Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trastorno por estrés postraumático y su relación con esquemas cognitivos disfuncionales en mujeres maltratadas

Este estudio evaluo la asociacion entre sintomas del Trastorno por Estres Postraumatico (TEP) y esquemas cognitivos disfuncionales en victimas de violencia por parte de la pareja. En el estudio participaron 114 mujeres atendidas por servicios especializados para victimas, las cuales completaron medidas de agresion fisica, abuso sexual, abuso psicologico, TEP y esquemas cognitivos. Los resultados mostraron que el 67.54% de las mujeres cumplian criterios para diagnostico de TEP. Estas mujeres puntuaron mas alto en esquemas cognitivos con contenidos referentes al abuso, vulnerabilidad al dano, imperfeccion, culpa, apego, abandono y dependencia. Un modelo de ecuaciones estructurales mostro que la asociacion entre violencia y esquemas cognitivos estaba completamente mediada por la presencia de sintomas de TEP. Finalmente, se discutieron las implicaciones clinicas de estos resultados. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and its relationship with negative cognitive schemas in battered women. This study assessed the association between Posttraumatic Stress Disorder symptoms (PTSD) and maladaptive cognitive schemas among intimate partner violence victims. The sample comprised 114 women from specialized services for victims, who completed measures of physical aggression, sexual abuse, psychological abuse, PTSD, and cognitive schemas. Results showed that 67.54% of women met the diagnostic criteria of PTSD. These women endorsed higher levels of schemas related to mistrust/abuse, vulnerability to harm, defectiveness, shame, enmeshment, abandonment and dependence. A structural equation model showed that the relationship between violence and cognitive schemas was fully mediated by the PTSD symptoms. Finally, the clinical implications of the results are discussed.
Analyzing NBTI impact on SRAMs with resistive-open defects

Density's increase in Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) has become an important concern for testing, since new types of defects that may occur during the manufacturing process are generated. In parallel, the increasing need to store more and more information has resulted in SRAMs that occupy the greatest part of Systems-on-Chip (SoCs). On the one hand, these manufacturing defects may lead to dynamic faults, considered one of the most important causes of test escape in deep-submicron technologies. On the other hand, the SRAM's robustness is considered crucial, since it may affect the entire SoC. In this context, one of the most important phenomena to degrade SRAM reliability is related to Negative-Bias Temperature Instability (NBTI), which causes memory cells' aging. In this context, the paper proposes to analyze the impact of NBTI in SRAM cells with weak resistive-open defects that can escape manufacturing test due to their dynamic behavior and, with aging, may become dynamic faults over time. The proposed combined analysis has been performed using SPICE simulations adopting a commercial 65nm CMOS technology library.
Adherence to a Mediterranean diet in a college population

OBJECTIVE To determine the adherence to the Mediterranean diet of a university population and to analyze several factors that may condition its nutritional quality. MATERIAL AND METHODS Distribution of the Kidmed test to a random sample of 570 university students. The Kidmed index (0-12) indicated whether the adherence to the Mediterranean diet was low (0-3), intermediate (4-7) or high (8-12). The gender, age, weight, height, and body mass index were gathered from each participant, as well as the type of residence and the province of origin. RESULTS The sample comprised 217 men and 353 women aged 18-25 years. 9.5% of the university students had a low Kidmed index, 62.1% intermediate, and 28.4% high. Those students living at their parental home had a high percentage of adherence (35.6%), significantly higher (p < 0.05) to that of those living at a student's residence (11.1%) or at a student's apartment (11.2%). Overweighed students had a low percentage of adherence (15.5%), significantly higher (p < 0.05) to those with a normal nutritional situation (8.5%). CONCLUSIONS 71.6% of university students need to improve their dietary pattern (low to intermediate adherence to the Mediterranean diet), and we could observe a certain family factor of preservation of the traditional dietary habits. Those university students with low adherence had a higher risk for being overweighed. It would be convenient to develop nutritional education programs in the university curricula.
Effects of asymptomatic proximal and distal gastroesophageal reflux on asthma severity.

