Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Aging effects in sequential modulations of poorer-strategy effects during execution of memory strategies

ABSTRACT In this study, we asked young adults and older adults to encode pairs of words. For each item, they were told which strategy to use, interactive imagery or rote repetition. Data revealed poorer-strategy effects in both young adults and older adults: Participants obtained better performance when executing better strategies (i.e., interactive-imagery strategy to encode pairs of concrete words; rote-repetition strategy on pairs of abstract words) than with poorer strategies (i.e., interactive-imagery strategy on pairs of abstract words; rote-repetition strategy on pairs of concrete words). Crucially, we showed that sequential modulations of poorer-strategy effects (i.e., poorer-strategy effects being larger when previous items were encoded with better relative to poorer strategies), previously demonstrated in arithmetic, generalise to memory strategies. We also found reduced sequential modulations of poorer-strategy effects in older adults relative to young adults. Finally, sequential modulations of poorer-strategy effects correlated with measures of cognitive control processes, suggesting that these processes underlie efficient trial-to-trial modulations during strategy execution. Differences in correlations with cognitive control processes were also found between older adults and young adults. These findings have important implications regarding mechanisms underlying memory strategy execution and age differences in memory performance.
Connectionist network for dynamic programming problems

Dynamic programming is well known as a powerful modelling technique for dealing with the issue of making optimal decisions sequentially. Many practical problems, such as finding shortest paths in route planning, and multi-stage optimal control, can be formulated as cases of the general sequential decision process. The paper proposes a connectionist network architecture, called the binary-relation inference network, which solves a special class of dynamic programming problems in the continuous time. They include the all-pair solutions for a family of closed semi-ring path problems, such as shortest paths, transitive closure, minimum spanning tree, and minimax path problems. The all-pair inference network specifies a basic and uniform computation of its individual units, which then collectively emerge towards a global optimal solution. The computational order in its discrete-time variants, either as synchronous or asynchronous networks, bears a close resemblance to the Floyd-Warshall algorithm and doubling algorithm. However, the continuous-time inference network offers a significant speed advantage if its non-sequential computation nature can be exploited. Simulation results of using analogue VLSI implementation of the inference network for solving shortest-path problems are promising.
Why Do Patients of Female Physicians Have Higher Rates of Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening

Women are more likely to receive breast and cervical cancer screening if they see female physicians. We studied whether this is due to differences between male and female physicians, or to differences in their patients. Large midwestern, independent practice association style of health plan. We surveyed male and female primary care physicians matched for age and specialty and a stratified random sample of three of each physician's women patients. Physicians reported on their practice setting, their attitudes and practices regarding prevention, and their comfort and skill with various examinations. Patients reported on their sociodemographic characteristics, their attitudes and practices regarding prevention, and their preferences for physician gender. Claims data were used to calculate mammography and Pap smear screening rates for the physicians We studied 154 female and 190 male internists and family physicians and 794 of their patients. We compared the responses of male and female physicians and their patients and used multivariable analysis to identify the patient and physician factors that accounted for the differences in screening rates between male and female physicians. Female physicians were more likely to ask new patients about components of prevention, to believe in the effectiveness of mammography, to feel more personal responsibility for ensuring that their patients received screening, and to report more comfort in performing Pap smears and breast examinations. Patients of female physicians were more educated and less likely to be married, but did not differ in other sociodemographic characteristics. They had similar attitudes and practices regarding prevention, except that patients of male physicians were more likely to smoke. Significantly more patients of female physicians preferred a female for some component of care. In multivariable analyses, practice organization, patient preference for a female physician, and prevention orientation of female physicians accounted for up to 40% of screening rate differences between female and male physicians for Pap smears, and 33% for mammography. Differences in beliefs of male and female physicians and patient preference for a female provider contribute independently to the higher rate of breast and cervical cancer screening by female physicians.
Cross-modal working memory binding and word recognition skills: how specific is the link?

ABSTRACT Recent research has suggested that the creation of temporary bound representations of information from different sources within working memory uniquely relates to word recognition abilities in school-age children. However, it is unclear to what extent this link is attributable specifically to the binding ability for cross-modal information. This study examined the performance of Grade 3 (8–9 years old) children on binding tasks requiring either temporary association formation of two visual items (i.e., within-modal binding) or pairs of visually presented abstract shapes and auditorily presented nonwords (i.e., cross-modal binding). Children’s word recognition skills were related to performance on the cross-modal binding task but not on the within-modal binding task. Further regression models showed that cross-modal binding memory was a significant predictor of word recognition when memory for its constituent elements, general abilities, and crucially, within-modal binding memory were taken into account. These findings may suggest a specific link between the ability to bind information across modalities within working memory and word recognition skills.
Gender differences in romantic relationship memories: who remembers? Who cares?

