Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Parental depressive symptoms, children’s emotional and behavioural problems, and parents’ expressed emotion—Critical and positive comments

This longitudinal study examined whether mothers’ and fathers’ depressive symptoms predict, independently and interactively, children’s emotional and behavioural problems. It also examined bi-directional associations between parents’ expressed emotion constituents (parents’ child-directed positive and critical comments) and children’s emotional and behavioural problems. At time 1, the sample consisted of 160 families in which 50 mothers and 40 fathers had depression according to the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV. Children’s mean age at Time 1 was 3.9 years (SD = 0.8). Families (n = 106) were followed up approximately 16 months later (Time 2). Expressed emotion constituents were assessed using the Preschool Five Minute Speech Sample. In total, 144 mothers and 158 fathers at Time 1 and 93 mothers and 105 fathers at Time 2 provided speech samples. Fathers’ depressive symptoms were concurrently associated with more child emotional problems when mothers had higher levels of depressive symptoms. When controlling for important confounders (children’s gender, baseline problems, mothers’ depressive symptoms and parents’ education and age), fathers’ depressive symptoms independently predicted higher levels of emotional and behavioural problems in their children over time. There was limited evidence for a bi-directional relationship between fathers’ positive comments and change in children’s behavioural problems over time. Unexpectedly, there were no bi-directional associations between parents’ critical comments and children’s outcomes. We conclude that the study provides evidence to support a whole family approach to prevention and intervention strategies for children’s mental health and parental depression.
Corona aging and hydrophobicity of surface fluorinated silicone rubbers

We have reported that hydrophobicity of silicone rubber (SIR) can be significantly enhanced by direct fluorination. In this work, surface fluorinated SIR samples, together with the unfluorinated (virgin) ones were corona treated using a multi-needle-to-plate electrode system, to further evaluate corona resistance of the fluorinated SIR layer. ATR-IR analyses suggest that there may be oxidation of the partially fluorinated methyl groups and cleavage of Si-C bonds during the corona treatment, but the cleavage led to formation of Si-F bonds rather than Si-OH bonds. SEM surface and cross section images show that the corona treatment did not change the fluorinated layer thickness, although surface morphology was changed to some degree. In contrast with this, the virgin surface layer was severely degraded or ablated, forming a degraded layer on which aggregates of silica particles and/or degradation products of the SIR matrix material were left. Measurements of water contact angle and surface potential decay further confirm good resistance of the fluorinated layer to corona discharge.
Consumer electronics control system based on hand gesture moment invariants

Almost all consumer electronic equipment today uses remote controls for user interfaces. However, the variety of physical shapes and functional commands that each remote control features also raises numerous problems: the difficulties in locating the required remote control, the confusion with the button layout, the replacement issue and so on. The consumer electronics control system using hand gestures is a new innovative user interface that resolves the complications of using numerous remote controls for domestic appliances. Based on one unified set of hand gestures, this system interprets the user hand gestures into pre-defined commands to control one or many devices simultaneously. The system has been tested and verified under both incandescent and fluorescent lighting conditions. The experimental results are very encouraging as the system produces real-time responses and highly accurate recognition towards various gestures.
Measuring and Examining the Relevance of Discretionary Corporate Social Responsibility in Tourism

This article investigates the implementation of environmentally focused discretionary corporate social responsibility (CSR) within the U.K. conference sector. A new framework is proposed that organizes and communicates information detailing business performance regarding 10 environmental policy initiatives (expressed by the acronym GREENER) using a CSR response scale (expressed by the acronym VENUE). This GREENER VENUE framework fills a void in the CSR literature by focusing on discretionary practices, by exhibiting psychometric and conceptual properties enabling its application within a multitude of contexts. Grounded in theory, the framework is simple to implement, practical, easily understandable, and highly relatable. Applying the GREENER VENUE framework to data collected via a self-administered Internet questionnaire of the U.K. conference sector reveals the majority of conference venues are classified as Eager. The study also examines the efficacy of the proposed framework toward influencing U.K. venues’ performance on a range of environmentally friendly best practices relative to environmental accreditation.
Experimental characterization of solid particle transport by slug flow using Particle Image Velocimetry

This paper presents an experimental study of gas-liquid slug flow on solid particle transport inside a horizontal pipe with two types of experiments conducted. The influence of slug length on solid particle transportation is characterized using high speed photography. Using combined Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) with Refractive Index Matching (RIM) and fluorescent tracers (two-phase oil-air loop) the velocity distribution inside the slug body is measured. Combining these experimental analyses, an insight is provided into the physical mechanism of solid particle transportation due to slug flow. It was observed that the slug body significantly influences solid particle mobility. The physical mechanism of solid particle transportation was found to be discontinuous. The inactive region (in terms of solid particle transport) upstream of the slug nose was quantified as a function of gas-liquid composition and solid particle size. Measured velocity distributions showed a significant drop in velocity magnitude immediately upstream of the slug nose and therefore the critical velocity for solid particle lifting is reached further upstream.
Code constrained CMA-based multirate multiuser detection

