Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluating physical capacity in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: comparing the shuttle walk test with the encouraged 6-minute walk test.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the applicability of the incremental (shuttle) walk test in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and compare the performance of those patients on the shuttle walk test to that of the same patients on the encouraged 6-minute walk test. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted, in which 24 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were selected. In random order, patients were, after an initial practice period, submitted to a shuttle walk test and an encouraged 6-minute walk test. RESULTS The patients obtained a higher heart rate (expressed as a percentage of that predicted based on gender and age) on the encouraged 6-minute walk test (84.1 +/- 11.4%) than on the shuttle walk test (76.4 +/- 9.7%) (p = 0.003). The post-test sensation of dyspnea (Borg scale) was also higher on the encouraged 6-minute walk test. On average, the patients walked 307.0 +/- 89.3 meters on the shuttle walk test and 515.5 +/- 102.3 meters on the encouraged 6-minute walk test (p < 0.001). There was a good correlation between the two tests in terms of the distance walked (r = 0.80, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The shuttle walk test is simple and easy to implement in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The encouraged 6-minute walk test produced higher post-test heart rate and greater post-test sensation of dyspnea than did the shuttle walk test.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for body dysmorphic disorder: a review of its efficacy

The aim of this study was to review the efficacy of different methods of cognitive and/or behavioral therapies used to treat body dysmorphic disorder. We evaluated all case series, open studies, controlled trials, and meta-analyses of cognitive and/or behavioral treatment approaches to body dysmorphic disorder published up to July 2012, identified through a search in the PubMed/Medline, PsycINFO, ISI Web of Knowledge, and Scopus databases. Our findings indicate that individual and group cognitive behavioral therapies are superior to waiting list for the treatment of body dysmorphic disorder. While the efficacy of cognitive therapy is supported by one controlled trial, utility of behavioral therapy is suggested by one open study and one controlled relapse prevention follow-up study. There is a pressing need to conduct head-to-head studies, with appropriate, active, control treatment groups, in order to examine further the efficacy of cognitive and/or behavioral therapies for body dysmorphic disorder.
ANTI-PERSISTENCE IN THE GLOBAL TEMPERATURE ANOMALY FIELD

Abstract. In this study, low-frequency variations in temperature anomaly are investigated by mapping temperature anomaly records onto random walks. We show evidence that global overturns in trends of temperature anomalies occur on decadal time-scales as part of the natural variability of the climate system. Paleoclimatic summer records in Europe and New-Zealand provide further support for these findings as they indicate that anti-persistence of temperature anomalies on decadal time-scale have occurred in the last 226 yrs. Atmospheric processes in the subtropics and mid-latitudes of the SH and interactions with the Southern Oceans seem to play an important role to moderate global variations of temperature on decadal time-scales.
Generalization of an interpolant using Voronoi diagrams in two directions

Recently the authors found a local coordinate property based on the planar Voronoi diagram that is simpler than the famous Sibson's local coordinates (R. Sibson, 1980; 1981), and proposed an interpolant using this property. The paper generalizes this property to general dimensions. The proof given in the paper enables us to use more general Voronoi diagrams, e.g., Laguerre Voronoi diagrams and numerically distributed Voronoi diagrams obtained by topology oriented algorithms. The paper also generalizes the author's interpolant to continuously distributed data sites.
Modeling of Whole-Space Transient Electromagnetic Responses Based on FDTD and its Application in the Mining Industry

Hidden, water-abundant areas in coal mines pose a serious threat to mine safety and production. Underground transient electromagnetic method (TEM) is one of the most effective means of detecting water-abundant areas in front of the roadway head. Traditional TEM theories and applications are interpreted mainly on the vertical component. In this study, multicomponent responses of TEM in underground roadways were modeled using the finite-difference time-domain method. Physical simulation was also used for advanced detection of TEM in the roadway. Both the numerical and physical simulation results show that the horizontal component is more sensitive to the location of water-abundant areas. The results of the joint interpretation with both horizontal and vertical components were verified in a practical coal mine application, indicating that it is feasible to use the horizontal component in interpreting TEM data. Thus, the horizontal component could serve as a new approach for coal mine TEM data processing and interpretation.
Vitamin D decreases NFkappaB activity by increasing IkappaBalpha levels.

