Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Element-free method for the computation of cutoff wavenumbers of waveguides partially filled with dielectric

Researchers have shown growing interest in mesh free methods, since they can solve partial differential equations numerically only based on a scattered set of nodes inside the analysis domain. These methods are especially attractive for problems in which re-mesh is needed. Recently, we used a mesh free method, element-free (EF) method, based on the moving least square approximation, for the analysis of homogeneous waveguides (Ooi, B.L. et al., IEE Proc. Microwaves, Antennas and Propag.). The EF method does not require laborious and time consuming mesh generation and can achieve higher accuracy than the FEM with the same number of nodes. Mesh free methods also have features like fast convergence, ease of adaptive refinement, trivial raising of the consistency order and the continuity of derivatives up to the desired order. These advantages stimulate us to expand the method for inhomogeneous waveguides. The element-free method is applied to compute the cutoff wavenumbers of waveguides partially filled with dielectric. Variational forms are used to derive the governing equations. Simulation results show that good agreements can be achieved.
Optimal decision making and matching are tied through diminishing returns

Significance Decisions critically affect the well-being of individuals and societies. However, how to suitably model, understand, and predict people’s decisions has been a long-standing challenge. Economic models view individuals as optimal decision makers who maximize their overall reward income. Psychologists and ecologists have observed that decision makers tend to use a relatively simpler “matching” strategy, distributing their behavior in proportion to relative worth of their options. This article demonstrates that matching can be an optimal strategy for decision makers when the rewards associated with their options diminish with the invested effort, a relationship known as the law of diminishing returns. Because diminishing returns are prevalent in nature and social settings, the commonly observed matching behavior is not only simple but also efficient and rational. How individuals make decisions has been a matter of long-standing debate among economists and researchers in the life sciences. In economics, subjects are viewed as optimal decision makers who maximize their overall reward income. This framework has been widely influential, but requires a complete knowledge of the reward contingencies associated with a given choice situation. Psychologists and ecologists have observed that individuals tend to use a simpler “matching” strategy, distributing their behavior in proportion to relative rewards associated with their options. This article demonstrates that the two dominant frameworks of choice behavior are linked through the law of diminishing returns. The relatively simple matching can in fact provide maximal reward when the rewards associated with decision makers’ options saturate with the invested effort. Such saturating relationships between reward and effort are hallmarks of the law of diminishing returns. Given the prevalence of diminishing returns in nature and social settings, this finding can explain why humans and animals so commonly behave according to the matching law. The article underscores the importance of the law of diminishing returns in choice behavior.
Reconocimiento de estados básicos y complejos a partir de indicios faciales y contextuales. Evaluación y optimización de procesos intelectuales implicados en la sensibilidad interpersonal

