Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hope: A new approach to understanding structural factors in HIV acquisition

This paper presents the first empirical results of a long-term project exploring the use of hope as a concept summarising people's experience of the social, economic and cultural world they inhabit. The work has its roots in attempts to understand socio-economic aspects of HIV/AIDS epidemiology through recourse to the term ‘structural drivers’. In this paper, we recognise the distinguished contribution made by that body of work but adopt a different theoretical approach, one based on the idea of emergent social properties. This is an idea derived from the Durkheim's notion of a ‘social current’. One such emergent property is hope and its potential use and applicability as an epidemiological variable is described. The variable is measured using the Snyder scale developed by the late Rick Snyder for quite other purposes in the USA. We use data from the long-standing UK MRC/UVRI General Cohort Study in Uganda together with a smaller study of some fishing communities. The results show that the Snyder scale (1) does measure a real variable, (2) does mean something to Ugandan rural populations and (3) can be used to explore some known risk factors for HIV acquisition.
Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus and Impaired Glucose Tolerance Among Second-Generation Japanese-American Men

We describe the initial findings from a multidisciplinary, epidemiologic study of diabetes mellitus conducted in a population of secondgeneration Japanese-American (Nisei) men born between 1910 and 1939 who reside in King County, Washington (n = 1746). From this study population, 487 volunteered, and 229 were enrolled to comprise the study sample. A random sample of Nisei men was also drawn from the population to develop a reference sample of 189 men. All subjects participated in a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test; the National Diabetes Data Group (NDDG) and World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria as well as a modification of the WHO criteria were used to classify individuals with normal glucose tolerance, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), or diabetes. Within the study sample, 79 men were found to have normal glucose tolerance, 72 had IGT, and 78 had type II diabetes. The mean age of the study sample was 61.4 yr. Based on comparison of the study sample to the reference sample, the study sample was ascertained to be representative of Nisei men in King County. Extrapolating from our observations in the reference sample and in the study sample, we have estimated that ∼56% of Nisei men in the study population have abnormal glucose tolerance. Much of this is undiagnosed because only ∼13% of the reference sample of Nisei men reported a prior diagnosis of diabetes. Of the men who enrolled in the study as nondiabetic subjects, 11.1% had diabetes and 39.2% had IGT; i.e., 50.3% had previously unknown abnormalities in glucose tolerance. We estimate that ∼20% of Nisei men have diabetes (both previously diagnosed and undiagnosed) and ∼36% have IGT.
Scopolamine-induced migraine like headache.

OBJECTIVE Scopolamine butylbromide (SB), a muscarinic receptor antagonist, is used commonly in gastric X-ray examination in the physical check-up in Japan. This study describes clinical features of SB-induced headache. PATIENTS AND METHODS SB-induced headache was defined as headache that started within 20 minutes after intramuscular administration of SB (20 mg/body). The Primary and the secondary headaches were diagnosed according to the ICHD-II criteria. SB-induced headache was classified as headache induced by acute substance use or that due to exposure (ICHD-II code 8.1). Clinical features and background of subjects with SB-induced headache were analyzed. We also estimated the frequency of SB-related headache between migraineurs and non-migraineurs. RESULTS A total of 54 subjects (39 women and 15 men) experienced SB-induced headache. All subjects had the present history of migraine. Nine subjects had > or =2 times of the headache. Mean age (SD) was 46.2 (9.7) years [46.2 (9.7) for women and 46.3 (10.0) for men]. Clinical hallmarks of headache showed that pulsating / throbbing pain occurred in diffuse or bilateral head sites. Headache worsened at 20-30 minutes from the onset and persisted for 6-18 hours, and ameliorated gradually 8 hours later. All subjects had repeated nausea and vomiting. Severity of headache revealed severe degree requiring complete bed rest in 50 subjects (92.6%). SB-induced headache had similar characteristics as migraine without aura (MO) attacks. Liver and renal functions were normal in all SB-related migraineurs. They had no allergic history of medication and food. In 1,865 non-migraine controls, one healthy subject had a mild degree of migraine like headache triggered by SB injection. CONCLUSION SB triggers a severe degree MO like headache or worsens pre-existing migraine in some migraineurs. SB-induced headache could contribute to disequilibrium between acetylcholine and other neuropeptides. We should use SB more carefully as it can be an aggravating drug of migraine.
Cyclic bend fatigue reliability investigation for Sn-Ag-Cu solder joints

