Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
owards a unifying theory of late stochastic effects of ionizing radiation

The traditionally accepted biological basis for the late stochastic effects of ionizing radiation (cancer and hereditary disease), i.e. target theory, has so far been unable to accommodate the more recent findings of non-cancer disease and the so-called non-targeted effects, genomic instability and bystander effect, thus creating uncertainty in radiation risk estimation. We propose that ionizing radiation can give rise to these effects through two distinct and independent routes, one essentially genetic, termed here type A, and the other essentially epigenetic, termed type B. Type B processes entail envisaging phenotype as represented by a dynamic attractor and radiation acting as an agent that stresses cellular processes leading to the adoption of a variant attractor/phenotype. Evidence from the literature indicates that type B processes
Optical transitions of C60 films in the visible and ultraviolet from spectroscopic ellipsometry.

Optical spectra for ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ films, obtained by elliposmetry, are reported for the energy range from 1.9 to 9.5 eV. Our results are compared with related results from other optical techniques as well as photoemission results. Strong similarity to absorption measurements of dissolved ${\mathrm{C}}_{60}$ results from the strong molecular character of the solid films. We fit our spectra with Lorentzian line shapes to determine energy positions and shapes of the transitions. We observe the onset of optical absorption near 1.9 eV. We also report initial results from alkali-metal doping and a useful method for incorporating K into the bulk of film samples.
Accurate model for single-photon avalanche diodes

An accurate model useful for simulating single-photon avalanche diodes including biasing circuits is presented. The authors developed the model using Verilog-A codes to describe both static and dynamic behaviours. The derived model fits experimental results extracted from practical devices better than the one used in the open literature. SPECTRE simulations confirmed the validity of the proposed model, which avoids convergence problems and also shows a higher accuracy than traditional models.
Comparison of Corneal and Conjunctival Changes After Dosing of Travoprost Preserved With sofZia, Latanoprost With 0.02% Benzalkonium Chloride, and Preservative-free Artificial Tears

Purpose: To evaluate corneal and conjunctival changes after chronic, once-daily dosing of travoprost preserved with sofZia, latanoprost preserved with 0.02% benzalkonium chloride (BAK), or preservative-free artificial tears. Methods: Thirty New Zealand white rabbits were randomized to receive once-daily instillation of travoprost with sofZia, latanoprost, or preservative-free artificial tears in 1 eye. Corneal epithelial changes were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy and graded on a standard scale by 2 masked observers. Conjunctival inflammation was evaluated by light microscopy after hematoxylin and eosin staining. Lymphocytes were counted in the epithelium and superficial stroma by 2 masked observers and compared among groups. Results: Corneal tissue treated with preservative-free artificial tears and travoprost with sofZia revealed similar changes under transmission electron microscopy (P = 0.53). Significantly more corneal epithelial damage was noted with latanoprost than travoprost with sofZia (P = 0.0001). The number of lymphocytes in the conjunctival epithelium and stroma was significantly lower in eyes treated with travoprost with sofZia than eyes treated with latanoprost (P = 0.0001). The number of conjunctival lymphocytes was similar among conjunctival specimens exposed to travoprost with sofZia and preservative-free artificial tears (P = 0.65). Conclusions: Once-daily dosing of travoprost with sofZia produced significantly fewer corneal changes and less conjunctival inflammation than latanoprost preserved with BAK. Corneal and conjunctival changes noted with travoprost with sofZia were similar to those induced by preservative-free artificial tears. Glaucoma medication with high levels of BAK may cause more deleterious effects on the ocular surface than non-BAK-preserved medications. Human studies are needed to better understand the clinical effects of different preservative types and concentrations on the ocular surface.
Determinants of Substance Abuse among Commercial Bus Drivers in Kano Metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria

Background: The use of illicit substances among commercial bus drivers is not only increasing but strangelypredisposing the drivers and their passengers to health hazards. There is however paucity of empirical data on the factors associated with this increase. Aim: This study was conducted to explore the determinants of substance abuse among commercial bus drivers in Kano Metropolis, Kano state, Nigeria. Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional design was used for the study where by 196 respondents were selected through a multi-stage cluster sampling technique. A validated and structured interviewer administered questionnaire (IAQ) was used to collect data from the eligible respondents. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: Findings from the study showed that eight out of every ten (81.1%) of the respondents has ever abused a substance. The desires to relax/sleep after a hard days job (84.8%), work hard (48%), relieve stress (81%), relieve anxiety (66.5%) and pleasure (72%) are the major factors associated with the abuse of substances by the respondents. The most commonly abused substances by the respondents include solution (93.3%) coffee (85.2%), Tramadol (80.6%), local stimulant tea (Gadagi) (78.1%), cola-nut (66.3%) and tobacco (65%), Substance abuse can be reduced by controlling the production and sale of commonly abused substance (27.6%). Conclusion: The major determinants of substance abuse among commercial bus drivers are the desires to work hard, relieve of stress and anxiety. It is therefore recommended that Government should control the production, supply and sale of these illicit substances.
Information quality on the World Wide Web: development of a framework

Data consumers are provided with easy online access to information on the World Wide Web. However, consumers face information quality problems in their quest for information. This paper focuses on the development of an instrument to measure information quality (IQ) on the World Wide Web from a user's perspective. Based on a comprehensive review of the literature, 20 important IQ frameworks were identified. These models, though varied in their approach and application, share a number of characteristics regarding
Induction of osteoblast differentiation indices by statins in MC3T3‐E1 cells

Statins inhibit 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐coenzyme A (HMG‐CoA) reductase, which catalyzes conversion of HMG‐CoA to mevalonate, a rate‐limiting step in cholesterol synthesis. The present study was undertaken to understand the events of osteoblast differentiation induced by statins. Simvastatin at 10−7 M markedly increased mRNA expression for bone morphogenetic protein‐2 (BMP‐2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen, bone sialoprotein, and osteocalcin (OCN) in nontransformed osteoblastic cells (MC3T3‐E1), while suppressing gene expression for collagenase‐1, and collagenase‐3. Extracellular accumulation of proteins such as VEGF, OCN, collagenase‐digestive proteins, and noncollagenous proteins was increased in the cells treated with 10−7 M simvastatin, or 10−8 M cerivastatin. In the culture of MC3T3‐E1 cells, statins stimulated mineralization; pretreating MC3T3‐E1 cells with mevalonate, or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (a mevalonate metabolite) abolished statin‐induced mineralization. Statins stimulate osteoblast differentiation in vitro, and may hold promise drugs for the treatment of osteoporosis in the future. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
T lymphocytes and neutrophil granulocytes differ in regulatory signaling and migratory dynamics with regard to spontaneous locomotion and chemotaxis.

Chemotactic migration of T lymphocytes and neutrophil granulocytes within a three-dimensional collagen matrix is distinct from spontaneous, matrix-induced migration concerning dynamic parameters and regulatory intracellular signaling. Both spontaneous T lymphocyte locomotion and stromal-cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1)-induced chemotaxis-involved protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity, whereas only SDF-1-induced migration was protein kinase C (PKC) dependent. Spontaneous locomotion of neutrophil granulocytes was independent of PKC and PTK activity, but formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced migration involved PKC activity. In addition, the microtubule cytoskeleton was not changed after induction of chemotaxis in both cell types. T lymphocytes had a well-developed microtubule cytoskeleton with the microtubule organizing center located in the uropod, whereas neutrophil granulocytes revealed a clustered tubulin distribution at the leading edge of the migrating cell. Therefore, differences of the microtubule cytoskeleton might contribute to differences in locomotion between T lymphocytes and neutrophil granulocytes but not to differences between spontaneous locomotion and chemotaxis.
Orthostatic Intolerance Is Not Necessarily Related to a Specific Mutation (Ala457Pro) in the Human Norepinephrine Transporter Gene

