Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Generation of a tightly regulated doxycycline‐inducible model for studying mouse intestinal biology

To develop a sensitive and inducible system to study intestinal biology, we generated a transgenic mouse model expressing the reverse tetracycline transactivator rtTA2‐M2 under control of the 12.4 kb murine Villin promoter. The newly generated Villin‐rtTA2‐M2 mice were then bred with the previously developed tetO‐HIST1H2BJ/GFP model to assess inducibility and tissue‐specificity. Expression of the histone H2B‐GFP fusion protein was observed exclusively upon doxycycline induction and was uniformly distributed throughout the intestinal epithelium. The Villin‐rtTA2‐M2 was also found to drive transgene expression in the developing mouse intestine. Furthermore, we could detect transgene expression in the proximal tubules of the kidney and in a population of alleged gastric progenitor cells. By administering different concentrations of doxycycline, we show that the Villin‐rtTA2‐M2 system drives transgene expression in a dosage‐dependent fashion. Thus, we have generated a novel doxycycline‐inducible mouse model, providing a valuable tool to study the effect of different gene dosages on intestinal physiology and pathology. genesis 47:7–13, 2009. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Metacognitive Strategies in a College World Literature Course

Students at most reading levels in the World Literature Survey at Gallaudet University benefitted from the inclusion of metacognitive exercises in the course. These exercises emphasized pre-reading, reading, and post-reading strategies designed to improve reading comprehension and retention, but they also proved valuable as prompts to group discussion and to teacher-student communication. Results of this class approach suggest the usefulness of such exercises in “content” courses in general to improve attendance, discussion, and grades.
Semiconductor Optical Amplifier Space Switch With Symmetrical Thin-Film Resistive Current Injection

Experimental and simulated results of an amplified electro-optical spatial switch using pre-emphasis techniques are presented. A symmetrical thin-film resistor replaces the typical 47 <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX"> $\Omega$</tex-math></inline-formula> resistor used to match the impedance between the device (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{3}\,\Omega$</tex-math></inline-formula>) and the transmission lines (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\text{50}\,\Omega$</tex-math></inline-formula>), allowing fast injection of pre-impulse and step currents in a semiconductor optical amplifier. This new construction reduces the parasitic elements from the mounting and enables the switch to achieve fast <sc>off–on</sc> time (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX"> $\text{225}\,\textrm {ps}$</tex-math></inline-formula>) and low overshoot (<inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX"> $\text{12}\%$</tex-math></inline-formula>) with optimized pulse formats, reaching nearly Gaussian-response in electro-optical spatial switching.
A minimal net reclassification improvement to assess predictions of intensive care mortality

Objective In assessing the improved discrimination of a new prognostic score, the “Net Reclassification Improvement” from reclassification methods appears of interest. We propose a measure that takes into account improvements in predicted probabilities to assess and allows testing the additional predictive ability of a new scoring system Y compared to a reference score X. Study design and settings To assess and test the improvement in mortality prediction of (X + Y) compared to X, we defined a minimal net reclassification improvement that restricted improvements in predicted probabilities according to some positive threshold δ. Both absolute and relative improvements were considered. A simulation study was performed to assess its performances in a range of practical situations. We then applied our measures to real intensive care unit data. Results Expectedly, minimal net reclassification improvement increased with the effect size of Y and decreased with the value of δ. Using relative improvements allowed erasing the influence of the population mortality. For given effect sizes of X and Y, the difference in all measures of reclassification decreased when a correlation between X and Y was introduced. Conclusion Reclassification methods, particularly the minimal net reclassification improvement, seem to be clinically relevant when used with continuous clinical data with no known threshold.
Intraputamenal infusion of GDNF in aged rhesus monkeys: Distribution and dopaminergic effects

