Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Selected Innate Immune System Response to Aerobic Exercise Training in Obese Down Syndrome Children

Background: Many studies have reported that individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have been prone to develop infectious, malignant and abnormality of the immune function. Objective: This study was designed to measure response of selected innate immune system to aerobic exercise training among obese DS children. Materials and Methods: Forty DS obese male and female children participated in this study, the range of their age 12 to 16 years and were enrolled in 2 equal study groups; the first group practiced aerobic exercise training for 3 months, whereas the second group received no intervention. Results: The measured parameters of the first group who received aerobic exercise training revealed that mean values of C3, C4 and BMI has been reduced significantly, in the other hand, the changes in the parameters of the second group who received no intervention showed non-significant changes. In addition, the differences between both groups at the end of the study were significant. Conclusion: Aerobic exercise training improves innate immune system response in DS obese children.
System Tradeoffs in Gamma-Ray Detection Utilizing SPAD Arrays and Scintillators

We present a statistical analysis of the tradeoffs between detector jitter and light detection efficiency for TOF PET gamma-ray detectors based on SPAD arrays and crystal scintillators. Results show that increasing the light detection probability is more important to improving the coincidence timing resolution than decreasing the detector jitter for modern scintillators. For a SPAD TDC array with a fill factor around 15% and a detector jitter of 120 ps, it is shown that a SiPM with a 30% fill factor and a jitter of 240 ps will produce a better timing resolution when using a LYSO crystal. Results also imply that SPAD TDC arrays might be competitive in TOF PET with SiPMs if faster scintillators are developed in the future and SPAD TDC arrays maintain a much lower jitter than SiPMs.
Testicular seminoma and non-seminoma: ESMO Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up.

J. Oldenburg1, S. D. Fosså1, J. Nuver2, A. Heidenreich3, H-J Schmoll4, C. Bokemeyer5, A. Horwich6, J. Beyer7 & V. Kataja8, on behalf of the ESMO Guidelines Working Group* Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; Department of Urology, RWTH University Hospital, Aachen; Department of Oncology/Haematology/Haemostaseology, University Hospital Halle, Halle; Department of Oncology, Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation with Section Pneumology, University Hospital, Hamburg, Germany; Department of Academic Radiotherapy, Institute of Cancer Research, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton Hospital, UK; Department of Haematology and Oncology, Vivantes Klinikum Am Urban, Berlin, Germany; Cancer Centre, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland;
The International Pulsar Timing Array: First Data Release

The highly stable spin of neutron stars can be exploited for a variety of (astro)physical investigations. In particular, arrays of pulsars with rotational periods of the order of milliseconds can be used to detect correlated signals such as those caused by gravitational waves. Three such 'pulsar timing arrays' (PTAs) have been set up around the world over the past decades and collectively form the 'International' PTA (IPTA). In this paper, we describe the first joint analysis of the data from the three regional PTAs, i.e. of the first IPTA data set. We describe the available PTA data, the approach presently followed for its combination and suggest improvements for future PTA research. Particular attention is paid to subtle details (such as underestimation of measurement uncertainty and long-period noise) that have often been ignored but which become important in this unprecedentedly large and inhomogeneous data set. We identify and describe in detail several factors that complicate IPTA research and provide recommendations for future pulsar timing efforts. The first IPTA data release presented here (and available on-line) is used to demonstrate the IPTA's potential of improving upon gravitational-wave limits
Out-patient psychotherapy for borderline personality disorder: cost-effectiveness of schema-focused therapy v. transference-focused psychotherapy.