EL OBJETIVO PRINCIPAL DE LA PRESENTE TESIS ES AHONDAR EN UNA PARCELA CONCRETA DE LA COGNICION SOCIAL QUE SE CONCIBE COMO UNA HABILIDAD: EL PROCESAMIENTO Y DECODIFICACION DE LAS EXPRESIONES FACIALES. EN EL MARCO TEORICO SE REVISAN DISCIPLINAS COMO LA PSICOLOGIA EVOLUTIVA, LA PSICOLOGIA DE LA INTELIGENCIA, LA PSICOLOGIA EVOLUCIONISTA, LA NEUROPSICOLOGIA O LA PSICOPATOLOGIA Y SUS APORTACIONES AL CONOCIMIENTO DE LA INFORMACION QUE PROVIENE DEL ROSTRO. A LA LUZ DE LA LITERATURA REVISADA Y BAJO EL ENFOQUE DEL PROCESAMIENTO DE LA INFORMACION LA INVESTIGACION EMPIRICA EXAMINA A TRAVES DE DOS SOFTWARES DISENADOS ESPECIFICAMENTE LA HABILIDAD DE 312 SUJETOS ADULTOS PARA EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE UN AMPLIO RANGO DE ESTADOS AJENOS. ESTADOS BASICOS Y COMPLEJOS SE PRESENTAN EN DIFERENTES INTENSIDADES Y SE EVALUA LA HABILIDAD DE LOS SUJETOS PARA DISCRIMINARLOS AISLADAMENTE, ENMARCADOS EN UN CONTEXTO CONCRETO Y DE MANERA ESTATICA O DINAMICA. ALTERNATIVAMENTE, SE APLICA UN PROGRAMA DE ENTRENAMIENTO CON EL OBJETIVO DE OPTIMIZAR LAS HABILIDADES PARA LA DISCRIMINACION DE LOS ESTADOS TRABAJADOS. LOS RESULTADOS INDICAN QUE: A) LA HABILIDAD PARA RECONOCER LOS ESTADOS AJENOS ES UN CONSTRUCTO MULTIDIMENSIONAL DADO QUE EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE UN ESTADO NO PUEDE PREDECIRSE A TRAVES DE OTRO; B) LOS ESTADOS BASICOS SON MAS ACCESIBLES QUE LOS COMPLEJOS, TANTO POR LO QUE RESPECTA AL TIEMPO NECESARIO PARA RECONOCERLOS, COMO POR LO QUE SE REFIERE A LA EFICACIA CON LA QUE SE RECONOCEN. ASIMISMO, EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE ESTADOS BASICOS MUESTRA UNA MENOR VARIABILIDAD INTERSUJETOS, LO QUE SUGIERE UNA MAYOR DEPENDENCIA DE FACTORES INNATOS; C) EL PESO RELATIVO DEL CONTEXTO O DEL ROSTRO PARA EMITIR EL JUICIO SOBRE UN ESTADO DEPENDE DE LA INTENSIDAD EXPRESIVA DE AMBAS FUENTES, DEL TIPO CONCRETO DE ESTADO EVALUADO Y DE LA FAMILIARIDAD O HISTORIA PERSONAL DEL SUJETO ANTE EXPRESIONES SEMEJANTES; D) EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE LOS ESTADOS COMPLEJOS DEPENDE EN MAYOR MEDIDA DEL RECONOCIMIENTO DE LOS CONTEXTOS EN LOS QUE SE DESARROLLAN DICHOS ESTADOS SI LO COMPARAMOS CON EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE LOS ESTADOS BASICOS; E) LAS MEJORAS PARA EL RECONOCIMIENTO DE LAS EXPRESIONES FACIALES SE PRODUCEN TANTO DE FORMA ESPONTANEA (SIMPLE CONTACTO CON LA TAREA) COMO BAJO SITUACIONES INSTRUCCIONALES (PROGRAMA DISENADO); AUNQUE LA SITUACION DE ENTRENAMIENTO EXPLICITO SUPONE GANANCIAS SIGNIFICATIVAMENTE MAYORES Y; F) LOS MAYORES BENEFICIOS DE LA INSTRUCCION SE PRODUCEN EN LAS EXPRESIONES SUTILES DE ESTADOS COMPLEJOS Y EN LOS SUJETOS QUE PARTEN DE UN RENDIMIENTO INICIAL BAJO Y MEDIO-ALTO. LAS POSIBLES EXPLICACIONES DE DICHOS RESULTADOS SE DISCUTEN EXTENSAMENTE.
Students' sense of self-efficacy in searching information from the Web: A PLS approach

The role of self-efficacy in different task and organizational settings has largely been highlighted, especially in searching for information by web users. The current research was conducted to reemphasize the mentioned role and also to show possible relationship existing between the sense of self-efficacy and success in information searching. A survey was conducted in a sample of post-graduate students at Shahed University, Tehran, Iran. Factor analysis using Structural Equation Modeling by PLS software showed high factor loadings related to all of the items indicating goodness of fit for all of them. The scale was validated according to the structural and overall goodness of fit indicating a high quality of measuring the variable in the context studied. The results of the study reflect the importance of studying the students’ searching behavior as it is now possible to help them improve their information searching and evaluating skills, which are largely related to their sense of efficacy. The more self-efficacy they have, the more success in information searching could be expected. Designers of information systems, managers of instructional programs related to information searching, psychologists and the like could find the research results of interest in their professional operations.
MYC translocation partner gene determines survival of patients with large B‐cell lymphoma with MYC‐ or double‐hit MYC/BCL2 translocations

