Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patient Preferences for Test Result Notification

IMPORTANCE: Patients are increasingly being given access to their test results, but little is known about how preferences vary with the test under consideration or the results of the test (normal or abnormal). OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to examine preferences for test result communication. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: We surveyed adults to explore their preferences for test result notification for three common diagnostic tests of varying “emotional impact” (dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry [DXA], genital herpes, and cancer biopsy) when test results were 1) normal and 2) abnormal. We conducted our survey between June and August 2012 on the campus of an academic medical center. For each scenario, subjects were asked to rank seven methods that might be used to communicate test results (letter, unsecured email, secured email, text message, telephone call, secure Web portal, office visit) in order of acceptability. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The main measures were the percentage of respondents who ranked a particular test result notification method favorably and the percentage who ranked it as unacceptable. RESULTS: When test results were normal, subjects’ notification preferences were generally similar for DXA, herpes and cancer biopsy, with telephone and letter ranked most favorably for all three tests. Conversely, textmessage and unsecured email were viewed as unacceptable notificationmethods for normal results by 45.0–55.0 % of subjects across all three tests. When test results were abnormal, office visits became more popular. A higher proportion of subjects ranked office visits as theirmost preferred notification method for our test with high “emotional impact” (cancer biopsy) (38.4 %) as compared to DXA (28.2 %) and herpes (27.9 %) (P=0.02). For most test scenarios, younger subjects appeared to rank electronic communication modalities (secure email or Web portal) higher than older subjects, though this difference did not reach statistical significance (P=0.29). CONCLUSIONS: Preferences for test result notification can differ substantially depending upon the test under consideration and results of the test. Providers and health care systems should consider these factors when deciding how to communicate results to patients.
General Algorithms for Testing the Ambiguity of Finite Automata and the Double-Tape Ambiguity of Finite-State Transducers

We present efficient algorithms for testing the finite, polynomial, and exponential ambiguity of finite automata with e-transitions. We give an algorithm for testing the exponential ambiguity of an automaton A in time , and finite or polynomial ambiguity in time , where |A|E denotes the number of transitions of A. These complexities significantly improve over the previous best complexities given for the same problem. Furthermore, the algorithms presented are simple and based on a general algorithm for the composition or intersection of automata. Additionally, we give an algorithm to determine in time the degree of polynomial ambiguity of a polynomially ambiguous automaton A and present an application of our algorithms to an approximate computation of the entropy of a probabilistic automaton. We also study the double-tape ambiguity of finite-state transducers. We show that the general problem is undecidable and that it is NP-hard for acyclic transducers. We present a specific analysis of the double-tape ambiguity of transducers with bounded delay. In particular, we give a characterization of double-tape ambiguity for synchronized transducers with zero delay that can be tested in quadratic time and give an algorithm for testing the double-tape ambiguity of transducers with bounded delay.
Growth characteristics and biofilm formation of various spoilage bacteria isolated from fresh produce.

UNLABELLED This study investigated the characteristics of spoilage bacteria isolated from fresh produce including growth at various temperatures, biofilm formation, cell hydrophobicity, and colony spreading. The number of spoilage bacteria present when stored at 35 °C was significantly greater than when stored at lower temperatures, and maximum population size was achieved after 10 h. However, Bacillus pumilus, Dickeya zeae, Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. Carotovorum Pcc21, and Bacillus pumilus (RDA-R) did not grow at the storage temperature of 5 °C. The biofilm formation by Clavibacter michiganensis, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, and A. calcoaceticus (RDA-R) are higher than other spoilage bacteria. Biofilm formation showed low correlation between hydrophobicity, and no significant correlation with colony spreading. These results might be used for developing safe storage guidelines for fresh produce at various storage temperatures, and could be basic information on the growth characteristics and biofilm formation properties of spoilage bacteria from fresh produce. PRACTICAL APPLICATION Growth of spoilage bacteria was different depending on the bacteria strains and storage temperature. Between biofilm formation and cell hydrophobicity was low correlation on spoilage bacteria. Therefore, growth characteristics and biofilm formation of spoilage bacteria might be used for developing safe storage guidelines for fresh produce at various storage temperatures.
The Impact of a Written Parental Consent Policy On Estimates From a School-Based Drug Use Survey

