Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sexual quality of life in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery

Objectives: Despite improvements in many domains of functioning, sexual quality of life often remains impaired following coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery. This study examined associations among sexual quality of life, fear of sexual activity and receiving information from providers about sexual activity in CABG patients. Methods: Participants completed a survey assessing sexual activity, mental health and physical health at baseline (3–5-day post-surgery; n = 60) and 2-month post-surgery (n = 42). Results: Sexual quality of life showed moderate difficulties at baseline and did not improve by follow-up (p values ≥0.09). At follow-up, greater patient fear was associated with lower sexual quality of life in some domains; receiving information was related to lower fear (p values ≤0.03) and greater sexual satisfaction and interest (p values ≤0.04). Suggestive of mediation, there was a significant indirect effect of information on patient fear and of patient fear on sexual interest (p = 0.05). Conclusions: Though data were cross-sectional, findings suggest that fears of sexual activity may play a role in lowering CABG patients’ motivation for sexual activity and that receiving information from a medical provider may assist in hastening sexual rehabilitation. Prospective and intervention studies are needed to support findings.
Parallel Chemistry in the 21st Century

The tool chest of techniques, methodologies, and equipment for conducting parallel chemistry is larger than ever before. Improvements in the laboratory and developments in computational chemistry have enabled compound library design at the desks of medicinal chemists. This unit includes a brief background in combinatorial/parallel synthesis chemistry, along with a discussion of evolving technologies for both solid‐ and solution‐phase chemistry. In addition, there are discussions on designing compound libraries, acquisition/procurement of compounds and/or reagents, the chemistry and equipment used for chemical production, purification, sample handling, and data analysis. Curr. Protoc. Pharmacol. 58:9.16. 1‐9.16. 16. © 2012 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Repeated-Sprint Performance in Team Sport Players: Associations with Measures of Aerobic Fitness, Metabolic Control and Locomotor Function

Abstract To examine the respective associations between indices of aerobic fitness, metabolic control and locomotor function and repeated sprint-performance, 61 team sport players performed: a repeated-sprint sequence (RSS), an incremental test to exhaustion to determine maximal oxygen uptake (V˙O2max) and peak incremental test speed (Inc. test speed), and 2–4 submaximal runs to determine the time constant of the primary phase of V˙O2 kinetics at exercise onset (V˙O2τon) and cessation (V˙O2τoff). The best (RSbest) sprint times and mean sprint times (RSmean) and the percent sprint decrement (%Dec) were calculated. RSmean was almost perfectly correlated with RSbest (r=0.92;90%CL(0.88;0.95)), largely correlated with Inc. test speed (r=−0.71;90%CL(− 0.79; − 0.59)) and moderately correlated with V˙O2max (r= − 0.58;90%CL(− 0.70; − 0.43)); the correlations with V˙O2τon or V˙O2τoff were unclear. For%Dec, the correlations with Inc. test speed, V˙O2max and V˙O2τon were moderate (r=− 0.41;90%CL(− 0.56; − 0.23)), small (r=− 0.26;90%CL(− 0.43; − 0.06)) and small (r=0.28;90%CL(0.09;0.46)), respectively. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that the only significant predictors of RSmean were RSbest and Inc. test speed (r 2=0.88). Inc. test speed and RSbest were also the only significant predictors of %Dec (r 2=0.26). Present results obtained in a large sample of team sport players highlight that locomotor factors (i. e., RSbest and Inc. test speed) show much larger associations with repeated-sprint performance than V˙O2max and V˙O2 kinetics.
Multiple elements in the eIF 4 G 1 N-terminus promote assembly of eIF 4 G 1 • PABP mRNPs in vivo

Thank you for submitting your manuscript for consideration by The EMBO Journal. After some delay due to difficulties with the availability of suitable and willing referees during the past summer holiday period it has now been seen by three referees whose comments are shown below. As you will see while referee 3 feels strongly that the manuscript would be better suited to publication in a more specialised journal the other two referees are considerably more positive and would support publication here after appropriate revision. On balance and given the strong support by the majority of the referees I have decided to invite you to prepare a revised manuscript in which you need to address the issues raised by the referees in an adequate manner. Specifically I would like to urge you to make the manuscript more easily accessible to the non-specialist reader and to place your findings into a broader conceptual context by discussing the more general functional implications of your findings, i.e. on the role of mRNA circularisation via the eIF4G-PABP interaction, in considerably more depth.
A DSP-based resolver-to-digital conversion using pulse excitation

