Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of digoxin on the quality of life in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND The Digitalis Investigation Group (DIG) trial was a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study that examined the effect of digoxin on mortality in 7,788 patients with heart failure and sinus rhythm. A prespecified substudy evaluated the effect of digoxin therapy on health-related quality of life (HQOL) in a subset of these patients. METHODS Patients in the DIG trial had clinical heart failure and were randomized to either digoxin or placebo in addition to their baseline diuretic and angiotensin-converting enzyme therapy (n = 7,788). The patients in this substudy had HQOL measured using a self-administered questionnaire employing scales that measured general health, physical functioning, depression, anger, anxiety, life satisfaction, and disease specific measures. A subjective assessment by the investigator and a 6-minute walk test evaluated functional status. HQOL was measured at baseline and at the 4- and 12-month follow-up visits. RESULTS The baseline characteristics of the patients in the quality of life substudy (n = 589) were comparable to the remaining patients in the study (n = 7,199) by age and other clinical measures, including history of prior myocardial infarction or etiology of heart failure; heart failure was of shorter duration and the ejection fraction was slightly better than in the main trial. Within the substudy, patients receiving digoxin (n = 298) or placebo (n = 291) were also similar in baseline characteristics. There was no statistically significant difference in any HQOL measure between the digoxin and the placebo groups at baseline. At the 4-month visit, only perceived health was improved in the digoxin group. At 12 months, there was no statistically significant difference in perceived health, physical functioning, Minnesota Living with Heart Failure, depression, anxiety, anger, Ladder of Life, or the 6-minute walk between the digoxin and placebo groups. CONCLUSION In this subset of the DIG population, digoxin therapy had no effect on the HQOL in patients with heart failure in sinus rhythm.
Graphical Passwords in the Wild: Understanding How Users Choose Pictures and Passwords in Image-based Authentication Schemes

Common user authentication methods on smartphones, such as lock patterns, PINs, or passwords, impose a trade-off between security and password memorability. Image-based passwords were proposed as a secure and usable alternative. As of today, however, it remains unclear how such schemes are used in the wild. We present the first study to investigate how image-based passwords are used over long periods of time in the real world. Our analyses are based on data from 2318 unique devices collected over more than one year using a custom application released in the Android Play store. We present an in-depth analysis of what kind of images users select, how they define their passwords, and how secure these passwords are. Our findings provide valuable insights into real-world use of image-based passwords and inform the design of future graphical authentication schemes.
Understanding and Treating Procrastination: A Review of a Common Self-Regulatory Failure

Procrastination is a pervasive self-regulatory failure affecting approximately one-fifth of the adult population and half of the student population. It is defined as one’s voluntarily delay of an intended course of action despite being worse off as a result of that delay. Procrastination has a negative impact on performance and is associated with poorer mental health. Stress, worry, and feelings of guilt are common among those who procrastinate recurrently. In addition, procrastination is associated with fewer mental health-seeking behaviors and increased treatment delay, leading to greater distress and the exacerbation of illness. The current paper seeks to provide a theoretical and clinical understanding of procrastination by reviewing prior research. Procrastination can be understood using different motivational theories, learning theory, self-efficacy theory, as well as biases and heuristics. Temporal motivational theory is proposed as an integrated explanation for procrastination, consisting of the interaction of four different variables: expectancy, value, impulsiveness, and time, each of which affects the tendency to procrastinate. A general implication is that procrastination should be regarded as an idiosyncratic behavioral problem that requires a cognitive case conceptualization or a functional analysis in order to guide therapists in their work. A number of treatment interventions might be used in relation to procrastination—for example, efficacy performance spirals, automaticity, stimulus control, stimulus cues, learned industriousness, and cognitive restructuring. Furthermore, the current paper explores the evidence on using cognitive behavior therapy for procrastination, discussing the scarcity of randomized controlled trials and the lack of validated outcome measures, and highlighting the need for further research.
Angiogenesis in urinary bladder carcinoma as defined by microvessel density (MVD) after immunohistochemical staining for Factor VIII and CD31

