Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does Pulsatile and Sustained Neck Pressure or Neck Suction Produce Differential Cardiovascular and Sympathetic Responses in Humans?

Although square‐wave sustained and R wave‐triggered pulsatile stimuli have been used to assess carotid baroreflex (CBR) function in humans, it remains unclear whether these different stimulus protocols elicit comparable responses and whether CBR responses adapt during prolonged stimulation. Thus, we measured muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), heart rate (HR) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in response to +30 Torr neck pressure (NP) and ‐30 Torr neck suction (NS) delivered for 20 s either as a sustained or pulsatile stimulus. CBR‐mediated changes in MSNA, HR and MAP were similar with sustained and pulsatile stimuli. The time course of MSNA and HR responses identified that significant changes occurred during the initial 5 s and were better maintained over 20 s with NP than with NS. Changes in MAP exhibited a slower onset with the peak increase during NP occurring at 10 s (sustained, 7 ± 1 mmHg; pulsatile, 7 ± 1 mmHg; P > 0.05) and the nadir during NS occurring at 20 s (sustained, ‐7 ± 1 mmHg; pulsatile, ‐9 ± 2 mmHg; P > 0.05). These data demonstrate that sustained and pulsatile NP and NS produce comparable CBR‐mediated responses. Furthermore, despite MSNA and HR returning towards baseline during NS, CBR‐mediated changes in MAP are well maintained over 20 s of NS and NP.
Patient Education on Prostate Cancer Screening and Involvement in Decision Making

PURPOSE Many clinicians lack resources to engage patients in shared decision making for prostate cancer screening. We sought to evaluate whether previsit educational decision aids facilitate shared decision making. METHODS This randomized controlled study compared a Web-based and a paper-based decision aid with no previsit education. Men aged 50 to 70 years undergoing a health maintenance examination at a large family practice were enrolled. The primary outcome was patient-reported level of control over the decision to be screened. Secondary outcomes included frequency of screening, patient knowledge, decisional conflict, and time spent discussing screening. RESULTS A total of 497 men participated (75 control, 196 brochure, 226 Web site). Patients exposed to either aid were no more likely than control patients to report a collaborative decision: 36% of patients in each group reported equally sharing decision responsibility. Exposure to either decision aid increased patients’ involvement in decision making compared with the control condition (Web site, P = .03; brochure, P = .03). Only 46% of control patients reported an active decision-making role, compared with 56% of Web site and 54% of brochure patients. Patients exposed to a decision aid answered a greater percentage of knowledge questions correctly (54% control vs 69% Web site, P <.001, and vs 69% brochure, P <.001) and were less likely to be screened (94% control vs 86% Web site, P = .06, and vs 85% brochure, P = .04). CONCLUSIONS Patients in the decision aid groups were more informed and more engaged in the screening decision than their control counterparts. Exposure did not promote shared decision-making control, however. Whether shared decision making is the ideal model and how to measure its occurrence are subjects for further research.
Combining Word and Character N-Grams for Detecting Deceptive Opinions

Essentially, opinion reviews are a valuable and trustworthy source of information for the readers. However, regarding the business purposes, a huge number of deceptive opinions are intentionally posted on the Web. In order to keep opinion reviews as a precious and trusted resource, we propose a method which focuses on detecting positive and negative deceptive opinions. In this paper, we explore the feasibility of combining word and character n-grams as a feature for detecting positive and negative deceptive opinions. The majority of studies in this task show that employing n-grams, i.e., words or characters, as a feature is sufficient to obtain good results. We examine our proposed method using a corpus about hotel reviews containing positive and negative opinions both deceptive and truthful. We extract each of word and character n-grams from reviews in the dataset, and then combine them as a feature. Our experiment results show that our proposed method outperforms methods of using the word or character n-grams alone. Furthermore, we consider applying the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to classify the dominant and nonessential feature attributes for decreasing the size of feature attributes. The obtained results by removing the irrelevant feature attributes are similar to those of using all feature attributes.
Suggestions for Revised Scoring of the Tower of Hanoi Test

