Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First risk functions for prediction of coronary and cardiovascular disease incidence in the Gubbio Population Study.

BACKGROUND The Gubbio study is an Italian population study which measures the risk factors and incidence of major cardiovascular diseases. This analysis produces multivariate models for the prediction of cardiovascular end-points. METHODS A population sample of 2,963 men and women aged 35-74, free from major cardiovascular diseases, was examined in 1983 with risk factor measurement, and a 6-year incidence was computed for coronary heart disease and all cardiovascular (atherosclerotic) events. Proportional hazards models were solved for the prediction of these events. RESULTS Over a 6-year period, 74 hard criteria, and 126 any criterion coronary heart disease and 174 cardiovascular events were recorded. Multivariate models showed the predictive power of sex (relative risk ranging 1.63 to 2.60), age (relative risk for 5-year difference ranging 1.38 to 1.48), systolic blood pressure (relative risk for 20 mmHg difference ranging 1.17 to 1.27), HDL cholesterol (relative risk for a difference of 10 mg/dl ranging 0.73 to 0.81), non-HDL cholesterol (relative risk for 40 mg/dl difference ranging 1.15 to 1.27), cigarette smoking (relative risk for 10 cigarette difference ranging 1.21 to 1.28), and body mass index (relative risk for 3 units ranging 0.99 to 1.02). All coefficients were statistically significant except that for body mass index, they were larger for hard criteria coronary heart disease, and their magnitude was similar to that found in previous Italian population studies. CONCLUSIONS Traditional cardiovascular risk factors predict coronary and cardiovascular events in another Italian population study confirming previous findings and similar predictive models.
The Effect of Critical Language Awareness on EFL Learners’ Writing Ability

The present study sought to investigate the effect of Critical Language Awareness (CLA) on upper-intermediate EFL learners’ writing ability. Thirty-two EFL learners were selected based on their scores on a placement test and were randomly assigned to control and experimental groups. In addition to the placement test, a five-paragraph essay writing test was administered to assess the participants’ writing ability through the use of a standardized rubric consisting of five categories of critical response, development of ideas, structure of response, word choice, and mechanics. The three-stage treatment which was based on the frameworks of Wallace (1992), Fairclough (1989) and Ivanic and Simpson (1992) was offered to the experimental group in twelve sessions. The result of independent samples t-tests did not show any significant effect of the treatment on the participants’ overall writing ability; however, when the categories were considered separately, the result was statistically significant in terms of critical response. The major implication of this study is for writing instructors who need to consider critical attitudes of the EFL learners as an important factor in their instruction.
TATA-Binding Protein-Interacting Protein 120, TIP120, Stimulates Three Classes of Eukaryotic Transcription via a Unique Mechanism

ABSTRACT We previously identified a novel TATA-binding protein (TBP)-interacting protein (TIP120) from the rat liver. Here, in an RNA polymerase II (RNAP II)-reconstituted transcription system, we demonstrate that recombinant TIP120 activates the basal level of transcription from various kinds of promoters regardless of the template DNA topology and the presence of TFIIE/TFIIH and TBP-associated factors. Deletion analysis demonstrated that a 412-residue N-terminal domain, which includes an acidic region and the TBP-binding domain, is required for TIP120 function. Kinetic studies suggest that TIP120 functions during preinitiation complex (PIC) formation at the step of RNAP II/TFIIF recruitment to the promoter but not after the completion of PIC formation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that TIP120 enhanced PIC formation, and TIP120 also stimulated the nonspecific transcription and DNA-binding activity of RNAP II. These lines of evidence suggest that TIP120 is able to activate basal transcription by overcoming a kinetic impediment to RNAP II/TFIIF integration into the TBP (TFIID)-TFIIB-DNA-complex. Interestingly, TIP120 also stimulates RNAP I- and III-driven transcription and binds to RPB5, one of the common subunits of the eukaryotic RNA polymerases, in vitro. Furthermore, in mouse cells, ectopically expressed TIP120 enhances transcription from all three classes (I, II, and III) of promoters. We propose that TIP120 globally regulates transcription through interaction with basal transcription mechanisms common to all three transcription systems.
Predicting Antiretroviral Drug Resistance from the Latest or the Cumulative Genotype