Site‐specific delivery of trophic factors in the brain may be important for achieving therapeutic efficacy without unwanted side effects. This study evaluated the site‐specific infusion of glial cell line–derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) into the right putamen of aged rhesus monkeys. After 4 weeks of continuous infusion at a rate of 22.5 μg/day, GDNF had diffused up to 11 mm from the catheter openings in the putamen into the rostral putamen, internal capsule, external capsule, caudate nucleus, and globus pallidus. Anisotropic flow along the external capsule tracts carried GDNF into the anterior amygdaloid area. Backflow of GDNF along the catheter track from the frontal cortex infiltrated juxtaposed corpus callosal and cortical tissue. GDNF was carried by retrograde transport to dopamine neurons in the ipsilateral substantia nigra, stimulating an 18% increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)–positive dopamine neurons and a 28% increase in dopamine neuron perikaryal size. Also, TH‐positive fiber density was increased in the ipsilateral globus pallidus, caudate nucleus, and putamen. Anatomic effects from GDNF stimulation of the dopaminergic system were restricted to the ipsilateral hemisphere. Retrograde GDNF labeling was also present in a few TH‐positive neurons in the locus coeruleus and a large cluster of TH‐negative neurons in the ventral anterior thalamus. Anterograde transport of GDNF was evident in axons in the pyramidal tract from the cerebral peduncle to the caudal spinal cord. Tissue injury from the intraparenchymal catheter and continuous infusion was confined primarily to a narrow zone surrounding the track and was mild to moderate in severity. J. Comp. Neurol. 461:250–261, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Variability of mechanical torque-limiting devices in clinical service at a US dental school.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to measure the variability of torque produced by a population of mechanical torque-limiting devices in clinical service in a US dental school. The torque-limiting devices were divided into two categories according to their mode of action: toggle-type and beam wrenches. Proper action of these devices is essential for calibrated delivery of preload to implant prosthetic screws. MATERIALS AND METHODS Seventeen torque-limiting devices (35 Ncm) were obtained from graduate prosthodontic, predoctoral, and faculty practice clinics. Nine of these were toggle-type devices, and eight were beam-type wrenches. Torque from each wrench was measured using an MGT electronic torque meter. Wrenches were tested in two modes, slow (over 4 seconds) and fast (over 1 second). RESULTS Toggle-type torque wrenches produced a mean (+/- SD) torque of 38.1 +/- 16.0 Ncm; beam-type wrenches produced 32.8 +/- 1.1 Ncm. These results were not significantly different. When tested in fast mode (1 second), toggle-type wrenches produced 28.0 +/- 9.6 Ncm; in the slow mode (4 seconds) they produced significantly more force, 36.6 +/- 14.0 Ncm (p < 0.001). Beam-type wrenches produced 33.2 +/- 1.1 Ncm and 32.8 +/- 1.1 Ncm in fast and slow modes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Both types of wrenches tested were capable of producing accurate torque values; however, variability was higher in the toggle-type group. Some toggle-type torque wrenches in clinical service delivered unacceptably high torque values. It is recommended that clinicians calibrate toggle-type wrenches frequently. Torque wrenches should be activated slowly, over 4 seconds, when using a correctly calibrated toggle-type wrench.
Gene Expression Analysis of Sporadic Early-Onset Rectal Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND Overall declines in incidence of rectal cancer (RC) in patients older than 50 years have been mostly attributed to improvement in treatment modalities and introduction of age-based screening. Recent studies, however, have shown a rise in the incidence of RC in patients younger than 50 years. The etiology of early-onset (EO) RC is not well understood. The aim of this study is to elucidate the molecular features of (EO) RC and show its uniqueness compared to late-onset (LO) disease. METHODS Two cohorts of patients with sporadic RC were identified. Tumors and matching non-involved tissues from six (EO) RC patients (< 50 years) and six (LO) RC patients (>65 years) were obtained from Pathology archives. Deparaffinized tissues were macro-dissected from FFPE sections, RNA isolated and used for expression profiling of 770 cancer related genes representing 13 canonical pathways. Statistical analysis was performed using the Gene Expression R-script module within the nCounter software v2.6. A gene was considered to be above background if the average count for the target gene was greater than the average counts for the eight negative control genes and if the P value of the t-test was less than 0.05. RESULTS When we compared rectal tumors to non-involved rectal tissues, changes in expression levels of 171 genes were statistically significant in early-onset group and 151 genes in late-onset group. Further comparative gene expression analysis between early- and late-onset rectal tumors normalized to their matching non-involved tissues revealed that changes in expression of 65 genes were unique to early-onset rectal tumors with 16 genes being up- and 49 genes down-regulated using the cutoff criteria of expression levels difference >2 fold and p-value <0.01. At the pathway level, MAPK signaling was the most deregulated pathway in early-onset rectal tumors compared to PI3K-AKT signaling pathway being the most deregulated in late-onset rectal tumors. CONCLUSIONS Results of this study suggest that sporadic early-onset rectal cancer is characterized by distinct molecular events compared to late-onset disease.
Prevalence of Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, Medication Adherence, Self-Efficacy, Stage of Change, and Blood Pressure Control among Municipal Workers with Hypertension

