Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Psychosocial Factors Associated with an Increased Frequency of Prostate Cancer Screening in Men Ages 40 to 79 Years: The Olmsted County Study

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among U.S. men. Early detection is associated with drastically improved 5-year survival rates. It is unclear, however, what psychosocial factors motivate or discourage men from taking advantage of both prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital rectal examination (DRE). The goal of the current study was to identify psychosocial factors that influence screening behavior for prostate cancer in a cohort of 2,447 men. In 1990, a randomly selected cohort of Caucasian men, ages 40 to 79 years, from Olmsted County, Minnesota, were enrolled in the study. These men completed a questionnaire containing queries on family history of prostate cancer, concern about getting prostate cancer, and marital status. Medical and laboratory records were reviewed to determine the number DREs (1989-1996) and PSA tests (1989-1998). Frequent screening was defined as the upper 25th percentile for number of DREs (>4) or PSAs (>3). Men who have a family history and men who worry or have concern about prostate cancer were more likely [odds ratio (OR), 1.5; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.2-2.0 and OR, 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4-2.5] to seek screening compared with those without a family history or worry. The association between family history and frequent screening was similar in men who were married or living with someone (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.2); however, it was reduced among men who live alone (OR, 0.6; 95% CI, 0.2-1.8). These data suggest that psychosocial factors such as family history, worry, or concern about prostate cancer and marital status may play an important role in men's decisions about prostate cancer screening. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(12):3588–92)
Approximation of viability kernels and capture basins for hybrid systems

This paper deals with hybrid dynamical systems with state constrains and target. We investigate the subset of initial positions from which there exists at least one run forever remaining in the constraint set - the hybrid viability kernel - or remaining in the constraint set until it reaches a given closed target in finite time - the hybrid capture basin. We present an algorithm for approximating those sets and, under some regularity assumptions, we construct viable hybrid feed-backs providing viable runs. One example illustrates this study. It deals with an academic dynamical system revealing the complexity of the structure of the hybrid viability kernel and showing hybrid solutions.
In-Flight Vibration Monitoring of Aeronautical Structures

The development of an aircraft requires careful exploration of the dynamical behavior of the structure subject to aeroservoelastic forces. A combination of ground vibration tests and in-flight tests is used for this purpose. For both types of tests, various sensor data are recorded, typically from accelerometers. Based on these data, the aircraft dynamics are identified through modal analysis or structural identification. System identification and parameter estimation from flight data sets are considered and industrial application for modern flight vehicle design and certification is discussed.
Designing learning representations around physical manipulation: hands and objects

The role of physical actions in learning has fostered enthusiasm for developing novel learning representations using emerging technologies such as tangibles. Indeed, as emerging devices blur the distinction between physical and graphical interfaces, it is important to build our understanding of how different forms of action and interaction will affect children's conceptual development. However, the mechanisms underpinning which actions support learning are often unclear. This paper offers a new perspective for examining the role of physical manipulation in learning by drawing a distinction between the actions generated by the hands and the resulting change in external representation. Arguments from existing research are revisited before using this distinction to identify implications for design.
Probabilities of detection and false alarm in multitaper based spectrum sensing for cognitive radio systems in AWGN

The paper presents closed-form expressions for the detection, and false alarm probabilities for spectrum sensing detection in Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) based on the Multitaper Spectrum Estimation Method (MTM) using Neyman-Pearson criterion. The MTM spectrum sensing is a powerful technique in Cognitive Radio (CR) systems. It tolerates problems related to bad biasing, and large variance of estimates, that are the main drawbacks in the periodogram (energy detector). The performance of the MTM spectrum sensing system is controlled by parameters, such as the chosen half time bandwidth product, Discrete Prolate Slepian Sequence (DPSS) (i.e., tapers), DPSS' eigenvalues, and the number of tapers used. These parameters determine the theoretical probabilities of detection and false alarms, which are used to evaluate the system performance. The paper shows a good match between the theoretical and numerical simulation results.
Integrated tactile system for dynamic 3D contact force mapping