In this study, VQFN assembly and FBGA assembly with Sn-3.8Ag-0.7Cu lead-free solder and OSP board surface finish were tested under four-point cyclic bending load at high temperature (125degC). Experimental results show that the FBGA component has higher bending fatigue resistance compared to VQFN component at the same bending condition. Failure mode analysis shows that the dominant failure is solder joint fatigue cracking failure for both assemblies. FEA modeling and simulation were performed to investigate the stress-strain behavior of solder joint. Energy-based bending fatigue model has been developed based on experimental data and FEA results for VQFN assembly under high temperature bending condition. Bend fatigue model proposed in this paper for VQFN assembly was compared to energy-based fatigue model derived from bulk solder fatigue test. Bending fatigue model from VQFN specimen results in significant difference in predicting bending fatigue for FBGA assembly compared to experimental result. However, the fatigue model from bulk solder fatigue test is suitable for prediction of FBGA bending fatigue life
Familial Predisposition for Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease: A Case‐Control Study

Study Design. A case‐control study using magnetic resonance imaging and plain radiography to evaluate whether a family history of lumbar disc herniation is a risk factor for disc degeneration. Objectives. To evaluate the significance of a family history of operated lumbar disc herniation in the development of lumbar disc degeneration and lumbar disc herniation. Summary of Background Data. There are only a few epidemiologic studies indicating that a family history of intervertebral disc herniation is a risk factor for juvenile disc herniation. Recently, similarities in degenerative findings of the lumbar spine between identical twins have been reported. Methods. In the case group, 24 patients who were the immediate relatives of patients who had undergone surgery for disc herniation and who presented or had a history of low back pain and/or unilateral leg pain were included. Control individuals included 72 age‐ and gender‐matched outpatients who reported low back pain and/or leg pain without a family history of operated disc herniation. The incidence, level, and topographic location of disc herniation/diffuse bulge; the incidence and grade of disc degeneration observed on magnetic resonance images; and degenerative changes suggesting disc degeneration observed on plain radiographs were compared between the relatives of patients with disc herniation (cases) and the controls. Results. The incidence of disc degeneration at L4‐L5 and L5‐S1 in cases (L4‐L5, 18/24; L5‐S1, 18/24) and controls (L4‐L5, 45/72; L5‐S1, 43/72) was similarly high. However, the grade of disc degeneration according to magnetic resonance imaging signal intensity on the T2‐weighted sagittal image using Schneiderman's four‐grade classification was significantly more severe in cases (L4‐L5: Grade 1, 6/24; Grade 2, 4/24; Grade 3, 13/24; Grade 4, 1/24; L5‐S1: Grade 1, 6/24; Grade 2: 3/24, Grade 3: 12/24, Grade 4: 3/24) than in controls (L4‐L5: Grade 1, 27/72; Grade 2, 24/72; Grade 3, 20/72; Grade 4, 1/72; P = 0.034; L5‐S1: Grade 1, 29/72; Grade 2, 23/72; Grade 3, 13/72; Grade 4, 7/72; P = 0.023; Mann‐Whitney U test). The incidence of disc herniation/diffuse bulge at L4‐L5 (16/24) and L5‐S1 (11/24) in cases was higher than that in controls (L4‐L5, 33/72; P = 0.07; L5‐S1, 17/72; P = 0.04; chi‐square test). Conclusion. The current study provided evidence that a family history of operated lumbar disc herniation has a significant implication in lumbar degenerative disc disease. There may be a genetic factor in the development of lumbar disc herniation as an expression of disc degeneration.
Vitamin D dose response is underestimated by Endocrine Society's Clinical Practice Guideline

