Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A qualitative exploration of carers' and 'patients' experiences of fibromyalgia: one illness, different perspectives.

OBJECTIVES Previous research has largely focused on the lived experience either of those who have fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) or their spousal carers. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of both those with FMS and their spousal carers. METHODS Participants were aged between 38 and 65 years and all came from the south-west of England. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with four women with FMS and their spousal carers, who were interviewed separately. The resultant transcripts were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. An overriding theme running throughout was loss of identity, which fed into a sense of isolation. Participants reported feeling isolated from: healthcare professionals, whom they felt they had to convince that they had something 'real', and from friends and family because the unpredictability of their symptoms meant that they were less able to plan ahead and often had to pull out of arranged outings. They also felt isolated from their identity because they no longer recognized the person that they once were, and struggled to recognize the person that they had become. As a consequence, the people with FMS and their carers were both engaged in a process of reassessing who they were, now that FMS had become such a large part of their lives. This sense of isolation was evidenced for the carers as well as the people with FMS and is documented in three sub-themes described in the paper: 'others' attitudes', 'invisible illness' and 'role'. CONCLUSION This study has provided new information regarding the lifeworlds both of people living with FMS and their spousal carers. We identified a number of practical and attitudinal barriers that had led to the diminution of social networks for both members of the couple and have explored the related clinical and theoretical implications of this.
Self-healing high voltage electrical insulation materials

Electrical treeing can be the precursor to catastrophic failure for electrical insulation materials and hence significantly shorten their service lifetime. Considering that damage inside the composites (thermoset insulation materials containing fillers) is difficult to detect and particularly to repair, the ability to self-heal as a direct response to electrical degradation is very attractive, especially in challenging environments. The approach presented in this paper for development of self-healing thermoset electrical insulation materials is derived from a technology developed by White et al. in 2001, intended to halt mechanical degradation of the material: Microcapsules filled with a monomer (healing agent) are added to the insulation materials (epoxy) prior to casting. When cracks propagate in the material the microcapsules will rupture, releasing liquid healing agent into the crack. The final step of the self-healing process is the polymerization of the monomer, which occurs upon contact with a catalyst also added to the epoxy resin. Electrical degradation by electrical treeing has many similarities with mechanical cracking of the material. For a system containing microcapsules, one or more of the branches of the electrical tree will likely break a capsule, filling the electrical tree with the liquid monomer. As the tree structure is interconnected, most of the tree structure is likely to be filled. This depends on the partial pressure and viscosity of the monomer and the surface tension of the hollow tubes, but also on the availability of monomer relative to the dimensions of the hollow tubes. The filling itself should extinguish critical discharges, making further growth less likely. Upon polymerization, further development of the electrical tree should halt, or at least be significantly delayed. A series of tests, where high voltage was applied to metal needles cast in epoxy to induce electrical tree growth, was conducted to study electrical degradation and breakdown of the thermoset insulation with and without microcapsules with monomer (healing agent). The experimental setup used provides the possibility of studying the inception and propagation of the phenomena using an optical microscope. This setup was used to study the interaction between the electrical tree and the micro-capsules in situ, and showed the direct attraction of the electrical trees towards the microcapsules.
Testicular Torsion-Detorsion- Histological and Biochemical Changes in Rat Testis

Testicular torsion and detorsion are important clinical problems for infertile man. In fact, torsion of the spermatic cord is an emergency that results from rotation of the testis and epididymis around the axis of the spermatic cord. Male factor infertility accounts for up to half of all cases of infertility and affects one man in 20 in the general population [1]. While the annual incidence of testicular torsion is between one in 4,000 males and one in 158 males younger than 25 years, with peaks of incidence occurring in neonates and adolescents entering puberty [2,3]. Urgent operative interventions are required to re-establish the blood flow and circumvent the perpetual damaging effects on the testis which may turn out to be decreased spermatogenesis in majority of cases thus permanently lowering fertility chances [4].
Learning Similarity with Probabilistic Latent Semantic Analysis for Image Retrieval

