Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Guilt and Bereavement: Effect of the Cause of Death, and Measuring Instruments

Guilt is a common reaction in bereavement. Our aim is to explore the guilt in bereavement depending on the cause of death. The sample involved 73 participants who had lost a family member to a terminal illness, suicide, sudden illness, accident, or perinatal death. Guilt was measured using the items of self-blame and regret in the Tübingen Bereavement Symptoms Questionnaire, the SC-35, and the Bereavement Guilt Scale (BGS). The results reveal significant differences in suicide bereavement on the self-blame subscale compared with unexpected natural death. Further there are significant differences in suicide bereavement in the regret subscale compared with unexpected natural death, and in the BGS as regards both an expected and an unexpected natural death. There are no significant differences in guilt when it is measured through the SC-35. These data suggest that the measurement of guilt in bereavement calls for the use of specific scales for this context.
The Adverse Influence of Permissive Parenting on Personal Growth and the Mediating Role of Emotional Intelligence

ABSTRACT In this research the presumed negative associations between permissive parenting and both adolescents' emotional intelligence and personal growth were examined. Previous studies have demonstrated a positive association between emotional intelligence and personal growth as well as a negative association between permissive parenting and personal growth. The authors extend previous research by testing a hypothesized process model through which permissive parenting negatively predicts scores on an ability measure of emotional intelligence that, in turn, predicts personal growth. The results indicated that emotional intelligence is both negatively associated with permissive parenting and that individual differences in emotional intelligence predict increased personal growth. In addition, we found that permissive parenting's negative influence on subsequent personal growth is mediated by emotional intelligence. It is suggested that permissive parenting might adversely influence the development of emotional intelligence by limiting both the number of challenging emotional experiences and the extent to which parents directly facilitate emotional growth.
QTc Prolongation in Patients Acutely Admitted to Hospital for Psychosis and Treated with Second Generation Antipsychotics

QTc interval prolongation is a side effect of several antipsychotic drugs, with associated risks of torsade de pointes arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. There is an ongoing debate of whether or not electrocardiogram (ECG) assessments should be mandatory in patients starting antipsychotic drugs. To investigate QTc prolongation in a clinically relevant patient group 171 adult patients acutely admitted to an emergency ward for psychosis were consecutively recruited. ECGs were recorded at baseline and then at discharge or after 6 weeks at the latest (discharge/6 weeks), thus reflecting the acute phase treatment period. The mean QTc interval was 421.1 (30.4) ms at baseline and there was a positive association between the QTc interval and the agitation score whereas the QTc interval was inversely associated with the serum calcium level. A total of 11.6% had abnormally prolonged QTc intervals and another 14.3% had borderline prolongation. At discharge/6 weeks, the corresponding proportions were reduced to 4.2% and 5.3%, respectively. The reduction of the proportion with prolonged QTc intervals reached statistical significance (chi-square exact test: P = 0.046). The finding of about one-quarter of the patients with borderline or prolonged QTc intervals could indicate mandatory ECG recordings in this population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00932529.
Application of the Internet of Things Technology in Precision Agriculture IRrigation Systems

Our country is one of the scarce water resources in 13 countries in the world, shortage of water resources as well as the low utilization of water resources restricts our country economy developing sustainably. In order to effectively reduce the impact of inadequate water resources on China's economy, from modern agricultural cultivation and management perspective, according to the basic principles of Internet, with wireless sensor technology, this article proposes precision agriculture irrigation systems based on the internet of things (IOT) technology, and focuses on the hardware architecture, network architecture and software process control of the precision irrigation system. Preliminary tests showed this system. is rational and practical.
Adaptive Correction of Sampling Bias in Dynamic Call Graphs

This article introduces a practical low-overhead adaptive technique of correcting sampling bias in profiling dynamic call graphs. Timer-based sampling keeps the overhead low but sampling bias lowers the accuracy when either observable call events or sampling actions are not equally spaced in time. To mitigate sampling bias, our adaptive correction technique weights each sample by monitoring time-varying spacing of call events and sampling actions. We implemented and evaluated our adaptive correction technique in Jikes RVM, a high-performance virtual machine. In our empirical evaluation, our technique significantly improved the sampling accuracy without measurable overhead and resulted in effective feedback directed inlining.
Comparing Vulnerability Severity and Exploits Using Case-Control Studies