Objective The recommended daily intakes of vitamin D according to the recent Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) of the Endocrine Society are three- to fivefold higher than the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report. We speculated that these differences could be explained by different mathematical approaches to the vitamin D dose response. Methods Studies were selected if the daily dose was ≤2000 IU/day, the duration exceeded 3 months, and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) concentrations were measured at baseline and post-therapy. The rate constant was estimated according to the CPG approach. The achieved 25OHD result was estimated according to the following: i) the regression equation approach of the IOM; ii) the regression approach of the Vitamin D Supplementation in Older Subjects (ViDOS) study; and iii) the CPG approach using a rate constant of 2.5 (CPG2.5) and a rate constant of 5.0 (CPG5.0). The difference between the expected and the observed 25OHD result was expressed as a percentage of observed and analyzed for significance against a value of 0% for the four groups. Results Forty-one studies were analyzed. The mean (95% CI) rate constant was 5.3 (4.4–6.2) nmol/l per 100 IU per day, on average twofold higher than the CPG rate constant. The mean (95% CI) for the difference between the expected and observed expressed as a percentage of observed was as follows: i) IOM, −7 (−16,+2)% (t=1.64, P=0.110); ii) ViDOS, +2 (−8,+12)% (t=0.40, P=0.69); iii) CPG2.5, −21 (−27,−15)% (t=7.2, P<0.0001); and iv) CPG5.0+3 (−4,+10)% (t=0.91, P=0.366). Conclusion The CPG ‘rule of thumb’ should be doubled to 5.0 nmol/l (2.0 ng/ml) per 100 IU per day, adopting a more risk-averse position.
Filtering Power Divider/Combiner Using Substrate Integrated Waveguide (SIW)-Based 180o Hybrid

This paper presents a filtering power divider (PD)/power combiner (PC) using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW)-based 180 hybrid. The utilized 180 hybrid includes a standard H-plane 3-dB coupler and a broadband 90 phase shifter. The phase shifter is composed of non-radiating longitudinal slots patterned on the top conducting surface of the SIW. We have added the filtering property to the structure by an array of dissimilar transverse slots. The slots dimensions are obtained by the extracted external quality factor, coupling coefficient and the relationship between them and the slots dimensions. The proposed structure is designed for 8.2 GHz and investigated by ADS simulator. The results show the fractional bandwidth of the sum and difference ports are 13.7% and 14.93%, respectively. For sum operation, the minimum insertion loss is 3.78 dB and the return loss is above 25 dB in the passband. For difference operation, the minimum insertion loss is 3.81 dB and the return loss is above 26 dB in the passband.
Acute Effects of Glaucoma Medications and Benzalkonium Chloride on Pre-adipocyte Proliferation and Adipocyte Cytotoxicity In Vitro

Purpose: To determine and compare the short-term, in vitro effect of prostaglandin analogues (PGAs), timolol, and benzalkonium chloride (BAK) on pre-adipocyte proliferation and adipocyte cytotoxicity. Methods: For the proliferation assay, human primary subcutaneous pre-adipocytes were incubated in the presence of either bimatoprost (0.015%, 0.03%, 0.06%) travoprost (0.002%, 0.004%, 0.008%), latanoprost (0.0025%, 0.005%, 0.010%), tafluprost (0.00075%, 0.0015%, 0.003%), timolol maleate (0.25%, 0.5%, 1.0%), BAK (0.005%, 0.010%, 0.015%, 0.020%, 0.040%), or control of BAK vehicle. After 72 h in culture, cell numbers were determined by fluorescent assay with CellTiter-Blue® reagent. For the cytotoxity assay, mature human adipocytes were cultured for 72 h with the same test compounds and controls. Cell numbers were again determined in the same manner through fluorescence. Results: In the proliferation assay, all four PGA medications failed to show a statistically significant difference from BAK vehicle alone (p = 0.065–0.751). Both timolol and BAK alone demonstrated near complete inhibition of pre-adipocyte proliferation at all concentrations tested (p < 0.01 for all). In the cytotoxicity assay, all four PGAs again exerted no significant effect when compared to control (p = 0.211–0.901). Timolol and BAK again displayed near complete toxicity of adipocytes at all concentrations (p < 0.01 for all). Conclusions: All four PGAs had similar and negligible short-term effects on pre-adipocyte proliferation and adipocyte toxicity in vitro. Timolol and BAK had profound cytotoxic effects on mature adipocytes and antiproliferative effects on pre-adipocytes in vitro. Further testing is needed to determine whether similar effects are present in vivo.
Ownership and Exit Behavior: Evidence from the Home Health Care Market