ABSTRACT Two studies were conducted to assess patterns of gender differences in memory for romantic relationship events. Results suggested that people believe that women have better memory for romantic relationship events than men, that better relationship memory predicts higher levels of relationship well-being, and that the association between relationship memory and relationship well-being is somewhat stronger for women than for men. Women did tend to have somewhat better relationship memory than men, as assessed via subjective reports from both partners in mixed-sex relationships, and via the number of details partners provided when asked to recall a specific relationship event (i.e., their first date). Consistent with the lay theories, both own and partner’s better relationship memory predicted higher levels of relationship well-being; however, the association between better relationship memory and higher levels of relationship well-being was equally strong for both genders. Implications and future research directions are discussed.
Establishing Research, Fieldwork and Service Partnerships

The Community Partnership Learning Model facilitates the development of partnerships between community agencies and occupational therapy educational programs. The project described involved research to determine the needs of primary and secondary caregivers of people with dementia. The service role is outlined as well as the aspects that were fulfilled during a subsequent placement for senior students. Recommendations are made to strengthen the interactions amongst the components to optimize the outcomes for the partners.
C‐Met in invasive breast cancer

Basal‐like (BL) breast cancer is an aggressive form of breast cancer with limited treatment options. Recent work has identified BL breast cancer as a biologically distinct form of triple‐negative breast cancer, with a worse outlook. The receptor tyrosine kinase c‐Met is a novel therapeutic target associated with reduced survival in breast cancer. Few studies have specifically addressed the association between c‐Met and molecular subtype of breast cancer, yet this is a key consideration when selecting patients for clinical trials. The aim of this study is to evaluate c‐Met expression in a large cohort of invasive breast cancers and in particular, its correlation with molecular subtype.
Development and evaluation of a miscarriage follow-up clinic

Miscarriage is the most common complication of pregnancy. There is a growing recognition that early pregnancy loss can be associated with high levels of psychological distress, yet routine follow-up care for women and their partners is not existent in the UK. This paper describes the development and evaluation of a miscarriage follow-up clinic, which was established in order to provide information, support and care to couples in whom a routine ultrasound examination in the first trimester of pregnancy revealed a pregnancy failure. Three stages in the development of the clinic are described: during the initial stage, the psychological outcomes and desirability of follow-up care after missed miscarriages were established. Drawing on the results of the first stage of the project and on the empirical research in the field, a miscarriage follow-up clinic was established. Both medical and psychological interventions were offered as part of routine miscarriage follow-up care. A controlled evaluation of such integrated care suggested that the combination of psychological counselling, medical investigations of the cause of miscarriage and a consultation, was superior in bringing about reduction in women's distress over and above benefits obtained solely through medical care. Recommendations for routine provision of miscarriage follow-up care for women and the form it should take are outlined.
Investigating the Role of Brand Equity in Predicting the Relationship Between Message Exposure and Parental Support for Their Child’s Physical Activity

Social marketing researchers have identified brand equity as a potential mediator of the relationship between campaign message exposure and resulting behavior. This study examined whether message exposure and components of brand equity contribute to overall brand equity changes over the course of a 12-month campaign evaluation. In addition, we examine whether brand equity consistently accounts for covariance (i.e., mediation) in the relationship between message exposure and parental support (PS). Data were drawn from ParticipACTION’s “Think Again” campaign evaluations that targeted parents, specifically moms, with children between the ages of 5 and 11 years (three independent samples: March 2011, N = 702 [T1]; September 2011, N = 706 [T2]; March 2012, N = 670 [T3]). Univariate analyses of variance were used to examine changes in message exposure and components of brand equity over time, while structural equation modeling was used to examine the brand equity model relationship. Findings revealed that message exposure was greatest at T3 (ps < .01) and that brand equity was greatest at T2 (ps < .05). Model fit statistics revealed modest to good fit. Results demonstrated that Think Again message exposure was related to brand equity (standardized effects .10–.28) and that brand equity was related to PS (standardized effects .30–.40; (ps < .01). Importantly, an indirect effect of message exposure on PS through brand equity (standardized effects .03–.09) emerged in all models (ps < .05). This study demonstrates the utility of branding social marketing campaigns to increase campaign effectiveness.
Comparison of active contour models for image segmentation in X-ray coronary angiogram images

