Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Low-frequency electromagnetic stimulation may lead to regression of Morris hepatoma in buffalo rats.

OBJECTIVE The influence of low-frequency electromagnetic (LF-EM) waves on the processes of carcinogenesis and tumor growth has been the subject of experimental investigations for more than two decades and the results are promising. In parallel, an interesting method of complementary medicine, biophysical-information therapy (BIT) or bioresonance therapy (BRT), which in principle is based on LF-EM stimulation, has emerged. BRT has been known since the late 1980s but is still poorly studied. The idea of applying BRT to tumors is based on two main premises: (1) endogenous biophotonic emission in the case of tumors is different from that produced by healthy tissues/cells and (2) BRT effects are believed to be primarily manifested at the immune-system level. Consequently, we decided to study the influence of BRT on a dynamic and well-known process: the expansion of transplantable hepatoma in rats. DESIGN The study was carried out on female Buffalo rats with implanted Morris tumors (three experimental and one control group). Fourteen (14) consecutive in vivo exposures using a BRT device (BICOM B15, REGUMED Regulative Medizintechnik Gmbh, Graefelfing, Germany), were made from the third day after inoculation of the tumors. Biometric observations, intra vitam (tumor volume, growth ratio), were completed with histologic investigation (implantation locus, selected internal organs [lungs]). RESULTS Thirty-one (31) cases (69%; n = 45) of total tumor regression were observed in experimental groups and these individuals were anesthetized to enable histologic verification to be made. No lung metastases--usually observed in tumor-bearers--could be detected. Moreover, in the inoculation loci, traces of former implantation and tumor absorption were found to be associated with high activity of cell-mediated immune response. No regressions were observed in the control group. CONCLUSIONS We cannot exclude the possibility that LF-EM signals transmitted via BRT into the tumor-bearers may stimulate two separate processes: effective immunological response and/or tumor-cell death. The method appears to be capable of inducing the regression of transplantable hepatoma in vivo, thus is a potential subject of further studies.
Compact Circularly-Polarized Patch Antenna Loaded With Metamaterial Structures

A metamaterial-inspired low-profile patch antenna is proposed and studied for circularly-polarized (CP) radiation. The present antenna, which has a single-fed configuration, is loaded with the composite right/left-handed (CRLH) mushroom-like structures and a reactive impedance surface (RIS) for miniaturization purpose. The CP radiation is realized by exciting two orthogonally-polarized modes simultaneously which are located in the left-handed (LH) region. The detailed antenna radiation characteristics are examined and illustrated with both simulated and experimental results. The CP performance can be controlled in several different ways. This antenna exhibits an overall size of 0. 177λ0 × 0. 181λ0 × 0. 025λ0 at 2.58 GHz and a radiation efficiency around 72%. Finally, based on the proposed CP patch antenna, a compact dual-band dual linearly-polarized patch antenna has also been designed and fabricated. Promising experimental results are observed.
A Prospective Study of Risk Factors for Pain Persisting 4 Months After Hysterectomy

ObjectivesChronic pain after hysterectomy is reported by 5% to 32% of women, but it is unknown whether the pain is a result of surgery or can be attributable to other factors such as preoperative and postoperative pain, physical, and psychosocial status. The aim of this prospective study was therefore to study the role of surgery and other possible predictors for pain 4 months after hysterectomy. MethodsNinety women referred for hysterectomy for benign conditions completed the study. The women were interviewed and completed pain questionnaires before surgery and after 3 weeks and 4 months. Questions were about pain location, intensity, and frequency, as well as medical treatment and impact on daily living. In addition, the Short Form-36 General Health Status Questionnaire and Coping Strategies Questionnaire were completed before surgery. ResultsFifteen women (16.7%) had persistent pain 4 months after hysterectomy. In 11 women, the pain resembled their preoperative pain, whereas 4 women had pain likely to be related to surgery. Preoperative “pain problems elsewhere” and a high “acute postoperative pain intensity” were associated with having pain 4 months after hysterectomy (P=0.004 and P=0.034). A similar tendency was seen for preoperative “pelvic pain” (P=0.059). Women with pain at 4 months reported lower quality of life in 4 Short Form-36 subscales and less control of pain preoperatively (P<0.05 and P=0.023). DiscussionPain persisting 4 months after hysterectomy is most often related to preoperative factors and acute postoperative pain. The relative contribution of surgery itself is small.
Motives, Modes of Participation, and Loyalty Intentions of Facebook Tourism Brand Page Consumers

