Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Does fluoxetine exacerbate Parkinson's disease?

BACKGROUND Because fluoxetine may be associated with an induction or exacerbation of parkinsonism, caution has been suggested when considering fluoxetine as an antidepressant for patients with Parkinson's disease. METHOD We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 23 outpatients with Parkinson's disease who were receiving or had received fluoxetine. One author evaluated all patients using the Northwestern University Disability Scale for scoring parkinsonism. Rather than employing a formal depression scale, we assessed depression globally. Concurrent medications were permitted. RESULTS Twenty of the 23 patients experienced no worsening of parkinsonism while being treated with up to 40 mg of fluoxetine per day. The other 3 patients' parkinsonism worsened to a mild degree: a 74-year-old man experienced an increase in akinesia, tremor, and rigidity; a 77-year-old man experienced a slight worsening in tremor and rigidity; and a 56-year-old man experienced a decline in gait and akinesia. It was unclear if these declines, which were neither acute nor severe, were due to fluoxetine treatment or the progression of the disease. Signs of parkinsonism in 2 patients appeared to improve during fluoxetine treatment. CONCLUSION Fluoxetine, in doses up to 40 mg/day, does not appear to be associated with exacerbations of parkinsonian signs and symptoms in outpatients with Parkinson's disease. Further investigation of fluoxetine for the treatment of depression in patients with Parkinson's disease is warranted.
Wearable-Assisted Localization and Inspection Guidance System Using Egocentric Stereo Cameras

As industrial inspection and maintenance tasks in outdoor working environments are increasingly complex and flexible, wearable assistive system (WAS) has shown promising prospects, especially when the tasks are infrequent and unfamiliar to workers. Such tasks require more accurate and global ego-localization than using GPS. In this paper, a wearable-assisted navigation system is proposed for task-specific route guidance. This paper proposes to learn a global metric-topological abstract map of outdoor workspace using the combination of stereo cameras and inertial measurement units. An extended stereo visual simultaneous localization and mapping approach is proposed with optimization that deals with cross-session loop-closure detection and pose rectification for bounding estimation error as well as aligning the positions to global world frame. Thus, the system allows building and using globally consistent maps across sessions. A prototype of WAS is developed in which the augmentations of guidance are delivered to users via an optical see-through display. The system is evaluated by experiments designed as on-site inspection scenarios and the results validate the practicability and effectiveness of the system.
Shale Stability: Drilling Fluid Interaction and Shale Strength

This paper presents main results of a shale stability study, related to the understanding of shale/ fluid interaction mechanisms, and discusses shale strength correlation. The major shale/ fluid interaction mechanisms: Capillary, osmosis, hydraulic, swelling and pressure diffusion, and recent experimental results are discussed. Factors affecting the shale strength are discussed, and a sonic compressional velocity-log based correlation for strength is proposed. Recommendations for modeling and improving shale stability are described, based on the current understanding of shale stability.
Design of reduced complexity feedback precoding for MIMO‐OFDM

Beamforming technique is applied to significantly increase the performance of a MIMO system, if the channel information (CI) of the communication system is available at the transmitter. For the transmitter to obtain the entire CI, however, a considerable reverse‐link bandwidth is required. To save the bandwidth, a limited‐rate closed‐loop system, therefore, uses a predetermined codebook which is derived from the CI. The codebook consists of a finite number of precoders out of which the index of the best one is transmitted from the receiver to the transmitter using only a few bits saving substantial bandwidth. However, the amount of bits that need to be fed back can still be significantly large for MIMO‐OFDM systems when the precoding matrix index (PMI) for each subcarrier should be transmitted. Such per‐subcarrier precoding scheme has high feedback overhead and also incurs huge computational cost to determine the best PMI for each subcarrier. We, therefore, propose a per‐band precoding scheme that precodes a band (group) of subcarriers by only one precoder. More importantly, we develop, for the proposed per‐band scheme, reduced‐complexity precoding selection methods that lead to the design of efficient receivers. The effectiveness of the proposed scheme is investigated through computer simulations. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How Should Research Performance Be Measured? A Study of Swedish Economists

The increased international exchange and competition in modern economics research has boosted the demand for objective and internationally comparable evaluations of institutions and individual researchers. There exist several plausible measures of research performance, each capturing one or several relevant aspects, but none of them can be argued to suffice as the sole vehicle for the ranking and valuation of output. Using a sample of the whole population of full professors of economics in one country (Sweden) we explore how the use of different measures influence outcomes in terms of the skewness and ranking of individual performances. We find large differences across all measures, but some deviate more than others. In particular, the journal ranking of Kalaitzidakis et al. 2003 (KMS), which was endorsed by the European Economic Association and has been extremely influential especially in Europe, appears to be an outlier among the available measures. Its distribution of performances is the most skewed, and its ranking of scholars corresponds the least with the rankings of the other measures. Hence, relying on one single metric of research quality, especially one that is as extreme as KMS, is associated with a great risk given that researchers tend to adjust behavior in order to maximize the assessed relative and absolute value of their work.
Pharmacological Monotherapy versus Renal Artery Denervation in Controlled Hypertensive Patients

