Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Simulation study of negative thermal expansion in yttrium tungstate Y2W3O12

A simulation study of negative thermal expansion in Y2W3O12 was carried out using calculations of phonon dispersion curves through the application of density functional perturbation theory. The mode eigenvectors were mapped onto flexibility models and results compared with calculations of the mode Grüneisen parameters. It was found that many lower-frequency phonons contribute to negative thermal expansion in Y2W3O12, all of which can be described in terms of rotations of effectively rigid WO4 tetrahedra and Y–O rods. The results are strikingly different from previous phonon studies of higher-symmetry materials that show negative thermal expansion.
Clinical assessment and clinical trials in rheumatoid arthritis

Important progress has been reported over the past year on evaluation and standardization of disease activity variables in rheumatoid arthritis and their relation to outcome measures. Core sets of variables have been established both in the United States and Europe, showing a high degree of resemblance. A recently proposed classification of antirheumatic drugs seeks to make a clear distinction between drugs that modify symptoms and those that actually control the disease. This classification may have a definite impact on design and methodology of future clinical trials.
Catheter type, placement and insertion techniques for preventing peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND As many as 15-50% of end-stage kidney disease patients are on peritoneal dialysis (PD), but peritonitis limits its more widespread use. Several PD catheter-related interventions have been purported to reduce the risk of peritonitis in PD. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the use of catheter-related interventions for the prevention of peritonitis in PD. SEARCH STRATEGY The Cochrane Renal Group's specialised register (June 2004), The Cochrane CENTRAL Register of Controlled Trials (The Cochrane Library Issue 2 2004), MEDLINE (1966-April 2004), EMBASE (1988-April 2004) and reference lists were searched without language restriction SELECTION CRITERIA Trials comparing different catheter insertion techniques, catheter types, use of immobilisation techniques or different break in periods were included. Trials of different PD sets were excluded. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two reviewers independently assessed trial quality and extracted data. Statistical analyses were performed using a random effects model and the results expressed as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). MAIN RESULTS Seventeen eligible trials (1089 patients) were identified, eight of surgical strategies of catheter insertion, eight of straight versus coiled catheters, one of single cuff versus double cuff catheters and one of an immobiliser device. The methodological quality was suboptimal. There were no significant differences with laparoscopy compared with laparotomy for peritonitis, the peritonitis rate, exit-site/tunnel infection or catheter removal/replacement. Standard insertion with resting but no subcutaneous burying of the catheter versus implantation and subcutaneous burying was not associated with a significant reduction in peritonitis rate, exit-site/tunnel infection rate or all-cause mortality. Midline compared to lateral insertion showed no significant difference in the risk of peritonitis or exit-site/tunnel infection. There was no significant difference in the risk of peritonitis, peritonitis rate, exit-site/tunnel infection, exit-site/tunnel infection rate or catheter removal/replacement between straight versus coiled intraperitoneal portion catheters. One trial compared single versus double cuffed catheters and showed no significant difference in the risk of peritonitis, exit-site/tunnel infection or catheter removal/replacement. One trial compared immobilisation versus no immobilisation of the PD catheter and showed no significant difference in the risk of peritonitis and exit-site/tunnel infection. No trials of different break-in periods were identified. REVIEWERS' CONCLUSIONS No major advantages from any of the catheter-related interventions which have been purported to reduce the risk of PD peritonitis could be demonstrated in this review. The frequency and quality of available trials are suboptimal.
Novel Substrate Integrated Waveguide Filtering Crossover Using Orthogonal Degenerate Modes

A novel substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) filtering crossover is presented based on the orthogonal degenerate TE201 and TE102 modes in SIW square cavities. By arranging the feeding ports and coupling windows at the cavity center, excellent transmission and isolation responses can be achieved successfully. In addition, the bandwidth of the crossover can be easily controlled using the well-established coupling matrix synthesis method, and the maximum bandwidth is determined by the acceptable isolation levels. A prototype operating at 20 GHz was designed and fabricated to verify this concept, and the measured results are in excellent agreement with the simulation results.
Complete �-stability Intervals of Matrices — Generalization of the Stability