Abstract In the US health care system a high fraction of suppliers are not-for-profit companies. Some argue that non-profits are “for-profits in disguise” and I test this proposition in a quasi-experimental way by examining the exit behavior of home health care firms after a legislative change considerably reduced reimbursed visits per patient. The change allows me to construct a cross provider measure of restriction in reimbursement and to use this measure and time-series variation due to the passage of the law in my estimates. I find that exits among for-profit firms are higher than those of not-for-profit firms, rejecting the null that these sectors responded to the legislation in similar ways. In addition, my results expand the view that “not-for-profit” firms are a form of “trapped capital. ” There is little capital investment in the home health care market, so the higher exit rates of for-profit firms after the law change indicate the possible role of labor inputs in generating differences in exit behavior across sectors.
Determinants of residential satisfaction in urban China: A multi-group structural equation analysis

Based on the 2006 wave of the China General Social Survey, this paper analyses interregional disparities in residential satisfaction in urban China. It also explores whether the determinants vary across the coastal, central and inland regions by means of a multi-group structural equation model (SEM). We find that residential satisfaction in the coastal region is lower than in the central and inland regions. Housing quality, home ownership, community type, socioeconomic status and Hukou in all three regions have positive impacts on residential satisfaction, while the presence of children has a negative effect. The magnitude of each variable’s impact on residential satisfaction varies across regions due to the disparities in economic, social and physical conditions. Housing quality is the most important determinant of residential satisfaction in the coastal region, whereas community type and Hukou are the most important in the central and inland regions.
Copy number variants of Ras/MAPK pathway genes in patients with isolated cryptorchidism

Cryptorchidism is the most common congenital disorder in boys, but the cause for most cases remains unknown. Patients with Noonan Syndrome are characterized by a typical face, growth retardation, congenital heart defects, learning disabilities and cryptorchidism. Copy number variations of Ras/MAPK pathway genes are unusual in patients with several clinical features of Noonan Syndrome; however, they have not been studied in patients with only one feature of this condition, such as cryptorchidism. Our aim was to determine whether patients with isolated cryptorchidism exhibit Ras/MAPK pathway gene copy number variations (CNVs). Fifty‐nine patients with isolated cryptorchidism and negative for mutations in genes associated with Noonan Syndrome were recruited. Determination of Ras/MAPK pathway gene CNVs was performed by Comparative Genome Hybridization array. A CNV was identified in two individuals, a ~175 kb microduplication at 3p25.2, partially including RAF1. A similar RAF1 microduplication has been observed in a patient with testicular aplasia. This suggests that some patients with isolated cryptorchidism may harbor Ras/MAPK pathway gene CNVs.
STUDY ON FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF SILVER CATFISH BAGRUS BAYAD IN ZOBE RESERVOIR, DUTSINMA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, KATSINA STATE, NIGERIA.

Bagrus bayad is an important fresh water fish species with high commercial and economic value in Nigeria. The present study was conducted on Bagrus bayad in Zobe reservoir to ascertain the food and feeding habits of the species. Specimens were obtained on weekly basis from the artisanal fishermen catches at their landing sites at the Reservoir, for a period of four months (April – July, 2017). Data on stomach contents was subjected to frequency of occurrence and Point method analysis. Categorization of the stomach content of the sampled fishes showed that 90.40% had food items, while 9.62% were empty. The result showed that fish and fish parts had the highest occurrence (72.34%). It composed of the bulk diet (27.16%) by volumetric Index (V), and also formed the most important food item (AI) (52.93%). This is an indication that B. bayad exhibited carnivorous feeding habits in the Reservoir.
A methodological note on eliciting price forecasts in asset market experiments

