Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Taking Charge

The authors describe an overview of the pilot project Taking Charge, a 36-hour comprehensive behavioral intervention involving psychoeducation, personal safety, and self-defense training for 12 female veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from military sexual trauma. Self-defense training can incorporate the benefits of repeated exposure while teaching proactive cognitive and behavioral responses to the feared stimuli, and thus facilitate emotional and physical rescripting of and mastery over the trauma. Results up to 6 months follow-up indicate significant reductions in behavioral avoidance, PTSD hyperarousal, and depression, with significant increases in interpersonal, activity, and self-defense self-efficacy. The authors propose that this therapeutic self-defense curriculum provides an enhanced exposure therapy paradigm that may be a potent therapeutic tool in the treatment of PTSD.
Lived Experiences of Iranian Nurses Caring for Brain Death Organ Donor Patients: Caring as “Halo of Ambiguity and Doubt”

Background: Brain death is a concept in which its criteria have been expressed as documentations in Harvard Committee of Brain Death. The various perceptions of caregiver nurses for brain death patients may have effect on the chance of converting potential donors into actual organ donors. Objective: The present study has been conducted in order to perceive the experiences of nurses in care-giving to the brain death of organ donor patients. Methods: This qualitative study was carried out by means of Heidegger’s hermeneutic phenomenology. Eight nurses who have been working in ICU were interviewed. The semi-structured interviews were recorded by a tape-recorder and the given texts were transcribed and the analyses were done by Van-Mannen methodology and (thematic) analysis. Results: One of the foremost themes extracted from this study included ‘Halo of ambiguity and doubt’ that comprised of two sub-themes of ‘having unreasonable hope’ and ‘Conservative acceptance of brain death’. The unreasonable hope included lack of trust (uncertainty) in diagnosis and verification of brain death, passing through denial wall, and avoidance from explicit and direct disclosure of brain death in patients’ family. In this investigation, the nurses were involved in a type of ambiguity and doubt in care-giving to the potentially brain death of organ donor patients, which were also evident in their interaction with patients’ family and for this reason, they did not definitely announce the brain death and so far they hoped for treatment of the given patient. Such confusion and hesitance both caused annoyance of nurses and strengthening the denial of patients’ family to be exposed to death. Conclusion: The results of this study reveal the fundamental perceived care-giving of brain death in organ donor patients and led to developing some strategies to improve care-giving and achievement in donation of the given organ and necessity for presentation of educational and supportive services for nurses might become more evident than ever.
Antenna selection in the full-duplex multi-antenna relay channel

We consider the problem of antenna selection (AS) in full duplex amplify-and-forward relaying. We assume a basic relay system where the source, the relay and the destination, all equipped with multiple antennas. For this full-duplex relay system, we investigate different AS schemes to select a single transmit antenna at both the source and the relay, respectively, as well as a single receive antenna at both the relay and the destination, respectively. To facilitate comparison, exact outage probability expressions and asymptotic approximations of these AS schemes are derived. In order to eliminate the zero-diversity behavior associated with the full-duplex operation, we also propose a simple power allocation (PA) scheme at the relay. In addition, the optimal value of the PA parameter is analytically derived for the considered AS schemes.
Impedance and Electrically Evoked Compound Action Potential (ECAP) Drop within 24 Hours after Cochlear Implantation

