Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
E-cigarette use 1 year later in a population-based prospective cohort

Background Population prevalence estimates of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) use range considerably based on the operational definition of ‘use’. Recently, we investigated the utility of ‘use frequency’ for restricting prevalence estimates to non-experimenters in adult populations. Results suggested that individuals reporting use on ≤5 days in the past 30 were likely to discontinue use, and should be excluded from estimates of population prevalence. Objective This study investigated the predictive validity of ENDS use frequency as a measure for likelihood of continued use, and cigarette smoking abstinence. Methods We recontacted smokers and recent quitters who participated in the random digit dial 2014 Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey. At ∼1 year follow-up, we reassessed ENDS use and cigarette smoking among N=601 respondents. Results Fewer than half of respondents who reported using ENDSs on 1–5 days in the past 30 at baseline reported any ENDS use 1 year later (27%, 95% CI (18% to 40%)). Conversely, more than half of respondents who reported daily use at baseline also reported subsequent use at follow-up (89%, 95% CI (78% to 100%)). The likelihood of subsequent ENDS use by respondents using ENDSs on more than 5 days but less than daily did not significantly differ from chance (37%, 95% CI (22% to 61%)). Conclusions For adult population surveillance surveys, defining current use prevalence as ‘any use in the past 30 days’ includes many individuals who can be expected to discontinue use within 1 year. Until measures of ENDS use become standardised, researchers should choose definitions carefully because different definitions are likely to yield different results.
Gastric adenocarcinoma with distant metastasis: is gastrectomy necessary?

HYPOTHESIS For distant metastatic (M1) gastric adenocarcinoma, a policy to maximally avoid resection of the primary tumor is safe and efficacious. DESIGN Cohort study. SETTING Academic tertiary care center. PATIENTS Sixty-seven (32%) of 211 consecutive patients with adenocarcinoma of the stomach or gastroesophageal junction had synchronous M1 disease on computed tomography or laparoscopy. Sixty-three patients with M1 disease were treated nonoperatively, and complete data sets were available for 40 men and 15 women (median age, 73 years). Pretreatment functional performance status was good in 67%. The primary tumor was at the gastroesophageal junction in 20% and was poorly differentiated in 60%. The M1 disease involved the peritoneum in 80% or was exclusively nonperitoneal in 20%. Systemic chemotherapy was administered to 67%. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Incidence of subsequent invasive intervention for primary tumor-related complications and survival in 55 nonoperatively managed patients with M1 disease. RESULTS Fourteen patients (25%) had intervention a median of 5 months after diagnosis. Eight patients had more than 1 intervention. Intervention was for gastric obstruction (20%), bleeding (7%), or perforation (2%). No patient underwent gastrectomy. Laparotomy was performed in 9%; the remainder had endoscopic or radiologic procedures or radiotherapy. There was no intervention-related mortality. Median survival was 7 months (95% confidence interval, 4-10 months). In Cox regression univariate analysis, good functional performance status, exclusively nonperitoneal metastasis, nonpoor differentiation, and chemotherapy predicted significantly longer survival; chemotherapy was the only independently significant predictive factor. CONCLUSIONS Palliative interventions were performed in 25% of patients, with no mortality. Survival characteristics were similar to those of previous series of noncurative gastrectomy for M1 disease.
Tenascin-C Expression Correlates with Prognosis in Gastric Cancer

Objectives: Tenascin-C is a hexameric extracellular matrix glycoprotein that is expressed during embryonic development and re-expressed in proliferative processes such as wound healing and tumorigenesis. Stromal tenascin-C may block tumor invasion and thus have a significant influence on tumor spread and prognosis. Methods: In the present study, tissue expression of stromal tenascin-C was studied by immunohistochemistry in a series of 314 patients with gastric cancer. Results: Strong tenascin-C positivity was seen in the stroma of the tumor in 122 (39%) cases. There was a correlation between strong tenascin-C expression and low stage (p = 0.002), superficial tumor penetration (p = 0.02), location of tumor at the distal third of the stomach (p = 0.03), and potentially curative surgery (p = 0.008). No significant correlation was found between tenascin-C positivity and nodal status, distant metastases, age, Laurén classification, gender, tumor size, or Borrmann classification. The cumulative 5-year survival in patients with strong tenascin-C expression was 42% compared to 26% in those with negative-to-moderate expression (p = 0.0053). In multivariate survival analysis stratified for estimated cure of surgery, stage of disease was the only independent prognostic factor. Conclusion: In conclusion, tenascin-C expression seems to correlate with cancer related survival in patients with gastric cancer, but may not add significant prognostic information to that provided by TNM stage.
Practical cryosurgery--an introduction for small-animal clinicians.