RATIONALE Silent gastroesophageal reflux (GER) is common in patients with asthma, but it is unclear whether GER is associated with worse asthma symptoms or reduced lung function. OBJECTIVES To determine in patients with poorly controlled asthma, whether proximal or distal esophageal reflux is associated with asthma severity, symptoms, physiology, or functional status. METHODS Baseline asthma characteristics were measured in patients with asthma enrolled in a multicenter trial assessing the effectiveness of esomeprazole on asthma control. All participants underwent 24-hour esophageal pH probe monitoring. Lung function, methacholine responsiveness, asthma symptoms, and quality-of-life scores were compared in subjects with and without GER. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Of 304 participants with probe recordings, 53% had reflux. Of 242 participants with recordings of proximal pH, 38% had proximal reflux. There was no difference in need for short-acting bronchodilators, nocturnal awakenings, dose of inhaled corticosteroid, use of long-acting beta-agonists, lung function, or methacholine reactivity between individuals with and without proximal or distal GER. Participants with GER reported more use of oral corticosteroids and had worse asthma quality of life and subjects with proximal GER had significantly worse asthma quality of life and health-related quality of life compared with participants without GER. CONCLUSIONS Asymptomatic GER is not associated with distinguishing asthma symptoms or lower lung function in individuals with suboptimal asthma control who are using inhaled corticosteroids. Patients with proximal reflux report significantly worse asthma and health-related quality of life despite lack of physiologic impairment or increase in asthma symptoms. Clinical trial registered with www.clinicaltrials. gov (NCT00069823).
Development of the Biostatistics and Clinical Epidemiology Skills (BACES) assessment for medical residents

Background Although biostatistics and clinical epidemiology are essential for comprehending medical evidence, research has shown consistently low and variable knowledge among postgraduate medical trainees. Simultaneously, there has been an increase in the complexity of statistical methods among top-tier medical journals. Aims To develop the Biostatics and Clinical Epidemiology Skills (BACES) assessment by (1) establishing content validity evidence of the BACES; (2) examining the model fit of the BACES items to an Item Response Theory (IRT) model; and (3) comparing IRT item estimates with those of traditional Classical Test Theory (CTT) indices. Methods Thirty multiple choice questions were written to focus on interpreting clinical epidemiological and statistical methods. Content validity was assessed through a four-person expert review. The instrument was administered to 150 residents across three academic medical centres in southern USA during the autumn of 2013. Data were fit to a two-parameter logistic IRT model and the item difficulty, discrimination and examinee ability values were compared with traditional CTT item statistics. Results 147 assessments were used for analysis (mean (SD) score 14.38 (3.38)). Twenty-six items, 13 devoted to statistics and 13 to clinical epidemiology, successfully fit a two-parameter logistic IRT model. These estimates also significantly correlated with their comparable CTT values. Conclusions The strength of the BACES instrument was supported by (1) establishing content validity evidence; (2) fitting a sample of 147 residents’ responses to an IRT model; and (3) correlating the IRT estimates with their CTT values, which makes it a flexible yet rigorous instrument for measuring biostatistical and clinical epidemiological knowledge.
Protocol for delayed contrast enhancement in computed tomography of cerebral neoplasia.

One hundred cranial computed tomograms of adults with known or suspected intracranial neoplasm were analyzed retrospectively. Rapid high-dose intravenous contrast infusion (84.6 g l) was followed by immediate and 1 1/2-hour delayed scans. Delayed images afforded more information than the initial series in 67% of cases. 11.5% false-negative examinations (i.e., no tumor reported) would have resulted if studies were terminated after the immediate post-infusion scans. No patient experienced clinically detectable renal compromise.
The Ethiopian Age of Exploration: Prester John's Discovery of Europe, 1306–1458

This article maps a complex network of exchange between Ethiopians and Europeans in the early modern period. Through a combination of disparate sources such as cartographical treatises, chronicles, and archival fragments, the author shows that Ethiopian agents were active throughout the Mediterranean basin already in the fourteenth century. At a time when the European understanding of Africa was still grounded in classical and medieval myths, Ethiopian pilgrims and ambassadors ventured to Europe and became purveyors of knowledge about the unknown world. By virtue of their country's identification with the realm of Prester John, they related to European elites as Christian peers in an encounter where skin color appeared inconsequential.
Effect of the Surface Energy Barrier on Sorbate Diffusion in AlPO4-5

