Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of reclining a seat on the discomfort from vibration and shock on fast boats

Passengers and crew on fast boats can experience high magnitudes of whole-body vibration and mechanical shocks that may present risks to health and cause discomfort. This study investigated the influence of reclining a seat on the discomfort caused by fast-boat motion and whether discomfort can be predicted by overall ride values according to current standards. Subjects judged the discomfort of simulations of a recorded fast boat motion in a seat reclined by 0°, 15°, 30°, 45°, or 60°. Reclining the seat caused no significant change in overall discomfort, suggesting that if a reclined seat can be shown to reduce risks of injury it may be acceptable in respect of comfort. The findings are inconsistent with the predictions of standards and show that revised frequency weightings are required to account for seat pan or seat back inclination. Practitioner Summary: Contrary to predictions of current standards, reclining a seat may not increase discomfort during fast-boat motion. Revised frequency weightings for evaluating the severity of whole-body vibration are required to account for seat pan or seat back inclination.
Pharmacokinetic changes induced by vasomodulators in kidneys, livers, muscles, and implanted tumors in rats as measured by dynamic Gd‐DTPA‐enhanced MRI

The effects of three physiologically different vasomodulators, angiotensin II (a vasoconstrictor), hydralazine (a vasodilator), and histamine (a permeability modulator), on the pharmaco‐kinetics of entry of small molecules (measured by Gd‐DTPA concentration) into normal and abnormal tissue were studied in rats implanted with R3230 AC tumors. Sequential dynamic Gd‐DTPA‐enhanced MRI studies, one before and one after vasomodulator administration, were performed, and the signal intensities of various tissues analyzed. Angiotensin II (6 μg/kg) reduced blood flow in tumors, but increased it in muscles. Hydralazine (5 mg/kg) reduced blood flow in tumors, kidneys, and livers, and slowed Gd‐DTPA clearance from tumors, livers, and muscles. Histamine (25 μg/kg) increased renal blood flow, hastening Gd‐DTPA clearance causing reduced measurable blood flow in tumors and muscles. By simultaneously monitoring the effects in various tissues, the pharmacokinetic effect of each drug in the entire body could be obtained.
Invasive plants do not display greater phenotypic plasticity than their native or non-invasive counterparts: a meta-analysis

Phenotypic plasticity is commonly considered as a trait associated with invasiveness in alien plants because it may enhance the ability of plants to occupy a wide range of environments. Although the evidence of greater phenotypic plasticity in invasive plants is considerable, it is not yet conclusive. We used a meta-analysis approach to evaluate whether invasive plant species show greater phenotypic plasticity than their native or non-invasive counterparts. Th e outcome of such interspecifi c comparisons may be biased when phylogenetic relatedness is not taken into account. Consequently, species pairs belonged to the same genus, tribe or family. Th e meta-analysis included 93 records from 35 studies reporting plastic responses to light, nutrients, water, CO 2 , herbivory and support availability. Contrary to what is often assumed, overall, phenotypic plasticity was similar between invasive plants and native or non-invasive closely related species. Th e same result was found when separate analyses were conducted for trait plasticity to nutrients, light and water availability. Th us, invasive plant species and their native or non-invasive counterparts are equally capable of displaying functional responses to environmental heterogeneity. Th e colonization of a wide range of environments by invasive plants could be due to their capacity to undergo adaptive ecotypic diff erentiation rather than to their ability to display plastic responses. Alternatively, phenotypic plasticity might play a role in plant invasion, but only during the initial phases, when tolerance of the novel environment is essential for plant survival. Afterwards, once alien plants are identifi ed as invaders, the magnitude of phenotypic plasticity might be reduced after selection of the optimum phenotypes in each habitat. Th e identifi cation of plant traits that consistently predict invasiveness might be a futile task because diff erent traits favor invasiveness in diff erent environments. Approaches at the local scale, focusing on the ecology of specifi c invasive plants, could be more fruitful than global macro-analyses.
Biogenesis and Dynamics of the Coronavirus Replicative Structures

