Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beyond the Organ Donor Card: The Effect of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Values on Willingness to Communicate About Organ Donation to Family Members

Although numerous studies have examined many of the predictors of signing an organ donor card, including knowledge, attitudes, values, and demographic variables, very few have examined the factors associated with individuals' willingness to communicate about organ donation with family members. Because organ donation does not take place without the permission of a person's next-of-kin, government agencies and organ procurement organizations have targeted communication with family members as a primary objective of organ donation campaigns. This study reports the results of a survey of a stratified random sample of adults at 2 local sites of a national employer. Results indicate that knowledge, attitude, and altruism are significantly related to 2 measures of willingness to communicate: past behavior (whether respondents had already discussed organ donation with family members) and a scale measuring willingness to communicate about organ donation in the future. Because the quality of discussions between the potential donor and his or her family will depend on how well the donor is able to address vital issues regarding donation, it is concluded that campaigns seeking to promote communication between family members about organ donation must simultaneously seek to increase knowledge, debunk myths, and bolster positive attitudes about donation.
Health-Related Quality of Life Issues After Cosmetic Breast Implant Surgery in Finland

The purpose of this study is to compare women with cosmetic breast implants with population controls to examine health-related quality of life. A questionnaire including quality-of-life questions was mailed to 399 Finnish women who had had cosmetic breast implants during the years 1973–2002. The response rate of the study was 85. Results were compared with average Finnish women from a representative population sample. There were no differences in total score of health-related quality of life between women with breast implants and controls. Women with breast implants had lower health-related quality of life in dimensions of distress and sexual activity and partly also in dimensions of sleeping and mental function when compared with controls. On the other hand, operated women reported significantly less discomfort and symptoms than controls. Differences in health-related quality of life between women with breast implants and controls were largest in dimensions of distress, sexual activity, sleeping, and symptoms.
Dynamic modeling and analysis of polymer electrolyte fuel cell

This paper presents a comprehensive mathematical model for investigating the dynamic stack performance of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. A novel attempt in modeling fuel cells, that includes the crucial effects of inverter load is presented. The model is studied for different operational strategies. Results display the transient behavior of the voltage within each single cell, and also a number of single cells combined into a fuel cell stack system. Results indicate the risks involved with linearizing the model to cause serious computational errors. Thus the nonlinearities involved with the fuel cell system are preserved. Characteristics useful in performance analysis are plotted to understand the electrochemistry involved with the fuel cell system.
Inhibition of 02 Consumption Resistant to Cyanide and Its Development by N-Propyl Galiate and Salicyihydroxamic Acid'

Kinetics of inhibition of cyanide-insensitive 02 uptake by n-propyl gallate (PG) and salicylhydroxamic acid (SHAM) were determined in fresh slices from ethylene-treated tubers of Solanum tuberosum 'Norchip' and with mitochondria and lipoxygenase (EC 1.13.11.12) isolated from these tubers. PG and SHAM appeared to be inhibiting at identical sites in mitochondria but at disparate sites in slices. The apparent K, for SHAM was similar in mitochondria and slices. However, the apparent K, for PG in mitochondria was about 40-fold lower than the K, for PG inhibition of lipoxygenase activity. The amount of lipoxygenase associated with mitochondria increased when tubers were treated with ethylene. PG, but not SHAM, inhibited aging-induced development of cyanide-insensitive respiration. The latter two phenomena are in accord with the hypothesis that lipid metabolism is required for the development of the alternative pathway.
NF-kappa B nuclear localization and its prognostic significance in prostate cancer.