In this paper we study the robust �-stability of single-parameter polynomially-dependent matrices. �-stability of a matrix means that all the eigenvalues are in a prescribed open region, which is symmetric with respect to the real axis in the complex plane. We propose a method based on generalization of the stability feeler. The proposed method enables one to derive complete �-stability intervals for a class of single-parameter polynomially-dependent matrices. This method does not require that a nominal matrix is stable. Numerical example shows that both Hurwitz stability intervals and Schur stability intervals of single-parameter polynomially-dependent matrices can be obtained by using the proposed method.
Impaired utilization of serum folate in pernicious anemia. A study with radiolabeled 5-methyltetrahydrofolate.

The possible role of cobalamins in the utilization of serum methyltetrahydrofolate has been investigated by means of radiolabeled methyltetrahydrofolate in subjects suffering from pernicious anemia. After intravenous administration, methyltetrahydrofolate-(3)H (SA 11,500 Ci/mole; dose 0.05 mug/kg) was cleared from the serum to tissues of B(12)-deficient subjects half as fast as after the same subjects had received vitamin B(12) therapy. B(12) deficiency was also associated with an increased rate of renal excretion of methyltetrahydrofolate or its derivatives, and a decreased rate of renal metabolism of methyltetrahydrofolate to other urinary folate derivatives.Intravenously administered methyl-(14)C-tetrahydrofolate-(3)H at a higher dose (5 mug/kg) caused a severalfold elevation of the total serum folate concentration and, in B(12)-deficient subjects, it did not disappear from the serum significantly more slowly although its urinary excretion was significantly increased. These results indicate that there is some cobalamin requirement for the utilization of serum methyltetrahydrofolate and verify one prediction of the "methyltetrahydrofolate trap" explanation for the megaloblastosis of B(12) deficiency.
Mite component–specific IgE repertoire and phenotypes of allergic disease in childhood: The tropical perspective

To cite this article: Kidon MI, Chin CW, Kang LW, Ching OT, Seng TY, Ning WK, Angus AC, Theng OS, Feng GY, Reginald K, Zhi BX, Shen SH & Tim CF. Mite component–specific IgE repertoire and phenotypes of allergic disease in childhood: The tropical perspective. Pediatr Allergy and Immunol 2011; 22: 202–210.
Inflammation, C-reactive protein, and cardiovascular disease: moving past the marker versus mediator debate.

Twenty years ago, investigators collaborating in the laboratory of Attilio Maseri made the observation that plasma levels of the inflammatory biomarkers C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A are elevated in patients with severe unstable angina, and that those with higher levels have worse clinical outcomes.1 However, as concentrations of CRP, serum amyloid A, and other acute phase reactants increase after ischemia, those initial data as well as comparable findings among postinfarction and chronic ischemia patients could not establish whether basal levels of inflammation were a substantive determinant of future vascular risk. That demonstration required evidence that inflammatory biomarkers such as CRP independently predict future myocardial infarction, stroke, and vascular death in apparently healthy populations free of acute phase stimuli, including cigarette consumption. When my group first presented such evidence in healthy men in 19972 and subsequently confirmed this effect in healthy women, Professor Maseri editorialized that the atherothrombosis community had envisioned “the hidden side of the moon” and that critical relationships between inflammation and occlusive cardiovascular events could no longer be ignored.3 Article, see p 672 Today, >60 prospective cohort studies confirm the core observation that multiple inflammatory biomarkers, including CRP, serum amyloid A, interleukin (IL) 6, tumor necrosis factor-α, soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, P-selectin, and fibrinogen, all associate with future vascular risk in otherwise healthy populations. Of these inflammatory biomarkers, CRP has become the standard for vascular risk prediction due largely to its ease of measurement and abundance of clinical data; meta-analyses convincingly demonstrate that the magnitude of future cardiovascular …
Genetic and environmental determinants of circulating resistin level in a community-based sample.

