Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Illness Beliefs, Treatment Beliefs, and Perceived Severity of Symptoms in Explaining Distress in Cancer Patients During Chemotherapy Treatment

The authors investigated cancer patients' interpretations of their physical symptoms and their illness beliefs with the objective of establishing the importance of these variables in predicting distress during chemotherapy treatment. Past researchers have suggested that causal attributions of physical symptoms and beliefs about illness progression and its consequences may serve as important mediators between number and perceived severity of symptoms and psychological adjustment in cancer patients during the treatment phase. Our aim in this study was to further these findings using the Self-Regulation Model as a theoretical framework. The study was cross-sectional in design, testing 72 patients with cancer receiving intravenous chemotherapy as outpatients in the United Kingdom. The participants completed questionnaires measuring number and perceived severity of symptoms, the causal attributions of these, illness and treatment beliefs, anxiety, and depression. The results showed that consequence beliefs serve as important mediators between number of symptoms and distress, explaining 15% of the variance in anxious mood and 5% of the variance in depressed mood. The authors found perceived severity of symptoms to be an independent predictor of anxious mood, explaining 7% of the variance. Its role in predicting depressed mood was not significant.
Synergistic activation of the fibroblast growth factor 4 enhancer by Sox2 and Oct-3 depends on protein-protein interactions facilitated by a specific spatial arrangement of factor binding sites

Octamer binding and Sox factors are thought to play important roles in development by potentiating the transcriptional activation of specific gene subsets. The proteins within these factor families are related by the presence of highly conserved DNA binding domains, the octamer binding protein POU domain or the Sox factors HMG domain. We have previously shown that fibroblast growth factor 4 (FGF-4) gene expression in embryonal carcinoma cells requires a synergistic interaction between Oct-3 and Sox2 on the FGF-4 enhancer. Sox2 and Oct-3 bind to adjacent sites within this enhancer to form a ternary protein-DNA complex (Oct-3*) whose assembly correlates with enhancer activity. We now demonstrate that increasing the distance between the octamer and Sox binding sites by base pair insertion results in a loss of enhancer function. Significantly, those enhancer "spacing mutants" which failed to activate transcription were also compromised in their ability to form the Oct* complexes even though they could still bind both Sox2 and the octamer binding proteins, suggesting that a direct interaction between Sox2 and Oct-3 is necessary for enhancer function. Consistent with this hypothesis, Oct-3 and Sox2 can participate in a direct protein-protein interaction in vitro in the absence of DNA, and both this interaction and assembly of the ternary Oct* complexes require only the octamer protein POU and Sox2 HMG domains. Assembly of the ternary complex by these two protein domains occurs in a cooperative manner on FGF-4 enhancer DNA, and the loss of this cooperative interaction contributes to the defect in Oct-3* formation observed for the enhancer spacing mutants. These observations indicate that Oct-3* assembly results from protein-protein interactions between the domains of Sox2 and Oct-3 that mediate their binding to DNA, but it also requires a specific arrangement of the binding sites within the FGF-4 enhancer DNA. Thus, these results define one parameter that is fundamental to synergistic activation by Sox2 and Oct-3 and further emphasize the critical role of enhancer DNA sequences in the proper assembly of functional activation complexes.
An energy efficient 18Gbps LDPC decoding processor for 802.11ad in 28nm CMOS

The design of multi-Gbps LDPC decoder has become a hot topic in recent years as the demand of transformation towards 5G. An energy efficient 18Gbps LDPC decoder based on LDPC ASIP with half layer paralleled architecture is proposed. The feasibility of the design is proven by its demonstrator silicon in 28nm CMOS technology, with a record energy efficiency of 18.4 pJ/decoded bit and area efficiency of 23.8 Gbps/mm2 for the ½ coding rate working at 18.4Gbps. With frequency, voltage scaling and multi-core management, the decoder supports a wide range of throughput, from 1.8Gbps to 18.4Gbps. The measurement results show the ASIP based design not only provides an energy efficient high speed solution but also be competitive with published ASIC solution at low and medium throughput scenarios.
Cystic Fibrosis and Pregnancy

