Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sleep in spousal Alzheimer caregivers: a longitudinal study with a focus on the effects of major patient transitions on sleep.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Findings on sleep disturbances in family dementia caregivers are conflicting. We studied the longitudinal effects of dementia caregiving and major transitions in the caregiving situation on caregivers' sleep and the effect of moderating variables. DESIGN AND SETTING Community-based longitudinal study with assessments about once a year for up to three years. PARTICIPANTS A sample of 109 elderly spousal Alzheimer caregivers and 48 non-caregiving age- and gender-matched controls. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Random regression models with fixed and time-variant effects for covariates known to affect sleep were used to evaluate changes in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and in four actigraphy measures over time in relation to caregiving status and transitions (i.e., nursing home placement or death of the Alzheimer disease spouse). Multivariate-adjusted sleep characteristics did not significantly differ between caregivers and non-caregivers over time. Spousal death increased caregivers' nighttime wake after sleep onset (WASO) by 23 min (P = 0.002) and daytime total sleep time (TST) by 29 min (P = 0.003), while nighttime sleep percent decreased by 3.2% (P = 0.009) and nighttime TST did not change. Placement of the spouse had no significant effect on caregivers' sleep. Older age, male gender, role overload, depressive symptoms, and proinflammatory cytokines variously emerged as significant moderators of the relationships between caregiving and transitions with poor subjective and objective sleep. CONCLUSIONS Alzheimer caregivers and non-caregiving controls had similar trajectories of sleep. However, there may be subgroups of caregivers who are vulnerable to develop sleep disturbances, including those whose spouses have died.
Real-time elastography for distinguishing angiomyolipoma from renal cell carcinoma: preliminary observations.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the diagnostic performance of sonoelastography for differentiating angiomyolipomas from renal cell carcinomas. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Twenty-eight angiomyolipomas and 19 renal cell carcinomas were prospectively examined with real-time elastography. Lesions were classified according to four elastographic patterns on the basis of the distribution of the blue area (representing no strain and hardest tissue component). The elasticity patterns and the strain ratios of the angiomyolipomas and renal cell carcinomas were evaluated independently by two observers. Diagnostic performance and interobserver agreement were analyzed. RESULTS All angiomyolipomas were classified as having a high-strain elastographic pattern (blue areas in < 50% of lesion, considered type 1 or type 2) by both radiologists, whereas 18 of 19 renal cell carcinomas were classified as having a low-strain elastographic pattern (blue areas in ≥ 50% of lesion, considered type 3 or 4) by both radiologists. The respective mean strain ratios measured by two radiologists were 0.15 ± 0.06 and 0.18 ± 0.09 for the angiomyolipomas and 0.64 ± 0.15 and 0.63 ± 0.19 for the renal cell carcinomas. There were significant differences between the elasticity patterns and strain ratios for angiomyolipomas and renal cell carcinomas (p < 0.001). Interobserver agreement was excellent for elasticity patterns and strain ratios, with a weighted kappa coefficient of 0.96 and an intraclass correlation coefficient score of 0.95. CONCLUSION Our results show that real-time elastography may be useful in differentiating angiomyolipomas from renal cell carcinomas, by use of both elasticity patterns and strain ratios.
Open Source Based M-Learning Application for Supporting Distance Learning

The concept of learning anywhere and anytime is unable to be fully implemented because user need to find comfortable place, which is required, to follow the study. User is unable to access learning material in a way that practical, easy to use and easy to access. Based on that fact, system or application for mobile device such as hand phone, PDA or smart phone is needed.The m-learning application is developed by Computer-Based System Engineering Method based on the principal of software engineering using development steps of System Development Life Cycle (SDLC). SDLC consists of the following steps, analysis, design, implementation, testing and evaluation. Trials as alpha-test, carried out to determine operability of m-learning system on handheld devices. Trial is taken by creating trial class followed by 25 students to receive feedback about the m-learning system. Feedback result shows almost 90% of respondents consider the m-learning system is easy to use.
pha-1, a selectable marker for gene transfer in C. elegans.