Detailed time and error analyses of the Tower of Hanoi (TOH) test was performed using four repeated assessments of eight children (ages 9-12 years), who had perceptual and problem solving deficits. The time before each move was measured. In addition to the traditionally counted time scores, new, relative time scores were computed in order to separate the planning time from the general reaction speed. New error scores were defined and sum scores of serious errors (perserative moves, illegal moves, and wrong results) and mild errors (self-corrected moves, almost performed moves, and interrupted trials) were computed. The relative planning time correlated positively with the achieved score, and negatively with the serious errors. The serious errors correlated negatively with the achieved score. The relative planning time seems to measure the quality of planning better than does the raw planning time, and it is a recommended score for TOH analysis. The value of new error scores requires additional research.
In search of anatomic truth: 3-dimensional digital modeling and the future of orthodontics.

The goal of imaging in medicine and dentistry has been to display a patient’s anatomic truth. Until now, imaging technology has been largely confined to 2 dimensions. Some 3-dimensional (3D) imaging techniques have been developed, but they are limited by the amount of information they can display and by their static nature. The development of an interactive 3D digital model of a patient’s anatomy would greatly improve our ability to determine different treatment options, to monitor changes over time (the fourth dimension), to predict and display final treatment results, and to measure treatment outcomes more accurately.
The association of ENPP1 K121Q with diabetes incidence is abolished by lifestyle modification in the diabetes prevention program.

CONTEXT Insulin resistance is an important feature of type 2 diabetes. Ectoenzyme nucleotide pyrophosphatase phosphodiesterase 1 (ENPP1) inhibits insulin signaling, and a recent meta-analysis reported a nominal association between the Q allele in the K121Q (rs1044498) single nucleotide polymorphism in its gene ENPP1 and type 2 diabetes. OBJECTIVE AND INTERVENTION: We examined the impact of this polymorphism on diabetes incidence as well as insulin secretion and sensitivity at baseline and after treatment with a lifestyle intervention or metformin vs. placebo in the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP). DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, AND OUTCOME: We genotyped ENPP1 K121Q in 3548 DPP participants and performed Cox regression analyses using genotype, intervention, and interactions as predictors of diabetes incidence. RESULTS Fasting glucose and glycated hemoglobin were higher in QQ homozygotes at baseline (P < 0.001 for both). There was a significant interaction between genotype at rs1044498 and intervention under the dominant model (P = 0.03). In analyses stratified by treatment arm, a positive association with diabetes incidence was found in Q allele carriers compared to KK homozygotes [hazard ratio (HR), 1.38; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.08-1.76; P = 0.009] in the placebo arm (n = 996). Lifestyle modification eliminated this increased risk. These findings persisted after adjustment for body mass index and race/ethnicity. Association of ENPP1 K121Q genotype with diabetes incidence under the additive and recessive genetic models showed consistent trends [HR, 1.10 (95% CI, 0.99-1.23), P = 0.08; and HR, 1.16 (95% CI, 0.92-1.45), P = 0.20, respectively] but did not reach statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS ENPP1 K121Q is associated with increased diabetes incidence; the DPP lifestyle intervention eliminates this increased risk.
Cloning and nucleotide sequence of the leucyl-tRNA synthetase gene of Bacillus subtilis

The leucyl-tRNA synthetase gene (leuS) of Bacillus subtilis was cloned and sequenced. A mutation in the gene, leuS1, increases the transcription and expression of the ilv-leu operion, permitting monitoring of leuS alleles. The leuS1 mutation was mapped to 270 degrees on the chromosome. Sequence analysis showed that the mutation is a single-base substitution, possibly in a monocistronic operon. The leader mRNA predicted by the sequence would contain a number of possible secondary structures and a T box, a sequence observed upstream of leader mRNA terminators of Bacillus tRNA synthetases and the B. subtilis ilv-leu operon. The DNA of the B. subtilis leuS open reading frame is 48% identical to the leuS gene of Escherichia coli and is predicted to encode a polypeptide with 46% identity to the leucyl-tRNA synthetase of E. coli.
Poly-SiGe-based MEMS Xylophone Bar Magnetometer

