Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Caspase Cleavage of Gelsolin Is an Inductive Cue for Pathologic Cardiac Hypertrophy

Background Cardiac hypertrophy is an adaptive remodeling event that may improve or diminish contractile performance of the heart. Physiologic and pathologic hypertrophy yield distinct outcomes, yet both are dependent on caspase‐directed proteolysis. This suggests that each form of myocardial growth may derive from a specific caspase cleavage event(s). We examined whether caspase 3 cleavage of the actin capping/severing protein gelsolin is essential for the development of pathologic hypertrophy. Methods and Results Caspase targeting of gelsolin was established through protein analysis of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes and mass spectrometry mapping of cleavage sites. Pathologic agonists induced late‐stage caspase‐mediated cleavage of gelsolin. The requirement of caspase‐mediated gelsolin cleavage for hypertrophy induction was evaluated in primary cardiomyocytes by cell size analysis, monitoring of prohypertrophy markers, and measurement of hypertrophy‐related transcription activity. The in vivo impact of caspase‐mediated cleavage was investigated by echo‐guided intramyocardial injection of adenoviral‐expressed gelsolin. Expression of the N‐terminal gelsolin caspase cleavage fragment was necessary and sufficient to cause pathologic remodeling in isolated cardiomyocytes and the intact heart, whereas expression of a noncleavable form prevents cardiac remodeling. Alterations in myocardium structure and function were determined by echocardiography and end‐stage cardiomyocyte cell size analysis. Gelsolin secretion was also monitored for its impact on naïve cells using competitive antibody trapping, demonstrating that hypertrophic agonist stimulation of cardiomyocytes leads to gelsolin secretion, which induces hypertrophy in naïve cells. Conclusions These results suggest that cell autonomous caspase cleavage of gelsolin is essential for pathologic hypertrophy and that cardiomyocyte secretion of gelsolin may accelerate this negative remodeling response.
No Association Between Risk of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rupture and Selected Candidate Collagen Gene Variants in Female Elite Athletes From High-Risk Team Sports

Background: Several single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in collagen genes have been reported as predisposing factors for anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears. However, the evidence is conflicting and does not support a clear association between genetic variants and risk of ACL ruptures. Purpose: To assess the association of previously identified candidate SNVs in genes encoding for collagen and the risk of ACL injury in a population of elite female athletes from high-risk team sports. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: A total of 851 female Norwegian and Finnish elite athletes from team sports were included from 2007 to 2011. ACL injuries acquired before inclusion in the cohort were registered by interview. The participants were followed prospectively through 2015 to record new complete ACL injuries. Six selected SNVs were genotyped (COL1A1: rs1800012, rs1107946; COL3A1: rs1800255; COL5A1: rs12722, rs13946; COL12A1: rs970547). Results: No associations were found between ACL rupture and the SNVs tested. Conclusion: The study does not support a role of the 6 selected SNVs in genes encoding for collagen proteins as risk factors for ACL injury. Clinical Relevance: Genetic profiling to identify athletes at high risk for ACL rupture is not yet feasible.
Undergraduate Learners' Perceptions of Blended Learning and its Relationship with Some Demographic and Experiential Variables at the Arab Open University--Bahrain Branch.

This research focused on the undergraduate learners' perceptions of blended learning at the Arab Open University Bahrain Branch (AOU-BH). It also focused on factors that influence learners' perceptions and examined the relationships between learners' perceptions and their particular demographic characteristics (age, gender, educational level, experience with the internet, and employment status). In addition, the interrelationships between the perception dimensions were examined. This research also aimed at investigating the relationship between learners' satisfaction and the perception dimensions. Learners' perception dimensions in this study were: the course interaction, the learner's autonomy provided in the course, the course structure, the quality of instructional methods, and the course interface. The course interaction dimension was composed of two sub-dimensions: learner-learner interaction and learner-instructor interaction. The course structure (CS) was also composed of two sub-dimensions the CS-content and CS-assessment. The researcher developed an instrument to measure the perception dimensions and satisfaction with blended learning. The instrument was administered to a sample of 779 AOU-BH undergraduate learners. MANOVA, ANOVA, correlations, and multiple regressions were used to analyze the data. Findings indicated that the overall learners' perception of blended learning at the Arab Open University-Bahrain Branch was found to be positive. Age and gender were found to be insignificant factors in the learners' overall perception. Learners' educational level was found to be a significant factor for learner-learner interaction and course interface. The relationship between learners' experience with the internet and the
Multi-channel coded-aperture photography