OBJECTIVE Resistin is a hormone secreted by adipose tissue, monocytes, bone marrow, and other tissues. It was also proclaimed as an important link between obesity and diabetes. The main objective of this study was to elucidate the contribution of a number of endogenous factors, such as sex, age, obesity characteristics, and genetic effects to the production of resistin in apparently healthy individuals. We also tested the possible relationships between circulating levels of resistin and other adipokines (leptin, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)). MEASUREMENTS The plasma levels of studied adipokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay in pedigree-based sample (n = 616), and subjected to model-based quantitative genetic analysis. RESULTS Resistin levels were significantly higher in women than in men (3.60 +/- 2.53 vs 3.15 +/- 2.48 ng/ml, P < 0.001), and varied independently of age in either sex. Statistical-genetic analysis revealed significant familial correlations (P < 0.01) for resistin. Adjusted for covariates, 66.38 +/- 10.28% of the resistin variation was attributable to putative genetic factors. A relatively small portion of the resistin variation (11.54 +/- 5.77%) was attributable to sharing a common household environment. The remaining variation, 22.12 +/- 17.69% was due to random environmental (i.e., unmeasured non-additive genetic) effects. The results of our analysis showed modest significant correlation of resistin with TNF-alpha and IL-6, and only in some groups; thus, while resistin was correlated with TNF-alpha in men, the correlation with IL-6 was significant only in the post-menopausal women group. CONCLUSIONS Our observations indicate that resistin is strongly influenced by genetic factors. The high heritability estimates for resistin concentrations clearly suggest the continuing need for further molecular genetic investigations.
14-3-3 Binding to Na+/H+ Exchanger Isoform-1 Is Associated with Serum-dependent Activation of Na+/H+ Exchange*

Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1 (NHE1), the ubiquitous form of the Na+/H+ exchanger, has increased activity in hypertensive patients and in animal models of hypertension. Furthermore, NHE1 is activated in cells stimulated with growth factors. We showed previously that activation of the exchanger is dependent on phosphorylation of serine 703 (Ser(P)703) by p90 ribosomal S6 kinase (RSK). Because the NHE1 sequence at Ser(P)703 (RIGSDP) is similar to a consensus sequence (RSXSXP) specific for 14-3-3 ligands, we evaluated whether serum stimulated 14-3-3 binding to NHE1. Five different GST-NHE1 fusion proteins spanning amino acids 515–815 were phosphorylated by RSK and used as ligands in a far Western analysis; only those containing Ser(P)703 exhibited high affinity 14-3-3 binding. In PS127A cells (NHE1-overexpressing Chinese hamster fibroblasts) stimulated with 20% serum, NHE1 co-precipitation with GST-14-3-3 fusion protein increased at 5 min (5.2 ± 0.4-foldversus control; p < 0.01) and persisted at 40 min (3.9 ± 0.3-fold; p < 0.01). We confirmed that binding occurs at the RIGSDP motif using PS120 (NHE1 null) cells transfected with S703A-NHE1 or P705A-NHE1 (based on data indicating that 14-3-3 binding requires phosphoserine and +2 proline). Serum failed to stimulate association of 14-3-3 with these mutants. A GST-NHE1 fusion protein was phosphorylated by RSK and used as a ligand to assess the effect of 14-3-3 on protein phosphatase 1-mediated dephosphorylation of Ser(P)703. GST-14-3-3 limited dephosphorylation (66% of initial state at 60 min) compared with GST alone (27% of initial state; p < 0.01). The protective effect of GST-14-3-3 was lost in the GST-NHE1 P705A mutant. Finally, the base-line rate of pH recovery in acid-loaded cells was equal in unstimulated cells expressing wild-type or P705A-NHE1. However, activation of NHE1 by serum was dramatically inhibited in cells expressing P705A-NHE1 compared with wild-type (0.13 ± 0.02versus 0.48 ± 0.06 mmol of H+/min/liter, p < 0.01). These data suggest that 14-3-3 binding to NHE1 participates in serum-stimulated exchanger activation, a new function for 14-3-3.
Transparency by Conformity: A Field Experiment Evaluating Openness in Local Governments