Background This study evaluates the added benefit when estimating antiretroviral drug resistance of combining all available resistance test results in a cumulative genotype relative to using the latest genotype alone. Methods The prevalence of resistance and genotypic sensitivity scores (GSS) predicted by the latest and the cumulative genotype, together with virological outcomes after the latest genotype, were measured in treatment-experienced patients who underwent ≥2 resistance tests in 1999–2008. Results Comparing the latest with the cumulative genotype in 227 patients, 4 (1.7%) versus 0 (0.0%) showed no major resistance mutations, whereas 74 (32.6%) versus 46 (20.3%), 88 (38.8%) versus 76 (33.5%) and 61 (26.9%) versus 105 (46.3%) showed single-class, dual-class and triple-class resistance mutations, respectively. The median (IQR) number of fully or partially active drugs was 6 (5–6) versus 5 (4–6) for the nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors, 3 (1–3) versus 1 (1–3) for the non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors and 7 (7–7) versus 7 (7–7) for the protease inhibitors, respectively. Among 163 patients who started a new regimen after the latest genotype, both the latest and the cumulative GSS were predictive of early (≤24 weeks) virological responses. The GSS decreased by median 1 unit (IQR 0.5–1.0) in the cumulative genotype and larger differences relative to the latest genotype corresponded to smaller decreases in viral load. Conclusions The cumulative genotype offers a more comprehensive evaluation of the burden of resistance. This approach can guide small but appreciable improvements in the selection of antiretroviral regimens for treatment-experienced patients.
Metal Grain Granularity Study on a Gate-All-Around Nanowire FET

The impact of the metal grain granularity (MGG) variations on subthreshold and ON-current of a 22-nm gate length Si gate-all-around (GAA) nanowire (NW) field-effect transistor (FET) is analyzed by assessing five figures-of-merit: threshold voltage (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{T}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>), OFF-current (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle OFF}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>), subthreshold slope (SS) and drain-induced-barrier-lowering at low (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{D}={50}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> mV) and high (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{D}={1.0}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> V) drain biases, and ON-current variability at the high drain bias. We assume a TiN metal gate with four grain sizes (GS): 10, 7, 5, and 3 nm. The simulations carried out employ: 1) a 3-D finite element (FE) drift-diffusion (DD) simulator with density-gradient (DG) quantum corrections (QC) in the subthreshold region and 2) a 3-D FE Monte Carlo (MC) simulation toolbox with Schrödinger equation QC for the ON-current. We have found that the <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\sigma }{V}_{T}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> due to the MGG variability is 10% higher in the GAA-NW FET (GS of 10 nm) than in a 20-nm gate FinFET. For a GS of 3 nm, the variability becomes comparable between the GAA-NW FET and the FinFET. Comparison against the line-edge-roughness (LER) variability shows that the MGG (GS of 10 nm) affects <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\sigma }{V}_{T}~92$ </tex-math></inline-formula>% more than the LER (root-mean-square height of 0.85nm and correlation length of 20 nm). Finally, the ON-current of the FinFET (GS of 10 nm, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{D}=\textsf {0.9}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> V) has a 43% higher <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${\sigma }{I}_{ \mathrm{\scriptscriptstyle ON}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> than that of the GAA-NW (GS of 10 nm, <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${V}_{D}=\textsf {1.0}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> V) making the GAA-NW FETs a much better solution for sub-10-nm technology nodes.
Optimizing electromagnetic problems at University of Zagreb — An overview

This paper presents an overview of optimization problems in electromagnetics studied at the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing. As an optimization technique, particle swarm optimization has been selected and wide range of multidimensional problems have been successfully optimized including multi-goal analysis problems. In all considered cases a fast full-wave analysis routine was developed in order to make optimization process fast.
Performance on a Reciprocal Tapping Task with Variations in Intertapping Interval

