Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Is Ego Depletion? Toward a Mechanistic Revision of the Resource Model of Self-Control

According to the resource model of self-control, overriding one’s predominant response tendencies consumes and temporarily depletes a limited inner resource. Over 100 experiments have lent support to this model of ego depletion by observing that acts of self-control at Time 1 reduce performance on subsequent, seemingly unrelated self-control tasks at Time 2. The time is now ripe, therefore, not only to broaden the scope of the model but to start gaining a precise, mechanistic account of it. Accordingly, in the current article, the authors probe the particular cognitive, affective, and motivational mechanics of self-control and its depletion, asking, “What is ego depletion? ” This study proposes a process model of depletion, suggesting that exerting self-control at Time 1 causes temporary shifts in both motivation and attention that undermine self-control at Time 2. The article highlights evidence in support of this model but also highlights where evidence is lacking, thus providing a blueprint for future research. Though the process model of depletion may sacrifice the elegance of the resource metaphor, it paints a more precise picture of ego depletion and suggests several nuanced predictions for future research.
Backward Adaptive and Quasi-Logarithmic Quantizer for Sub-Band Coding of Audio

This research presents an audio coding scheme, based on sub-band coding (SBC), with the implementation of quasi-logarithmic compandors. The presented coding scheme is based on signal decomposition and individual processing of the different sub-bands. The two SBC schemes for audio coding are presented, a non-adaptive and an adaptive coding scheme. The application of backward adaptation technique further improves the performance of this coding scheme, especially when using smaller compression factor values. This paper also describes the determination of an efficient bit allocation, used for coding the individual sub-bands. The results indicate that the proposed coding schemes can successfully be implemented in audio signal coding, providing a high quality output signal. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.itc. 47.1. 16190
New Insights on Water Buffalo Genomic Diversity and Post-Domestication Migration Routes From Medium Density SNP Chip Data

The domestic water buffalo is native to the Asian continent but through historical migrations and recent importations, nowadays has a worldwide distribution. The two types of water buffalo, i.e., river and swamp, display distinct morphological and behavioral traits, different karyotypes and also have different purposes and geographical distributions. River buffaloes from Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Egypt, Romania, Bulgaria, Italy, Mozambique, Brazil and Colombia, and swamp buffaloes from China, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Brazil were genotyped with a species-specific medium-density 90K SNP panel. We estimated the levels of molecular diversity and described population structure, which revealed historical relationships between populations and migration events. Three distinct gene pools were identified in pure river as well as in pure swamp buffalo populations. Genomic admixture was seen in the Philippines and in Brazil, resulting from importations of animals for breed improvement. Our results were largely consistent with previous archeological, historical and molecular-based evidence for two independent domestication events for river- and swamp-type buffaloes, which occurred in the Indo-Pakistani region and close to the China/Indochina border, respectively. Based on a geographical analysis of the distribution of diversity, our evidence also indicated that the water buffalo spread out of the domestication centers followed two major divergent migration directions: river buffaloes migrated west from the Indian sub-continent while swamp buffaloes migrated from northern Indochina via an east-south-eastern route. These data suggest that the current distribution of water buffalo diversity has been shaped by the combined effects of multiple migration events occurred at different stages of the post-domestication history of the species.
Between-occasion repeatability of fractional exhaled nitric oxide measurements in children

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to assess short-term repeatability of measurements of fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) and its correlates in children in the 6- to 9-year age bracket participating in a respiratory epidemiological survey. FENO was measured in two sessions one week apart in 101 children. Participants were divided into three groups: asymptomatic (n = 76); symptomatic (n = 14); and asthma (n = 11). Absolute and relative differences between the measurements, as well as concordance correlation coefficients, were used in order to assess repeatability. The two FENO measurements were strongly correlated (0.98). Although intragroup comparisons of the two measurements were not significantly different (p = 0.2), intergroup comparisons were. FENO measurements are reproducible in children in epidemiological settings.
1 The evolution of general intelligence

The presence of general intelligence poses a major evolutionary puzzle, which has led to increased interest in its presence in nonhuman animals. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate this puzzle, and to explore the implications for current theories about the evolution of cognition. We first review domain-general and domain-specific accounts of human cognition in order to situate attempts to identify general intelligence in nonhuman animals. Recent studies are consistent with the presence of general intelligence in mammals (rodents and primates). However, the interpretation of a psychometric g-factor as general intelligence needs to be validated, in particular in primates, and we propose a range of such tests. We then evaluate the implications of general intelligence in nonhuman animals for current theories about its evolution and find support for the cultural intelligence approach, which stresses the critical importance of social inputs during the ontogenetic construction of survival-relevant skills. The presence of general intelligence in nonhumans implies that modular abilities can arise in two ways, primarily through automatic development with fixed content and secondarily through learning and automatization with more variable content. The currently best-supported model, for humans and nonhuman vertebrates alike, thus construes the mind as a mix of skills based on primary and secondary modules. The relative importance of these two components is expected to vary widely among species, and we formulate tests to quantify their strength.
Diversity-dependent evolutionary rates in early Palaeozoic zooplankton