OBJECTIVE To detect the subcellular localization of NF-kappa B (p65) in human prostate cancer tissues of different histological grades, and to test whether NF-kappa B localization alone, or combined with the histological grade, can be used to predict patient outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS Prostate cancer tissues were obtained from radical prostatectomy specimens; the histological grade was determined using the Gleason grading system. Clinical outcomes were defined as good (5-year disease-free survival with undetectable levels of prostate specific antigen) or poor (progression to bone metastases). The subcellular localization of NF-kappa B was visualized by immunohistochemistry using an anti-p65 antibody. RESULTS The NF-kappa B subcellular localization was initially assessed in 45 specimens; in these samples a nuclear localization of NF-kappa B was specific to cancer tissues, but did not correlate with the Gleason score (P = 0.089). NF-kappa B was then assessed as a prognostic marker to complement Gleason score in predicting cancer progression. Tumour tissues from 30 men with a known clinical outcome were included; 10 of 17 patients who had a poor outcome were positive for NF-kappa B nuclear staining, whereas only two of 13 with a good outcome were positive (P = 0.026). When NF-kappa B subcellular localization and Gleason score were combined, two risk categories of progression were defined. Eleven of 13 specimens from those with a good outcome were in the low-risk category (Gleason 2-4 or Gleason 5-7 with negative nuclear NF-kappa B) and 12 of 17 in the poor outcome group were in the high-risk category (Gleason 8-10 or Gleason 5-7 with positive nuclear NF-kappa B; P = 0.004). CONCLUSION NF-kappa B is detectable in the nucleus in prostate cancer tissues and positivity can be used to help predict patient outcome. Multivariate analyses using other clinical and molecular variables are underway, and will validate the usefulness of NF-kappa B as a prognostic factor.
Association Between BCR-ABL Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors for Chronic Myeloid Leukemia and Cardiovascular Events, Major Molecular Response, and Overall Survival: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Importance A phase 3 trial with ponatinib in patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) was interrupted due to an important increase of vascular occlusive events. A similar risk was also suspected with nilotinib, another BCR-ABL tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) used in patients with CML. Objective To assess the risk of vascular occlusive events in patients with CML treated by new generations of TKIs and provide an overall assessment of the clinical benefit. Data Sources Two independent reviewers selected studies from PubMed, Scopus, and the Cochrane library database from their inception to October 21, 2014. Abstracts published during the past 3 years at international congresses and a trial register were also searched. Study Selection Two independent reviewers screened abstracts and titles against inclusion and exclusion criteria published previously in the PROSPERO 2014 protocol: CRD42014014147. Among the 249 abstracts identified, 10 studies fulfilled the established criteria. Data Extraction and Synthesis Two investigators independently extracted data using a standard form. Main Outcomes and Measures Information extracted included study and patients characteristics, type of intervention and data on vascular occlusive events, overall survival, and major molecular response (MMR). The meta-analysis was performed using a fixed-effects model. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CIs were computed using the Peto method. Results Ten randomized clinical trials (3043 patients) were analyzed. Risk of vascular occlusive events was increased with dasatinib (OR, 3.86; 95% CI, 1.33-11.18), nilotinib (OR, 3.42; 95% CI, 2.07-5.63), and ponatinib (OR, 3.47; 95% CI, 1.23-9.78) compared with imatinib in patients with CML. No significant difference was found with bosutinib (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 0.39-19.77). New-generation TKIs increased the rate of MMR at 1 year compared with imatinib (overall OR, 2.22; 95% CI, 1.87 to 2.63). No statistical difference in overall survival at 1 year was found (overall OR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.63-2.29). Inaccessibility to individual data and time-to-event data and differences in evaluation criteria between studies could have introduced bias. Conclusions and Relevance Dasatinib, nilotinib, and ponatinib increase vascular occlusive events. New-generation TKIs improve MMR but not the overall survival at 1 year in patients with CML.
Locating place names from place descriptions

In this paper, we review the current literature on geographic information retrieval based on place names. We focus on the positional uncertainties and the extent of vagueness frequently associated with place names in linguistic place descriptions and on the differences between common users’ perception and the way the geographic information services interpret place names. We argue that, despite some notable efforts from the scientific community, geographic information services still cannot unambiguously recognize and sufficiently perform spatial reasoning with place names used in linguistic expressions. We focus on three interrelated research areas: (1) the use of place names in gazetteers, (2) the use of formal models to reason with spatial relations and with the spatial extent of place names in linguistic place descriptions, and (3) Web-harvesting and crowd-sourcing techniques for identifying place names and their spatial extension from public and volunteer sources, such as social networks and photo-sharing sites. We identify some opportunities for synthesizing existing approaches that would expedite the process of intelligent communication about place names between services and users. We discuss the shortcomings of the current state of affairs in locating place names from place descriptions and identify new areas of importance for future research.
A study of the role of the postnatal testes in determining the ontogeny of gonadotropin secretion in the male rhesus monkey (Macaca mulatta).

To further examine the role of the testes in determining the ontogeny of gonadotropin secretion in the male rhesus monkey, the time courses of circulating LH and FSH concentrations were determined using established RIAs in daytime and nighttime blood samples collected at weekly intervals from birth until 4 yr of age in intact animals (n = 7) and in males orchidectomized at approximately 1 week of age (n = 6). Estimates of plasma androgen (A) concentrations were obtained on nonchromatographed samples with a RIA that reacts with testosterone and other androgens. Plasma PRL concentrations were also determined by RIA, and body weight was monitored at weekly intervals. Testicular volumes were measured at weekly intervals after 1.8 yr of age in five animals. In intact animals, mean daytime plasma A concentrations during the first 3 months of infantile development ranged from 1-6 ng/ml. Daytime plasma A concentrations then declined to reach 0.5-1 ng/ml by 9 months of age, where they were maintained usually until 3 yr of age when circulating levels progressively increased to reach, by approximately 3.5 yr of age, mean levels (6 ng/ml) characteristic of fully mature males. During the transition from infantile to perpubertal development, circulating LH and FSH concentrations showed a pattern similar to that of A, with elevations during the first 2 months of life followed by a decline to undetectable concentrations. In contrast to A, however, distinct pubertal increments in circulating LH and FSH concentrations were not observed in daytime samples from intact animals. The first indication of the pubertal reactivation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular axis was provided by a reemergence of nocturnal elevations in plasma A concentrations between 2-3 yr of age. These were followed shortly thereafter by detectable plasma LH concentrations in nighttime samples. Orchidectomy at 1 week of age resulted in a progressive and dramatic rise in circulating gonadotropin concentrations, which plateaued approximately 3 weeks later at values 1 order of magnitude greater than those observed in intact animals. This hypersecretion of LH and FSH was not sustained, however, and by 10 months of age, plasma gonadotropin concentrations in agonadal animals were indistinguishable from those in age-matched intact controls. These low levels of the gonadotropic hormones were maintained, in the absence of the testes, for approximately 2 yr until a second or "pubertal" postcastration hypersecretion of LH and FSH was observed. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Area-elficient interlayer signal propagation in 3D IC by introducing electron spin