This paper presents the design, fabrication and preliminary characterization of highly sensitive MEMS-based Xylophone Bar Magnetometers (XBMs) realized in imec's poly-SiGe MEMS technology. Key for our Lorentz force driven capacitively sensed resonant sensor are the combination of reasonably high Q-factor and conductivity of imec's poly-SiGe, our optimized multiphysics sensor design targeting the maximization of the Q-factor in a wide temperature range as well as our proprietary monolithic above-CMOS integration and packaging schemes. Prototypes 3-axis devices were fabricated and characterized. We present optical vibrometer and electrical S-parameter measurements of XBMs performed in vacuum with a reference magnet at increasing sensor separation. The optical oscillation amplitude is well correlated with the magnetic field amplitude. The electrical 2-port measurements, 1st port as Lorentz force actuator and 2nd port as capacitive sensor, also reproduces the designed magnetic field dependence. This opens the way towards the on-chip integration of small footprint extremely sensitive magnetometers.
Corticosteroids Inhibit Cell Death Induced by Doxorubicin in Cardiomyocytes: Induction of Antiapoptosis, Antioxidant, and Detoxification Genes

Psychological or physical stress induces an elevation of corticosteroids in the circulating system. We report here that corticosterone (CT) protects cardiomyocytes from apoptotic cell death induced by doxorubicin (Dox), an antineoplastic drug known to induce cardiomyopathy possibly through reactive oxygen species production. The cytoprotection induced by CT is within the range of physiologically relevant doses. The lowest dose tested, 0.1 μM (or 3.5 μg/dl), inhibited apoptosis by approximately 25% as determined by caspase activity. With 1 μM CT, cardiomyocytes gain a cytoprotective effect after 8 h of incubation and remain protected for at least 72 h. Hydrocortisone, cortisone, dexamethasone, and aldosterone but not androstenedione or cholesterol also induced cytoprotection. Analyses of 20,000 gene expression sequences using Affymetrix high-density oligonucleotide array found that CT caused up-regulation of 140 genes and down-regulation of 108 genes over 1.5-fold. Among the up-regulated genes are bcl-xL, metallothioneins, glutathione peroxidase-3, and glutathione S-transferases. Western blot analyses revealed that CT induced an elevation of bcl-xL but not bcl-2 or proapoptotic factors bax, bak, and bad. Inhibiting the expression of bcl-xL reduced the cytoprotective effect of CT. Our data suggest that CT induces a cytoprotective effect on cardiomyocytes in association with reprogramming gene expression and induction of bcl-xL gene.
Simple, effective interventions are key to improving adherence in marginalized populations.

To assist any marginalized population in poor health, we require simple, effective interventions that are pragmatically accessible. In this issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases, Petersen et al. [1] demonstrate an important association between pillbox use and both improved adherence and decreased HIV load. Considering the low cost and simplicity of this intervention, it represents an important tool to assist patients with HIV infection who are on the
A Formal Foundation for Secure Remote Execution of Enclaves

Recent proposals for trusted hardware platforms, such as Intel SGX and the MIT Sanctum processor, offer compelling security features but lack formal guarantees. We introduce a verification methodology based on a trusted abstract platform (TAP), a formalization of idealized enclave platforms along with a parameterized adversary. We also formalize the notion of secure remote execution and present machine-checked proofs showing that the TAP satisfies the three key security properties that entail secure remote execution: integrity, confidentiality and secure measurement. We then present machine-checked proofs showing that SGX and Sanctum are refinements of the TAP under certain parameterizations of the adversary, demonstrating that these systems implement secure enclaves for the stated adversary models.
The Penalization of Non-Communicating UN Global Compact’s Companies by Investors and Its Implications for This Initiative’s Effectiveness

