Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in Brain Hemodynamics in Response to Achromatic and Chromatic Cards of the Rorschach

Abstract. In order to investigate the effects of color stimuli of the Rorschach inkblot method (RIM), the cerebral activity of 40 participants with no history of neurological or psychiatric illness was scanned while they engaged in the Rorschach task. A scanned image of the ten RIM inkblots was projected onto a screen in the MRI scanner. Cerebral activation in response to five achromatic color cards and five chromatic cards were compared. As a result, a significant increase in brain activity was observed in bilateral visual areas V2 and V3, parietooccipital junctions, pulvinars, right superior temporal gyrus, and left premotor cortex for achromatic color cards (p < .001). For the cards with chromatic color, significant increase in brain activity was observed in left visual area V4 and left orbitofrontal cortex (p < .001). Furthermore, a conjoint analysis revealed various regions were activated in responding to the RIM. The neuropsychological underpinnings of the response process, as described by Acklin and Wu-Holt (1996), were largely confirmed.
In Vitro and In Vivo Studies of the Trypanocidal Properties of WRR-483 against Trypanosoma cruzi

Background Cruzain, the major cysteine protease of Trypanosoma cruzi, is an essential enzyme for the parasite life cycle and has been validated as a viable target to treat Chagas' disease. As a proof-of-concept, K11777, a potent inhibitor of cruzain, was found to effectively eliminate T. cruzi infection and is currently a clinical candidate for treatment of Chagas' disease. Methodology/Principal Findings WRR-483, an analog of K11777, was synthesized and evaluated as an inhibitor of cruzain and against T. cruzi proliferation in cell culture. This compound demonstrates good potency against cruzain with sensitivity to pH conditions and high efficacy in the cell culture assay. Furthermore, WRR-483 also eradicates parasite infection in a mouse model of acute Chagas' disease. To determine the atomic-level details of the inhibitor interacting with cruzain, a 1.5 Å crystal structure of the protease in complex with WRR-483 was solved. The structure illustrates that WRR-483 binds covalently to the active site cysteine of the protease in a similar manner as other vinyl sulfone-based inhibitors. Details of the critical interactions within the specificity binding pocket are also reported. Conclusions We demonstrate that WRR-483 is an effective cysteine protease inhibitor with trypanocidal activity in cell culture and animal model with comparable efficacy to K11777. Crystallographic evidence confirms that the mode of action is by targeting the active site of cruzain. Taken together, these results suggest that WRR-483 has potential to be developed as a treatment for Chagas' disease.
Discrimination between alternative binary response models.

SUMMARY The logistic and integrated normal binary response curves are known to agree closely except in the tails. For experiments based on three dose levels the power of a significance test is found for the null hypothesis that the response curve is logistic against the alternative that it is normal, and vice versa. From this an appropriate spacing of dose levels for discrimination is found. Approximately 1000 observations are necessary for even modest sensitivity.
Stochastic Graph Processes for Performance Evaluation of Content Delivery Applications in Overlay Networks

This paper proposes a new methodology to model the distribution of finite-size content to a group of users connected through an overlay network. Our methodology describes the distribution process as a constrained stochastic graph process (CSGP), where the constraints dictated by the content distribution protocol and the characteristics of the overlay network define the interaction among nodes. A CSGP is a semi-Markov process whose state is described by the graph itself. CSGPs offer a powerful description technique that can be exploited by Monte Carlo integration methods to compute in a very efficient way not only the mean but also the full distribution of metrics such as the file download times or the number of hops from the source to the receiving nodes. We model several distribution architectures based on trees and meshes as CSGPs and solve them numerically. We are able to study scenarios with a very large number of nodes, and we can precisely quantify the performance differences between the tree-based and mesh-based distribution architectures.
Prevalence and factors of intensive care unit conflicts: the conflicus study.

RATIONALE Many sources of conflict exist in intensive care units (ICUs). Few studies recorded the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors for conflicts in ICUs. OBJECTIVES To record the prevalence, characteristics, and risk factors for conflicts in ICUs. METHODS One-day cross-sectional survey of ICU clinicians. Data on perceived conflicts in the week before the survey day were obtained from 7,498 ICU staff members (323 ICUs in 24 countries). MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Conflicts were perceived by 5,268 (71.6%) respondents. Nurse-physician conflicts were the most common (32.6%), followed by conflicts among nurses (27.3%) and staff-relative conflicts (26.6%). The most common conflict-causing behaviors were personal animosity, mistrust, and communication gaps. During end-of-life care, the main sources of perceived conflict were lack of psychological support, absence of staff meetings, and problems with the decision-making process. Conflicts perceived as severe were reported by 3,974 (53%) respondents. Job strain was significantly associated with perceiving conflicts and with greater severity of perceived conflicts. Multivariate analysis identified 15 factors associated with perceived conflicts, of which 6 were potential targets for future intervention: staff working more than 40 h/wk, more than 15 ICU beds, caring for dying patients or providing pre- and postmortem care within the last week, symptom control not ensured jointly by physicians and nurses, and no routine unit-level meetings. CONCLUSIONS Over 70% of ICU workers reported perceived conflicts, which were often considered severe and were significantly associated with job strain. Workload, inadequate communication, and end-of-life care emerged as important potential targets for improvement.
Molecular Characterization of Adeno-Associated Viruses Infecting Children