The nematode C.elegans is a powerful genetic system to study a large spectrum of biological problems. Once mutants with specific defects are identified and phenotypically characterised, a molecular analysis of gene functions is desirable. A standard method for cloning genes in C.elegans is to complement mutants with cloned genomic DNA introduced into the mutant strain by germline transformation (1-3). Furthermore, germline transformation of regulatory gene sequences fused to a reporter gene provides a rapid method to study the temporal and spatial expression of cloned genes, without preparing specific antisera (4-7). Germline transformation has also been used to assay the biological activity of in vitro manipulated nucleic acid sequences (7-10) or to screen systematically for regulatory promoter sequences using a promoter trap approach (10). DNA transformation of C. elegans is accomplished by microinjecting DNA into the gonadal syncytium of hermaphrodites (2). Upon successful transformation the foreign DNA is usually propagated as free extrachromosomal arrays, which are lost at a high frequency (11). Three main problems arise during establishment and analysis of transgenic C. elegans EMBL accession number X74228
Moxifloxacin in the Therapy of Experimental Pneumococcal Meningitis

ABSTRACT The activity of moxifloxacin (BAY 12-8039) against aStreptococcus pneumoniae type 3 strain (MIC and minimum bactericidal concentration [MBC] of moxifloxacin, 0.06 and 0.25 μg/ml, respectively; MIC and MBC of ceftriaxone, 0.03 and 0.06 μg/ml, respectively) was determined in vitro and in a rabbit model of meningitis. Despite comparable bactericidal activity, 10 μg of moxifloxacin per ml released lipoteichoic and teichoic acids less rapidly than 10 μg of ceftriaxone per ml in vitro. Against experimental meningitis, 10 mg of moxifloxacin per kg of body weight per ml reduced the bacterial titers in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) almost as rapidly as ceftriaxone did (mean ± standard deviation, −0.32 ± 0.14 versus −0.39 ± 0.11 Δlog CFU/ml/h). The activity of moxifloxacin could be described by a sigmoid dose-response curve with a maximum effect of −0.33 ΔlogCFU/ml/h and with a dosage of 1.4 mg/kg/h producing a half-maximal effect. Maximum tumor necrosis factor activity in CSF was observed later with moxifloxacin than with ceftriaxone (5 versus 2 h after the initiation of treatment). At 10 mg/kg/h, the concentrations of moxifloxacin in CSF were 3.8 ± 1.2 μg/ml. Adjunctive treatment with dexamethasone at 1 mg/kg prior to the initiation of antibiotic treatment only marginally reduced the concentrations of moxifloxacin in CSF (3.3 ± 0.6 μg/ml). In conclusion, moxifloxacin may qualify for use in the treatment ofS. pneumoniae meningitis.
Sample sizes of studies on diagnostic accuracy: literature survey

Abstract Objectives To determine sample sizes in studies on diagnostic accuracy and the proportion of studies that report calculations of sample size. Design Literature survey. Data sources All issues of eight leading journals published in 2002. Methods Sample sizes, number of subgroup analyses, and how often studies reported calculations of sample size were extracted. Results 43 of 8999 articles were non-screening studies on diagnostic accuracy. The median sample size was 118 (interquartile range 71-350) and the median prevalence of the target condition was 43% (27-61%). The median number of patients with the target condition—needed to calculate a test's sensitivity—was 49 (28-91). The median number of patients without the target condition—needed to determine a test's specificity—was 76 (27-209). Two of the 43 studies (5%) reported a priori calculations of sample size. Twenty articles (47%) reported results for patient subgroups. The number of subgroups ranged from two to 19 (median four). No studies reported that sample size was calculated on the basis of preplanned analyses of subgroups. Conclusion Few studies on diagnostic accuracy report considerations of sample size. The number of participants in most studies on diagnostic accuracy is probably too small to analyse variability of measures of accuracy across patient subgroups.
Roles of the Regulatory Proteins FlhF and FlhG in the Vibrio cholerae Flagellar Transcription Hierarchy