Previous animal study revealed that post-implantation electrical detection levels significantly declined within days. The impact of cochlear implant (CI) insertion on human auditory pathway in terms of impedance and electrically evoked compound action potential (ECAP) variation within hours after surgery remains unclear, since at this time frequency mapping can only commence weeks after implantation due to factors associated with wound conditions. The study presented our experiences with regards to initial switch-on within 24 hours, and thus the findings about the milieus inside cochlea within the first few hours after cochlear implantation in terms of impedance/ECAP fluctuations. The charts of fifty-four subjects with profound hearing impairment were studied. A minimal invasive approach was used for cochlear implantation, characterized by a small skin incision (≈2.5 cm) and soft techniques for cochleostomy. Impedance/ECAP was measured intro-operatively and within 24 hours post-operatively. Initial mapping within 24 hours post-operatively was performed in all patients without major complications. Impedance/ECAP became significantly lower measured within 24 hours post-operatively as compared with intra-operatively (p<0.001). There were no differences between pre-operative and post-operative threshold for air-conduction hearing. A significant drop of impedance/ECAP in one day after cochlear implantation was revealed for the first time in human beings. Mechanisms could be related to the restoration of neuronal sensitivity to the electrical stimulation, and/or the interaction between the matrix enveloping the electrodes and the electrical stimulation of the initial switch-on. Less wound pain/swelling and soft techniques both contributed to the success of immediate initial mapping, which implied a stable micro-environment inside the cochlea despite electrodes insertion. Our research invites further studies to correlate initial impedance/ECAP changes with long-term hearing/speech performance.
Modules for standard ML

The functional programming language ML has been undergoing a thorough redesign during the past year, and the module facility described here has been proposed as part of the revised language, now called Standard ML. The design has three main goals: (1) to facilitate the structuring of large ML programs; (2) to support separate compilation and generic library units; and (3) to employ new ideas in the semantics of data types to extend the power of ML's polymorphic type system. It is based on concepts inherent in the structure of ML, primarily the notions of a declaration, its type signature, and the environment that it denotes.
Characterization of Native and Recombinant Forms of an Unusual Cobalt-Dependent Proline Dipeptidase (Prolidase) from the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus

ABSTRACT Proline dipeptidase (prolidase) was purified from cell extracts of the proteolytic, hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus by multistep chromatography. The enzyme is a homodimer (39.4 kDa per subunit) and as purified contains one cobalt atom per subunit. Its catalytic activity also required the addition of Co2+ ions (Kd, 0.24 mM), indicating that the enzyme has a second metal ion binding site. Co2+could be replaced by Mn2+ (resulting in a 25% decrease in activity) but not by Mg2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Cu2+, or Ni2+. The prolidase exhibited a narrow substrate specificity and hydrolyzed only dipeptides with proline at the C terminus and a nonpolar amino acid (Met, Leu, Val, Phe, or Ala) at the N terminus. Optimal prolidase activity with Met-Pro as the substrate occurred at a pH of 7.0 and a temperature of 100°C. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the purified prolidase was used to identify in the P. furiosus genome database a putative prolidase-encoding gene with a product corresponding to 349 amino acids. This gene was expressed in Escherichia coli and the recombinant protein was purified. Its properties, including molecular mass, metal ion dependence, pH and temperature optima, substrate specificity, and thermostability, were indistinguishable from those of the native prolidase from P. furiosus. Furthermore, theKm values for the substrate Met-Pro were comparable for the native and recombinant forms, although the recombinant enzyme exhibited a twofold greaterVmax value than the native protein. The amino acid sequence of P. furiosus prolidase has significant similarity with those of prolidases from mesophilic organisms, but the enzyme differs from them in its substrate specificity, thermostability, metal dependency, and response to inhibitors. The P. furiosus enzyme appears to be the second Co-containing member (after methionine aminopeptidase) of the binuclear N-terminal exopeptidase family.
A Novel Function of Adipocytes in Lipid Antigen Presentation to iNKT Cells