Coronaviruses are positive-strand RNA viruses that are important infectious agents of both animals and humans. A common feature among positive-strand RNA viruses is their assembly of replication-transcription complexes in association with cytoplasmic membranes. Upon infection, coronaviruses extensively rearrange cellular membranes into organelle-like replicative structures that consist of double-membrane vesicles and convoluted membranes to which the nonstructural proteins involved in RNA synthesis localize. Double-stranded RNA, presumably functioning as replicative intermediate during viral RNA synthesis, has been detected at the double-membrane vesicle interior. Recent studies have provided new insights into the assembly and functioning of the coronavirus replicative structures. This review will summarize the current knowledge on the biogenesis of the replicative structures, the membrane anchoring of the replication-transcription complexes, and the location of viral RNA synthesis, with particular focus on the dynamics of the coronavirus replicative structures and individual replication-associated proteins.
Exercise and Counseling for Smoking Cessation in Smokers With Depressive Symptoms: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

Objective: Despite various strategies to help smokers with depressive disorders to quit, the smoking relapse rate remains high. The purpose of this pilot study was to estimate the effects of adding an exercise and counseling intervention to standard smoking cessation treatment for smokers with depressive disorders. We hypothesized that the exercise and counseling intervention would lead to improved abstinence, reduced depressive symptoms, and increased physical activity. Methods: Seventy smokers with current depressive disorders were randomly assigned to standard smoking cessation treatment plus exercise and counseling (n = 35) or standard treatment plus a time-to-contact control intervention on health education (n = 35). Both programs involved 10 sessions over 8 weeks. The primary outcome was continuous abstinence since the quit date and was measured at week 8 (end of the intervention) and again at 12-, 24-, and 52-week follow-ups. Results: Nearly 60% of participants were female (n = 41), 38 (52.3%) were single, 37 (52.9%) had education beyond high school, and 32 (45.7%) met criteria for major depressive disorder or dysthymia. Participants in the two treatment conditions differed at baseline only in marital status (χ2 = 4.28, df = 1, p =.04); and smoking abstinence self-efficacy, t(66) = -2.04, p =. 04). The dropout rate did not differ significantly between groups and participants attended 82% and 75% of the intervention and control sessions, respectively. Intention-to-treat analysis showed that, at 12 weeks after the beginning of the intervention, continuous abstinence did not vary significantly between the intervention and control groups: 48.5% versus 28.5%, respectively, ORadj = 0.40, 95% CI [0.12–1.29], p =. 12. There were no group differences in depressive symptoms, but the intervention group did outperform the control group on the 6-minute walking test (Mint = 624.84, SD = 8.17, vs. Mcon = 594.13, SD = 8.96, p =.015) and perceived physical control (Mint = 2.84, SD = 0.16, vs. Mcon = 2.27, SD = 0.18, p =.028). The sample was not large enough to ensure adequate statistical power. Conclusions: This finding, while preliminary, suggests that an exercise and counseling intervention may yield better results than health education in improving smoking abstinence. This study is registered at www.clinincaltrials. gov under # NCT01401569.
Prevalence of depressive disorders and change over time in late-stage ALS

Objective: To determine the prevalence of depressive disorders and symptoms in patients with late-stage ALS, to identify possible risk and protective factors associated with depression, and to determine whether depression increases as death approaches. Methods: Semistructured interviews were conducted monthly with hospice-eligible patients with ALS and caregivers until the study endpoints of death or tracheostomy. Standardized measures were administered to assess depressive disorders and symptoms, hopelessness, spiritual beliefs, attitudes toward hastened death, quality of life, and related constructs. Results: Sixty-three percent of eligible patients were enrolled. Of the 80 participants, 17 were seen only once; the number of monthly assessments for the others ranged from 2 to 18. For the 53 patients who died, median interval between last assessment and death was 30 days. At study baseline, 81% had no depressive disorder, 10% had minor depression, and 9% had symptoms consistent with major depression. Diagnoses of depression were made on 16% of 369 monthly assessments. Fifty-seven percent of patients never had a depression diagnosis at any visit, and 8% were depressed at all visits. There was no trend toward increasing depression as death approached. Presumed protective factors including spiritual beliefs, spouse as care partner, financial situation, depression in caregiver, and hospice participation did not distinguish between those who were depressed and those who were not. Conclusions: Results of multiple measures of depression and distress converged to indicate that major depression in people with late-stage ALS is rare, although transient depressive symptoms may occur, and depression does not generally increase as death approaches.
Multisite Pressure Ulcer Prevalence Survey