In this paper, a constant modulus algorithm (CMA) based multiuser detector is proposed for multirate communications over unknown multipath channels. We impose multiple linear constraints on the detector to guarantee no cancellation of the desired signal, while suppressing the intersymbol interference (ISI) and multiuser interference (MUI). The constraint parameters can be either pre-selected or jointly optimized with the detector. Under certain conditions on the constraints, the proposed algorithm enjoys global convergence.
Role of Equatorial Pacific SST forecast error in the late winter California precipitation forecast for the 2015/16 El Niño

AbstractDuring the strong 2015/16 El Nino, only normal-to-below average precipitation fell across California in the late winter. This disagrees with both predictions by the ensemble mean of forecast models and expectations for strong El Ninos. We examine one of the possible reasons why this event did not bring expected precipitation to California in the late winter. The maximum equatorial Pacific sea surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) were located, compared to the 1982/83 and 1997/98 strong El Ninos, further to the west in the 2015/16 winter, which possibly caused less convection in the eastern tropical Pacific and shifted the teleconnection patterns westward in the North Pacific, thus weakening the influences on California. The SSTA and precipitation forecast for February-March-April 2016 based on the North America Multi-Model Ensemble showed large discrepancies from observations with the ensemble mean of most of the models overestimating SSTA in the eastern tropical Pacific and California precipitatio.
Finger Somatotopy in Human Motor Cortex

Although qualitative reports about somatotopic representation of fingers in the human motor cortex exist, up to now no study could provide clear statistical evidence. The goal of the present study was to reinvestigate finger motor somatotopy by means of a thorough investigation of standardized movements of the index and little finger of the right hand. Using high resolution fMRI at 3 Tesla, blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) responses in a group of 26 subjects were repeatedly measured to achieve reliable statistical results. The center of mass of all activated voxels within the primary motor cortex was calculated for each finger and each run. Results of all runs were averaged to yield an individual index and little finger representation for each subject. The mean center of mass localizations for all subjects were then submitted to a paired t test. Results show a highly significant though small scale somatotopy of fingerspecific activation patterns in the order indicated by Penfields motor homunculus. In addition, considerable overlap of finger specific BOLD responses was found. Comparing various methods of analysis, the mean center of mass distance for the two fingers was 2--3 mm with overlapping voxels included and 4--5 mm with overlapping voxels excluded. Our data may be best understood in the context of the work of Schieber (1999) who recently described overlapping somatotopic gradients in lesion studies with humans.
What Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia Affect Caregiver Burnout?

ABSTRACT Objectives: Patients’ irritability and aggression have been linked to caregiver depression, but the behaviors that most burden caregivers are not yet definitively identified. This study examines the connection between behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) and the burnout of caregivers caring for home-dwelling elders with dementia symptoms in Japan. Methods: 80 Japanese rural and urban family caregivers completed detailed questionnaires about their experiences in caring for demented family members. We statistically analyzed the results for correlations between types of dementia, Pines Burnout, and Caregiver Distress. Results: BPSD symptom severity significantly correlated with caregiver distress. The dementia symptoms most strongly correlated with caregiver burnout were: aggression, irritability, abnormal motor behavior, and hallucinations. Conclusions: Among the commonest symptoms, apathy, anxiety, and depression did not seriously aggravate caregiver burnout. Caregivers displayed higher burnout facing agitation/aggression, irritability, aberrant motor behavior, and hallucinations. Caregivers’ reported distress was surprisingly dissimilar to their burnout scores; patients’ delusions and anxiety led to higher distress reporting but not to burnout. Clinical Implications: Advance diagnosis of BPSD symptoms should be helpful to support nurses and caregivers of dementia patients. Particular support should be considered for caregivers and nurses of patients expressing aggression, irritability, abnormal motor behavior, and hallucination.
Observation of Brownian motion on the time scale of hydrodynamic interactions.