Summary: The case records of 11 patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who had 13 completed pregnancies between 1975 and 1995 were retrospectively reviewed to assess: (1) the changes in spirometry and body mass index (BMI) during pregnancy; and (2) maternal and neonatal complications and outcomes. Prepregnancy the mean age of the group was 24 (range 17–27) years. Two patients were exsmokers, 7 had pancreatic insufficiency and 7 had chest X‐ray evidence of bronchiectasis. None of the patients had diabetes mellitus but 3 developed gestational diabetes. The mean ± SEM (% predicted) forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) prepregnancy were 2.3 ± 1.0 (83%) litres and 3.0± 0.9 (85%) litres respectively. Five patients had normal spirometry (FEV1 and FVC >80% predicted) prior to 6 pregnancies. The mean body mass index (kg/height(m)2) for the group was 20.5 ± 2.0. There was a significant decline in spirometry during pregnancy (FEV1 15.5 ± 6.6% p<0.01; FVC 14.0 ± 8.3% p<0.5). However, FVC but not FEV1 recovered to prepregnancy values by 12 months postpartum. There was a significant increase in both weight (7.1kg) and BMI (2.6 kg/height(m)2) at the time of delivery compared with prepregnancy (p = 0.0004). However, postpregnancy both weight and BMI had returned to their prepregnancy values (p<0.2). Mothers with an FEV1 >80% had less decline in FEV1 related to pregnancy, better outcomes, fewer operative and instrumental deliveries, fewer preterm infants and fewer neonatal complications. Suggestions for the planning and management of pregnancy in women with CF are discussed.
Lung cancer among coal miners, ore miners and quarrymen: smoking-adjusted risk estimates from the synergy pooled analysis of case-control studies.

OBJECTIVES Working in mines and quarries has been associated with an elevated lung cancer risk but with inconsistent results for coal miners. This study aimed to estimate the smoking-adjusted lung cancer risk among coal miners and compare the risk pattern with lung cancer risks among ore miners and quarrymen. METHODS We estimated lung cancer risks of coal and ore miners and quarrymen among 14 251 lung cancer cases and 17 267 controls from the SYNERGY pooled case-control study, controlling for smoking and employment in other at-risk occupations. RESULTS Ever working as miner or quarryman (690 cases, 436 controls) was associated with an elevated odds ratio (OR) of 1.55 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 1.34-1.79] for lung cancer. Ore miners (53 cases, 24 controls) had a higher OR (2.34, 95% CI 1.36-4.03) than quarrymen (67 cases, 39 controls; OR 1.92, 95% CI 1.21-3.05) and coal miners (442 cases, 297 controls; OR 1.40, 95% CI 1.18-1.67), but CI overlapped. We did not observe trends by duration of exposure or time since last exposure. CONCLUSIONS This pooled analysis of population-based studies demonstrated an excess lung cancer risk among miners and quarrymen that remained increased after adjustment for detailed smoking history and working in other at-risk occupations. The increase in risk among coal miners were less pronounced than for ore miners or quarrymen.
Isolation of milligram quantities of a group of histidine-rich polypeptides from human parotid saliva

Freshly collected parotid saliva collected from human donors were shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis to continuously secrete a group of low-molecular-weight cationic polypeptides. Up to 14 bands could be identified by Coomassie blue staining, and all bands migrated more rapidly than purified human leukemic lysozyme in cationic polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. These peptides could be isolated as a group relatively free of other salivary components and recovered in high yields from concentrated parotid saliva by Sephadex G-25 chromatography. In sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis, the histidine-rich polypeptide bands appeared as just two bands migrating at the tracking dye and ahead of insulin chain B. Amino acid analysis of the mixture revealed an average content of at least 48% cationic residues, of which half were histidine. When stained bands were eluted from electrophoretic gels, hydrolyzed, and subjected to amino acid analyses, they were found to be enriched in histidine. There was also a correlation of the electrophoretic mobility with the content of basic amino acids. Sephadex G-25 chromatography is a convenient, simple method for preparing milligram quantities of the histidine-rich polypeptides for chemical and biochemical studies.
In Vitro Study of the Mechanism of Potassium Transport into Human Mesothelial Cells. I: Effect of Hyperosmolality