We present the first integrated tactile system that is based on dynamic, spatially distributed, three-axial contact force data. Compared to general pressure mapping systems, our devices measure not only one, but all three components of contact forces (normal and shear) with up to 64 independent micromachined force sensing elements integrated on a single chip. The spatially distributed shear force sensing adds new dimensions and directions to tactile data analysis, including pre-slip detection, enhanced robotic grasping or high quality tactile texture classification. In this paper we briefly describe the components of the novel system: the sensor arrays, the data acquisition methods and the data analysis software. We also present two example applications that exploit the advantages of real time three-dimensional contact force mapping.
Detection of Multiple Pacemaker Centers in Cardiomyocyte Cell Layers for Estimating Wavefront Propagation Patterns

Multielectrode arrays are more commonly used to investigate fundamental electrophysiological mechanisms of cardiac cell monolayers. However, a problem for investigating propagation direction dependent features such as propagation velocity or field potential rise time may arise through the presence of multiple active pacemaker centers in a cultured cell layer. Therefore, we developed a novel algorithm based on the spatial gradient of the wavefront’s arrival time to extract information about the spatial and temporal distribution of active pacemaker centers in the cell layer. This information can be used to improve the analysis of propagation dependent features.
DW-CGU: Integração dos Dados do Portal da Transparência do Governo Federal Brasileiro

Os portais de transparencia governamental sao ferramentas de consolidacao e desenvolvimento da democracia. Porem, a simples disponibilizacao de informacoes nao garante uma visao unificada dos dados. O fato de os dados apresentados serem oriundos de Sistemas de Informacao independentes traz problemas de integracao. O objetivo desse trabalho e desenvolver uma solucao de integracao de dados para o Portal da Transparencia do Governo Federal e sua principal contribuicao e a proposta de uma arquitetura capaz de controlar todas as fases do processo de integracao dos dados de um portal coorporativo. Os resultados obtidos evidenciaram o potencial de analise que esses dados integrados oferecem. A validacao da arquitetura proposta avaliou os resultados do processo de integracao de dados nao apenas antes da implantacao da solucao, como tambem durante toda a fase de operacao do sistema. O trabalho evidencia que a integracao de dados envolve questoes que vao alem dos desafios tecnologicos, carecendo de interpretacoes semânticas dos dados.
Expression of the chicken c-src gene in COS cells

The cellular homolog of the Rous sarcoma virus transforming gene (v-src) was cloned into a plasmid containing the simian virus 40 origin of replication and transcriptional signals. This recombinant plasmid, designated pSVOHCS11 , directs the synthesis of relatively high levels of c-src mRNA and c-src protein ( pp60c -src), when the plasmid is studied 48 to 72 h after calcium phosphate-mediated DNA transfection of COS (monkey) cells. The level of c-src mRNA synthesis is 50-fold higher than the amount of c-src RNA produced in uninfected chicken embryo fibroblasts. Furthermore, the level of pp60c -src expressed in pSVOHCS11 -transfected COS cells is approximately the same as that of pp60v -src in Rous sarcoma virus-transformed cells. Using this recombinant plasmid, we demonstrated that c-src mRNA contains sequences which map 3' to the previously identified c-src-v-src regions of homology. In view of the small amount of c-src mRNA and protein that can be isolated from uninfected cells, this transient expression system offers a convenient source of material for further analyses of the c-src gene product.
Large Strongyle Parastes in Equine: A Review