Sunshine laws establishing government transparency are ubiquitous in the United States; however, the intended degree of openness is often unclear or unrealized. Although researchers have identified characteristics of government organizations or officials that affect the fulfillment of public records requests, they have not considered the influence that government organizations have on each other. This picture of independently acting organizations does not accord with the literature on diffusion in public policy and administration. In this article, we present a field experiment to test whether a county government's fulfillment of a public records request is influenced by the knowledge that its peers have already complied. We argue that knowledge of peer compliance should (1) induce competitive pressures to comply and (2) resolve legal ambiguity in favor of compliance. We find evidence of peer conformity effects both in the time to initial response and in the rate of complete request fulfillment.
Retrospective study of the implementation of the nursing process in a health area.

OBJECTIVES To analyze when the nursing process began to be used in the public and private healthcare centers of Gipuzkoa (Basque Country), and when both NANDA-I nursing diagnoses and the NIC-NOC terminologies were incorporated into this process. METHOD A retrospective study was conducted, based on the analysis of nursing records that were used in the 158 studied centers. RESULTS The specific data provided showed that in Gipuzkoa, the nursing process began to be used in the 1990s. As for NANDA-I nursing diagnoses, they have been used since 1996, and the NIC-NOC terminologies has been used since 2004. CONCLUSION It was concluded that public centers are the ones which, generally speaking, first began with the nursing methodology, and that in comparison to the United States and Canada, the nursing process started to be used about 20 years later, NANDA-I nursing diagnoses around 15 years later, and the NIC-NOC terminologies, around six years later.
Profibrotic Effect of Interleukin-18 in HK-2 Cells Is Dependent on Stimulation of the Toll-like Receptor 4 (TLR4) Promoter and Increased TLR4 Expression*

Background: IL-18 induces profibrotic changes in TECs independent of TGF-β1 activity. Results: IL-18 stimulates the TLR4 promoter via AP-1 activation to increase TLR4 expression in TECs and stimulates profibrotic changes in TECs through increased TLR4 expression/signaling. Conclusion: The profibrotic effect of IL-18 in TECs is mediated through stimulation of TLR4 expression via activation of AP-1. Significance: This represents a novel fibrotic signaling pathway in TECs independent of TGF-β1. IL-18 is an important mediator of obstruction-induced renal fibrosis and tubular epithelial cell injury independent of TGF-β1 activity. We sought to determine whether the profibrotic effect of IL-18 is mediated through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Male C57BL6 wild type and mice transgenic for human IL-18-binding protein were subjected to left unilateral ureteral obstruction versus sham operation. The kidneys were harvested 1 week postoperatively and analyzed for IL-18 production and TLR4 expression. In a separate arm, renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) were directly stimulated with IL-18 in the presence or absence of a TLR4 agonist, TLR4 antagonist, or TLR4 siRNA knockdown. Cell lysates were analyzed for TLR4, α-smooth muscle actin, and E-cadherin expression. TLR4 promotor activity, as well as AP-1 activation and the effect of AP-1 knockdown on TLR4 expression, was evaluated in HK-2 cells in response to IL-18 stimulation. The results demonstrate that IL-18 induces TLR4 expression during unilateral ureteral obstruction and induces TLR4 expression in HK-2 cells via AP-1 activation. Inhibition of TLR4 or knockdown of TLR4 gene expression in turn prevents IL-18-induced profibrotic changes in HK-2 cells. These results suggest that IL-18 induces profibrotic changes in tubular epithelial cells via increased TLR4 expression/signaling.
Navigating Title IX and Gender Based Campus Violence: An Analysis of the Roles and Experiences of Title IX Coordinators

