Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Graded pelvic muscle exercise. Effect on stress urinary incontinence.

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of pelvic muscle exercise (PME) on stress urinary incontinence in middle-aged and elderly women. The protocol required 16 weeks of exercise three times per week, for a total of 48 sessions. Measures were taken at baseline, after a 4-week control period and after 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of PME, corresponding to PME levels 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Urine loss was evaluated using a urinary diary and 24-hour pad test at baseline, after the control period and after PME levels 2 and 4. Pelvic muscle function was evaluated every four weeks. Sixty-five parous women 35-75 years of age (mean, 51.3) with mild to moderate stress urinary incontinence were studied. No significant changes in the outcome variables were found after the control period. The results showed significant reductions in urine loss on the 24-hour pad test (t = -4.7, P < or = .0001), and episodes of urine loss decreased from 2.6 to 1.0 between the control period and PME level 4. In addition, a significant improvement occurred in pressures developed by the pelvic muscles in response to PME (t = 6.8, P < or = .0001). Significant correlations between changes in pelvic muscle pressure and in urine loss variables were not found. Women who completed the study experienced a significant reduction in the amount of urine loss as well as a significant increase in pelvic muscle characteristics. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Capsaicinoids : a potential role for weight management

The prevalence of overweight and obese individuals has risen dramatically in populations around the world over the last 30 years (Popkin et al., 2012) representing a rapidly growing burden to public health services (Wang et al., 2011). Reliance on lifestyle modification, although initially promising, has proven to be unsuccessful over the longer term (Barte et al., 2010) and there are currently a lack of successful treatment options. Capsaicinoids are a bio-active group of compounds, naturally occurring in the fruit of the plant from the genus capsicum. Initial research suggests these compounds may have beneficial effects on weight loss outcomes when ingested (Lejeune et al., 2003). A systematic review of the available literature on capsaicinoids found evidence that ingestion may increase energy expenditure by around 210kJ/day and lipid oxidation by around 20%. Ingestion may also reduce energy intake although evidence has been conflicting and the size of the effect unclear. To further aid understanding, a meta-analysis was undertaken involving intervention trials assessing the effects of capsaicinoids on energy intake. Analysis suggested capsaicinoid ingestion prior to a meal reduced ad libitum energy intake energy intake by 251kJ (60kcal) per meal (95% confidence interval of 337 – 166kJ) p < 0.001. Caution should be applied to this result however, due to the small size of the reduction and the short term nature of the trials involved. Longer term trials are needed to assess potential changes in body composition as a result of capsaicinoid interventions. To this end, a six-week placebo control intervention study was conducted to assess changes in body fat in 60 Caucasian women. Results of a sensitivity analysis found a small, statistically significant decrease in body fat percentage (0.64%, p = 0.022) and total body fat (0.67kg, p = 0.007) in the intervention group. However, the robustness of these findings are called into question by the results of an interaction analysis which of observed no significant difference between placebo control and intervention groups over time for these outcomes. The effect was also small and therefore longer term supplementation would be required to produce a medically beneficial changes in body composition.
The value of computed tomography in myasthenia gravis.

In a 5 year study, 19 patients with myasthenia gravis were studied by computed tomography (CT) and underwent thymectomy. CT was accurate in detecting the nine true thymic masses but could not differentiate thymomas from nonthymomatous masses, including thymic cysts. No thymoma was found in a patient under 25 years of age. In one case, the 18 sec scanner could not differentiate a large gland from a thymoma. In eight cases, glands with histologic thymic hyperplasia and histologically normal thymus appeared to be similar and could not be differentiated by CT.
Protein glutaminylation is a yeast-specific posttranslational modification of elongation factor 1A