Despite the availability of effective medications, hypertension remains inadequately managed in the United States. It has been established that medication adherence is a major strategy for controlling blood pressure. Combined interventions to promote adherence are promising, but further research is needed to understand which behaviors to target. The frequency of self-monitoring of blood pressure among municipal workers is unknown, and the literature is limited regarding assessing individuals' readiness and confidence to engage in medication adherence. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of medication adherence, readiness, self-efficacy, self-monitoring of blood pressure, and blood pressure control among hypertensive municipal workers. The study population was enrolled in a wellness program established more than 20 years ago to promote health and safety for a work force in a large southeastern U.S. city. The majority of the study participants (75.7%) demonstrated controlled blood pressure, reported adherence to antihypertensive medication (70%), and self-monitored blood pressure (70%).
AUTOMATED MEASUREMENT OF COMPLEX PERMEABILITY AND PERMITTIVITY AT HIGH FREQUENCIES

The paper reports here on the reflection frequency-domain measurements to determine the selected electromagnetic properties of materials using an Agilent 8714ET Network analyzer. The measurement process as well as results evaluation are performed by means of computer control. For this purpose, a VEE program (Agilent technology) has been developed. The discussion concerning the optimisation of measurement process and the reduction of unwanted effects is covered in detail. Some ferrite and ferrite-based polymer composite materials were used in experiments and obtained frequency dependences of electromagnetic parameters are analyzed.
Coping with Sleep Disturbances Among Young Adults: A Survey of First-Year College Students in Taiwan

Abstract Sleep problems are highly prevalent among young adults and affect different aspects of their quality of life. In this study, the authors aimed to investigate the young adults' coping strategies for these sleep disturbances and the effectiveness of the coping strategies upon sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. The subjects included 1,922 first-year college students, 44% of whom reported experiencing sleep problems, with insufficient sleep being the most common complaint (23.9%). Taking naps and adjusting sleep schedules were the coping strategies associated with better sleep quality. On the other hand, subjects who reported attempting a sleep-promoting activity, ignoring their sleep problems altogether, or trying unsuccessfully to find a way of coping with their sleep problems reported a poorer sleep quality. Although some coping strategies were associated with better sleep quality than others, the levels of daytime sleepiness were equally impaired in all coping groups to a degree that is equivalent to the sleepiness in patients with a moderate sleep-related breathing disorder.
Stability analysis for a class of negative imaginary feedback systems including an integrator

In this paper, we study a class of negative imaginary linear time invariant multiple-input multiple-output systems. We generalize an existing negative imaginary lemma to include systems containing a simple pole at the origin. Also, a stability analysis result is presented for generalized negative imaginary systems including an integrator and an illustrative example is presented to support the results.
Comparison of CKD-EPI versus MDRD and Cockcroft-Gault equations to estimate glomerular filtration rate among stable homozygous sickle cell patients in Southwest Nigeria

