Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of models of odor interaction.

Subjects rated the overall perceived intensity of concentrations of the odorants cineole, geraniol, hexyl salicylate, and linalyl acetate smelled alone and in binary mixtures. The subjects also rated intensity of specified constituents (e.g. amount of cineole in cineole, and in mixtures of cineole and linalyl acetate). The intensity of the stronger component alone offered a close description of perceived intensity. In addition to the Stronger Component model, two other psychological models (Vector and U model) and two psychophysical models (UPL2 and Equiratio Mixture model) offered descriptions ranging from fair to very good. Psychological models gave better fits, but lack explanatory power. Some results indicated that weaker odors add more potently than stronger odors, an outcome incompatible with these models. The psychophysical models, based on the additivity of single components, generally overestimated perceived intensity. Judgments of individual qualities gave only slight encouragement to any expectation of differences in masking or maskability among odorants. The results highlight the need to test particular critical hypotheses regarding how people perceive mixtures.
Age Differences in Information Use While Making Decisions

Recent research on the decision-making abilities of older adults has shown that they use less information than young adults. One explanation ascribes this age difference to reductions in cognitive abilities with age. The article includes three experimental studies that focused on determining the conditions in which older and young adults would display dissimilar information processing characteristics. Findings from Studies 1 and 2 demonstrated that older adults are not necessarily at greater disadvantage than young adults in decision contexts that demand more information processing resources. Findings from Study 3 indicated that older adults when faced with decisions that require greater processing are likely to use a strategy that reduces the amount of information needed, whereas younger adults rely on strategies that utilize more resources. Combined the findings indicate that older adults change their decision-making strategies based on the context and information provided. Furthermore, support is provided for processing difference.
Characteristics of household addresses that repeatedly contact 911 to report intimate partner violence.

OBJECTIVES To determine whether households that generate several 911 calls differ in important ways from those that make a single call and to determine whether households that generate repeat 911 calls for intimate partner violence (IPV) experience more severe violence than those that do not. METHODS All cases of police-documented IPV were reviewed and linked with their respective 911 calls. Each incident report was reviewed to determine the relationship between the offender and victim, demographic characteristics of the offender and victim, weapon and substance involvement, prior incidents of IPV, and violence severity. RESULTS Of the 1,505 IPV addresses identified during the 12-month study interval, 1,010 (67.1%) placed more than one phone call to report IPV. Sixty-nine percent of African American victims, 50.6% of white victims, and 36.8% of Hispanic victims were repeat callers (p < 0.001). There were no differences between addresses that generated repeat calls versus single calls with respect to offender alcohol or drug involvement, presence of children, victim age, or offender age. Sixty-seven percent of households with severe violence and 66.9% of households with minor violence generated repeat 911 calls (p = 0.98). CONCLUSIONS Ethnic differences in 911 use for IPV exist between African Americans, whites, and Hispanics. However, unknown societal, economic, or cultural issues could have influenced this finding. Households that repeatedly contacted 911 during the study interval to report IPV were not more likely to experience severe violence than those that placed a single 911 call.
Comparison of collagen fibre architecture between slow-twitch cranial and fast-twitch caudal parts of broiler M. latissimus dorsi

1. Collagen fibre architectures of perimysium and endomysium in the slow-twitch cranial and fast-twitch caudal parts of broiler M. latissimus dorsi were compared. 2. Type I and III collagens were distributed in both perimysium and endomysium as indicated by their positive immunohistochemical reactions to polyclonal antibodies. 3. Cells invested by endomysium with no myofibres were larger in the cranial part because of the presence of larger slow-twitch myofibres. The honeycomb structure of endomysium was divided into several parts by thick perimysium. 4. The thick perimysial collagen fibres with parallel fibrils, which were interconnected by the loose reticular fibrils and thin fibres, were more numerous and thicker in the cranial part than the caudal. 5. Thick endomysial sidewall of cells in the cranial part was composed of a rougher reticulum of slightly thicker collagen fibrils compared with the thin sidewall in the caudal part. 6. These results indicated that both perimysial constitutions of collagen fibres and endomysial collagen fibrils had attained much larger growth in the slow-twitch cranial part than the fast-twitch caudal in broiler latissimus dorsi muscle.
Triploid Bridge and Role of Parthenogenesis in the Evolution of Autopolyploidy

