Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do Negative Emotions Mediate the Association between Socioeconomic Status and Health?

Abstract: In this chapter, we examine the possibility that negative emotions contribute to the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and health. A model of the associations among SES, emotion, and health is presented first. We then review the evidence for this model, showing associations of SES with depression, hopelessness, anxiety, and hostile affect and cognition, and of these negative emotions with disease. Notably, most of the data supporting the model provide only indirect evidence that negative emotions serve as a key contributor to the proposed associations. We, therefore, conclude with recommendations for longitudinal research, especially in children, that will more directly and comprehensively examine negative emotions as possible mediators of the SES and health relationship.
Comparison on space charge and voltage distribution of high voltage insulator subjected to different contamination levels

This paper presents the study of space charge distribution on high voltage (HV) insulators under different levels of contamination. Two types of HV insulators were used in this work particularly glass and porcelain insulators. A string of 4-unit glass and porcelain insulators with 33 kV of lines voltage was designed and simulated using QuickfieldTM software. Four levels of contamination layer with different thickness have been applied on the surface of insulators to observe the effect of space charge distribution. Simulation results show that different types of insulators used at transmission lines give different effects on charge and voltage distribution. It is also found that the amplitude of charge for a single porcelain insulator is much higher compared to a single glass insulator. Similarly for a string of 4-unit insulators, the voltage distribution along the creepage distance of porcelain insulators is much higher compared to glass insulators under all contamination levels.
2-(4-Bromobenzenesulfonamido)-2-phenylacetic acid monohydrate

In the title compound, C14H12BrNO4S·H2O, the phenyl and benzene rings are inclined at a dihedral angle of 39.5 (5)°. The crystal packing is stabilized by N—H⋯O, C—H⋯O and O—H⋯O hydrogen-bonding interactions.
THE FUTURE OF CHILDREN – SPRING 1991 Principal Risk Factors for Low Birth Weight

The common, known effects of prenatal drug exposure include intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and neurobehavioral dysfunction. A review of the singular effects of cigarettes, alcohol, heroin, narcotics, marijuana, and cocaine are presented, based on findings of previous studies. This paper also summarizes the important research issues, biologic variability determining outcome, and pharmacologic actions and shortand long-term effects of drugs commonly used by pregnant women. The role of the social environment in determining long-term outcome
Natural history, management and complications of herpes labialis

Infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common worldwide problem. Primary infection with HSV‐1 rarely causes significant problems although widespread involvement in atopic eczema can be life‐threatening as may associated encephalitis. Keratoconjunctivitis, pharyngitis and hepatitis can also complicate primary infection. Twenty to 40% of the population at some stage have recurrent orolabial infections with HSV although in only 1% of these cases is this recurrence severe. Recurrent erythema multiforme appears to be associated with HSV—65% of patients are thought to have preceding herpes labialis.
Studies on components of the contact phase system in patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer

The authors have studied components of the contact system in plasma obtained from patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancer. Plasma samples from 118 healthy blood donors served as controls. Plasma prekallikrein (PKK) values, evaluated by chromogenic peptide substrate technique, were significantly decreased in patients with cancer compared with healthy blood donors. High molecular weight kininogen (HMwK) and Hageman factor (FXII) values, assayed by immunochemical techniques, were also decreased in the patients with cancer. The changes of contact factors were most pronounced in patients with liver metastasis. The most striking observation in our study, however, was the elevated inhibitor values in patients with cancer. Alpha‐2‐macroglobulin (α2M) and C1 inhibitor (C1INH) values, determined both by functional and immunochemical techniques, were markedly increased in patients with cancer. In conclusion, this study shows that patients with intestinal cancer have reduced values of contact factors and markedly elevated inhibitor values which indicate that development of malignant tumors in the gastrointestinal tract is associated with changes in the contact system of plasma.
Effects of CO2 laser pulse duration in ablation and residual thermal damage: Implications for skin resurfacing

Resurfacing with the CO2 laser is rapidly gaining acceptance for skin rejuvenation. Advances in CO2 laser and scanning technology allow for precise tissue removal with minimal thermal damage. High energy CO2 laser pulses have been widely used effectively to smooth the surface of facial skin; however, pulse duration effects on ablation and thermal damage have not been systematically studied over the millisecond region (0.25–10 ms).
A comparison of the clinical and laboratory features of thin basement membrane disease (TBMD) and IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA GN).