BACKGROUND In a previous study we demonstrated the inhibitory effect of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D(3)) and its less calcaemic analog 1,24(OH)(2)D(2) on the production of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) by human peritoneal macrophages. The aim of the present study is to examine whether this vitamin D inhibition of TNFalpha is mediated by its major transcription factor, nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkappaB). METHODS Murine macrophage cells (P388D1) were incubated with 10(-7) M 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) or 1,24(OH)(2)D(2) and then stimulated with lipopolysaccharide. NFkappaB activity was assayed using a reporter gene and by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). In addition, we evaluated mRNA and protein levels of NFkappaB-p65 and of IkappaBalpha, a potent NFkappaB inhibitor, and phosphorylated IkappaBalpha. RESULTS Both 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) and 1,24(OH)(2)D(2) induced a 60% reduction of TNFalpha secretion. By using a reporter gene and EMSA we found that vitamin D markedly reduced NFkappaB activity. 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) or 1,24(OH)(2)D(2) decreased NFkappaB-p65 levels in the nucleus and increased NFkappaB-p65 levels in the cytosol; no changes were observed in the total levels of NFkappaB-p65 protein and mRNA. Concurrently, vitamin D induced a significant increase in mRNA and protein levels of IkappaBalpha (approximately 6.5- and 4.5-fold, respectively). Elevated levels of IkappaBalpha can be explained by the vitamin D-induced prolongation of IkappaBalpha-mRNA half-life from 110 to 190 min and by the decrease in IkappaBalpha phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS Vitamin D up-regulates IkappaBalpha levels by increasing mRNA stability and decreasing IkappaBalpha phosphorylation. The increase in IkappaBalpha levels reduces nuclear translocation of NFkappaB and thereby downgrades its activity. Since NFkappaB is a major transcription factor of inflammatory mediators, these findings suggest that the less-calcaemic analog, 1,24(OH)(2)D(2) may be effective as an anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent.
Cultural basis for diabetes-related beliefs among low- and high-education African American, American Indian, and white older adults.

OBJECTIVES Racial and ethnic disparities in diabetes and subsequent complications are often attributed to culture; however, previous diabetes disparities research is restricted to in-depth ethnic-specific samples or to comparative study designs with limited belief assessment. The goal of our study was to improve understanding of the cultural basis for variation in diabetes beliefs. DESIGN Cross-sectional. SETTING Rural North Carolina. PARTICIPANTS Older adults (aged 60+) with diabetes, equally divided by ethnicity (White, African American, American Indian) and sex (N=593). INTERVENTIONS Guided by Explanatory Models of Illness and Cultural Consensus research traditions, trained interviewers collected data using 38 items in four diabetes belief domains: causes, symptoms, consequences, and medical management. Items were obtained from the Common Sense Model of Diabetes Inventory (CSMDI). MAIN OUTCOME Beliefs about diabetes. Response options for each diabetes belief item were "agree," "disagree" and "don't know. " Collected data were analyzed using Anthropac (version 4.98) and Latent Gold (version 4.5) programs. RESULTS There is substantial similarity in diabetes beliefs among African Americans, American Indians and Whites. Diabetes beliefs were most similar in the symptoms and consequences domains compared to beliefs pertaining to causes and medical management. Although some discrete beliefs differed by ethnicity, systematic differences by ethnicity were observed for specific educational groups. CONCLUSIONS Socioeconomic conditions influence diabetes beliefs rather than ethnicity per se.
Unsuspected pulmonary emboli in cancer patients: clinical correlates and relevance.

