Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interest in using mobile technology to help self-manage alcohol use among persons living with HIV: A Florida Cohort cross-sectional study

Background— Alcohol consumption at hazardous levels is more prevalent and associated with poor health outcomes among persons living with HIV (PLWH). Although PLWH are receptive to using technology to manage health issues, it is unknown whether a cell phone app to self-manage alcohol use would be acceptable among PLWH who drink. The objectives of this study were to determine factors associated with interest in an app to self-manage drinking and to identify differences in baseline mobile technology use among PLWH by drinking level. Methods— Our study population included 757 PLWH recruited from 2014–2016 into the Florida Cohort, an ongoing cohort study investigating the utilization of health services and HIV care outcomes among PLWH. Participants completed a questionnaire examining demographics, substance use, mobile technology use, and other health behaviors. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify factors significantly associated with interest in an app to self-manage drinking. We also determined whether mobile technology use varied by drinking level. Results— Of the sample, 40% of persons who drink at hazardous levels, 34% of persons who drink at non-hazardous levels, and 19% of persons who do not drink were interested in a self-management app for alcohol use. Multivariable logistic regression analysis indicated that non-hazardous drinking (AOR 1.78; CI: 1.10–2.88) and hazardous drinking (AOR 2.58; CI: 1.60–4.16) were associated with interest, controlling for age, gender, education, and drug use. Regarding mobile technology use, most of the sample reported smartphone ownership (56%), text messaging (89%), and at least one cell phone app (69%). Conclusions— Regardless of drinking level, overall mobile technology use among PLWH was moderate, while PLWH who consumed alcohol expressed greater interest in a cell phone app to self-manage alcohol use. This indicates that many PLWH who drink would be interested in and prepared for a mobile technology-based intervention to reduce alcohol consumption. ,
IL-1 and related cytokines in innate and adaptive immunity in health and disease

Forty years after its naming, IL-1 and related cytokines experience a renaissance as central mediators of inflammation and immunity. IL-1 family members, including IL-18, IL-33, IL-36, IL-37, and IL-38, play a key role in the orchestration of the diversity and plasticity of innate and adaptive immune responses. As such, these molecules are involved in homeostasis and in a range of pathologies, ranging from autoimmunity and autoinflammation, to dysmetabolism and cardiovascular disorders, to cancer. Dissection of the complexity and role in immunopathology of the IL-1 family has paved the way to development of trans-disease therapeutic strategies. Therefore, IL-1 serves as a paradigm for immunity and inflammation representing a metanarrative of modern medicine.
Mechanically Induced Actin-mediated Rocketing of Phagosomes □ V

Actin polymerization can be induced in Dictyostelium by compressing the cells to bring phagosomes ﬁlled with large particles into contact with the plasma membrane. Asymmetric actin assembly results in rocketing movement of the phagosomes. We show that the compression-induced assembly of actin at the cytoplasmic face of the plasma membrane involves the Arp2/3 complex. We also identify two other proteins associated with the mechanically induced actin assembly. The class I myosin MyoB accumulates at the plasma membrane–phagosome interface early during the initiation of the response, and coronin is recruited as the actin ﬁlaments are disassembling. The forces generated by rocketing phagosomes are sufﬁcient to push the entire microtubule apparatus forward and to dislocate the nucleus.
Visual Motion ERPs Distinguish Aging and Alzheimer’s

Objective— Our goal is to determine if aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have distinct effects on visual cortical motion processing for navigation and steering. Methods— We recorded visual motion event related potentials (ERPs) in young (YNC) and older normal controls (ONC), and early AD patients (EADs) who viewed rapidly changing optic flow stimuli that simulate naturalistic changes in heading direction, like those that occur when following a path of self-movement through the environment. After a random series of optic flow stimuli, a vertical motion stimulus was presented to verify sustained visual attention by demanding a rapid push-button response. Results— Optic flow evokes robust ERPs that are delayed in aging and diminished in AD. The interspersed vertical motion stimuli yielded shorter N200 latencies in EADs, matching those in ONCs, but the EADs’ N200 amplitudes remained small. Conclusions— Aging and AD have distinct effects on visual sensory processing: aging delays evoked response, whereas AD diminishes responsiveness. with EAD subjects showing only small N200s. Group averages of peak amplitude and latency of N200s evoked by OF onset reveal distinct aging and disease effects. While N200 latencies are prolonged in aging (p < .001), their amplitudes are only diminished in AD (p= . 045). The location of the FOE at OF onset did not generate any significant difference in response amplitude or latency for any group.
Human T-Cell Receptor Vj Gene Polymorphism and Multiple Sclerosis

