Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Smoking, Barriers to Quitting, and Smoking-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, and Patient Practices Among Male Physicians in China

Introduction Successful interventions to reduce the high rate of smoking among male physicians in China might contribute to reduction in tobacco use in the country overall. Better characterization of smoking, barriers to quitting, and smoking-related knowledge, attitudes, and patient practices in this physician population will help plan such interventions and provide baseline data to evaluate their effectiveness. Methods A self-administered survey of smoking-related knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and patient practices was conducted among health care professionals in 2 large teaching hospitals in China. Results Of 103 male physicians, those who smoked (n = 51) had a more limited knowledge of smoking-related disease and were less likely to advise patients to quit smoking compared with nonsmoking physicians (n = 52). More than one-fourth (29%) of nonsmoking physicians accepted gift cigarettes, and these physicians were less likely to ask their patients about their smoking status than those who did not accept gift cigarettes. Seventy-five percent of smokers reported that their hospitals did not help them quit, and only 19% reported receiving training in how to help their patients quit. Conclusion High rates of smoking, gifting of cigarettes, limited support for physician quitting, and limited training on cessation approaches may compromise the ability of male physicians in China to effectively treat their patients who smoke.
Hearing Aid Accessories for Adults: The Remote FM Microphone

Objective The primary goal was to determine the benefits and limitations of a remote FM microphone as a hearing aid accessory. A secondary goal was to determine the predictors of aided and FM-assisted speech perception by adults with hearing loss, in quiet and in noise, using methods derived from Articulation Index theory. Design Twelve adults with mild to severe hearing loss, aged 52 to 85, were fit with behind-the-ear FM hearing aids and used them for a minimum of 2 wk. Phoneme recognition was measured before and after the trial period at several speech levels under three conditions: aided in quiet, aided in spectrally matched noise, and FM-assisted in noise. A single session of counseling, instruction and demonstration was provided before the trial period. Perceived benefit was assessed by questionnaire at the end of the trial period. Measured and perceived benefit were examined in relation to age and pure-tone thresholds. Results FM-assisted phoneme recognition in noise equaled aided phoneme recognition in quiet. Both were very well predicted by the average pure-tone threshold at 2 and 4 kHz, under a model that assumes Articulation Index (AI) falls with increasing high-frequency threshold at the rate of about 1 percentage point per dB. Aided phoneme recognition in noise was quite well predicted by the same average threshold, under a model that assumes a signal-to-noise ratio of 0 dB reduces Articulation Index to one third of that in quiet. Average perceived benefit was highest for one talker, at a distance, in quiet or in noise. It was lowest for multiple talkers (where the system would be expected to be ineffective) and one close talker in quiet (where the system should be unnecessary). Older subjects and subjects with poorer aided recognition in noise tended to express lower perceived benefit. Many subjects reported that the system was ineffective in reducing background noise. This finding was attributed to use of an “equal gain” criterion in adjusting relative gains via the hearing aid and FM microphones. The single pretrial session of counseling, instruction and demonstration was clearly inadequate for many of the subjects. None expressed an intention to acquire an FM system. Conclusions The expected benefits of a remote FM microphone in reducing the negative effects of distance and noise, for a single talker, can be demonstrated under both laboratory and field conditions. The effects of hearing loss, noise and FM assistance, on aided phoneme recognition, are well predicted by methods derived from Articulation Index theory. Considerable counseling, instruction and coaching will be needed, however, to ensure optimal use of this technology. In addition, the relative gains via FM and hearing aid microphones must be adjusted with care.
Attitude to nephrolithiasis in the potential living kidney donor: a survey of the German kidney transplant centers and review of the literature