Objective To study the mechanism(s) of potassium transport into human mesothelial cells (HMC) exposed to osmotic solutes. Design Using potassium analog 86Rb, we evaluated its intracellular transport through three pathways: 1. blocked by ouabain; 2. blocked by furosemide but not by ouabain; 3. blocked by neither furosemide nor ouabain. Experiments were performed in a normotonic medium (control) or in a medium supplemented with osmotic solutes (glucose, glycerol, mannitol). Both the acute and chronic effects of osmotic solutes on potassium transport were studied. Results The acute exposure of mesothelial cells to osmotic solutes modifies the intracellular transport of potassium through all studied channels, and the effect is specific for every solute. In mesothelial cells exposed over 7 days to glucose (90 mM), the intracellular transport via ouabain and furosemide-blocked channels is decreased, whereas it is increased through the third pathway. Total intracellular accumulation of 86Rb (potassium) ions in mesothelial cells cultured in a medium supplemented with various concentrations of glucose is decreased, and this effect is proportional to the concentration of glucose in the medium. Conclusions The intracellular transport of potassium in mesothelial cells is regulated through at least three independent mechanisms. Acute or chronic exposure of mesothelial cells to a hypertonic medium affects the intracellular accumulation of potassium, an d this effect is specific for the various osmotic solutes.
Localization of Satratoxin-G in Stachybotrys chartarum Spores and Spore-Impacted Mouse Lung Using Immunocytochemistry

Satratoxin-G (SG) is the major macrocyclic trichothecene mycotoxin produced by Stachybotrys chartarum (atra) and has been implicated as a cause of a number of animal and human health problems including pulmonary hemorrhage in infants. However, there is little understanding where this toxin is localized in the spores and mycelial fragments of this species or in the lung impacted by SG-sequestered spores. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the distribution of SG in S. chartarum spores and mycelium in culture, and spore-impacted mouse lung in vivo, using immunocytochemistry. SG was localized predominately in S. chartarum spores with moderate labelling of the phialide-apex walls. Labelling was primarily along the outer plasmalemma surface and in the inner wall layer. Only modest labelling was observed in hyphae. Toxin localization at these sites supports the position that spores contain the highest satratoxin concentrations and that the toxin is constitutively produced. In impacted mouse lung, highest SG labelling was detected in lysosomes, along the inside of the nuclear membrane in nuclear heterochromatin and RER within alveolar macrophages. Alveolar type II cells also showed modest labelling of the nuclear heterochromatin and RER. There was no evidence that the toxin accumulated in the neutrophils, fibroblasts, or other cells associated with the granulomas surrounding spores or mycelial fragments. These observations indicate that SG displays a high degree of cellular specificity with respect to its uptake in mouse lung. They further indicate that the alveolar macrophages play an important role in the sequestration and immobilization of low concentrations of the toxin.
A Comprehensive Evaluation of a Two-Channel Portable Monitor to "Rule in" Obstructive Sleep Apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES We hypothesized that a dual-channel portable monitor (PM) device could accurately identify patients who have a high pretest probability of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and we evaluated factors that may contribute to variability between PM and polysomnography (PSG) results. METHODS Consecutive clinic patients (N = 104) with possible OSA completed a home PM study, a PM study simultaneous with laboratory PSG, and a second home PM study. Uniform data analysis methods were applied to both PM and PSG data. Primary outcomes of interest were the positive likelihood ratio (LR+) and sensitivity of the PM device to "rule-in" OSA, defined as an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥ 5 events/h on PSG. Effects of different test environment and study nights, and order of study and analysis methods (manual compared to automated) on PM diagnostic accuracy were assessed. RESULTS The PM has adequate LR+ (4.8), sensitivity (80%), and specificity (83%) for detecting OSA in the unattended home setting when benchmarked against laboratory PSG, with better LR+ (> 5) and specificity (100%) and unchanged sensitivity (80%) in the simultaneous laboratory comparison. There were no significant night-night (all p > 0.10) or study order effects (home or laboratory first, p = 0.08) on AHI measures. Manual PM data review improved case finding accuracy, although this was not statistically significant (all p > 0.07). Misclassification was more frequent where OSA was mild. CONCLUSIONS Overall performance of the PM device is consistent with current recommended criteria for an "acceptable" device to confidently "rule-in" OSA (AHI ≥ 5 events/h) in a high pretest probability clinic population. Our data support the utility of simple two-channel diagnostic devices to confirm the diagnosis of OSA in the home environment. COMMENTARY A commentary on this article appears in this issue on page 411.
Structural features of the reactions between antibodies and protein antigens