Background: Homozygous sickle cell patients are prone to renal damage which can be on-going in and out of crises, therefore, there is a need to monitor renal status using glomerular filtration rate. Equations to estimate GFR are readily available. Cockcroft-Gault equation is widely used, while the MDRD formula is the currently accepted equation. The CKD-EPI equation is recently being recommended but has not been validated among HbSS patients. Therefore, we aim to compare estimated GFR using CKD-EPI versus MDRD and Cockcroft-Gault equations among HbSS patients. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of stable HbSS patients. Information on their age, sex, and weight was collected. Their venous blood samples were also obtained for plasma creatinine determination which was used to calculate estimated GFR using Cockcroft-Gault, MDRD and CKD-EPI equations. Student t-test, Pearson correlation, and Bland-Altman difference plots were performed. A p-value of < 0.05 was considered to be significant. Results: One hundred and twenty patients comprising 60 HbSS patients and 60 HbAA controls participated in the study. The HbSS patients had mean ± SD age of 26±6.7years, plasma creatinine 77 ± 17umol/L, eGFR: CG 93±31.6ml/min, MDRD 124 ± 34.8ml/min/1.73m2, CKD-EPI 122 ± 25.1ml/min/1.73m2 (p< 0.0001). Hyperfiltration was observed in 20(33.3%) of the HbSS patients. CKD-EPI had stronger positive correlation with MDRD (n = 60, r = 0.93) and less bias (SD = 14.7) than with CG (n = 60, r = 0.76, SD = 20). Conclusion: CKD-EPI equation is best for individuals with GFR > 60ml/min/1.73m2. This study has shown that it correlates well with the currently acceptable MDRD equation, therefore, can be used to monitor the renal status of stable HbSS patients. CG gives poor correlation and bias with CKD-EPI. Further validation studies on CKD-EPI equation are needed in different patient populations.
Pathways to global city formation: a view from the developmental city-state of Singapore

The main aim of this paper is to offer a constructive critique of the dominant (indeed hegemonic) global city/world city discourse. This is a discourse that is overly dependent upon a theoreticallyglobalistperspective derived out of limited empirical studies. Moreover, this is a discourse that focuses relatively too much upon (a) the characteristics of global/world cities and (b) the processes creating global/world cities versus (b) and (c) governance issues and implications. Consequently there remain many unanswered questions about how global cities have‘come into being’, and what is the role of the state in intentionally devising pathways to global city formation. In such a conceptual context, we tease out the main contours of three forms of global cities–hyper global cities; emerging global cities; and global city-states–in emphasizing the need to consider differential and dynamic developmental pathways. Drawing upon the case of Singapore, we then analyse the unique nature of the global city-state, especially in a Pacific Asian context associated with strategic‘plan rational’developmental states. The conjunction of a Pacific Asian city-state with developmentalist policies and capacities both requires and enables this form of global city to be rapidly and constantly reworked in the aim of embedding the city into an extraterritorial terrain of network relations.
Ligand-Protein Docking with Water Molecules

The presence of water molecules plays an important role in the accuracy of ligand-protein docking predictions. Comprehensive docking simulations have been performed on a large set of ligand-protein complexes whose crystal structures contain water molecules in their binding sites. Only those water molecules found in the immediate vicinity of both the ligand and the protein were considered. We have investigated whether prior optimization of the orientation of water molecules in either the presence or absence of the bound ligand has any effect on the accuracy of docking predictions. We have observed a statistically significant overall increase in accuracy when water molecules are included during docking simulations and have found this to be independent of the method of optimization of the orientation of water molecules. These results confirm the importance of including water molecules whenever possible in a ligand-protein docking simulation. Our findings also reveal that prior optimization of the orientation of water molecules, in the absence of any bound ligand, does not have a detrimental effect on the improved accuracy of ligand-protein docking. This is important, given the use of docking simulations to predict the binding modes of new ligands or drug molecules.
The prevalence and determinants of breast-feeding initiation and duration in a sample of women in Ireland