Ttie prevalence of pressure ulcers wa.s 9.2%, in the 148 hospitals included in the survey. Fifty-eight percent of ulcers were found in patients between the ages of 70 and 89 years. The sacram was the most common site of ulcers (38%, but the trochanter had the most Stage 1V ulcers. Patients had an average of 1.7 ulcrs, and Stage 1V ulcers more common in African-Americans and in hospitals over 500 beds. The most commonly used support system was a purchased averlay, but 20 percent of the patients with ulcers were lying on traditional hospital matteresse.
Process control monitors for single-walled carbon nanotube based sensor fabrication processes

A novel ex-situ process control monitor (PCM) framework for sensor fabrication processes based on individual single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) transistors is presented. PCMs are designed, fabricated and evaluated to estimate the length and density of SWNTs in a typical sensor fabrication process through electrical measurements. We also show that the PCM structures are able to detect variations in SWNT density. The estimates are independently verified through atomic force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy measurements.
Air transport of the sick newborn infant: audit from a sparsely populated county in Norway

The aim of this study was to describe principal problems and to analyse transport times, stabilizing procedures, adverse events during transfer, outcome, effectiveness and the care of infants transferred by air from district general hospitals and maternity homes to a central hospital. Transfer times, equipment adverse events and clinical deterioration were recorded as they occurred. Data regarding clinical problems, diagnoses and outcome were collected retrospectively from hospital records. During the study period (1984‐95) 275 infants (267 transports) were transferred by fixed‐wing aircraft (233) or helicopter (34). Median time from request of transfer to arrival of the transport team (usually a neonatal nurse and a paediatrician) was 120 min, median stabilizing time 60min. Ninety‐six infants (35%) were intubated, 62 (22.5%) by the transport team. During 34 transports (12.7%), equipment‐related adverse events occurred making six infants worse. Ten more infants deteriorated during transit. A significant correlation between birthweight and after‐transfer temperature was recorded. After‐transfer temperature for very low birthweight (<1500g, VLBW) infants was significantly higher when the transport team attended the delivery than when they did not (35.9 °C vs 34.7 °C). All nine infants (3.2%) with after‐transfer temperature <34.0°C died, 15 infants (5.5%) died within 24 h after transfer and 20 (7.3%) died later. Adjusted OR for death among transported versus in utero transferred VLBW infants was 3.8 (1.4‐10.4). Every effort should be taken to transfer VLBW infants in utero. If preterm deliveries at 26‐28 weeks of gestation at district general hospitals is unavoidable, an early request for the neonatal transport team to be there at delivery is advisable. Transport of very immature infants <26 weeks gestational age is not recommended. An outreach educational program (“Team Pink Newborn”) has been created. Staff training to combat hypothermia and regular inspection and control of the transport equipment by three neonatal intensive care nurses has now been implemented.
Interest Rates in Nigeria: An Analytical Perspective

This paper set out to examine the implications of interest rate for savings and investment in Nigeria. It used data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Data were analyzed using Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient and regression. Evidence showed interest rate as a poor determinant of savings and investment indicating that bank loans are mostly not used for productive purposes. Therefore, bank loans should be channeled to productive investments if interest is to play its catalytic role in the Nigerian economy.
Carcinoid tumor of the renal pelvis: Report of a case with positive urine cytology