The importance of pore exit effects on the diffusion of molecules in AlPO4-5 pores is evaluated using two molecular modeling techniques. In the first approach, a dual control volume grand canonical molecular dynamics technique is used to obtain molecular fluxes of methane out of the truncated crystal as a function of temperature and sorbate loading. The simulation results indicate the presence of a low-temperature surface barrier for diffusion, which retards the flux of methane relative to its apparent flux in the intracrystalline regions of the material. This pore exit barrier tends to diminish as temperature and loading increase. An explanation based on clustering phenomena is proposed to explain the latter. Next, a simple activated transport model is proposed to predict the relative importance of the surface barrier on the transport of sorbates in AlPO4-5. The potential of mean force for a single sorbate molecule along the pore axis of a truncated crystal provides the required activation energy barrier.
Effect of Nigella sativa Seed Extract for Hypertension in Elderly: a Double-blind, Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND Nigella sativa (NS) seed extract shows diuretic activity, inhibits sympathetic nervous system overactivity and increases the production of Nitric Oxide in in vivo studies, thus it has a potential use as an adjuvant antihypertensive for elderly population. This study aimed to determine the effect of Nigella sativa seed extract to systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of elderly patients with hypertension. METHODS a double-blind, randomized controlled trial was conducted on elderly subjects with hypertension in three outpatient clinics in Cipto Mangunkusumo National Hospital Jakarta Indonesia from June to September 2011. Subjects were divided into intervention group given 300 mg Nigella sativa seed extract twice daily for 28 days and into another group which was given placebo. Blood pressure were measured on day 1 and 28. Intention to treat analysis using unpaired t-test to compare blood pressure after intervention between the two groups was performed. RESULTS of a total of 85 patients, 76 subjects fulfilled the study criteria and were randomized into 2 groups, with 38 subjects in each group. Both groups were comparable in all important prognostic factors. The mean systolic blood pressure of the NS group was decreased from 160.4 (SD 15.7) mmHg to 145.8 (SD 19.8) mmHg, and from 160.9 (16.3) mmHg to 147.53 (SD 22.0) mmHg in the placebo group (p=0.36). The mean diastolic blood pressure in the NS group was decreased from 78.3 (SD 11.9) to 74.4 (SD 8.2) mmHg, and from 79.0 (SD 12.4) to 78.2 (SD 8.9) in the placebo group (p=0.35). Reported adverse events include dyspepsia in 6 subjects (15.7%), nausea in 3 subjects (7.8%), and constipation in 2 subjects (5.2%). No electrolyte abnormalities, liver and renal toxicities, or orthostatic hypotension were observed. CONCLUSION although a trend towards a slight decrease in blood pressure was observed, Nigella sativa has not been proven to be effective in reducing blood pressure in elderly patients with hypertension.
Comparison of in vitro and in situ techniques for estimating protein degradability of selected feedstuffs

The objective of this study was to estimate the protein degradability parameters of 6 common ruminant feedstuff using the nylon bags (in situ) and the innovative in vitro method-the Daisy II incubator. Significant differences were observed between the in situ and in vitro methods in estimation of the rapidly soluble (a) fraction (P<0.01), except for soybean meal. The estimation method significantly affected the potentially degradable protein (b) fraction of barley grain, corn grain, alfalfa hay, and corn silage (P<0.05). The fractional rate constant (parameter c) for the disap- pearance of fraction b (/h) was not affected by the degradability determination method. The estimated b fraction, parameter c, potential of degradability (PD) and effective degradability (ED) in the in vitro method were highly correlated with the estimated values by the in situ method (P<0.01). In conclusion, results showed that the in vitro Daisy II method can be used for estimating some protein degradability parameters such as parameter c, PD and ED but not for others (a, b and lag time). In addition, the ability of Daisy II method to estimate some parameters was better for some feeds (soy- bean meal, canola meal and corn grain) than for others (barley grain, alfalfa hay and corn silage).
Directional preference in dogs: Laterality and "pull of the north"

Laterality is a well described phenomenon in domestic dogs. It was shown that dogs, under calm Earth's magnetic field conditions, when marking their home ranges, tend to head about north- or southwards and display thus magnetic alignment. The question arises whether magnetic alignment might be affected or even compromised by laterality and vice versa. We tested the preference of dogs to choose between two dishes with snacks that were placed left and right, in different compass directions (north and east, east and south, south and west or west and north) in front of them. Some dogs were right-lateral, some left-lateral but most of them were ambilateral. There was a preference for the dish placed north compared to the one placed east of the dog ("pull of the north"). This effect was highly significant in small and medium-sized breeds but not in larger breeds, highly significant in females, in older dogs, in lateralized dogs but less significant or not significant in males, younger dogs, or ambilateral dogs. Laterality and “pull of the north” are phenomena which should be considered in diverse tasks and behavioral tests with which dogs or other animals might be confronted. The interaction and possible conflict between lateralization and "pull of the north" might be also considered as a reason for shifted magnetic alignment observed in different animal species in different contexts.
JAK2/STAT3 activation by melatonin attenuates the mitochondrial oxidative damage induced by myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is harmful to the cardiovascular system and causes mitochondrial oxidative stress. Numerous data indicate that the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is specifically involved in preventing myocardial IRI. Melatonin has potent activity against IRI and may regulate JAK2/STAT3 signaling. This study investigated the protective effect of melatonin pretreatment on myocardial IRI and elucidated its potential mechanism. Perfused isolated rat hearts and cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were exposed to melatonin in the absence or presence of the JAK2/STAT3 inhibitor AG490 or JAK2 siRNA and then subjected to IR. Melatonin conferred a cardio‐protective effect, as shown by improved postischemic cardiac function, decreased infarct size, reduced apoptotic index, diminished lactate dehydrogenase release, up‐regulation of the anti‐apoptotic protein Bcl2, and down‐regulation of the pro‐apoptotic protein Bax. AG490 or JAK2 siRNA blocked melatonin‐mediated cardio‐protection by inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 signaling. Melatonin exposure also resulted in a well‐preserved mitochondrial redox potential, significantly elevated mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and decreased formation of mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA), which indicates that the IR‐induced mitochondrial oxidative damage was significantly attenuated. However, this melatonin‐induced effect on mitochondrial function was reversed by AG490 or JAK2 siRNA treatment. In summary, our results demonstrate that melatonin pretreatment can attenuate IRI by reducing IR‐induced mitochondrial oxidative damage via the activation of the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.
Parental depressive tendencies, gender, and immigrant status in fragile families