This study examines the relationships between motivations, modes of participation and loyalty intentions of consumers of tourism brand pages on Facebook (TBPF). The study introduces an integrative theoretical and exploratory model that describes the impact of motivation on online consumer behavior (extent of participation and degree of active contribution) and attitudes toward particular brands (repurchase and recommendation intention). A digital survey posted on TBPF elicited 903 responses. Four factors of motives for participation were identified—functional, social-psychological, hedonistic, and incentive motives—with varying levels of importance. Social-psychological motives were the main predictors for “active-participation” in TBPF. There was a positive significant correlation between all the modes of participation and consumers’ loyalty intentions. The findings were significantly different from previous studies of online tourism communities with regard to the impact of social-psychological motives on consumer’s electronic word-of-mouth participation and loyalty intentions. The implications for the theory and marketing management are discussed, as is the study’s contribution to effective marketing management of TBPF.
Convergence in Per Capita Income across Regions in Bangladesh

This paper examines per capita income convergence across six divisions–– Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, and Barisal––in Bangladesh using annual data during 1977-2000. The methodology uses ordinary least squares as well as time series ap proach, specifically unit root and cointegration techniques. The findings, however, do not provide enough evidence in favour of th e convergence hypothesis even though the regions have similar socio-economic background and physical infrastructure, and access to the same financial system , administrative institutions, and technology. The series of income deviations from the benchmark fail to reject the null of non-stationarity in most cases. However, the presence of cointegration between various economic factors and the leading regions suggests the presence of long-run equilibrium relationship among them. Therefore, proper attention in terms of providing infrastructural as well as technological and financial supports to the lagging regions may be intensified. It may be worth mentioning, in this regard, that the current strategy of pro- poor growth seems to be a proper way of expediting per capital income convergence across regions in Bangladesh.
Robust Phylogeny of Tetrastigma (Vitaceae) Based on Ten Plastid DNA Regions: Implications for Infrageneric Classification and Seed Character Evolution

Tetrastigma (Miq.) Planch. is one of the most species-rich genera of the economically and agronomically important grape family Vitaceae. It includes ca. 95 species widely distributed in the tropics and subtropics of Asia and Australia. Species of Tetrastigma exhibit great diversity in both vegetative and reproductive characters. Here we inferred a well-supported phylogeny of Tetrastigma based on ten chloroplast DNA regions with an expanded taxon sampling of 72 species and two varieties. Our molecular results support six major clades within Tetrastigma and the relationships among these clades were well-resolved. We also documented seed morphology of 44 species covering the six major clades of the genus. Ancestral states of eight characters (seed shape, seed surface rumination pattern, chalaza length/width ratio, chalaza position, ventral infold position, ventral infold divergence, ventral infold depth in cross section, and endosperm shape) were reconstructed in Mesquite and R with four models. Character optimizations suggest that all character states have evolved multiple times except that the irregular-shaped surface rumination has derived only once in Tetrastigma. We evaluated the taxonomic importance of seed morphology and identified potential morphological evidence to support each major clade. Our comprehensive analyses of Tetrastigma shed insights into the infrageneric classification of this morphologically diverse and ecologically important genus in tropical and subtropical Asia.
Older Adults with Multi-Morbidity: Medication Management Processes and Design Implications for Personal Health Applications

Background Older adults often have multiple chronic problems requiring them to manage complex medication regimens overseen by various clinicians. Personal health applications (PHAs) show promise assisting in medication self-management, but adoption of new computer technologies by this population is challenging. Optimizing the utility of PHAs requires a thorough understanding of older adults’ needs, preferences, and practices. Objective The objective of our study was to understand the medication self-management issues faced by older adults and caregivers that can be addressed by an electronic PHA. Methods We conducted a qualitative analysis of a series of individual and group semistructured interviews with participants who were identified through purposive sampling. Results We interviewed 32 adult patients and 2 adult family caregivers. We identified 5 core themes regarding medication self-management challenges: seeking reliable medication information, maintaining autonomy in medication treatment decisions, worrying about taking too many medications, reconciling information discrepancies between allopathic and alternative medical therapies, and tracking and coordinating health information between multiple providers. Conclusions This study provides insights into the latent concerns and challenges faced by older adults and caregivers in managing medications. The results suggest that PHAs should have the following features to accommodate the management strategies and information preferences of this population: (1) provide links to authoritative and reliable information on side effects, drug interactions, and other medication-related concerns in a way that is clear, concise, and easy to navigate, (2) facilitate communication between patients and doctors and pharmacists through electronic messaging and health information exchange, and (3) provide patients the ability to selectively disclose medication information to different clinicians.
The rise of dowry in Bangladesh.

