Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regulation of uterine estrogen receptors (ER) by beta-adrenergic stimulation in immature rats.

The effects of a 3-day intramuscular (i.m.) administration of clenbuterol (25 micrograms/Kg), propranolol (12 mg/kg), clenbuterol (25 micrograms/kg) plus propranolol (12 mg/Kg) and estradiol (0.5 microgram) upon the female reproductive system were investigated in immature Sprague-Dawley rats. Clenbuterol and estradiol treatments induced a significant increase in uterus weight and in relative uterus weight, whereas in the groups treated with propranolol and clenbuterol plus propranolol no differences were detected versus controls. The uterine estrogen receptor levels were significantly increased by clenbuterol administration. In the rats dosed with propranolol and clenbuterol plus propranolol, no modifications occurred in estrogen receptor concentrations when compared with control values. Uterine progesterone receptors were never significantly affected by any of the considered treatments. Data obtained indicate that clenbuterol treatment induces an increase in uterus weight and in estrogen receptor levels and that these effects are regulated by acute beta-adrenergic stimulation, as the contemporaneous administration of high doses of a beta-blocker inhibit such effects.
Online Banking Information Systems Acceptance: An Empirical Examination of System Characteristics and Web Security

ABSTRACT Prior work on the technology acceptance model (TAM) is mainly devoted to the influence of TAM’s core motivational factors and their impact on behavioral intent toward IS acceptance. Relatively little research has focused on what specific system design characteristics motivate individuals toward IS acceptance. This article identified specific systems design factors and examined their impact on TAM’s motivational factors through the TAM. The findings will help designers to design and implement better user-accepted systems.
Device-Specific Resistance to in Vivo Displacement of Stent-Grafts Implanted with Maximum Iliac Fixation

Purpose: To compare the in vivo device-specific downward displacement force of various externally supported endografts implanted with maximum iliac fixation. Methods: Twenty female sheep had aneurysms created with a graft patch in the infrarenal aorta. In 12 animals, a fully supported modular bifurcated stent-graft [AneuRx (n=4), Talent (n=4), or Zenith (n=4)] was deployed; in the other 8, a bifurcated aortic graft was surgically anastomosed to the infrarenal aorta. All grafts were displaced in vivo by applying downward traction to a guidewire brought out both femoral arteries. The peak force to cause initial stent-graft migration or disruption of the sutured anastomosis was recorded and compared. Results: There was no difference in animal size, aortic neck diameter or length, aneurysm size, or iliac artery diameter for animals receiving the AneuRx, Talent, or Zenith stent-grafts and those undergoing surgical repair. The mean length of iliac fixation was 31.0±0.3 mm, 30.8±0.5 mm, and 31.3±0.6 mm for the AneuRx, Talent, and Zenith devices, respectively (p=NS). Peak force to initiate migration was 30.2=5.5 N (range 25–38) for the AneuRx, 44.8±5.5 N (range 40–53) for the Talent, 46.7±5.4 N (range 38–55) for the Zenith, and 40.6±7.5 N (range 31–50) for the surgical anastomosis (p=0.01). There was no difference detected in the peak force to initiate migration between the suprarenally affixed Talent and Zenith stent-grafts and the surgical anastomosis (p=0.55). Conclusion: Devices with a suprarenal component require significantly greater force to cause downward displacement compared to infrarenal devices. The force required to displace a suprarenal device with maximal iliac fixation was equivalent to the force required to disrupt a surgical anastomosis.
Rational Dither Modulation in audio signals

A data hiding system based in Rational Dither Modulation is proposed. This system hides information into the audio signals in Modulated Complex Lapped Transform (MCLT) domain. The system proposed is able to hide around of 43 bits per second in a CD-quality audio signal. Objective and subjective evaluations show robustness to classical attacks and transparency to Human Auditory System (HAS), respectively.
The Impact of Drift Implant and Layout Parameters on ESD Robustness for On-Chip ESD Protection Devices in 40-V CMOS Technology