BACKGROUND Schema-focused therapy (SFT) and transference-focused psychotherapy (TFP) for borderline personality disorder were recently compared in a randomised multicentre trial. AIMS To assess the societal cost-effectiveness of SFT v. TFP in treating borderline personality disorder. METHOD Costs were assessed by interview. Health-related quality of life was measured using EQ-5D. Outcomes were costs per recovered patient (recovery assessed with the Borderline Personality Disorder Severity Index) and costs per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY). RESULTS Mean 4-year bootstrapped costs were euro37 826 for SFT and euro46 795 for TFP (95% uncertainty interval for difference -21 775 to 3546); QALYs were 2.15 for SFT and 2.27 for TFP (95% UI -0.51 to 0.28). The percentages of patients who recovered were 52% and 29% respectively. The SFT intervention was less costly and more effective than TFP (dominant), for recovery; it saved euro90 457 for one QALY loss. CONCLUSIONS Despite the initial slight disadvantage in QALYs, there is a high probability that compared with TFP, SFT is a cost-effective treatment for borderline personality disorder.
Technical knacks and outcomes of extended extrahepatic bile duct resection in patients with mid bile duct cancer

Backgrounds/Aims Mid bile duct cancers often involve the proximal intrapancreatic bile duct, and resection of the extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) can result in a tumor-positive distal resection margin (RM). We attempted a customized surgical procedure to obtain a tumor-free distal RM during EHBD resection, so that R0 resection can be achieved without performing pancreaticoduodenectomy through extended EHBD resection. Methods We previously reported the surgical procedures of extended EHBD resection, in which the intrapancreatic duct excavation resembles a ≥2 cm-long funnel. This unique procedure was performed in 11 cases of mid bile duct cancer occurring in elderly patients between the ages of 70 and 83 years. Results The tumor involved the intrapancreatic duct in all cases. Deep pancreatic excavation per se required about 30-60 minutes. Cancer-free hepatic duct RM was obtained in 10 patients. Prolonged leakage of pancreatic juice occurred in 2 patients, but all were controlled with supportive care. Adjuvant therapies were primarily applied to RM-positive or lymph node-positive patients. Their 1-year and 3-year survival rates were 90.9% and 60.6%, respectively. Conclusions We suggest that extended EHBD resection can be performed as a beneficial option to achieve R0 resection in cases in which pancreaticoduodenectomy should be avoided due to various causes including old age and expectation of a poor outcome.
Both Major Histocompatibility Complex Class I (MHC-I) and MHC-II Molecules Are Required, while MHC-I Appears To Play a Critical Role in Host Defense against Primary Coxiella burnetii Infection

ABSTRACT To understand the role of class I major histocompatibility complex (MHC-I) and class II MHC (MHC-II) antigen presentation pathways in host defense against Coxiella burnetii infection, we examined whether MHC-I or MHC-II deficiency in mice would significantly influence their susceptibility to virulent C. burnetii Nine Mile phase I (NMI) infection. The results indicate that NMI infection induced more severe disease in both MHC-I-deficient and MHC-II-deficient mice than in wild-type (WT) mice, while only MHC-I-deficient mice developed a severe persistent infection and were unable to control bacterial replication. These results suggest that both MHC-I-restricted CD8+ T cells and MHC-II-restricted CD4+ T cells contribute to host defense against primary C. burnetii infection, while MHC-I-restricted CD8+ T cells appear to play a more critical role in controlling bacterial replication. Additionally, although NMI infection induced more severe disease in TAP1-deficient mice than in their WT counterparts, TAP1 deficiency in mice did not significantly influence their ability to eliminate C. burnetii. This suggests that C. burnetii antigen presentation to CD8+ T cells by the MHC-I classical pathway may depend only partially on TAP1. Furthermore, granzyme B deficiency in mice did not significantly alter their susceptibility to C. burnetii infection, but perforin-deficient mice were unable to control host inflammatory responses during primary C. burnetii infection. These results suggest that perforin, but not granzyme B, is required for C. burnetii antigen-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells to control primary C. burnetii infection.
Professional Self-Esteem as a Predictor of Teacher Burnout across Iranian and Turkish EFL Teachers.