ABSTRACT Although adeno-associated virus (AAV) infection is common in humans, the biology of natural infection is poorly understood. Since it is likely that many primary AAV infections occur during childhood, we set out to characterize the frequency and complexity of circulating AAV isolates in fresh and archived frozen human pediatric tissues. Total cellular DNA was isolated from 175 tissue samples including freshly collected tonsils (n = 101) and archived frozen samples representing spleen (n = 21), lung (n = 16), muscle (n = 15), liver (n = 19), and heart (n = 3). Samples were screened for the presence of AAV and adenovirus sequences by PCR using degenerate primers. AAV DNA was detected in 7 of 101 (7%) tonsil samples and two of 74 other tissues (one spleen and one lung). Adenovirus sequences were identified in 19 of 101 tonsils (19%), but not in any other tissues. Complete capsid gene sequences were recovered from all nine AAV-positive tissues. Sequence analyses showed that eight of the capsid sequences were AAV2-like (∼98% amino acid identity), while the single spleen isolate was intermediate between serotypes 2 and 3. Comparison to the available AAV2 crystal structure revealed that the majority of the amino acid substitutions mapped to surface-exposed hypervariable domains. To further characterize the AAV capsid structure in these samples, we used a novel linear rolling-circle amplification method to amplify episomal AAV DNA and isolate infectious molecular clones from several human tissues. Serotype 2-like viruses were generated from these DNA clones and interestingly, failed to bind to a heparin sulfate column. Inspection of the capsid sequence from these two clones (and the other six AAV2-like isolates) revealed that they lacked arginine residues at positions 585 and 588 of the capsid protein, which are thought to be essential for interaction with the heparin sulfate proteoglycan coreceptor. These data provide a framework with which to explore wild-type AAV persistence in vivo and provide additional tools to further define the biodistribution and form of AAV in human tissues.
Per capita alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm in Belarus, 1970-2005.

BACKGROUND Although alcohol seems to be an important determinant of the mortality crisis in the former Soviet Republic of Belarus, little systematic research has been done on the relationship between alcohol consumption and harm at the aggregate level. The aims of the present study were to estimate the effect of per capita alcohol consumption on all-cause mortality, mortality from alcohol poisoning and hospital admissions for alcohol psychosis in Belarus. METHODS Annual data on the three outcomes and alcohol sale per capita for the period 1970-2005 were analysed using the Box-Jenkins technique. Female mortality was included as a control variable and regarded as a proxy for other causal factors. To incorporate the lag structure, a weighted input was used in which a geometrical lag-scheme was applied. RESULTS The outcomes suggest that a 1 l increase in consumption was associated with an increase in male all-cause mortality of ∼2.3%. The corresponding figures for alcohol poisoning mortality and alcohol psychosis admissions are 12 and 25%. CONCLUSIONS The present study strengthens the notion of alcohol consumption as an important determinant of population health in this part of the world, and thus the notion that alcohol control must be a key priority for Belorussian public health policy.
Strain engineering in semiconducting two-dimensional crystals

One of the fascinating properties of the new families of two-dimensional crystals is their high stretchability and the possibility to use external strain to manipulate, in a controlled manner, their optical and electronic properties. Strain engineering, understood as the field that study how the physical properties of materials can be tuned by controlling the elastic strain fields applied to it, has a perfect platform for its implementation in the atomically thin semiconducting materials. The object of this review is to give an overview of the recent progress to control the optical and electronics properties of 2D crystals, by means of strain engineering. We will concentrate on semiconducting layered materials, with especial emphasis in transition metal dichalcogenides (MoS2, WS2, MoSe2 and WSe2). The effect of strain in other atomically thin materials like black phosphorus, silicene, etc, is also considered. The benefits of strain engineering in 2D crystals for applications in nanoelectronics and optoelectronics will be revised, and the open problems in the field will be discussed.
Effects of genetic potential on the lysine requirement and economic results of simulated broiler flocks