We examine the emergence of dowry and other changes in marriage practices since the 1960s in Bangladesh. We find that the shift from brideprice to dowry the rise in male advantage in the marriage market and the increase in the value of dowry payments have a common demographic cause. The rise of dowry and corresponding changes in other marriage practices have increasingly negative consequences for young women in Bangladesh. (EXCERPT)
Functional genomics of maize submergence tolerance and cloning of the related gene Sicyp51

In this study, SSH (Suppression Subtractive Hybridization) and cDNA microarray were used to identify genes associated with waterlogging response of maize roots. Mo17 and Hz32 are two maize inbred lines with differential tolerance to hypoxia. Seedlings of the inbred lines with two leaves were submerged in hypoxia buffer. SSH libraries were constructed with cDNA samples from roots. Both forward and reverse subtractions were performed for each inbred line, and 105 positive clones induced by hypoxia were selected by differential screening. The treated and control message RNA were hybridized with the cDNA microarray of Mo17, sequentially, 57 of 3-fold differentially expressed clones were obtained. A total of 162 positive clones were all sequenced. Bioinformatics analysis showed these positive clones represent 85 TUGs, including genes involved in several biochemistry pathways, such as glycolysis, protection, signal transduction, cell construction and energy metabolism and 41 EST with unknown function. Comparison between Mo17 and Hz32 indicates that genes related to hypoxia tolerance have different expression patterns in submerged roots. Several positive clones’ expression patterns were revealed by Northern or RT-PCR, and a new gene (Sicyp51), which may contribute to hypoxia tolerance, was identified.
Large-Signal Characterization of Power Inductors in EV Bidirectional DC–DC Converters Focused on Core Size Optimization

This paper is focused on core size optimization of power inductors in bidirectional dc-dc converters. It presents an experimental large-signal characterization procedure for power inductors in electric vehicle applications and a method to obtain an inductance reference value for the power inductor in dc-dc converters' simulation studies. It discusses the importance of the inductor design project by describing important constraints such as core size and saturation. The main contribution of this paper is related to the proposed dc flux cancelation technique in the bidirectional converter. A variable inductor prototype is used to replace the power inductor in order to decrease core size by improving the ripple content of the inductor current. The saturation level of the core is controlled by means of an auxiliary winding whether the converter operates in buck or boost mode. Experimental results validate the proposed methodology showing more than 50% reduction in magnetic material for similar current levels.
Pain referents used to respond to the Pain Catastrophizing Scale

Pain catastrophizing has emerged as a highly important construct in pain research. The Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) is a widely used self‐report measure used to determine a person's level of pain catastrophizing, assumed to be associated with an ongoing, recalled or anticipated pain experience. In practice, instructions for self‐reporting catastrophizing typically do not provide a specific pain referent, even when assessing patients with chronic pain. Researchers have noted that it is not known what type of pain participants are referring to when responding to a catastrophizing questionnaire.
Trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder in the elderly: findings from a German community study.

OBJECTIVE The present study assessed the risk of trauma exposure and subsequent posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in an elderly community sample. Furthermore, gender differences and psychiatric comorbidity were analyzed. METHOD 3170 adults living in a German community were assessed by the PTSD module of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV and the Composite International Diagnostic-Screener. They were assigned to 3 age groups: young (44 years and younger; N = 997), middle-aged (45-64 years; N = 1322), and elderly (65 years and older; N = 851). Data for the present study were collected between December 2002 and December 2006. RESULTS At least 1 trauma was reported by 54.6%, and the odds for trauma exposure were almost 4-fold in the elderly compared to the younger age groups (OR = 3.74; 95% CI = 3.13 to 4.47). Among those traumatized, the lifetime and 1-month prevalence rates of PTSD in the elderly were 3.1% and 1.5%, respectively, and did not differ from the rates of the young and middle-aged adults. Elderly men had a significantly increased risk for trauma exposure in general than elderly women (p = .012), but there were no gender differences in PTSD prevalence rates. Elderly PTSD-positive participants had significantly higher odds for any psychiatric syndrome than those without PTSD (OR = 9.10; 95% CI = 2.64 to 31.28) with depression and anxiety being the most frequent conditions. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that PTSD is certainly not rare in the elderly and that a lifetime diagnosis of PTSD is associated with symptoms of depression and anxiety. Assessment of trauma and PTSD should be integrated into routine examinations of the elderly to improve management and treatment provisions.
A comparative analysis of the smart money effect in Malaysian Islamic and conventional equity funds

ABSTRACT This paper undertakes a comparative analysis of the ‘smart money’ effect—whereby investors are able to identify funds that subsequently perform well—among Malaysian Islamic and conventional domestic equity funds. We find that Islamic equity fund investors are unable to identify funds that will outperform benchmarks in the future. However, these same investors have some ability in identifying poorly performing funds. The key implications are as follows. First, Islamic equity investors naively chasing recently highly performing funds only incidentally benefit from mutual fund momentum strategies. Second, fund managers may be able to benefit from a contrary ‘dumb money’ effect found among Islamic equity fund investors in that they appear most concerned with only very poor performance in determining the flow of funds. Finally, we find high search costs may be one reason why investors naively chase past better performing funds.
Child Mortality Rate in Ethiopia

