Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Secular trends are associated with the demographic and epidemiologic transitions in an indigenous community in Oaxaca, Southern Mexico.

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that secular changes in body size and age at menarche are related to the demographic and epidemiologic transitions in an indigenous community in Oaxaca, southern Mexico. METHODS Data were derived from surveys of a Zapotec-speaking community conducted between 1968 and 2000. Segmented linear regressions of height, weight, BMI and recalled age at menarche on year of birth in cohorts of adults born before and after the demographic transition were used to evaluate secular changes. Corresponding comparisons of body size (MANCOVA controlling for age) and age at menarche (status quo, probit analysis) were done for samples of children and adolescents born before and after the epidemiological transition. RESULTS Height and weight increased in adults born after the demographic transition (mid-1950s), and especially in children and adolescents born after the epidemiological transition (mid-1980s). Age at menarche also decreased significantly in women born after the demographic transition, but at a more rapid estimated rate in adolescents born after the epidemiological transition. Secular gains in body weight were proportional to those for height among children and adolescents, but adults, males more so than females, gained proportionally more weight. CONCLUSIONS The secular trend in height in adults of both sexes was associated with the decade of the demographic transition in the mid-1950s. Significant secular gains in size attained and age at menarche occurred in children and youth born after the epidemiologic transition which likely reflected improved health and nutritional conditions since the mid-1980s.
Development and evaluation of a questionnaire to assess knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors towards hearing loss prevention

Abstract Objective: To develop and evaluate a questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors (KAB) as they pertain to hearing conservation, using the constructs of the health belief model (HBM). Design: The KAB was completed by 235 participants. Relationships between knowledge and attitudes about hearing and hearing conservation, participation in noisy activities, and use of hearing protection were examined. Study sample: 117 males and 118 females aged between 18 and 80 years (mean = 42.3, SD = 4.1) recruited from the Portland VA Medical Center, local universities, and a community college. Results: Knowledge scores ranged from 15.6% to 93.8%. Factor analyses revealed six attitude factors, interpreted as measuring perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, perceived self-efficacy, and cues to action. Over 95% of participants routinely participated in at least one noisy activity but few used hearing protection while doing so. The attitude scores of individuals who used hearing protection differed significantly from the scores of those who did not. Conclusions: Significant relationships between use of hearing protection and scores on the KAB provide validation that the HBM is a valuable framework for understanding hearing health behaviors, and evidence that the KAB is a valid tool for assessing these attitudes and behaviors.
Influence of Different Measurement Time Points on Brachial-Ankle Pulse Wave Velocity and Ankle-Brachial Index in Hemodialysis Patients

In order to ensure that they are reliable markers of atherosclerosis and suitable for repetitive follow-up of disease progression and management responses in hemodialysis (HD) patients, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and ankle-brachial index (ABI) should be tested to see whether they change with different measurement time points. The aim of this study was to assess whether baPWV and ABI vary according to whether they are measured before HD, after HD, or on the next dialysis-free day. Eighty-nine patients undergoing regular HD were enrolled. The baPWV and ABI were measured 10–30 min before and after HD, and if patients agreed, on the next dialysis-free day. The third measurement of baPWV and ABI, performed 22±2 h after HD, was taken in 72 patients (81%). The body weight reduction after HD was 2.5±0.9 kg (p<0.001). The brachial and ankle systolic and diastolic blood pressures before HD were significantly higher than those after HD and on the next dialysis-free day (p≤0.038). Right and left baPWV increased significantly after HD (p≤0.006), but returned to the pre-dialysis level on the next dialysis-free day. However, the right and left ABI remained constant before and after HD, or on the next dialysis-free day (p≥0.498). In conclusion, despite the significant decrease in body weight and blood pressures, baPWV increased significantly after HD. In addition, baPWV, but not ABI, may vary at different measurement time points. Therefore, baPWV, but not ABI, should be assessed in a timely manner in HD patients.
Quality of Life in Acoustic Neuroma Patients