Autopolyploidization is considered to play an important role in plant evolution. In polyploidization, the polyploid evolves from the original diploid cytotype, in which the triploid state is considered to mediate the process (triploid bridge). Nevertheless, the fitness of triploid individuals seems to be too low to facilitate the polyploidization process (triploid block). The evolutionary condition of autopolyploidy was analyzed using a mathematical model focusing on the role of parthenogenesis in triploid and tetraploid individuals. In addition, offspring were assumed to arise by sexual reproduction by conjugations between haploid, diploid, and triploid gametes produced by diploid, tetraploid, and triploid individuals. According to the analysis, even if triploid block suppresses the fitness of sexually produced triploids, the polyploidization process can proceed when parthenogenesis occurs frequently. If only triploids frequently reproduce parthenogenetically, the evolutionary consequences tend to depend on the fitness of the tetraploid individuals. On the basis of a predetermined parameter set, if tetraploid fitness is relatively low, all three ploidies can coexist. Otherwise, tetraploidization occurs. In this case, triploid parthenogenesis promotes not only triploidization but also tetraploidization. However, if both triploids and tetraploids frequently reproduce parthenogenetically, the ploidy levels with the highest fitness are likely to dominate in the population through direct competition among cytotypes.
The risk compensation theory and bicycle helmets

The Cochrane review by Rivara and the Thompsons found evidence that if you bang your head the consequences will be less severe if you are wearing a protective helmet.1 Based on this review they recommend that cyclists should be “encouraged” to wear helmets. The form of encouragement that they favour is compulsion. We accept the principal finding of their review—that protective helmets protect in the event of an accident —but not the policy conclusions that they derive from it. The issue that divides us is risk compensation —does the behaviour of cyclists change as a consequence of wearing a helmet in ways that offset the protective benefit of helmets in accidents? After briefly referring to selected references from the safety literature on cycling, motorcycling, and driving, Rivara and the Thompsons assert that “the empirical evidence to support the risk compensation theory is limited if not absent”. Certainly such evidence is limited or absent from the sources they choose to cite—with a notable exception which we discuss below. We find abundant evidence for risk compensation. It is important to distinguish between evidence for risk compensation in general—which is overwhelming, and evidence relating to cycle helmets—which is limited. Let us consider the general evidence first. Rivara and the Thompsons recommend readers to consult James Hedlund's article in Injury Prevention entitled “Risky business: safety regulations, risk compensation, and individual behaviour”. 2 We strongly support their recommendation. They quote James Hedlund: “I believe the evidence is overwhelming that every (our italics) safety law or regulation is not counterbalanced by compensating behaviour”. But Hedlund also makes clear that the evidence is overwhelming that some laws and regulations, as well as safety measures voluntarily adopted, are counterbalanced by compensating behaviour. He states: “We all change our behaviour in response to changes in our environment. Safety …
Association of P16-RBSP3 inactivation with phosphorylated RB1 overexpression in basal-parabasal layers of normal cervix unchanged during CACX development.