It is a challenging problem to search the intended images from a large number of candidates. Content based image retrieval (CBIR) is the most promising way to tackle this problem, where the most important topic is to measure the similarity of images so as to cover the variance of shape, color, pose, illumination etc. While previous works made significant progresses, their adaption ability to dataset is not fully explored. In this paper, we propose a similarity learning method on the basis of probabilistic generative model, i.e., probabilistic latent semantic analysis (PLSA). It first derives Fisher kernel, a function over the parameters and variables, based on PLSA. Then, the parameters are determined through simultaneously maximizing the log likelihood function of PLSA and the retrieval performance over the training dataset. The main advantages of this work are twofold: (1) deriving similarity measure based on PLSA which fully exploits the data distribution and Bayes inference; (2) learning model parameters by maximizing the fitting of model to data and the retrieval performance simultaneously. The proposed method (PLSA-FK) is empirically evaluated over three datasets, and the results exhibit promising performance.
MC1R variation and melanoma risk in the Swedish population in relation to clinical and pathological parameters

The genetic background of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM) includes both germ line aberrations in high‐penetrance genes, like CDKN2A, and allelic variation in low‐penetrance genes like the melanocortin‐1 receptor gene, MC1R. Red‐hair colour associated MC1R alleles (RHC) have been associated with red hair, fair skin and risk of CMM. We investigated MC1R and CDKN2A variation in relation to phenotype, clinical factors and CMM risk in the Swedish population. The study cohort consisted of sporadic primary melanoma patients, familial melanoma patients and a control group. An allele‐dose dependent increase in melanoma risk for carriers of variant MC1R alleles (after adjusting for phenotype), with an elevated risk among familial CMM patients, was observed. This elevated risk was found to be significantly associated with an increased frequency of dysplastic nevi (DN) among familial patients compared to sporadic patients. MC1R variation was found to be less frequent among acral lentiginous melanomas (ALM) and dependent on tumour localisation. No association was found between CDKN2A gene variants and general melanoma risk. Two new variants in the POMC gene were identified in red haired individuals without RHC alleles.
A meta-analysis of thoracic radiotherapy for small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND In spite of 16 randomized trials conducted during the past 15 years, the effect of thoracic radiotherapy on the survival of patients with limited small-cell lung cancer remains controversial. The majority of these trials did not have enough statistical power to detect a difference in survival of 5 to 10 percent at five years. This meta-analysis was designed to evaluate the hypothesis that thoracic radiotherapy contributes to a moderate increase in overall survival in limited small-cell lung cancer. METHODS We collected individual data on all patients enrolled before December 1988 in randomized trials comparing chemotherapy alone with chemotherapy combined with thoracic radiotherapy. Trials that included only patients with extensive disease were excluded. RESULTS The meta-analysis included 13 trials and 2140 patients with limited disease. A total of 433 patients with extensive disease were excluded. Overall, 1862 of 2103 patients who could be evaluated died; the median follow-up period for the surviving patients was 43 months. The relative risk of death in the combined-therapy group as compared with the chemotherapy group was 0.86 (95 percent confidence interval, 0.78 to 0.94; P = 0.001), corresponding to a 14 percent reduction in the mortality rate. The benefit in terms of overall survival at three years (+/- SD) was 5.4 +/- 1.4 percent. Indirect comparison of early with late radiotherapy and of sequential with non-sequential radiotherapy did not reveal any optimal time for treatment. There was a trend toward a larger reduction in mortality among younger patients: the relative risk of death in the combined-therapy as compared with the chemotherapy group ranged from 0.72 for patients less than 55 years old (95 percent confidence interval, 0.56 to 0.93) to 1.07 (0.70 to 1.64) for patients over 70. CONCLUSIONS Thoracic radiotherapy moderately improves survival in patients with limited small-cell lung cancer who are treated with combination chemotherapy. Identification of the optimal combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy will require further trials.
Dialysis vintage stratified comparison of body composition, hydration and nutritional state in peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients

Introduction Body mass decomposition and hydration state imbalances affect patients on maintenance dialysis. We compared body composition, hydration and nutritional state of patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) based on dialysis vintage (DV). Material and methods Three hundred and fifty-nine prevalent patients on HD (n = 301) and PD (n = 58) were divided into 3 subgroups depending on DV: < 2 years HD (n = 41) and PD (n = 28), 2–4 years HD (n = 111) and PD (n = 17), > 4 years HD (n = 149) and PD (n = 13). Bioimpedance analysis delivered data including overhydration (OH), Lean (LTM) and adipose lipids mass (FAT). Other measurements included daily diuresis (DD), subjective global assessment (SGA) and serum albumin (alb), C-reactive protein (CRP) and total cholesterol (TChol), and hemoglobin (Hb). Results Dialysis vintage < 2 years. Hemodialysis patients were older (65.5 ±18.5 vs. 50.9 ±17.1; p < 0.01) with a higher mortality (28 vs. 1; p < 0.01) and OH (8.0 ±4.3 vs. 1.6 ±3.1; p < 0.001). Hemoglobin (10.6 ±1.5 vs. 11.8 ±1.7; p < 0.05), TChol (180.2 ±47.0 vs. 211.7 ±46.3; p < 0.05), DD (871 ±729 vs. 1695 ±960; p < 0.001) and LTM (46.5 ±12.9 vs. 53.8 ±14.4; p < 0.05) were lower on HD. Dialysis vintage 2–4 years: when compared to PD, HD patients had higher OH (11.7 ±5.9 vs. 2.1 ±3.2; p < 0.001) and lower Hb (10.8 ±1.5 vs. 11.9 ±1.4; p < 0.01). Dialysis vintage > 4 years: compared to PD, HD patients had higher LTM (44.3 ±11.7 vs. 38.6 ±7.9; p < 0.05) and lower FAT (34.4 ±11.1 vs. 42.8 ±6.4; p < 0.01). Conclusions Dialysis patients’ body composition depends on dialysis modality and DV. Dialysis vintage < 2 years is associated with better hydration, nutritional state, and survival in PD patients, but longer DV reduces these benefits. Dialysis vintage > 4 years associated with similar hydration and mortality in both PD and HD while body composition was better on HD.
Potential cost‐effectiveness of the nonavalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine

Randomized clinical trials are currently examining the efficacy of a nonavalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, including HPV‐types 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58. Evidence on the cost‐effectiveness of the nonavalent is required for timely policy‐decisions. We compared the potential cost‐effectiveness of the nonavalent and quadrivalent HPV vaccines. We used a multi‐type individual‐based transmission‐dynamic model of HPV infection and diseases, 70‐year time‐horizon, 3% discount rate and healthcare payer perspective. We calibrated the model to Canadian sexual behavior and epidemiologic data, and estimated Quality‐Adjusted Life‐Years (QALYs) lost and costs ($CAN 2010) from the literature. Under base‐case assumptions (vaccinating 10‐year‐old girls, 80% coverage, 95$/dose, vaccine‐type efficacy = 95%, cross‐protection for the quadrivalent vaccine, duration of vaccine‐type protection (cross‐protection) = 20 (10) years), using the quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccines is estimated to cost $15,528 [12,056; 19,140] and $12,203 [9,331; 17,292] per QALY‐gained, respectively. At equal price, the nonavalent vaccine is more cost‐effective than the quadrivalent vaccine, even when assuming both shorter duration of protection (nonavalent = 20 years vs. quadrivalent = lifelong) and lower vaccine‐type efficacy (nonavalent = 85% vs. quadrivalent = 95%). However, the additional cost per dose of the nonavalent vaccine should not exceed $11 to remain more cost‐effective than the quadrivalent vaccine, and $24 to represent a cost‐effective alternative to the quadrivalent vaccine (using a $40,000/QALY‐gained threshold). The nonavalent vaccine can be a cost‐effective alternative to the quadrivalent vaccine, even in scenarios where nonavalent vaccine efficacy is 85%. However, because most cervical cancers are caused by HPV‐16/18, it is unlikely that the nonavalent would be used if its efficacy against these types is lower than current HPV vaccines.
A Novel Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein-Like Protein Interacts with NS1 of the Minute Virus of Mice