Background: Among the patients with bladder cancer, a group is still at risk of disease recurrence, progression, and death from their cancer after curative treatment. Angiogenesis is a crucial pathogenic mechanism for this type of urothelial carcinoma and is a potential therapeutic target. Objectives: To quantify tumor angiogenesis in bladder cancer and determine whether it correlates with tumor stage and grade. Patients and methods: A series of 42 archival samples from carcinomas of the urinary bladder were graded, staged, and analyzed for microvessel density (MVD) by a double immunohistochemical technique using Factor VIII (FVIII) and CD31 antibodies. The correlation between MVD and histopathological grade and tumor stage was evaluated. Results: FVIII and CD31 immunoreactivity was observed in 100% of cases and more intensely with CD31. Significantly higher MVD was determined in invasive tumors than in superficial tumors (p<0.05). MVD increased with tumor grade and stage (p<0.05); MVD was not affected by age or sex of the patients. Conclusion: These data demonstrate that MVD in bladder carcinoma correlates with the tumor grade and stage. Quantification of tumor angiogenesis may allow selection of the type of treatment for bladder cancer patients.
Pluractional Adverbials

(2) a. These blockages can grow instance by instance, cycle by cycle, stone after stone, lifetime after lifetime, until the body starts to manifest these issues as disease b. Brick upon brick, stone upon stone they grow. c. She laid book upon book and built a staircase long enough to climb up and look over the wall. d. This mystery offers puzzle within puzzle. e. The Wall of Tears is a very big wall that was built, stone over stone by the prisoners when Isabela was a penal colony back in 1946.
Effect of Dietary Supplementation of Wild Grape on the Antioxidative Potential of the Breast and Leg Meat of Broilers

This study investigated the effect of wild grape (Vitis coignetiae) dietary supplementation on the antioxidative potential and quality of the breast and leg meat of broilers. A total of 36 one-day-old male Cobb broiler chicks were obtained from a commercial hatchery, and randomly assigned to 9 pens with 4 birds per pen. Then, broilers were fed 3 different dietary supplementations, including 0%, 0.25%, or 0.5% wild grape, for 2 wks at the finishing period. After slaughtering, the total phenolic content, α,α'-diphenyl-β-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, 2-thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and total cholesterol content of broiler breast and leg meat were measured. Higher total phenolic content was recorded in the leg meat of broilers fed the wild grape when compared with the control, while breast meat did not show any difference. Dietary supplementation of 0.25% and 0.5% wild grape significantly increased DPPH radical scavenging activity of both breast and leg meat. TBARS values of both breast and leg meat were decreased by supplementation of 0.5% wild grape during storage when compared to the control, except for the leg meat at day 7. However, there was no significant difference found in total cholesterol content in both breast and leg meat. The results indicate that the antioxidative potential of broiler meat is improved by supplementing the diet with wild grape.
Randomised comparison of three methods of administering a screening questionnaire to elderly people: findings from the MRC trial of the assessment and management of older people in the community

Abstract Objective: To compare three different methods of administering a brief screening questionnaire to elderly people: post, interview by lay interviewer, and interview by nurse. Design: Randomised comparison of methods within a cluster randomised trial. Setting: 106 general practices in the United Kingdom. Participants: 32 990 people aged 75 years or over registered with participating practices. Main outcome measures: Response rates, proportion of missing values, prevalence of self reported morbidity, and sensitivity and specificity of self reported measures by method of administration of questionnaire for four domains. Results: The response rate was higher for the postal questionnaire than for the two interview methods combined (83.5% v 74.9%; difference 8.5%, 95% confidence interval 4.4% to 12.7%, P<0.001). The proportion of missing or invalid responses was low overall (mean 2.1%) but was greater for the postal method than for the interview methods combined (4.1% v 0.9%; difference 3.2%, 2.7% to 3.6%, P<0.001). With a few exceptions, levels of self reported morbidity were lower in the interview groups, particularly for interviews by nurses. The sensitivity of the self reported measures was lower in the nurse interview group for three out of four domains, but 95% confidence intervals for the estimates overlapped. Specificity of the self reported measures varied little by method of administration. Conclusions: Postal questionnaires were associated with higher response rates but also higher proportions of missing values than were interview methods. Lower estimates of self reported morbidity were obtained with the nurse interview method and to a lesser extent with the lay interview method than with postal questionnaires. What is already known on this topic The optimum method of administering a brief multidimensional screening assessment to elderly people is not known What this study adds Postal questionnaires produce a higher response rate than interviews by nurses or lay interviewers but also higher proportions of missing data Interview by nurses and to a lesser degree by lay interviewers is associated with lower levels of self reported morbidity than are postal questionnaires
RAGE signaling sustains inflammation and promotes tumor development