ABSTRACT Vibrio cholerae, the causative agent of the human diarrheal disease cholera, is a motile bacterium with a single polar flagellum, and motility has been inferred to be an important aspect of virulence. The V. cholerae flagellar hierarchy is organized into four classes of genes. The expression of each class of genes within a flagellar hierarchy is generally tightly regulated in other bacteria by both positive and negative regulatory elements. To further elucidate flagellar biogenesis in V. cholerae, we characterized the roles of the three putative regulatory genes, flhF, flhG, and VC2061. V. cholerae flhF and flhG mutants appeared nonmotile in a soft agar assay. Electron microscopy revealed that the flhF mutant lacked a polar flagellum, while interestingly, the flhG mutant possessed multiple (8 to 10) polar flagella per cell. The transcriptional activity of class III and class IV gene promoters in the flhF mutant was decreased, suggesting that FlhF acts as a positive regulator of class III gene transcription. The transcription of all four classes of flagellar promoters was increased in the flhG mutant, suggesting that FlhG acts as a negative regulator of class I gene transcription. Additionally, the ability to colonize the infant mouse intestine was reduced for the flhG mutant (∼10-fold), indicating that the negative regulation of class I flagellar genes enhances virulence. The V. cholerae VC2061 mutant was motile and produced a polar flagellum indistinguishable from that of the wild type, and the transcriptional activities of the four classes of flagellar promoters were similar to that of the wild type. Our results indicate that FlhG and FlhF regulate class I and class III flagellar transcription, respectively, while VC2061 plays no detectable role in V. cholerae flagellar biogenesis.
Pulmonary infections increase exhaled nitric oxide in lung transplant recipients: a longitudinal study

Abstract: The aim of this longitudinal study was to test whether pulmonary infections influence fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels (FENO) in otherwise clinically‐stable lung transplant recipients. Levels of FENO were measured at least on 11 occasions in nine lung transplant recipients who attended for routine or urgent clinical review over 27.0 ± 3.2 months period. Diagnosis of infection was based on clinical symptoms, functional measurements and radiological findings. Concentrations of FENO were also determined in 12 healthy volunteers. During follow‐up, six patients had one, two had three, and one had four episodes of pulmonary infections. Overall, six upper and 10 lower respiratory tract infections were noted. Recipients with active infections developed increased FENO levels as compared with their own baseline levels measured in the clinically well period (10.8 ± 1.3 vs. 7.6 ± 1.1 ppb, p < 0.05). After antibiotic treatment, elevated FENO concentrations returned to baseline in association with full clinical recovery. Baseline FENO levels in lung transplant recipients and in healthy volunteers (6.0 ± 0.5 ppb) were similar. The sensitivity and specificity of FENO measurement in detecting pulmonary infections were 57 and 96%, respectively. Our data suggest that pulmonary infections are associated with increased FENO levels in patients with lung allografts. Nevertheless, the measurement of FENO by itself as a screening tool for infections seems to be limited by its low sensitivity.
THE COLICINE TYPING OF COLIFORM BACILLI IN THE STUDY OF CROSS-INFECTION IN UROLOGY

Three hundred and fourteen strains of coliform bacilli (79 Klebsiella and 235 E. coli), mostly isolated from urine, were investigated for their production of, or sensitivity to, certain colicines. Only one Klebsiella strain showed colicine activity, but in 204 of the E. coli strains colicine production or sensitivity was demonstrated. Colicine typing was of considerable value in epidemiological investigations of post-operative urinary infections due to E. coli.
Using BFA with WordNet Based Model for Web Retrieval

The information retrieval [1,16] deals among other things with storage and retrieval of multimedia data, that can be usually represented as vectors in multidimensional space.This is especially suitable for text retrieval, where we store a collection (or corpus) of texts. More general, such a corpus can be a collection of web pages or, recently, of their annotated version as it is proposed in so-called semantic web.
Wenn aus Unterscheidung Scheidungen werden : Zur Mischehendiskussion in den Büchern Esra und Nehemia

The paper examines the crisis of intermarriage in the books of Ezra and Nehemiah and explores the reasons for denying intermarriage. A close reading of the texts Ezr 9.10, Neh 10,29-32 and Neh 13* shows that the focus of the texts is not divorce but the refusal of intermarriage. Contrary to other opinions, this refusal of intermarriage should be acknowledged as a central element of the identity of Israel in the post-exilic period. It is part of a holiness concept demanding the separation of Israel from all other nations. Even though the holiness concept is understood as a commandment of the torah, the books of Ezra and Nehemiah not only interpret the torah, but also refer to a living tradition based upon prophecy, central figures such as Salomo and the written torah (possibly as a new component).
Parity and HLA alleles in risk of rheumatoid arthritis