AIM The aim of this study was to determine the clinical and laboratory characteristics that distinguished thin basement membrane disease (TBMD) from IgA glomerulonephritis (IgA GN) at presentation and at follow-up. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventy-one patients with TBMD and 31 with IgA GN were studied. Males accounted for 11/71 (15%) patients with TBMD, and 20/31 (65%) of those with IgA GN (p < 0.001). RESULTS At presentation, patients with TBMD had hematuria (42%) or proteinuria (42%), and sometimes both (24%), while those with IgA GN usually had both hematuria and proteinuria (71%, p < 0.0001). Furthermore, patients with IgA GN were more likely to have higher urinary RBC counts (p < 0.001), and more proteinuria (p < 0.001) than those with TBMD. An elevated serum creatinine or blood pressure did not distinguish between TBMD and IgA GN at presentation. At review, fewer individuals with IgA GN had elevated levels of urinary RBC and protein, and the proportions were not different from those in patients with TBMD. This was presumably because the acute episode had resolved. CONCLUSION The outcome was worse in patients with IgA GN, with 8/31 (26%) having an elevated serum creatinine and 3/31 (10%) with end-stage renal failure, compared with an elevated serum creatinine in 3/61 (5%) patients with TBMD (p < 0.02) and no patients with renal failure (p < 0.05).
Oxytocin facilitates protective responses to aversive social stimuli in males

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OXT) can enhance the impact of positive social cues but may reduce that of negative ones by inhibiting amygdala activation, although it is unclear whether the latter causes blunted emotional and mnemonic responses. In two independent double-blind placebo-controlled experiments, each involving over 70 healthy male subjects, we investigated whether OXT affects modulation of startle reactivity by aversive social stimuli as well as subsequent memory for them. Intranasal OXT potentiated acoustic startle responses to negative stimuli, without affecting behavioral valence or arousal judgments, and biased subsequent memory toward negative rather than neutral items. A functional MRI analysis of this mnemonic effect revealed that, whereas OXT inhibited amygdala responses to negative stimuli, it facilitated left insula responses for subsequently remembered items and increased functional coupling between the left amygdala, left anterior insula, and left inferior frontal gyrus. Our results therefore show that OXT can potentiate the protective and mnemonic impact of aversive social information despite reducing amygdala activity, and suggest that the insula may play a role in emotional modulation of memory.
Big Bang Bifurcation Analysis and Allee Effect in Generic Growth Functions

The main purpose of this work is to study the dynamics and bifurcation properties of generic growth functions, which are defined by the population size functions of the generic growth equation. This family of unimodal maps naturally incorporates a principal focus of ecological and biological research: the Allee effect. The analysis of this kind of extinction phenomenon allows to identify a class of Allee’s functions and characterize the corresponding Allee’s effect region and Allee’s bifurcation curve. The bifurcation analysis is founded on the performance of fold and flip bifurcations. The dynamical behavior is rich with abundant complex bifurcation structures, the big bang bifurcations of the so-called “box-within-a-box” fractal type being the most outstanding. Moreover, these bifurcation cascades converge to different big bang bifurcation curves with distinct kinds of boxes, where for the corresponding parameter values several attractors are associated. To the best of our knowledge, these results represent an original contribution to clarify the big bang bifurcation analysis of continuous 1D maps.
Adult intensive therapy services contracted by the National Health Fund in 2012.

