Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gender Differences in Relationship Between Resilience and Big Five Personality Traits in Japanese Adolescents

Prior work has indicated that female adolescents mature more quickly than males with regard to the various personality dimensions. From the developmental perspectives, this study aimed to explore gender differences in the relationships between resilience and the Big Five personality traits in Japanese adolescents. Middle school students (N = 310, 155 females, age range = 14–15 years) participated in an online survey. The results demonstrated that females had higher Conscientiousness than males. Stepwise regression analyses indicated that Neuroticism was the most influential predictor of resilience in females, whereas Extraversion was the most important predictor in males. Multigroup path analysis demonstrated that the effect of Neuroticism on resilience was greater for females; however, the effects of all other variables did not differ across genders. Considering gender differences is important to understand the relationship between resilience and the Big Five dimensions among adolescents.
Thermoelastic Damping in the Electrodes Determines $Q$ of AlN Contour Mode Resonators

This paper experimentally verifies the impact of thermoelastic damping (TED) in metal electrodes on the quality factor (<inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Q_{\text {ted}})$ </tex-math></inline-formula> of 1 GHz Aluminum Nitride (AlN) contour mode resonators (CMRs). A semianalytical approach that treats the electrodes as standard anelastic solids and models their displacement through a 1-D wave equation is followed to predict the dependence of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Q_{\text {ted}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> on geometrical, thermal, and mechanical parameters. To verify <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$Q_{\text {ted}}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> experimentally, resonators having top electrodes with different coverage ratios (0.75, 0.5, 0.25) and materials (Au, Pt, Al), but identical vibrating body (made out of AlN) and anchor design have been fabricated and tested. Moreover, resonators having distinct electrode metals are measured under different temperature conditions ranging from 50 to 300 K. All the experiments follow the predicted trend, which confirm that TED can be considered as the main source of intrinsic material damping in AlN CMRs and the dominant damping mechanism when anchor losses are mitigated. [2016-0189]
A randomized trial of bupropion and/or nicotine gum as maintenance treatment for preventing smoking relapse.

AIM To investigate the efficacy of maintenance treatment with bupropion and/or nicotine gum for reducing smoking relapse. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS A 48-week study was conducted at a university-based smoking cessation clinic between February 2001 and October 2005. A total of 588 smokers received bupropion and nicotine patch in 8 weeks of open-label treatment (OLT); 289 abstainers during the last 4 weeks of OLT were randomized in double-blind placebo-controlled fashion to one of four arms for 16 weeks of maintenance treatment (MT) followed by 24 weeks of non-treatment follow-up (NTFU). INTERVENTION Bupropion (300 mg/day) and 2 mg nicotine gum, used alone or combined, and comparable placebo pill and placebo gum. Behavioral counseling at all visits. OUTCOME Time to relapse (TTR) from randomization. Relapse is defined as the first 7 consecutive days of smoking. Abstinence verified by carbon monoxide <or= 8 parts per million. FINDINGS TTR was longer with extended active treatments compared to placebo (median days to relapse: bupropion + placebo = 136, nicotine + placebo = 98, bupropion + nicotine = 90, double placebo = 71). Hazard ratios (HR) for relapse were statistically significant for bupropion + placebo versus double placebo during MT (HR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.37-0.92) and to the end of NTFU (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.42-0.96). However, bupropion's advantage dissipated upon stopping the drug. Gum use was low, preventing a valid assessment; but analysis restricted to gum users suggested a weak effect of extended nicotine gum. CONCLUSION Maintenance treatment with bupropion exerted a modest benefit for preventing smoking relapse; the optimum duration of bupropion treatment was unclear. Further research is needed to ascertain the merits of extended use of nicotine gum, other nicotine replacement agents and other treatments known to aid smokers for preventing relapse once abstinence is achieved.
Racial and ethnic differences in adjuvant hormonal therapy use.

BACKGROUND In the United States, 5-year breast cancer survival is highest among Asian American women, followed by non-Hispanic white, Hispanic, and African American women. Breast cancer treatment disparities may play a role. We examined racial/ethnic differences in adjuvant hormonal therapy use among women aged 18-64 years, diagnosed with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer, using data collected by the Northern California Breast Cancer Family Registry (NC-BCFR), and explored changes in use over time. METHODS Odds ratios (OR) comparing self-reported ever-use by race/ethnicity (African American, Hispanic, non-Hispanic white vs. Asian American) were estimated using multivariable adjusted logistic regression. Analyses were stratified by recruitment phase (phase I, diagnosed January 1995-September 1998, phase II, diagnosed October 1998-April 2003) and genetic susceptibility, as cases with increased genetic susceptibility were oversampled. RESULTS Among 1385 women (731 phase I, 654 phase II), no significant racial/ethnic differences in use were observed among phase I or phase II cases. However, among phase I cases with no susceptibility indicators, African American and non-Hispanic white women were less likely than Asian American women to use hormonal therapy (OR 0.20, 95% confidence interval [CI]0.06-0.60; OR 0.40, CI 0.17-0.94, respectively). No racial/ethnic differences in use were observed among women with 1+ susceptibility indicators from either recruitment phase. CONCLUSIONS Racial/ethnic differences in adjuvant hormonal therapy use were limited to earlier diagnosis years (phase I) and were attenuated over time. Findings should be confirmed in other populations but indicate that in this population, treatment disparities between African American and Asian American women narrowed over time as adjuvant hormonal treatments became more commonly prescribed.
Lyme Disease Associated with Fibromyalgia

OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical and laboratory findings as well as results of treatment in patients with Lyme disease associated with fibromyalgia. DESIGN Observational cohort study. The mean duration of observation was 2.5 years (range, 1 to 4 years). SETTING Diagnostic Lyme disease clinic in a university hospital. PATIENTS Of 287 patients seen with Lyme disease during a 3.5-year period, 22 (8%) had fibromyalgia associated with this illness, and 15 (5%) participated in the observational study. MEASUREMENTS Symptoms and signs of fibromyalgia, immunodiagnostic tests for Lyme disease, and tests of neurologic function. RESULTS Of the 15 patients, 9 developed widespread musculoskeletal pain, tender points, dysesthesias, memory difficulties, and debilitating fatigue a mean duration of 1.7 months after early Lyme disease; the remaining six patients developed those symptoms during the course of Lyme arthritis. At the time of our evaluation, late in the course of their illness, 11 patients had positive immunoglobulin (Ig) G antibody responses to Borrelia burgdorferi by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), one had a positive Western blot, and the three seronegative patients had positive cellular immune responses to borrelial antigens. Four patients had abnormal cerebrospinal fluid analyses that showed an elevated protein level, a slight pleocytosis, or intrathecal antibody production to the spirochete. The signs of Lyme disease resolved with antibiotic therapy, usually intravenous ceftriaxone, 2 g/d for 2 to 4 weeks, except in one patient with persistent knee swelling. However, 14 of the 15 patients continued to have symptoms of fibromyalgia. Currently, only one patient is completely asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS Lyme disease may trigger fibromyalgia, but antibiotics do not seem to be effective in the treatment of the fibromyalgia.
Economic benefits of using realized covariance forecasts in risk-based portfolios

ABSTRACT This article examines the economic benefit of using the realized covariance matrix forecasts, for constructing the risk-based portfolios. We use the two-scale realized covariance estimator (TSC), the jump robust two-scale realized covariance estimator (RTSC) and the realized bipower covariance estimator (BPC), to forecast the daily realized covariance matrix. Using these covariance matrix forecasts, we implement three risk-based portfolios: the global minimum variance portfolio, the equal risk contribution portfolio and the most diversified portfolio. There is evidence that the portfolio performance improves by using TSC or RTSC estimators as compared to the daily-returns-based estimator. The performance gains are robust to the choice of risk-based portfolio strategy, the degree of investor’s relative risk-aversion, the market conditions and the choice of time intervals.
The impact of splenectomy or splenic artery ligation on the outcome of a living donor adult liver transplantation using a left lobe graft.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of splenectomy or splenic artery ligation on the outcome in living donor adult liver transplantation (LDALT) using a left lobe graft. METHODOLOGY Forty-eight LDALT cases using a left lobe graft were enrolled in this study. The patients were classified into two groups: Group A (n=40), in which neither a splenectomy nor a splenic artery ligation was performed, and Group B (n=8), in which a splenectomy (n=6) or a splenic artery ligation (n=2) was performed. Indications for splenectomy were as follows: 1) demonstrating a hypersplenism and/or 2) having splenic aneurysms. RESULTS None of the patients receiving a splenectomy or a splenic artery ligation experienced any septic complication in this series. The graft-recipient weight ratio in group B tended to be smaller than in group A. In group B, all patients were classified into Child's class C or B. The incidence of esophageal varices in group B was significantly higher than in group A. Moreover, the platelet count and the white blood cell count in group B were significantly lower than in group A. No statistical difference was found in postoperative functional cholestasis and intractable ascites. None of the participants in group B experienced both postoperative hyperbilirubinemia and intractable ascites, which were characterized as a small-for-size graft after LDALT. The patient survival rate in group B seems to be better than in group A. In a majority of the cases the portal pressure as well as the portal vein flow after a splenectomy decreased in comparison to that before the splenectomy. CONCLUSIONS Splenectomy or splenic artery ligation is considered to be beneficial for improving the outcome in LDALT using a left lobe graft.
High Expression of the Gluti Glucose Transporter in Human Brain Hemangioblastoma Endothelium