Companies that have joined the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) are required to submit a Communication on Progress (COP), which is an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) report, to the UNGC every year. If they fail to do so, they are marked and listed as non-communicating on the UNGC website. Using the event study methodology, this study shows that a company that fails to report to the UNGC is penalized in the financial markets with an average cumulative abnormal return of −1.6% over a period of 5 trading days around the event. Although a major critique against the UNGC is that the initiative’s voluntary nature and its lack of external monitoring and sanction mechanisms render it ineffective in terms of the business participants’ implementation of the UNGC principles into their operations, this result suggests that investors may be able to pressure UNGC business participants to increase their compliance with the UNGC requirements and to “walk the talk. ”
Bayesian Phylogenetic Analysis of Avipoxviruses from North American Wild Birds Demonstrates New Insights into Host Specificity and Interspecies Transmission

SUMMARY. Avian pox is commonly diagnosed in a variety of North American wild and domestic birds, yet little is known about the evolutionary relationships among the causative poxviruses. This study aimed to determine the phylogenetic relationships among isolates identified in different avian host species to better characterize the host range of specific viral strains and compare the genetic variability within and between viral clades. Skin lesions grossly and microscopically consistent with poxvirus infection from 82 birds collected in Canada, the United States, and the U.S. Virgin Islands were included in this study. A total of 12 avian species were represented; the most common species sampled were wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo), mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), and American crows (Corvus brachyrhynchos). Poxvirus samples from these birds were genotyped using PCR that targeted the 4b core protein gene followed by amplicon sequencing. Bayesian phylogenetic analyses of these viruses, in conjunction with publicly available sequences, representing avipoxvirus strains from six continents revealed statistically significant monophyletic clades based on genetic distances of sequences within and between observed clades. Genetic variation within the fowlpox clade was low compared to the canarypox clade. Host and geographic origins of viral isolates revealed overall clustering of viral strains within avian species, with a few exceptions. No genetic differences were observed between viruses from Canada and the United States within individual species. These results are novel in their characterization and comparison of the phylogenetic relationships of poxvirus isolates in wild bird species from North America. Further, we provide new data on the level of host specificity and specific strains circulating in North America.
Hadronic resonances from ALICE in pp collisions

The study of resonances in p s = 7 TeV pp collisions provides a test of QCD in a new energy domain as well as a baseline for heavy-ion collisions. The resonances K (892) 0 , (1020), (1385) , (1520), and (1530) 0 have been reconstructed at mid- rapidity from their hadronic decay using data collected by the ALICE detector. The com- parison of (1020) and (1385) pT-spectra to QCD-inspired models such as PHOJET and di erent PYTHIA tunes are shown.
PyGPU: A high-level language for high-speed image processing

Image processing is an area with many computationally demanding algorithms. When implementing an algorithm the programmer has to make the choice of either using a high-level language, thereby gaining rapid development at the expense of run-time performance. Or, using a lower-level language having higher runtime performance, but also a higher implementation cost. In this paper we present PyGPU, an embedded language that enables image processing algorithms to be written in the highlevel, object-oriented language Python. PyGPU functions are compiled to execute on the graphics processing unit (GPU) present on modern graphics cards, a streaming processor capable of speeds more than a magnitude higher than those of current generation CPUs. We demonstrate a number of common image processing algorithms, showing how these can be implemented succinctly and clearly using high-level abstractions, while at the same time achieving high performance.
Probing the influence on folding behavior of structurally conserved core residues in P. aeruginosa apo‐azurin

The effects on folding kinetics and equilibrium stability of core mutations in the apo‐mutant C112S of azurin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa were studied. A number of conserved residues within the cupredoxin family were recognized by sequential alignment as constituting a common hydrophobic core: I7, F15, L33, W48, F110, L50, V95, and V31. Of these, I7, V31, L33, and L50 were mutated for the purpose of obtaining information on the transition state and a potential folding nucleus. In addition, residue V5 in the immediate vicinity of the common core, as well as T52, separate from the core, were mutated as controls. All mutants exhibited a nonlinear dependence of activation free energy of folding on denaturant concentration, although the refolding kinetics of the V31A/C112S mutant indicated that the V31A mutation destabilizes the transition state enough to allow folding via a parallel transition state ensemble. Φ‐values could be calculated for three of the six mutants, V31A/C112S, L33A/C112S, and L50A/C112S, and the fractional values of 0.63, 0.33, and 0.50 (respectively) obtained at 0.5 M GdmCl suggest that these residues are important for stabilizing the transition state. Furthermore, a linear dependence of ln kobsH2O on ΔGU−NH2O of the core mutations and the putative involvement of ground‐state effects suggest the presence of native‐like residual interactions in the denatured state that bias this ensemble toward a folding‐competent state.
The influence of culture on the experiences of Korean, Korean American, and Caucasian-American family caregivers of frail older adults: a literature review.