Resolvers are absolute angle measurement and are mounted on the motor shaft to get the motor's absolute angular position. This study proposes a digital signal processor (DSP) based resolver-to-digital (R/D) conversion using pulse excitation. A pulse signal generated by a DSP is utilized as a reference signal coupled into the resolver's rotor winding and provides primary excitation. The output signals of the resolver are two orthogonal stator coils modulated with the sine and cosine of the motor shaft angle. The sine and cosine modulated output signals are sampled by the analog-to-digital (A/D) converter of the DSP. The sampled frequency of output signals are the same frequency as the pulse signal. The angular position is derived by the inverse tangent of the quotient of the demodulated sine and cosine samples. Test results are presented to validate the performances of the proposed scheme.
Egg viability as a constraint on hatching synchrony at high ambient temperatures

Summary 1. We tested experimentally the effects of exposure to high ambient temperatures, for periods of 1–9 days, on the viability of eggs of the green-rumped parrotlet. 2. The hatchability of 534 newly laid parrotlet eggs declined after exposure of 3 or more days. 3. The probability of hatching was not significantly affected by the duration or proportion of time exposed to temperatures below physiological zero or above normal incubation range. 4. Incubation periods were negatively correlated with exposure time, suggesting some embryo development occurred prior to incubation. 5. Results presented here corroborate similar studies of temperate zone birds, and suggest that the decline in egg viability may be particularly extreme in hot climates, such as tropical lowlands. 6. We suggest that the relationship between ambient temperature and egg viability could contribute to both seasonal and latitudinal trends in clutch size, hatching success and hatching asynchrony.
Anal ysis of Candidate Genes for Insulin in Essential Hypertension Resistance

To clarify the genetic basis of insulin resistance in hypertension, case-control association studies were performed to examine candidate genes for insulin resistance in hypertension. Since the main site of insulin resistance in hypertension is glycogen synthesis in skeletal muscle, genes that encode molecules involved in this pathway, i.e. insulin receptor (INSR), insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT4) and glycogen synthase (GSY), were studied. In addition, since recent studies suggest the contribution of /93 adrenergic receptor to the insulin resistance syndrome, the gene encoding ~3 adrenergic receptor (ADRB3) was also studied. Frequency of homozygotes for common C allele of a microsatellite polymorphism in the INSR gene was higher in the hyperinsulinemia group, but not in the normoinsulinemia group of hypertensive patients than in normotensive control subjects. Insulin sensitivity, however, was not significantly different between hypertensive patients with C/C genotype and those without this genotype. No significant differences were observed in the distribution of alleles or genotypes of the GLUT4, GSY and ADRB3 genes between hyperinsulinemia and normoinsulinemia groups of hypertensive patients or between these groups and the control group. These data suggest that the INSR polymorphism is associated with hyperinsulinemia, but not with insulin resistance, in hypertension. (Hypertens Res 1996; 19 Suppl. I: S31-S34)
High‐Performance, High‐Index‐Contrast Chalcogenide Glass Photonics on Silicon and Unconventional Non‐planar Substrates

This paper reports a versatile technique for the fabrication of high‐index‐contrast photonic structures on both silicon and plastic substrates. The fabrication technique combines low‐temperature chalcogenide glass film deposition and resist‐free single‐step thermal nanoimprint to process low‐loss, sub‐micron single‐mode waveguides with a smooth surface finish using simple contact photolithography. Using this approach, the first chalcogenide glass microring resonators are fabricated by thermal nanoimprinting. The devices exhibit an ultra‐high quality factor of 4 × 105 near 1550 nm wavelengths, which represents the highest value reported in chalcogenide glass microring resonators. Furthermore, sub‐micrometer nanoimprinting of chalcogenide glass films on non‐planar plastic substrates is demonstrated, which establishes the method as a facile route for the monolithic fabrication of high‐index‐contrast devices on a wide array of unconventional substrates.
Patch-Clamp Fluorometry Recording of Conformational Rearrangements of Ion Channels

Conformational rearrangements are commonly observed in membrane proteins and constitute the molecular mechanisms through which they contribute to signal transduction. Information on structural changes in membrane proteins has mostly been inferred from functional studies. Recently, site-specific fluorescence recordings have made it possible to directly observe such molecular events in real time within the membrane environment. Here, we describe the patch-clamp fluorometry (PCF) technique that records simultaneously the local structural changes and the functional states of ion channels in isolated cell membranes. Combined with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), the technique should shed new light on ion channel activation, regulation, and interaction with other membrane proteins.
Robot control for dummies: Insights and examples using OpenSoT

In this paper we present OpenSoT, an open-source, recently developed software library, that can be used to solve robotics related control problems in a flexible and easy way. OpenSoT includes high-level interfaces to state-of-the-art algorithms for kinematic/dynamic modelling, quadratic programming optimization, cost functions and constraints specification. OpenSoT is implemented in C++ and permits rapid prototyping of controllers for fixed or floating base, highly redundant robots such as (but not limited to) manipulators and humanoids. We discuss the use of OpenSoT from the perspective of the developer and the user, leaving out details on the implementation of the tool. We demonstrate how the software can be used with two examples: control of a redundant humanoid robot through simple inverse kinematics schemes and contact forces optimization.
Design and evaluation of realizable and compact low-impedance transmission lines for two top-metal-layer semiconductor processes