Aim: The aim of this prospective observational non-inferiority study was to compare the capacity for control of essential hypertension between renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) and either angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). Methods and results : Seventy-four previously controlled essential hypertensive patients on ACEI/ARB monotherapy were evaluated; eleven patients agreed to proceed with RSD and had their antihypertensive agent withdrawn on the day of the procedure. During the six months of follow-up, there was no significant change in mean 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure measurements (ABPM) from baseline to three and sixmonths in the ACEI/ARB group (118±8/80±3 vs. 116±8/79±3 and 115±8/79±4 mmHg, respectively). No change was also observed in the RSD group (117±8/81±2 vs. 115±6/80±2 and 114±7/79±3 mmHg, respectively). There were no differences between groups at interval time points. There were also no changes in renal function or echocardiographic parameters, during follow-up. Conclusions: For the first time, this study reports possible non-inferiority of RSD when compared to ACEI or ARB monotherapy in the control of essential hypertension. A randomized trial with appropriate concealment of treatment, more patients and an extended follow-up period is needed to evaluate the potential benefits of RSD in comparison to ACEI/ARB use in patients with controlled hypertension.
Phenylalanine lowers melanin synthesis in mammalian melanocytes by reducing tyrosine uptake: implications for pigment reduction in phenylketonuria.

The effect of phenylalanine on melanogenesis was studied in the RPMI-3460 hamster melanoma cell line. L-phenylalanine was a relatively weak competitive inhibitor of the tyrosinase activity in pigment cell homogenates but D-phenylalanine did not affect this tyrosinase activity. In vivo , 10mM L- or D-phenylalanine inhibited the incorporation of labeled tyrosine into melanin. Since phenylalanine reduced the size of the acid-soluble intracellular tyrosine pool relative to controls, this reduction is proposed as the cause of the diminished incorporation of tyrosine into melanin. In addition, melanin synthesis generated from endogenous tyrosine, in the absence of tyrosine in the culture medium, was not affected by the presence of L- or D-phenylalanine. Phenylalanine-related depression of melanin synthesis in cell culture therefore, was not caused by inhibition of tyrosinase activity, but by restriction of tyrosine uptake by phenylalanine. The results with this mammalian cell model suggest that the pathologic phenylalanine:tyrosine imbalance found in phenylketonuria (PKU) may cause a reduction of melanin synthesis in hair follicles and normally pigmented areas of the brain by affecting uptake of tyrosine by melanocytes. The reduced pigmentation in PKU is more likely to be caused by reduced serum tyrosine levels and by competition for tyrosine uptake with phenylalanine than by phenylalanine inhibition of tyrosinase activity.
Better than treated as usual: Transcranial magnetic stimulation augmentation in selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor-refractory obsessive–compulsive disorder, mini-review and pilot open-label trial

Objective: 1 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over the supplementary motor area has been shown to be effective in a subset of obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) subjects, yet these results are still to be confirmed. This preliminary study compares the efficacy of augmentation with 1 Hz rTMS over the supplementary motor area and the usual augmentation treatment (TAU; treated as usual) with antipsychotics in a sample of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI)-refractory OCD patients. Method: Fifty SSRI-refractory OCD patients consecutively admitted were studied: 25 were treated with a three-week trial of 1Hz, bilateral rTMS over the supplementary motor area and 25 with antipsychotic drugs. Yale–Brown Obsessive–Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS; primary outcome measure), Hamilton Depression and Hamilton Anxiety scales were administered at first, second and third week of treatment. Results: Y-BOCS showed a statistically significant time effect from the baseline to the third week, with a 68% of responders (Y-BOCS score reduction of ⩾ 25%), in comparison with 24.0% in the TAU group. In the rTMS group, 17.6% of patients achieved remission. Conclusions: 1 Hz rTMS over the supplementary motor area appeared to be effective in approximately 2/3 of SSRI-refractory OCD subjects, whereas in the TAU group only 1/4 of subjects were responders. The supplementary motor area might be a new target area to be further explored with neuromodulation for OCD treatment.
Memory-Influenced Biases in Gymnastic Judging Occur across Different Prior Processing Conditions