To understand the molecular mechanism of RB1 phosphorylation in basal-parabasal layers of normal cervix and during cervical cancer (CACX) development, we analyzed the alterations (expression/methylation/deletion/mutation) of RB1/phosphorylated RB1 (p-RB1) (ser807/811 and ser567) and two RB1 phosphorylation inhibitors, P16 and RBSP3, in disease-free normal cervical epithelium (n = 9), adjacent normal cervical epithelium of tumors (n = 70), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN; n = 28), CACX (n = 102) samples and two CACX cell lines. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed high/medium expression of RB1/p-RB1 (ser807/811 and ser567) and low expression of P16 and RBSP3 in proliferating basal-parabasal layers of majority of normal cervical epitheliums, irrespective of HPV16 infection. Interestingly, 35-52% samples showed high/medium expression of P16 in basal-parabasal layers of normal and had significant association with deleterious non-synonimous SNPs of P16. Methylation of P16 and RBSP3 in basal-parabasal layers of normal cervix (32 and 62%, respectively) showed concordance with their respective expressions in basal-parabasal layers. The methylation frequency of P16 and RBSP3 in basal-parabasal layers of normal did not change significantly in CIN and CACX. The deletion frequency of P16 and RB1 increased significantly with CACX progression. While, deletion of RBSP3 was high in CIN and comparable during CACX progression. P16 showed scattered and infrequent mutation in CACX. The alteration of P16 and RBSP3 was synergistic and showed association with overexpression of p-RB1 in tumors and associated with poor prognosis of patients. Thus, our data suggest that overexpression of p-RB1 in basal-parabasal layers of normal cervical epithelium was due to methylation/low functional-linked non-synonimous SNPs of P16 and RBSP3. This pattern was maintained during cervical carcinogenesis by additional deletion/mutation.
Dietary Non-digestible Polysaccharides Ameliorate Intestinal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction in IL-10 Knockout Mice.

BACKGROUND Enteral nutrition [EN] was reported to be as effective as steroids in achieving short-term remission in patients with Crohn's disease [CD], and exclusive EN [EEN] is widely used as primary therapy in children with CD. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a specific multi-fibre mix [MF], designed to match the fibre content of a healthy diet, on intestinal epithelial barrier function in IL-10 knockout [IL-10(-/-)] mice with spontaneous chronic colitis. METHODS IL-10(-/-) mice aged 16 weeks, with established colitis, were used for the experiments with multi-fibre mix diet [MF] for 4 weeks. Severity of colitis, levels of short cahin fatty acids [SCFA] in caecum contents, expression of STAT 3 and STAT 4 proteins, CD4(+) CD45(+) lymphocytes, CD4(+)Foxp3(+) regulatory T cells [Tregs] and cytokines in the lamina propria [LP], epithelial expression of tight junction proteins, TNF-α/TNFR2 mRNA expression, and epithelial apoptosis in the proximal colon were measured at the end of the experiment. RESULTS MF feeding effectively attenuated disease activity index and colitis associated with decreased lamina propria CD4(+) CD45(+) lymphocytes, IFN-γ/IL-17A mRNA expression, and p-STAT 3 and p-STAT 4 expression in colonic mucosa of IL-10(-/-) mice [p < 0.05]. Furthermore, CD4(+)Foxp3(+) Tregs in the LP and concentrations of total SCFA, acetate, propionate, and butyrate in the caecum were markedly increased after MF feeding in IL-10(-/-) mice. After MF feeding, increased epithelial expression and correct localisation of tight junction proteins [occludin and zona occludens protein 1], as well as reduced TNF-α/TNFR2 mRNA expression and epithelial apoptosis, were also observed in IL-10(-/-) mice. CONCLUSIONS These results indicated that EEN supplemented with the tested fibre mix, known to modulate the intestinal microbiota composition and SCFA production, could possibly improve efficacy in inducing remission in patients with active CD.
The effects of direct-to-consumer advertising on medication use among Medicaid children with asthma

ABSTRACT Asthma medication adherence is low, particularly among Medicaid enrollees. There has been much debate on the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) on health care use, but the impact on medication use among children with asthma has been unexamined. The study sample included 180,584 children between the ages of 5 and 18 with an asthma diagnosis from a combined dataset of Medicaid Analytic eXtract and national advertising data. We found that DTCA expenditure during the study period was significantly associated with an increase in asthma medication use. However, the effectiveness declined after a certain level.
A Novel Eye-Gaze-Controlled Wheelchair System for Navigating Unknown Environments: Case Study With a Person With ALS