Abstract Objective To assess breast-feeding initiation and prevalence from birth to 6 months in a sample of mothers in Dublin, and to determine the factors associated with breast-feeding initiation and ‘any’ breast-feeding at 6 weeks in a sample of Irish-national mothers. Design This prospective cross-sectional study involved the recruitment of women during the antenatal period, with subsequent follow-up of mothers who delivered healthy, term singleton infants, at 6 weeks and 6 months postpartum. Setting Participants were recruited from antenatal clinics in the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital, Dublin. Subjects In all, 401 Irish-national and forty-nine non-Irish-national mothers met the criteria for inclusion in the present study. Results Breast-feeding initiation rates of the Irish-national and non-Irish-nationals were 47 % and 79·6 %, respectively. Factors that were significantly (P = 0·000) associated with both breast-feeding initiation and ‘any’ breast-feeding at 6 weeks included mothers who were ≥35 years, educated to third level, reported positive postnatal encouragement to breast-feed from their partners and had a positive antenatal intention to breast-feed. The maternal negative perception that breast-feeding is an embarrassing way to feed an infant was demonstrated as a major barrier to initiation. Conclusions Breast-feeding initiation and prevalence rates of the Irish-national population remain low and lag considerably behind national and international targets. Inclusion of the partner in breast-feeding promotional initiatives during the antenatal period may be crucial to increase breast-feeding rates in Ireland. Public health campaigns that focus on increasing the social acceptability of breast-feeding may prove effective in addressing this cultural barrier.
Simple Fermionic Model of Deconfined Phases and Phase Transitions

Using Quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we study a series of models of fermions coupled to quantum Ising spins on a square lattice with $N$ flavors of fermions per site for $N=1,2$ and $3$. The models have an extensive number of conserved quantities but are not integrable, and have rather rich phase diagrams consisting of several exotic phases and phase transitions that lie beyond Landau-Ginzburg paradigm. In particular, one of the prominent phase for $N>1$ corresponds to $2N$ gapless Dirac fermions coupled to an emergent $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge field in its deconfined phase. However, unlike a conventional $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge theory, we do not impose the `Gauss's Law' by hand and instead, it emerges due to spontaneous symmetry breaking. Correspondingly, unlike a conventional $\mathbb{Z}_2$ gauge theory in two spatial dimensions, our models have a finite temperature phase transition associated with the melting of the order parameter that dynamically imposes the Gauss's law constraint at zero temperature. By tuning a parameter, the deconfined phase undergoes a transition into a short range entangled phase, which corresponds to N\'eel/Superconductor for $N=2$ and a Valence Bond Solid for $N=3$. Furthermore, for $N=3$, the Valence Bond Solid further undergoes a transition to a N\'eel phase consistent with the deconfined quantum critical phenomenon studied earlier in the context of quantum magnets.
Equilibrium Earnings Management, Incentive Contracts, and Accounting Standards

In this paper, we model earnings management as a consequence of the interaction among self-interested economic agents, namely the managers, the shareholders, and the regulators. In our model, a manager controls a stochastic production technology and makes periodic accounting reports about his performance; an owner chooses a compensation contract to induce desirable managerial inputs and reporting choices by the manager; and a regulatory body selects and enforces accounting standards to achieve certain social objectives. We show various economic trade-offs give rise to endogenous earnings management. Specifically, the owner may reduce agency costs by designing a compensation contract that tolerates some earnings management because such a contract allocates the compensation risk more efficiently. The earnings management activity produces accounting reports that deviate from what is prescribed by accounting standards. Given such reports, the valuation of the firm may be nonlinear and S-shaped, recognizing the manager's reporting incentives. We also explore policy implications, noting (i) the regulator may find enforcing a zero-tolerance policy - no earnings management is allowed - economically undesirable; and (ii) when selecting the optimal accounting standard, valuation concerns may conflict with stewardship concerns. We conclude earnings management is better understood in a strategic context involving various economic trade-offs.