A case of histologically and ultrastructurally confirmed carcinoid tumor of the renal pelvis is reported. the patient's urine sediment showed a few groups and sheets of polygonal malignant cells with scant cytoplasm and oval nuclei displaying chromatin clumping and micronucleoli. © 1995 Willey‐ Liss, Inc.
Maternal use of fertility drugs and risk of cancer in children—A nationwide population‐based cohort study in Denmark

Large population‐based studies are needed to examine the effect of maternal use of fertility drugs on the risk of cancer in children, while taking into account the effect of the underlying infertility. A cohort of 123,322 children born in Denmark between 1964 and 2006 to 68,255 women who had been evaluated for infertility was established. We used a case–cohort design and calculated hazard ratios (HRs) for cancer in childhood (0–19 years) and in young adulthood (20–29 years) associated with maternal use of six groups of fertility drugs (clomiphene, gonadotropins [i.e., human menopausal gonadotropins and follicle‐stimulating hormone], gonadotropin‐releasing hormone analogs, human chorionic gonadotropins, progesterone and other fertility drugs). We found no statistically significant association between maternal use of fertility drugs and risk for overall cancer in childhood or young adulthood. However, with regard to specific cancers in childhood, our results showed that maternal use of progesterone before childbirth markedly increased the risks of their offspring for acute lymphocytic leukemia (any use: HR, 4.95; 95% CI, 1.69–14.54; ≥ three cycles of use: HR, 9.96; 95% CI, 2.63–37.77) and for sympathetic nervous system tumors (any use: HR, 5.79; 95% CI, 1.23–27.24; ≥ three cycles of use: HR, 8.51; 95% CI, 1.72–42.19). These findings show that maternal use of progesterone may increase the risk for specific cancers in the offspring. Additional large epidemiological studies are urgently needed to confirm our finding.
Combating P2P File Pollution with Co-alerting

Recently, serious file pollution has been identified in some popular file sharing P2P applications and addressed by several studies. Solving this issue can be done by setting up a model to describe the problem precisely and locate the vital factors aiming to enhance or annihilate file pollution. In this paper, we propose an analytical model for the study of file pollution on P2P file sharing networks and a novel anti-pollution method called "co-alerting". Results of a series of simulations based on the established model show that the user grouppsilas slackness attribute has a remarkable influence on the time-dynamic characteristics of a P2P file pollution process. Simulation results also show that our co-alerting approach acts well as an efficient countermeasure against file pollution, because it can reshape the distribution of user grouppsilas slackness degree and make file sharing in P2P systems more resistant to file pollution attempts.
Female Sterility in Interracial Hybrids of Drosophila Pseudoöbscura.

* Contributions from the Scripps Institution-of Oceanography, New Series No. 137. t This sample, kindly furnished by Mr. R. A. Halloran, Manager of the Research and Development Department of the Standard Oil Company of California, is designated by Mr. Halloran as originating in marine formations of upper Miocene or lower Pliocene age (Sample number 25292-R). 1 Fox, D. L. , Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci., 23, 295-301 (1937). 2 Rothemund, P., Cold Spring Harbor Monogr. Quant. Biol., 3, 71-79 (1935).
Continuous‐time capture–recapture in closed populations

The standard approach to fitting capture–recapture data collected in continuous time involves arbitrarily forcing the data into a series of distinct discrete capture sessions. We show how continuous‐time models can be fitted as easily as discrete‐time alternatives. The likelihood is factored so that efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms can be implemented for Bayesian estimation, available online in the R package ctime. We consider goodness‐of‐fit tests for behavior and heterogeneity effects as well as implementing models that allow for such effects.
Asymmetric response properties of rapidly adapting mechanoreceptive fibers in the rat glabrous skin