PURPOSE Advances in computed tomography (CT) scanning have led to the detection of unsuspected pulmonary emboli (PE) on routine cancer staging scans. We hypothesized that these patients had signs or symptoms suggestive of PE that may have been overlooked by their health care providers. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed on 59 patients found on routine cancer staging CT scans to have unsuspected PE. Information on patient demographics, malignancy characteristics, risk factors for venous thromboembolism (VTE), and symptoms was recorded. A retrospective case-control analysis was then performed using two age- and stage-matched control patients for each patient who had similar staging CT scans performed during the same period. RESULTS Fifty-two patients with unsuspected PE were identified. Forty-four percent had signs or symptoms commonly associated with PE; when fatigue was included, 75% were symptomatic. Ninety-two control patients were identified for 46 of the case patients. Patients with unsuspected PE were significantly more likely to have had a prior history of VTE (20% v 3%; P = .007). The patients with PE were significantly more likely than control patients to complain of fatigue (54% v 20%; P = .0002) and shortness of breath (22% v 8%; P = .02). There was no difference between the groups in administration of chemotherapy within 30 days, central venous catheter use, or erythropoietin therapy. CONCLUSION Seventy-five percent of patients found to have unsuspected PE on cancer staging CT scans were symptomatic. Fatigue and shortness of breath were significantly more common in patients with unsuspected PE than in control patients.
Cinegen: a Rapid Prototyping Tool for Robot Manipulators

CINEGEN is a Virtual Reality based system for the rapid design, prototyping and simulation of robot manipulators. With CINEGEN, users provide a text description of a manipulator and a numerical algorithm automatically computes the inverse kinematics. This algorithm is capable of handling serial, parallel and hybrid manipulator structures. Using CINEGEN, the user can directly interact with a graphical manipulator: he can define tasks in Cartesian space and the program generates real time inverse kinematics to show the behaviour of the robot. Graphical information representing internal parameters (speeds, torques, accelerations) help the user to understand robot problems and optimise the design. Additionally, to enhance the intuitive interaction with the software interface, a new type of 3D mechanical device with force feedback is being developed. This interface is currently being used by EPFL-ISR (Lausanne, Switzerland) and NASA Ames (Moffet Field, California) to control several manipulators as well as to prototype new designs.
Electromechanical properties of knitted wearable sensors: part 1 – theory

This paper reports the development of a hexagon resistance model, based on the loop structure of a plain weft knitted fabric. This model is capable of describing the electromechanical properties of conductive knitted elastic fabrics. Based on the relationship between the resistance and the load on the fabric under biaxial extension, the equivalent resistance of the fabric was obtained by solving the circuit network equations. It was found that the circuit network is a multiple circuit parallel to the wale direction whereas it is in series along the course direction. And Holm’s electrical contact theory is used to calculate the relationship between the contact resistance and the contact force in an elastic fabric sensor. The contact load and deformation between two knitting loops are calculated using the classical knitted fabric mechanics model of Kawabata and Popper.
RELATIONS BETWEEN STRUCTURE AND FUNCTION IN RAT SKELETAL MUSCLE FIBERS

The fast-twitch extensor digitorum longus (EDL) and the slow-twitch soleus muscle of the rat consist of heterogeneous fiber populations. EDL muscle fibers differ in size, mitochondrial content, myoglobin concentration, and thickness of the Z line. The sarcoplasmic reticulum, on the other hand, is richly developed in all fibers, with only small variation. Myofibrils are clearly circumscribed at both the A and I band level. The soleus muscle is composed primarily of fibers with moderate mitochondrial content and myoglobin concentration. In most fibers the sarcoplasmic reticulum is poorly developed, with the exception of the portion of reticulum in phase with the Z line. As a consequence the myofibrillar fields are amply fused together. Contacts between sarcoplasmic reticulum and T system are discontinuous and may occur in the form of "dyads" instead of the typical triad structure. In a small proportion of soleus muscle fibers the organization and development of the sarcoplasmic reticulum is similar to that of EDL muscle fibers, with prominent fenestrated collars at the H band level. In these fibers mitochondria are larger and more abundant. The results are correlated with physiological studies on motor units in the same and in similar rat muscles. It is suggested that the variable structural pattern of rat muscle fibers is related to two distinct physiological parameters, speed of contraction and resistance to fatigue.
High Barrier Metallized Laminates for Food Packaging