: Strongylosis is one of the most important internal parasitic diseases of equines caused by nematodes of strongylidae family affecting more than 80% equids in the world. Strongylus vulgaris (S. vulgaris) is one of the large strongyle and the most prevalent and pathogenic parasites of equines. Large strongyles show major pathogenesis that is encompasses verminous arteritis, damage of visceral organs, embolism or thrombosis leading to death and is mainly attributed to migrating larvae of parasites. The larvae of Strongylus species are causes to large nodules in the wall of caecum and colon with a considerable hemorrhage and the nodules become rupture and release the worm into the lumen of the intestine. In the heavy burdens bleeding can occur and leads to the death of the animals. Inspite of substantial improvements in understanding the life cycle of strongyles and adopting latest diagnostic techniques and implementing the most modern treatment and control measures, the disease is still prevalent and could not be eradicated from any part of the world. The current strategy engaged in seasonal use of anthelmintics is the key to arrest the disease and overcome anthelmintic resistance. Using a mixed grazing system and removal of all horse feces from the fields twice weekly is highly effective for the control of strongyles.
Serum Proinflammatory Chemokines in Healthy Elderly Taking or not Taking Simvastatin - Data from the Brisighella Heart Study.

BACKGROUND Recent preclinical evidence and data from adult subjects suggests that statins could improve the proinflammatory profile of hypercholesterolemic subjects. OBJECTIVES We aim to compare the serum levels of a set of proinflammatory chemokines in elderly statistical twins taking or not taking statins. MATERIAL AND METHODS Among the historical cohort of the Brisighella Heart Study, we chose 40 healthy elderly subjects continuously treated with statins for at least 1 year and 40 cross-matched subjects not treated with statins (M : F = 1 : 1) characterized by similar age, body mass index (BMI), leisure-time and working activity, smoking habits, history of cardiovascular disease, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, plasma lipids, uric acid, and creatinine. RESULTS The proinflammatory chemokine serum level is similar in statin untreated and treated statistical twins. The OR to have a serum level of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) lower than the 50th percentile of the distribution in statin-treated subjects compared to the statin untreated subjects is 0.669 (95% CI 0.193; 2.327), the OR for interleukin-8 (IL-8) = 0.818 (95% CI 0.236; 2.835), the OR for γ-interferon inducible protein-10 (IP-10) = 1.361 (95% CI 0.358; 5.175), and for interleukin-18 (IL-18) = 0.545 (95% CI 0.155; 1.914). CONCLUSIONS In relatively healthy, elderly subjects selected from a randomized general population sample, we did not observe differences in the serum levels of the selected set of proinflammatory chemokines in statin treated and untreated subjects with similar LDL-C level, suggesting that cholesterol reduction per se could be a main determinant of statin anti-inflammatory effects.
Effect of different culture conditions and inducers on production of laccase by a basidiomycete fungal isolate Pleurotus ostreatus HP-1 under solid state fermentation

The production of laccase by an indigenous strain of Pleurotus ostreatus HP-1 was studied on solid state fermentation. Culture parameters such as type and concentration of substrate, inoculum size, moisture content, pH, surfactant presence, temperature, and nitrogen source were optimized by conventional “one factor at a time” methodology. A maximum laccase yield of 3952 U g-1 of dry substrate optimized was obtained with wheat straw as substrate with five agar plugs as the inoculum, 60% moisture content, pH 5.0, surfactant concentration 0.015 gl-1, and nitrogen source (combination of L-asparagine and NH4NO3 at 10 mM concentration each) at incubation temperature 28oC. Enhancement in laccase activity was achieved with the use of various aromatic inducers and copper sulphate. Highest laccase activity of 14189 U g-1 of dry substrate was achieved using 0.28 mM copper sulphate under optimized conditions. Thus, the indigenous isolate seems to be a potential producer of laccase using SSF and can be exploited for further biotechnological applications. The process also promises economic utilization and value addition of agro-residues.
Practice variations, chance and quality of care.

In this issue Dr. William A. Ghali and colleagues publish their provocative study of Canadian (excluding Quebec) rates of in-hospital death after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for the period 1992/93 to 1995/96 (page 926). For 50 357 CABG cases, they observed an overall rate of in-hospital death of 3.6%. After adjustment for sociodemographic factors, coexisting conditions and disease severity, the rate of in-hospital death ranged from 1.95% to 5.76%. The authors suggest that there may be clinically meaningful differences in the quality of care among the 23 institutions studied. However, partly because of the uncertainties in the methodology, the authors do not favour public disclosure of the findings for individual hospitals. Some salient points merit further discussion.
Purification and protein composition of PM2, the first lipid-containing bacterial virus to be isolated.

