Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of FGFR signaling in the morphogenesis of the Drosophila visceral musculature

We report in this study that the longitudinal visceral muscle founder cells (LVMFs), a population of cells that migrate along the midgut primordium and visceral mesoderm, require the function of the Drosophila fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) homolog, Heartless (Htl). Htl is expressed in LVMFs before and during their migration, and mitogen‐activated protein K (MAPK) activity is present at the same stage. Embryos deficient for htl show an almost complete absence of longitudinal visceral fibers at late stages. In line with previous studies implicating FGFR signaling in morphogenetic movements, we conclude that the defect we observe in htl mutant embryos indicates a role of this signaling pathway in cell migration and/or differentiation of the LVMFs. Given that, in addition to hemocytes, LVMFs are the only cells of the Drosophila embryo that migrate over large distances, we propose that these cells represent a highly suitable system to dissect the role of signaling pathways in cell migration in Drosophila. Developmental Dynamics 231:342–348, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Improving laboratory workflow through automated pre‐processing of SurePath specimens for human papillomavirus testing with the Abbott RealTime assay

Cervical specimens collected in liquid‐based cytology (LBC) are used for cervical screening in the UK. The Abbott RealTime high‐risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) assay for the detection of 14 hrHPV types is approved by the English NHS Cervical Screening Programme (NHSCSP). As per manufacturer's instructions, pre‐analytic processing of LBC involves a manual vortex and liquid transfer into a secondary tube. In high‐throughput settings, hands‐on time for pre‐processing is considerable and poses the potential for human error. Implementation of hrHPV primary screening planned for 2019 accompanied by centralisation of services is a major change for the NHSCSP, increasing the demand for availability of automated pre‐analytics. This study evaluated a custom‐configured work‐table setup of the Tecan Freedom EVO designed to automate pre‐processing of BD SurePath LBC prior to HPV testing on the Abbott m2000.
Time Series Models

This chapter reviews some important ideas from time series analysis. The concepts of stationarity, independence, and exchangeability are defined and illustrated with examples. The Poisson process is examined in detail and then the class of linear processes, noting the implications of the Wold decomposition. The final section studies the random walk and the reflection principle.
DCG++: A data-driven metric for geometric pattern recognition

Clustering large and complex data sets whose partitions may adopt arbitrary shapes remains a difficult challenge. Part of this challenge comes from the difficulty in defining a similarity measure between the data points that captures the underlying geometry of those data points. In this paper, we propose an algorithm, DCG++ that generates such a similarity measure that is data-driven and ultrametric. DCG++ uses Markov Chain Random Walks to capture the intrinsic geometry of data, scans possible scales, and combines all this information using a simple procedure that is shown to generate an ultrametric. We validate the effectiveness of this similarity measure within the context of clustering on synthetic data with complex geometry, on a real-world data set containing segmented audio records of frog calls described by mel-frequency cepstral coefficients, as well as on an image segmentation problem. The experimental results show a significant improvement on performance with the DCG-based ultrametric compared to using an empirical distance measure.
Sex differences in the association between salivary telomere length and multimorbidity within the US Health & Retirement Study

Abstract Background Telomere length is associated with several physical and mental health conditions, but whether it is a marker of multimorbidity is unclear. We investigated associations between telomere length and multimorbidity by sex. Methods Data from adults (N = 5,495) aged ≥50 years were taken from the US Health and Retirement Study (2008–14). Telomere length was measured in 2008 from salivary samples. The cross-sectional associations between telomere length and eight chronic health conditions were explored using logistic regression, adjusting for confounders and stratified by sex. Logistic, ordinal and multinomial regression models were calculated to explore relationships between telomere length and multimorbidity (using a binary variable and a sum of the number of health conditions) and the type of multimorbidity (no multimorbidity, physical multimorbidity, or multimorbidity including psychiatric problems). Using multilevel logistic regression, prospective relationships between telomere length and incident multimorbidity were also explored. Results In cross-sectional analyses, longer telomeres were associated with reduced likelihood of lung disease and psychiatric problems among men, but not women. Longer telomeres were associated with lower risk of multimorbidity that included psychiatric problems among men (OR=0.521, 95% CI: 0.284 to 0.957), but not women (OR=1.188, 95% CI: 0.771 to 1.831). Prospective analyses suggested little association between telomere length and the onset of multimorbidity in men (OR=1.378, 95% CI: 0.931 to 2.038) nor women (OR=1.224, 95% CI: 0.825 to 1.815). Conclusions Although telomere length does not appear to be a biomarker of overall multimorbidity, further exploration of the relationships is merited particularly for multimorbidity including psychiatric conditions among men.
Endogenous Sex Hormones and Endothelial Function in Postmenopausal Women and Men: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis.