Objective To examine the differences in quality of life for vestibular schwannoma patients undergoing conservative management, gamma knife, and surgery. Patients Vestibular schwannoma patients without a diagnosis of NF2. Interventions Vestibular schwannoma treatment or conservative management. Main Outcome Measures Penn Acoustic Neuroma Quality of Life (PANQOL) survey scores (0–100). Results One hundred eighty-six patients (98 conservative, 49 gamma knife, 39 surgery) were included. Mean patient age (years) of the surgery group (49 ± 14) was significantly younger than both the conservative (58 ± 13) and gamma knife group (59 ± 12) (p < 0.001). Mean follow-up time was 2.6 years. Tumor size (mm) was found to be significantly different between the conservative (8 ± 4.8), gamma knife (18 ± 5.9), and surgery (22 ± 8.3) groups (p < 0.001). Speech recognition threshold and speech discrimination percentage were significantly better for the conservative group compared to the gamma knife or surgery groups (p < 0.001). The hearing domain scores seemed better for the conservative group (62 ± 26) when compared to the surgery group (47 ± 25). The general and total domain scores were similar for all treatment groups, whereas the quality-of-life scores for gamma knife and surgery were similar. Conclusion Although surgery groups’ significantly larger tumors and worse hearing were apparent in specific PANQOL domains, all patients achieved a similar general level of quality of life.
Is Anxiety Early after Myocardial Infarction Associated with Subsequent Ischemic and Arrhythmic Events?

Objective Acute myocardial infarction is often accompanied by anxiety, but the effect of this emotion on recovery is unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between patient anxiety early after acute myocardial infarction and the incidence of subsequent in-hospital complications. Methods We assessed anxiety level within 48 hours of patient arrival at the hospital in 86 confirmed myocardial infarction patients. Anxiety was measured using the Brief Symptom Inventory. Myocardial infarction complications were defined as reinfarction, new onset ischemia, ventricular fibrillation, sustained ventricular tachycardia, or in-hospital death. Results More complications were seen in patients with higher versus lower levels of anxiety (19.6% vs 6%; p=.001). Multiple logistic regression was used to control for those clinical and sociodemographic factors that can influence the incidence of complications and demonstrated that higher anxiety level was independently predictive of complications. Patients with higher anxiety levels were 4.9 times (p=.001) more likely to have subsequent complications. Conclusions Anxiety early after myocardial infarction onset is associated with increased risk of ischemic and arrhythmic complications. This finding suggests that anxiety should be considered among the conventional risk factors for in-hospital acute myocardial infarction complications.
The expression of cytosolic phospholipase A2 and biosynthesis of leukotriene B4 in acute myeloid leukemia cells

Leukotrienes (LT) exert stimulatory effects on myelopoiesis, beside their inflammatory and immunomodulating effects. Here, we have studied the expression and activity of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells (16 clones) and G‐CSF mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ cells. CD34+ cells from patients with non‐myeloid malignancies expressed cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2), 5‐lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP), and leukotriene A4 (LTA4) hydrolase but not 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LO). The enzyme cPLA2 was abundantly expressed in AML cells and the activity of the enzyme was high in certain AML clones. The expression of 5‐LO, FLAP, and LTA4 hydrolase in AML clones was in general lower than in healthy donor polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL). The calcium ionophore A23187‐induced release of [14C] arachidonic acid (AA) in AML cells was low, compared with PMNL, and did not correlate with the expression of cPLA2 protein. Biosynthesis of LTB4, upon calcium ionophore A23187 activation, was only observed in five of the investigated AML clones and only three of the most differentiated clones produced similar amounts of LTB4 as PMNL. The capacity of various cell clones to produce LTs could neither be explained by the difference in [1 − 14C] AA release nor 5‐LO expression. Taken together, these results indicate that LT synthesis is under development during early myelopoiesis and the capacity to produce LTs is gained upon maturation. High expression of cPLA2 in AML suggests a putative role of this enzyme in the pathophysiology of this disease.
Peer Victimization and Harsh Parenting Predict Cognitive Diatheses for Depression in Children and Adolescents