The marine, icosahedral bacteriophage PM2 was isolated in the late 1960s. It was the first phage for which lipids were firmly demonstrated to be part of the virion structure and it has been classified as the type organism of the Corticoviridae family. The host, Pseudoalteromonas espejiana BAL-31, belongs to a common group of marine bacteria. We developed a purification method producing virions with specific infectivity approximately as high as that of the lipid-containing phages PRD1 and φ6. The sensitivity of the virus to normally used purification media such as those containing sucrose is demonstrated. We also present an alternative host, a pseudoalteromonad, that allows enhanced purification of the virus under reduced salt conditions. We show, using N-terminal amino acid sequencing and comparison with the genomic sequence, that there are at least eight structural proteins in the infectious virus.
Creatine therapy for Huntington’s disease: Clinical and MRS findings in a 1-year pilot study

Human and transgenic animal studies have implicated defective energy metabolism and oxidative stress in Huntington’s disease (HD), with evidence for deficiencies of respiratory chain activity and defective adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis in brain and skeletal muscle.1,2⇓ Correlation of the muscle bioenergetic defect and CAG repeat length provides a link between this biochemical abnormality and the HD molecular defect.1 The role of calcium-mediated excitotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction is also supported by recent findings of a mitochondrial calcium handling defect.3 In the R6/2 HD transgenic mouse, 2% dietary creatine supplementation significantly improved survival, delayed motor progression, and slowed development of brain atrophy.4 Creatine has several potential neuroprotective effects, including buffering intracellular mitochondrial energy reserves, stabilizing intracellular calcium, and inhibiting activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, which have all been linked to apoptotic and oxidative cell death. Two trials have been reported where patients with HD were given 5 g for 12 months5 and 3g for 2 months followed by 5 g for 2 months. …
Hand grip endurance test relates to clinical state and prognosis in COPD patients better than 6-minute walk test distance

Purpose Patients with COPD present peripheral muscle dysfunction and atrophy, expressed as muscle strength and endurance reduction. The goal of this study was direct dynamometric assessment of hand grip endurance and strength in relation to the stage of disease, multidimensional predictors of mortality, and 6-minute walk test (6MWT). To the best of our knowledge, there has been no previous study determining these parameters. Patients and methods In this observational study, 58 consecutive outpatients with stable COPD and 25 volunteers without respiratory problems were compared. All COPD subjects underwent a comprehensive examination to determine COPD severity, prognostic scales, and 6MWT. Body composition, basic spirometric parameters, and hand grip strength and endurance were determined in all study participants. Results Patients in the COPD group had a 15% decrease in maximum strength (P=0.012) and a 28% decrease in area under the force/time curve (AUC) of the endurance test (P<0.001) compared to the control group. Dynamometric parameters were significantly negatively associated with the stage of disease and values of multivariable prediction indexes, and positively associated with the results of 6MWT. In most cases, closer associations were found with AUC than with 6MWT and in the gender-specific groups. Conclusion Both hand grip strength and endurance are impaired in COPD patients in comparison with the control group. In particular, AUC could be considered as an attractive option not only to assess exercise capacity but also as a predictive marker with a better prognostic value than 6MWT in COPD patients. This is the first study to observe the dependence of hand grip endurance on combined COPD assessment.
Effects of sub-acute exposure to magnetic field on blood hematological and biochemical parameters in female rats.