Ribosomal translation factors are fundamental for protein synthesis and highly conserved in all kingdoms of life. The essential eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) delivers aminoacyl tRNAs to the A-site of the translating 80S ribosome. Several studies have revealed that eEF1A is posttranslationally modified. Using MS analysis, site-directed mutagenesis, and X-ray structural data analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiae eEF1A, we identified a posttranslational modification in which the α amino group of mono-l-glutamine is covalently linked to the side chain of glutamate 45 in eEF1A. The MS analysis suggested that all eEF1A molecules are modified by this glutaminylation and that this posttranslational modification occurs at all stages of yeast growth. The mutational studies revealed that this glutaminylation is not essential for the normal functions of eEF1A in S. cerevisiae. However, eEF1A glutaminylation slightly reduced growth under antibiotic-induced translational stress conditions. Moreover, we identified the same posttranslational modification in eEF1A from Schizosaccharomyces pombe but not in various other eukaryotic organisms tested despite strict conservation of the Glu45 residue among these organisms. We therefore conclude that eEF1A glutaminylation is a yeast-specific posttranslational modification that appears to influence protein translation.
Breast cancer treatment decision making among Latinas and non-Latina Whites: a communication model predicting decisional outcomes and quality of life.

OBJECTIVE Deciding among medical treatment options is a pivotal event following cancer diagnosis, a task that can be particularly daunting for individuals uncomfortable with communication in a medical context. Few studies have explored the surgical decision-making process and associated outcomes among Latinas. We propose a model to elucidate pathways through which acculturation (indicated by language use) and reports of communication effectiveness specific to medical decision making contribute to decisional outcomes (i.e., congruency between preferred and actual involvement in decision making, treatment satisfaction) and quality of life among Latinas and non-Latina White women with breast cancer. METHODS Latinas (N = 326) and non-Latina Whites (N = 168) completed measures six months after breast cancer diagnosis, and quality of life was assessed 18 months after diagnosis. Structural equation modeling was used to examine relationships between language use, communication effectiveness, and outcomes. RESULTS Among Latinas, 63% reported congruency in decision making, whereas 76% of non-Latina Whites reported congruency. In Latinas, greater use of English was related to better reported communication effectiveness. Effectiveness in communication was not related to congruency in decision making, but several indicators of effectiveness in communication were related to greater treatment satisfaction, as was greater congruency in decision making. Greater treatment satisfaction predicted more favorable quality of life. The final model fit the data well only for Latinas. Differences in quality of life and effectiveness in communication were observed between racial/ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS Findings underscore the importance of developing targeted interventions for physicians and Latinas with breast cancer to enhance communication in decision making.
Final Project : Bigger and Faster Data-graph Computations for Physical Simulations

We investigate the problem of implementing the physical simulations specified in the domain-specific language Simit as a data-graph computation. Data-graph computations consist of a graph G = (V,E), where each vertex has data associated with it, and an update function which is applied to each vertex, taking as inputs the neighboring vertices. PRISM is a framework for executing data-graph computations in shared memory using a scheduling technique called chromatic scheduling, where a coloring of the input graph is used to parcel out batches of independent work, sets of vertices with a common color, while preserving determinism. An alternative scheduling approach is priority-dag scheduling where a priority function ρ mapping each vertex v ∈ V to a real number is used to orient the edges from low to high priority and and thus generate a dag. We propose to extend PRISM in two primary ways. First, we will extend it to use distributed memory to enable problem sizes many orders of magnitude larger than the current implementation using a graph partitioning approach which minimizes the number of edges that cross distributed memory nodes. Second, we will replace the chromatic scheduler in PRISM with a priority-dag scheduler and a priority function which generates a cache-efficient traversal of the vertices when the input graph is locally connected and embeddable in a low-dimensional space. This subset of graphs is important for the physical simulations generated by the language Simit.
An experimental infection to investigate the indirect transmission of classical swine fever virus by excretions of infected pigs.