The effect of lysine dietary concentration (expressed as g of lysine per kg of feed) on growth from 20 to 40 days of age in male broiler flocks was studied by simulating flock perfor- mance. A total of 17 sets of parameters was considered. Different hypotheses were made on the means, variances and covariances of initial body weight (20 d of age), live weight gain (20 to 40 d), lipid content of gain and of a factor affecting the energy requirement for maintenance. The effect of dietary lysine concentration on individual live weight gain was simulated according to a "broken line" model which resulted in a curvilinear variation of flock performance with lysine concentration, as usually observed. The lipid content of gain was the major characteristic of the genotype account- ing for the mean lysine requirement of flocks: the latter increased by 1.935 g per kg of feed, i.e. 20.1%, when the former decreased from 21 to 13%. Growth rate and the factor affecting energy requirement for maintenance also exerted significant effects: when weight gain increased from 1550 to 1950 g, the lysine requirement increased by 6%. Lean and efficient flocks required diets with a higher lysine concentration. Heterogeneity for fatness also tended to increase the variability of lysine require- ment. The minimum feeding cost per kg of gain was reached on average when the mean weight gain of flocks was 97.9% of maximum gain, flock feed conversion ratio (FCR) was about 100.7% of the minimum FCR, and when the lysine requirement of 65.8% of individuals was satisfied.
Seroepidemiological study of human metapneumovirus in New Delhi, India.

PURPOSE There are a few seroepidemiological studies reported on human metapneumovirus (hMPV) as hMPV was only discovered in the year 2001. This respiratory virus has been reported to be ubiquitous and associated with respiratory tract infections in all age groups. The present study aimed at determining the prevalence of antibodies to hMPV in children and adults of 1 month to 55 years of age. MATERIALS AND METHODS Serum samples from 100 study subjects were tested for hMPV antibody by an in-house ELISA system that used hMPV-infected cell lysate antigen. RESULT The prevalence of antibody to hMPV was lowest in children less than 5 years of age (60%) and increased throughout age to > 80%. Similarly, geometric mean titres were 1:180 in children less than 5 years of age and reached a peak of 1:419 in adults over 35 years of age. CONCLUSION The results show that hMPV infection is acquired early in life and re-infection in later life may maintain the seroprevalence and antibody levels in adult population.
PATIENTS’ AND NURSES’ PERCEPTIONS OF PALLIATIVE CARE OUTCOMES: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

Background. Patients with advanced cancer require treatment and the fulfillment of their needs, based on the results of assessments regarding their physical symptoms, psychological and spiritual needs. Palliative care should be delivered with a person-centered care approach. It is important to consider the patients’ reports of their carings’ outcomes. Comparisons between the patients’ and nurses’ perceptions of palliative care outcomes can be used to improve the quality of palliative care.Objective. The purpose of this study is to compare the patients’ and nurses’ perceptions of palliative care outcomes during the patients’ hospitalization.Methods. This is a comparative descriptive study with a cross-sectional design. Data were collected from May to June 2018 from a total of 106 patients with advanced cancer, and 61 nurses. The versions of the Palliative care Outcome Scale (POS) for patients and nurses were used to measure the palliative care outcomes of the patients’ and nurses’ perceptions.Result. The study found a significant difference between the perceptions of the patients and nurses for the palliative care outcomes, particularly in the information availability domain (p = 0.001), the other symptoms domain (p = 0.029), and the anxiety feelings domain (p = 0.030), while the other seven domains had no significant differences between both groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion. The anxiety feelings, other symptoms and information availability domains are the aspects of palliative care which need more attention from health care providers, especially nurses, when caring for patients with advanced cancer.
N1‐acetyl‐N2‐formyl‐5‐methoxykynuramine, a biogenic amine and melatonin metabolite, functions as a potent antioxidant

The biogenic amine N1‐acetyl‐N2‐formyl‐5‐methoxykynuramine (AFMK) was investigated for its potential antioxidative capacity. AFMK is a metabolite generated through either an enzymatic or a chemical reaction pathway from melatonin. The physiological function of AFMK remains unknown. To our knowledge, this report is the first to document the potent antioxidant action of this biogenic amine. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) shows that AFMK donates two electrons at potentials of 456 mV and 668 mV, and therefore it functions as a reductive force. This function contrasts with all other physiological antioxidants that donate a single electron only when they neutralize free radicals. AFMK reduced 8‐hydroxydeoxyguanosine formation induced by the incubation of DNA with oxidants significantly. Lipid peroxidation resulting from free radical damage to rat liver homogenates was also prevented by the addition of AFMK. The inhibitory effects of AFMK on both DNA and lipid damage appear to be dose‐response related. In cell culture, AFMK efficiently reduced hippocampal neuronal death induced by either hydrogen peroxide, glutamate, or amyloid β25–35 peptide. AFMK is a naturally occurring molecule with potent free radical scavenging capacity (donating two electrons/molecule) and thus may be a valuable new antioxidant for preventing and treating free radical‐related disorders.
Coexisting Success Probability and Throughput of Multi-RAT Wireless Networks With Unlicensed Band Access