Memories based on previous encounters with stimuli can interact with newly perceived information and lead to biasedjudgments. Such memory biases have been shown to affect a number ofjudgment processes, such as professional judgments in an auditing firm or law firm (Ricchiute, 1997) as well as social judgments related to the maintenance ofstereotypes (Fyock & Stangor, 1994). The memory bias ofinterest in this research is that shown in gymnasticjudging (Ste-Marie & Lee, 1991; Ste-Marie & Valiquette, 1996). Ste-Marie and Lee (1991) tested whether gymnastic judges' perceptual judgments on skill execution could be affected by prior exposure to a gymnast's performance. To do so, a three-phase experimental design was created to mimic the warm-uplcompetition conditions ofa gymnastic competition. The first phase (study phase) simulated the warm-up, and the perceptual test phase that followed was akin to the competition performance. A recognition test phase was also included to investigate theoretical issues regarding possible dissociations ofmemory. Investigating dissociations in memory is widely used to elucidate the distinctions between different forms of memory. While researchers use a variety of nomenclature to identity these distinctions, such as explicit versus implicit memory (e.g., Hamann & Squire, 1996) or declarative versus nondeclarative (e.g., Postle & Corkin, 1998), dissociations are identified using similar methods. Disso-
Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction and joint dynamics during stair climbing.

Athletes with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) deficiencies exert decreased knee extension moments during level walking (quadriceps avoidance gait), and yet within a few months of ACL reconstruction they are often expected to return to competitive sport. To investigate this issue further, 10 normal subjects and seven ACL deficient patients were evaluated both pre- and post-operatively (mean follow-up of 6 months), and each performed multiple trials ascending a staircase which consisted of three steps. Bilateral joint angles, moments, powers, and work were measured and the data were ensemble averaged and statistically analyzed (repeated measures ANOVA with significance level set at 0.05). Anterior-posterior knee laxity decreased significantly (from 7.9 mm to 5.8 mm) while subjective knee function also improved following ACL reconstruction (knee score increased from 70.4 to 88.5). Pre-operatively, there were no statistically significant differences in biomechanical parameters between the patients' ACL-deficient and intact sides and the normal subjects. Post-operatively, however, statistically significant reductions were seen for the peak moment (91.9 vs 22.5 Nm), power (181 vs 84 W), and work performed (28.0 vs -5.6 J) at the injured knee, which was also the knee from which the patellar tendon graft had been harvested. These reductions were accommodated by significant increases in excursion, moment, and power at the contralateral ankle joint. The results indicate that while the ACL reconstruction were successful in restoring anterior-posterior knee stability, the decrease in knee power and work performed post-operatively by the injured (i.e., donor) knee suggests that donor site morbidity may need to be critically evaluated over a long-term period.
Childhood Separation Anxiety and Separation Events in Women with Agoraphobia with or without Panic Disorder

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the association between separation anxiety and actual separation events during childhood in adult patients with agoraphobia with or without panic disorder (PD). Method: Forty-two women with agoraphobia with or without PD participated in long-term follow-ups after exposure-in-vivo treatment. We assessed separation anxiety and separation events from age 0 to 18 years, as well as adult separation from a spouse. Results: Childhood separation experiences (55%) and separation anxiety were significantly higher in patients than in healthy subjects, but both conditions were not associated with each other. Childhood separation anxiety was related to adult separation events. Conclusions: Retrospective measures of childhood separation anxiety appear to be confounded by adult separation events. Thus the conclusion of whether childhood anxiety is a consequence of actual childhood separation events cannot be drawn, owing to a lacking association between both ratings.
Anaplastic Oligodendroglial Tumors: Refining the Correlation among Histopathology, 1p 19q Deletion and Clinical Outcome in Intergroup Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Trial 9402

Intergroup Radiation Therapy Oncology Group Trial 9402 study, a phase III trial of chemotherapy plus radiotherapy (PCV‐plus‐RT) vs. radiotherapy alone for pure and mixed anaplastic oligodendroglioma confirmed the prognostic significance of 1p 19q deletion and showed that only progression‐free survival (PFS) was prolonged in PCV‐plus‐RT‐treated patients and only in association with 1p 19q deletion. We reviewed tumor histopathology, separating 115 tumors deemed to be classic for oligodendroglioma (CFO) from 132 lacking classic features of oligodendroglioma (NCFO) and evaluated the relationship of histopathology and 1p 19q status to treatment and outcome. The study disclosed: (i) overall survival (OS) of patients with CFO was significantly longer than for patients with NCFO (P < 0.0001) and was not affected by necrosis. Median OS for CFO patients with and without necrosis was 6.6 and 6.3 years (OS log‐rank P = not significant), respectively, in contrast to NCFO showing 1.9 and 3.3 years respectively (OS log‐rank P = 0.014). (ii) Classic oligodendroglial morphology was highly associated with 1p 19q deletion, present in 80% of CFO and only in 13% of NCFO. (iii) On multivariate analysis, both classic oligodendroglial morphology and 1p 19q deletion remained significantly associated with PFS and OS. (iv) Patients with CFO treated with PCV‐plus‐RT showed a trend toward increased survival compared with CFO treated with RT (P = 0.08). Median OS was not reached in the PCV‐plus‐RT group and was 6.3 years in RT group. These findings suggest that classic oligodendroglial morphology combined with 1p 19q deletion may in the future be predictive of chemotherapeutic response and survival.
Locomotor performance of cane toads differs between native-range and invasive populations