The dependences of drift implant and layout parameters on electrostatic discharge (ESD) robustness in a 40-V CMOS process have been investigated in silicon chips. From the experimental results, the high-voltage (HV) MOSFETs without drift implant in the drain region have better transmission line pulsing (TLP)-measured secondary breakdown current (It2) and ESD robustness than those with drift implant in the drain region. Furthermore, the It2 and ESD level of HV MOSFETs can be increased as the layout spacing from the drain diffusion to polygate is increased. It was also demonstrated that a specific test structure of HV n-type silicon-controlled rectifier (HVNSCR) embedded into HV NMOS without N-drift implant in the drain region has the excellent TLP-measured It2 and ESD robustness. Moreover, due to the different current distributions in HV NMOS and HVNSCR, the dependences of the TLP-measured It2 and human-body-model ESD levels on the spacing from the drain diffusion to polygate are different.
Group IV channels for 7nm FinFETs: Performance for SoCs power and speed metrics

Smart Mobile SoCs combine the need for speed and for power efficiency. For the 7nm node, high-mobility materials (SiGe, Ge, and IIIV) are candidates to replace Si channels and continue speed improvement, but are more prone to leakage currents impacting active leakage power. Transport and voltages at scaled dimensions could also influence the benefit of higher mobility. We evaluate these aspects for group IV channels devices in the SoC context using an holistic approach over energy-delay metrics and in a node to node perspective. At the 7nm node, Ge devices are expected to reach 34% improvement in frequency at Vdd of 0.65V assuming a series resistance of 230 Ω-um can be reached. Low power complementary Si devices are needed to meet the active leakage budget of mobile SoCs.
A magnetic resonance imaging study of the cervical cord of patients with CADASIL

The authors obtained MR and magnetization transfer (MT) imaging of the cervical cord from 25 patients with cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL). They found no conventional MR abnormalities, but a reduced peak height of the MT ratio (MTR) histogram. This suggests a reduced amount of “truly” normal cord tissue in CADASIL. A significant correlation was found between the extent of brain lesions and cord MTR, suggesting wallerian degeneration as the substrate of the cord MTR changes.
Comparative Study of Chickpea and Green Pea Flour Based on Chemical Composition, Functional and Pasting Properties

The objective of this work was to investigate the c hemical composition, pasting properties and selected functi onal properties of chickpea and dried green pea flour. The proximate a nalysis showed that there was a non significant difference in chickpea flour and dried green pea flour composition, except that of crude fat and fib er. The crude fat of chickpea flour shows a significant (p<0.05) increas e from that of dried green pea flour and crude fiber of dried green pea flour shows significant (p<0.05) increase than chickpea. The result of func tional properties viz. water absorption capacity and oil absorption capaci ty, foaming capacity and stability showed a non significant difference of bo th the selected legumes. Pasting properties of both the flour of legumes wer e significantly different (P<0.05). Chickpea flour had a lower pasting temper atures and the peak, final, and setback viscosities than dried green pea flour. These characteristics seem to be related to the increased fat content of chickpea flour than green pea flour.
Psychometric properties of the Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual Well‐being (FACIT‐Sp) in an Arabic‐speaking, predominantly Muslim population

This study determined the psychometric properties of the Arabic Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy—Spiritual Well‐being (FACIT‐Sp) Version 4 and explored associations between its three factors (Peace, Meaning, and Faith) and health‐related quality of life (HrQoL) among Arab patients with cancer.
What is e-business and does it still matter?

What is e-business or e-commerce, e-government or e-learning? Does it still matter today? If so, in what ways and what can we do about it? Since the mid-1990s, the e-phenomenon has captured people's imagination and led to many dramatic changes. However, with the rapid conceptual and application expansion, the limited conceptual clarity of e-business that existed in the 1990s has evaporated almost entirely. This paper examines what is and what is not e-business, and then outlines a broad conceptual framework to underpin and integrate the vast range of issues in this rapidly evolving field. The dot.com burst in 2001 did not mark the end of e-business, and many radical changes predicted during the dot.com boom but dismissed in the aftermath of the dot.com crash are materialising today. Some of these changes are so radical that a new generation of organisation and management theories are perhaps needed. Areas for future research will be highlighted.
Ghrelin and leptin levels of sojourners and acclimatized lowlanders at high altitude