While empirical support that focuses on maternal depression has received substantial publicity on several fronts, paternal depression has not garnered as much empirical attention. Additionally, despite the increase in the prevalence of immigration in the US, there has been slow progress in identifying underlying mechanisms and risks among immigrant families and their impact on younger children's socio-emotional wellbeing. Utilizing the framework of intersectionality, this study investigated the effect of parental depressive tendencies on school-age children's internalizing and externalizing behaviors. To understand the familial links that safeguard young school-age children's behavioral outcomes, the discrepancies of parental depressive propensities with respect to parents’ gender and immigrant status were discussed. Overall, the postulation that paternal and maternal depressive tendencies exerted differing impact was partially upheld. Fathers with a history of depressed mood were more likely to rate their children's behaviors poorly, while these mothers were more likely to hold negative perception about their children's emotional expression. Immigrant parents of first-generation were less likely to perceive their children's behaviors negatively, but more likely to see their children's emotional expression in a negative light.
Childhood socioeconomic status and childhood maltreatment: Distinct associations with brain structure

The present study examined the relationship between childhood socioeconomic status (SES), childhood maltreatment, and the volumes of the hippocampus and amygdala between the ages of 25 and 36 years. Previous work has linked both low SES and maltreatment with reduced hippocampal volume in childhood, an effect attributed to childhood stress. In 46 adult subjects, only childhood maltreatment, and not childhood SES, predicted hippocampal volume in regression analyses, with greater maltreatment associated with lower volume. Neither factor was related to amygdala volume. When current SES and recent interpersonal stressful events were also considered, recent interpersonal stressful events predicted smaller hippocampal volumes over and above childhood maltreatment. Finally, exploratory analyses revealed a significant sex by childhood SES interaction, with women’s childhood SES showing a significantly more positive relation (less negative) with hippocampus volume than men’s. The overall effect of childhood maltreatment but not SES, and the sex-specific effect of childhood SES, indicate that different forms of stressful childhood adversity affect brain development differently.
Applications of quantum algorithms to partially observable Markov decision processes

Due to the enormous processing gains that are theoretically achievable by using quantum algorithms instead of classical algorithms to solve rather generic classes of numerical problems, it makes sense that one should evaluate their potential applicability, appropriateness, and efficiency for solving virtually any computationally intensive task. Since many types of control and optimization problems may be couched in terms of partially observable Markov decision processes (POMDPs), and since solutions to these types of problems are invariably extremely difficult to obtain, the use of quantum algorithms to help solve POMDP problems is investigated here. Quantum algorithms are indeed found likely to provide significant efficiency improvements in several computationally intensive tasks associated with solving POMDPs, particularly in the areas of searching, optimization, and parameter optimization and estimation.
Sumoylation of Prox1 controls its ability to induce VEGFR3 expression and lymphatic phenotypes in endothelial cells

Prox1 is a master regulator for the development of lymphatic vasculature and the induction of lymphangiogenesis. In this study, we identified Prox1 as a new target for small ubiquitin-like modifier 1 (SUMO-1). Lysine 556 (K556) was found to be the major sumoylation site for Prox1 in vitro and in vivo. Mutation of this site (from lysine to arginine K556R) reduced DNA binding and the transcriptional activity of Prox1. Overexpression of Prox1 in EA.hy926 endothelial cells induced expression of lymphatic endothelial cell-specific genes including vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3), fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) and p57 while expression of K556R mutant Prox1 had little effect. The induction of VEGFR3 by Prox1 in EA.hy926 endothelial cells was an indication of their response to VEGF-C-induced lymphangiogenic signals, including the enhancement of proliferation, sprouting and tube formation and the inhibition of apoptosis. This effect is SUMO-dependent because ectopic expression of SUMO-specific protease 2 (SENP2) effectively reduced Prox1 sumoylation and Prox1-induced VEGFR3 expression. In addition, K556R mutant Prox1 could not induce lymphatic phenotypes. Taken together, our results indicate that Prox1 is a target for SUMO-1 and suggest that sumoylation of Prox1 controls its ability to induce VEGFR3 expression and lymphatic phenotypes in endothelial cells.