(U.S.) Rule-based policies for mitigating software risk suggest using the CVSS score to measure the risk of an individual vulnerability and act accordingly. A key issue is whether the ‘danger’ score does actually match the risk of exploitation in the wild, and if and how such a score could be improved. To address this question, we propose using a case-control study methodology similar to the procedure used to link lung cancer and smoking in the 1950s. A case-control study allows the researcher to draw conclusions on the relation between some risk factor (e.g., smoking) and an effect (e.g., cancer) by looking backward at the cases (e.g., patients) and comparing them with controls (e.g., randomly selected patients with similar characteristics). The methodology allows us to quantify the risk reduction achievable by acting on the risk factor. We illustrate the methodology by using publicly available data on vulnerabilities, exploits, and exploits in the wild to (1) evaluate the performances of the current risk factor in the industry, the CVSS base score; (2) determine whether it can be improved by considering additional factors such the existence of a proof-of-concept exploit, or of an exploit in the black markets. Our analysis reveals that (a) fixing a vulnerability just because it was assigned a high CVSS score is equivalent to randomly picking vulnerabilities to fix; (b) the existence of proof-of-concept exploits is a significantly better risk factor; (c) fixing in response to exploit presence in black markets yields the largest risk reduction.
Tropospheric ozone climatology over Beijing: analysis of aircraft data from the MOZAIC program

Ozone (O 3 ) profiles recorded over Beijing from 1995 to 2005 by the Measurement of Ozone and Water Vapor by Airbus In-Service Aircraft (MOZAIC) program were analyzed to provide a first climatology of tropospheric O 3 over Beijing and the North China Plains (NCPs), one of the most populated and polluted regions in China. A pooled method was adopted in the data analysis to reduce the influence of irregular sampling frequency. The tropospheric O 3 over Beijing shows a seasonal and vertical distribution typical of mid-latitude locations in the Northern Hemisphere, but has higher daytime concentrations in the lower troposphere, when compared to New York City, Tokyo, and Paris at similar latitude. The tropospheric O 3 over Beijing exhibits a common summer maximum and a winter minimum, with a broad summer maximum in the middle troposphere and a narrower early summer (June) peak in the lower troposphere. Examination of meteorological and satellite data suggests that the lower tropospheric O 3 maximum in June is a result of strong photochemical production, transport of regional pollution, and possibly also more intense burnings of biomass in Central-Eastern China. Trajectory analysis indicates that in summer the regional pollution from the NCPs, maybe mixed with urban plumes from Beijing, played important roles on the high O 3 concentrations in the boundary layer, but had limited impact on the O 3 concentrations in the middle troposphere. A comparison of the data recorded before and after 2000 reveals that O 3 in the lower troposphere over Beijing had a strong positive trend (approximately 2% per year from 1995 to 2005) in contrast to a flat or a decreasing trend over Tokyo, New York City, and Paris, indicating worsening photochemical pollution in Beijing and the NCPs.
eNOS 4a/b Polymorphism and Its Interaction with eNOS G894T Variants in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Modifying the Risk of Diabetic Nephropathy

To investigate the possible association between eNOS 4a/b polymorphism and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and diabetic nephropathy (DN) 173 T2DM patients with and without DN and 101 healthy subjects with ethnic background of Kurds were examined for the frequency of eNOS variants using PCR-RFLP method. The frequency of eNOS 4a/b genotypes between T2DM and controls was not significantly difference. Studying eNOS 4a/b variants alone indicated that the presence of eNOS 4a allele was not associated with the risk of developing DN. However, considering both polymorphisms of eNOS 4a/b and G894T indicated that the risk of macroalbuminuria significantly increased in the presence of either eNOS 4a or 894T allele by 2.45 times (p=0.014) and 3.7-fold (p=0.016), respectively. However, the concomitant presence of both alleles was not associated with the risk of macroalbuminuria. In microalbuminuric patients, in the presence of each allele, the risk of microalbuminuria increased 2.2 times (p=0.028) and 2.72-fold (p=0.057) for eNOS 4a and 894T alleles, respectively. However, the combined presence of both eNOS 894T and 4a alleles was not associated with the risk of microalbuminuria. The present study indicates the absence of association between eNOS 4a/b variants and the risk of developing T2DM and DN. Also, we demonstrated that eNOS 4a or 894T allele alone increased the risk of developing DN but this effect was modified by the concomitant presence of both alleles.
siRNA-mediated off-target gene silencing triggered by a 7 nt complementation

A growing body of evidence suggests that siRNA could generate off-target effects through different mechanisms. However, the full impact of off-target gene regulation on phenotypic induction and accordingly on data interpretation in the context of large-scale siRNA library screen has not been reported. Here we report on off-target gene silencing effects observed in a large-scale knockdown experiment designed to identify novel regulators of the HIF-1 pathway. All of the three ‘top hits’ from our screen have been demonstrated to result from off-target gene silencing. Two of the three ‘siRNA hits’ were found to directly trigger down-regulation of hif-1α mRNA through a 7 nt motif, AGGCAGT, that is present in both the hif-1α mRNA and the siRNAs. Further analysis revealed that the generation of off-target gene silencing via this 7 nt motif depends on the characteristics of the target mRNA, including the sequence context surrounding the complementary region, the position of the complementary region in the mRNA and the copy number of the complementary region. Interestingly, the off-target siRNA against hif-1α was also shown to trigger mRNA degradation with high probability of other genes that possess multiple copies of the AGGCAGT motif in the 3′-untranslated region. Lessons learned from this study will be a valuable asset to aid in designing siRNAs with more stringent target selectivity and improving ‘hits-follow-up’ strategies for future large-scale knockdown experiments.
Geodesic motions versus hydrodynamic flows in a gravitating perfect fluid: dynamical equivalence and consequences