We investigate (a) whether eliciting future price forecasts influences market outcomes, and (b) whether differences in the way subjects are incentivized to submit ''accurate'' price forecasts influence the market outcomes as well as the forecasts submitted by subjects in an experimental asset market. We consider three treatments: one without forecast elicitation (NF) and two with forecast elicitations. In one of the latter treatments, subjects are paid based on both their performance of forecasting and trading (Bonus), while in the other, they are paid based only on one of the two that is chosen randomly at the end of the experiment (Unique). While we found no statistical differences in terms of mispricing, trading volumes, and trading behavior between NF and Unique treatments, there were some statistically significant differences between NF and Bonus treatments. Thus, if the aim is to avoid influencing the behavior of subjects and the market outcomes by eliciting price forecasts compared to NF treatment, then the Unique treatment seems to be better than the Bonus treatment.
Pedometer-determined physical activity and body composition in New Zealand children.

PURPOSE The objectives of this study were to examine current levels of pedometer-determined physical activity in a multiethnic sample of New Zealand children and to investigate associations among weekday and weekend step counts, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and percentage body fat (%BF). METHODS A total of 1115 children (536 boys, 579 girls) aged 5-12 yr wore sealed multiday memory pedometers for three weekdays and two weekend days. The ethnic composition of the sample was 49.2% European, 30.0% Polynesian, and 16.5% Asian, with 4.3% from other ethnicities. BMI was determined from height and weight, and %BF was measured using hand-to-foot bioelectrical impedance analysis. Participants were classified as normal weight, overweight, or obese using international BMI cutoff points (4), and into normal or central fat distribution groups using national WC standards (28). The 90th percentile of %BF for each age and sex subgroup was used to identify normal and high body fatness. RESULTS Mean step counts for this sample were 16,133 +/- 3,864 (boys) and 14,124 +/- 3,286 (girls) on weekdays, and 12,702 +/- 5,048 (boys) and 11,158 +/- 4,309 (girls) on weekends. Significant differences in step counts were observed between weekdays and weekends, boys and girls, and among age, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. Analysis of variance revealed stronger associations between step counts and %BF category than between step counts and BMI or WC groups. CONCLUSION This study provides evidence of a link between daily step counts and body fatness in children. Our results also suggest that the promotion of physical activity during the weekend is a key priority for young New Zealanders.
Regulatory circuitry of TWEAK‐Fn14 system and PGC‐1α in skeletal muscle atrophy program

Skeletal muscle wasting attributed to inactivity has significant adverse functional consequences. Accumulating evidence suggests that peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor γ coactivator 1α (PGC‐1a) and TNF‐like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)‐Fn14 system are key regulators of skeletal muscle mass in various catabolic states. While the activation of TWEAK‐Fn14 signaling causes muscle wasting, PGC‐1α preserves muscle mass in several conditions, including functional denervation and aging. However, it remains unknown whether there is any regulatory interaction between PGC‐1α and TWEAK‐Fn14 system during muscle atrophy. Here we demonstrate that TWEAK significantly reduces the levels of PGC‐1α and mitochondrial content (~50%) in skeletal muscle. Levels of PGC‐1α are significantly increased in skeletal muscle of TWEAK‐knockout (KO) and Fn14‐KO mice compared to wild‐type mice on denervation. Transgenic (Tg) overexpression of PGC‐1α inhibited progressive muscle wasting in TWEAK‐Tg mice. PGC‐1α inhibited the TWEAK‐induced activation of NF‐κB(~50%) and dramatically reduced (‐90%) the expression of atrogenes such as MAFbx and MuRF1. Intriguingly, muscle‐specific overexpression of PGC‐1α also prevented the inducible expression of Fn14 in denervated skeletal muscle. Collectively, our study demonstrates that TWEAK induces muscle atrophy through repressing the levels of PGC‐1a. Overexpression of PGC‐1α not only blocks the TWEAK‐induced atrophy program but also diminishes the expression of Fn14 in denervated skeletal muscle. —Hindi, S. M. , Mishra, V. , Bhatnagar, S. , Tajrishi, M. M. , Ogura, Y. , Yan, Z. , Burkly, L. C. , Zheng, T. S. , Kumar, A. Regulatory circuitry of TWEAK‐Fn14 system and PGC‐1α in skeletal muscle atrophy program. FASEB J. 28, 1398–1411 (2014). www.fasebj. org