A broad range of experimental and clinical evidence has highlighted the central role of chronic inflammation in promoting tumor development. However, the molecular mechanisms converting a transient inflammatory tissue reaction into a tumor-promoting microenvironment remain largely elusive. We show that mice deficient for the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) are resistant to DMBA/TPA-induced skin carcinogenesis and exhibit a severe defect in sustaining inflammation during the promotion phase. Accordingly, RAGE is required for TPA-induced up-regulation of proinflammatory mediators, maintenance of immune cell infiltration, and epidermal hyperplasia. RAGE-dependent up-regulation of its potential ligands S100a8 and S100a9 supports the existence of an S100/RAGE-driven feed-forward loop in chronic inflammation and tumor promotion. Finally, bone marrow chimera experiments revealed that RAGE expression on immune cells, but not keratinocytes or endothelial cells, is essential for TPA-induced dermal infiltration and epidermal hyperplasia. We show that RAGE signaling drives the strength and maintenance of an inflammatory reaction during tumor promotion and provide direct genetic evidence for a novel role for RAGE in linking chronic inflammation and cancer.
Distance Traveled and Cross-State Commuting to Opioid Treatment Programs in the United States

This study examined commuting patterns among 23,141 methadone patients enrolling in 84 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the United States. Patients completed an anonymous one-page survey. A linear mixed model analysis was used to predict distance traveled to the OTP. More than half (60%) the patients traveled <10 miles and 6% travelled between 50 and 200 miles to attend an OTP; 8% travelled across a state border to attend an OTP. In the multivariate model (n = 17,792), factors significantly (P < .05) associated with distance were, residing in the Southeast or Midwest, low urbanicity, area of the patient's ZIP code, younger age, non-Hispanic white race/ethnicity, prescription opioid abuse, and no heroin use. A significant number of OTP patients travel considerable distances to access treatment. To reduce obstacles to OTP access, policy makers and treatment providers should be alert to patients' commuting patterns and to factors associated with them.
Assessing effectiveness of treatment of depression in primary care. Partially randomised preference trial.

BACKGROUND There is a mismatch between the wish of a patient with depression to have counselling and the prescription of antidepressants by the doctor. AIMS To determine whether counselling is as effective as antidepressants for depression in primary care and whether allowing patients to choose their treatment affects their response. METHOD A partially randomised preference trial, with patients randomised to either antidepressants or counselling or given their choice of either treatment. The treatment and follow-up were identical in the randomised and patient preference arms. RESULTS There were 103 randomised and 220 preference patients in the trial. We found: no differences in the baseline characteristics of the randomised and preference groups; that the two treatments were equally effective at 8 weeks, both for the randomised group and when the randomised and patient preference groups for a particular treatment were combined; and that expressing a preference for either treatment conferred no additional benefit on outcome. CONCLUSIONS These data challenge several assumptions about the most appropriate treatment for depression in a primary care setting.
The Genetic Architecture of Maize (Zea mays L.) Kernel Weight Determination

Individual kernel weight is an important trait for maize yield determination. We have identified genomic regions controlling this trait by using the B73xMo17 population; however, the effect of genetic background on control of this complex trait and its physiological components is not yet known. The objective of this study was to understand how genetic background affected our previous results. Two nested stable recombinant inbred line populations (N209xMo17 and R18xMo17) were designed for this purpose. A total of 408 recombinant inbred lines were genotyped and phenotyped at two environments for kernel weight and five other traits related to kernel growth and development. All traits showed very high and significant (P < 0.001) phenotypic variability and medium-to-high heritability (0.60−0.90). When N209xMo17 and R18xMo17 were analyzed separately, a total of 23 environmentally stable quantitative trait loci (QTL) and five epistatic interactions were detected for N209xMo17. For R18xMo17, 59 environmentally stable QTL and 17 epistatic interactions were detected. A joint analysis detected 14 stable QTL regardless of the genetic background. Between 57 and 83% of detected QTL were population specific, denoting medium-to-high genetic background effects. This percentage was dependent on the trait. A meta-analysis including our previous B73xMo17 results identified five relevant genomic regions deserving further characterization. In summary, our grain filling traits were dominated by small additive QTL with several epistatic and few environmental interactions and medium-to-high genetic background effects. This study demonstrates that the number of detected QTL and additive effects for different physiologically related grain filling traits need to be understood relative to the specific germplasm.
Infinite Horizon Optimal Transmission Power Control for Remote State Estimation Over Fading Channels