Fitts' law was investigated in a study of the effect of the index of difficulty (ID) and intertapping interval upon reaction time (RT) and movement time (MT) for a reciprocal tapping task. ID showed its well-established relationship with MT as described by Fitts' law: MT = aID + b. Improvement in the linearity of this relationship was, however, demonstrated by expressing MT in logarithmic units. While ID had an unsubstantial (though significant) effect on RT, increases in intertapping interval from zero to any level of discrete tapping led to significant increases in RT of about 135 msec. The results are interpreted as lending support to Fitts' thesis that RT and MT reflect independent phases of information processing.
Signal modelling in wireless fading channels using spherically invariant processes

We propose the application of spherically invariant random processes for joint modeling of the fluctuations of the signal envelope and phase in narrowband wireless fading channels. In this model, the phase has a uniform distribution (which is very common in fading channels), while the envelope can be distributed according to an arbitrary distribution law (which includes Rayleigh as a special case). The great utility of the spherically invariant random processes, as a large family of non-Gaussian random processes, lies on their many Gaussian-like properties, which make them very flexible for multivariate statistical analysis, optimal estimation, simulation, and other signal processing issues. Empirical justifications are also given, which strongly support the acceptability of the model.
PENGARUH ETNOSENTRISME KONSUMEN, PERSEPSI HARGA DAN KEMENARIKAN ATRIBUT TERHADAP SIKAP PRODUK DAN IMPLIKASINYA TERHADAP KEPUTUSAN PEMBELIAN DI INDONESIA

Polytron is one of the Indonesian electronic products that can survive among the many imported products on the market. Polytron needs to know the characteristics of Indonesian consumer ethnocentric to strengthen strategy and increase the use of local products. This study aims to determine whether the consumer ethnocentrism, perceived price and the attractiveness of Atribut affect the product attitude that have an impact on the purchase decision products. The samples used in this study were 150 people who have made a purchase Polytron product in Semarang. The questionnaire were distributed in June 2015 to July 2015. The data were then processed by using multiple regression analysis. The results showed that all three independent variables have positive and significant effect on the dependent variable. The atribute attractiveness affect the attitudes toward product. The attitudes toward product has a positive and significant influence on the purchase decision variable and acts as an intervening variable.
Vertical saccades in senescence.

PURPOSE To determine the metrics of vertical saccades in elderly subjects for comparison in neurologic disease. METHODS Sixteen elderly subjects, ten middle-aged subjects, and thirteen young subjects were examined using a magnetic search coil technique. Saccades were measured to predictable vertical target steps and maximal saccadic excursion was measured from primary position. RESULTS Maximal upward voluntary excursion was reduced in the elderly (mean 32.9 degrees) compared to young subjects (mean 43.1 degrees). Maximal downward voluntary excursion was also reduced in the elderly (mean 32.8 degrees), compared to young subjects (mean 46.8 degrees). The limited ocular motor range of the elderly was not increased by oculocephalic maneuvers. Individual young subjects had significantly larger downward than upward excursions, but elderly subjects generally had symmetrical upward and downward excursions. Asymptotic peak velocities were not significantly slower in the elderly. Individual young subjects made faster upward than downward saccades. Vertical saccade latencies were significantly prolonged and saccadic accuracy was reduced in the elderly compared to the young subjects. CONCLUSIONS The range and accuracy of upward and downward saccades decrease, and their latency increases in senescence. This quantitative study provides norms for the detection of brain or orbital disease in young, middle-aged, and elderly subjects.
Effects of Age on Serum Hormone Concentrations and Intramuscular Proteolytic Signaling Before and After a Single Bout of Resistance Training