Stimulated by the methods applied for the observational determination of masses in the central regions of the active galactic nuclei (AGN), we examine, in the context of the theory of general relativity, the exact conditions, under which, in the interior of a gravitating perfect-fluid source, the geodesic motions and the adiabatic hydrodynamic flows are dynamically equivalent to each other. Dynamical equivalence rests on the functional similarity between the corresponding, covariantly expressed differential equations of motion and is obtained with the aid of a conformal transformation between the metric tensors of the original fluid, on the one hand, and the so-called virtual fluid on the other. In the latter, the hydrodynamic flow motions are formally the same as the geodesic motions. The conformal factor so obtained is written in terms of the specific enthalpy of the original fluid, and hence it is attributed a clear physical interpretation. The components of the virtual fluid's energy-momentum tensor are determined, through the invariant field equations, in terms of the original fluid's corresponding quantities, the conformal factor and its spacetime derivatives. In the Newtonian limit, the extra contribution to the original energy density results in an extra inertial-energy density and hence in an extra mass, both of which are always non-vanishing. The associated results indicate that, in the determination of the masses in the central regions of the AGNs, the observationally determined nuclear mass is being underestimated with respect to the real physical one. Accordingly, we evaluate the corresponding mass deficit, which, in typical cases of AGNs, is not always negligible compared with the mass of the central dark object, and it can be comparable to the total rest mass of the circumnuclear gas involved. Finally, the implications of the results are discussed, on the assumed form of the mass-density distribution law for the circumnuclear gas and the corresponding form of the extra inertial-energy density. We find that, under certain conditions, the density index is directly related to the polytropic index in the fluid's adiabatic equation of state.
DNA-based detection of the fungal pathogen Geomyces destructans in soils from bat hibernacula

White-nose syndrome (WNS) is an emerging disease causing unprecedented morbidity and mortality among bats in eastern North America. The disease is characterized by cutaneous infection of hibernating bats by the psychrophilic fungus Geomyces destructans. Detection of G. destructans in environments occupied by bats will be critical for WNS surveillance, management and characterization of the fungal lifecycle. We initiated an rRNA gene region-based molecular survey to characterize the distribution of G. destructans in soil samples collected from bat hibernacula in the eastern United States with an existing PCR test. Although this test did not specifically detect G. destructans in soil samples based on a presence/absence metric, it did favor amplification of DNA from putative Geomyces species. Cloning and sequencing of PCR products amplified from 24 soil samples revealed 74 unique sequence variants representing 12 clades. Clones with exact sequence matches to G. destructans were identified in three of 19 soil samples from hibernacula in states where WNS is known to occur. Geomyces destructans was not identified in an additional five samples collected outside the region where WNS has been documented. This study highlights the diversity of putative Geomyces spp. in soil from bat hibernacula and indicates that further research is needed to better define the taxonomy of this genus and to develop enhanced diagnostic tests for rapid and specific detection of G. destructans in environmental samples.
Coupling factor 6 enhances Src-mediated responsiveness to angiotensin II in resistance arterioles and cells.

AIMS Coupling factor 6 (CF6) induces hypertension by attenuating the endothelial generation of prostacyclin. However, intracellular signalling of CF6 in the resistance arteriole vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) that are directly related to vasoconstriction has not been determined. Here we investigated the direct effect of exogenous CF6 on Ca2+ signalling in cultured VSMCs and the in vivo role of endogenous CF6 in the genesis of hypertension using CF6 transgenic (TG) mice. METHODS AND RESULTS CF6 induced a monophasic increase in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) through nifedipine-sensitive Ca2+ channels in A7r5 cells, a cell line of VSMCs, and enhanced the angiotensin II-induced spike phase of [Ca2+]i to a greater degree in VSMCs derived from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). In the mesenteric arterioles obtained from CF6-TG mice that manifested hypertension, angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction was enhanced, compared with wild-type mice, and its enhancement was abolished by an anti-CF6 antibody. Pre-treatment with PP1, a tyrosine kinase c-Src inhibitor, blocked CF6-induced increase in Ca2+ signalling in VSMCs and vasoconstriction in TG mice. The receptor of CF6 was F1 motor of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase with a higher affinity in SHRs. CF6 decreased intracellular pH via activation of ATPase activity and led to c-Src activation to a greater degree in SHR-derived VSMCs. CONCLUSION CF6 causes hypertension by directly enhancing Ca2+ signalling in VSMCs and vasoconstriction in the mesenteric arteriolar network via c-Src activation.
Synthesis of Read-Once Digital Hardware with Reduced Energy Delay Product