The current study examined peer victimization and harsh parenting as longitudinal predictors of broadband and narrowband cognitions associated with the etiology of depression in children and adolescents. The sample consisted of 214 elementary and middle school students. At the start of the study, their average age was 12.2 years (SD = 1.0). The sex ratio was 112 girls to 102 boys. The sample was ethnically diverse (58.9% Caucasian, 34.1% African American, 10.7% Hispanic, 3.3% Asian, and 5.2% other). Children and their parents completed measures of peer victimization and harsh parenting. At two waves 1 year apart, children also completed questionnaire measures of negative and positive broadband cognitive style (e.g., personal failure, global self-worth) and narrowband self-perceptions (e.g., perceived social threat, social acceptance). Every Wave 2 cognitive variable was predicted by peer victimization or harsh parenting or both, even after controlling for a Wave 1 measure of the same cognitive variable. Peer victimization more consistently predicted narrowband social/interpersonal cognitions, whereas harsh parenting more consistently predicted broadband positive and negative cognitions. Furthermore, controlling for positive and negative self-cognitions eliminated a statistically significant effect of harsh parenting and peer victimization on depressive symptoms. Support emerged for the social learning of negative self-cognitions. Support also emerged for negative self-cognitions as a mediator of depressive symptoms. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Metagenomic Analysis of Kimchi, a Traditional Korean Fermented Food

ABSTRACT Kimchi, a traditional food in the Korean culture, is made from vegetables by fermentation. In this study, metagenomic approaches were used to monitor changes in bacterial populations, metabolic potential, and overall genetic features of the microbial community during the 29-day fermentation process. Metagenomic DNA was extracted from kimchi samples obtained periodically and was sequenced using a 454 GS FLX Titanium system, which yielded a total of 701,556 reads, with an average read length of 438 bp. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA genes from the metagenome indicated that the kimchi microbiome was dominated by members of three genera: Leuconostoc, Lactobacillus, and Weissella. Assignment of metagenomic sequences to SEED categories of the Metagenome Rapid Annotation using Subsystem Technology (MG-RAST) server revealed a genetic profile characteristic of heterotrophic lactic acid fermentation of carbohydrates, which was supported by the detection of mannitol, lactate, acetate, and ethanol as fermentation products. When the metagenomic reads were mapped onto the database of completed genomes, the Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides ATCC 8293 and Lactobacillus sakei subsp. sakei 23K genomes were highly represented. These same two genera were confirmed to be important in kimchi fermentation when the majority of kimchi metagenomic sequences showed very high identity to Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Lactobacillus genes. Besides microbial genome sequences, a surprisingly large number of phage DNA sequences were identified from the cellular fractions, possibly indicating that a high proportion of cells were infected by bacteriophages during fermentation. Overall, these results provide insights into the kimchi microbial community and also shed light on fermentation processes carried out broadly by complex microbial communities.
Experiences of university students living with mental health problems: Interrelations between the self, the social, and the school.

BACKGROUND A university education is becoming ever-more important in preparing for employment in the knowledge-driven economy. Yet, many university students are not able to complete their degrees because they experience mental health problems during the course of their higher education. Despite the growing numbers of students seeking help, there is limited knowledge about the issues that these students face. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to understand the range of individual, interpersonal, and environmental factors that affect the lives of university students living with mental health problems. METHODS The study was based at a large public university in Canada. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 students with self-identified mental health problems. Their narratives were analyzed using grounded theory methods and a model was developed which drew upon social-ecological theory. RESULTS Findings depict student experiences as a function of the self (individual factors), the social (interpersonal factors) and the school (environmental factors) and their interrelations. CONCLUSIONS Interventions must be designed to address all three of these areas and their interrelations. The model can be used to guide universities in designing interventions; however, a fourth level that incorporates a university policy that values and supports student mental health, should be included.
A review and analysis of the management of retention at an Institute of Further and Higher Education in Northern Ireland