Specific HLA II alleles are associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk and others with protection. Risk-associated alleles encode similar amino acid sequences from 70 through 74 of HLA-DRβ1 (QKRAA, QRRAA, RRRAA), referred to as the “shared epitope” (SE) and protective alleles encode DERAA at the same location. Fetal-maternal cell exchange results in long-term microchimerism i.e. harboring small numbers of genetically disparate cells. Women with RA who lack the SE were recently found to harbor microchimerism with the SE more often than healthy women. This finding raises the question whether microchimerism with DERAA confers benefit against RA and is underscored by the observation that overall parity reduces RA risk. While there is currently no test for microchimerism with DERAA, we conducted studies to ask whether parity benefits women at risk for RA, either because they have the SE or lack the protective DERAA sequence. HLA genotyping was conducted for 310 RA and 571 healthy women. Parity was associated with reduced RA risk in women aged <45 years (RR 0.53, 95% CI 0.34-0.82) and further analyses examined this group. RA risk reduction with parity was greater among women with the SE than SE-negative women (RR 0.42, 95%CI 0.22-0.79 vs. RR 0.79, 0.38-1.64). Among women without DERAA, RA risk was significantly reduced with parity (RR 0.44, 95% CI 0.26-0.74) but not among DERAA-positive women (RR 0.95 95%CI 0.34-2.65). In summary, results indicate the effect of parity varied according to a woman’s HLA-genotype, and women at increased risk of RA benefited most.
Modeling Mid-Aged Women's Sexual Functioning: A Prospective, Population-Based Study

This article uses a prospectively, annually collected sexuality questionnaire from an 8-year study of 340 mid-aged Melbourne women. We modeled the interactions of sexuality domains, the effect of prior level of sexual functioning, and the effects of change in partner-related factors. We found that we were unable to separate items denoting sexual interest from those denoting responsiveness. Using the statistical technique of auto-correlation, we determined that the most important predictor of female sexual functioning is prior level of sexual functioning. Partner-related factors (change in partner status and feelings for partner) also had significant effects.
Phosphorylation of the Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor CD120a (p55) Recruits Bcl-2 and Protects against Apoptosis*

Ligation of the tumor necrosis factor α receptor CD120a initiates responses as diverse as apoptosis and the expression of NF-κB-dependent pro-survival genes. How these opposing responses are controlled remains poorly understood. Here we demonstrate that phosphorylation by p42 mapk/erk2 inhibits the apoptotic activity of CD120a while preserving its ability to activate NF-κB. Phosphorylated CD120a is re-localized from the Golgi complex to tubular structures of the endoplasmic reticulum wherein it recruits Bcl-2. Antisense-mediated down-regulation of Bcl-2 antagonized the localization of CD120a to tubular structures and reversed the protection from apoptosis conferred by receptor phosphorylation. We propose that phosphorylation of CD120a represents a novel, Bcl-2-dependent mechanism by which the apoptotic activity of the receptor may be regulated. Thus, oncogenic activation of p42 mapk/erk2 may serve to inhibit the apoptotic activity of this death receptor while preserving NF-κB-dependent responses and may thus indirectly contribute to a failure to eliminate cells bearing oncogenes of the Ras-Raf-MEK-p42 mapk/erk2 pathway.
An Allogenic Cell–Based Implant for Meniscal Lesions

Background Meniscal tears in the avascular zones do not heal. Although tissue-engineering approaches using cells seeded onto scaffolds could expand the indication for meniscal repair, harvesting autologous cells could cause additional trauma to the patient. Allogenic cells, however, could provide an unlimited amount of cells. Hypothesis Allogenic cells from 2 anatomical sources can repair lesions in the avascular region of the meniscus. Study Design Controlled laboratory study. Methods Both autologous and allogenic chondrocytes were seeded onto a Vicryl mesh scaffold and sutured into a bucket-handle lesion created in the medial menisci of 17 swine. Controls consisted of 3 swine knees treated with unseeded implants and controls from a previous experiment in which 4 swine were treated with suture only and 4 with no treatment. Menisci were harvested after 12 weeks and evaluated histologically for new tissue and percentage of interface healing surface; they were also evaluated statistically. Results The lesions were closed in 15 of 17 menisci. None of the control samples demonstrated healing. Histologic analysis of sequential cuts through the lesion showed formation of new scar-like tissue in all experimental samples. One of 8 menisci was completely healed in the allogenic group and 2 of 9 in the autologous group; the remaining samples were partially healed in both groups. No statistically significant differences in the percentage of healing were observed between the autologous and allogenic cell-based implants. Conclusion Use of autologous and allogenic chondrocytes delivered via a biodegradable mesh enhanced healing of avascular meniscal lesions. Clinical Relevance This study demonstrates the potential of a tissue-engineered cellular repair of the meniscus using autologous and allogenic chondrocytes.
Draft Genome Sequence of Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. urealyticus Isolated from a Healthy Dog