Abstract: Living donor kidney transplantation (LD‐KTX) is increasing worldwide. With the prevalence of urolithiasis ranging between 4% and 15%, the number of donors with current nephrolithiasis or a history of the disease will increase as well. A questionnaire was sent to all German centers with LD‐KTX programs (urologists and general surgeons). Answers were compared for differences between urological and surgical kidney transplant centers. Response rate was 74%. Nephrolithiasis at the time of KTX is an exclusion criterion at 36% of the German centers (58% urological/19% surgical, χ2 = 4.65, p = 0.03, Fishers exact p = 0.05), 96% of the centers accept kidney donors with a history of nephrolithiasis. The length of the stone‐free episode is regarded as relevant by 42% of all centers (58% urological vs. 32% surgical centers, p = ns). Stone composition is a criterion for 54% of centers (66% vs. 44%, p = ns). More than half of the centers accept a history of cystine stones, almost all centers of struvite and urate stones. Donors with current nephrolithiasis were less commonly accepted by urologists than by general surgeons. For almost all centers history of nephrolithiasis does not preclude living kidney donation. Stone composition proved to be of little relevance for decision making.
Learning In a Constellation of Interconnected Practices: Canon or Dissonance?

In this paper we argue that the learning of safety in a constellation of communities of practice is mediated by comparison among the perspectives of the world embraced by the co-participants in the production of this practice. Our discussion is based on two empirical research projects in which we investigated the accounts of the causes of accidents provided by the members of three different communities of practice (engineers, site foremen and main contractors), in a medium sized building firm. In the paper we suggest that comparison among perspectives is made possible by a discursive practice targeted on the alignment of elements both mental and material, within mutually accountable discursive positions. These alignments are provisional and unstable, they produce tensions, discontinuities and incoherence (cacophony) just as much as they produce order and negotiated meanings (consonance).
Performance of Affordable Neural Network for Back Propagation Learning

Cell assembly is one of explanations of information processing in the brain, in which an information is represented by a firing space pattern of a group of plural neurons. On the other hand, effectiveness of neural network has been confirmed in pattern recognition, system control, signal processing, and so on, since the back propagation learning was proposed. In this study, we propose a new network structure with affordable neurons in the hidden layer of the feedforward neural network. Computer simulated results show that the proposed network exhibits a good performance for the back propagation learning. Furthermore, we confirm the proposed network has a good generalization ability.
Revisiting spatial scale in the productivity–species richness relationship: fundamental issues and global change implications

The relationship between climate and biodiversity has been long debated. In a changing environment, there is new emphasis to resolve this debate for practical reasons: to manage conservation efforts we need to understand how diversity will change from both our own actions and natural global cycles. We show that the roles played by different ecological and evolutionary factors in shaping plant diversity change across the world's ecoregions, and—critically—that these differences scale with ecoregion size. Ecoregions that are both large and productive are globally important biodiversity sources that shape the biota of the smaller regions around them.
Theoretical and Experimental Dissection of Gravity-Dependent Mechanical Orientation in Gravitactic Microorganisms