The study aimed at measuring the perceived Professional Self-esteem, Emotional Exhaustion (EE), Depersonalization (DP), and Personal Accomplishment (PA) of Iranian (n = 230) and Turkish (n =156) EFL teachers and determining the prediction role of Professional Self-esteem in EE, DP, and PA processes. The Maslach Burnout Inventory-Educators Survey (MBI-ES) was used to measure the perceived burnout levels of the participants, and a shortened English version of Professional Self-esteem Scale developed by Aricak (1999) was employed to measure the participants’ self-esteem perceptions in five dimensions of satisfaction, knowledge development, commitment, adaptation and communication. The internal reliability of the professional self-esteem scale was r = 0.821. The results revealed that professional self- esteem was strongly correlated with EE, DP, and PA burnout. They also showed that EE, DP, and PA processes were better predicted by Satisfaction, Commitment, and Knowledge Development dimensions of Professional Self-esteem in the case of both Iranian and Turkish teachers, respectively. Moreover, the EE and PA prediction variances of Iranian group were greater than that of Turkish group, whereas the DP prediction variance of Turkish group was greater than that of Iranian group. The study highlights the significance of professional self-esteem in education and offers strategies for teachers and authorities to combat burnout for better teacher productivity.
Mountain‐top and valley‐bottom experiences: the stress axis as an integrator of environmental variability in arctic ground squirrel populations

Environmental variation in mountainous regions can impose major differences in demography and physiology on animal populations that occupy a large elevation range. This variation can be both predictable and unpredictable. In the south-western Yukon, arctic ground squirrel (AGS) populations occur all the way from the forested valley bottoms to the alpine meadows and, in so doing, experience a wide range of predation risk, forage quality and exposure to weather variables. To assess how AGS integrate these factors and respond to them, we measured fecal glucocorticoid metabolites (FCM) as an index of the stress axis on four sites at different elevations. We first validated the enzyme immunoassay with a hormonal challenge protocol and a simulated predator stressor. AGS show a strong diurnal pattern in FCM levels, with peaks at mid-day and a marked increase in response to adrenocorticotropic hormone and the simulated predator and a decline in response to dexamethasone. The lag time between the challenge and its reflection in the feces was 4–12 h. Using this method in our field studies, we found that FCM levels decreased as the active season progressed; however, specific patterns differed among sites. We hypothesized that the early season peak in FCM levels followed by the general decline was due to brief, intense early season breeding, followed by the necessity of AGS to increase mass in preparation for hibernation. Although we found no clear, single explanation for the different FCM patterns among sites, we hypothesized that differences in seasonal climate and adverse weather may be major factors affecting FCM levels. The environment was markedly different between years, with 2008 being colder and wetter than 2009 and this was associated with AGS in 2008 having much higher FCM levels in general than 2009. We found that population density and visibility may also contribute. In conclusion, AGS live in a mosaic of habitats and each population is faced with a variety of environmental stressors; how they cope and respond to these stressors may not depend on a single factor but the complete aggregate of these stressors.
Strain Effects in Narrow-Bandwidth Manganites: The Case of Epitaxial Eu0.7Sr0.3MnO3 Thin Films

We have investigated the strain-dependent magnetic properties of epitaxial narrow-bandwidth manganite, Eu0.7Sr0. 3MnO3 (ESMO), thin films on various substrates traversing from compressive (−2.4%) to tensile (þ1.5%) strain. The stoichiometry and crystalline quality of the films were confirmed with diffraction and spectroscopic-based characterization. Using fieldand temperature-dependent magnetometry, we find that the epitaxial strain acts to suppress the ferromagnetic state, although films under compressive strain retain a greater propensity for ferromagnetic behavior. However, temperature-dependent resistivity reveals that ESMO thin films exhibit a ferromagnetic insulating state in contrast to widebandwidth La0.7Sr0. 3MnO3 films under a comparable strain. The combination of a highly strain-dependent ferromagnetic state and robust insulating behavior may offer novel applications in spin filtering, sensing, or electronics.
Low temperature trumps high food availability to determine the distribution of intertidal mussels Perna perna in South Africa