The authors examine differences between mean, variance, and correlation parameter estimates derived from afull school-based sample and subsamples restricted by the provision of parental consent. A total of 1,607 students at 21 continuation high schools and 1,192 students at 3 traditional high schools completed a survey containing variables related to socio demographics, drug use, mental health, and veolence. The employment of a researcher-initiated home-telephone-call procedure substantially increased the parental response rate over a student-/ school-assisted consent method. The subsamples restricted by the written consent criterion showed some small biases in estimates of sociodemographic variables but little or no biases on measures related to mental health, drug use, or violence measures. The augmentation of the written consent samples with verbally consented students reduced observed biases.
Development of an Improved Dose Reconstruction System for the Techa River Population Affected by the Operation of the Mayak Production Association

Abstract Degteva, M. O. , Vorobiova, M. I. , Tolstykh, E. I. , Shagina, N. B. , Shishkina, E. A. , Anspaugh, L. R. , Napier, B. A. , Bougrov, N. G. , Shved, V. A. and Tokareva, E. E. Development of an Improved Dose Reconstruction System for the Techa River Population Affected by the Operation of the Mayak Production Association. Radiat. Res. 166, 255–270 (2006). The Techa River Dosimetry System (TRDS) has been developed to provide estimates of dose received by approximately 30,000 members of the Extended Techa River Cohort (ETRC). Members of the ETRC were exposed beginning in 1949 to significant levels of external and internal (mainly from 90Sr) dose but at low to moderate dose rates. Members of this cohort are being studied in an effort to test the hypothesis that exposure at low to moderate dose rates has the same ability to produce stochastic health effects as exposure at high dose rates. The current version of the TRDS is known as TRDS-2000 and is the subject of this paper. The estimated doses from 90Sr are supported strongly by ∼30,000 measurements made with a tooth β-particle counter, measurements of bones collected at autopsy, and ∼38,000 measurements made with a special whole-body counter that detects the bremsstrahlung from 90Y. The median doses to the red bone marrow and the bone surface are 0.21 and 0.37 Gy, respectively. The maximum doses to the red bone marrow and bone surface are 2.0 and 5.2 Gy, respectively. Distributions of dose to other organs are provided and are lower than the values given above. Directions for future work are discussed.
Furoates and thenoates inhibit pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 2 allosterically by binding to its pyruvate regulatory site

Abstract The last decade has witnessed the reawakening of cancer metabolism as a therapeutic target. In particular, inhibition of pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) holds remarkable promise. Dichloroacetic acid (DCA), currently undergoing clinical trials, is a unique PDK inhibitor in which it binds to the allosteric pyruvate site of the enzyme. However, the safety of DCA as a drug is compromised by its neurotoxicity, whereas its usefulness as an investigative tool is limited by the high concentrations required to exert observable effects in cell culture. Herein, we report the identification – by making use of saturation-transfer difference NMR spectroscopy, enzymatic assays and computational methods – of furoate and thenoate derivatives as allosteric pyruvate-site-binding PDK2 inhibitors. This work substantiates the pyruvate regulatory pocket as a druggable target.
Relative Humidity and Activity Patterns of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)