High barrier (HB) metallized laminates are combinations of two metallized films, which demonstrate barrier improvements of up. to 100 fold compared with conven tional single layer metallized laminates, or over 1000 times better than their parent unmetallized films. By appropriate choice of materials, from polyolefins to polyesters, a versatile range of flexible laminates can be produced with oxygen permeabilities down to 0.02 cc/metre 2/day (0.001 cc/100 in2/day) and moisture vapor transmission rates (MVTR) down to 0.05 gm/metre2/day (0.01 gm/100 in2 /day). These laminates are being used and/or developed for retail packaging as well as intermediate bulk and bag-in-box packaging for dry foods, liquids and pastes.
Mosaic expression of Med12 in female mice leads to exencephaly, spina bifida, and craniorachischisis.

BACKGROUND A precise temporal and spatial regulation of gene expression is necessary to achieve neural tube closure. Med12, a subunit of the mediator complex, can bind transcription factors and modulate expression of their target genes. Med12 is essential during early mouse development and is important for neural tube closure. METHODS We have made use of a mouse line carrying a conditional null allele of the X-linked Med12 gene to generate heterozygous female embryos that express Med12 in a mosaic fashion thus allowing the study of the role of Med12 during neural tube closure. RESULTS Mosaic expression of Med12 causes a wide variety of embryonic phenotypes. Some embryos were unable to complete turning and were found with arrested development at embryonic day (ED) 9.5. Others were able to pass ED 12.5 and displayed defects in neural tube closure. These defects included exencephaly, spina bifida, craniorachischisis, split face, and curly tail. Histologic and skeletal analyses of these mutant females show that the neural plate is unable to elevate and is completely flat in the regions of the body axis where neural tube closure fails. CONCLUSIONS We report examples of all known neural tube defects implying Med12 in the full process of neural tube closure along the complete body axis. Our work points to Med12 being an essential coregulator of transcription factors controlling neural tube closure.
A UK study assessing the population prevalence of self-reported gluten sensitivity and referral characteristics to secondary care

Background Reports suggest that gluten sensitivity (GS) exists in the absence of coeliac disease (CD). This clinical entity has been termed noncoeliac gluten sensitivity (NCGS). Objectives To determine the population prevalence of self-reported GS and referral characteristics to secondary care. Patients and methods A UK population-based questionnaire screened for GS and related symptoms. Diagnostic outcomes were also analyzed in patients referred to secondary care with GS. CD diagnosis entailed a positive coeliac serology (endomysial and/or tissue transglutaminase antibodies) plus Marsh 1–3 on duodenal biopsies. NCGS diagnosis was based on exclusion of CD. Clinical comparisons were made between NCGS and CD. Results A total of 1002 adults in the population (female 55%, mean age 39 years). The self-reported prevalence for GS was 13% (female 79%, mean age 39.5 years, P<0.0001), with 3.7% consuming a gluten-free diet and 0.8% known to have a doctor diagnosis of CD. Individuals with GS had an increased prevalence of fulfilling the Rome III criteria for irritable bowel syndrome, in comparison with those without GS (20 vs. 3.89%, odds ratio 6.23, P<0.0001). In secondary care 200 GS patients (female 84%, mean age 39.6 years) were investigated, in whom 7% were found to have CD and 93% to have NCGS. All CD patients were human leucocyte antigen DQ2 or DQ8 positive compared with 53% of NCGS cases (P=0.0003). Nutritional deficiencies (P⩽0.003), autoimmune disorders (23.1 vs. 9.7%, P=0.0001) and a lower mean BMI (23.7 vs. 25.8, P=0.001) were significantly associated with CD compared with NCGS. Conclusion GS is commonly self-reported with symptoms suggesting an association with irritable bowel syndrome. The majority of patients have NCGS, an entity which demonstrates clinical and immunologic difference to CD.
Perception of Biological Motion and Emotion in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