In this experiment transmission of classical swine fever (CSF) virus via excretions of infected pigs was investigated under experimental conditions. Five pairs of pigs were experimentally infected with CSF virus. Eight days after experimental infection, when all pigs were viraemic for at least 3 days, the pens were depopulated and 20 h later, restocked with five pairs of susceptible pigs which stayed in these pens for 35 days. During the first 3 weeks of the experiment, the pens were neither cleaned nor disinfected. During the observation period, none of the susceptible pigs became infected. This result indicates that CSF virus spread via excretions is of minor importance in the early stages of infection. For extrapolation of these findings to the field situation and to increase the validity of the conclusions further research is needed to evaluate the effect of factors like virus strain, interval, . , that may influence the outcome of the experiment.
A Minimum Bit Error-Rate Detector for Amplify and Forward Relaying Systems

In this paper, a new detector is being proposed for amplify-and-forward (AF) relaying system when communicating with the assistance of L number of relays. The major goal of this detector is to improve the bit error rate (BER) performance of the system. The complexity of the system is further reduced by implementing this detector adaptively. The proposed detector is free from channel estimation. Our results demonstrate that the proposed detector is capable of achieving a gain of more than 1-dB at a BER of 10-5 as compared to the conventional minimum mean square error detector when communicating over a correlated Rayleigh fading channel.
Low-power subthreshold to above threshold level shifter in 90 nm process

The use of multiple voltage domains in an integrated circuit has been widely utilized with the aim of finding a tradeoff between power saving and performance. Level shifters allow for effective interfacing between voltage domains supplied by different voltage levels. In this paper we present a low power level shifters in the 90nm technology node capable of converting subthreshold voltage signals to above threshold voltage signals. The level shifter makes use of MTCMOS design technique which gives more design flexibility, especially in low power systems. Post layout simulations indicate low power consumption and low energy consumption across process-, mismatch- and temperature variations. Minimum input voltage attainable while maintaining robust operation is found to be around 180mV, at maximum frequency of 1MHz. The level shifter employs an enable/disable feature, allowing for power saving when the level shifter is not in use.
Gender-Specific Reproductive Tissue in Ratites and Tyrannosaurus rex

Unambiguous indicators of gender in dinosaurs are usually lost during fossilization, along with other aspects of soft tissue anatomy. We report the presence of endosteally derived bone tissues lining the interior marrow cavities of portions of Tyrannosaurus rex (Museum of the Rockies specimen number 1125) hindlimb elements, and we hypothesize that these tissues are homologous to specialized avian tissues known as medullary bone. Because medullary bone is unique to female birds, its discovery in extinct dinosaurs solidifies the link between dinosaurs and birds, suggests similar reproductive strategies, and provides an objective means of gender differentiation in dinosaurs.
Capacitively Coupled Silicon-Organic Hybrid Modulator for 200 Gbit/S PAM-4 Signaling

We demonstrate capacitively coupled silicon-organic hybrid (SOH)modulator with a π-voltage-length product of 1.3 V mm and 3 dB EO bandwidth exceeding 65 GHz. The modulator is used for 200 Gbit/s (100 GBd)PAM-4 signaling. © 2019 The Author(s)
Enhancing Empathy in Undergraduate Nursing Students: An Experiential Ostomate Simulation

AIM The aim of this study was to implement and evaluate an experiential learning simulation created to enhance nursing students’ empathy during patient care encounters. BACKGROUND The investigators proposed that an ostomy simulation experience would be an efficient method for providing this educational content. METHOD Content analysis was conducted on essays using Krippendorff's technique to quantify the simulation. RESULTS Each unit of measure, or paper, contained between 1 to 14 empathic comments. Of the total sample, 22.8 percent had three or five empathic comments; 10 percent had four, and 9 percent had six or more comments per paper. Eighty‐five percent of participants felt this simulation experience was beneficial for enhancing empathy in clinical practice. CONCLUSION The assignment was an effective, objective method that utilized simulation to teach empathy to baccalaureate nursing students.
Enhanced growth of fetal and neonatal pulmonary artery adventitial fibroblasts is dependent on protein kinase C.