This thesis describes the multi-channel coded-aperture photography, a modified camera system that can extract an all-focus image of the scene along with a depth estimate over the scene. The modification consists of inserting a set of patterned color filters into the aperture of the camera lens. This work generalizes the previous research on a single-channel coded aperture, by deploying distinct filters in the three primary color channels, in order to cope better with the effect of a Bayer filter and to exploit the correlation among the channels. We derive the model and algorithms for the multi-channel coded aperture, comparing the simulated performance of the reconstruction algorithm against that of the original single-channel coded aperture. We also demonstrate a physical prototype, discussing the challenges arising from the use of multiple filters. We provide a comparison with the single-channel coded aperture in performance, and present results on several scenes of cluttered objects at various depths. Thesis Supervisor: Fredo Durand Title: Associate Professor
The Utilization of Project Based Learning and Guided Discovery Learning: Effective Methods to Improve Students’ Mathematics Ability

The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is any difference between students’ mathematical representation ability who were taught by using the learning model of Project Based Learning with students who were taught by Guided Discovery Learning; there is any difference in the students' mathematical representation ability based on high, medium, or low learning motivation categories, and there is an interaction between the learning model and the learning motivation toward mathematical representation ability. A quasi experiment was used with 2x3 factorial designs. Instrument used to collect data was mathematics test and learning motivation questionnaire. The hypothesis testing used two way analysis of variance with unequal cell. Based on the results of hypothesis testing, it can be concluded that there is a difference in the students' mathematics ability that was taught by using Project Based Learning model with students who were taught by sing Guided Discovery Learning model; there is a difference in the students’mathematical representation ability based on high, medium, or low learning motivation; and there is an interaction between the learning model and the learning motivation on the mathematics ability.
Helicobacter pylori Growth Stage Determines the Size, Protein Composition, and Preferential Cargo Packaging of Outer Membrane Vesicles

Gram‐negative bacteria release outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) as part of their normal growth that contain a range of cargo from their parent bacterium, including DNA, RNA, and proteins. The protein content of OMVs is suggested to be similar in composition to various sub‐cellular locations of their parent bacterium. However, very little is known regarding the effect of bacterial growth stage on the size, content, and selective packaging of proteins into OMVs. In this study, the global proteome of Helicobacter pylori and their OMVs throughout bacterial growth are examined to determine if bacterial growth stage affected OMV cargo composition. Analysis of OMVs produced by H. pylori reveals that bacterial growth stage affects the size, composition, and selection of protein cargo into OMVs. Proteomic analysis identifies that the proteome of H. pylori OMVs is vastly different throughout bacterial growth and that OMVs contain a range of proteins compared to their parent bacteria. In addition, bacterial growth stage affects the ability of OMVs to induce the production of IL‐8 by human epithelial cells. Therefore, the findings identify that the size, proteome, and immunogenicity of OMVs produced during various stages of bacterial growth is not comparable. Collectively, these findings highlight the importance of considering the bacterial growth stage from which OMVs are isolated, as this will impact their size, protein composition, and ultimately their biological functions.
Chronic Exposure to Palmitate Impairs Insulin Signaling in an Intestinal L-cell Line: A Possible Shift from GLP-1 to Glucagon Production

Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are characterized by insulin resistance and impaired glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) secretion/function. Lipotoxicity, a chronic elevation of free fatty acids in the blood, could affect insulin-signaling in many peripheral tissues. To date, the effects of lipotoxicity on the insulin receptor and insulin resistance in the intestinal L-cells need to be elucidated. Moreover, recent observations indicate that L-cells may be able to process not only GLP-1 but also glucagon from proglucagon. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of chronic palmitate exposure on insulin pathways, GLP-1 secretion and glucagon synthesis in the GLUTag L-cell line. Cells were cultured in the presence/absence of palmitate (0.5 mM) for 24 h to mimic lipotoxicity. Palmitate treatment affected insulin-stimulated GLP-1 secretion, insulin receptor phosphorylation and IRS-1-AKT pathway signaling. In our model lipotoxicity induced extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK 44/42) activation both in insulin stimulated and basal conditions and also up-regulated paired box 6 (PAX6) and proglucagon expression (Gcg). Interestingly, palmitate treatment caused an increased glucagon secretion through the up-regulation of prohormone convertase 2. These results indicate that a state of insulin resistance could be responsible for secretory alterations in L-cells through the impairment of insulin-signaling pathways. Our data support the hypothesis that lipotoxicity might contribute to L-cell deregulation.
The quality of parent-child relationship and health in later life