In large B‐cell lymphoma (LBCL) MYC‐ and MYC/BCL2 double‐hit (DH) translocations have been associated with inferior survival. We hypothesised that the negative prognostic impact of MYC translocation was determined by an immunoglobulin MYC translocation partner gene (IG‐MYC), as opposed to a non‐immunoglobulin partner gene (nonIG‐MYC). In a prospective, unselected cohort of 237 LBCL patients MYC and BCL2 translocations were identified by Flourescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) with split probes. MYC translocation partner gene was identified by IGH/MYC fusion probes and/or kappa/lambda split probes. Clinical data were collected from patient files. MYC translocation was identified in 28/225 patients. IG‐MYC translocation partner gene was identified in 12/24 patients. DH translocation was identified in 23/228 patients. IG‐MYC translocation partner gene was identified in 9/19 DH patients. Neither MYC‐nor DH translocation showed correlation with survival. However, MYC translocation with IG‐MYC translocation partner gene was associated with worse OS compared with both MYC translocation with nonIG‐MYC translocation partner gene (P = 0.02) as well as absence of MYC translocation (P = 0.03). In patients with DH a similar, however, stronger correlation was seen (P = 0.003 and P = 0.0004 respectively). MYC – or DH translocation with nonIG‐MYC translocation partner gene was not associated with worse overall survival (P = 0.2 and P = 0.3 respectively). Most patients received Rituximab (86%) and CHOP/CHOP‐like chemotherapy regimes (81%). We suggest that prognostic stratification of LBCL patients by MYC and/or DH translocations should include identification of MYC translocation partner gene because approximately half of the cases harbour nonIG‐MYC translocation partner genes with no or minor influence on survival.
The impact of economic resources on premarital childbearing and subsequent marriage among young American women

This paper extends previous work on premarital childbearing by modeling both the entry rates and the exit rates of unwed motherhood among young American women. In particular, I investigate the impact of economic resources on the likelihood of experiencing a premarital birth and then of subsequent marriage. Using a multiple-destination, multiple-spell hazard regression model and a microsimulation analysis, I analyze the accumulating effects of various economic variables. The results show that the economic resources are indeed important both for premarital childbearing and for subsequent marriage. However, the simulations show that large changes in these economic variables do not necessarily translate into large changes in nonmarital childbearing.
Equol-Producer and O-DMA – Producer Phenotypes : Relevance to Human Health

The indigenous intestinal microflora are involved in a variety of processes within the human body, and are important for maintaining host health. As such, interindividual differences in the ability to harbor certain intestinal bacteria might be associated with interindividual differences in health and/or disease susceptibility. In the last decade there has been considerable interest in phytoestrogen intakes in relation to human health. Daidzein, an isoflavone phytoestrogen found in soy, is metabolized to equol and O-desmethylangolensin (ODMA) by intestinal bacteria. The specific bacterium/bacteria responsible for equol and O-DMA production in humans have yet to be identified definitively, but in vitro and animal studies have suggested that equol and O-DMA are more biologically active than their precursor daidzein. Interestingly, substantial interindividual differences in daidzein metabolism exist; following soy or daidzein consumption, approximately 30%–50% of the human population produce equol, and approximately 80%– 90% produce O-DMA. Observational and intervention studies in humans have suggested that the ability to produce equol and ODMA may be associated with reduced risk of certain diseases including breast and prostate cancers. However, relatively few studies have been conducted to date. In this review, we discuss the available evidence for a relationship between daidzeinmetabolizing phenotypes and human health, and suggest potential mechanisms for some of the reported relationships. Exp Biol Med 230;155–170, 2005
Electrophysiological properties of human oviduct smooth muscle cells in dissociated cell culture

Intracellular recordings were made from human oviduct smooth muscle maintained in cell culture. Solitary cells isolated from one another and cells in contact with one another retained electrical properties of smooth muscle in vivo. Membrane potential of solitary cells and connected cells was −35 mV. Connected cells formed electrotonic junctions which transmitted current from one cell to another. This current spread was responsible for differences in input resistance and time constant in solitary cells, 66 MΩ and 96 msec, compared to connected cells, 26 MΩ and 56 msec. All cells expressed delayed rectification to depolarizing current pulses. Some cells generated action potentials spontaneously or in response to intracellular current puleses. Action potentials were abolished by cobalt or by EGTA. Slow wave potentials, 5‐20 mV in amplitude, occurred continuously once every 15 to 45 seconds in connected cells.
Strengths-Oriented Therapeutic Conversations for Families of Children With Chronic Illnesses