BACKGROUND Limited financial resources of the National Health Fund (NHF) affect the extent of funding allocated for intensive therapy services. The objective of the study was to analyse the levels of funding the departments of anaesthesiology and intensive therapy are provided with by NHF regional branches in 2012. METHODS Websites of NHF regional branches were surveyed to obtain the data about the therapeutic entities containing departments of anaesthesiology and intensive therapy, whose services were contracted by NHF in 2012. The contract value, number of contracted points and price of a point were determined for each department. Moreover, based on preliminary survey of the National Official Register of Economic Entities (REGON), the number of intensive therapy beds in the departments in question was calculated. RESULTS The highest expenditure on adult intensive therapy per one citizen was found in the West Pomeranian, Podlasie and Lesser Poland provinces whereas the lowest one in Swietokrzyskie, Pomeranian and Lublin provinces. CONCLUSION Funds allocated by NHF for services of departments of anaesthesiology and intensive therapy are insufficient.
Structural and Functional Modularity of the Orange Carotenoid Protein: Distinct Roles for the N- and C-Terminal Domains in Cyanobacterial Photoprotection[C][W]

This work reveals key structure-function relationships in the photoprotective orange carotenoid protein. The N-terminal domain is shown to be the effector of energy dissipation; it binds to the phycobilisome and quenches fluorescence without prior photochemical activation. The C-terminal domain dynamically regulates the photoprotective activity of the N-terminal domain in response to light. The orange carotenoid protein (OCP) serves as a sensor of light intensity and an effector of phycobilisome (PB)–associated photoprotection in cyanobacteria. Structurally, the OCP is composed of two distinct domains spanned by a single carotenoid chromophore. Functionally, in response to high light, the OCP converts from a dark-stable orange form, OCPO, to an active red form, OCPR. The C-terminal domain of the OCP has been implicated in the dynamic response to light intensity and plays a role in switching off the OCP’s photoprotective response through its interaction with the fluorescence recovery protein. The function of the N-terminal domain, which is uniquely found in cyanobacteria, is unclear. To investigate its function, we isolated the N-terminal domain in vitro using limited proteolysis of native OCP. The N-terminal domain retains the carotenoid chromophore; this red carotenoid protein (RCP) has constitutive PB fluorescence quenching activity comparable in magnitude to that of active, full-length OCPR. A comparison of the spectroscopic properties of the RCP with OCPR indicates that critical protein–chromophore interactions within the C-terminal domain are weakened in the OCPR form. These results suggest that the C-terminal domain dynamically regulates the photoprotective activity of an otherwise constitutively active carotenoid binding N-terminal domain.
Increasing diversity of HIV‐1M serotypes in French blood donors over a 10‐year period (1985–1995)

Objective:Phylogenetic analysis of gene sequences of HIV-1 has led to the classification of isolates into a major group (M) of viruses, itself divided into subtypes (A to I), and a minor group (O) of rare isolates. Subtype B viruses are the most prevalent in Western countries but little is known about the dynamics of diffusion of the other subtypes in these regions. The prevalence of B subtypes and non-B subtypes in French blood donors between 1985 and 1995 was evaluated. Methods:A retrospective study was conducted in 490 blood donors, identified as positive for antibody to HIV-1, by twelve French blood banks between 1985 and 1995. Serological subtyping was performed with a subtype-specific enzyme immunoassay, the reliability for genotyping of which has been demonstrated previously. Results:Of 450 typable samples, 48 (10.7%) were non-B subtypes. Non-B reactive samples were found in all of the regions. An increasing prevalence of individuals infected by non-B viruses was observed, from approximately 4% in the early period to more than 20% in 1994–1995 (P = 0.0004). Non-B viruses did not appear to be restricted to patients with direct or indirect epidemiological links to non-European populations. Conclusion:We observed an increasing diversity of HIV-1 strains in the population of blood donors residing in France. This stresses the necessity to broaden the surveillance of HIV-1 diversity in order to improve measures to prevent HIV-1 infections.
The treatment of tuberculosis in HIV-infected persons.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important infections affecting HIV-infected individuals in the world. Rates of HIV-related TB have risen in countries in Europe the US and South America and so rapidly in India and the rest of Asia that they may equal those in sub-Saharan Africa by 2000. Globally 1 in 11 cases of TB are attributed to HIV with the proportion expected to rise to 1 in 7 cases by 2000. The authors review the evidence from clinical trials of the efficacy of rifamycin-based short-course regimens for TB when rifamycin is used for the entire treatment period or only in the intensive phase. The authors also examine the drug-drug interactions between anti-TB and antiretroviral drugs and consider possible TB regimens which could be used in HIV-positive patients on or beginning antiretroviral therapy and suggest best practice treatment strategies.
Phosphatidylinositol 4,5-Bisphosphate Increases Ca2+ Affinity of Synaptotagmin-1 by 40-fold*