Abstract Participants diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), dementia and controls completed measures that required decoding emotions from point-light displays of bodily motion, and static images of facial affect. Both of these measures tap social cognitive processes that are considered critical for social competency. Consistent with prior literature, both clinical groups were impaired on the static measure of facial affect recognition. The dementia (but not the MCI) group additionally showed difficulties interpreting biological motion cues. However, this did not reflect a specific deficit in decoding emotions, but instead a more generalized difficulty in processing visual motion (both to action and to emotion). These results align with earlier studies showing that visual motion processing is disrupted in dementia, but additionally show for the first time that this extends to the recognition of socially relevant biological motion. The absence of any MCI related impairment on the point-light biological emotion measure (coupled with deficits on the measure of facial affect recognition) also point to a potential disconnect between the processes implicated in the perception of emotion cues from static versus dynamic stimuli. For clinical (but not control) participants, performance on all recognition measures was inversely correlated with level of semantic memory impairment. (JINS, 2012, 18, 1–8)
Exploiting Playlists for Representation of Songs and Words for Text-Based Music Retrieval

As a result of the growth of online music streaming services, a large number of playlists have been created by users and service providers. The title of each playlist provides useful information, such as the theme and listening context, of the songs in the playlist. In this paper, we investigate how to exploit the words extracted from playlist titles for text-based music retrieval. The main idea is to represent songs and words in a common latent space so that the music retrieval is converted to the problem of selecting songs that are the nearest neighbors of the query word in the latent space. Specifically, an unsupervised learning method is proposed to generate a latent representation of songs and words, where the learning objects are the co-occurring songs and words in playlist titles. Five metrics (precision, recall, coherence, diversity, and popularity) are considered for performance evaluation of the proposed method. Qualitative results demonstrate that our method is able to capture the semantic meaning of songs and words, owning to the proximity property of related songs and words in the latent space.
Identification of a New Human Adenovirus Protein Encoded by a Novel Late l-Strand Transcription Unit

ABSTRACT A short open reading frame named the “U exon,” located on the adenovirus (Ad) l-strand (for leftward transcription) between the early E3 region and the fiber gene, is conserved in mastadenoviruses. We have observed that Ad5 mutants with large deletions in E3 that infringe on the U exon display a mild growth defect, as well as an aberrant Ad E2 DNA-binding protein (DBP) intranuclear localization pattern and an apparent failure to organize replication centers during late infection. Mutants in which the U exon DNA is reconstructed have a reversed phenotype. Chow et al. (L. T. Chow et al., J. Mol. Biol. 134:265-303, 1979) described mRNAs initiating in the region of the U exon and spliced to downstream sequences in the late DBP mRNA leader and the DBP-coding region. We have cloned this mRNA (as cDNA) from Ad5 late mRNA; the predicted protein is 217 amino acids, initiating in the U exon and continuing in frame in the DBP leader and in the DBP-coding region but in a different reading frame from DBP. Polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies generated against the predicted U exon protein (UXP) showed that UXP is ∼24K in size by immunoblot and is a late protein. At 18 to 24 h postinfection, UXP is strongly associated with nucleoli and is found throughout the nucleus; later, UXP is associated with the periphery of replication centers, suggesting a function relevant to Ad DNA replication or RNA transcription. UXP is expressed by all four species C Ads. When expressed in transient transfections, UXP complements the aberrant DBP localization pattern of UXP-negative Ad5 mutants. Our data indicate that UXP is a previously unrecognized protein derived from a novel late l-strand transcription unit.