ABSTRACT Systemic low-grade chronic inflammation has been intensively investigated in obese subjects. Recently, various immune cell types, such as macrophages, granulocytes, helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, and B cells, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of adipose tissue inflammation. However, the roles of invariant natural killer T cells (iNKT cells) and the regulation of iNKT cell activity in adipose tissue are not thoroughly understood. Here, we demonstrated that iNKT cells were decreased in number in the adipose tissue of obese subjects. Interestingly, CD1d, a molecule involved in lipid antigen presentation to iNKT cells, was highly expressed in adipocytes, and CD1d-expressing adipocytes stimulated iNKT cell activity through physical interaction. iNKT cell population and CD1d expression were reduced in the adipose tissue of obese mice and humans compared to those of lean subjects. Moreover, iNKT cell-deficient Jα18 knockout mice became more obese and exhibited increased adipose tissue inflammation at the early stage of obesity. These data suggest that adipocytes regulate iNKT cell activity via CD1d and that the interaction between adipocytes and iNKT cells may modulate adipose tissue inflammation in obesity.
Tagging the Expressed Protein with 6 Histidines: Rapid Cloning of an Amplicon with Three Options

We report the designing of three expression vectors that can be used for rapid cloning of any blunt-end DNA segment. Only a single set of oligonucleotides are required to perform the amplification of the target DNA and its cloning in all three vectors simultaneously. The DNA thus cloned can express a protein either with or without a hexa-histidine tag depending upon the vector used. The expression occurs from T7 promoter when transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3). Two of the three plasmids have been designed to provide the expressed protein with either N- or C-terminus 6 histidine amino acids in tandem. The third plasmid, however, does not add any tag to the expressed protein. The cloning is achieved quickly with the requirement of phosphorylation of PCR product without any restriction digestion. Additionally, the generated clones can be confirmed with a single step PCR reaction carried out from bacterial colonies (generally termed as “colony PCR”). We show the cloning, expression and purification of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) as proof-of-concept. Additionally, we also show the cloning and expression of four sigma factors from Mycobacterium tuberculosis further demonstrating the utility of the designed plasmids. We strongly believe that the vectors and the strategy that we have developed will facilitate the rapid cloning and expression of any gene in E. coli BL21(DE3) with or without a hexa-histidine tag.
Toxin from Fusarium moniliforme: Effects on Plants and Animals

A mycotoxin-producing strain of Fusarium moniliforme was isolated from southern leaf blight-damaged corn seed. A water-soluble toxin, subsequently purified from the fungus, had an oral median lethal dose of 4.0 milligrams per kilogram in 1-day-old cockerels. The toxin also produced plant growth-regulating and phytotoxic effects on plant systems. Physical and chemical data presented for the toxin suggest a structurally new toxin. The trivial name "moniliformin" has been assigned to the toxin.
Simulating Stress Relaxation Effects for Sequential Biaxial Stretching of Optical Films in a Tenter

Control of the sequential orientation (tenter) process for optical films is one of the most important factors in developing the retardation films which are needed for large sized liquid crystal displays (LCD). Analysis to predict the thickness distributions and bowing phenomenon during the tentering process is performed by finite element analysis (FEA). In addition, this study provides a new calculation method to predict the optical axes of stretched films from elastoplastic FEA results. The optical axes have two components. One is a stress-dependent term and the other is a strain-dependent term. To predict the molecular orientation, time-dependent effects are concerned with both. Moreover, polymer relaxation processes are examined. The FEA and optical property calculation are independent in the methods. This method enables one to easily calculate optical axes of films during the tentering process without a change of the conventional FEA calculation process.
The Neural Substrate of Positive Bias in Spontaneous Emotional Processing

Even in the presence of negative information, healthy human beings display an optimistic tendency when thinking of past success and future chances, giving a positive bias to everyday's cognition. The tendency to actively select positive thoughts suggests the existence of a mechanism to exclude negative content, raising the issue of its dependence on mechanisms like those of effortful control. Using perfusion imaging, we examined how brain activations differed according to whether participants were left to prefer positive thoughts spontaneously, or followed an explicit instruction to the same effect, finding a widespread dissociation of brain perfusion patterns. Under spontaneous processing of emotional material, recruitment of areas associated with effortful attention, such as the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, was reduced relative to instructed avoidance of negative material (F 1,58 = 26.24, p = 0.047, corrected). Under spontaneous avoidance perfusion increments were observed in several areas that were deactivated by the task, including the perigenual medial prefrontal cortex. Furthermore, individual differences in executive capacity were not associated with positive bias. These findings suggest that spontaneous positive cognitive emotion regulation in health may result from processes that, while actively suppressing emotionally salient information, differ from those associated with effortful and directed control.
Indolent Systemic Mastocytosis with Elevated Serum Tryptase, Absence of Skin Lesions, and Recurrent Severe Anaphylactoid Episodes