Cryosurgical equipment has been produced which is suitable for use in general veterinary practice and which need not be excessively expensive. A knowledge of the underlying principles of cryosurgery is essential if the advantages of this technique are to be gained in full. There is reason to expect an expansion in the list of conditions for which cryosurgical treatment will be preferred to conventional methods.
End-to-end distance distributions and intrachain diffusion constants in unfolded polypeptide chains indicate intramolecular hydrogen bond formation

Characterization of the unfolded state is essential for the understanding of the protein folding reaction. We performed time-resolved FRET measurements to gain information on the dimensions and the internal dynamics of unfolded polypeptide chains. Using an approach based on global analysis of data obtained from two different donor–acceptor pairs allowed for the determination of distance distribution functions and diffusion constants between the chromophores. Results on a polypeptide chain consisting of 16 Gly-Ser repeats between the FRET chromophores reveal an increase in the average end-to-end distance from 18.9 to 39.2 Å between 0 and 8 M GdmCl. The increase in chain dimensions is accompanied by an increase in the end-to-end diffusion constant from (3.6 ± 1.0) × 10−7 cm2 s−1 in water to (14.8 ± 2.5) × 10−7 cm2 s−1 in 8 M GdmCl. This finding suggests that intrachain interactions in water exist even in very flexible chains lacking hydrophobic groups, which indicates intramolecular hydrogen bond formation. The interactions are broken upon denaturant binding, which leads to increased chain flexibility and longer average end-to-end distances. This finding implies that rapid collapse of polypeptide chains during refolding of denaturant-unfolded proteins is an intrinsic property of polypeptide chains and can, at least in part, be ascribed to nonspecific intramolecular hydrogen bonding. Despite decreased intrachain diffusion constants, the conformational search is accelerated in the collapsed state because of shorter diffusion distances. The measured distance distribution functions and diffusion constants in combination with Szabo–Schulten–Schulten theory were able to reproduce experimentally determined rate constants for end-to-end loop formation.
Emerging Technologies Center

Abstract AS YOU KNOW, I rely on many resources to write this column, including various blogs on technologies in higher education and my faithful resources from Educause. I am most interested in tools that facilitate communication, collaboration, social networking, and learning. In the communication area, digital immigrants pride themselves in using email, participating in asynchronous discussions, and sometimes even venturing into the world of online chats. But to digital natives, email in particular is so yesterday, or, as stated in the Chronicle of Higher Education, “email is for old people” (1). Digital natives tend to communicate in the moment using IM (instant messaging), text messaging, blogging, expressing themselves on social networking sites, and now sending tweets. NO, I DID NOT MAKE UP THE WORD.
Moral Absolutism, Self-Deception, and Moral Self-Concept in Men Who Commit Intimate Partner Violence

The objective of this study is to show compatible data with the idea that men who commit intimate partner violence are uninhibited about the moral consequences of their behaviors, probably because they feel certainty about the rightness of their moral values and they strongly deceive themselves to maintain a good moral self-concept, and thus a good level of well-being. To do that, we compare their scores with those obtained by an opposite sample regarding the use of violence, made up of professional male psychologists who work in the social field trying to teach others alternative strategies to violence.
A modern description of Crambionella stuhlmanni (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae) from St Lucia Estuary, South Africa

A new record of Crambionella stuhlmanni is reported from the east coast of South Africa. The material is described using quantitative morphological data, and mitochondrial (CO1) and nuclear (ITS-1) sequence data. The species can be diagnosed by a combination of morphological features including the presence of conical projections on velar lappets, the absence of orbicular appendages among mouthlets and the short length of the terminal club on the oral arm. Mitochondrial sequence data unambiguously delineate C. stuhlmanni as a separate species from C. orsini, and phylogenetic analyses support its placement within the monophyletic genus, Crambionella.
The Impact of Institutional Pressures on Green Supply Chain Management and Firm Performance: Top Management Roles and Social Capital