BackgroundOrthostatic intolerance (OI) is a syndrome characterized by lightheadedness, palpitations, fatigue, blurred vision, dizziness, chest discomfort, cognitive impairment, and occasionally syncope. These symptoms usually occur after upright posture and are associated with tachycardia and high plasma concentrations of norepinephrine. It has been proposed that a mutation in exon 9 of the norepinephrine transporter gene (Ala457Pro), resulting in more than 98% loss of function compared with the wild type, might provide a pathogenetic mechanism to explain the clinical symptoms of patients with OI. MethodsWe studied 46 young men from military service who had sought medical advice because of dizziness while standing. Every patient underwent a tilt-table test, with monitoring of blood pressure, heart rate, and plasma catecholamines in supine position and during 30 minutes of standing. Fourteen patients showing the full-blown OI syndrome (30 bpm increase in heart rate and 600 pg/mL plasma norepinephrine levels while standing) underwent direct DNA sequencing of exon 9 of the norepinephrine-transporter gene. Results and ConclusionsThe specific mutation (Ala457Pro) was not detected in any of the 14 OI patients. Based on these findings, we doubt that this specific genetic transport defect is a frequent cause of the impaired uptake of norepinephrine in OI patients. Its routine determination will therefore not be helpful to establish the clinical diagnosis of OI.
Antibiotic Resistance Patterns in Faecal E. coli: A Longitudinal Cohort-Control Study of Hospitalized Horses

Mohamed O. Ahmed1,3‡, Nicola J. Williams2, Peter D. Clegg2, Keith E. Baptiste4 and Malcolm Bennett3 1Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tripoli university, Tripoli 2Department of Comparative Molecular Medicine, 3Department of Animal and Population Health, 2,3School of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, 4Department of Large Animal Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Taastrup, 1Libya 2,3UK 4Denmark
Efficacy and Safety of Tifacogin (Recombinant Tissue Factor Pathway Inhibitor) in Severe Sepsis

SYSTEMIC ACTIVATION OF COAGUlation and thrombus formation in the microvasculature accompanies organ dysfunction and excess mortality in severe sepsis. Tissue factor (thromboplastin) is a major initiator of the blood coagulation process. Tissue factor is a transmembrane cell surface receptor for plasma clotting factor VII and exhibits homolAuthor Affiliations, Financial Disclosure, and the OPTIMIST Study Group are listed at the end of this article. Corresponding Author and Reprints: Edward Abraham, MD, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 E Ninth Ave, Campus Box C-272, Denver, CO 80262 (e-mail: edward.abraham@uchsc .edu). Caring for the Critically Ill Patient Section Editor: Deborah J. Cook, MD, Consulting Editor, JAMA. Advisory Board: David Bihari, MD; Christian BrunBuisson, MD; Timothy Evans, MD; John Heffner, MD; Norman Paradis, MD; Adrienne Randolph, MD. Context The expression and release of tissue factor is a major trigger for the activation of coagulation in patients with sepsis. Tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) forms a complex with tissue factor and blood protease factors leading to inhibition of thrombin generation and fibrin formation.
Factors Associated With Marijuana use and Problems Among College Students in Colorado