Thanks to advances in electric wheelchair design, persons with motor impairments due to diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), have tools to become more independent and mobile. However, an electric wheelchair generally requires considerable skill to learn how to use and operate. Moreover, some persons with motor disabilities cannot drive an electric wheelchair manually (even with a joystick), because they lack the physical ability to control their hand movement (such is the case with people with ALS). In this paper, we propose a novel system that enables a person with motor disability to control a wheelchair via eye-gaze and to provide a continuous, real-time navigation in unknown environments. The system comprises a Permobile M400 wheelchair, eye tracking glasses, a depth camera to capture the geometry of the ambient space, a set of ultrasound and infrared sensors to detect obstacles with low proximity that are out of the field of view for the depth camera, a laptop placed on a flexible mount for maximized comfort, and a safety off switch to turn off the system whenever needed. First, a novel algorithm is proposed to support continuous, real-time target identification, path planning, and navigation in unknown environments. Second, the system utilizes a novel N-cell grid-based graphical user interface that adapts to input/output interfaces specifications. Third, a calibration method for the eye tracking system is implemented to minimize the calibration overheads. A case study with a person with ALS is presented, and interesting findings are discussed. The participant showed improved performance in terms of calibration time, task completion time, and navigation speed for a navigation trips between office, dining room, and bedroom. Furthermore, debriefing the caregiver has also shown promising results: the participant enjoyed higher level of confidence driving the wheelchair and experienced no collisions through all the experiment.
Short-term effects of cervical kinesio taping on pain and cervical range of motion in patients with acute whiplash injury: a randomized clinical trial.

DESIGN Randomized clinical trial. OBJECTIVES To determine the short-term effects of Kinesio Taping, applied to the cervical spine, on neck pain and cervical range of motion in individuals with acute whiplash-associated disorders (WADs). BACKGROUND Researchers have begun to investigate the effects of Kinesio Taping on different musculoskeletal conditions (eg, shoulder and trunk pain). Considering the demonstrated short-term effectiveness of Kinesio Tape for the management of shoulder pain, it is suggested that Kinesio Tape may also be beneficial in reducing pain associated with WAD. METHODS AND MEASURES Forty-one patients (21 females) were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: the experimental group received Kinesio Taping to the cervical spine (applied with tension) and the placebo group received a sham Kinesio Taping application (applied without tension). Both neck pain (11-point numerical pain rating scale) and cervical range-of-motion data were collected at baseline, immediately after the Kinesio Tape application, and at a 24-hour follow-up by an assessor blinded to the treatment allocation of the patients. Mixed-model analyses of variance (ANOVAs) were used to examine the effects of the treatment on each outcome variable, with group as the between-subjects variable and time as the within-subjects variable. The primary analysis was the group-by-time interaction. RESULTS The group-by-time interaction for the 2-by-3 mixed-model ANOVA was statistically significant for pain as the dependent variable (F = 64.8; P<.001), indicating that patients receiving Kinesio Taping experienced a greater decrease in pain immediately postapplication and at the 24-hour follow-up (both, P<.001). The group-by-time interaction was also significant for all directions of cervical range of motion: flexion (F = 50.8; P<.001), extension (F = 50.7; P<.001), right (F = 39.5; P<.001) and left (F = 3.8, P<.05) lateral flexion, and right (F = 33.9, P<.001) and left (F = 39.5, P<.001) rotation. Patients in the experimental group obtained a greater improvement in range of motion than thosein the control group (all, P<.001). CONCLUSIONS Patients with acute WAD receiving an application of Kinesio Taping, applied with proper tension, exhibited statistically significant improvements immediately following application of the Kinesio Tape and at a 24-hour follow-up. However, the improvements in pain and cervical range of motion were small and may not be clinically meaningful. Future studies should investigate if Kinesio Taping provides enhanced outcomes when added to physical therapy interventions with proven efficacy or when applied over a longer period. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapy, level 1b. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2009;39(7):515-521, Epub 24 February 2009. doi:10.2519/jospt.2009. 3072.
Spinal anaesthesia for Caesarean section

The effect upon the neonate of a short period of maternal hypotension sustained during the initiation of spinal analgesia for Caesarean section was studied. Babies born to mothers with hypotension were significantly more acidotic than controls although acid‐base levels were still within normal limits. Neuro‐behavioural studies were found to be normal in both groups at 4 and 24 hours. It was concluded that a short period (<2 minutes) of hypotension was not harmful to the neonate.
Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for preventing migraine and tension-type headaches.