Summary Population-based genetic associations have been reported between RFLPs detected with probes corresponding to the genes encoding the P chain of the T-cell receptor for antigen (TCRB) and a variety of autoimmune disorders. In the case of multiple sclerosis (MS), these studies have localized a putative disease-associated gene to a region of -I10 kb in length, located within the TCRB locus. In the current study, all 14 known TCRBV (variable region) genes within the region of localization were mapped and identified. The nudeotide sequences of these genes were determined in a panel of six MS patients and six healthy controls, who were human-leu-kocyte antigen and TCRB-RFLP haplotype matched. Nine of the 14 TCRBV genes studied showed evidence of polymorphism. PCR-based assays for each of these polymorphic genes were developed, and allele and genotype frequencies were determined in a panel of DNA samples from 48 MS patients and 60 control individuals. No significant differences in allele, genotype, or pheno-type frequencies were observed between the MS patients and controls for any of the 14 TCRBV-gene polymorphisms studied. In light of the extensive linkage disequi-librium across the region studied, the saturating numbers of polymorphisms examined, and the direct sequence analysis of all BV genes in the region, these results suggest that it is unlikely that germ-line polymorphism in the TCRBV locus makes a major contribution to MS susceptibility. The TCRBV coding region-spe-cific markers generated in these studies, as well as the approach of testing for associations with specific
Neochord Placement vs Triangular Resection in Mitral Valve Repair: A Finite Element Model

, Abstract Background— Recurrent mitral regurgitation after mitral valve repair is common, occurring in nearly 50% of patients within 10 years of surgery. Durability of repair is partly related to stress distribution over the mitral leaflets. We hypothesized that repair with neochords (NC) results in lower stress than leaflet resection (LR). Materials and Methods— MRI and 3D echocardiography were performed before surgical repair of P2 prolapse in a single patient. A finite element model of the left ventricle and mitral valve was created previously, and the modeling program LS-DYNA was used to calculate leaflet stress for the following repairs: Triangular LR; LR with ring annuloplasty (LR + RA); One NC; Two NCs; and 2NC + RA. Results— 1) NC placement resulted in stable posterior leaflet stress: Baseline vs 2 NC at end diastole (ED),12.1 vs 12.0 kPa, at end systole (ES) 20.3 vs 21.7 kPa. 2) In contrast, LR increased posterior leaflet stress: Baseline vs LR at ED 12.1 vs 40.8 kPa, at ES 20.3 vs 46.1 kPa. 3) All repair types reduced anterior leaflet stress: Baseline vs 2 NC vs LR 34.2 vs 25.8 vs 20.6 kPa at ED and 80.8 vs 76.8 vs 67.8 kPa at ES. 4) The addition of RA reduced leaflet stress relative to repair without RA. Conclusions— Neochord repair restored normal leaflet coaptation without creating excessive leaflet stress, whereas leaflet resection more than doubled stress across the posterior leaflet. The excess stress created by leaflet resection was partially, but not completely, mitigated by ring annuloplasty.
Strategies to deal with stress in men who practice extreme skiing