ABSTRACT Background: Past studies have shown that heavy marijuana use can impact student outcomes. Frequent use and misuse of marijuana have been associated with a range of psychological and personality factors in young adults, but there has been limited research focused on the college environment in states where marijuana has been legalized for recreational purposes. Objectives: We examined whether marijuana use and problems were associated with a range of demographic, personality, and psychological variables among college students at a midsized Colorado university. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 300 university students who submitted a urine screen and completed measures on marijuana use, problem marijuana use, anxiety, depression, impulsivity, and openness to experience. Results: Last year and recent marijuana use were high (65%, 29%; respectively), as assessed through self-report and a urine screen. Using logistic regression, male sex and greater openness to experience were associated with greater marijuana use when assessed with a urine screen, while greater openness to experience and impulsivity were associated with greater self-reported marijuana use within the last year. In the final step of a hierarchical linear regression model, male sex and greater impulsivity and depression–but not openness to experience, general anxiety or social anxiety–were associated with greater problem marijuana use. Conclusions: This study extends the literature on psychological and personality correlates of marijuana use among college students. It may be useful to assess these correlates to identify students who are at risk of developing problems and in intervening with students with problem use.
Identification, Characterization, and Application of a Recombinant Antigen for the Serological Investigation of Feline Hemotropic Mycoplasma Infections

ABSTRACT In felids, three hemotropic mycoplasma species (hemoplasmas) have been described: Mycoplasma haemofelis, “Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum,” and “Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis. ” In particular, M. haemofelis may cause severe, potentially life-threatening hemolytic anemia. No routine serological assays for feline hemoplasma infections are available. Thus, the goal of our project was to identify and characterize an M. haemofelis antigen (DnaK) that subsequently could be applied as a recombinant antigen in a serological assay. The gene sequence of this protein was determined using consensus primers and blood samples from two naturally M. haemofelis-infected Swiss pet cats, an experimentally M. haemofelis-infected specific-pathogen-free cat, and a naturally M. haemofelis-infected Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus). The M. haemofelis DnaK gene sequence showed the highest identity to an analogous protein of a porcine hemoplasma (72%). M. haemofelis DnaK was expressed recombinantly in an Escherichia coli DnaK knockout strain and purified using Ni affinity, size-exclusion, and anion-exchange chromatography. It then was biochemically and functionally characterized and showed characteristics typical for DnaKs (secondary structure profile, thermal denaturation, ATPase activity, and DnaK complementation). Moreover, its immunogenicity was assessed using serum samples from experimentally hemoplasma-infected cats. In Western blotting or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, it was recognized by sera from cats infected with M. haemofelis, “Ca. Mycoplasma haemominutum,” and “Ca. Mycoplasma turicensis,” respectively, but not from uninfected cats. This is the first description of a full-length purified recombinant feline hemoplasma antigen that can readily be applied in future pathogenesis studies and may have potential for application in a diagnostic serological test.
Diffusion-tensor magnetic resonance imaging detects normal-appearing white matter damage unrelated to short-term disease activity in patients at the earliest clinical stage of multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND Diffusion-tensor (DT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has the potential to elucidate some characteristics of tissue microstructure inaccessible to other MRI techniques. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether normal-appearing brain tissue abnormalities occur in patients with multiple sclerosis at the earliest clinical stage and whether their severity is predictive of a short-term disease evolution by using DT MRI. DESIGN Forty-five patients and 22 healthy control subjects were studied. All patients had had a clinically isolated syndrome within the 3 months preceding study enrollment and paraclinical evidence of disease dissemination in space. During a single session, dual-echo, pulsed-gradient spin-echo echo-planar, and postgadolinium T1-weighted images of the brain were obtained from each subject. In patients, dual-echo and enhanced images were obtained after 3 and 12 months, to detect MRI signs of disease dissemination in time. An on-study neurological examination was also conducted to ascertain the occurrence of clinical relapses. Mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy maps were derived from DT images. Normal-appearing white matter (NAWM) and normal-appearing gray matter mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy histograms were produced and analyzed. RESULTS During the study period, 29 patients showed MRI evidence of disease dissemination in time. When compared with healthy controls, patients showed higher average NAWM mean diffusivity (P = .01), lower average NAWM mean diffusivity peak height (P < .001), and fractional anisotropy (P < .001). The DT MRI characteristics of patients did not differ between those with and those without disease dissemination in time at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS In patients with multiple sclerosis at the earliest clinical stage, the severity of NAWM damage does not predict new lesion formation in the short term, suggesting that the "diffuse" component of tissue damage is, at least partially, independent of the "discrete," predominantly inflammatory aspects of the disease since its clinical onset.
Lack of effect of pioglitazone on postprandial triglyceride levels in type 2 diabetes.