Background: Synaptotagmin-1, a Ca2+ sensor of neuronal exocytosis, interacts with the anionic phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2). Results: Microscale thermophoresis shows that PIP2 binding to the polybasic patch of synaptotagmin-1 increases the Ca2+ affinity by >40-fold. Conclusion: PIP2 and Ca2+ binding to synaptotagmin-1 is strongly cooperative. Significance: Understanding the interplay between Ca2+, synaptotagmin-1, and PIP2 is crucial for our understanding of neurotransmitter release. Synaptotagmin-1 is the main Ca2+ sensor of neuronal exocytosis. It binds to both Ca2+ and the anionic phospholipid phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2), but the precise cooperativity of this binding is still poorly understood. Here, we used microscale thermophoresis to quantify the cooperative binding of PIP2 and Ca2+ to synaptotagmin-1. We found that PIP2 bound to the well conserved polybasic patch of the C2B domain with an apparent dissociation constant of ∼20 μm. PIP2 binding reduced the apparent dissociation constant for Ca2+ from ∼250 to <5 μm. Thus, our data show that PIP2 makes synaptotagmin-1 >40-fold more sensitive to Ca2+. This interplay between Ca2+, synaptotagmin-1, and PIP2 is crucial for neurotransmitter release.
Alterations in STriatal‐Enriched protein tyrosine Phosphatase expression, activation, and downstream signaling in early and late stages of the YAC128 Huntington's disease mouse model

Striatal neurodegeneration and synaptic dysfunction in Huntington's disease are mediated by the mutant huntingtin (mHtt) protein. MHtt disrupts calcium homeostasis and facilitates excitotoxicity, in part by altering NMDA receptor (NMDAR) trafficking and function. Pre‐symptomatic (excitotoxin‐sensitive) transgenic mice expressing full‐length human mHtt with 128 polyglutamine repeats (YAC128 Huntington's disease mice) show increased calpain activity and extrasynaptic NMDAR (Ex‐NMDAR) localization and signaling. Furthermore, Ex‐NMDAR stimulation facilitates excitotoxicity in wild‐type cortical neurons via calpain‐mediated cleavage of STriatal‐Enriched protein tyrosine Phosphatase 61 (STEP61). The cleavage product, STEP33, cannot dephosphorylate p38 mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK), thereby augmenting apoptotic signaling. Here, we show elevated extrasynaptic calpain‐mediated cleavage of STEP61 and p38 phosphorylation, as well as STEP61 inactivation and reduced extracellular signal‐regulated protein kinase 1/2 phosphorylation (ERK1/2) in the striatum of 6‐week‐old, excitotoxin‐sensitive YAC128 mice. Calpain inhibition reduced basal and NMDA‐induced STEP61 cleavage. However, basal p38 phosphorylation was normalized by a peptide disrupting NMDAR‐post‐synaptic density protein‐95 (PSD‐95) binding but not by calpain inhibition. In 1‐year‐old excitotoxin‐resistant YAC128 mice, STEP33 levels were not elevated, but STEP61 inactivation and p38 and ERK 1/2 phosphorylation levels were increased. These results show that in YAC128 striatal tissue, enhanced NMDAR–PSD‐95 interactions contributes to elevated p38 signaling in early, excitotoxin‐sensitive stages, and suggest that STEP61 inactivation enhances MAPK signaling at late, excitotoxin‐resistant stages.
Validation of Statistical Methods to Compare Cancellation Rates on the Day of Surgery