This study investigates the impact of three institutional pressures, namely government, customer, and competitor pressures, on the environmental and operational performance of firms. These three institutional pressures are examined by implementing green supply chain management, considering the role of top management and studying social capital between buyers and suppliers in the supply chain. Data were collected through an electronic mail survey from buyer firms in the manufacturing industry in Korea. With 241 complete and usable responses, we used structural equation modeling to test our hypotheses. Our findings revealed that the majority of our hypotheses were supported, which is in line with the existing literature. However, the impact of coercive pressure on top management support and the impact of structural social capital on performance were found to be insignificant. The major contribution of our study is that it broadens the framework of green supply chain management (GSCM) by integrating major and recent constructs in the GSCM theory, while also providing instructive managerial implications through empirical evidence.
Clinical syndromes associated with the circulation of multiple serotypes of bluetongue virus in dairy cattle in Israel

From 2008 to 2011, seven distinct bluetongue virus (BTV) serotypes (BTV-2, BTV-4, BTV-5, BTV-8, BTV-15, BTV-16 and BTV-24) have been identified to be circulating in diseased sheep and cattle in Israel. This paper describes the array of clinical manifestations caused by BTV in cattle in Israel. Each set of clinical manifestations has been categorised as a syndrome and six distinct clinical syndromes have been observed in dairy cattle: ‘footrot-like syndrome’, ‘sore nose syndrome’, ‘subcutaneous emphysema syndrome’, ‘red/rough udder syndrome’, ‘bluetongue/epizootic haemorrhagic disease systemic syndrome’ and ‘maladjustment syndrome’.
Exploring molecular complexity with ALMA (EMoCA): Detection of three new hot cores in Sagittarius B2(N)

Context. The Sagittarius B2 molecular cloud contains several sites forming high-mass stars. Sgr B2(N) is one of its main centers of activity. It hosts several compact and ultra-compact HII regions, as well as two known hot molecular cores (Sgr B2(N1) and Sgr B2(N2)) in the early stage of the high-mass star formation process, where complex organic molecules (COMs) are detected in the gas phase. Aims. Our goal is to use the high sensitivity of the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) to characterize the hot core population in Sgr B2(N) and thereby shed new light on the star formation process in this star-forming region. Methods. We use a complete 3 mm spectral line survey conducted with ALMA to search for faint hot cores in the Sgr B2(N) region. The chemical composition of the detected sources and the column densities are derived by modeling the whole spectra under the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium. Population diagrams are constructed to fit rotational temperatures. Integrated intensity maps are produced to derive the peak position and fit the size of each molecule’s emission distribution. The kinematic structure of the hot cores is investigated by analyzing the line wing emission of typical outflow tracers. The H 2 column densities are computed from ALMA and SMA continuum emission maps. Results. We report the discovery of three new hot cores in Sgr B2(N) that we call Sgr B2(N3), Sgr B2(N4), and Sgr B2(N5). The three sources are associated with class II methanol masers, well known tracers of high-mass star formation, and Sgr B2(N5), also with a UCHII region. Their H 2 column densities are found to be between approximately 16 and 36 times lower than the one of the main hot core Sgr B2(N1). The spectra of these new hot cores have spectral line densities of 11 up to 31 emission lines per GHz above the 7 σ level, assigned to 22–25 molecules plus 13–20 less abundant isotopologs. We derive rotational temperatures of approximately 140–180 K for the three new hot cores and mean source sizes of 0.4″ for Sgr B2(N3) and 1.0″ for Sgr B2(N4) and Sgr B2(N5). The chemical composition of Sgr B2(N3), Sgr B2(N4), and Sgr B2(N5) is very similar, but it differs from that of Sgr B2(N2). Finally, Sgr B2(N3) and Sgr B2(N5) show high-velocity wing emission in typical outflow tracers, with a bipolar morphology in their integrated intensity maps suggesting the presence of an outflow, like in Sgr B2(N1). No sign of an outflow is found around Sgr B2(N2) and Sgr B2(N4). We derive statistical lifetimes of 4 × 10 4 yr for the class II methanol maser phase and 6 × 10 4 yr for the hot core phase in Sgr B2(N). Conclusions. The associations of the hot cores with class II methanol masers, outflows, and/or UCHII regions tentatively suggest the following age sequence: Sgr B2(N4), Sgr B2(N3), SgrB2(N5), Sgr B2(N1). The status of Sgr B2(N2) is unclear. It may contain two distinct sources, a UCHII region and a very young hot core.
Competitive Threats, Information Asymmetry and Insider Trading