Snakes, or active contours, are used extensively in computer vision and image processing applications, particularly to locate object boundaries. However, most present snake models cannot provide better capture range and evolution stop mechanism. This project presents a new external force for active contours, largely solving both problems. An extension of the gradient vector flow snake (GVF snake) method is presented. First, the adaptive balloon force has been developed to increase the GVF snake's capture range and convergence speed. Then, a dynamic GVF force is introduced to provide an efficient evolution-stop mechanism. In this way, we prevent the snake from breaking through the correct surface and locking to other salient feature points. The active contour models have been applied on X-ray coronary angiogram images. The segmentation results demonstrate the potential of improved GVF method is comparison with all previous active contour methods. Texture parameters have been calculated and results are compared with all active contour models.
Application of the Need and Asset Model to Church-Based HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control

The recent global focus on the promotion of faith-based health and social interventions requires two major empirical data sets: (a), an understanding of how the health needs of churches relate to the assets they hold and (b) the collective capacity of members to use needed resources to help address a wide range of health issues including HIV/AIDS that continue to challenge many African countries' already limited health-related resources. In this study, we hypothesized that if Nigerian churches have less stated perceived needs in relation to more perceived assets that could be used for HIV/AIDS prevention and control, they would have greater collective efficacy and engage in more HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities. Estimates of churches' perceived needs, assets, collective efficacy, and activities as reported by church members from 81 Nigerian churches were aggregated. The linear regression method was used to test if needs and assets predicted collective efficacy and HIV/AIDS activities. The sum of church needs was positively related to collective efficacy (p < .01) and assets and collective efficacy predicted more HIV/AIDS–related activities (p < .01). Churches that had more members with a university education and those who had longer average church membership times had lower reported HIV/AIDS–related activity. The unexpected positive relationship between needs and collective efficacy in this cross-sectional study could be the result of those with higher collective efficacy having thought more about how to engage in HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities and, thus, being more aware of their needs.
Probing metal ion substrate-binding to the E. coli ZitB exporter in native membranes by solid state NMR

Metal ion homeostasis is important for healthy cell function and is regulated by metal ion transporters and chaperones. To explore metal ion binding to membrane transport proteins we have used cadmium-113 as a solid state NMR probe of the Escherichia coli zinc exporter ZitB present in native membrane preparations. Competition experiments with other metal ions indicated that nickel and copper are also able to bind to this protein. Metal ion uptake studies were also performed using ZitB-reconstituted into proteoliposomes for a well established fluorescence assay. The results of both the solid state NMR and the uptake studies demonstrate that ZitB is potentially capable of transporting not only zinc but also cadmium, nickel and copper. The solid state NMR approach therefore offers great potential for defining the substrate spectrum of metal ion transporter proteins in their native membrane environments. Further, it should be useful for functional dissection of transporter mechanisms by facilitating the identification of functional residues by mutational studies.
Magnetic resonance imaging in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer: A review of the literature

The use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer remains controversial. Here we review the current use of breast MRI and the impact of MRI on short‐term surgical outcomes and rates of local recurrence. In addition, we address the use of MRI in specific patient populations, such as those with ductal carcinoma in situ, invasive lobular carcinoma, and occult primary breast cancer, and discuss the potential role of MRI for assessing response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Although MRI has improved sensitivity compared with conventional imaging, this has not translated into improved short‐term surgical outcomes or long‐term patient benefit, such as improved local control or survival, in any patient population. MRI is an important diagnostic test in the evaluation of patients presenting with occult primary breast cancer and has shown promise in monitoring response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy; however, the data do not support the routine use of perioperative MRI in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer. Cancer 2014;120:120:2080–2089. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Mutant IDH1 inhibits PI3K/Akt signaling in human glioma

Recently, isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) was identified as a major participant in glioma pathogenesis. At present, the enzymatic activity of the protein has been the main topic in investigating its physiological function, but its signaling pathway allocation was unsuccessful. Interestingly, proteins regulated by phosphoinositide 3‐kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling, are among the top downregulated genes in gliomas associated with high percentage of IDH1 and IDH2 mutations. The aim of this study was to investigate a hypothetical relation between IDH1 and PI3K signaling.
Physical, emotional, and social health differences between posttreatment young adults with cancer and matched healthy controls