ABSTRACT Laboratory studies have shown clear relationships between relative humidity (RH) and the activity and survival of Ixodes scapularis Say (blacklegged tick). However, field studies have produced conflicting results. We examined this relationship using weekly tick count totals and hourly RH observations at three field sites, stratified by latitude, within the state of Rhode Island. Records of nymphal tick abundance were compared with several RH-related variables (e.g., RH at time of sampling and mean weekly daytime RH). In total, 825 nymphs were sampled in 2009, a year of greater precipitation, with a weighted average leaf litter RH recorded at time of sampling of 85.22%. Alternatively, 649 nymphs were collected in 2010, a year of relatively low precipitation, and a weighted average RH recorded at time of sampling was 75.51%. Negative binomial regression analysis of tick count totals identified cumulative hours <82% RH threshold as a significant factor observed in both years (2009: P = 0.0037; 2010: P < 0.0001). Mean weekly daytime RH did not significantly predict tick activity in either year. However, mean weekly daytime RH recorded with 1-wk lag before sample date was a significant variable (P = 0.0016) in 2010. These results suggest a lag effect between moisture availability and patterns of tick activity and abundance. Differences in the relative importance of each RH variable between years may have been due to abnormally wet summer conditions in 2009.
Redox regulation of c‐Jun DNA binding by reversible S‐glutathiolation

Redox control of the transcription factor c‐Jun maps to a single cysteine in its DNA binding domain. However, the nature of the oxidized state of this cysteine and, thus, the potential molecular mechanisms accounting for the redox regulation of c‐Jun DNA binding remain unclear. To address this issue, we have analyzed the purified recombinant c‐Jun DNA binding domain for redox‐dependent thiol modifications and concomitant changes in DNA binding activity. We show that changes in the ratio of reduced to oxidized glutathione provide the potential to oxidize c‐Jun sulfhydryls by mechanisms that include both protein disulfide formation and S‐glutathiolation. We provide evidence that S‐glutathiolation, which is specifically targeted to the cysteine residue located in the DNA binding site of the protein, may account for the reversible redox regulation of c‐Jun DNA binding. Furthermore, based on a molecular model of the S‐glutathiolated protein, we discuss the structural elements facilitating S‐glutathiolation and how this modification interferes with DNA binding. Given the structural similarities between the positively charged cysteine‐containing DNA binding motif of c‐Jun and the DNA binding site of related oxidant‐sensitive transcriptional activators, the unprecedented phenomenon of redox‐triggered S‐thiolation of a transcription factor described in this report suggests a novel role for protein thiolation in the redox control of transcription. —Klatt, P., Molina, E. P., de Lacoba, M. G. , Padilla, C. A. , Martínez‐Galisteo, E. , Bárcena, J. A. , Lamas, S. Redox regulation of c‐Jun DNA binding by reversible S‐glutathiolation. FASEB J. 13, 1481–1490 (1999)
Traumatic Brain Injury Screening: Preliminary Findings in a US Army Brigade Combat Team

ObjectivesThe objective of this article is to report the proportion of soldiers in a Brigade Combat Team (BCT) with at least 1 clinician-confirmed deployment-acquired traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to describe the nature of sequelae associated with such injuries. ParticipantsMembers of an Army unit (n = 3973) that served in Iraq were screened for history of TBI. Those reporting an injury (n = 1292) were further evaluated regarding sequelae. Of the injuries suffered, 907 were TBIs and 385 were other types of injury. The majority of TBIs sustained were mild. MethodsPostdeployment, responses to the Warrior Administered Retrospective Casualty Assessment Tool (WARCAT) facilitated clinical interviews regarding injury history and associated somatic (ie, headache, dizziness, balance) and neuropsychiatric symptoms (ie, irritability, memory). Traumatic brain injury diagnosis was based on the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine mild TBI criteria, which requires an injury event followed by an alteration in consciousness. ResultsA total of 22.8% of soldiers in a BCT returning from Iraq had clinician-confirmed TBI. Those with TBI were significantly more likely to recall somatic and/or neuropsychiatric symptoms immediately postinjury and endorse symptoms at follow-up than were soldiers without a history of deployment-related TBI. A total of 33.4% of soldiers with TBI reported 3 or more symptoms immediately postinjury compared with 7.5% at postdeployment. For soldiers injured without TBI, rates of 3 or more symptoms postinjury and postdeployment were 2.9% and 2.3%, respectively. In those with TBI, headache and dizziness were most frequently reported postinjury, with irritability and memory problems persisting and presenting over time. ConclusionFollowing deployment to Iraq, a clinician-confirmed TBI history was identified in 22.8% of soldiers from a BCT. Those with TBI were significantly more likely to report postinjury and postdeployment somatic and/or neuropsychiatric symptoms than those without this injury history. Overall, symptom endorsement decreased over time.
Trait anxiety and salivary cortisol during free living and military stress.