This paper provides evidence that intensified product market competition increases information asymmetry between corporate insiders and investors. When competitive pressure intensifies future performance becomes dependent on a firm’s success in the competitive process. Firm performance turns more idiosyncratic increasing forecasting relevance of firm-specific information. As firm-specific information is better known to insiders their information advantage increases. I show that when competition intensifies insiders purchase and sell larger volumes of equity and their trading better predicts future stock returns and long-term profitability changes. These results hold for several alternative measures of competitive intensity and they are related to the degree of restrictiveness of insider trading regulation.
Descriptive Study of Hepatitis B, C and HIV Infections and Associated Factors among Adult Population in Kabul City, 2015

-Background: Viral infections are global public health problem. Shortage of information about Hepatitis B Virus (HBV), Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) and HIV/AIDS prevalence in Afghanistan is very clear. This study aimed to describe the prevalence and risk factors associated with HBV, HCV and HIV infection among adult population of Kabul city. Methods and Materials: A province based cross-sectional survey among adult population (25-70 years) of Kabul city was conducted in November, 2015 using a WHO STEP wise tool. A total of 1174 adult citizens in Kabul city were included in the study. Demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors were collected by face to face questionnaire. Blood samples were collected and rapid tests were used to find the prevalence of HBV, HCV, and HIV infections. Data management was done using Epi info v.7 and SPSS v.20. Results: The overall prevalence of HBV using HBsAg and Anti-HCV rapid tests were 3 % (35/1174) and 1.1% (13/1374) respectively. Only two individuals were positive for HIV infection out 100 samples under confirmatory test. Of total 1174 records females constituted almost half 599 (51%) with overall mean age of 38.6±12.2 years. Females were slightly more in all age groups. Approximately half of the respondents (49.6%) were illiterates while the proportion of illiteracy was more in all age groups. Two third of the study subjects were married (77.5%) and 60% of women were housewives. Risky behaviors such as tattooing, hospitalizations, history of jaundice, living with hepatitis patients and undergoing dental procedures were common among positive subjects. Conclusion: A prevalence rate of 3%, 1.1% for HBsAg and anti-HCV and two cases of HIV infection apparently represents a trigger point for action in Kabul city. Public awareness and health education regarding risk factors for viral hepatitis and encouragement for vaccination is recommended. National program for blood borne viral diseases are an axis for focus of government and donors.
Labile or Surface Pools of Magnesium, Sodium, and Potassium in Developing Porcine Enamel Mineral

The present study was undertaken to assess the labile or surface pools of Mg, Na, and K ions in porcine enamel tissues at various developmental stages. The enamel samples, corresponding to the outer and the inner secretory, the early maturing, and the mature hard enamel, were dissected from the labial sides of permanent incisors of 6- to 8-month-old piglets. Each enamel sample was extracted successively with solutions of de-ionized water and 50 mmol/L Tris-4 mol/L guanidine buffer (for removal of organic matrix proteins, mainly amelogenins). The labile (free or organically bound) pools of Mg, Na, and K were assessed by the total amounts of these ionic species extracted by the water and Tris-guanidine buffer. The surface (adsorbed onto enamel mineral) pool of Mg was assessed directly by determination of the adsorption of Mg onto enamel mineral at various developmental stages. The results showed that: (i) 30-40% of the Mg in the secretory and early maturation enamel was in the surface pool (adsorbed onto the enamel mineral); (ii) 25 to 40% of the total sodium in the enamel samples was in labile forms; and (iii) most (around 70-80%) of the total potassium was readily extracted in water and appeared to originate from the enamel fluid; only marginal portions remained in the solids. The present adsorption studies also indicated that the maximum uptake of magnesium in the early maturation enamel was due mostly to an increase of the occupancy by Mg ions of adsorption sites on the crystal surfaces, which become accessible with a massive removal of enamel matrix proteins. The observation that the surface pool of Mg (and the total Mg content) decreased markedly with the advancement of mineralization is explained by the displacement of the adsorbed Mg from the crystal surfaces by Ca2+ having a higher adsorption affinity for the same adsorption sites and by changes in the properties of the mineral surfaces. The overall results support the contention that incorporation of Mg into developing enamel upon resorption of the organic matrix may play a key role in regulating enamel crystal growth.
Mutations in Calcium-binding Epidermal Growth Factor Modules Render Fibrillin-1 Susceptible to Proteolysis