We investigated the validity of several statistical methods to monitor the cancellation of electively scheduled cases on the day of surgery: &khgr;2 test, Fisher’s exact test, Rao and Scott test, Student’s t-test, Clopper-Pearson confidence intervals, and Chen and Tipping modification of the Clopper-Pearson confidence intervals. Discrete-event computer simulation over many years was used to represent surgical suites with an unchanging cancellation rate. Because the true cancellation rate was fixed, the accuracy of the statistical methods could be determined. Cancellations caused by medical events, rare events, cases lasting longer than scheduled, and full postanesthesia or intensive care unit beds were modeled. We found that applying Student’s two-sample t-test to the transformation of the numbers of cases and canceled cases from each of six 4-wk periods was valid for most conditions. We recommend that clinicians and managers use this method in their quality monitoring reports. The other methods gave inaccurate results. For example, using &khgr;2 or Fisher’s exact test, hospitals may erroneously determine that cancellation rates have increased when they really are unchanged. Conversely, if inappropriate statistical methods are used, administrators may claim success at reducing cancellation rates when, in fact, the problem remains unresolved, affecting patients and clinicians.
Polyimide encapsulated lithium-rich cathode material for high voltage lithium-ion battery.

Lithium-rich materials represented by xLi2MnO3·(1 - x)LiMO2 (M = Mn, Co, Ni) are attractive cathode materials for lithium-ion battery due to their high specific energy and low cost. However, some drawbacks of these materials such as poor cycle and rate capability remain to be addressed before applications. In this study, a thin polyimide (PI) layer is coated on the surface of Li1.2Ni0. 13Mn0.54Co0. 13O2 (LNMCO) by a polyamic acid (PAA) precursor with subsequently thermal imidization process. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) results confirm the successful formation of a PI layer (∼3 nm) on the surface of LNMCO without destruction of its main structure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) spectra show a slight shift of the Mn valence state from Mn(IV) to Mn(III) in the PI-LNMCO treated at 450 °C, elucidating that charge transfer takes place between the PI layer and LNMCO surface. Electrochemical performances of LNMCO including cyclic stability and rate capability are evidently improved by coating a PI nanolayer, which effectively separates the cathode material from the electrolyte and stabilizes their interface at high voltage.
The Determinants of Technical Efficiency of Manufacturing Firms in Ghana

This paper uses the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) technique to estimate the technical efficiency of firms in Ghana across six manufacturing industries during 1991-2002. We observe that manufacturing firms in Ghana are significantly less efficient than their counterparts in other countries. In addition, we find that firm characteristics such as size, age, foreign ownership, and the mix of labor and capital used during the production process have positive effects on firm efficiency. These results have implications for Ghanas import-substitution industrialization and foreign investment policies.
Women in computing: what brings them to it, what keeps them in it?

Career stereotyping and misperceptions about the nature of computing are substantive reasons for the under-representation of women in professional computing careers. In this study, 15 women who have work experience in several aspects of computing were asked about their reasons for entering computing, what they liked about working in computing, and what they disliked. While there are many common threads, there are also individual differences. Common reasons for choosing computing as a career included: exposure to computing in a setting which enabled them to see the versatility of computers; the influence of someone close to them; personal abilities which they perceived to be appropriate for a career in computing; and characteristics of such careers which appealed to them. Generally, women working in the field enjoy the work they are doing. Dislikes arising from their work experiences are more likely to be associated with people and politics than with the work they do --- and they would like to have more female colleagues.
Stability Preservation Analysis for Frequency-Based Methods in Numerical Simulation of Fractional Order Systems

In this paper, the frequency domain-based numerical methods for simulation of fractional order systems are studied in the sense of stability preservation. First, the stability boundary curve is exactly determined for these methods. Then, this boundary is analyzed and compared with an accurate (ideal) boundary in different frequency ranges. Also, the critical regions in which the stability does not preserve are determined. Finally, the analytical achievements are confirmed via some numerical illustrations.