Psychosocial services have been recommended for families of children with chronic illnesses to assist them in adjusting to the illness experience. However, little is known about the benefit of psychosocial interventions in clinical practice. This study aimed at evaluating the benefits of a two-session family therapeutic conversation intervention (FAM-TCIs) for families of children diagnosed with asthma, cancer, or diabetes. A secondary data analysis was conducted on intervention data from 37 families of children with chronic illnesses. Mothers of the children/teenagers perceived significantly higher family support after the FAM-TCI compared with before; mothers reported significantly higher collaboration and problem-solving abilities on the expressive family functioning scale after the FAM-TCI. However, no significant differences were found on the fathers’ perceived family support nor on their expressive family functioning after the FAM-TCI compared with that before the intervention. It is promising that mothers of children with chronic illness perceived the two-session FAM-TCI to be beneficial to them. More attention should be paid to psychosocial interventions for families of children with chronic illnesses.
Sleep characteristics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in patients with preserved diaphragmatic function

There are a number of sleep studies in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), in general including a heterogeneous population of patients. We aimed to study sleep in a population of selected ALS patients by investigating nocturnal polysomnography (PSG) characteristics in ALS patients with normal respiratory function tests and preserved diaphragmatic innervation. Ninety‐two ALS patients were screened by percutaneous nocturnal oximetry (PNO). Eleven ALS patients with normal respiratory function tests, phrenic motor responses and preserved motor units on needle electromyography of the diaphragm, but abnormal PNO, were selected for PSG. REM was present in eight patients, but normal in only three. Three patients had mixed apnoea‐hypopnoea, severe in one. Seven showed a pattern of periodic mild O2 desaturation, which occurred in REM 3, REM and NREM 3 and in NREM sleep 1. One patient studied six months later had more severe changes in the second evaluation. In conclusion, the most common sleep disordered breathing was periodic mild O2 desaturation independent of the sleep stage (REM, NREM). This might represent central drive dysfunction or respiratory muscle fatigue in ALS.
Immunoexpression of villin in neuroendocrine tumors and its diagnostic implications.

BACKGROUND Villin, a 95-kd cytoskeletal protein associated with axial microfilament bundles of brush border microvilli, is mostly restricted to intestinal glandular tumors. Villin immunoexpression was recently observed in a small number of carcinoids of the intestinal tract and lung, but its significance in a broad category of neuroendocrine tumors has not been evaluated. DESIGN A total of 114 neuroendocrine tumors of different origins were tested for villin expression. They included gastrointestinal carcinoids (n = 30), lung carcinoids (n = 15), small cell carcinomas of the lung (n = 24), small cell carcinomas of other sites (n = 15), islet cell tumors (n = 8), Merkel cell carcinomas (n = 6), paragangliomas (n = 6), and others (n = 10). Nine round cell sarcomas were tested as well. RESULTS Villin immunoreactivity was present in 85% of gastrointestinal carcinoids and small cell carcinomas, but was found in only 40% of lung carcinoids. Other tumors tested were virtually negative for villin. In general, while cytoplasmic reactivity was most common, a characteristic apical membranous pattern simulating brush border was seen in 76% of the gastrointestinal carcinoids and in 50% of the lung carcinoids. CONCLUSIONS We found that villin was predominantly restricted to gastrointestinal neuroendocrine tumors (excluding islet cell tumors), although a small number of bronchial carcinoids may be positive as well. These results suggest a role for villin in the differential diagnosis of neuroendocrine tumors.
Rediscovering the value of the journal club.

pharmacotherapeutics are always evolving. Transferring research-based knowledge into practice is an essential element of ensuring that patient care is based on scientific principles. Evaluating research for utilization in clinical practice involves more than simply reading research. The critical review of clinical research relevant to critical care nursing practice is fundamental if we are to promote an evidence-based practice framework for nursing care. This issue of the American Journal of Critical Care debuts a new feature, the AJCC Journal Club. Each issue of the journal will now feature an AJCC Journal Club article with a Web site link that provides questions and discussion points to stimulate a journal club discussion in which participants can evaluate new research and its applicability to clinical nursing practice. We encourage critical care nurses to use the AJCC Journal Club to assist them in critically analyzing research to promote a better understanding of the research process and to advocate evidence-based nursing practice.
Sandimmune® to neoral® conversion and value of abbreviated AUC monitoring in stable pediatric kidney transplant recipients