Background: The relationship of endogenous sex hormones (SH) with vascular endothelial function and with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is incompletely understood. We examined the associations between SH and endothelial function measured by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD). Materials and Methods: We included 1368 postmenopausal women and 1707 men, free of clinical CVD, participating in MESA Visit 1 (2000-2002). Serum SH [total testosterone, SH binding globulin (SHBG), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), estradiol] were measured; free testosterone was calculated. The percent FMD difference (%FMD) was measured by high-resolution ultrasound. Using multivariable-adjusted linear regression, we tested the cross-sectional associations of SH (log transformed, compared per one SD increment) with %FMD. Results: The mean age of women and men were 64.2 and 61.4 years, respectively. Among women, after adjusting for demographics, CVD risk factors, and hormone therapy, higher SHBG was associated with greater %FMD [β = 0.215% (95% CI 0.026-0.405)], whereas higher free testosterone was associated with a smaller %FMD [-0.209% (-0.402, -0.017)]. Estradiol and DHEA were not associated with %FMD in women after multivariable adjustment. There was an age interaction, with higher free testosterone and lower SHBG associated with worse FMD in women <65 years of age, but not in those ≥65 years (p = 0.04). We did not see similar associations in men. Conclusions: A more androgenic SH profile of higher free testosterone and lower SHBG was associated with worse %FMD in postmenopausal women. Changes in SH with aging and menopause may result in vascular changes in women. Further studies are needed to assess longitudinal changes in SH levels and their association with vascular function.
Postpartum depression in women receiving public assistance: pilot study of an interpersonal-therapy-oriented group intervention.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated whether a preventive intervention based on the principles of interpersonal psychotherapy administered to pregnant women would reduce the risk of postpartum major depression. METHOD Thirty-seven pregnant women receiving public assistance who had at least one risk factor for postpartum depression were randomly assigned to a four-session group intervention or to a treatment-as-usual condition. Thirty-five of the women completed the study. Structured diagnostic interviews were administered to assess for postpartum major depression. RESULTS Within 3 months after they gave birth, six (33%) of the 18 women in the treatment-as-usual condition had developed postpartum major depression, compared with none of the 17 women in the intervention condition. CONCLUSIONS A four-session interpersonal-therapy-oriented group intervention was successful in preventing the occurrence of major depression during a postpartum period of 3 months in a group of financially disadvantaged women.
Renal nerves and leukocyte infiltration in the kidney during salt-sensitive hypertension.

Based on previous studies suggesting a role of renal nerves in renal inflammation, the present studies were performed to test the hypothesis that renal nerves mediate renal damage in Dahl salt-sensitive (SS) hypertension by increasing renal leukocyte infiltration. Experiments were performed in Dahl SS rats using both bilateral renal denervation (RDN) or bilateral sham operation (n=10-11 per group); and using unilateral RDN and contralateral sham (n=10). Following denervation, rats were switched from a low salt 0.4% NaCl (LS) to a high salt 4% NaCl (HS) diet and maintained on HS for twenty-one days. Bilateral RDN reduced the magnitude of hypertension assessed by radio-telemetry in Dahl SS rats compared to sham (mean arterial pressure 140.9±4.8 mmHg vs 159.7±3.5 mmHg respectively), and reduced proteinuria at day 21 of HS. However, assessment of renal leukocyte infiltration demonstrated no significant effect of bilateral RDN on the number of infiltrating total leukocyte (3.6±0.5 in RDN vs 4.3±0.3 x106 CD45+ cells in sham) or any of the subsets examined by flow cytometry. The unilateral RDN experiment showed no effect of RDN on the renal infiltration of leukocytes (6.5.6±0.9 x106 in RDN vs 6.1±1.1 in sham x106 CD45+ cells/kidney), or renal damage comparing the denervated vs the sham-operated kidney after twenty-one days of HS. This work investigated the relationship between renal nerves and renal inflammation during Dahl SS hypertension. Contrary to our hypothesis, the results of this work suggest that immune cell infiltration in the kidney of Dahl SS rats is not mediated by renal nerves.
Materials used in automobile manufacture - current state and perspectives