The earliest and most striking proliferative changes in the neonatal pulmonary arterial wall occur in the adventitia where the fibroblast resides. The protein kinase C (PKC) pathway is developmentally regulated and important in vascular cell growth. We tested the hypothesis that developmental differences in growth of pulmonary artery adventitial fibroblasts would be detectable in vitro and dependent on PKC. Fibroblasts were isolated from bovine fetal, neonatal, and adult pulmonary arteries. Growth was measured by [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell counts. Under serum-stimulated conditions, fetal and neonatal pulmonary artery fibroblasts grew faster and reached higher plateau densities than adult cells. Increased growth of fetal cells in vitro was dependent on time of harvest during fetal life (early > late). Under quiescent conditions, fetal and neonatal fibroblasts had increased DNA synthesis compared with adult cells in response to the PKC agonist phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. To test whether the developmental differences in fibroblast growth were dependent on PKC, three different inhibitor strategies were used (dihydrosphingosine, phorbol-ester-induced downregulation, and heparin). Fetal and neonatal fibroblasts were more susceptible than adult cells to each antagonist strategy. Finally, we measured whole cellular PKC catalytic activity and found it correlated with growth and susceptibility to PKC inhibition (i.e., fetal PKC activity > neonatal > adult). We conclude that PKC-dependent developmental differences in growth of pulmonary artery fibroblasts are detectable in vitro and that the enhanced growth capacity of fetal and neonatal cells may contribute to the dramatic adventitial thickening seen in vivo after hypoxic exposure in the neonatal calf.
An optimized center‐out k‐space trajectory for multishot MRI: Comparison with spiral and projection reconstruction

A method for collecting MRI data on a set of rotated trajectories that begin at the center of k‐space is outlined. It is theoretically slightly faster, slightly less susceptible to off‐resonance and motion‐induced phase, and produces images with slightly better signal‐to‐noise ratio than methods using Archimedean spiral trajectories, particularly for a short sampling duration. It also produces more accurate images than those of projection reconstruction methods, which are significantly undersampled azimuthally. This method may be most useful when imaging areas with large inhomogeneities (e.g., near metallic implants), short T2 species, or high turbulence (e.g., gas imaging). Magn Reson Med 42:714–720, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Hepatitis B Virus Infection and Immunizations Among Asian American College Students: Infection, Exposure, and Immunity Rates

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, exposure, and immunity among Asian American college students as a basis for evaluating HBV screening and vaccination policy. Participants and Methods: Self-identified Asian American college students aged 18 years or older were examined. Serological tests of HBV surface antigens, antibodies to HBV core antigens (anti-HBc), and antibodies to HBV surface antigens (anti-HBs) were used to determine HBV infection and immunization prevalence. Results: Among US-born students (n = 66), none was infected with HBV, 68% (n = 45) had immunity from vaccination, and 1 student had evidence of past exposure to HBV. Among foreign-born students (n = 142), 4% (n = 5) had evidence of chronic HBV infection, 62% (n = 88) had immunity from vaccination, and 19% (n = 27) had results indicating past exposure to HBV. Asian American college students showed very little knowledge of HBV vaccination; 43% reported that they had received vaccination, whereas 50% did not know whether they had received it or not. Conclusions: The prevalence of current and past HBV infection among foreign-born Asian American college students is significantly higher (p < .01), than US-born students. The lack of awareness of their HBV-infected status points out the importance of routine HBV screening of high-risk populations such as Asian students.
Impacts of Post-Treatments on Cell Performance of CIGS Solar Cells With Zn-Compound Buffer Layers

The postdeposition treatments, such as ammonia rinsing, light soaking, and heat light soaking on cell performances of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGS) solar cells with Zn-compound buffer layers, are investigated. The impacts of these treatments are discussed in connection with the band alignment at the transparent conducting oxide (TCO)/buffer/CIGS interface. Three types of CIGS solar cells with sputter-deposited ZnO:Al/CBD-ZnS(O,OH), MOCVD-ZnO:B/CBD-ZnS(O,OH), and MOCVD-ZnO:B/ALD-Zn(O,S) are investigated in this paper. The importance of the combination of buffer/TCO materials and deposition processes is discussed. We demonstrate that the adjustment of an S/(S+O) atomic ratio relevant to the band alignment at the buffer/CIGS interface is critical to achieve high-efficiency CIGS solar cells with Zn-compound buffer layer.
TCF 7 L 2 , dietary carbohydrate , and risk of type 2 diabetes in US women 1 – 3