The extent to which biological diversity affects rates of diversification is central to understanding macroevolutionary dynamics, yet no consensus has emerged on the importance of diversity-dependence of evolutionary rates. Here, we analyse the species-level fossil record of early Palaeozoic graptoloids, documented with high temporal resolution, to test directly whether rates of diversification were influenced by levels of standing diversity within this major clade of marine zooplankton. To circumvent the statistical regression-to-the-mean artefact, whereby higher- and lower-than-average values of diversity tend to be followed by negative and positive diversification rates, we construct a non-parametric, empirically scaled, diversity-independent null model by randomizing the observed diversification rates with respect to time. Comparing observed correlations between diversity and diversification rate to those expected from this diversity-independent model, we find evidence for negative diversity-dependence, accounting for up to 12% of the variance in diversification rate, with maximal correlation at a temporal lag of approximately 1 Myr. Diversity-dependence persists throughout the Ordovician and Silurian, despite a major increase in the strength and frequency of extinction and speciation pulses in the Silurian. By contrast to some previous work, we find that diversity-dependence affects rates of speciation and extinction nearly equally on average, although subtle differences emerge when we compare the Ordovician and Silurian.
Massive pulmonary embolism during pregnancy successfully treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator: a case report and review of treatment options.

Thromboembolic disease is an important cause of morbidity and mortality during pregnancy. 1 Berg and colleagues 2 found that 11% of maternal deaths during pregnancy were related to pulmonary embolism (PE). Another study revealed that up to 40% of pregnant women with asymptomatic deep vein thrombosis (DVT) may also have concurrent PE. 3 Women are at increased risk for DVT and PE during pregnancy for several reasons. Pregnancy is a thrombophilic state; fibrinogen levels are increased, and during the final trimester there is a decrease in fibrinolytic activity. In addition, the gravid uterus causes compression and stasis in the lower extremities and pelvic veins favoring thrombosis. 3 Finally, women with a history of thrombotic complications during pregnancy have an increased prevalence of genetic mutations related to coagulation. 4
miR-144/451 represses the LKB1/AMPK/mTOR pathway to promote red cell precursor survival during recovery from acute anemia

The microRNAs miR-144 and -451 are encoded by a bicistronic gene that is strongly induced during red blood cell formation (erythropoiesis). Ablation of the miR-144/451 gene in mice causes mild anemia under baseline conditions. Here we show that miR-144/451−/− erythroblasts exhibit increased apoptosis during recovery from acute anemia. Mechanistically, miR-144/451 depletion increases the expression of the miR-451 target mRNA Cab39, which encodes a co-factor for the serine-threonine kinase LKB1. During erythropoietic stress, miR-144/451−/− erythroblasts exhibit abnormally increased Cab39 protein, which activates LKB1 and its downstream AMPK/mTOR effector pathway. Suppression of this pathway via drugs or shRNAs enhances survival of the mutant erythroblasts. Thus, miR-144/451 facilitates recovery from acute anemia by repressing Cab39/AMPK/mTOR. Our findings suggest that miR-144/451 is a key protector of erythroblasts during pathological states associated with dramatically increased erythropoietic demand, including acute blood loss and hemolytic anemia.
Experiencing Discrimination Increases Risk Taking

Prior research has revealed racial disparities in health outcomes and health-compromising behaviors, such as smoking and drug abuse. It has been suggested that discrimination contributes to such disparities, but the mechanisms through which this might occur are not well understood. In the research reported here, we examined whether the experience of discrimination affects acute physiological stress responses and increases risk-taking behavior. Black and White participants each received rejecting feedback from partners who were either of their own race (in-group rejection) or of a different race (out-group rejection, which could be interpreted as discrimination). Physiological (cardiovascular and neuroendocrine) changes, cognition (memory and attentional bias), affect, and risk-taking behavior were assessed. Significant Participant Race × Partner Race interactions were observed. Cross-race rejection, compared with same-race rejection, was associated with lower levels of cortisol, increased cardiac output, decreased vascular resistance, greater anger, increased attentional bias, and more risk-taking behavior. These data suggest that perceived discrimination is associated with distinct profiles of physiological reactivity, affect, cognitive processing, and risk taking, implicating direct and indirect pathways to health disparities.
Avelumab, an Anti–Programmed Death-Ligand 1 Antibody, In Patients With Refractory Metastatic Urothelial Carcinoma: Results From a Multicenter, Phase Ib Study