The materials which are applied in modern motor vehicles can be considered to be optimally accommodated to the actual demands. Normally a change of materials is only required if by that a cost reduction can be realized, or if the demands change. Such changes at present or in the near future mainly concern ecological aspects : consumption reduction ; weight reduction ; low emission of pollutants by vehicles and in the production process ; recycling of materials. Those materials in question which better accommodate the new requirements can be : improved variants of actually applied materials ; fully developed materials approved already in other technical areas but not yet applied in automotive engineering ; newly developed materials. Starting from the actual conception examples will be given for each category. They will show that the cost of future materials tend to be higher, but that even with more expensive materials sometimes the cost of a component can be reduced.
Heated tobacco product use among Korean adolescents

Background Heated tobacco products (HTPs) may compromise decades-long efforts to marginalise the tobacco industry. Their appeal to adolescents imposes a risk of a new tobacco epidemic. Empirical evidence on the behavioural patterns of HTP use among adolescents is required. We investigated the prevalence of HTP use and the association between use of HTPs and e-cigarettes and attempts to quit smoking cigarettes. Methods Nationally representative cross-sectional survey data of South Korean adolescents aged 12–18 years (mean age: 15 years) were used. The survey was conducted 1 year after the introduction of HTPs in Korea. A total of 59 532 adolescents were identified. Descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression results are presented. Results In all, 2.8% of South Korean adolescents were ever HTP users. Among these, 75.5% were current cigarette users, 45.6% were current e-cigarette users and 40.3% were concurrent users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes. Unlike ever use of e-cigarettes, which was associated with a higher likelihood of cigarette quit attempts (adjusted OR (aOR)=1.35, 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.58), no difference in cigarette quit attempts was found for ever use of HTPs (aOR=1.07, 95% CI: 0.91 to 1.26). Conclusion Considering the recent introduction of HTPs to the Korean market and less than 1% prevalence of e-cigarette when first introduced, the prevalence of ever HTP use among Korean adolescents is an important concern. The results showing high polytobacco use and the lack of an association between HTP use and cigarette quit attempts call for a ban on HTP advertisements with modified harm claims.
Threat and impact of HIV compared to other health conditions among an online sample of gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men in the U.S.

ABSTRACT Gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (GBMSM) experience greater health disparities, and concern about other health conditions may decrease engagement in HIV prevention. This study assessed perceived threat and impact of HIV relative to other health concerns among GBMSM. Data were from a national online survey of GBMSM conducted between August and September 2015. Participants ranked concern about contracting HIV and impact of HIV on their health compared with other health conditions. The association of HIV threat and impact with recent condomless anal sex (CAS) and HIV testing were assessed using regression models. Among 466 participants, threat and impact of HIV were ranked lower compared to cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease. Concern about getting HIV was associated with greater odds of recent HIV testing (adjOR 1.1, 95%CI 1.02–1.18) and lower CAS (adjOR 0.86, 95%CI 0.78–0.94). Among GBMSM, other health conditions may be perceived as a greater threat and higher impact on health compared with HIV. Integrating complex health care concerns with HIV prevention strategies may increase engagement in prevention.
Chronic Intermittent Electronic Cigarette Exposure Induces Cardiac Dysfunction and Atherosclerosis in Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) Knockout Mice.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), also known as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are a popular alternative to conventional nicotine cigarettes, both among smokers and those who have never smoked. In spite of the widespread use of e-cigarettes and the proposed detrimental cardiac and atherosclerotic effects of nicotine, the effects of e-cigarettes on these systems are not known. In this study, we investigated the cardiovascular and cardiac effects of e-cigarettes with and without nicotine in Apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice. We developed an e-cigarettes exposure model that delivers nicotine in a manner similar to that of human e-cigarettes users. Using commercially available e-cigarettes, bluCig PLUS, ApoE-/- mice were exposed to saline, e-cigarette without nicotine [e-cigarette (0%)] and e-cigarette with 2.4% nicotine [e-cigarette (2.4%)] aerosol for 12 weeks. Echocardiographic data show that mice treated with e-cigarette (2.4%) had decreased left ventricular fractional shortening and ejection fraction compared to e-cigarette (0%) and saline. Ventricular transcriptomic analysis revealed changes in genes associated with metabolism, circadian rhythm and inflammation in e-cigarette (2.4%)-treated ApoE-/- mice. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that cardiomyocytes of mice treated with e-cigarette (2.4%) exhibited ultrastructural abnormalities indicative of cardiomyopathy. Additionally, we observed increased oxidative stress and mitochondrial DNA mutations in mice treated with e-cigarette (2.4%). ApoE-/- mice on e-cigarette (2.4%) had also increased atherosclerotic lesions compared to saline aerosol-treated mice. These results demonstrate adverse effects of e-cigarettes on cardiac function in mice.
Clinical supervision and support: Perspectives of undergraduate nursing students on their clinical learning environment in Malawi