This paper compares three different narrow 12.5Ω lines regarding their insertion loss. All three lines are realizable on a two top-metal-layer semiconductor process. It turns out that an artificial LC/ telegrapher line, composed of high and low impedance line elements, has the lowest loss of all three presented lines. The investigation, which is based on EM simulations is verified by S-Parameter measurements of all three lines up to 325 GHz. For a length of 315 µm the LC line shows an insertion loss of 2.5 dB@200 GHz.
Ein Fallbericht von zwei Patienten mit pseudophakieassoziiertem Makulaödem: Kann die OCT die Fluoreszein-Angiografie ersetzen?

Das Makulaödem ist eine mögliche Komplikation nach Katarakt-Chirurgie [1, 2]. Im Falle des Irvine-Gass-Syndroms äußert sich dieses durch die Bildung eines zystoiden Makulaödems mit intraretinaler Flüssigkeitsansammlung. Während die Fluoreszein-Angiografie der Standard ist [3], ist in den letzten Jahren die Frage aufgekommen, ob die OCT die Angiografie ersetzen kann. Die OCT hat den Vorteil, dass die Untersuchung nicht invasiv ist. Intraretinale zystoide Räume sind mithilfe der OCT gut darstellbar [4]. Durch die Einführung des hochauflösenden Spectral-domain-OCT ist es sogar möglich, ein bestimmtes Areal der Netzhaut mit dicht aneinanderliegenden, parallelen OCT-B-Scans vollständig zu erfassen und mit nahezu histologischer Detailgenauigkeit abzubilden. In dieser Kasuistik berichten wir über 2 Patienten, bei denen das Makulaödem nach Katarakt-Chirurgie nur in der Angiografie zu sehen war, nicht jedoch mithilfe der OCT.
Relating tortuocity and extracellular potentials in a two-dimensional model of ventricular myocardium

The effects of tortuocity imposed by dead cell strips on propagation characteristics and on extracellular field were studied in a two-dimensional (2D) model of ventricular myocardium. Small nonconducting openings in the dead cell strips effected propagation in various ways depending on their relative position with respect to the corridors created between them. Lower anisotropy ratios resulted in increased conduction delay. Finally it was shown that the peak ionic current, does not always coincide with the peak negative derivative of the extracellular potential.
Assessing Research Activity and Capacity of Community-Based Organizations: Development and Pilot Testing of an Instrument

Background: Although awareness of the importance of the research capacity of community-based organizations (CBOs) is growing, a uniform framework of the research capacity domains within CBOs has not yet been developed.Objectives: To develop a framework and instrument (the Community REsearch Activity assessment Tool [CREAT]) for assessing the research activity and capacity of CBOs that incorporates awareness of the different data collection and analysis priorities of CBOs.Methods: We conducted a review of existing tools for assessing research capacity to identify key capacity domains. Instrument items were developed through an iterative process with CBO representatives and community researchers. The CREAT was then pilot tested with 30 CBOs.Results: The four primary domains of the CREAT framework include 1) organizational support for research, 2) generalizable experiences, 3) research specific experiences, and 4) funding. Organizations reported a high prevalence of activities in the research-specific experiences domain, including conducting literature reviews (70%), use of research terminology (83%), and primary data collection (100%). Respondents see research findings as important to improve program and service delivery, and to seek funds for new programs and services. Funders, board members, and policymakers are the most important dissemination audiences.Conclusion: The work reported herein advances the field of CBO research capacity by developing a systematic framework for assessing research activity and capacity relevant to the work of CBOs, and by developing and piloting an instrument to assess activity in these domains.
RF circuit block modeling via Kriging surrogates

The use of replacement metamodels (global surrogate models) has become commonplace as a cost effective alternative for performing complex high fidelity computer simulations. Due to their compact formulation and negligible evaluation time, global surrogate models are very useful tools for exploring the design space, what-if analysis, optimization, and sensitivity analysis. In addition, multiple surrogate models can be chained together to easily model large scale systems where a direct, fullwave simulation would be too cumbersome. Two crucial aspects of global surrogate modeling are data collection (sequential design) and hyperparameter optimization. Kriging models have become very popular in many domains but have seen little application in electronics and electro-magnetism. In this paper we study the impact of different hyperparameter optimization algorithms and sampling strategies on the accuracy of Kriging models as applied to a low noise amplifier (LNA) RF circuit block.
Genome Sequences of Two Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato Race 1 Strains, Isolated from Tomato Fields in California