Extreme skiing is growing in popularity. This kind of sport is designed to expose athletes to greater thrills and risks than are found in traditional sporting activities. Also practicing this sport gives you more emotional experience in extreme than the traditional cultivation of recreational skiing activities. Theoretical perspectives on extreme sports and extreme sport participants have as-sumed that participation is about risk ‐ taking and stress exposure. In this paper we compare style of stress coping among two groups of skiers (“extreme” and “recreational”). We have examined the group of 54 male skiers ages 30 to 45 years with minimum 15 years of skiing experience). They were applied interview with the skiers relating to the preferred lifestyle and Questionnaire COPE – a Multidimensional Coping Inventory (Carver, C.S., Scheier, M.F., & Weintraub, J.K.) in order to determine the dominant styles of coping with stress (problem-focused coping, seeking of emotional support and denial-focused coping). Results indicate that active style of coping dominated in the both groups, but the extreme skiers score higher the skiers from recreational group. The difference is on significance level of 0.05.
Multiple roles for sRNA during plant reproduction

Germline development and early embryogenesis in eukaryotes are characterized by large-scale genome reprogramming events. In companion cells of the Arabidopsis male gametophyte, epigenome reorganization leads to loss of heterochromatin and production of a distinct small RNA (sRNA) population. A specific class of sRNA derived from transposons appears to be mobile and can accumulate in germ cells. In the germline of maize, rice, and Arabidopsis, specific ARGONAUTE-sRNA silencing complexes appear to play key roles in reproductive development, including meiosis and regulation of germ cell fate. These results reveal new roles for sRNAs during plant reproduction and suggest that mobility of sRNAs could be critical for some of these functions.
Genetic Variants Associated with Breast Cancer Risk: Comprehensive Field Synopsis, Meta-Analysis, and Epidemiologic Evidence

Methods—Systematic literature searches for candidate gene association studies of breast cancer risk were conducted in two stages using PubMed on or before February 28, 2010. A total of 24,500 publications were identified, of which, 1,059 were deemed eligible for inclusion. Metaanalyses were conducted for 279 genetic variants in 128 candidate genes or chromosomal loci that had a minimum of three data sources available. Variants with significant associations by metaanalysis were assessed using the Venice criteria and scored as having strong, moderate, or weak cumulative evidence for an association with breast cancer risk.
Black carbon exposure and extreme concentrations of residential economic and racial/ethnic privilege and deprivation

Links between the spatial patterning of social vulnerability and exposure to environmental pollution is a topic of growing concern (Kruize et al., 2014; Nweke et al., 2011). To date, most studies have primarily focused on either racial/ethnic segregation at the city or regional level (Downey et al., 2008; Lopez, 2002), or on within-city concentrations of groups adversely affected by racial discrimination or economic deprivation, such as census tract percent black or below poverty (Goodman et al., 2011; James et al., 2012; Hajat et al.,
New Stabilization Technique to Prevent Parametric Oscillations in a 35 W C-Band AlGaN/GaN MMIC High Power Amplifier

In this paper, a novel stabilization scheme to prevent parametric oscillations in power amplifiers is presented. Based on a new oscillation detection approach, the inductive degeneration technique was used, for the first time, to successfully stabilize a high-power amplifier and prevent parametric oscillations. A 0.15 μm AlGaN/GaN Microwave Monolithic Integrated Circuit high power amplifier operating at 5.8 GHz with 10% fractional bandwidth was designed and successfully stabilized using this approach. The proposed (4.7 × 3.7) mm2 three-stage amplifier achieves a saturated output power of 35 W with 29% power added efficiency and a large-signal gain of 26 dB.
Patient-Physician Discussions of Colorectal Cancer Screening: Delivery of the 5 ‘As’ in Practice

