donne. Le resultat est une machine sequentielle proche de celle de Mealy avec des sorties reduites a "accepte" et "rejette". L'algorithme commence par construire le plus grand automate reconnaissant exactement les mots du langage et le generalise par fusions successives des paires de transitions correspondant aux acides amines apparies dans les alignements selectionnes. Les experimentations ont montre l'interet de cette combinaison de methodes importees de la decouverte de motifs et de l'inference grammaticale.
Inhaled fluticasone versus inhaled beclomethasone or inhaled budesonide for chronic asthma.

BACKGROUND Beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) and budesonide (BUD) are commonly prescribed inhaled corticosteroids for the treatment of asthma, Fluticasone propionate (FP) is newer agent with greater potency in in-vitro assays. OBJECTIVES To compare the efficacy and safety of Fluticasone to Beclomethasone or Budesonide in the treatment of chronic asthma. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched the Cochrane Airways Group trial register (January 2003) and reference lists of articles. We contacted trialists and pharmaceutical companies for additional studies and searched abstracts of major respiratory society meetings (1997 to 2003). SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised trials in children and adults comparing Fluticasone to either Beclomethasone or Budesonide in the treatment of chronic asthma. Two reviewers independently assessed articles for inclusion and methodological quality. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS One reviewer extracted data. Quantitative analyses were undertaken using RevMan analyses 1.0. 1. MAIN RESULTS 48 studies (11,479 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was variable. When compared at a FP:BUD/BDP dose ratio of 1:2, fluticasone produced a significantly greater FEV1 (Weighted Mean Difference (WMD) 0.11 litres, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.01 to 0.20 litres), morning PEF (WMD 13 L/min, 95%CI 5 to 22 L/min) and evening PEF (WMD 11 L/min, 95%CI 1 to 20 L/min). This applied to all drug doses, age groups, and delivery devices, although subgroup analyses suggested that the relative benefit of FP may be greater in more severe patients treated with higher doses of inhaled corticosteroid. No difference between fluticasone and beclomethasone or budesonide were seen for trial withdrawals (Peto OR 0.76, 95%CI 0.53 to 1.09). Symptoms and rescue medication use were widely reported but few trials provided sufficient data for analysis. A higher likelihood of pharyngitis (Peto Odds Ratio 2.16; 95% CI 1.43 to 3.24) was apparent when patients were treated with fluticasone at twice the dose of BDP/BUD, although there was unexplained heterogeneity in this effect between trials. There was no difference in the likelihood of oral Candidiasis. Plasma cortisol and 24 hour urinary cortisol were measured frequently but data presentation was limited. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS Fluticasone given at half the daily dose of beclomethasone or budesonide leads to small improvements in measures of airway calibre, but it appears to have a higher risk of causing side-effects when given at the same daily dose.
Genetic Contributions to Lupus‐like Disease in (NZB×NZW)F1 Mice

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, characterized by the involvement of multiple organ systems and expression of diverse clinical manifestations. The hallmark of SLE is the production of autoantibodies directed against nuclear components, including ssDNA, dsDNA, and histones. Nearly 90% of lupus patients are female, with incidence increasing during childbearing years and decreasing after menopause [reviewed in (Kotzin & O'Dell 1994)]. For males, peak incidence may not be until the 7th decade of life. These data suggest a role for sex hormones in the development of disease, with estrogens exerting an enhancing effect and androgens a protective influence. The clinical course of patients with SLE is extremely variable. Some patients have mild forms of disease, with spontaneous remissions and regressions; others demonstrate low levels of skin and joint involvement and respond favorably to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Still other patients follow a more relentless course, progressing to end organ damage (such as renal failure) frequently with multisystem involvement, in a manner unresponsive to high doses of corticosteroids and cytotoxic drugs.