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato race 1 strains have evolved to overcome genetic resistance in tomato. Here, we present the draft genome sequences of two race 1 P. syringae pv. tomato strains, A9 and 407, isolated from diseased tomato plants in California.
Impaired healing of cutaneous wounds and colonic anastomoses in mice lacking thrombin‐activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor

Summary. Plasmin and other components of the plasminogen activation system play an important role in tissue repair by regulating extracellular matrix remodeling, including fibrin degradation. Thrombin‐activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) is a procarboxypeptidase that, after activation, can attenuate plasmin‐mediated fibrin degradation by removing the C‐terminal lysine residues from fibrin, which play a role in the binding and activation of plasminogen. To test the hypothesis that TAFI is an important determinant in the control of tissue repair, we investigated the effect of TAFI deficiency on the healing of cutaneous wounds and colonic anastomoses. Histological examination revealed inappropriate organization of skin wound closure in the TAFI knockout mice, including an altered pattern of epithelial migration. The time required to completley heal the cutaneous wounds was slightly delayed in TAFI‐deficient mice. Healing of colonic anastomoses was also impaired, as reflected by decreased strength of the tissue at the site of the suture, and by bleeding complications in 3 of 14 animals. Together, these abnormalities resulted in increased mortality in TAFI‐deficient mice after colonic anastomoses. Although our study shows that tissue repair, including re‐epithelialization and scar formation, occurs in TAFI‐deficient mice, TAFI appears to be important for appropriate organization of the healing process.
Use of wavelets for out of step blocking function of distance relays

Out of step blocking function in distance relays is required to distinguish between a power swing and a fault. Detection of symmetrical faults during power swings can present a challenge. In cases when the values of the apparent impedances seen by a distance relay before and after a three-phase fault during a power swing are very close, most of the proposed schemes can run into problems. If such values fall into zone-1 of the relay, not only the detection, but the speed of detection is also crucial. This paper introduces wavelet analysis to detect power swings as well as reliably and quickly detect a symmetrical fault during a power swing. Total number of dyadic wavelet levels of voltage/current waveforms and the choice of particular levels for such detection are carefully studied. Different power swing conditions and fault instants are simulated with PSCAD/EMTDCreg software to test the proposed methodology
Structured diet and physical activity programmes provide strong evidence of effectiveness for type 2 diabetes prevention and improvement of cardiometabolic health

Commentary on : Balk EM, Earley A, Raman G, et al. Combined diet and physical activity promotion programs to prevent type 2 diabetes among persons at increased risk: a systematic review for the community preventive services task force. Ann Intern Med 2015;163:437–51. [OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3] Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a significant and growing medical problem affecting close to 400 million people worldwide1 and almost 10% of the US population2 while imposing a major financial burden on society.3 Furthermore, an estimated 37% of the US adult population is at risk of T2DM, making primary prevention of T2DM a critical public health objective. Large clinical trials have shown that combined diet and physical activity promotion programmes … [1]: {openurl}? query=rft.jtitle%253DAnn%2BIntern%2BMed%26rft.volume%253D163%26rft.spage%253D437%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.7326%252FM15-0452%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F26167912%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=10.7326/M15-0452&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref? access_num=26167912&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F21%2F1%2F18.atom
Neuroattenuation of an avirulent bunyavirus variant maps to the L RNA segment

The derivation and characterization of a neuroattenuated reassortant clone (RFC 25/B.5) of California serogroup bunyavirus was described previously (M. J. Endres, A. Valsamakis, F. Gonzalez-Scarano, and N. Nathanson, J. Virol. 64:1927-1933, 1990). To map the RNA segment responsible for this attenuation, a panel of reassortants was constructed between the attenuated clone B.5 (genotype TLL) and a virulent clone (B1-1a) of reciprocal genotype (LTT). Parent viruses and clones representing all of the six possible reassortants were examined for neurovirulence by intracerebral injection in adult mice. Reassortants bearing the large RNA segment from the virulent parent were almost as virulent as the virulent parent virus, while reassortants bearing the large RNA segment from the avirulent parent virus exhibited low or intermediate virulence. These results indicate that the large RNA segment is the major determinant of neuroattenuation of clone B.5. In addition to its neuroattenuation, clone B.5 was temperature sensitive and exhibited an altered plaque morphology. These phenotypes also segregated with the large RNA segment. The importance of the large RNA segment (which encodes the viral polymerase) in neurovirulence contrasts with prior studies which indicate that the ability to cause lethal encephalitis after peripheral injection of suckling mice (neuroinvasiveness) is primarily determined by the middle-sized RNA segment, which encodes the viral glycoproteins.