, Abstract Background— The US Preventive Services Task Force advocates for shared decision-making and 5As framework (assess, advise, agree, assist and arrange) for preventive health recommendations. Purpose— To describe patient-physician colorectal cancer (CRC) screening discussions, evaluate concordance with 5As framework, and test whether discussion content varies by patient adherence to prior recommendation. Methods— Direct observation of periodic health examinations in 2007-2009 among primary care patients aged 50-80 due for CRC screening. Qualitative content analyses used to code office visit audio-recordings for occurrence of 5As and other discussion content. Results— 97% of visits contained CRC screening discussion; 31% of these contained evidence of patient non-adherence to prior physician recommendation for CRC screening. While 59% of visits provided some assistance (i.e., help scheduling a colonoscopy or delivery of stool cards), the first three steps of 5As (assess, advise, and agree) were rarely comprehensively provided (1-21%). Only 3% included the recommended last step, arrange follow up. Patients non-adherent to a prior recommendation were significantly (P<0.05) less likely to have the reason(s) for screening discussed (37% vs, 65%) or be told endoscopy clinic would call to schedule colonoscopy (19% vs. 27%), and significantly more likely to have fecal occult blood testing (FOBT) (34% vs. 25%) or FOBT and colonoscopy recommended (24% vs. 14%) and a screening plan negotiated (21% vs. 14%). Conclusions— Most patients due for CRC screening discuss screening with their physician, but with limited application of 5As approach. Opportunities to improve CRC screening decision-making are great, particularly among those non-adherent with prior recommendations.
Optimal configuration of hybrid AC/DC urban distribution networks for high penetration renewable energy

Existing AC medium-voltage distribution networks are facing challenges on handling increasing loads and renewable energy integrations. However, it is very difficult to build new distribution lines in urban areas. This study proposes a configuration method of hybrid AC/DC medium-voltage distribution networks, in which some existing AC lines are converted to DC operation. Existing topologies and dispatching scenarios are considered during configuration because the overall power flow can be rescheduled in the hybrid AC/DC distribution network. Therefore, transfer capacities of the lines are fully utilised, and more renewable energies are accommodated. A bi-level programming model is established embedding chance constraint programming to consider the intermittent output of renewable energy. In the upper level, a multiple objective optimal model is proposed in order to balance investments, power losses, and the maximum load level and renewable energy capacity. In the lower level, daily operations of the newly installed VSCs are optimised by a chance constraint programming. The influences of energy storage systems on the configuration are also analysed. Simulation studies are performed to verify the proposed method.
Taking Care of Older Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Update for Nurses Journal of Gerontological Nursing (in press)

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a mild decline in single or multiple cognitive domains, while global cognition and basic activities of daily living remain intact. Nurses play an important role in early detection of MCI and providing care to maintain maximum independence for persons with MCI. This update seeks to provide nurses with a review of the most recent research regarding the etiology and diagnosis of MCI, risk and protective factors related to MCI, patients and their families' experience of MCI, and current interventions for persons with MCI. This update provides research evidence to inform nursing practice of MCI care.
γ -Secretase Inhibition and Modulation for Alzheimer's Disease

The β - and γ -secretases responsible for the formation of the amyloid β -peptide (A β ) have been top targets for the development of Alzheimer therapeutics even before the identification of these proteases. Indeed, secretase inhibitors have been sought ever since the discovery of AD-causing missense mutations in APP [1-3] and the realization that these mutations alter A β production [4-6]. Cell-based screens netted a number of compounds that blocked A β formation, and virtually all of these initial leads appeared to work at the level of γ -secretase [7-11]. The identification of β - and γ -secretases ultimately revealed why this was the case. β -Secretase is a membrane-tethered pepsin-like aspartyl protease [12-15] that cleaves APP on the lumenal/ extracellular side at the juxtamembrane region. The enzyme has a long and shallow active site [16], and molecules that inhibit β -secretase are typically not very cell permeable. In contrast, γ -secretase cleaves within the transmembrane region of APP and contains a membrane-embedded active site [17]. Thus, compounds that inhibit γ -secretase are typically quite hydrophobic and readily traverse the cell membrane. For these reasons, γ -secretase inhibitors have advanced further along the drug development pipeline than β -secretase inhibitors, which are only just emerging from the preclinical stage. γ
How Do Rab Proteins Determine Golgi Structure?