Abstract The circulatory levels of two appetite regulatory hormones i.e. leptin and ghrelin were estimated in sojourners and acclimatized subjects to investigate their possible role in high altitude (HA) induced anorexia. A group of 30 lowlanders who had never visited HA were inducted to a height of 3600m by air and after 48h they were further taken to an altitude of 4300m by road. Blood samples were collected after 48h stay at 3600m and again after 48h and 7 days of stay at 4300m during 0700–0730h. There was a decrease in energy intake (850kcal/day) of sojourners, which resulted in loss of body weight by 2.12kg at HA. At an altitude of 4300m there was a significant increase in leptin over basal levels (54.9%, p <0.001) at 48h that persisted even after 7 days of stay at this altitude. Ghrelin levels of sojourners decreased by more than 30% in comparison to basal values at 48h of ascent to HA. Leptin levels of acclimatized lowlanders were also higher in comparison with control group (acclimatized group 7.6+0.6ng/ml vs. control 5.6+0.5ng/ml, p <0.01, n =50).
Sensory approaches in mental health: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND/AIM Sensory approaches in mental health are designed to assist consumers to regulate physiological and emotional arousal. They have been highlighted as non-invasive, self-directed and empowering interventions that may support recovery-oriented and trauma-informed mental health practice and may assist in efforts to reduce the use of seclusion and restraint. Over recent years, there has been a substantial increase in research in this area. However, there has not yet been any attempt to map and summarise this literature. METHOD A five-stage scoping review was conducted. Four databases were searched for literature evaluating sensory interventions implemented in mental health settings. RESULTS A total of 17 studies were included in the final review. A range of sensory approaches was evaluated and a range of outcomes measured. In general, consumers reported reductions in distress associated with engaging in sensory interventions. Results in terms of reduction of seclusion and restraint were mixed, with some studies reporting a decrease, others reporting no change and one reporting an increase. Methodological limitations in the studies reviewed mean that results should be interpreted with caution. CONCLUSIONS Although there is emerging evidence for the usefulness of sensory approaches in supporting consumers' self-management of distress, there is less evidence for sensory approaches supporting reductions in seclusion and restraint when used in isolation. More research is necessary, but sensory approaches do appear safe and effective. Services wishing to reduce seclusion and restraint should implement sensory approaches in conjunction with other strategies to achieve this important outcome.
Vertebral Artery Injury During Cervical Spine Surgery: A Survey of More than 5600 Operations

Study Design. Retrospective survey. Objective. To clarify the present incidence and management of iatrogenic vertebral artery injury (VAI) during cervical spine surgery. Summary of Background Data. VAI is a rare complication of cervical spine surgery, but it may be catastrophic. Anterior cervical decompression (ACD) and posterior atlantoaxial transarticular screw fixation (Magerl fixation) have been the main causes, with reported incidences of 0.3% to 0.5% and 0% to 8.2%, respectively. Popular new surgical techniques, such as cervical pedicle screw or C1 lateral mass screw fixation, also entail the potential risk of VAI. Methods. A questionnaire was sent to our affiliated hospitals requesting information regarding iatrogenic VAI during cervical spine surgery. Results. Seven spine surgeon groups and 25 general orthopedist groups responded to the questionnaire, with a response rate of 89%. The overall incidence of VAI was 0.14% (8 cases among 5641 cervical spine surgeries). The incidence in anterior cervical decompression procedures was 0.18% and that in Magerl fixation was 1.3%. Inexperienced surgeons tended to commit VAI more frequently. One case of VAI during C1 lateral mass screw fixation was included, whereas there was no case of VAI caused by cervical pedicle screw fixation. In the case of “VAI in the screw hole,” hemostasis was obtained by tamponade or screw insertion, whereas “VAI in the open space” sometimes caused uncontrollable bleeding, in which embolization eventually stopped the bleeding. There were no deaths or apparent neurologic sequelae. Conclusion. The incidence of VAI during cervical spine surgery from this survey was similar to or slightly less than that in the literature. Tamponade was effective in many cases, but prompt consultation with an endovascular team is recommended if the bleeding is uncontrollable. Preoperative careful evaluation of the vertebral artery seems to be most important to prevent iatrogenic VAI and to avoid postoperative neurologic sequelae.
The lone-actor terrorist and the TRAP-18.