We read with interest an article by Aronoff et al. (1), which indicated that monotherapy of pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator–activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonist, can improve lipid profile as well as glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. However, because they evaluated dyslipidemia in the fasted state, as most investigators do, it remains unknown whether pioglitazone may ameliorate postprandial dyslipidemia, which has recently been suggested to be an independent risk factor of atherosclerosis (456). We have previously indicated that troglitazone, another PPAR-γ agonist, can cause a decrease in postprandial triglyceride levels …
Performance Enhancement of a Sub-Sampling Circuit for Ultra-Wideband Signal Processing

An ultra-wideband (UWB) sampling mixer has been developed based on utilizing the combined advantages of two known circuit topologies: a wideband balun and a balanced-feed mixer. The developed sampler is integrated with a step-recovery diode strobe-step generator to sub-sample UWB signals. The fabricated sub-sampler demonstrated a 3.5-dB radio frequency to intermediate frequency (RF-IF) conversion loss up to 1 GHz (without the IF amplification), and a wide 3 dB bandwidth that exceeded 3.5-GHz. It has a reduced spurious level of better than -38 dBc, a lower sensitivity to the Schottky diode-placement, an excellent input match, and good isolation.
The Enablers and Barriers to the Use of Direct Observation of Trainee Clinical Skills by Supervising Faculty in a Psychiatry Residency Program

Objective: Studies have reported that medical trainees do not get sufficient direct observation. Our study aimed to determine the frequency of direct observation and the enablers and barriers to direct observation in the department of psychiatry at a large Canadian university. Method: Focus groups and interviews explored the role and use of direct observation, followed by a survey both of faculty and of residents. Results: Direct observation was used in various contexts in the residents' last rotation. Missed opportunities are identified. Enablers include financial compensation, guidelines, and a discussion at the beginning of each clinical rotation. Barriers are identified at the resident, faculty, and administrative levels. Conclusions: Direct observation is used in many contexts in psychiatric training. While there are barriers which limit its use, our data indicate numerous potential enablers and missed opportunities for more observation.
Effectiveness of Prehospital Epinephrine Administration in Improving Long-term Outcomes of Witnessed Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients with Initial Non-shockable Rhythms

Abstract Objective: We evaluated the association between prehospital epinephrine administration by emergency medical services (EMS) and the long-term outcomes of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) with initial pulseless electrical activity (PEA) or asystole. Methods: We conducted a controlled, propensity-matched, retrospective cohort study by using Japan's nationwide OHCA registry database. We studied 110,239 bystander-witnessed OHCA patients aged 15–94 years with initial non-shockable rhythms registered between January 2008 and December 2012. We created 1–1 matched pairs of patients with or without epinephrine by using sequential risk set matching based on time-dependent propensity scores to balance the patients' severity and characteristics. We compared overall and neurologically intact survival 1 month after OHCA between cases and controls using conditional logistic regression models by category of the initial rhythm. Results: Propensity matching created 7,431 pairs in patients with PEA and 8,906 pairs in those with asystole. Epinephrine administration was associated with higher overall survival (4.49% vs. 2.96%; odds ratio [OR], 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30–1.85) but not with neurologically intact survival (0.98% vs. 0.78%; OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 0.89–1.78) in patients with PEA, and with higher overall survival (2.38% vs. 1.04%; OR, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.82–3.00) and neurologically intact survival (0.48% vs. 0.22%; OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.31–3.96) in those with asystole. Conclusions: Prehospital epinephrine administration by EMS is favorably associated with long-term neurological outcomes in patients with initial asystole and with long-term survival outcomes in those with PEA.