This research is a case study concerning retention in Further and Higher Education (FHE) generally and an Institute of Further and Higher Education in particular. This college will be fictitiously referred to as Lough Neagh Institute (LNIFHE). Retention is becoming increasingly important in education as it affects achievement with implications for any value added which could be gained and the overall provision of quality given to the learner. Poor retention generally results in a depleted range of skills acquired by the student. A policy on the management of retention has not yet been formally constructed, despite overall retention within LNIFHE developing a distinctive downward trend in some courses. Initially a review of the literature indicated that the most pertinent areas to investigate in the management of retention were; - factors involved in early withdrawal, - support and guidance processes, - quality systems as well as, - strategies that were employed to optimise retention at LNIFHE. The four aims of the study were built around these areas. To test opinion on some of these themes a sample of the three stakeholders most directly involved, the staff, students and senior management at LNIFHE during the years 2004-2005 was surveyed and collated. The methodology involved the techniques of questionnaires, semi-structured and open-ended interviews, contemporaneous comments recorded in the diary and desk analysis. The investigation also studied the strategy employed to optimise retention by management at LNIFHE by examining some retention related policies from within the College Development Plan. The school improvement model of Creemers was analysed and found to be a useful tool, which could be adapted for use in LNIFHE. A variant of the model was proposed in the final chapter. Retention research so far has been of an a-theoretical nature and generally does not account for the cumulative and interrelating effects of the external and internal factors which are known to be influential on students. The most important dimension which emerged in this study was the importance of motivation for students and how this is positively influence by better support provision. Within LNIFHE, there are differences in the perspectives of the three main stakeholders notably in the area of quality provision and partially as a result of this, implementation gaps between policy and practice exist with consequent negative implications for student retention. There is no procedure in LNIFHE for the identification of students who are at risk of withdrawing. Some structural and organisational changes such as the construction of a retention policy the creation of the post of retention manager along with recommendation for improved monitoring, support and the maintenance of quality at all levels were suggested. It was proposed that better communication between the 3 stakeholders at LNIFHE will improve motivation of staff and students which will have a beneficial effect on retention.
The VDAC2-BAK Rheostat Controls Thymocyte Survival

The relative abundance of an anion channel and a proapoptotic protein determines thymocyte responses to death signals. Finessing Death Because of their roles as proapoptotic members of the BCL-2 family of proteins, BAK and BAX must be carefully controlled. These proteins trigger the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in response to death signals by undergoing homo-oligomerization, a process that is modulated by other members of the BCL-2 family. In addition, BAK, but not BAX, is kept in check by its interaction with the outer mitochondrial membrane porin protein VDAC2 (voltage-dependent anion channel 2), which prevents its oligomerization. Ren et al. deleted Vdac2 specifically in mouse thymocytes and found that these cells were more sensitive to various death signals, including that triggered by stimulation of the T cell receptor, than were thymocytes from control mice. The proapoptotic phenotype of these cells was rescued by concomitant deletion of Bak, but not Bax, thus providing in vivo evidence of the importance of the balance in the relative abundance of VDAC2 and BAX in determining responses to death signals. The proapoptotic proteins BAX and BAK constitute the mitochondrial apoptotic gateway that executes cellular demise after integrating death signals. The lethal BAK is kept in check by voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2), a mammalian-restricted VDAC isoform. Here, we provide evidence showing a critical role for the VADC2-BAK complex in determining thymocyte survival in vivo. Genetic depletion of Vdac2 in the thymus resulted in excessive cell death and hypersensitivity to diverse death stimuli including engagement of the T cell receptor. These phenotypes were completely rescued by the concurrent deletion of Bak but not that of Bax. Thus, the VDAC2-BAK axis provides a mechanism that governs the homeostasis of thymocytes. Our study reveals a sophisticated built-in rheostat that likely fine-tunes immune competence to balance autoimmunity and immunodeficiency.
Ag/HfO2 based threshold switch with extreme non-linearity for unipolar cross-point memory and steep-slope phase-FETs