Antibodies bind protein antigens over large sterically and electrostatically complementary surfaces, Van der Waals forces, hydrogen bonds, and occasionally ion pairs provide stability to antibody‐antigen complexes. In addition, water molecules contribute hydrogen bonds linking antigen and antibody, and increase the complementarity of antigen‐antibody interfaces. In qualification to a strict ‘lock and key’ mechanism, evidence of conformational changes between free and complexed antibodies indicate some accommodation to the antigen. Antibody‐protein antigen reactions are enthalpically driven with varying degrees of entropic compensation, often dependent on the magnitude of the enthalpy of the reaction. In the case of two antibody‐combining sites studied by X‐ray diffraction, the relative arrangements of the variable domains of the light and heavy chains of the antibody change slightly from the free to the antigen‐bound state. Furthermore, the contacting residues of both antibodies exhibit similar reduced mobilities when complexed to antigen, suggesting that differences in ‘solvent entropy’ rather than in conformational freedom may be the source of different entropic compensation factors, In concert, data from structural studies, reaction rates, calorimetrie measurements, molecular dynamics simulations, and site‐directed mutagenesis are beginning to detail the nature of antibody‐protein antigen interactions. —Braden, B. C. , Poljak, R. J. Structural features of the reactions between antibodies and protein antigens. FASEB J. 9, 9‐16 (1995)
Characterization of Antisense Transformed Plants Deficient in the Tobacco Anionic Peroxidase

On the basis of the biological compounds that they metabolize, plant peroxidases have long been implicated in plant growth, cell wall biogenesis, lignification, and host defenses. Transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) plants that underexpress anionic peroxidase were generated using antisense RNA. The antisense RNA was found to be specific for the anionic isoenzyme and highly effective, reducing endogenous transcript levels and total peroxidase activity by as much as 1600-fold. Antisense-transformed plants appeared normal at initial observation; however, growth studies showed that plants with reduced peroxidase activity grow taller and flower sooner than control plants. In contrast, previously transformed plants overproducing anionic peroxidase were shorter and flowered later than controls. Axillary buds were more developed in antisense-transformed plants and less developed in plants overproducing this enzyme. It was found that the lignin content in leaf, stem, and root was unchanged in antisense-transformed plants, which does not support a role for anionic peroxidase in the lignification of secondary xylem vessels. However, studies of wounded tissue show some reduction in wound-induced deposition of lignin-like polymers. The data support a possible role for tobacco anionic peroxidase in host defenses but not without a reduction in growth potential.
Moisture spectrum of demineralized dentin for adhesive systems with different solvent bases.