ABSTRACT Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. urealyticus strain SW120 was isolated from the ear swab of a healthy dog. The isolate is resistant to methicillin and fusidic acid. The SW120 draft genome is 2,805,064 bp and contains 2,667 coding sequences, including 58 tRNAs and nine complete rRNA coding regions.
Depth-area-volume and hydroperiod relationships of ephemeral (vernal) forest pools in southern New England

Ephemeral or “vernal” pools occur commonly throughout the forest of the northeastern United States and adjacent eastern Canada. These pools are critical breeding habitat for a number of amphibian species and support a diverse invertebrate community. The hydroperiod or duration of surface water of vernal pools affects faunal composition and reproduction. We conducted bathymetric surveys of 34 vernal pools located in central Massachusetts in early spring when the pools were at maximum extent after receiving snowmelt runoff. With these data, we estimated maximum pool depths, surface areas, perimeters, volumes, and basin profile coefficients. We calculated relative hydroperiod indices for the pools based on the presence or absence of surface water during periodic pool visits over the three-year study. The ranges of estimated pool morphological parameters were 0.11–0.94 m for maximum depth, 68–2941 m2 for maximum surface area, 6–506 m3 for maximum volume, and 30–388 m for maximum perimeter. Basin profile coefficients ranged between 0.60 (convex) and 2.24 (concave), with a median value of 1.02 (straight slope). Maximum pool depth was positively correlated with area and perimeter, but the correlations were only moderately strong, and there were many shallow pools with large surface areas. Correlations between basin profile coefficients and other morphological parameters were weak or non-significant. Maximum pool volume was proportional to the product of area and depth, but the proportionality constant was dependent on the basin profile coefficient. Relative hydroperiod was weakly correlated with pool morphometry; the strongest relationship was found between hydroperiod and maximum pool volume. In general terms, pools with a maximum depth greater than 0.5 m, a maximum surface area larger than 1000 m2, or a maximum volume greater than 100 m3 had surface water more than 80% of the times they were visited. In contrast, shallower pools, smaller pools, or pools with lesser volumes had varying hydroperiods. The weak relationships between pool morphometry and hydroperiod indicate that other factors, including temporal patterns of precipitation and evapotranspiration and ground-water exchange may have significant influence on vernal pool hydrology and hydroperiod.
The Influence of Electronic Word-of-Mouth on the Decision-Making of Online Travel Booking

In this paper, perceived value is used as an intermediate variable to test the impact of Electronic Word-of-Mouth (eWOM) on the tourists' decision-making of online travel booking. It builds a conceptual model and carries out empirical research, on the basis of sample investigation, analyzes data by applying the structural equation. The research conclusion shows that the quality and credibility of eWOM has a significant promoting effect on the perceived value of tourists' eWOM, the relevance, comprehensiveness and timeliness of tourists' eWOM have significantly positive correlation with the perceived value of tourists' eWOM, the attraction of tourists' eWOM has a significant impact on the perceived value of tourists' eWOM, the tourists' perceived value of eWOM is positively correlated with online travel booking. On the basis of the above, some useful suggestions are put forward for the online travel agencies.
Tracking of signal subspace projectors

A new subspace tracking approach that directly operates on the projection matrix onto the signal subspace instead of tracking its unitary eigenbasis is proposed. Therefore, the difficulties arising from introducing a calculus on the manifold of projection matrices are overcome by a proper parameterization of the projectors. Simulation results are presented from the field of angular frequency retrieval in array signal processing.