Background: TCF7L2 is the strongest type 2 diabetes (T2D) locus identified to date, and evidence suggests it plays an important role in insulin synthesis, processing, and secretion. Dietary factors that increase the insulin demand might enhance the risk of T2D associated with TCF7L2 variants. Objective: The objective was to determine whether the risk of T2D associated with TCF7L2 is modified by the glycemic load (GL), glycemic index (GI), cereal fiber content, and total carbohydrate content of the diet. Design: T2D cases (n 1⁄4 1140) and controls (n 1⁄4 1915) from the Nurses’ Health Study were genotyped for TCF7L2 (rs12255372). Dietary intake was assessed with a semiquantitative food-frequency
RNA Interference Inhibits Respiratory Syncytial Virus Replication and Disease Pathogenesis without Inhibiting Priming of the Memory Immune Response

ABSTRACT Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a major cause of morbidity in infants, young children, and the elderly worldwide. Currently, there is no effective vaccine, and antiviral drugs to control infection are limited. RNA interference is a powerful tool amenable to development of antiviral drugs. Using small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the RSV P gene (siRNA-P), RSV replication can be silenced both in vitro and in a BALB/c model of RSV infection. In this study, we examine the effect of siRNA prophylaxis on the primary and memory immune response to RSV infection in mice. We show that mice prophylactically treated with siRNA-P to decrease but not eliminate RSV replication exhibit reduced pulmonary inflammation and lung pathogenesis and produce a robust anti-RSV memory response when subsequently challenged with RSV. The pulmonary T-cell memory response was characterized by high numbers of CD44hi CD62Llo CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, M2 peptide tetramer+ CD8+ T cells expressing gamma interferon, and an RSV-specific antibody response. The results support the hypothesis that siRNAs can be developed as effective antiviral drugs that can be used to reduce the viral load and parameters of pathogenesis without limiting the induction of the memory immune response.
Soft Tissue Anchoring Performance, Biomechanical Properties, and Tissue Reaction of a New Hernia Mesh Engineered to Address Hernia Occurrence and Recurrence.

One opportunity to reduce hernia occurrence and recurrence rates (currently estimated to be 30% at 10 years postoperatively) is by enhancing the ability of hernia meshes to anchor into tissue to prevent mesh migration, mesh contraction, and mesh tearing away from tissue. To address this, we developed a novel moderate-weight, macroporous, polypropylene mesh (termed the T-line mesh) with mesh extensions to optimize anchoring. We examined the physical properties, biomechanical performance, and biocompatibility of this novel mesh versus a predicate mesh anchored with #0-suture. The physical properties of the T-line mesh and predicate mesh were measured using American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standards. Meshes were implanted into a swine hernia model and harvested after one day to determine anchoring strength of the meshes in the perioperative period. A separate group was implanted into a swine hernia model and harvested at 30 days and 90 days for semiquantitative histological analysis of biocompatibility. T-line mesh physical properties were similar to commonly used moderate-weight meshes in thickness and areal density. The T-line mesh outperformed the predicate mesh in all mechanical testing (P < 0.05). In the perioperative period, the T-line mesh was ∼275% stronger (P < 0.001) than the standard of care. Histological analysis of biocompatibility demonstrated no significant difference between the T-line mesh and predicate mesh (P > 0.05). The T-line mesh is a novel hernia mesh that outperforms a predicate mesh in mechanical and biomechanical performance testing while exhibiting similar biocompatibility. The T-line mesh has the potential to reduce hernia occurrence and recurrence caused by mechanical failure.