An open source sample of 111 lone actor terrorists from the United States and Europe were studied through the lens of the Terrorist Radicalization Assessment Protocol (TRAP-18). This investigative template consists of 8 proximal warning behaviors and 10 distal characteristics for active risk management or active monitoring, respectively, by national security threat assessors. Several aspects of criterion validity were tested in this known outcome sample. Seventy per cent of the terrorists were positive for at least half or more of the indicators. When the sample was divided into Islamic extremists, right wing extremists, and single issue terrorists, there were no significant differences across all eighteen indicators except for four. When the sample was divided according to successful vs. thwarted attackers, the successful attackers were significantly more fixated, creative and innovative, and failed to have a prior sexually intimate pair bond. They were significantly less likely to have displayed pathway warning behavior and be dependent on a virtual community of likeminded true believers. Effect sizes were small to medium (phi = 0.190-0.317). The TRAP-18 appears to have promise as an eventual structured professional judgment risk assessment instrument according to some of the individual terrorist content domains outlined by Monahan (2012, 2016).
Prevalence of Male and Female Sexual Dysfunction Is High Following Surgery for Rectal Cancer

Objective:To measure sexual function and quality of life (QOL) after rectal cancer treatment. Summary Background Data:Previous studies on sexual function after rectal cancer treatment have focused on males and have not used validated instruments. Methods:Patients undergoing curative rectal cancer surgery from 1980 to 2003 were administered a questionnaire, including the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) or International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), and the EORTC QLQ-C30/CR-38. Multiple logistic regression was used to test associations of clinical factors with outcomes. Results:Eighty-one women (81.0%) and 99 men (80.5%) returned the questionnaire; 32% of women and 50% of men are sexually active, compared with 61% and 91% preoperatively (P < 0.04); 29% of women and 45% of men reported that “surgery made their sexual lives worse. ” Mean (SD) FSFI and IIEF scores were 17.5 (11.9) and 29.3 (22.8). Specific sexual problems in women were libido 41%, arousal 29%, lubrication 56%, orgasm 35%, and dyspareunia 46%, and in men libido 47%, impotence 32%, partial impotence 52%, orgasm 41%, and ejaculation 43%. Both genders reported a negative body image. Patients seldom remembered discussing sexual risks preoperatively and seldom were treated for dysfunction. Current age (P < 0.001), surgical procedure (P = 0.003), and preoperative sexual activity (P = 0.001) were independently associated with current sexual activity. Gender (male, P = 0.014), surgical procedure (P = 0.005), and radiation therapy (P = 0.0001) were independently associated with the outcome “surgery made sexual life worse. ” Global QOL scores were high. Conclusions:Sexual problems after surgery for rectal cancer are common, multifactorial, inadequately discussed, and untreated. Therefore, sexual dysfunction should be discussed with rectal cancer patients, and efforts to prevent and treat it should be increased.
Night‐to‐night consistency of at‐home nocturnal pulse oximetry testing for obstructive sleep apnea in children

At‐home nocturnal pulse oximetry has a high positive predictive value (PPV) for polysomnographically‐diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but no studies have been published testing the night‐to‐night consistency of at‐home nocturnal pulse oximetry for the evaluation of suspected OSA in children. We therefore determined the night‐to‐night consistency of nocturnal pulse oximetry as a diagnostic test for OSA in children.
Cloud Storage Services : Converting the Free-Trial User to a Paid Subscriber Completed Research Paper