Abstract. The principal glucose transporter at the blood–brain barrier is Glutl, and GLUTI expression is downregulated in high grade gliomas. In the present study, glucose transporter expression was studied in surgically resected hemangioblastoma tissue. Light microscopic immunochemistry indicated the high expression of the Glutl glucose transporter isoform throughout the central vascular endothelium of this tissue. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was observed only at the tumor border, with no GFAP immunoreactivity in stromal cells, pericytes or endothelia in the central tumor regions. It is generally believed that more Glutl is found in erythrocytes than any other cell, but quantitative electron microscopic immunogold analyses of Glutl-immunoreactive sites per micron of capillary membrane showed the Glutl density in tumor endothelial membranes glucose transporter was 2-3-fold higher than in human red cells. In the same tissue samples, qualitative immunogold electron microscopy of human serum albumin indicated that this protein (MW 65,000) moved freely from the vascular space into pericapillary regions, confirming the leaky barrier characteristics of the hemangioblastoma. These studies show that Glutl expression may be high in endothelia that are highly permeable and devoid of astroglial contacts. Thus, human cerebral hemangioblastomas may provide a novel system for studying the induction of Glutl in the blood-brain barrier.
A comment on amplification and spread of viruses in a growing plaque.

You & Yin (1999) analyse a system in which viruses di! use to host cells, replicate within and lyse (kill) them. This gives rise to growing regions of dead cells, called plaques. Yin's lucid reaction}di! usion approach to the growth of plaques was solved numerically (You & Yin, 1999), and the results were compared to previous analytic predictions (Yin & McCaskill, 1992). Yin and co-workers have also discovered that mutants can appear and outgrow their precursors (Yin, 1993, 1994; Lee & Yin, 1996), and have proposed a model of hindered di! usion. This leads to qualitative agreement between theory and experiment, but quantitative agreement has yet to be attained: the predicted speed is 5 times higher than that observed experimentally (You & Yin, 1999). In these papers it has been correctly pointed out that satisfactory agreement may be obtained in the future after the model parameters are precisely measured. In this context, it is important to derive simple and accurate analytical formulae for the virus wavefront speed. Such an equation will be derived here, with the hope that it may be useful to researchers who may want to compare Yin's theory to new experiments in the future. The model by Yin and co-workers has three species: viruses (< ), uninfected host bacteria (B ) and virus}host complexes (I ). The reactions are
Lessons to be learned from periodontitis

Purpose of reviewThis article reviews the link between periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with regard to similarities in genetic risk factors and immunopathogenesis. Emphasis is paid to the potential role of the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis in the etiopathogenesis of both periodontitis and RA, in particular by post-translational modification of arginine into citrulline. Recent findingsP. gingivalis, a major periodontal pathogen, is presently known as the only bacterium in the oral flora which contains a peptidyl arginine deiminase enzyme (PAD). This enzyme is necessary for citrullination. As a result, citrullinated proteins and P. gingivalis PAD, PAD2 and PAD4 (expressed by infiltrating neutrophils) are found in periodontal tissues. Autoantibodies directed to citrullinated proteins, so-called anticitrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs), are found to be present in gingival crevicular fluid originating from inflamed gingival tissue. Furthermore, treatment studies have revealed that nonsurgical periodontal treatment, that is removal of sub-gingival calculus and biofilm deposits, is accompanied by a reduction in the severity of RA. SummaryIn this study the similarities in immune response and tissue degradation between RA and periodontitis are reviewed. It is shown that the two diseases share the same environmental and genetic risk factors, apart from the fact that there is a link between both diseases via citrullination of proteins by human PAD and P. gingivalis PAD.
Robot-Assisted Radical Cystectomy in Octogenarians

Background and Purpose: Radical cystectomy is the standard of care for muscle-invasive bladder cancer; however, few patients over age 75 undergo cystectomy. Morbidity and mortality rates in this age group approach 60% and 10%, respectively. We sought to determine if minimally invasive surgery, in the form of robotassisted radical cystectomy (RARC), may reduce morbidity and mortality associated with this operation in elderly patients. Patients and Methods: After Institutional Review Board approval, all RARC performed between 2009 and 2012 from one institution were reviewed, and 23 cases in patients over the age of 80 were identified. Data analyzed included age, indication for cystectomy, American Society of Anesthesiologists score (ASA), Charlson Comorbidity Index, pathologic stage, estimated blood loss, transfusion rate, and 90-day morbidity and mortality rate. Results: Twenty-three patients over the age of 80 years underwent RARC by a single surgeon (IT) between April 2009 and October 2012. Average age was 83.7 years (range 80–88 years) with average Charlson Comorbidity Index score of 4.3 (age-weighted 8.3). Indication for cystectomy was oncologic in all cases (21 bladder malignancy, 2 hemorrhagic cystitis in the setting of prostate cancer). The average blood loss and operative times were 208 mL (range 50–650 mL) and 253 minutes (range 175–365 min). Seven (30.4%) patients needed blood transfusions. The average length of hospital stay was 8.2 days (range 6–24 days). The overall complication rate within 90 days was 34.8% (8 patients) with no mortality. Longest follow-up is 34 months. Conclusions: RARC should be strongly considered for patients over the age of 80 with clinical indications for cystectomy. The complication rate is acceptable even in complicated patients with multiple comorbidities and those with previous abdominal surgery or pelvic radiation. Hospital stay remains shorter than with open surgery, and complication rates appear to be lower than previously reported for this age group.
Comprehensive Electromagnetic Modeling of On-Chip Switching Noise Generation and Coupling