Dalbo, VJ, Roberts, MD, Hassell, SE, Brown, RD, and Kerksick, CM. Effects of age on serum hormone concentrations and intramuscular proteolytic signaling before and after a single bout of resistance training. J Strength Cond Res 25(1): 1-9, 2011-This study examined mRNA expression patterns for atrogin-1 and muscle ring finger-1 (MuRF-1) before and 24 hours after a resistance training bout. Furthermore, basal, 5-minute and 24-hour postexercise serum concentrations of cortisol and insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) and the relationships between these hormones and the genetic expression patterns of atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 were examined. Younger and older men completed a resistance exercise bout consisting of 3 × 10 repetitions at 80% of their predetermined 1 repetition maximum for Smith squat, leg press and leg extension. Muscle biopsies from the vastus lateralis were obtained before and 24 hours after exercise. Basal and postexercise gene expression differences between age groups were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test, whereas separate 2 × 3 repeated measures analyses of variance were performed to analyze changes in hormone concentrations. Spearman's correlations were performed to examine relationships between gene expression patterns and hormone concentrations. Serum cortisol was significantly greater in younger men before and 24 hours after exercise (p < 0.05), whereas serum IGF-1 was significantly greater in younger men at all time points (p < 0.001). Exercise significantly increased cortisol 5 minutes after exercise in both groups (p < 0.05), whereas older men experienced significant elevations in IGF-1 24 hours postexercise (p < 0.05). At baseline, MuRF-1 gene expression was significantly greater in older men (p = 0.03), whereas no age-related differences were found for atrogin-1 (p = 0.24). Fold change in atrogin-1 and MuRF-1 24 hours postexercise revealed no significant differences between younger and older men. Differential baseline expression of MuRF-1 may suggest a regulatory attempt by the aging transcriptome to accommodate changes necessary for homeostatic maintenance. An enhanced understanding of molecular and genetic level adaptations can aid researchers in developing optimal therapeutic and exercise interventions to mitigate decrements in force, power, and loss of muscle mass seen in aging and many clinical populations.
Increased Nitrogen Loading Boosts Summer Phytoplankton Growth by Alterations in Resource and Zooplankton Control: A Mesocosm Study

The effectiveness of controlling nitrogen (N) to manage eutrophication of aquatic ecosystems remains debated. To understand the mechanisms behind phytoplankton growth in shallow lakes (resource and grazing effects) under contrasting N loading scenarios, we conducted a 70-days mesocosm experiment in summer. The mesocosms contain natural plankton communities deriving from a 10-cm layer of lake sediment and 450 L of lake water. We also added two juvenile crucian carp (Carassius carassius) in each mesocosm to simulate presence of the prevailing omni-benthivorous fish in subtropical lakes. Our results showed that N addition increased not only water N levels but also total phosphorus (TP) concentrations, which together elevated the phytoplankton biomass and caused strong dominance of cyanobacteria. Addition of N significantly lowered the herbivorous zooplankton to phytoplankton biomass ratio and promoted the phytoplankton yield per nutrient (Chl-a: TP or Chl-a: TN ratio), indicating that summer N addition likely also favored phytoplankton growth through reduced grazing by zooplankton. Accordingly, our study indicates that summer N loading may boost eutrophication via both changes in resource and grazing control in shallow lakes. Thus, alleviation of eutrophication in shallow eutrophic lakes requires a strategic approach to control both nutrients (N and P) appropriately.
Stromal Platelet-Derived Growth Factor Receptor α (PDGFRα) Provides a Therapeutic Target Independent of Tumor Cell PDGFRα Expression in Lung Cancer Xenografts