We demonstrate a novel Ag/HfO2 based threshold switch (TS) with a selectivity∼107, a high ON-state current (Ion) of 100 μA, and ∼10pA leakage current. The thresholding characteristics of the TS result from electrically triggered spontaneous formation and rupture of an Ag filament which acts an interstitial dopant in the HfO2 insulating matrix. Further, we harness the extreme non-linearity of the TS in (1) Selectors for Phase Change Memory (PCM) based cross-point memory. We show through array level simulations of a 1024kb memory, a read margin of 28% and write margin of 32% for a leakage power of <25μW (V/3 scheme); (2) A steep-slope sub-kT/q Phase-FET, experimentally demonstrating a switching-slope (SS) of 3mV/decade (over 5 orders of Ids), and >10x Ion improvement over the conventional FET (at iso-Ioff) at T=90C (50x at T=25C); making this a promising TS for both emerging memory, and steep-slope transistor applications.
Subclinical eye movement disorders in patients with multiple sclerosis

Eye movements were quantitatively evaluated in 16 patients with well-documented multiple sclerosis who had minimal or no clinically apparent eye movement disorder. Induced saccade and pursuit eye movements were recorded with electro-oculography and analyzed with newly developed programs on a laboratory digital computer. Thirteen of the 16 patients had significant (p < 0.05) impairment of saccades and/or smooth pursuit when compared with 25 normal subjects tested in our laboratory. The type and frequency of abnormalities were as follows: saccade dysmetria, eight; delayed saccade reaction time, five; bilateral saccade slowing, four; slowing of adducting saccades only (medial longitudinal fasciculus syndrome), one; and impaired smooth pursuit, both directions, three, and one direction only, three. In addition, four patients had vestibular nystagmus with eyes closed, and one patient had typical rebound nystagmus. These data suggest that quantitative assessment of eye movements in patients with suspected multiple sclerosis can help in identifying the important “second lesion. ”
Progression in idiopathic, diabetic, paraproteinemic, alcoholic, and B12 deficiency neuropathy

We determined prospectively the clinical and electrophysiological progression of idiopathic, diabetic, paraproteinemic, alcoholic, and B12 deficiency neuropathy in 606 subjects over 3 years. We hypothesized that idiopathic peripheral neuropathy would demonstrate slower progression when compared with other etiologies. Laboratory assessments were used to determine the etiology of peripheral neuropathy at baseline and after 3 years. When compared with peripheral neuropathy related to type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus, subjects with idiopathic peripheral neuropathy progressed much slower, but demonstrated similar rates of progression to that of the other groups. Overall, detectable progression was minimal over 3 years. After 3 years, only 3% of cases of idiopathic peripheral neuropathy had any potentially identifiable causes discovered. Clinical and electrophysiological detection of very slow progression for these five types of peripheral neuropathy is possible using currently established clinical scales and standard electrophysiological techniques.
A study of the states kinetics in NBTI degradation by two-stage NBTI model implementation

This paper presents a simulation framework for reliability analysis of PMOS devices in the TCAD Sentaurus environment. The degradation of parameter is based on the numerical solution for the two-stage NBTI model mechanism. We demonstrate and analyze the voltage degradation, Vth of a high-k HfO2 dielectric pMOSFET structure with effective oxide thickness (EOT) of 1.092 nm. After 1000s of stress, the threshold voltage shift of higher stress bias shows higher degradation (~0.07V) compared to the lower stress bias (~0.008V).