Background: In contrast to aggressive mastocytosis, patients with indolent systemic mastocytosis (ISM) usually present with urticaria pigmentosa-like skin lesions. In those who lack skin lesions, mastocytosis is often overlooked or confused with endocrinologic, allergic, or other internal disorders. Case Report and Results: We report on a 33-year-old male patient in whom severe hypotensive episodes occurred after contact with ants or yellow jackets. Since no specific IgE was detected, the serum tryptase concentration was measured and found to be clearly elevated (70 ng/ml). Consecutive staging and examination of the bone marrow revealed ISM. The patient was advised to circumvent insect contact, to take antihistamines on demand, and to carry an epinephrine self-injector for emergency events. In a retrospective analysis of 40 patients seen between 1988 and 2003, only 2 had a life-threatening mediator-related episode before ISM was diagnosed. Conclusions: Our report confirms the diagnostic value of tryptase in patients with suspected mastocytosis. In addition, the report suggests that the lack of typical skin lesions does not exclude an indolent form of mastocytosis even if the serum tryptase is clearly elevated. Finally, our case further shows that mastocytosis can be an important differential diagnosis to be considered in patients with unexplained anaphylactoid or other mediator-related symptoms.
Towards a Theory of Cache-Efficient Algorithms ( Extended Abstract )

We describe a model that enables us to analyze the running time of an algorithm in a computer with a memory hierarchy with limited associativity, in terms of various cache parameters. Our model, an extension of Aggarwal and Vitter’s I/O model, enables us to establish useful relationships between the cache complexity and the I/O complexity of computations. As a corollary, we obtain cache-optimal algorithms for some fundamental problems like sorting, FFT, and an important subclass of permutations in the single-level cache model. We also show that ignoring associativity concerns could lead to inferior performance, by analyzing the average-case cache behavior of mergesort. Our techniques may be used for systematic exploitation of the memory hierarchy starting from the algorithm design stage, and dealing with the hitherto unresolved problem of limited associativity.
The effect of surgical technique on local recurrence rates following mastectomy.

The effects of two different axillary techniques, i.e. sampling and dissection, in combination with mastectomy for operable carcinoma are compared. The dissection technique when combined with radiotherapy gives better local disease control than sampling. This also confirms the proposition that an axillary sampling technique is an inefficient method of staging breast cancer and its use will result in inferior local disease control.
Intravenous versus Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis in Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background Reperfusion following ischemic stroke can be attained by either intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) or intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT). Only a limited number of randomized prospective studies have compared the efficacy and safety of IVT and IAT. This meta-analysis investigated possible clinical benefits of IAT relative to IVT in patients with acute ischemic stroke. Methods We searched the PubMed, Cochrane, and Google Scholar databases through October 2013 for manuscripts that describe the findings of randomized controlled or prospective studies that evaluated the outcomes of patients with ischemic stroke who were treated with IVT or IAT. The clinical outcome measures were score on the modified Rankin scale (mRS) and mortality at 90 days. A favorable outcome was defined as an mRS score of 0 to 2. Results For the mRS, the combined odds ratio (OR) of 3.28 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.91 to 5.65, P < 0.001) indicated that patients who received IAT had a significantly higher chance for a favorable outcome than did those who received IVT. For mortality, the OR indicated that IAT therapy significantly reduced the proportion of patients who died within 90 days of the procedure (combined OR, 0.40; 95%CI, 0.17 to 0.92; P = 0.032). Conclusion This meta-analysis determined that IAT conferred a significantly greater probability of achieving a favorable outcome compared with IVT. There was also a significant difference in mortality rates between IAT and IVT. The studies included in this analysis were small and heterogeneous; therefore, larger randomized prospective clinical studies are necessary to further investigate this issue.
Optimizing robot motion strategies for assembly with stochastic models of the assembly process