This paper studies the joint design over an infinite horizon of the transmission power controller and remote estimator for state estimation over fading channels. A sensor observes a dynamic process and sends its observations to a remote estimator over a wireless fading channel characterized by a time-homogeneous Markov chain. The successful transmission probability depends on both the channel gains and the transmission power used by the sensor. The transmission power control rule and the remote estimator should be jointly designed, aiming to minimize an infinite-horizon cost consisting of the power usage and the remote estimation error. We formulate the joint optimization problem as an average cost belief-state Markov decision process and prove that there exists an optimal deterministic and stationary policy. We then show that when the monitored dynamic process is scalar or the system matrix is orthogonal, the optimal remote estimates depend only on the most recently received sensor observation, and the optimal transmission power is symmetric and monotonically increasing with respect to the norm of the innovation error.
The number density of a charged relic

We investigate scenarios in which a charged, long-lived scalar particle decouples from the primordial plasma in the early Universe. We compute the number density at the time of freeze-out considering both the cases of Abelian and non-Abelian interactions and including the effect of Sommerfeld enhancement at low initial velocity. We also discuss as an extreme case the maximal cross section that fulfils the unitarity bound. We then compare these number densities to the exotic nuclei searches for stable relics and to the BBN bounds on unstable relics and draw conclusions for the cases of a stau or stop NLSP in supersymmetric models with a gravitino or axino LSP.
Clinical correlates of DHEA associated with post‐traumatic stress disorder

Objective: Increased plasma dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone‐sulfate (DHEAS) have been demonstrated in post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), but the documented beneficial effects of these steroids in enhancing mood and cognition, as well as neuroprotection, suggest their presence in PTSD may be associated with defensive rather than maladaptive effects.
Correlation between microstructure and intergranular corrosion behavior of low delta-ferrite content AISI 316L aged in the range 550-700 C

The microstructure and the phase identi ﬁ cation of austenitic stainless steel AISI 316L with low d -ferrite content ( d (cid:3) 1%) and aged for up to 80 000 h at temperatures ranging from 550 to 700 (cid:1) C were investigated by using an optical microscope (OM), a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a trans- mission electron microscope (TEM). Local changes of chromium content, resulting from nucleation and growth of chromium-rich phases during aging, were quantitatively assessed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) in the scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). The intergranular corrosion behavior (IGC) of annealed and aged specimens was evaluated using the double loop electro- chemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR) and completed by IGC morphologies according to the ASTM A262 practice A standard. The results showed that d -ferrite decomposed gradually into M 23 C 6 at 550 (cid:1) C and decomposed totally into intermetallic phases ( s , h , c , and R) and into secondary austenite ( g r ) at temperatures equal to or higher than 650 (cid:1) C. Similarly g -austenite decomposed into M 23 C 6 carbide at 550 (cid:1) C and into intermetallic phases such as h and s in addition to carbide, at higher temperatures. The time-temperature- sensitization diagram (TTS) was established and used to calculate the critical cooling rate (CCR) that prevents IGC sensitization. The analysis of IGC results leads to the conclusion that sensitization- desensitization is still controlled by the characteristics of chromium-depleted area surrounding austenite grain boundary regions. No signi ﬁ cant effect of remained d -ferrite and derived components on the corrosion behavior of AISI 316 L containing 1% of d -ferrite.
Duloxetine versus routine care in the long-term management of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.

INTRODUCTION Duloxetine hydrochloride is a dual reuptake inhibitor of both serotonin and norepinephrine. In the present open-label study, the safety of duloxetine at a fixed-dose of 60 mg twice daily (BID) for up to 52 weeks was evaluated and compared to routine care in the therapy of patients diagnosed with diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain (DPNP). METHODS Patients who completed a 13-week, double-blind, duloxetine and placebo acute therapy period were rerandomly assigned in a 2:1 ratio to therapy with duloxetine 60 mg BID (N=161) or routine care (N=76) for an additional 52 weeks. Routine care consisted primarily of gabapentin, amitriptyline, and venlafaxine. The study included male or female outpatients 18 years of age or older with a diagnosis of DPNP caused by type 1 or type 2 diabetes. RESULTS A higher percentage of routine care-treated patients experienced 1 or more serious adverse events. No statistically significant therapy-group difference was observed in the overall incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). The TEAEs reported by 10% or more of duloxetine 60 mg BID-treated patients were nausea, and by the routine care-treated patients were peripheral edema, pain in the extremity, somnolence, and dizziness. Duloxetine did not appear to adversely affect glycemic control, lipid profiles, nerve function, or the course of DPNP. There were no statistically significant therapy-group differences observed in the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey subscales or in the EuroQol 5-Dimension Questionnaire. CONCLUSIONS In this study, duloxetine was safe and well tolerated compared to routine care in the long-term management of patients with DPNP.