Author(s): Paul, Christine | Advisor(s): Rhoads, Robert A. ; Rose, Linda P. | Abstract: This dissertation examined the experiences and challenges that Title IX coordinators face at small and medium-sized private institutions. Since the Dear Colleague Letter of 2011, the position of Title IX coordinator has changed significantly and the expectations to aggressively address campus violence have increased. Through the use of an online questionnaire and semi-structured interviews with Title IX coordinators, this study explored the specific challenges they face in their positions, especially if they have another full time role at their institution. Furthermore, I explored their paths to this position and what professional experiences they utilize in these roles. Lastly, I determined how they collaborate with the campus community on their campus and other Title IX coordinators on other campuses. I found that Title IX coordinators face great challenges in their roles and because 12 out of 13 in this study had another full time role, these challenges varied greatly. Some of the challenges that the Title IX coordinators face are lack of time, lack of financial resources, difficultly setting up a solid infrastructure, and challenges with the highly emotional topics and decisions. Even though there are a large number of challenges associated with being a Title IX coordinator, I found that collaborations with stakeholders on campus are extremely beneficial to Title IX work. Other sources of support include access to legal council and upper administration, which was largely due to the political capitol they had on their campus. The Title IX coordinators that also held other positions on their campuses noted a lack of intersection of those positions in most cases. The largest lack of intersection between the Title IX coordinator role and their other position was in the area of student interaction. Those that rarely interacted with students on a regular basis found it difficult to relate to students and understand student development. However, there were benefits to the multiple roles for those that did have regular student interaction as well as those that read policy and conducted investigations on a regular basis. This dissertation examined the role of Title IX coordinators and revealed several recommendations for how the position can be improved for those that hold multiple roles on their campuses. Implications for Title IX administrators and recommendations for those charged with addressing sexual misconduct with limited resources and time are also addressed.
Process control analysis of IMRT QA: implications for clinical trials

The purpose of this study is two-fold: first is to investigate the process of IMRT QA using control charts and second is to compare control chart limits to limits calculated using the standard deviation (σ). Head and neck and prostate IMRT QA cases from seven institutions in both academic and community settings are considered. The percent difference between the point dose measurement in phantom and the corresponding result from the treatment planning system (TPS) is used for analysis. The average of the percent difference calculations defines the accuracy of the process and is called the process target. This represents the degree to which the process meets the clinical goal of 0% difference between the measurements and TPS. IMRT QA process ability defines the ability of the process to meet clinical specifications (e.g. 5% difference between the measurement and TPS). The process ability is defined in two ways: (1) the half-width of the control chart limits, and (2) the half-width of ±3σ limits. Process performance is characterized as being in one of four possible states that describes the stability of the process and its ability to meet clinical specifications. For the head and neck cases, the average process target across institutions was 0.3% (range: −1.5% to 2.9%). The average process ability using control chart limits was 7.2% (range: 5.3% to 9.8%) compared to 6.7% (range: 5.3% to 8.2%) using standard deviation limits. For the prostate cases, the average process target across the institutions was 0.2% (range: −1.8% to 1.4%). The average process ability using control chart limits was 4.4% (range: 1.3% to 9.4%) compared to 5.3% (range: 2.3% to 9.8%) using standard deviation limits. Using the standard deviation to characterize IMRT QA process performance resulted in processes being preferentially placed in one of the four states. This is in contrast to using control charts for process characterization where the IMRT QA processes were spread over three of the four states with none of the processes in the ideal state. Control charts may be used for IMRT QA in clinical trials to categorize process performance, minimize protocol variation and guide process improvements. For the duration of an institution's participation in a protocol, updated control charts can be periodically sent to the protocol QA center to document continued process performance to protocol specifications.