Ethiopia’s childhood mortality has continued to decline although at a swift pace. The drop in urban childhood mortality decline, duration of breastfeeding is the principle reason for the overall decline in mortality trends in Ethiopia. Data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys 2000 and 2005 were used. Indirect estimation of Brass and Trussell’s methods were adopted. Selected demographic and socio-economic variables were included in the analysis with statistically significant effects. Findings clearly show neonatal and post neonatal mortality decline gradually. Even though, Ethiopia’s childhood mortality rates are still high. The result shows less than 2 years birth interval have higher infant mortality rates than higher birth interval (113 deaths per 1000). The proper spacing of births allows more time for childcare to make more maternal resources available for the care of the child and mother. Therefore, further research is urgent for regional level and national level investigation.
Relationship between ambient fine particles and ventricular repolarization changes and heart rate variability of elderly people with heart disease in Beijing, China.

OBJECTIVE To explore the effects of particulate matters less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5) on heart repolarization/depolarization and heart rate variability (HRV). METHODS We conducted a panel study for elderly subjects with heart disease in Beijing from 2007 to 2008. PM2.5 was measured at a fixed station for 20 h continuously each day while electrocardiogram (ECG) indexes of 42 subjects were also recorded repeatedly. Meteorological data was obtained from the China Meteorological Data Sharing Service System. A mixed linear regression model was used to estimate the associations between PM2.5 and the ECG indexes. The model was adjusted for age, body mass index, sex, day of the week and meteorology. RESULTS Significant adverse effects of PM2.5 on ECG indexes reflecting HRV were observed statistically and the strongest effect of PM2.5 on HRV was on lag 1 day in our study. However, there were no associations between PM2.5 and ECG indexes reflecting heart repolarization/depolarization. Additionally, the effects of PM2.5 on subjects with hypertension were larger than on the subjects without hypertension. CONCLUSION This study showed ambient PM2.5 could affect cardiac autonomic function of the elderly people with heart disease, and subjects with hypertension appeared to be more susceptive to the autonomic dysfunction induced by PM2.5.
Family influence and SME performance under conditions of firm size and age

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to provide a better assessment of the positive impact of family influence (FI) on the performance of SMEs and investigate a possible shift with firm size (FS) and age. Design/methodology/approach This study is based upon a large sample of 4,240 firms representative of small businesses operating in the USA. It focuses on active ownership, i.e. direct involvement of owners alongside employees as an important factor of FI and conducts hierarchical regression models with profitability as the dependent variable, FI as the independent variable, and FS/age as moderating variables. It also includes other firm characteristics as control variables. Findings The results show that even though active family ownership is positively associated with the profitability of SMEs, the relationship between FI and profitability is negatively moderated by FS and firm age (FA). Research limitations/implications The limitations of this study are mainly related to the definition of family SMEs and to the cross-sectional data used to understand the variations in economic performance. However, the results show the great importance of this kind of study; more attention must be paid to heterogeneity due to the size and age of family businesses as well as the level of owners’ involvement alongside employees. Practical implications Practitioners are encouraged to maintain a higher degree of family ownership combined with a higher degree of active ownership in the initial stages, when family businesses are young and small. However, the level of active ownership should be reduced when family businesses increase in age and size. According to this study, practitioners should open up businesses to external human resources other than the owners’ family as the firm increases in size/age to avoid the risks associated with family members lacking talent and/or expropriating benefits. Originality/value This study is one of the first to give evidence on not only a direct (and positive) relationship between FI and economic performance, but also an indirect (and negative) moderating effect of FS and FA on this relationship.
Psychosocial factors in diabetes control: adjustment of insulin‐treated adults.

&NA; Twenty insulin‐treated diabetic adults were studied to identify psychosocial factors important in diabetic (blood glucose) control. Diabetic control was assessed by glycosylated hemoglobin, a measure of long‐term glucose control. Subjects were equally divided between “good” and “poor” glucose control groups with sex balanced in each group. A multifactorial biopsychosocial model was proposed and tested. This model incorporated both direct (psychophysiologic) and indirect (behavioral) components. The behavioral variables investigated included predisposing (orientational), enabling (resource/barrier), and conditioning (inhibiting and motivating) factors. The psychophysiologic variables investigated were stress‐response factors (elevating and dampening). Univariate and multivariate analysis demonstrated significant relationships between glucose control and each category of variables, using measures of diabetes knowledge and attitudes, health locus of control, and coping styles. The findings support both the stress‐coping‐illness and health‐belief/illness‐behavior models of diabetic adjustment and control.