Explanations of species distributions often assume that the absence of a species is due to its inability to tolerate an environmental variable. Recent modelling techniques based on the dynamic energy budget (DEB) theory offer an effective way of identifying how interacting environmental parameters influence distributions through non-lethal effects on growth and development. The mussel Perna perna is an abundant ecosystem engineer around the coasts of Africa, South America and the Arabian peninsula, with an unexplained 1500 km lacuna in its distribution on the west coast of South Africa. We used a DEB approach to explain its distribution in southern Africa and test the hypothesis that this lacuna is caused by sublethal effects of low temperatures on its metabolism. We parameterized a standard DEB model for P. perna using eco-physiological parameters measured in the laboratory, validated by comparison with the body size and reproductive effort of animals from the field throughout South Africa. The model highlighted the importance of reproductive failure under the cold water conditions of the west coast, despite particularly high food availability there, and the surprisingly good performance of P. perna under the warm, highly oligotrophic conditions of the east coast. The results suggest that P. perna is well adapted to low food conditions, but is reproductively vulnerable to low temperatures. DEB models accurately described and explained the anomalous biogeography of this intertidal mussel, allowing us to disentangle the interaction of antagonistic stressors and reveal the critical importance of sublethal temperature effects on reproduction to the species’ distribution.
THE IMPACT OF A NEW BYPASS ROUTE ON THE LOCAL ECONOMY AND QUALITY OF LIFE

The objective of this research study was to assess the potential of a new bypass route to influence the overall growth rate of a local economy, the allocation of economic activity within the community, and overall community quality of life. To address this objective, a review of the literature, a statistical study of Kentucky counties that received a new bypass and similar counties within the state, and case studies of eight bypass counties were conducted. It was found that a new bypass did not have a significant impact on employment and population growth in a community, although it could lead to a modest reduction in retail sales growth. A bypass was found to increase vacancy rates in the downtown area and to lead to a loss of retail-oriented businesses downtown and a concentration of retail-oriented businesses on the bypass. This process, however, was for the most part not driven by downtown businesses moving to the bypass, but rather by the location of new businesses along the bypass. Finally, while there were some concerns, surveyed residents of communities that received a bypass indicated that they felt that the bypass did not hurt business outside of the downtown area and that the bypass made contributions to the local quality of life, such as through reduced traffic congestion.
Beyond Basic Needs

Barriers to successful reentry have long been identified as impeding an offender’s ability to successfully reenter society upon release from incarceration. As a result, research has long examined what shared obstacles the majority of offenders often face upon reentering society. Much of the research identifies factors such as poor education, obtaining/maintaining employment, stable housing, and transportation as common barriers to successful reentry. By using in-depth interviews with ex-offenders deemed as successful that were conducted by two respective non-profit agencies, the present study explores what significant requirements, if any, successful offenders perceive to need and/or have experienced as lacking while attempting to successfully reenter society. Findings from this study highlight that many of the research-identified needs are not major barriers because they are often provided for by various non-profit agencies. Furthermore, successful ex-offenders overwhelmingly identify poor social support as a major barrier that oftentimes remains neglected in government and non-profit organizational programming.
Analogical comparison aids false belief understanding in preschoolers

Analogical comparison has been found to promote learning across many conceptual domains. Here, we ask whether this mechanism can facilitate children’s understanding of others’ mental states. In Experiment 1, children carried out comparisons between characters’ thoughts and reality and between characters with true beliefs vs. those with false beliefs. Children given this training improved from preto post-test. In Experiment 2, we used a more minimal comparison technique. Children saw a series of three stories involving true or false beliefs. There were two betweensubjects conditions that either facilitated (High Alignability) or impeded (Low Alignability) comparison across stories. We found that children made more gains from preto post-test in the High Alignability condition than in the Low Alignability condition. We also found effects of production of mental state verbs, as assessed in an Elicitation Task. These results provide evidence for the role of analogical comparison in theory of mind development.
Development and evaluation of antibody-capture immunoassays for detection of Lassa virus nucleoprotein-specific immunoglobulin M and G