In lung cancer, platelet-derived growth factor receptor α (PDGFRα) is expressed frequently by tumor-associated stromal cells and by cancer cells in a subset of tumors. We sought to determine the effect of targeting stromal PDGFRα in preclinical lung tumor xenograft models (human tumor, mouse stroma). Effects of anti-human (IMC-3G3) and anti-mouse (1E10) PDGFRα monoclonal antibodies (mAb) on proliferation and PDGFRα signaling were evaluated in lung cancer cell lines and mouse fibroblasts. Therapy studies were conducted using established PDGFRα-positive H1703 cells and PDGFRα-negative Calu-6, H1993, and A549 subcutaneous tumors in immunocompromised mice treated with vehicle, anti-PDGFRα mAbs, chemotherapy, or combination therapy. Tumors were analyzed for growth and levels of growth factors. IMC-3G3 inhibited PDGFRα activation and the growth of H1703 cells in vitro and tumor growth in vivo, but had no effect on PDGFRα-negative cell lines or mouse fibroblasts. 1E10 inhibited growth and PDGFRα activation of mouse fibroblasts, but had no effect on human cancer cell lines in vitro. In vivo, 1E10-targeted inhibition of murine PDGFRα reduced tumor growth as single-agent therapy in Calu-6 cells and enhanced the effect of chemotherapy in xenografts derived from A549 cells. We also identified that low expression cancer cell expression of VEGF-A and elevated expression of PDGF-AA were associated with response to stromal PDGFRα targeting. We conclude that stromal PDGFRα inhibition represents a means for enhancing control of lung cancer growth in some cases, independent of tumor cell PDGFRα expression. Mol Cancer Ther; 11(11); 2473–82. ©2012 AACR.
Transcending conflict : exploring sexual violence support for women seeking asylum in Merseyside

Rape and sexual violence have long been acknowledged in feminist literature as a silenced social problem which requires long term strategies for prevention, prosecution and support. Social sciences more generally, however, have had a more ambivalent relationship with the theoretical and conceptual development of research in this area. Outside of feminist sociology and criminology there has been little engagement, yet sexual violence remains a prevalent social problem in all regions of the globe. The latter half of the twentieth century saw quick and significant changes to the structures of states as the result of localised and international conflicts, many of which continue or are experiencing post-conflict transformation that has resulted in global growths in refugee populations as a result of forced migration. Alongside this has been an increasing globalisation of rights based approaches related to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948, the Geneva Convention of 1951 and the development of United Nations Resolutions and the establishment of the International Criminal Courts. Focussing on Merseyside as a case study, a main area of dispersal in the UK, this thesis critically examines domestic responses to women's asylum applications and support for women survivors of conflict related sexual violence. Using qualitative activist methodologies from a feminist standpoint perspective, it explores support available through interviews with local governmental and non-governmental organisations working within sexual violence support, asylum, and/or women's organisations before applying a structural analysis of long term impacts of sexual violence through an oral history with Hawwi, an Ethiopian rape survivor and asylum seeker in . Merseyside. It concludes that, despite international developments, women's rights continue to lie marginalised in these arenas within and outside of academia. As such, important gaps in response exist with regard to sexual violence in conflict, but also in Merseyside. It concludes that, like rights based developments, considerations for applications continue to overlook the gendered experience of conflict, particularly with regard to the widespread perpetration of sexual violence. As such, limited resources for support exist for women survivors in Merseyside which can have detrimental effects on women's emotional, psychological and physical health as well as having wider social impacts beyond the individual.
The effect of Tai Chi Quan and computerized balance training on postural stability in older subjects. Atlanta FICSIT Group. Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies on Intervention Techniques.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE This study explored whether two exercise programs would affect the ability to minimize postural sway of 72 relatively inactive, older subjects who participated in the Atlanta FICSIT trial. SUBJECTS Subjects were randomly assigned to (1) a computerized balance training group, (2) a tai chi group, or (3) an educational group serving as a control for exercise. Each group consisted of 24 members. METHODS All subjects were evaluated under four postural conditions before, immediately after, and 4 months following their respective interventions, each of which was given over 15 weeks. RESULTS Platform balance measures revealed greater stability after training among subjects in the balance training group but little change in stability among subjects in the tai chi and educational group. Subjects in the tai chi group were less afraid of falling after training compared with subjects in other groups with similar covariates. CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION Unlike computerized balance training, tai chi does not improve measures of postural stability. Because tai chi delayed onset to first or multiple falls in older individuals, this effect does not appear to be associated with measures of enhanced postural stability. Tai chi may gain its success, in part, from promoting confidence without reducing sway rather than primarily facilitating a reduction in sway-based measures.