INTRODUCTION Accumulating evidence suggests that negative affect is associated with elevated cortisol. Limited research has investigated this association in young, highly functioning, and stress-resilient populations. METHODS We examined the relation of trait anxiety with total and diurnal salivary cortisol during free-living conditions and during a stressful military exercise in 26 military men ages 19-30 yr (M = 21.6, SD = 2.3). Salivary cortisol was assessed at five time points over 2 consecutive days of free-living measurement, and three time points during a stressful military experience. Trait anxiety was measured with the trait portion of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory 1-3 wk prior to the military exercise. RESULTS Total cortisol concentrations were similar between men reporting high or low anxiety during free-living conditions (8.6 +/- 3.2 vs. 7.4 +/- 2.8 nmol x L(-1), respectively, P > 0.05), and military stress (21.3 +/- 7.3 vs. 19.0 +/- 7.0 nmol x L(-1), respectively, P > 0.05). The diurnal cortisol profile differed significantly (P = 0.04) between these men during the free-living condition, but not the stressful military experience (P > 0.05). Specifically, during free living, men with low anxiety exhibited a diurnal cortisol pattern that peaked in the early morning, decreased precipitously during the midmorning, and continued to decrease throughout the day, reaching a nadir in the evening. By contrast, the cortisol pattern of high-anxiety men remained elevated and significantly higher than their low-anxiety counterparts during the midmorning, decreased more slowly throughout the day, and reached its lowest level in the evening. Results were not substantially altered following adjustment for sleep duration or wake time. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that trait anxiety influences the diurnal cortisol pattern in young, apparently healthy men during free-living conditions, but does not predict the cortisol response to uncontrollable military stress.
Advanced linear PA architectures for handset applications

Summary form only given. The handset PAs for advanced system, such as 4G and beyond, should handle signals with high PAPR. For amplification of the signals, efficiency of the PAs is degraded significantly due to the operation at a low power region. For the system application point, the PAs are required to have a multimode and multiband capability, also. These stringent requirements ask advanced design architectures of the PAs. These architectures are based on a highly efficient amplifier and try to maintain the high efficiency at a low power level. The representative architectures are ET technique, Doherty amplifier, class-S amplifier, LINC and some digital PAs. ET is the most popular architecture for the handset application since the ET PA is very flexible, suitable to the multimode and multiband operation, together with high efficiency. This technique can be applied easily to a low-high mode PA, also. One variation of the technique is an average power tracking (APT) amplifier, controlling VDC according to the average power level at a slow speed using a buck DC-DC converter. This PA is on the market, now. Doherty can provide a high efficiency for the application and there is a significant progress for the broad banding but the bandwidth is still limited. Recently, the performance of the LINC PA is improved significantly by increasing the power combining efficiency. The distortion is cancelled using DPD technique. The progress in LINC is mainly focused on the infrastructure application but it can be employed for handset PA also. As transistors are scaled down with higher speed, the digitally configured circuit can be applied for the RF signal amplification. The digital circuit is very flexible and can be used for multimode/multiband application but the performance is not up to the expectation, yet. For the digital amplification, the I-Q modulated signal is, normally, up-converted to a polar signal. The amplitude information is digitized at the base band speed or the RF frequency and is applied to the digital circuit. The digital bit signal can be amplified by the thermo coded cells, forming a digital amplifier. The digitizing can be done using sigma-delta modulator and the digitized bit can be applied to a PA, either as an input or as a bias voltage. The resulting amplifier is a class-S PA. The I-Q modulated signal can be directly up-converted while maintaining the digital bits using sampling technique and is applied to the thermo code cells. These digitally configured PAs are actively studied now and will progress continuous. These various advanced architectures for the next generation PA for handset application will be introduced in this talk.
Efficient estimation of character normal direction for Camera-based OCR