ABSTRACT NS1, the major nonstructural parvovirus protein of the minute virus of mice, is a multifunctional protein responsible for several aspects of viral replication. NS1 transactivates the P38 promoter (used to express the structural proteins), as well as its own strong promoter, P4. To study the mechanism of activation and to map regions of NS1 responsible for transactivation, NS1 and various deletions of NS1 were cloned in frame with the GAL4DB and cotransfected into COS-7 and LA9 cells with a synthetic GAL4-responsive reporter plasmid. These studies showed NS1 can directly activate transcription through its 129 carboxyl-terminal amino acid residues. Any deletion from this region of the C terminus, even as few as 8 amino acids, completely abolishes transactivation. A yeast two-hybrid system used to identify protein-protein interactions demonstrated that NS1 is able to dimerize when expressed in yeast cells. However, only an almost complete NS11–638 bait was able to interact with the full-length NS1. A two-hybrid screen identified a HeLa cell cDNA clone (NS1-associated protein 1 [NSAP1]) that interacts with NS11–276 and NS11–638. An additional sequence was predicted from human EST (expressed sequence tag) data, and the cDNA was estimated to be at least 2,221 bp long, potentially encoding a 562-amino-acid protein product. A polyclonal antibody raised to a synthetic peptide within NSAP1 recognizes an ∼65-kDa cellular protein. This NSAP1 cDNA has not previously been characterized, but the predicted protein sequence is 80% identical to the recently identified heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein (hnRNP) R (W. Hassfeld et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 26:439–445, 1998). NSAP1 contains four ribonucleoprotein domains, as well as a highly repetitive C-terminal region. A closely related mouse cDNA (deduced from murine EST data) encodes a protein with only a single amino acid residue change from the human protein. NSAP1 is predicted to be a 65-kDa polynucleotide binding protein, and it likely functions in the regulation of splicing and/or transport of mRNAs from the nucleus.
The Development of Measurement and Characterization Techniques of Road Profiles

The principal excitation to a vehicle’s chassis system is the road profile. Simulating a vehicle traversing long roads is impractical and a method to produce short roads with given characteristics must be developed. By understanding the characteristics of the road, a reduced set of models can be created from which appropriate representations of the terrain can be synthesized. Understanding the characteristics of the terrain requires the ability to accurately measure the terrain topology. It is only by increasing the fidelity and resolution of terrain topology data that application of these data can be advanced. The first part of this work presents the development of a high fidelity 3-D laser terrain measurement system. The system is developed for both onhighway and off-road measurement. It is capable of measuring terrain in three dimensions, whereas current systems measure separate 2-D profiles in each wheel path of the vehicle. The equipment setup and signal processing techniques are discussed, as well as future improvements and applications of this enabling technology. The second part of this work develops a method of characterizing non-stationary road profile data using ARIMA (Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average) modeling techniques. The first step is to consider the road to be a realization of an underlying stochastic process. The model identification techniques are demonstrated. Statistical techniques are developed and used to examine the distribution of the residual process and the results are demonstrated. The use of the ARIMA model parameters and residual distributions in classifying road profiles is also discussed. By classifying various road profiles according to given model parameters, any synthetic road realized from a given class of model parameters will represent all roads in that set, resulting in a timely and efficient simulation of a vehicle traversing any given type of road.
The Developmental Regulator SEEDSTICK Controls Structural and Mechanical Properties of the Arabidopsis Seed Coat