Rab proteins, small GTPases, are key regulators of mammalian Golgi apparatus organization. Based on the effect of Rab activation state, Rab proteins fall into two functional classes. In Class1, inactivation induces Golgi ribbon fragmentation and/or redistribution of Golgi enzymes to the ER, while overexpression of wild type or activation has little, if any, effect on Golgi ribbon organization. In Class 2, the reverse is true. We give emphasis to Rab6, the most abundant Golgi-associated Rab protein. Rab6 depletion in HeLa cells causes an increase in Golgi cisternal number, longer, more continuous cisternae, and a pronounced accumulation of vesicles; the effect of Rab6 on Golgi ribbon organization is probably through regulation of vesicle transport. In effector studies, motor proteins and their regulators are found to be key Rab6 effectors. A related Rab, Rab41, affects Golgi ribbon organization in a contrasting manner. The balance between minus-and plus-end directed motor recruitment may well be the major Rab-dependent factor in Golgi ribbon organization.
Testosterone and BDNF interactions in the avian song control system

Interaction between steroid sex hormones and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a common feature of vertebrate brain organization. The avian song control system provides an excellent model for studying such interactions in neural circuits that regulate song, a learned sensorimotor behavior that is often sexually dimorphic and restricted to reproductive contexts. Testosterone (T) and its steroid metabolites interact with BDNF during development of the song system and in adult plasticity, including the addition of newborn neurons to the pallial nucleus HVC and seasonal changes in structure and function of these circuits. T and BDNF interact locally within HVC to influence cell proliferation and survival. This interaction may also occur transsynpatically; T increases the synthesis of BDNF in HVC, and BDNF protein is then released on to postsynaptic cells in nucleus RA where it has trophic effects. The interaction between sex steroids and BDNF is an example of molecular exploitation, with the evolutionarily ancient steroid-receptor complex having been captured by the more recently evolved BDNF. The functional linkage of sex steroids to BDNF may be of adaptive value in regulating the trophic effects of the neurotrophin in sexually dimorphic and reproductively relevant contexts.
Chronic Stress and a Cyclic Regimen of Estradiol Administration Separately Facilitate Spatial Memory: Relationship with CA1 Spine Density and Dendritic Complexity

This study investigated the effects of chronic restraint stress and repeated cyclic estradiol pulses on hippocampal CA3 and CA1 dendritic and/or spine morphology and spatial memory in female rats. Sprague-Dawley adult female rats were ovariectomized and then injected over two days with 17 β -estradiol (10µg, s.c.), which was repeated every 4–5 days. While all rats received similar estradiol injection histories, half of the rats were chronically restrained and/or given a final cyclic pulse of estradiol prior to testing on a hippocampal-dependent object placement (OP) task to assess spatial memory. OP testing was performed two days after the last restraint session, as well as when the last two estradiol pulses best captured the maximal effect on hippocampal CA1 spine density. The data revealed several novel findings: 1) chronic stress or estradiol separately facilitated spatial memory, but did not have the same effects when co-administered, 2) CA1 spine densities negatively correlated with spatial memory, and 3) repeated estradiol pulses failed to prevent stress-induced CA3 dendritic retraction. We also corroborated previous studies showing increased CA1 spine density following estradiol, chronic stress, and behavioral manipulations. The present study uniquely combined chronic stress, repeated estradiol pulses, hippocampal morphology and behavior within the same animals, allowing for correlational analyses to be performed between CA1 spine morphology and spatial memory. We demonstrate novel findings that chronic stress or estradiol pulses independently facilitate spatial memory, but not when co-administered, and that these effects may involve a balance of CA1 apical spine expression that is independent of CA3 dendritic complexity.
The Quality of Family Relationships and Maternal Health Care Use in India

Marital quality is well established as a determinant of health in Western contexts, yet the importance of relationship quality to health in non-Western contexts is largely limited to a focus on domestic violence. Using the Women's Reproductive Histories Survey, this paper examines whether women with higher quality family relationships are more likely to use maternal health care in Madhya Pradesh, India. Results show that among nuclear families, women with better marital relationships are more likely to use antenatal care and deliver in a health facility. Among joint families, women who have better relationships with their in-laws are more likely to use antenatal care. The results further suggest that women's agency mediates some, but not all, of the effect of relationship quality on maternal health care use.