Through Silicon Via (TSV) is the major technology in order to transmit data among various devices in 3D IC. Therefore higher concentration of TSV is required for higher packing density in 3D IC. In order to obtain high density of TSV, the dimensions of TSV needs to be reduced. This may be achieved by increasing the surface area per layer which will benefit in packing of more components for any operation including logic implementation. In this paper we introduce electron spin rather than charge for the first time for interlayer signal transmission in 3D IC resulting in area efficiency. Ansys electromagnetic simulator (Maxwell 2D and 3D) and OOMMF simulation supported by theoretical analysis specifies an average of 90% area reduction per layer of 3D IC as compared to state-of-the art TSV.
Malware Collection and Analysis

This paper describes the various malware datasets that we have obtained permissions to host at the University of Arizona as part of a National Science Foundation funded project. It also describes some other malware datasets that we are in the process of obtaining permissions to host at the University of Arizona. We have also discussed some preliminary work we have carried out on malware analysis using big data platforms.
Embracing "Web 3.0"

With the Resource Description Framework (RDF) and Web Ontology Language (OWL) - the languages that power the semantic Web - becoming standards and new technologies reaching maturity for embedding semantics in existing Web pages and querying RDF knowledge stores, something exciting is clearly happening in this area. Whereas the research community is widely exploiting the AI technologies that motivate, in particular, the OWL DL sublanguage, the languages' more "Webby" features - sometimes referred to as the "dark side" of the semantic Web - are powering the Web 3.0 technology space
Temporal Characteristics of Potassium‐Stimulated Acetylcholine Release and Inactivation of Calcium Influx in Rat Brain Synaptosomes

Abstract: The time course of Ca2+‐dependent [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) release and inactivation of 45Ca2+ entry were examined in rat brain synaptosomes depolarized by 45 mM [K+]o. Under conditions where the intrasynaptosomal stores of releasable [3H]ACh were neither exhausted nor replenished in the course of stimulation, the K+‐evoked release consisted of a major (40% of the releasable [3H]ACh pool), rapidly terminating phase (t1/2= 17.8 s), and a subsequent, slow efflux that could be detected only during a prolonged, maintained depolarization. The time course of inactivation of K+‐stimulated Ca2+ entry suggests the presence of fast‐inactivating, slow‐inactivating, and noninactivating, or very slowly inactivating, components. The fast‐inactivating component of the K+‐stimulated Ca2+ entry into synaptosomes appears to be responsible for the rapidly terminating phase of transmitter release during the first 60 s of K+ stimulus. The noninactivating Ca2+ entry may account for the slow phase of transmitter release. These results indicate that under conditions of maintained depolarization of synaptosomes by high [K+]o the time course and the amount of transmitter released may be a function of the kinetics of inactivation of the voltage‐dependent Ca channels.
HOST‐DEPENDENT GENETIC STRUCTURE OF PARASITE POPULATIONS: DIFFERENTIAL DISPERSAL OF SEABIRD TICK HOST RACES

Abstract Despite the fact that parasite dispersal is likely to be one of the most important processes influencing the dynamics and coevolution of host‐parasite interactions, little information is available on the factors that affect it. In most cases, opportunities for parasite dispersal should be closely linked to host biology. Here we use microsatellite genetic markers to compare the population structure and dispersal of two host races of the seabird tick Ixodes uriae at the scale of the North Atlantic. Interestingly, tick populations showed high within‐population genetic variation and relatively low population differentiation. However, gene flow at different spatial scales seemed to depend on the host species exploited. The black‐legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) had structured tick populations showing patterns of isolation by distance, whereas tick populations of the Atlantic puffin (Fratercula arctica) were only weakly structured at the largest scale considered. Host‐dependent rates of tick dispersal between colonies will alter infestation probabilities and local dynamics and may thus modify the adaptation potential of ticks to local hosts. Moreover, as I. uriae is a vector of the Lyme disease agent Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in both hemispheres, the large‐scale movements of birds and the subsequent dispersal of ticks will have important consequences for the dynamics and coevolutionary interactions of this microparasite with its different vertebrate and invertebrate hosts.
Fat body protein granules and storage proteins in the silkmoth, Hyalophora cecropia