In this paper, we explore and explain the factors that directly or indirectly affect free-trial users’ willingness to subscribe to a paid cloud storage service (CSS). To this end, we emphasize the system usage construct and model it as a central construct and investigate both its antecedents and consequents. Data from 181 actual CSS users is analyzed to show that while cognitive costs and service uncertainty negatively influence free-trial CSS usage, the innovativeness of the user may mitigate these hindrances. Furthermore, while system usage has a positive effect on free-trial users’ willingness to convert to a paid CSS subscription, that effect is fully mediated by users’ perception of value toward the cloud storage services. We discuss the theoretical implications of our research model as well as the practical implications related to a free-trial CSS.
What is left and what is right? Spatial position as a context for conceptual processing

concepts are often described in terms of spatial dimensions. For example, time is represented on a horizontal line with past on the left, and future on the right. Mental number line goes form left to the right. Some studies indicate that a horizontal axis is also used to describe power and affect. Theories of grounded cognition assume that metaphors describe the way in which concepts are represented in memory. In the first experiment we explored influence of spatial position of different word categories on speed in semantic decision task. Pairs of words were presented on a horizontal line one next to the other. Participants were faster to respond to pairs of words related to quantities when small quantities were presented on the left and large on the right. Second experiment examined influence of spatial position on speed of detection of a neutral object after presentation of words from different categories. Participants were slower to identify an object that appeared in the position congruent with the metaphorical representation of previously presented word from categories of time and quantities. Results support the idea of perceptual processes being active during processing of concepts related to time and quantities.
Trends in Hospitalizations for Intussusception in California in Relationship to the Introduction of New Rotavirus Vaccines, 1985–2010

Background: The new rotavirus vaccines RV5 and RV1 have been associated with small increase in intussusception risk in active vaccine surveillance studies. It is unclear what the impact might be on the overall trends of intussusception hospitalizations at a large population basis. Methods: We conducted an ecological study of hospital discharges of infants with intussusception discharge diagnosis using the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development database (1985–2010). We measured incidence rates (IR) of intussusception hospitalizations per 100,000 births within 3 periods (1985–1997; 2000–2005; 2006–2010) related to past, pre-introduction and post-introduction of the new rotavirus vaccines. We estimated slopes of yearly IRs within each period, changes in slopes between periods and IR ratios (IRR) of the mean IRs between periods. We did subgroup analyses for 5 age-subgroups. We also analyzed intussusception hospitalizations of infants who also had a surgical repair and/or radiologic reduction procedure code (restricted cohort). Results: We identified 6241 intussusception hospitalizations; 4696 also had pertinent procedure codes. There was an upward trend in yearly IRs during 2006–2010 (+2 excess cases per 100,000 births per year; P = 0.023); the change in slopes between 2006–2010 and 2000–2005 was +3.2 excess cases per 100,000 births per year (P = 0.052), and the IR in 2006–2010 was 10% higher than in 2000–2005 (IRR: 1.10; 95% confidence intervals: 1.01–1.19). The IRR in 2006–2010 versus 2000–2005 for the 6–14 weeks age-subgroup was 1.90 (95% confidence intervals: 1.33–2.74). In the restricted cohort, trends were similar, though not nominally significant. Conclusions: We documented at a population-level a small increased risk in intussusception hospitalizations post-introduction of the new rotavirus vaccines.
A Bipartite Autoinhibitory Region within the B-domain Suppresses Function in Factor V*

Background: Factor V is an inactive procofactor. Removal of its B-domain drives activation through an undefined mechanism. Results: Basic and acidic regions within the B-domain impair factor Xa binding and cofactor function. Conclusion: Autoinhibitory B-domain segments maintain the procofactor state and their disruption activates FV. Significance: The study provides insights into how FV activation unfolds and defines an unexpected sequence-specific function of the B-domain. Activation of blood coagulation factor V (FV) is a key reaction of hemostasis. FV circulates in plasma as an inactive procofactor, and proteolytic removal of a large central B-domain converts it to an active cofactor (FVa) for factor Xa (FXa). Here we show that two short evolutionary conserved segments of the B-domain, together termed the procofactor regulatory region, serve an essential autoinhibitory function. This newly identified motif consists of a basic (963–1008) and an acidic (1493–1537) region and defines the minimal sequence requirements to maintain FV as a procofactor. Our data suggest that dismantling this autoinhibitory region via deletion or proteolysis is the driving force to unveil a high affinity binding site(s) for FXa. These findings document an unexpected sequence-specific role for the B-domain by negatively regulating FV function and preventing activity of the procofactor. These new mechanistic insights point to new ways in which the FV procofactor to cofactor transition could be modulated to alter hemostasis.