Young adults (YAs; ages 18‐39 years) with cancer face interrupted developmental milestones and increased stressors that can adversely influence psychosocial adjustment. Transitioning from active treatment to posttreatment survivorship can be particularly challenging. The purpose of this study is to describe the health‐related quality of life (HRQL) and psychological adaptation of YAs after treatment, relative to young adults without cancer.
Psychometric Properties and Validation of the Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness Questionnaire

Purpose: To characterize the psychometric properties of the standard patient evaluation of eye dryness (SPEED) questionnaire and to validate and compare its performance with 4 existing dry eye questionnaires. Methods: A total of 50 subjects (40 female and 10 male) were enrolled; of these, 30 were symptomatic and 20 asymptomatic, as determined using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI). This study consisted of 2 visits in which all subjects completed 5 different dry eye questionnaires (SPEED, OSDI, dry eye questionnaire, McMonnies dry eye questionnaire, and subjective evaluation of symptom of dryness) in random order at each visit. Clinical measurements were obtained on the first visit. Repeatability was determined using concordance correlation coefficient; dimensionality was determined using principal component, factor, and Rasch analyses; and validity was determined by comparing SPEED scores with dry eye diagnosis based on OSDI (primarily using receiver–operator curve analysis). Results: The SPEED questionnaire data were found to be unidimensional and repeatable. Three principal components (dryness, burning, and soreness/fatigue) were identified and SPEED between visit concordance correlation coefficient was 0.923 (95% confidence interval, 0.868–0.955). The area under the receiver–operator curves was 0.928. The only clinical measures that correlated “well” with SPEED questionnaire scores were corneal staining (P < 0.05), meibomian gland score (P < 0.05), and meibomian glands yielding liquid secretion score (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The SPEED questionnaire was shown to be a repeatable and valid instrument for measurement of dry eye symptoms. The SPEED score also correlated significantly with ocular surface staining and clinical measures of meibomian gland function.
The National Library of Medicine and Drug Information. Part 2: An Evolving Future

The National Library of Medicine (NLM) began in 1836 as a small collection of books in the office of the Army Surgeon General. Today, the NLM is the world’s largest medical library, providing access to its vast collection of seven million items onsite and through the World Wide Web. Historical interest in drug information dates to 1967, when Congress provided funds for a Drug Literature Program at the NLM. Drug information is now dispersed among a number of NLM bibliographic and factual databases that offer an array of clinical, research, and toxicological drug data. Target audiences for drug information include consumers, patients, healthcare practitioners, clinical researchers, and scientists. Drug development and medical publishing have both accelerated to such an extent that it is virtually impossible for healthcare practitioners and researchers to keep apprised of current information. Due to wide utilization for posting medically-related data, the Internet is discussed in terms of its impact on medical library responsibilities, drug information and efforts to evaluate Web-based health information, and how resultant imperatives indicate a need to create new drug-related databases including an Internet portal to drug information.
Effects of metformin on endometrial cancer cell growth in vivo: A preoperative prospective trial

Metformin, an antidiabetic drug, decreases the incidence of various cancers in diabetic patients. Metformin‐induced inhibition of cancer cell proliferation has been confirmed in vitro but not in humans. Because endometrial cancer is associated with insulin resistance, the authors investigated whether a diabetes‐therapeutic metformin dose inhibits cancer cell growth in patients with endometrial cancer.
Identification of unique gene expression patterns within different lesional sites of keloids

Keloid disease is a significant clinical problem, especially in black populations, with an estimated incidence of 4–16%. Keloids are fibroproliferative dermal tumors developing as a result of deregulated wound healing. The dynamic nature of keloids is illustrated by clinical regression in the center, while the margin remains active growing into the surrounding healthy skin. Therefore, the gene expression profiles of fibroblasts from different sites of the keloids were characterized using Affymetrix microarrays covering the whole human genome. This study revealed 105 genes that were differentially regulated (79 genes were up‐regulated and 26 down‐regulated) in a unique gene expression profile in different sites of keloids where progression or regression of the process was in progress. The apoptosis inhibitor AVEN was found to be up‐regulated at the active margin of keloids, while apoptosis‐inducing genes such as ADAM12 and genes inducing extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation such as matrix metalloproteinase‐19 were up‐regulated in the regressing keloid center. We identified genes previously not described in the development of keloids. Activating proapoptotic genes or inhibiting ECM‐inducing genes as INHBA or monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1 might be possible target genes for new treatment strategies for keloid disease.