Purpose We assessed the safety and antitumor activity of avelumab, a fully human anti–programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) IgG1 antibody, in patients with refractory metastatic urothelial carcinoma. Methods In this phase Ib, multicenter, expansion cohort, patients with urothelial carcinoma progressing after platinum-based chemotherapy and unselected for PD-L1 expression received avelumab 10 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks. The primary objectives were safety and tolerability. Secondary objectives included confirmed objective response rate (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors [RECIST] version 1.1), progression-free survival, overall survival (OS), and PD-L1–associated clinical activity. PD-L1 positivity was defined as expression by immunohistochemistry on ≥ 5% of tumor cells. Results Forty-four patients were treated with avelumab and followed for a median of 16.5 months (interquartile range, 15.8 to 16.7 months). The data cutoff was March 19, 2016. The most frequent treatment-related adverse events of any grade were fatigue/asthenia (31.8%), infusion-related reaction (20.5%), and nausea (11.4%). Grades 3 to 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in three patients (6.8%) and included asthenia, AST elevation, creatine phosphokinase elevation, and decreased appetite. The confirmed objective response rate by independent central review was 18.2% (95% CI, 8.2% to 32.7%; five complete responses and three partial responses). The median duration of response was not reached (95% CI, 12.1 weeks to not estimable), and responses were ongoing in six patients (75.0%), including four of five complete responses. Seven of eight responding patients had PD-L1–positive tumors. The median progression-free survival was 11.6 weeks (95% CI, 6.1 to 17.4 weeks); the median OS was 13.7 months (95% CI, 8.5 months to not estimable), with a 12-month OS rate of 54.3% (95% CI, 37.9% to 68.1%). Conclusion Avelumab was well tolerated and associated with durable responses and prolonged survival in patients with refractory metastatic UC.
eHealth Literacy Scale: An Nursing Analisys and Italian Validation

BACKGROUND One of the scales most used to measure quickly and easily eHealth Literacy is the eHealth LiteracyScale (eHEALS); however, there was no validation of this scale in Italian. Therefore, the aim of this study was to adapt and validate the eHealth Literacy Scale (eHEALS) to the italian context. METHODS Italian translation of eHEALS was administered along unit to another two scale for measure lifestyle habits self-esteem and life satisfaction). A sample of 650 university students aged between 18 and 45 years was selected. An exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, analysis of invariance, reliability, stability and bivariate correlations were performed. RESULTS Exploratory factor analysis revealed a monofactorial structure that explained 67% of variance. Reliability of 0.87 and test-retest correlation of 0.78 was obtained. The questionnaire was invariant by gender. Regarding the criterion validity, a statistically significant and positive correlations between 0.05 and 0.15 with three indicators was obtained (self-esteem, lifestyle habits and life satisfaction). The italian version of the eHEALS tested in this work has shown to be a valid and reliable scale to measure eHealth competence in university students.
Beneficial effects of thyroid hormone on adipose inflammation and insulin sensitivity of obese Wistar rats

Thyroid hormones play an important role in glucose metabolism and there is evidence of increased prevalence of thyroid dysfunction in obese and diabetic patients. This study aimed at evaluating the thyroid function and the effects of the triiodothyronine (T3) treatment on glycemia control, insulin sensitivity and subclinical inflammation in cafeteria‐diet‐induced obesity in rats. Obesity was induced in male Wistar rats by offering a cafeteria diet and a subset of the obese rats was treated with T3 (1.5 μg per 100 g of body weight) for a 28‐day period. The pituitary‐thyroid axis was evaluated by molecular and biochemical parameters. Cytokine content was measured in the serum as well as in the mesenteric and epididymal white adipose tissue. Obese rats exhibited impairment of glycemia control, increased content of inflammatory cytokines in mesenteric white adipose tissue, decreased serum thyrotropin (TSH) concentration and increased sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) and TSH receptor (TSHR) protein content in thyroid gland. T3 treatment improved insulin sensitivity, glucose tolerance, and reduced inflammatory cytokine content in mesenteric white adipose tissue. In the thyroid gland NIS, TSHR, and thyroperoxidase (TPO) content were reduced while thyroglobulin (TG) content was increased by T3. The thyrotrophic response to negative feedback exerted by T3 was preserved in obese rats. The present data reinforce the beneficial effects of T3 treatment of obese rats on the improvement of insulin sensitivity and on the negative modulation of inflammatory cytokine expression in adipose tissue. Moreover, we have evidenced that the pituitary‐thyroid axis is affected in obese rats, as illustrated by the impaired TSH secretion.
Physicochemical Conditions and Microbial Diversity Associated with the Evaporite Deposits in the Laguna de la Piedra (Salar de Atacama, Chile)