Invasive species provide a robust opportunity to evaluate how animals deal with novel environmental challenges. Shifts in locomotor performance—and thus the ability to disperse—(and especially, the degree to which it is constrained by thermal and hydric extremes) are of special importance, because they might affect the rate that an invader can spread. We studied cane toads (Rhinella marina) across a broad geographical range: two populations within the species' native range in Brazil, two invasive populations on the island of Hawai'i and eight invasive populations encompassing the eastern, western and southern limits of the toad invasion in Australia. A toad's locomotor performance on a circular raceway was strongly affected by both its temperature and its hydration state, but the nature and magnitude of those constraints differed across populations. In their native range, cane toads exhibited relatively low performance (even under optimal test conditions) and a rapid decrease in performance at lower temperatures and hydration levels. At the other extreme, performance was high in toads from southern Australia, and virtually unaffected by desiccation. Hawai'ian toads broadly resembled their Brazilian conspecifics, plausibly reflecting similar climatic conditions. The invasion of Australia has been accompanied by a dramatic enhancement in the toads' locomotor abilities, and (in some populations) by an ability to maintain locomotor performance even when the animal is cold and/or dehydrated. The geographical divergences in performance among cane toad populations graphically attest to the adaptability of invasive species in the face of novel abiotic challenges.
A new family of 2-D wavelength-time codes for optical CDMA with differential detection

We develop a new family of high-weight two-dimensional wavelength-time codes for optical code-division multiple-access (OCDMA) that takes advantage of the antipodal signaling enabled by differential detection and uses relaxed auto- and cross-correlation constraints. We analyze the performance of the proposed codes and examine how the code size and correlation properties affect two important system parameters, namely the maximum number of codes that can be generated and the bit error rate as a function of the number of active users. We also show that this new family of codes can be used to implement high-performance OCDMA systems when combined with forward error correction coding: a system with 32 wavelengths and 41 time chips operating at OC-3 transmission rates (155.52 Mb/s) can support an aggregate throughput of /spl ap/41 Gb/s.
Urban and rural differences in characteristics of ovarian cancer patients.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was evaluation of the urban and rural differences in ovarian cancer patients' characteristics at the moment of diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study comprised women with ovarian cancer diagnosed and treated in the Division of Gynecological Surgery of Poznan University of Medical Sciences between 2004-2011. The patients were divided into 3 groups based on their place of residence: 1) patients residing in large cities (over 50,000 people), 2) inhabitants of small towns (below 50,000 people), 3) women from rural areas. RESULTS Among the studied groups of patients no differences were found in the FIGO stage at diagnosis (p=0.453), histological grade of the tumour (p=0.916), histopathological types of ovarian neoplasms (p=0.431), median tumour volume (p=0.855), presence of fluid in the pouch of Douglas (p=0.872). Women with ovarian cancer residing in large cities had lower median parity (p=0.0005), higher education level status (p=0.0001), and experienced menarche at an earlier age (p=0.039). There were no differences in the use of oral contraception (p=0.93) and body mass index (p=0.23) between the women included in the study. CONCLUSIONS There were no differences in advancement of ovarian cancer at the moment of diagnosis or in tumour type and size between women residing large cities, small towns and rural areas. Several ovarian cancer risk factors were more common among ovarian cancer patients living in urbanized areas.
Factors Influencing the Successful Adoption of Human Resource Information System: The Content of Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority

This study examines the key factors that have impact on the successful adoption of Human Resource Information System (HRIS) within the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA)/Jordan. In order to accomplish the purpose of the study four critical factors are inquired. So, four critical factors are inquired: First, TAM Model (Perceived Ease of Use (PEOU) and Perceived Usefulness (PU)). Second, Information Technology Infrastructure (ITI). Third, Top Management Support (TMS). Finally, Individual Experience with Computer (IEC). The research model was applied to collect data from the questionnaires answered by 45 users of HRIS as a source of primary data, based on a convenience sample the response rate was about 91%. In addition, the results were analyzed by utilizing the Statistical Package for Social Software (SPSS). Furthermore, the findings were analyzed; multiple Regression analysis indicated that all research variables have significant relationship on successful adoption of HRIS. The findings indicated IT infrastructures have a positive and significant effect on the successful adoption of HRIS. But there is no significant of PU, PEOU, TMS, and IEC on the successful adoption of HRIS. Finally, the results indicated that no significant statistical differences of demographic characteristics on HRIS adoption. Depending on the research’s findings; the researchers proposed a set of recommendations for better adoption of HRIS in SEZA.