A comprehensive modeling methodology is presented for the investigation of on-chip noise generation and coupling due to power switching. The backbone of the methodology is an electromagnetic model for the on-chip portion of the power grid. This allows for the impact of the displacement current density and, hence, electromagnetic retardation, to be taken into account in the accurate modeling of the power grid behavior at picosecond switching speeds. In this manner, and through the interfacing of this model with an electromagnetic model for the package portion of the power grid, which is described in terms of a multiport rational matrix transfer function, the impact of package-chip electrical interactions on switching noise can be modeled with electromagnetic accuracy. The electromagnetic model for the power grid is complemented by a resistance-capacitance model for the semiconductor substrate, which is capable of modeling local substrate induced noise coupling between neighboring circuits. Finally, distributed resistance, inductance, capacitance and conductance circuits for signal wires are extracted and used to provide for a transmission line-based modeling of crosstalk and power grid induced signal degradation. Transient simulations using the proposed comprehensive model are carried out using a hybrid time-domain integration scheme which combines a SPICE-like engine for the analysis of all circuit netlists and the nonlinear drivers incorporated in the model with a numerical integration algorithm suitable for the expedient update of the state variables in the discrete electromagnetic model for the power grid.
Mitochondrial bioenergetics and structural network organization

Mitochondria form a dynamic network, and it remains unclear how the alternate configurations interact with bioenergetics properties. The metabolic signals that link mitochondrial structure to its functional states have not been fully characterized. In this report, we analyze the bidirectional relationships between mitochondrial morphology and function in living human cells. First, we determined the effect of mitochondrial fission on energy production by using small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting DRP1, which revealed the importance of membrane fluidity on the control of bioenergetics. Second, we followed the effect of rotenone, a specific inhibitor of respiratory chain complex I, which causes large structural perturbations, once a threshold was reached. Last, we followed changes in the mitochondrial network configuration in human cells that had been treated with modulators of oxidative phosphorylation, and in fibroblasts from two patients with mitochondrial disease where the respiratory rate, ΔΨ and the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured. Our data demonstrate that the relationship between mitochondrial network organization and bioenergetics is bidirectional, and we provide a model for analyzing the metabolic signals involved in this crosstalk.
Does the halo effect still hold? The (post-) crisis perspective for the euro candidates

The euro area bond yield spreads have largely converged since the EMU creation. However, during the crisis most eurozone members reported a dramatic rise in government bond yield differentials to German bonds due to deteriorating public finance and liquidity conditions as well as increase in investors' risk aversion. This paper provides an empirical analysis of determinants of government bond yield spreads in the euro area in time of the crisis and the aftermath. It indicates the significance of countries' fiscal performance and liquidity risk in explaining the evolution of bond differentials. It also demonstrates the significant role of country perception reflected in forecasts and rating changes. Sovereign debt crisis led to a change in the perception of EMU sovereign debt market. Nowadays, euro adoption does not automatically imply the lower profitability of new EA members' bonds. The "euro area level of interest rate" does not exist anymore. It seems to be more conditional on countries' macroeconomic policy. However, on the basis of panel estimation, it turned out that in case of almost all euro-candidates the theoretical values of the EMU convergence criterion bond yields (as if they were the euro area members) would be significantly lower than the empirical ones. This suggests fiscal benefits from euro adoption might be substantial thus most countries with derogation should reassess their scale.
Skewness, Short Interest, and the Efficiency of Stock Prices

We examine the association between return skewness, short interest and the efficiency of stock prices. Since preferences for skewness have been shown to impact asset prices, we examine how skewness relates to market efficiency. We find that stocks with positive skewness are less efficient, which might be explained by investor preferences for positive skewness. Next, we document that short interest reduces both total skewness and idiosyncratic skewness. Finally, while research has shown that short selling can improve the efficiency of markets generally, we show that short interest’s ability to improve market efficiency is strongest in stocks with the highest skewness.