Mechanisms of gravitactic behaviors of aquatic microorganisms were investigated in terms of their mechanical basis of gravity-dependent orientation. Two mechanical mechanisms have been considered as possible sources of the orientation torque generated on the inert body. One results from the differential density within an organism (the gravity-buoyancy model) and the other from the geometrical asymmetry of an organism (the drag-gravity model). We first introduced a simple theory that distinguishes between these models by measuring sedimentation of immobilized organisms in a medium of higher density than that of the origanisms. Ni2+-immobilized cells of Paramecium caudatum oriented downwards while floating upwards in the Percoll-containing hyper-density medium but oriented upwards while sinking in the hypo-density control medium. This means that the orientation of Paramecium is mechanically biased by the torque generated mainly due to the anterior location of the reaction center of hydrodynamic stress relative to those of buoyancy and gravity; thus the torque results from the geometrical fore-aft asymmetry and is described by the drag-gravity model. The same mechanical property was demonstrated in gastrula larvae of the sea urchin by observing the orientation during sedimentation of the KCN-immobilized larvae in media of different density: like the paramecia, the gastrulae oriented upwards in hypo-density medium and downwards in hyper-density medium. Immobilized pluteus larvae, however, oriented upwards regardless of the density of the medium. This indicates that the orientation of the pluteus is biased by the torque generated mainly due to the posterior location of the reaction center of gravity relative to those of buoyancy and hydrodynamic stress; thus the torque results from the fore-aft asymmetry of the density distribution and is described by the gravity-buoyancy model. These observations indicate that, during development, sea urchin larvae change the mechanical mechanism for the gravitactic orientation. Evidence presented in the present paper demonstrates a definite relationship between the morphology and the gravitactic behavior of microorganisms.
Smell and Taste in Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Objective To investigate the olfactory/gustatory functions of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) by smell/taste tests, and to determine if disease activity or medication might influence the olfactory/gustatory functions of patients. Patients and Methods In total, 59 IBD patients (37 Crohn's disease (CD) and 22 ulcerative colitis (UC) patients) were studied using “Sniffin' sticks” and “taste strips” for olfactory and gustatory tests, respectively, and compared to healthy controls and published normative data. Results Among IBD (CD and UC) patients, the values for odor threshold, but not for odor identification or discrimination, were significantly lower than that of the normative data. Further, these patients showed lower values than the normative taste values and the control group for all tastes, except sour; 57.6% of the IBD patients were hyposmic, while 30.5% were hypogeusic. Subjective self-assessments showed that the patients were not aware of their reduced olfactory/gustatory functions. There were no relevant differences in taste and smell abilities between the CD and UC patients. Disease activity and treatment did not influence the olfactory/gustatory functions. Conclusion IBD (CD and UC) patients exhibited significant reductions in the olfactory and gustatory functions. Therefore, patients should be tested by smell/taste tests, in order to be adequately informed of their olfactory/gustatory functions and provided an understanding of how to overcome their limitations, and thus improve their quality of life.
Modeling and Detecting Performance Problems for Distributed and Parallel Programs with JavaPSL

In this paper we present JavaPSL, a Performance Specification Language that can be used for a systematic and portable specification of large classes of experiment-related data and performance properties for distributed and parallel programs. Performance properties are described in a generic and normalized way, thus interpretation and comparison of performance properties is largely alleviated. Moreover, JavaPSL provides meta-properties in order to describe new properties based on existing ones and to relate properties to each other. JavaPSL uses Java and its powerful mechanisms, in particular, polymorphism, abstract classes, and reflection to describe experiment-related data and performance properties. JavaPSL can also be considered as a performance information interface based on which sophisticated performance tools can be built or other tools can access performance data in a portable way. We have implemented a prototype performance tool that uses JavaPSL to automatically detect performance bottlenecks for MPI, OpenMP, and mixed OpenMP and MPI programs. Several experiments with realistic codes demonstrate the usefulness of JavaPSL.
Data reduction in 3ω method for thin-film thermal conductivity determination

The 3ω method has been proven to be very useful for determining the thermal conductivity of thin films and their substrates. Several simplifications are often used in determining the thermal conductivity of the films based on the experimentally measured 3ω signal. These simplifications, however, have limited range of applicability. In this work, we present a detailed analysis and mathematical modeling of the 3ω method applied for different experimental conditions. Effects considered include the finite substrate thickness, anisotropic nature of the film and substrate thermal conductivity, the film-substrate thermal property contrasts, the effect of heat capacitance of the heater, and the effect of thermal boundary resistance. Several experimental results are analyzed using the models presented. This work shows that the 3ω method can be extended to a wide range of sample conditions, with anisotropic conductivities in both the substrate and the film, and with small film-substrate conductivity contrast.
A systematic investigation of the invariance of resting-state network patterns: is resting-state fMRI ready for pre-surgical planning?