This paper presents a low power driven synthesis framework for the unique class of nonregenerative Boolean Read-Once Functions (BROF). A two-pronged approach is adopted, where the satisfiability of the functionality is first ensured at the logic level on the basis of the proposed ‘hybrid synthesis method’. The resulting circuitry is contrasted with the reduced disjunctive normal form (DNF), resulting from standard two-level synthesis tool, ESPRESSO and conjunctive normal form (CNF) expression obtained via, the conventional Tabulation method. The gate level schematics are then translated into MOS transistor descriptions via, static CMOS and stacked CMOS implementation styles. Leakage Control Transistors (LCTs) are also inserted between the pull-up and pull-down network nodes, so as to minimize the overall power consumption of the digital logic circuits designed. Furthermore, the effect of transistor re-ordering on the delay of the resulting CMOS digital designs is also investigated. The adopted synthesis procedures are all evaluated based on a common Energy Delay Product (EDP) metric. The SPICE simulation results obtained for a 350nm TSMC CMOS process are promising, as it reports 41.5% savings in EDP, 10.5% reduction in power and 17.7% decrease in delay for the proposed method, on an average, over the best of conventional methods.
Pasteurella multocida Toxin Manipulates T Cell Differentiation

Pasteurella multocida causes various diseases in a broad range of wild and domestic animals. Toxigenic strains of the serotypes A and D produce an AB protein toxin named Pasteurella multocida toxin (PMT). PMT constitutively activates the heterotrimeric G protein subunits Gαq, Gα13, and Gαi through deamidation of a glutamine residue, which results in cytoskeletal rearrangements as well as increased proliferation and survival of the host cell. In human monocytes, PMT alters the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced activation toward a phenotype that suppresses T cell activation. Here we describe that the toxin also modulates CD4-positive T helper (Th) cells directly. PMT amplifies the expansion of Th cells through enhanced cell cycle progression and suppression of apoptosis and manipulates the differentiation of Th subclasses through activation of Signal Transducers and Activators of Transcription (STAT) family members and induction of subtype-specific master transcription factors. A large population of toxin-treated T cells is double-positive for Foxp3 and RORγt, the transcription factors expressed by Treg and Th17 cells, respectively. This suggests that these cells could have the potential to turn into Th17 cells or suppressive Treg cells. However, in terms of function, the PMT-differentiated cells behave as inflammatory Th17 cells that produce IL-17 and trigger T cell proliferation.
Association of Haemostatic and Inflammatory Biomarkers with Nephropathy in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

This study aimed at investigating the association between haemostatic biomarkers, proinflammatory, and anti-inflammatory cytokines with chronic kidney disease in type 1 diabetic patients. Patients were divided into two groups: with nephropathy (albuminuria ≥ 30 mg/g and/or GFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2), n = 65; and without nephropathy (albuminuria < 30 mg/g and GFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2), n = 60. INF-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α plasma levels were determined by flow cytometry. VWF, ADAMTS13 antigen, and D-Dimer plasma levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and ADAMTS13 activity was assessed by fluorescence resonance energy transfer assay. Elevated levels of INF-γ, VWF, ADAMTS13 antigen, D-Dimer, and reduced ADAMTS13 activity/antigen ratio were observed in patients with nephropathy as compared to those without nephropathy (P = 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, P < 0.001, and P < 0.001, resp.). Cytokines and haemostatic biomarkers remained associated with nephropathy after adjustments (use of statin, acetylsalicylic acid, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, and angiotensin antagonist). INF-γ, TNF-α, and IL-10 significantly correlated with haemostatic biomarkers. Inflammatory and hypercoagulability status are associated with nephropathy in type 1 diabetes mellitus and an interrelationship between them may play an important role in pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.
On the complexity of functions for random access machines

Tight bounds are proved for Sort, Merge, Insert, Gcd of integers, Gcd of polynomials, and Rational functions over a finite inputs domain, in a random access machine with arithmetic operations, direct and indirect addressing, unlimited power for answering YES/NO questions, branching, and tables with bounded size. These bounds are also true even if additions, subtractions, multiplications, and divisions of elements by elements of the field are not counted. In a random access machine with finitely many constants and a bounded number of types of instructions, it is proved that the complexity of a function over a countable infinite domain is equal to the complexity of the function in a sufficiently large finite subdomain.