PURPOSE To determine the effects of different surface moisture on the bond strength of an ethanol/water-based (Single Bond [SB]), an acetone-based (One-Step [OS]), and a water-based (Syntac Single Component [SC]) adhesive system to dentin. MATERIALS AND METHODS On 90 human third molars, a flat superficial dentin surface was exposed by abrasion with 600-grit SiC paper. The adhesives were applied to a delimited area of 52 mm2 according to the manufacturers' instructions on either dry (oil-free air/30 s) or rewetted surfaces (1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.0 or 4.5 microl of distilled water), and composite crowns were constructed incrementally. After storage in distilled water at 37 degrees C for 24 h, the teeth were longitudinally sectioned in the "x" and "y" directions to obtain bonded sticks with a cross-sectional area of 0.8 mm2. The specimens were tested in tension at 0.5 mm/min and the fracture mode analyzed. Resultant bond strength was expressed as an index that includes bond strength values of the different fracture patterns and the specimens that failed during preparation for the microtensile testing. The data was analyzed by two-way ANOVA, Tukey's multiple comparison, and regression analysis. RESULTS Highly significant main effects and interaction (p < 0.0001) were detected. A quadratic relationship between the bond strength index and the surface moisture was identified (R2 = 0.95, p < 0.001). SB showed a maximum bond strength (42.2 +/- 6.7 MPa) that was statistically similar (p = 0.4996) to the maximum bond strength of OS (40.1 +/- 4.6 MPa), although obtained at a different degree of moisture (ca 1.5 microl for SB and 3.5 microl for OS). SC showed its maximum bond strength (27.7 +/- 3.9 MPa) with 1.5 microl moisture. SB presented its highest bond strength at 1.5 microl of water, which was significantly higher than the bond strength obtained at any other degree of moisture (p < 0.05). OS achieved its maximum bond strength at 3.5 microl of water; however, that value was not statistically different (p > 0.05) from the values obtained with 1.5 microl to 4.0 microl of water. Similarly, highest bond strengths obtained with SC were not different (p > 0.05) within the range of 0 microl to 3.5 microl of water. CONCLUSION All adhesive systems tested had a different moisture spectrum in which higher bond strengths were obtained. SB and SC performed better on a drier substrate, while OS showed better performance on wetter substrates. OS and SC had a broader range of moisture within which maximal bond strength could be achieved.
Lesions of the Posterior Paraventricular Thalamus Block Habituation of Hypothalamic‐Pituitary‐Adrenal Responses to Repeated Restraint

We examined the role of the posterior division of the paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (pPVTh) in habituation of hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal (HPA) responses to repeated restraint. Habituation refers to the decrement in HPA activity that occurs with repeated exposure to the same or homotypic stressor. To date, the pPVTh has been shown to inhibit the enhanced or facilitated HPA responses to novel, heterotypic restraint in previously chronically cold stressed rats. We hypothesized that the pPVTh also inhibits HPA activity under conditions of habituation. In the first experiment, we lesioned the pPVTh and examined adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone responses to the first or eighth restraint exposure. In sham‐lesioned rats, we found lower ACTH and corticosterone responses to the eighth period of 30 min restraint compared to the first exposure, evidence for habituation. In pPVTh‐lesioned rats, there was no difference in ACTH and corticosterone responses to the eighth compared to the first restraint exposure. Therefore, pPVTh lesions prevented the habituation of HPA responses to repeated restraint. In the second experiment, we examined whether habituation to restraint is observable in response to an acute, single restraint on day 28 in sham and pPVTh lesioned rats that were exposed to restraint only on days 1 through 8. In this experiment, we replicated the results from the first experiment, and found evidence that habituation to restraint can be observed weeks after chronic stress has been terminated. Furthermore, pPVTh lesions had no additional effects on HPA responses to acute stress on day 28. In summary, pPVTh lesions inhibit habituation of HPA activity to a homotypic stressor, without altering HPA responses to the first restraint. Thus, the intact pPVTh inhibits HPA activity under conditions of habituation, as well as facilitation, and represents an important regulator of HPA activity under conditions of chronic stress.
Circuit Model of a Receiving Leaky Line Antenna (LLA)

A circuit model is proposed to analyze the receiving performance of a leaky line antenna (LLA), i.e., a coaxial cable with aperture slots in the shield. The LLA is assumed to be a series connection of circuit multiport networks equivalent to leaky and nonleaky cable sections. The quasi-TEM mode is assumed to be the dominant propagation mode inside the cable permitting the simulation of the nonleaky sections by the model of multiconductor transmission line with distributed voltage and current sources. The cable leaky sections with slots in the shield are modeled by equivalent multiport networks, whose lumped circuit parameters are extracted numerically by an electromagnetic (EM) field solver. The resulting circuit is given by a series cascade of multiport networks and is analyzed in the frequency domain. The LLA performance calculated for different test configurations is validated by comparison with measurements and with simulations carried out by a full-wave EM code. The proposed circuit procedure is an efficient tool for simple design and analysis of LLA configurations.