Objectives: Measurements of resting-state networks (RSNs) have been used to investigate a wide range of diseases, such as dementia or epilepsy. This raises the question whether this method could also serve as a pre-surgical planning tool. Generating reliable functional connectivity patterns is of crucial importance, particularly for pre-surgical planning, as these patterns may directly affect the outcome. Methods: This study investigated the reproducibility of four commonly used resting-state conditions: fixation of a black crosshair on a white screen; fixation of the center of a black screen; eyes-closed and fixation of the words “Entspann dich! ” (Engl., “relax”). Ten healthy, right-handed male subjects (mean age, 25 years; SD 2) participated in the experiment. The spatial overlap for different RSNs across the four conditions was calculated. Results: The spatial overlap across all four conditions was calculated for each seed region on a single subject and at the group level. Activation maps at the single-subject and group levels were highly stable, especially for the reading network (RNW). The lowest consistency measures were found for the visual network (VIN). At the single-subject level spatial overlap values ranged from 0.31 (VIN) to 0.45 (RNW). Conclusion: These findings suggest that RSN measurements are a reliable tool to assess language-related networks in clinical settings. Generally, resting-state conditions showed comparable activation patterns, therefore no specific conditions appears to be preferable.
The thermodynamics of template-directed DNA synthesis: Base insertion and extension enthalpies

We used stopped-flow calorimetry to measure the overall enthalpy change associated with template-directed nucleotide insertion and DNA extension. Specifically, we used families of hairpin self-priming templates in conjunction with an exonuclease-free DNA polymerase to study primer extension by one or more dA or dT residues. Our results reveal exothermic heats between –9.8 and –16.0 kcal/bp for template-directed enzymatic polymerization. These extension enthalpies depend on the identity of the inserting base, the primer terminus, and/or the preceding base. Despite the complexity of the overall process, the sign, magnitude, and sequence dependence of these insertion and extension enthalpies are consistent with nearest-neighbor data derived from DNA melting studies. We recognize that the overall process studied here involves contributions from a multitude of events, including dNTP to dNMP hydrolysis, phosphodiester bond formation, and enzyme conformational changes. It is therefore noteworthy that the overall enthalpic driving force per base pair is of a magnitude similar to that expected for addition of one base pair or base stack per insertion event, rather than that associated with the rupture and/or formation of covalent bonds, as occurs during this catalytic process. Our data suggest a constant sequence-independent background of compensating enthalpic contributions to the overall process of DNA synthesis, with discrimination expressed by differences in noncovalent interactions at the template–primer level. Such enthalpic discrimination underscores a model in which complex biological events are regulated by relatively modest energy balances involving weak interactions, thereby allowing subtle mechanisms of regulation.
Stefin B Interacts with Histones and Cathepsin L in the Nucleus*

Stefin B (cystatin B) is an endogenous inhibitor of cysteine proteinases localized in the nucleus and the cytosol. Loss-of-function mutations in the stefin B gene (CSTB) gene were reported in patients with Unverricht-Lundborg disease (EPM1). We have identified an interaction between stefin B and nucleosomes, specifically with histones H2A.Z, H2B, and H3. In synchronized T98G cells, stefin B co-immunoprecipitated with histone H3, predominantly in the G1 phase of the cell cycle. Stefin B-deficient mouse embryonic fibroblasts entered S phase earlier than wild type mouse embryonic fibroblasts. In contrast, increased expression of stefin B in the nucleus delayed cell cycle progression in T98G cells. The delay in cell cycle progression was associated with the inhibition of cathepsin L in the nucleus, as judged from the decreased cleavage of the CUX1 transcription factor. In vitro, inhibition of cathepsin L by stefin B was potentiated in the presence of histones, whereas histones alone did not affect the cathepsin L activity. Interaction of stefin B with the Met-75 truncated form of cathepsin L in the nucleus was confirmed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer experiments in the living cells. Stefin B could thus play an important role in regulating the proteolytic activity of cathepsin L in the nucleus, protecting substrates such as transcription factors from its proteolytic processing.
Environment or kin: whence do bees obtain acidophilic bacteria?