Handling characters the appearances of which are affected by three-dimensional (3D) rotation is a major challenge in Camera-Based Optical Character Recognition. Proper handling of these 3D rotated characters is expected to improve the performance of both detection and recognition of camera-captured characters. In this paper, we propose an efficient implementation of 3D rotation estimation for camera-captured characters. The proposed implementation requires small memory load and short computational time. We employ Linear Discriminant Function (LDF) instead of Modified Quadratic Discriminant Function (MQDF) for further memory reduction. The results of experimental evaluation using a large-scale alphanumeric character dataset showed that small number of dimensionality of original feature vector is sufficient for keeping accuracy of 3D rotation estimation and total amount of memory required for 3D rotation estimation is reduced from 141.0 MB to 6.6 MB. Moreover, we propose probabilistic rotation angle estimation and achieved improvement of estimation accuracy without increase of memory size.
Intersession Reliability of Isokinetic Strength Testing in Knee and Elbow Extension and Flexion Using the BTE PrimusRS.

CONTEXT The use of isokinetic dynamometers playing an important role in different settings of sports and medicine. Therefore, a high reliability of these devices is required. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to examine the intersession reliability of the dynamometer BTE PrimusRS regarding to the isolated single-joint exercises extension/flexion of the knee and elbow for isokinetic testing DESIGN Intersession reliability. SETTING Clinical settings and sports science. PARTICIPANTS 16 young male students. INTERVENTION The testing protocol includes 5 consecutive repetitions (concentric/concentric) at a velocity of 60°/s for the exercises. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Raw data of torque curves were used to determine the peak torque. Reliability was evaluated with the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), the limits of agreement (LoA), and the bias and the variability of measurements (V). RESULTS High ICC values (.954-.991) were found for the used exercises. However, the LoAs yielded up to over 16 Nm and the V yielded up to nearly 9 % in several testing exercises, indicating poor absolute reliability. CONCLUSION The BTE PrimusRS shows good to excellent reliability. However, regarding the absolute measures of reliability, the users must decide as experts in their fields whether this reliability is sufficient for their purposes.
Symbiotic essential amino acids provisioning in the American cockroach, Periplaneta americana (Linnaeus) under various dietary conditions

Insect gut microbes have been shown to provide nutrients such as essential amino acids (EAAs) to their hosts. How this symbiotic nutrient provisioning tracks with the host’s demand is not well understood. In this study, we investigated microbial essential amino acid (EAA) provisioning in omnivorous American cockroaches (Periplaneta americana), fed low-quality (LQD) and comparatively higher-quality dog food (DF) diets using carbon stable isotope ratios of EAAs (δ13CEAA). We assessed non-dietary EAA input, quantified as isotopic offsets (Δ13C) between cockroach (δ13CCockroach EAA) and dietary (δ13CDietary EAA) EAAs, and subsequently determined biosynthetic origins of non-dietary EAAs in cockroaches using 13C-fingerprinting with dietary and representative bacterial and fungal δ13CEAA. Investigation of biosynthetic origins of de novo non-dietary EAAs indicated bacterial origins of EAA in cockroach appendage samples, and a mixture of fungal and bacterial EAA origins in gut filtrate samples for both LQD and DF-fed groups. We attribute the bacteria-derived EAAs in cockroach appendages to provisioning by the fat body residing obligate endosymbiont, Blattabacterium and gut-residing bacteria. The mixed signatures of gut filtrate samples are attributed to the presence of unassimilated dietary, as well as gut microbial (bacterial and fungal) EAAs. This study highlights the potential impacts of dietary quality on symbiotic EAA provisioning and the need for further studies investigating the interplay between host EAA demands, host dietary quality and symbiotic EAA provisioning in response to dietary sufficiency or deficiency.