Background The classical method for detection of Lassa virus-specific antibodies is the immunofluorescence assay (IFA) using virus-infected cells as antigen. However, IFA requires laboratories of biosafety level 4 for assay production and an experienced investigator to interpret the fluorescence signals. Therefore, we aimed to establish and evaluate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) using recombinant Lassa virus nucleoprotein (NP) as antigen. Methodology/Principal findings The IgM ELISA is based on capturing IgM antibodies using anti-IgM, and the IgG ELISA is based on capturing IgG antibody–antigen complexes using rheumatoid factor or Fc gamma receptor CD32a. Analytical and clinical evaluation was performed with 880 sera from Lassa fever endemic (Nigeria) and non-endemic (Ghana and Germany) areas. Using the IFA as reference method, we observed 91.5–94.3% analytical accuracy of the ELISAs in detecting Lassa virus-specific antibodies. Evaluation of the ELISAs for diagnosis of Lassa fever on admission to hospital in an endemic area revealed a clinical sensitivity for the stand-alone IgM ELISA of 31% (95% CI 25–37) and for combined IgM/IgG detection of 26% (95% CI 21–32) compared to RT-PCR. The specificity of IgM and IgG ELISA was estimated at 96% (95% CI 93–98) and 100% (95% CI 99–100), respectively, in non-Lassa fever patients from non-endemic areas. In patients who seroconverted during follow-up, Lassa virus-specific IgM and IgG developed simultaneously rather than sequentially. Consistent with this finding, isolated IgM reactivity, i.e. IgM in the absence of IgG, had no diagnostic value. Conclusions/Significance The ELISAs are not equivalent to RT-PCR for early diagnosis of Lassa fever; however, they are of value in diagnosing patients at later stage. The IgG ELISA may be useful for epidemiological studies and clinical trials due its high specificity, and the higher throughput rate and easier operation compared to IFA.
New Respiratory Inductive Plethysmography (RIP) Method for Evaluating Ventilatory Adaptation during Mild Physical Activities

The pneumotachometer is currently the most accepted device to measure tidal breathing, however, it requires the use of a mouthpiece and thus alteration of spontaneous ventilation is implied. Respiratory inductive plethysmography (RIP), which includes two belts, one thoracic and one abdominal, is able to determine spontaneous tidal breathing without the use of a facemask or mouthpiece, however, there are a number of as yet unresolved issues. In this study we aimed to describe and validate a new RIP method, relying on a combination of thoracic RIP and nasal pressure signals taking into account that exercise-induced body movements can easily contaminate RIP thoracic signals by generating tissue motion artifacts. A custom-made time domain algorithm that relies on the elimination of low amplitude artifacts was applied to the raw thoracic RIP signal. Determining this tidal ventilation allowed comparisons between the RIP signal and simultaneously-recorded airflow signals from a calibrated pneumotachometer (PT). We assessed 206 comparisons from 30 volunteers who were asked to breathe spontaneously at rest and during walking on the spot. Comparisons between RIP signals processed by our algorithm and PT showed highly significant correlations for tidal volume (Vt), inspiratory (Ti) and expiratory times (Te). Moreover, bias calculated using the Bland and Altman method were reasonably low for Vt and Ti (0.04 L and 0.02 s, respectively), and acceptable for Te (<0.1 s) and the intercept from regression relationships (0.01 L, 0.06 s, 0.17 s respectively). The Ti/Ttot and Vt/Ti ratios obtained with the two methods were also statistically correlated. We conclude that our methodology (filtering by our algorithm and calibrating with our calibration procedure) for thoracic RIP renders this technique sufficiently accurate to evaluate tidal ventilation variation at rest and during mild to moderate physical activity.