UNLABELLED The present work was undertaken in order to investigate the effects of magnetic field (MF) on hematopoiesis and fuel metabolites in female rats. At thermoneutrality (25°C), the exposition of rats 1 hour/day for 10 consecutive days to a MF of 128 mT (m Tesla) induced an increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin compared to controls. Exposure to MF also induced an increase in blood glucose levels but had no effect on triglyceride concentrations. Moreover, serum alanine aminotransferase activity remained unchanged in treated rats, while aspartate aminotransferase and lactate dehydrogenase activities increased by about 22% and 33%, respectively, following MF exposure. It was concluded that sub-acute exposure to MF induced elevations in hematocrit, hemoglobin, plasma fuel metabolites and tissue enzymes release within the blood. KEY WORDS Magnetic field, hematology, glucose, triglycerides, plasma enzymes, rat.
Heart size matters: lessons with MRI.

‘Relatively new and powerful noninvasive imaging tests are increasingly being applied to the study of diseases of the heart, with dramatic results. ’ Cardiac enlargement is a common clinical scenario. Subtle enlargement with no or only mild symptoms may be incidentally discovered by chest x-ray, while symptomatic cardiomegaly is most frequently detected and evaluated by echocardiography. There are multiple causes of cardiomegaly, but the clinical presentation of the patient frequently narrows the range of possibilities for the etiology of heart enlargement. Reasons for cardiomegaly may be intrinsic to structural heart abnormalities, such as valvular disorders [1]. However, hypertension, obesity, diabetes and other conditions may also result in increased size of the left ventricle [2–4]. Relatively new and powerful noninvasive imaging tests are increasingly being applied to the study of diseases of the heart, with dramatic results. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heart has been performed in research laboratories since the mid-1980s, but its routine use for clinical studies has been much more recent and has accelerated within the past 5 years. MRI has many faces and may be used to evaluate such diverse processes as blood vessel imaging with MR angiography, blood flow/myocardial perfusion and regional myocardial function.
On the Use of Channel Bindings to Secure Channels

This document defines and formalizes the concept of channel bindings to secure layers and defines the channel bindings for several types of secure channels. The concept of channel bindings allows applications to prove that the end-points of two secure channels at different network layers are the same by binding authentication at one channel to the session protection at the other channel. The use of channel bindings allows applications to delegate session protection to lower layers, which may significantly improve performance for some applications.
Predictors of adolescents' health-promoting behaviors guided by primary socialization theory.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of parents and peers on adolescents' health-promoting behaviors, framed by primary socialization theory. DESIGN AND METHOD Longitudinal data collected annually from 1,081 rural youth (mean age = 17 ± 0.7; 43.5% males; 44% Hispanic) and once from their parents were analyzed using generalized linear models. RESULTS Parental monitoring and adolescent's religious commitment significantly predicted all health-promoting behaviors (nutrition, physical activity, safety, health practices awareness, and stress management). Other statistically significant predictors were parent's responsiveness and health-promoting behaviors. Peer influence predicted safety and stress management. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Nurses may facilitate adolescents' development of health-promoting behaviors through family-focused interventions.
Constitutional promoter methylation and risk of familial melanoma

Constitutional epigenetic changes detected in blood or non-disease involving tissues have been associated with disease susceptibility. We measured promoter methylation of CDKN2A (p16 and p14ARF) and 13 melanoma-related genes using bisulfite pyrosequencing of blood DNA from 114 cases and 122 controls in 64 melanoma-prone families (26 segregating CDKN2A germline mutations). We also obtained gene expression data for these genes using microarrays from the same blood samples. We observed that CDKN2A epimutation is rare in melanoma families, and therefore is unlikely to cause major susceptibility in families without CDKN2A mutations. Although methylation levels for most gene promoters were very low (<5%), we observed a significantly reduced promoter methylation (odds ratio = 0.63, 95% confidence interval = 0.50, 0.80, P < 0.001) and increased expression (fold change = 1.27, P = 0.048) for TNFRSF10C in melanoma cases. Future research in large prospective studies using both normal and melanoma tissues is required to assess the significance of TNFRSF10C methylation and expression changes in melanoma susceptibility.