Abstract: Neoral® is a new microemulsion formulation of cyclosporin A (CsA) that has been reported to have better absorption characteristics than sandimmune®. We converted 25 long‐term pediatric renal transplant recipients with a mean age of 14.1 yr and a mean follow‐up period of 6.4 yr from sandimmune (SIM) to neoral (NEO) on a 1 : 1 basis. The mean dosage of SIM or NEO required to maintain ‘therapeutic range’ steady‐state trough levels between 100 and 200 ng/mL was similar. We compared 6‐h CsA pharmacokinetic profiles taken approximately 6 months after the conversion to NEO with the previous SIM profiles of the same patients. Generally, in the NEO profiles the time to reach the maximum concentration was shorter and the maximum concentration was higher, showing a rapid decline towards the trough‐level when compared to the previous SIM profiles. During intake of NEO the AUC0–12 h in the 12‐h profiles correlates strongly with the AUC0–6 h in the 6‐h profiles (r = 0.98), a similar finding to that which we reported previously for SIM. The median AUC0–6 h for NEO demonstrates a 70% increase compared to the median AUC0–6 h for SIM. Despite the increased drug exposure NEO was well tolerated and did not cause any apparent toxicity within the first 6 months after conversion. The CsA blood level 2 h after intake of NEO showed a higher correlation with the AUC0–12 h (r = 0.91) than the trough level (r = 0.64). The abbreviated profile based on three early sampling points and calculated by AUCPRED= 335.9 + 1.1*(C1) + 1.1*(C2) + 5.4*(C4) correlated well with the full AUC (r2 = 0.98, p < 0.0001). Mean prediction error (±SD) was 0.16% (±4.32), and in no patients did the calculated values fall outside the 10% prediction error limit. We therefore conclude that NEO exhibits a higher bioavailability in children compared to SIM without causing apparent toxicity. Monitoring of the C2 might be a better alternative for trough level monitoring in daily clinical practice. A strategy of three early sampling points (C1, C2 and C4) allows a reliable AUC0–12 h prediction and can reduce the length of observation, making it a useful and cost‐effective tool in clinical practice.
Evaluation of Meiofauna in the Hyporheic Zone of the Beberibe River, Pernambuco, Brazil

The hyporheic environment is composed of a rich meiofauna that depends on water flow, organic matter, and oxygen. The concentration of meiofauna varies spatially (horizontal and vertical) and temporally. Several processes occur at this interface (groundwater and surface water), including biogeochemical processes involving meiofauna. A study of the hyporheic meiofauna community in the sediments of the Beberibe River, in Brazil, was conducted. Meiofauna attained peak densities of 942.8 organisms/10 cm2, with organisms distributed over six taxa, with 98% of them represented by rotifers, nematodes, and annelids. Density was higher in the dry season with an average of 653.1 organisms/10 cm2, and in more superficial sediments with an average of 739.6 organisms/10 cm2. Greater densities were found in coarser sediment with a higher percentage of organic matter. A river bank filtration (RBF) pilot project has been installed, with good results in the attenuation of contaminants and pathogens.
GROWTH OF TUMORS IN ALLOGENEIC HOSTS FOLLOWING ORGAN CULTURE EXPLANTATION

Five Leydig cell tumors from BALB/c mice and 2 mammary gland tumors, one of C3H and the other of (C3H x A)Fz origin, have manifested progressive growth in untreated allogeneic DBA/1 hosts following a 6–28-day maintenance period in vitro by the organ culture explantation technique. Noncultured control implants of these same tumors failed to grow in similar recipients. In addition, a mammary tumor of DBA/1 origin showed delayed rejection in BALB/c recipients following organ culture maintenance. Three rat tumors also have grown in allogeneic recipients following a single organ culture passage. Four of the Leydig cell tumors now have been passed serially through DBA/1 hosts, and one of these for as many as 12 transfer generations. These tumors maintain their ability to grow in BALB/c mice and after being returned to this strain for one passage lose their ability to grow in allogeneic DBA/1 hosts. Thus, it is concluded that the maintenance in vitro repressed or reduced the antigenicity of these tumors and that this effect was reversed by a single passage back into the isogeneic strain. After culture these tumors maintain their morphologic and functional characteristics in both the isogeneic and allogeneic recipients.
Thyroid disease in Trinidad.

There is considerable geographical variation in the pattern of thyroid disease '-• The identification of a malignant goitre amidst numerous benign or apparently benign goitres has always been a problem facing the surgeon and surgical treatment is often necessary to exclude malignancy. Thyroid disease is common in Trinidad, our pathology department receiving about two surgical specimens each week. In spite of this there is no report on the pattern of thyroid pathology in the island. The purpose of this study is to document the pattern of thyroid disease in Trinidad.