Fat body cells of silkmoth pupae (Hyalophora cecropia ) contain granules, showing a less dense outer zone and a denser, often crystalline, inner portion appear after cocoon spinning and increase until the larval-pupal ecdysis; more granules are formed in females than in males. Urate granules, appearing fibrous in internal structure, first form about the same time, but their accumulation is more gradual, and continues in the pupa. Both types have been isolated by centrifugation. Protein granules dissolve in buffers to yield proteins 1 and 2, with distinct electrophoretic and antigenic properties. These proteins have been isolated individually from pupal fat body extracts by using their different thermal stabilities in phosphate buffer containing MgCl2 and (NH4)2SO4, respectively, and purification was completed by gel chromatography. Protein 1 has a molecular weight of 480,000 and a subunit of 85,000 daltons, while protein 2 gives values of 530,000 and 89,000, respectively. Their amino acid compositions are similar but distinct. Proteins 1 and 2 accumulate in the hemolymph, beginning 3 days before spinning, reach maximal levels at spinning, and then decline in the hemolymph while granules are formed in the fat body, although the total hemolymph protein concentration does not decline at this time. It is concluded that the fat body of the late, feeding larva synthesizes two related "storage proteins" and secretes them in partially crystalline granules as protein reserves for metamorphosis.
Relationship between Medicare's hospital compare performance measures and mortality rates.

CONTEXT In response to concerns about the quality of care in US hospitals, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services began measuring hospital performance and reporting this performance on their Web site, Hospital Compare. It is unknown whether these process performance measures are related to hospital-level outcomes. OBJECTIVE To determine whether quality measured with the process measures used in Hospital Compare are correlated with and predictive of hospitals' risk-adjusted mortality rates. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Cross-sectional study of hospital care between January 1 and December 31, 2004, for acute myocardial infarction, heart failure, and pneumonia at acute care hospitals in the United States included on the Hospital Compare Web site. Ten process performance measures included in Hospital Compare were compared with hospital risk-adjusted mortality rates, which were measured using Medicare Part A claims data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Condition-specific inpatient, 30-day, and 1-year risk-adjusted mortality rates. RESULTS A total of 3657 acute care hospitals were included in the study based on their performance as reported in Hospital Compare. Across all acute myocardial infarction performance measures, the absolute reduction in risk-adjusted mortality rates between hospitals performing in the 25th percentile vs those performing in the 75th percentile was 0.005 for inpatient mortality, 0.006 for 30-day mortality, and 0.012 for 1-year mortality (P<.001 for each comparison). For the heart failure performance measures, the absolute mortality reduction was smaller, ranging from 0.001 for inpatient mortality (P = .03) to 0.002 for 1-year mortality (P = .08). For the pneumonia performance measures, the absolute reduction in mortality ranged from 0.001 for 30-day mortality (P = .05) to 0.005 for inpatient mortality (P<.001). Differences in mortality rates for hospitals performing in the 75th percentile on all measures within a condition vs those performing lower than the 25th percentile on all reported measures for acute myocardial infarction ranged between 0.008 (P = .06) and 0.018 (P = .008). For pneumonia, the effects ranged between 0.003 (P = .09) and 0.014 (P<.001); for heart failure, the effects ranged between -0.013 (P = .06) and -0.038 (P = .45). CONCLUSIONS Hospital performance measures predict small differences in hospital risk-adjusted mortality rates. Efforts should be made to develop performance measures that are tightly linked to patient outcomes.
A fast and sensitive new satellite SO2 retrieval algorithm based on principal component analysis: Application to the ozone monitoring instrument

We describe a new algorithm to retrieve SO2 from satellite‐measured hyperspectral radiances. We employ the principal component analysis technique in regions with no significant SO2 to capture radiance variability caused by both physical processes (e.g., Rayleigh and Raman scattering and ozone absorption) and measurement artifacts. We use the resulting principal components and SO2 Jacobians calculated with a radiative transfer model to directly estimate SO2 vertical column density in one step. Application to the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) radiance spectra in 310.5–340 nm demonstrates that this approach can greatly reduce biases in the operational OMI product and decrease the noise by a factor of 2, providing greater sensitivity to anthropogenic emissions. The new algorithm is fast, eliminates the need for instrument‐specific radiance correction schemes, and can be easily adapted to other sensors. These attributes make it a promising technique for producing long‐term, consistent SO2 records for air quality and climate research.