A molecular network controlled by STK regulates cell wall properties of the seed coat, showing that, in addition to specifying organ identity, the role of STK in seed development includes modification of the cell wall structure. Although many transcription factors involved in cell wall morphogenesis have been identified and studied, it is still unknown how genetic and molecular regulation of cell wall biosynthesis is integrated into developmental programs. We demonstrate by molecular genetic studies that SEEDSTICK (STK), a transcription factor controlling ovule and seed integument identity, directly regulates PMEI6 and other genes involved in the biogenesis of the cellulose-pectin matrix of the cell wall. Based on atomic force microscopy, immunocytochemistry, and chemical analyses, we propose that structural modifications of the cell wall matrix in the stk mutant contribute to defects in mucilage release and seed germination under water-stress conditions. Our studies reveal a molecular network controlled by STK that regulates cell wall properties of the seed coat, demonstrating that developmental regulators controlling organ identity also coordinate specific aspects of cell wall characteristics.
Nuclear and cytoplasmic Maspin expression in primary non-small cell lung cancer

Aim: To investigate whether nuclear and cytoplasmic Maspin expression is associated with distinct clinicopathological parameters and TP53 expression in a representative series of primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods: Tissue microarrays (n = 487) were used to immunohistochemically analyse expression of Maspin and TP53. Cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of Maspin was scored on the basis of the percentage of positive tumour cells. Univariate analysis of clinicopathological variables potentially affecting tumour-specific survival was performed. Results: Immunohistochemical Maspin expression (nuclear and cytoplasmic) was informative in 72.3% (352/487) of cases. Cytoplasmic and nuclear Maspin immunoreactivity in ⩾10% of tumour cells was detected in 37.8% (133/352) and 65.3% (230/352) of informative cases, respectively. Nuclear and cytoplasmic Maspin staining was observed more frequently in primary squamous cell carcinomas than in other lung cancer types. Only nuclear Maspin immunoreactivity was significantly associated with positive TP53 staining. Cytoplasmic or nuclear Maspin expression was not associated with tumour-specific survival. Conclusion: Maspin expression was found both in the nucleus and the cytoplasm of NSCLC, more frequently in squamous cell carcinomas. However, no association with tumour-specific survival could be demonstrated.
UNDERSTANDING ALUMINUM ANODIC OXIDE FILM FORMATION : IMPROVING ENGINEERING PROPERTIES THROUGH MICROSTRUCTURAL MODIFICATION

Comprehensive comparative studies of various anodic oxide microstructures and their corresponding engineering properties enabled new scientific insight for the mechanism of anodic oxide formation on aluminum and aluminum alloys. The understanding of structure-chemistry relationships during anodic oxide formation led to the development of a new anodic oxide finish, a polymer-metal oxide composite, that exhibits engineering properties superior to conventional anodic oxides: Type I (Chromic Acid), Type II (conventional “clear coat”) and Type III (Hard Anodized) when processed to equivalent practical thicknesses and compared in similar test applications. The results indicate the importance of understanding the anodizing process and the synergy between process, microstructure and engineering properties to bring innovation and improvement to a mature industry. Presented at the XII Ebrats Brasilian Surface Treatment Meeting and II Latin – American Interfinish Sao Paulo, May 10, 2006
Risk Factors for Recurrent Episodes of Care and Work Disability: Case of Low Back Pain

Recurrences of injuries are common and have significant socioeconomic consequences; it is important to identify associated risk factors as potential opportunities for prevention. This study was conducted to identify risk factors for low back pain (LBP) recurrence and the extent that variation in recurrence definition impacts identified risk factors. Patients with new claims for LBP reported in New Hampshire to a workers’ compensation provider were selected (n = 2023) with a minimum of 3-year follow up. Alternative definitions of recurrence included a new episode of medical care and a new episode of lost work time (work disability). Risk factors better predicted disability-based than treatment-based recurrence. Longer durations of the initial episode of care or work disability were the most powerful predictors of recurrence, implying that shorter episodes of care and early return to work contribute to better outcomes.