Most extracellular proteins consist of various modules with distinct functions. Mutations in one common type, the calcium-binding epidermal growth factor-like module (cbEGF), can lead to a variety of genetic disorders. Here, we describe as a model system structural and functional consequences of two typical mutations in cbEGF modules of fibrillin-1 (N548I, E1073K), resulting in the Marfan syndrome. Large (80–120 kDa) wild-type and mutated polypeptides were recombinantly expressed in mammalian cells. Both mutations did not alter synthesis and secretion of the polypeptides into the culture medium. Electron microscopy after rotary shadowing and comparison of circular dichroism spectra exhibited minor structural differences between the wild-type and mutated forms. The mutated polypeptides were significantly more susceptible to proteolytic degradation by a variety of proteases as compared with their wild-type counterparts. Most of the sensitive cleavage sites were mapped close to the mutations, indicating local structural changes within the mutated cbEGF modules. Other cleavage sites, however, were observed at distances beyond the domain containing the mutation, suggesting longer range structural effects within tandemly repeated cbEGF modules. We suggest that proteolytic degradation of mutated fibrillin-1 may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Marfan syndrome and related disorders.
The experience of teaching tertiary visual arts education in a purely online learning environment

One of the major new developments in higher education is the growth of virtual universities and eLearning. While this development has definite practical benefits, such as, freedom from constraints of time and geography, there are also disparities that arise between real world and virtual technology-led teaching. Tertiary Visual Arts educators face significant challenges in this new learning environment because removing face-to-face interaction has implications for creating spaces where pre-service teachers can develop their Visual Arts practice and knowledge of pedagogies. This paper describes the experiences of a tertiary Visual Arts education academic and presents findings from a small scale study that investigated the attitudes of a group of tertiary students, enrolled in a primary undergraduate unit, towards e-learning.
THE USE OF NITROGEN-15-DEPLETED AMMONIUM SULFATE FOR ESTIMATING NITROGEN FIXATION BY LEGUMINOUS TREES

The feasibility of using 15 N-depleted (NH4)2S04 for assessing biological N2 fixation of leguminous trees was investigated. A slowgrowing species, lebbeck [Albizia lcbbeck (L.) Benthl, and a fastgrowing species, leucaena [Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit] were inoculated with appropriate Rkizobium strains and grown under four different levels of N. Each week, 0, 5, 12.5, or 25 mg of 15 Ndepleted (NH4)2S04 was applied to the upper chamber of the Leonard assembly. After 10 and 18 weeks growth for leucaena and lebbeck respectively, plants were separated into shoots, roots, and nodules for analysis. The atom% 15 N in shoots and roots was linearly correlated to the amount of applied ' 5 N-depleted (NH4)ZS04. Significant differences in atom% 15 N and percentage N derived from N2 fixation were measured in lebbeck and leucaena when, respectively, more than 8.3 and 2.9% of the total N was derived from (NH4)2SO4. Nodules derived a larger portion of their total N from N2 fixation than did the roots or shoots, indicating that most of the N present in the nodules was derived from N2 fixation. Nodules of both species at the no N treatment showed slightly higher atom% 15 N values than the 15 N-natural abundance level of atmospheric N2. Additional index words. Leucaena, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit, lebbeck, Albizia lebbeck (L.) Benth, Nitrogen-15 dilution, Rkizobium, Nitrogen-allocation.