Previous histological and neurophysiological studies have shown that the innervation density of rapidly adapting (RA) mechanoreceptive fibers increases towards the fingertip. Since the psychophysical detection threshold depends on the contribution of several RA fibers, a high innervation density would imply lower thresholds. However, our previous human study showed that psychophysical detection thresholds for the Non-Pacinian I channel mediated by RA fibers do not improve towards the fingertip. By recording single-unit spike activity from rat RA fibers, here we tested the hypothesis that the responsiveness of RA fibers is asymmetric in the proximo-distal axis which may counterbalance the effects of innervation density. RA fibers (n = 32) innervating the digital glabrous skin of rat hind paw were stimulated with 40-Hz sinusoidal mechanical bursts at five different stimulus locations relative to the receptive field (RF) center (two distal, one RF center, two proximal). Different contactor sizes (area: 0.39, 1.63, 2.96 mm2) were used. Rate-intensity functions were constructed based on average firing rates, and the absolute spike threshold and the entrainment threshold were obtained for each RA fiber. Thresholds for proximal stimulus locations were found to be significantly higher than those for distal stimulus locations, which suggests that the mechanical stimulus is transmitted better towards the proximal direction. The effect of contactor size was not significant. Mechanical impedance of the rat digital glabrous skin was further measured and a lumped-parameter model was proposed to interpret the relationship between the asymmetric response properties of RA fibers and the mechanical properties of the skin.
Winter biology of Culex pipiens quinquefasciatus say, (Diptera: Culicidae) from Córdoba, Argentina

Adult cohorts and immature stages were kept under field conditions during the autumn and winter of three consecutive years. Survival, oviposition and development time from egg to adult were considered. The adult cohorts were studied under three experimental conditions: unfed cohorts, cohorts fed with sugar solution ansd cohorts fed with both sugar solution and blood (chicken). Female longevity showed significant differences among the three treatments. Females of unfed cohorts lived up to three weeks; females fed with sugar solution survived until six weeks, while those fed both with sugar and blood lived at most fourteen weeks; after the blood intake eggs were laid. In the immature stages, the highest relative mortality rates occurred during the egg and larval stages. Total pre-adult mortality varied between 59.09 and 89.71%. The developmental duration from egg to adult was between 43-62 days; there were no differences among results obtained for the three years.
Genotype/phenotype correlation in 325 individuals referred for a diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis complex in the United States

Tuberous sclerosis complex is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder marked by hamartoma growth in multiple organ systems. We performed mutational analyses on 325 individuals with definite tuberous sclerosis complex diagnostic status. We identified mutations in 72% (199/257) of de novo and 77% (53/68) of familial cases, with 17% of mutations in the TSC1 gene and 50% in the TSC2 gene. There were 4% unclassified variants and 29% with no mutation identified. Genotype/phenotype analyses of all observed tuberous sclerosis complex findings in probands were performed, including several clinical features not analyzed in two previous large studies. We showed that patients with TSC2 mutations have significantly more hypomelanotic macules and learning disability in contrast to those with TSC1 mutations, findings not noted in previous studies. We also observed results consistent with two similar studies suggesting that individuals with mutations in TSC2 have more severe symptoms. On performing meta-analyses of our data and the other two largest studies in the literature, we found significant correlations for several features that individual studies did not have sufficient power to conclude. Male patients showed more frequent neurologic and eye symptoms, renal cysts, and ungual fibromas. Correlating genotypes with phenotypes should facilitate the disease management of tuberous sclerosis complex.
Oestrogen-like effect of tamoxifen on vaginal epithelium.

30-40 mg tamoxifen were administered orally in 86 postmenopausal women with late breast malignancy who were found to be resistant to standard endocrine and chemotherapy 2 months previous to this treatment. Vaginal smears were taken before and after 30-45 days treatment. A zero pyknotic index was seen before treatment. After tamoxifen, the index regularly increased to values between 10-30% reaching 50% in 4 cases and 80% in 1. Smears became atrophic within 2 months of withdrawal of treatment. 32% of the patients responded, showing an objective tumor regression. It is unclear whether the tumor is reacting to tamoxifen as if it were an estrogen.