In this letter, the coexisting success probability and throughput of a wireless network consisting of multiple subnetworks of different radio access technologies (RATs) are investigated. The coexisting success probability that is defined as the average of all success probabilities of all subnetworks is found in closed-form and it will be shown to have the concavity over the number of channels in the unlicensed band. The optimal deployment densities of all different RATs access points (APs) that maximize the coexisting success probability are shown to exist and can be found under the derived constraint on network parameters. The coexisting throughput is defined as the per-channel sum of all spectrum efficiencies of all subnetworks and numerical results show that it is significantly higher than the throughput of the unlicensed band only accessed by WiFi APs.
False-Positive Results by the Platelia Aspergillus Galactomannan Antigen Test for Patients Treated with Amoxicillin-Clavulanate

ABSTRACT The Aspergillus galactomannan test is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis. We hereby report a high rate of false-positive results by the Platelia Aspergillus galactomannan antigen test (Bio-Rad Laboratories) for patients treated with amoxicillin-clavulanate.
Testing grain-surface chemistry in massive hot-core regions

Aims. We study the chemical origin of a set of complex organic molecules thought to be produced by grain surface chemistry in high mass young stellar objects (YSOs). Methods. A partial submillimeter line-survey was performed toward 7 high-mass YSOs aimed at detecting H 2 CO, CH 3 OH, CH 2 CO, CH 3 CHO, C 2 H 5 OH, HCOOH, HNCO and NH 2 CHO. In addition, lines of CH 3 CN, C 2 H 5 CN, CH 3 CCH, HCOOCH 3 , and CH 3 OCH 3 were observed. Rotation temperatures and beam-averaged column densities are determined. To correct for beam dilution and determine abundances for hot gas, the radius and H 2 column densities of gas at temperatures >100 K are computed using 850 μ m dust continuum data and source luminosity. Results. Based on their rotation diagrams, molecules can be classified as either cold ( 100 K). This implies that complex organics are present in at least two distinct regions. Furthermore, the abundances of the hot oxygen-bearing species are correlated, as are those of HNCO and NH 2 CHO. This is suggestive of chemical relationships within, but not between, those two groups of molecules. Conclusions. The most likely explanation for the observed correlations of the various hot molecules is that they are “first generation” species that originate from solid-state chemistry. This includes H 2 CO, CH 3 OH, C 2 H 5 OH, HCOOCH 3 , CH 3 OCH 3 , HNCO, NH 2 CHO, and possibly CH 3 CN, and C 2 H 5 CN. The correlations between sources implies very similar conditions during their formation or very similar doses of energetic processing. Cold species such as CH 2 CO, CH 3 CHO, and HCOOH, some of which are seen as ices along the same lines of sight, are probably formed in the solid state as well, but appear to be destroyed at higher temperatures. A low level of non-thermal desorption by cosmic rays can explain their low rotation temperatures and relatively low abundances in the gas phase compared to the solid state. The CH 3 CCH abundances can be fully explained by low temperature gas phase chemistry. No cold N-containing molecules are found.
Measurement of Wheat Starch Granule Size Distribution Using Image Analysis and Laser Diffraction Technology

ABSTRACT Starch was isolated from flour of four wheats representing hard red winter (Karl), hard red spring (Gunner), durum (Belfield 3), and spelt (WK 86035-8) wheat classes. Digital image analysis (IA) coupled with light microscopy was used to determine starch size distributions where the volume of granules was calculated as spherical particles or oblate spheroids. Starch granules were classified into three size ranges: A-type granules (> 15 μm), B-type granules (5–15 μm), and C-type granules (<5 μm). An error was noted in using digital image analysis because the perimeter of some granules touch the edge (PTE) of the field being analyzed. To correct for this error, the PTE granules were manually replaced into the field by measuring their diameters and entering them into the database. The results showed differences in the starch size distributions between the classes of wheat evaluated, as well as the method of analysis. Four laser diffraction sizing (LDS) instruments were used to measure granule distrib.
Neural Utterance Ranking Model for Conversational Dialogue Systems

In this study, we present our neural ut-terance ranking (NUR) model, an utter-ance selection model for conversational dialogue agents. The NUR model ranks candidate utterances with respect to their suitability in relation to a given context using neural networks; in addition, a dialogue system based on the model con-verses with humans using highly ranked utterances. Speciﬁcally, the model processes word sequences in utterances and utterance sequences in context via recurrent neural networks. Experimental re-sults show that the proposed model ranks utterances with higher precision relative to deep learning and other existing meth-ods. Furthermore, we construct a conversational dialogue system based on the proposed method and conduct experiments on human subjects to evaluate performance. The experimental result indicates that our system can offer a response that does not provoke a critical dialogue breakdown with a probability of 92% and a very natu-ral response with a probability of 58%.