Gross-motion planning for assembly is commonly considered as a distinct, isolated step between task sequencing/scheduling and fine-motion planning. In this paper the authors formulate the problem of gross-motion planning for assembly in a manner that integrates it with both the manufacturing process and the fine motions involved in the final assembly stages. One distinct characteristic of gross-motion planning for assembly is the prevalence of uncertainty involving time-in parts arrival, in request arrival, etc. The authors propose a stochastic representation of the assembly process that improves the robot performance in the uncertain assembly environment by optimizing an appropriate criterion in the expected sense.
Identification of Metallic Spheroids by Classification of Their Electromagnetic Induction Responses

An investigation into the feasibility of applying pattern recognition concepts to the classification of metallic objects by their electromagnetic induction responses was performed. The effect on the response of a limited set of steel spheroids due to various factors such as object shape, size, and orientation was examined and a pattern recognition scheme based on these results was proposed. Implementation of the scheme involved the development of a novel extension to the nearest mean vector type of classifier in which the concept of the class mean as a point in feature space was generalized to be a curve. The resultant pattern recognition scheme was tested on a representative test set which included 815 responses, corresponding to 104 variations in object and orientation. A success rate of greater than 96 percent was achieved. It is noted that the classifier extension developed provides a viable approach to classification of responses that very continuously with respect to a single parameter.
Change-point in stochastic design regression and the bootstrap

In this paper we study the consistency of different bootstrap procedures for constructing confidence intervals (CIs) for the unique jump discontinuity (change-point) in an otherwise smooth regression function in a stochastic design setting. This problem exhibits nonstandard asymptotics and we argue that the standard bootstrap procedures in regression fail to provide valid confidence intervals for the change-point. We propose a version of smoothed bootstrap, illustrate its remarkable finite sample performance in our simulation study, and prove the consistency of the procedure. The $m$ out of $n$ bootstrap procedure is also considered and shown to be consistent. We also provide sufficient conditions for any bootstrap procedure to be consistent in this scenario.
Merging technology and clinical research for optimized post-surgical rehabilitation of lung cancer patients.

BACKGROUND The 21(st) century has ushered in an age of wireless communication and technological breakthroughs providing researchers with opportunities and challenges as they incorporate this technology into their research. This paper presents the challenges our team encountered introducing new technologies and how they were overcome for an intervention for post-thoracotomy non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. METHODS Our intervention incorporated the Nintendo Wii Fit Plus virtual-reality walking and balance exercise into a home-based rehabilitation program. The intervention is novel and innovative in that the intervention provides light-intensity exercise post-thoracotomy for NSCLC patients immediately after return to home from the hospital. The intervention overcomes the barriers of conventional exercise programs that require travel, conventional exercise equipment, and begin months after surgery. RESULTS When translating new technology to research, researchers need to consider a number of factors that need to be addressed. Institutional Review Boards may need further explanation as to why the technology is safe, potential participants may need to have unfounded concerns explained before enrolling, and the research team needs a plan for introducing the technology to participants with a vast range of skill sets and environments in which they will be using technology. In our study, we addressed each of these factors using varying approaches as we translated how the Wii would be used in a home-based exercise intervention by a highly vulnerable, post-thoracotomy NSCLC population. CONCLUSIONS While technology brings with it multiple barriers for successful implementation, our team showed that with proper planning and teamwork, researchers can navigate these issues bringing the full benefit of technology to even the most vulnerable of patient populations.