Background The nurse educators’ role in clinical learning is to define the necessary prerequisites of an ideal clinical learning environment. Objectives The purpose of the study was to explore and describe the Kamuzu College of Nursing (KCN) undergraduate nursing students’ perspectives on clinical supervision and support in their clinical learning environment and their preferences in the clinical learning environment. Method A mixed method research approach was used to explore and describe clinical supervision from the students’ perspectives on the features of their actual and preferred clinical learning environment. The study’s population comprised all third- and fourth-year undergraduate nursing students (n = 219). A sample (n = 125) was randomly selected from the population for the quantitative survey of which 120 questionnaires (96%) were valid for analysis. The data collection for qualitative arm of the study comprised interviews conducted through purposive sampling interviewing 20 participants. Survey results were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Science (Version 16) and the qualitative data were analysed using the content analysis approach where themes were generated. Results The study found that the participants were not satisfied with clinical supervision and support during clinical learning. The participants preferred improved clinical supervision and support in their clinical learning. Comparing the difference between actual and the preferred items of supervision the results were statistically significant at p < 0.05. Conclusion There is a need to improve students’ clinical supervision and support at KCN. Nurse educators need to plan for clinical supervision and support effectively to promote proficient nursing graduates.
Interprofessional Shared Decision-Making in the ICU: A Systematic Review and Recommendations From an Expert Panel.

OBJECTIVES There is growing recognition that high-quality care for patients and families in the ICU requires exemplary interprofessional collaboration and communication. One important aspect is how the ICU team makes complex decisions. However, no recommendations have been published on interprofessional shared decision-making. The aim of this project is to use systematic review and normative analysis by experts to examine existing evidence regarding interprofessional shared decision-making, describe its principles and provide ICU clinicians with recommendations regarding its implementation. DATA SOURCES We conducted a systematic review using MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, and Cochrane databases and used normative analyses to formulate recommendations regarding interprofessional shared decision-making. STUDY SELECTION Three authors screened titles and abstracts in duplicate. DATA SYNTHESIS Four papers assessing the effect of interprofessional shared decision-making on quality of care were identified, suggesting that interprofessional shared decision-making is associated with improved processes and outcomes. Five recommendations, largely based on expert opinion, were developed: 1) interprofessional shared decision-making is a collaborative process among clinicians that allows for shared decisions regarding important treatment questions; 2) clinicians should consider engaging in interprofessional shared decision-making to promote the most appropriate and balanced decisions; 3) clinicians and hospitals should implement strategies to foster an ICU climate oriented toward interprofessional shared decision-making; 4) clinicians implementing interprofessional shared decision-making should consider incorporating a structured approach; and 5) further studies are needed to evaluate and improve the quality of interprofessional shared decision-making in ICUs. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians should consider an interprofessional shared decision-making model that allows for the exchange of information, deliberation, and joint attainment of important treatment decisions.
The method of ensuring confidentiality and integrity data in cloud computing

Cloud computing allows not only to obtain computing resources on-demand but also to store large amounts of data (big data) with a high level of fault tolerance. Nevertheless, data confidentiality for users of hybrid and public clouds is cannot guaranteed in full. Cloud providers have full access to user data, which threatens to compromise the integrity of data. Existing methods of providing security consider methods to increase the speed and reduce the load during authorization and data encryption. The paper proposes a method that describes the use of separate services outside the cloud for authentication, data management and metadata storage to eliminate the possibility of obtaining unauthorized access to data, and the use of metadata to perform integrity control. The developed method is being used to create a stand based on OpenStack and two services on separate servers. The owner of the database limits the access to data that is stored in an encrypted form and does not allow provider to interact with database.
New Approaches to Contention-Sensitive Nested Locking in Real-Time Systems ∗

Nested lock requests in multiprocessor real-time systems can be handled by only a handful of synchronization protocols. These protocols trade off overhead and blocking under varying analysis assumptions. In some systems, a finegrained contention-sensitive protocol has significantly lower worst-case blocking compared to its non-contention-sensitive counterparts, which yields improved schedulability provided overheads are low enough. In this work, we summarize three key schemes for handling nested requests and briefly discuss existing protocols. We then propose three approaches to reduce the often interdependent overhead and blocking for a new contention-sensitive protocol.