PURPOSE The purpose of this review is to explore cultural influences on the experiences of Korean, Korean American, and Caucasian American family caregivers caring for frail older adults in terms of the selection of a primary caregiver, caregiving motivation, support/help-seeking, and negative emotional responses(depression and burden). METHODS Seven electronic databases were searched to retrieve studies from 1966 to 2005. Thirty-two studies were identified. RESULTS This review supported cultural influences on the selection of primary caregiver, caregiving motivation, and support/help-seeking among the three caregiver groups. In Korean caregivers, the major primary caregivers were daughters-in-law while among Korean American and Caucasian American caregivers, the major primary caregivers were daughters or spouses. As a major caregiving motivation, Caucasian American caregivers reported filial affection while Korean caregivers and Korean American caregivers reported filial obligation. Korean caregivers reported higher extended family support, while Caucasian American caregivers reported higher utilization of formal support. Korean caregivers showed the highest levels of depression followed by Korean American caregivers and Caucasian American caregivers. CONCLUSION In order to develop culturally appropriate interventions and policies, more research is needed to further explain these differences among the three groups, especially regarding support/help-seeking and negative emotional responses.
Plans and performances: Parallels in the production of science and music

Whether in the science lab or the music studio, we go in with a plan, we perform, and we make a record of that performance for distribution, consumption, and reuse. Both domains are increasingly data-intensive, with the adoption of new technology, and also socially intensive with democratised and growing citizen engagement. The music industry has embraced digital technology throughout the lifecycle from composition to consumption; scientific practice, and scholarly communication, are also undergoing transformation. Is the music industry more digital than science? We suggest that comparing and contrasting these two systems will provide insights of mutual benefit. Our investigation explores the notion of the Digital Music Object, analogous to the Research Object, for rich capture, sharing and reuse of both process and content.
Horizontal mergers mode and controlled policy

I probed into the relationship between market concentration ratio with horizontal mergers mode incorporate profit and social welfare in an oligopoly by 2-stage Generalized-Stackelberg-Nash-Cournot. We figured out which model a manufacture selected was decided by how many leaders and followers were before incorporation and importance degree they attached to various incorporate modes. Infact, most incorporate cases got profit but declined social welfare and the market concentration ratio took negative relation on social welfare after incorporation. However, market concentration ratio did not decrease but increasedand social welfare increased too if two followers chose to become one leader and the number of followers was twice more than the number of leaders. Besides, a government should not intervene if a incorporation can increase social welfare and also get profit; on the contrary, a manufacture should be amerced the profit balance of pre-and post-incorporation.
Microwave‐Assisted Solvent‐Free Synthesis of Bis(dihydropyrimidinone)benzenes and Evaluation of their Cytotoxic Activity

An effective one‐pot synthesis of bis(dihydropyrimidinonoe)benzenes using chlorotrimethylsilane (TMSCl) through Biginelli condensation reaction of terephthalic aldehyde, 1,3‐dicarbonyl compounds and (thio)urea or guanidine under microwave irradiation conditions is described. Excellent yields of the products and simple work‐up are attractive features of this green protocol. Then, the cytotoxic activities of these compounds were evaluated on five different human cancerous cell lines (Raji, HeLa, LS‐180, SKOV‐3 and MCF7). Their cytotoxic study indicated that they possessed a weak to moderate activity. Furthermore, the higher activity of compound 4b bearing sulfur in C2 position of pyrimidinone ring showed the importance of this site for cytotoxic activity of these compounds.