Background: Epidemiological studies have shown that social and emotional support can protect against premature mortality and prevent illness. The longterm consequences of poor parent-child relationships on adult mental health have been a major focus of research. Much less attention has been directed towards the effects on physical health outcomes. Objective: Based on the life course model, this thesis assessed the extent to which child-parent relationships influence physical health in later life. Methods: The dissertation was based on a systematic review of longitudinal studies linking parent-child relationships and physical health in adulthood, and on secondary data-analyses of the Christchurch Health and Development Study. The role played by different confounders and mediators was discussed. The analyses were based on multivariate regression methods. Results: Most of the systematic review studies showed a positive association between poor parenting and health in later life. Supportive of the association were studies on general health relying on self-reports. Non-supportive were studies looking at mortality and rare diseases and relying on official records. Some of the studies presented their findings in relation to gender, girls being more likely to somatise in adolescence or in adulthood. An association was found for the Christchurch Health and Development Study between the quality of parent-child relationship and hospital admission or the number of doctor visits. These effects were more pronounced in females. Overall, adjusting for different confounders and mediators added some information, but did not replace the effect of the exposure variables on the outcomes. Conclusion: More research is required in understanding how the early behavioural, environmental and social factors work together in the development of long term health outcomes. Given the growing evidence of the long term effects of poor parent-child relationships, greater efforts are clearly needed in developing effective strategies for prevention and intervention.
Modern Control Engineering

Introduction to automatic control systems mathematical background mathematical models of systems classical time-domain analysis of control systems state-space analysis of control systems stability the root locus method frequency domain analysis classical control design methods state-space design methods optimal control digital control system identification adaptive control robust control fuzzy control. Appendices: Laplace transform tables the Z-transform transform tables.
Rare Co-Existence of Amyand’s and Littre’s Hernia Treated with Appendectomy and Bowel Resection Followed by Polypropylene Mesh Application

Patient: Male, 65 Final Diagnosis: Rare co-existence of Amyand’s and Littre’s hernia Symptoms: Swelling Medication: — Clinical Procedure: Lichtenstein hernia repair Specialty: Surgery Objective: Rare co-existance of disease or pathology Background: Amyand’s and Littre’s hernias are 2 rare types of inguinal hernias, which constitute less than 1% of all types of hernias. Amyand’s hernia is characterized mainly by the presence of a vermiform appendix in an inguinal hernia sac, whereas Littre’s hernia includes a protrusion of a Meckel’s diverticulum into the hernial sac. Case Report: In this article, we report a case of co-existence of Amyand’s and Littre’s hernia in the same sac of a groin hernia. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of a patient with the appendix and Meckel’s diverticulum inside the hernia sac. Although there was no sign of inflammation, we performed an incidental appendectomy and partial enterectomy. We continued with the repair process with polypropylene mesh using Lichtenstein technique. The patients showed no signs of complication or recurrence of the hernia within 1 year from the day of the surgery. Conclusions: The aim of this article is to present for the first time the occurrence and the repair of a combined Amyand’s and Littre’s hernia. Additionally, in this study, we were the first to use polypropylene mesh to repair both hernias in an elderly patient after performing appendectomy and enterectomy, avoiding any complications or recurrence of the hernia 12 months following the surgery.
Several experiments in elementary self-modifying protocol games, such as Nomic

There is the idea that network protocols can be changed by the computers that use them. Such protocols are called open protocols. At this moment, open protocols do not exist. To better understand the principles of open protocols, researchers build (and play with) simplified models, referred to as selfmodifying protocol games. Nomic, for example, is such a game. Most of the activities in the area are informal, and ‘fail’ to materialize into results that can be applied to the construction of open protocols. This paper is the 3rd of a sequence of papers that tries to approach the field more formally. It contains a number of experiments in elementary self-modifying protocol games, of which the results are meant to provide additional insight in the development of more complicated such games.
Health Care Under the Influence: Substance Use Disorders in the Health Professions

Substance use disorders are expressed within most age, economic, cultural, gender, and occupational groupings. They come to expression in individuals who may be considered vulnerable on biological, psychological, social, family, or spiritual levels. As with other mental disorders, vulnerability differs between individuals with both nature and nurture influencing their risk. Some health care professionals will also develop these chronic disorders regardless of any special knowledge or experience they may have. When substance use disorders are expressed within the health care professions, the delivery of safe, competent, compassionate, and ethical care is threatened. The health of the health care professional is also at risk as the substance use disorders typically progress in severity and may result in premature death. This is often a sensitive issue to address yet its importance demands the concerted attention of the health care professions. The following chapter begins with background on the issue of substance use disorders within the health care professions, followed by a discussion of mitigating associated risks, and an exploration of disciplinary and alternative to discipline policies. This chapter is focused primarily on literature on physicians and nurses because of the predominance of research in these disciplines. The argument will be made that creating conditions that encourage early identification, reduce barriers to treatment, and that include long-term monitoring programs provide the best conditions for ameliorating the risks resulting from substance use disorders amongst the health care professions to patient safety and health care professional health.
Construct Validity and Responsiveness of the Abdominal Surgery Impact Scale in the Context of Recovery After Colorectal Surgery