BACKGROUND Headache is a common medical problem. In view of recent discoveries about the role of serotonin in pain mechanisms, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been evaluated for the prevention of migraine and tension-type headaches (TTH). OBJECTIVES To evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of SSRIs for preventing migraine and TTH. SEARCH STRATEGY We searched MEDLINE (1966-2004), EMBASE (1994-2003), the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Issue 4, 2003), and reference lists of retrieved articles. Headache Quarterly was hand searched from 1990 to 2003. SELECTION CRITERIA We included randomised controlled trials comparing SSRIs with any type of control intervention in patients of either sex, over 18 years of age, with migraine or TTH. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two authors independently extracted data (headache frequency, index, severity, and duration; use of symptomatic/analgesic medication; days off work; quality of life; mood improvement; cost-effectiveness; and adverse events) and assessed the methodological quality of trials. MAIN RESULTS Thirteen studies utilizing five SSRIs met the inclusion criteria (636 participants). Most of the included studies had methodological and/or reporting shortcomings; follow up rarely extended beyond 3 months. After 2 months SSRIs did not significantly lower headache index scores in patients with migraine when compared to placebo (SMD -0.14; 95% CI -0.57 to 0.30). Patients with chronic TTH treated with an SSRI had a significantly higher analgesic intake of 5 more doses per month when compared to patients treated with a tricyclic antidepressant (WMD 4.98; 95% CI 1.12 to 8.84). Tricyclics also significantly reduced headache duration by 1.26 hours per day (WMD 1.26; 95% CI 0.06 to 2.45) and marginally reduced headache indexes (SMD 0.42; 95% CI 0.00 to 0.85) when compared to SSRIs in patients with chronic TTH. When the data on adverse events were considered without regard to headache diagnostic subgroups, there were no significant differences between SSRIs and placebo for withdrawals due to adverse events (Peto OR 1.02; 95% CI 0.31 to 3.34). For minor adverse events, SSRIs were generally more tolerable than tricyclics (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.13 to 0.92). However, there were no differences in the number of patients withdrawing due to any reason in the SSRI and tricyclic groups (OR 1.01; 95% CI 0.56 to 1.80). AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS Over 2 months of treatment, SSRIs are no more efficacious than placebo in patients with migraine. In patients with chronic TTH, SSRIs are less efficacious than tricyclic antidepressants. In comparison with SSRIs, the burden of adverse events in patients receiving tricyclics was greater. These results are based on short-term trials and may not generalise to longer-term treatment.
Methamphetamine Use and Emergency Department Utilization: 20 Years Later

Background Methamphetamine (MAP) users present to the emergency department (ED) for myriad reasons, including trauma, chest pain, and psychosis. The purpose of this study is to determine how their prevalence, demographics, and resource utilization have changed. Methods Retrospective review of MAP patients over 3 months in 2016. Demographics, mode of arrival, presenting complaints, disposition, and concomitant cocaine/ethanol use were compared to a 1996 study at the same ED. Results 638 MAP-positive patients, 3,013 toxicology screens, and 20,203 ED visits represented an increase in prevalence compared to 1996: 461 MAP-positive patients, 3,102 screens, and 32,156 visits. MAP patients were older compared to the past. Mode of arrival was most frequently by ambulance but at a lower proportion than 1996, as was the proportion of MAP patients with positive cocaine toxicology screens and ethanol coingestion. Admission rate was lower compared to the past, as was discharge to jail. The proportion of MAP patients presenting with blunt trauma was lower compared to the past and higher for chest pain. Conclusion A significant increase in the prevalence of MAP-positive patients was found. Differences in presenting complaints and resource utilization may reflect the shifting demographics of MAP users, as highlighted by an older patient population relative to the past.