The Salar de Atacama, located in Northern Chile, is a wide salt flat that is characterized by several salt lakes, which are locally called lagunas. The Laguna de la Piedra is one of the salt lake systems that is located in the northernmost sector of the Salar de Atacama. The present paper examines some physicochemical properties of the Laguna de la Piedra as well as the microbial diversity of the evaporite deposits. Under extreme desiccation and ambient UV flux, the evaporite deposits can create favorable endolithic microniches for the development of microorganisms. In the Laguna de la Piedra these deposits host a variety of halophilic microorganisms, which were investigated by using an optical and environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) as well as molecular diversity studies based on the small subunit ribosomal (SSU) rRNA of Bacteria, Archaea and Eucarya. We detected a single phylotype of halophilic archaea and a oxytrichid ciliate. Within the bacteria, a variety of Cyanobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Alpha-, Beta- and Deltaproteobacteria, as well as members of the candidate division TM6, were identified.
Probing light emission at the nanoscale with cathodoluminescence

Nanophotonics, the study of light at the nanoscale, is a vibrant field of research with a wide variety of applications. To mold and control light at the nanoscale, it is essential to measure and characterize nanostructures and their interaction with light at this subwavelength scale. This thesis describes cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopy, an electron spectroscopy technique that achieves deeply subwavelength resolutions because electrons can have much smaller wavelengths than photons in the optical spectral range, while they also generate electromagnetic radiation. Integrating optical and electron microscopy allows us to reach an excitation resolution on the order of 10 nm. The spectral, angular and polarization properties of light emitted by nanophotonic structures as well as bulk materials can be measured. Measurements of the angular emission pattern allow us to recognize and separate different CL emission processes. We develop a way to measure the full polarization of light (polarimetry) as a function of the angle and wavelength of emission. This technique is used to gain new insights into the emission properties of plasmonic bullseye and spiral antennas, indium phosphide and gallium arsenide nanowires, and silicon photonic crystal waveguides. We implement a new method to visualize light emission from nanostructures in three dimensions (tomography). Combining measurements of metal-dielectric structures under many different orientations allows the reconstruction of a 3D image of the light emission at the nanoscale. In addition, we develop a theoretical framework to study the time evolution of electron-light-matter interactions, specifically the generation and emission of transition radiation and surface plasmon polaritons.
Numerical Investigations on the Seismic Behavior of FRP and TRM Upgraded RC Exterior Beam-Column Joints

AbstractIn this paper, a detailed procedure for nonlinear finite-element analysis of fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) and textile reinforced mortar (TRM) upgraded reinforced concrete (RC) beam-column exterior joints is presented for predicting their seismic performance under simulated earthquake loading. The finite-element (FE) model was developed using a smeared cracking approach for concrete and three-dimensional layered elements for the FRP and TRM-composites. The results obtained from FE analysis were compared with the test results. The tests were conducted on four as-built exterior beam-column joint specimens under simulated seismic loads. Out of these four specimens, one specimen was tested as a control specimen and the other three were tested after strengthening with TRM, carbon FRP, and glass FRP sheets, respectively. The FE results were compared with the test results through load-displacement behavior, ultimate loads, and crack pattern. Comparison of FE results with the experimentally observed resp.
Evaluation of analytical similarity between trastuzumab biosimilar CT-P6 and reference product using statistical analyses

ABSTRACT The evaluation of analytical similarity has been a challenging issue for the biosimilar industry because the number of lots for reference and biosimilar products available at the time of development are limited, whilst measurable quality attributes of target molecule are numerous, which can lead to potential bias or false negative/positive conclusions regarding biosimilarity. Therefore, appropriate statistical analyses are highly desirable to achieve a high level of confidence in the similarity evaluation. A recent guideline for the risk-based statistical approaches recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration provides useful tools to systematically evaluate analytical similarity of biosimilar products compared with reference products. Here, we evaluated analytical similarity of CT-P6, a biosimilar product of trastuzumab, with the reference products (EU-Herceptin® or US-Herceptin®) following these statistical approaches. Various quality attributes of trastuzumab were first ranked based on the clinical impact of each attribute and subsequently adjusted to one of three tiers (Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3) considering the characteristics of the assay, the level of attribute present and the feasibility of statistical analysis. Two biological activities with highest potential clinical impact were evaluated by an equivalent test (Tier 1), and other bioactivities and structural/physicochemical properties relevant to the clinical impact were evaluated by a quality range approach (Tier 2). The attributes with low risk ranking or qualitative assay were evaluated by visual comparison (Tier 3). Analytical similarity assessment analyzed by the three tiers clearly demonstrated that CT-P6 exhibits highly similar structural and physicochemical properties, as well as functional activities, compared with the reference products. There were small differences observed in a few quality attributes between CT-P6 and the reference products, but the differences were very minor, and unlikely to impact on clinical outcome. The recently reported equivalent clinical efficacy of CT-P6 with the reference product further supports that CT-P6 is highly similar compared with the reference product in the view of totality-of-evidence.