BACKGROUND: The Abdominal Surgery Impact Scale is a patient-reported outcome measure that evaluates quality of life after abdominal surgery. Evidence supporting its measurement properties is limited. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to contribute evidence for the construct validity and responsiveness of the Abdominal Surgery Impact Scale as a measure of recovery after colorectal surgery in the context of an enhanced recovery pathway. DESIGN: This is an observational validation study designed according to the Consensus-based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instruments checklist. SETTING: This study was conducted at a university-affiliated tertiary hospital. PATIENTS: Included were 100 consecutive patients undergoing colorectal surgery (mean age, 65; 57% male). INTERVENTION: There were no interventions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Construct validity was assessed at 2 days and 2 and 4 weeks after surgery by testing the hypotheses that Abdominal Surgery Impact Scale scores were higher 1) in patients without vs with postoperative complications, 2) with higher preoperative physical status vs lower, 3) without vs with postoperative stoma, 4) in men vs women, 5) with shorter time to readiness for discharge (⩽4 days) vs longer, and 6) with shorter length of stay (⩽4 days) vs longer. To test responsiveness, we hypothesized that scores would be higher 1) preoperatively vs 2 days postoperatively, 2) at 2 weeks vs 2 days postoperatively, and 3) at 4 weeks vs 2 weeks postoperatively. RESULTS: The data supported 3 of the 6 hypotheses (hypotheses 1, 5, and 6) tested for construct validity at all time points. Two of the 3 hypotheses tested for responsiveness (hypotheses 1 and 2) were supported. LIMITATIONS: This study was limited by the risk of selection bias due to the use of secondary data from a randomized controlled trial. CONCLUSIONS: The Abdominal Surgery Impact Scale was responsive to the expected trajectory of recovery up to 2 weeks after surgery, but did not discriminate between all groups expected to have different recovery trajectories. There remains a need for the development of recovery-specific, patient-reported outcome measures with adequate measurement properties. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww. com/DCR/A814.
Collaborative Targeted Maximum Likelihood Estimation

Author(s): Gruber, Susan | Advisor(s): van der Laan, Mark J | Abstract: Collaborative targeted maximum likelihood estimation is an extension to targeted maximum likelihood estimation (TMLE), first introduced by van der Laan and Rubin in 2006. TMLE is an efficient, double robust, semi-parametric methodology for estimating a pathwise differential parameter of a statistical distribution given censored data. The TMLE procedure involves a parametric fluctuation of an initial estimate of the relevant factor of the density of the observed data, Q, that involves estimating the nuisance portion of the likelihood---censoring mechanism, g. DR estimators are consistent when at least one of these is estimated consistently. Though the best approach to nuisance parameter estimation is a current topic of debate in the literature, methods typically rely on maximizing a likelihood for g, however, by establishing the collaborative double robustness of the efficient influence curve, van der Laan and Gruber (2010) provides a theoretical justification for moving away from the practice of external nuisance parameter estimation. That paper also presents the collaborative TMLE (C-TMLE), and provides an algorithm for constructing the estimator. This dissertation explores collaborative double robustness to provide an understanding of the requirements for effective nuisance parameter estimation that are the foundation of C-TMLE, and presents the forward-selection C-TMLE algorithm. This approach to targeted maximum likelihood estimation is especially useful when the true censoring mechanism is unknown, and adjusting for a large number of correlated confounders leads to highly variable estimates. It is also particularly effective when there is sparsity in the data that renders a statistical parameter borderline identifiable. Variations on the C-TMLE estimator are presented, and their behavior is compared and contrasted with several TMLEs and other estimators in the literature using simulated and real data. There is an emphasis on finite sample performance under sparsity and model misspecification, and the incorporation of data-adaptive techniques while still preserving influence-curve based inference. A method for ensuring that TMLEs respect known global constraints on the model is presented, and a guide to the R package tmle, for TMLE estimation of binary point treatment effects is provided in the Appendix.