As honey bee populations decline, interest in pathogenic and mutualistic relationships between bees and microorganisms has increased. Honey bees and bumble bees appear to have a simple intestinal bacterial fauna that includes acidophilic bacteria. Here, we explore the hypothesis that sweat bees can acquire acidophilic bacteria from the environment. To quantify bacterial communities associated with two species of North American and one species of Neotropical sweat bees, we conducted 16S rDNA amplicon 454 pyrosequencing of bacteria associated with the bees, their brood cells and their nests. Lactobacillus spp. were the most abundant bacteria in many, but not all, of the samples. To determine whether bee‐associated lactobacilli can also be found in the environment, we reconstructed the phylogenetic relationships of the genus Lactobacillus. Previously described groups that associate with Bombus and Apis appeared relatively specific to these genera. Close relatives of several bacteria that have been isolated from flowers, however, were isolated from bees. Additionally, all three sweat bee species associated with lactobacilli related to flower‐associated lactobacilli. These data suggest that there may be at least two different means by which bees acquire putative probiotics. Some lactobacilli appear specific to corbiculate apids, possibly because they are largely maternally inherited (vertically transmitted). Other lactobacilli, however, may be regularly acquired from environmental sources such as flowers. Sweat bee–associated lactobacilli were found to be abundant in the pollen and frass inside the nests of halictids, suggesting that they could play a role in suppressing the growth of moulds and other spoilage organisms.
Sleep Deprivation in Young and Healthy Subjects Is More Sensitively Identified by Higher Frequencies of Electrodermal Activity than by Skin Conductance Level Evaluated in the Time Domain

We analyzed multiple measures of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) based on electrodermal activity (EDA) and heart rate variability (HRV) for young healthy subjects undergoing 24-h sleep deprivation. In this study, we have utilized the error awareness test (EAT) every 2 h (13 runs total), to evaluate the deterioration of performance. EAT consists of trials where the subject is presented words representing colors. Subjects are instructed to press a button (“Go” trials) or withhold the response if the word presented and the color of the word mismatch (“Stroop No-Go” trial), or the screen is repeated (“Repeat No-Go” trials). We measured subjects' (N = 10) reaction time to the “Go” trials, and accuracy to the “Stroop No-Go” and “Repeat No-Go” trials. Simultaneously, changes in EDA and HRV indices were evaluated. Furthermore, the relationship between reactiveness and vigilance measures and indices of sympathetic control based on HRV were analyzed. We found the performance improved to a stable level from 6 through 16 h of deprivation, with a subsequently sustained impairment after 18 h. Indices of higher frequencies of EDA related more to vigilance measures, whereas lower frequencies index (skin conductance leve, SCL) measured the reactiveness of the subject. We conclude that indices of EDA, including those of the higher frequencies, termed TVSymp, EDASymp, and NSSCRs, provide information to better understand the effect of sleep deprivation on subjects' autonomic response and performance.
Comparison between Conduction and Convection Effects on Self-Heating in Doped Microcantilevers

The present study investigates the effects of thermal conduction and convection on self-heating temperatures and bimetallic deflections produced in doped microcantilever sensors. These cantilevers are commonly used as sensors and actuators in microsystems. The cantilever is a monolith, multi-layer structure with a thin U-shaped element inside. The cantilever substrate is made of silicon and silicon dioxide, respectively, and the element is p-doped silicon. A numerical analysis package (ANSYS) is used to study the effect of cantilever substrate material, element width, applied voltage and the operating environments on cantilever characteristics. The numerical results for temperature are compared against their analytical models. Results indicate the numerical results are accurate within 6% of analytical, and Si/Si cantilevers are more suitable for biosensors and AFM, whereas, Si/SiO2 are for hotplates and actuators applications.