We resolve the mean square displacement of particles in concentrated suspensions during the first 20 ns of their motion, before hydrodynamic interactions between particles have had time to fully develop. Nevertheless, we find that the concentrated systems exhibit clear deviations from the isolated-particle theory. These deviations are well described by several scaled versions of the isolated-particle theory. The measurements also demonstrate a new multiple-scattering photon correlation technique with ultrashort time resolution
Treating TTP/HUS with plasma exchange: a single centre’s 25‐year experience

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura/Haemolytic uremic syndrome (TTP/HUS) is a thrombotic microangiopathy with a 6‐month mortality rate of 16–29%. The present study described the clinical features, treatment regime and 6‐month all‐cause mortality rate of TTP/HUS patients at the London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC), Canada. Data for this retrospective cohort study were obtained from inpatient and outpatient records for all patients referred for plasma exchange therapy at LHSC, Canada between 1981 and 2006. Patients (n = 110) were categorized as: idiopathic primary (38%) or relapsed (16%), and secondary responsive (30%) or non‐responsive (16%). Mortality data were available for all but three patients. The all‐cause 6‐month mortality rate was 19% overall and was 12% and 26% among idiopathic and secondary TTP/HUS patients, respectively. No mortality events occurred among the 17 idiopathic patients who relapsed. Relapsed patients had the least severe presenting characteristics, the fastest response time, and experienced significant improvement in the severity of clinical features between the first and final presentation. These findings suggest an excellent outcome for relapsed TTP/HUS patients. Patient education, surveillance, and aggressive plasma exchange therapy are hypothesized to improve the likelihood of survival: these hypotheses should be tested in a randomized controlled trial.
Tuberculosis Reactivation Risk in Dermatology

The treatment of some dermatological diseases, especially psoriasis, has been revolutionized by the advent of biologic therapies that target various immune cells or cytokines. However, biologic therapies may affect the risk of active tuberculosis (TB). We review the published safety data about TB risk reactivation for biologic agents used in dermatology. According to recent findings, psoriasis itself could represent an independent risk factor for TB; a high prevalence of TB was found in patients with psoriasis (18.0%), even after adjusting for age, work, and other characteristics. Latent TB infection was more common in patients with psoriasis (50%) than in those with inflammatory bowel disease (24.2%). Risk of TB reactivation was also influenced by the type of agent used. Several structural and functional differences among biologic drugs could account for differences in risk of granulomatous infection. Different kinetics of currently available tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antagonists, leading to different TNF bioavailability in granulomatous tissue, may explain differences in TB reactivation among patients treated with biologics. One could argue that etanercept should be the first choice of anti-TNF agent in populations at high risk of TB. Risk of TB reactivation during treatment with other biologics is not yet well defined.
Height Change and Bone Mineral Density: Revisited

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between height change, osteoporosis risk factors, and bone mineral density. SAMPLE: Secondary data collected on 168 healthy women, ages 50 to 65 years, who had a dual energy x-ray absorptiometry screening of the hip and spine to determine bone mineral density. METHOD: A quantitative secondary analysis of data that replicated in part a study by Hunt (1996). FINDINGS: The relationships between height change, osteoporosis risk factors, and bone mineral density were not significant for this group of healthy postmenopausal women. However, these women did not meet daily minimum requirements for dietary calcium intake and daily exercise. IMPLICATIONS: The good news is that healthy women ages 50 to 65 years still have time to engage in osteoporosis preventing behaviors to prevent bone loss and eventual height loss. The use of measured height change, as an indicator for osteoporosis risk, is a cost-saving tool and should be considered as one component of a comprehensive osteoporosis health appraisal incorporating daily calcium intake and exercise. Further research, with more precise measurement of height, needs to be done to evaluate the relationship between height change, osteoporosis risk factors, and bone mineral density.
Calpain Activation in Alzheimer's Model Mice Is an Artifact of APP and Presenilin Overexpression

Intraneuronal calcium stimulates the calpain-dependent conversion of p35 to p25, a CDK5 activator. It is widely believed that amyloid β peptide (Aβ) induces this conversion that, in turn, has an essential role in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis. However, in vivo studies on p25 generation used transgenic mice overexpressing mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) and presenilin (PS). Here, using single App knock-in mice, we show that p25 generation is an artifact caused by membrane protein overexpression. We show that massive Aβ42 accumulation without overexpression of APP or presenilin does not produce p25, whereas p25 generation occurred with APP/PS overexpression and in postmortem mouse brain. We further support this finding using mice deficient for calpastatin, the sole calpain-specific inhibitor protein. Thus, the intracerebral environment of the APP/PS mouse brain and postmortem brain is an unphysiological state. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT We recently estimated using single App knock-in mice that accumulate amyloid β peptide without transgene overexpression that 60% of the phenotypes observed in Alzheimer's model mice overexpressing mutant amyloid precursor protein (APP) or APP and presenilin are artifacts (Saito et al., 2014). The current study further supports this estimate by invalidating key results from papers that were published in Cell. These findings suggest that more than 3000 publications based on APP and APP/PS overexpression must be reevaluated.
A comparison of jaw dimensional and quality assessments of bone characteristics with cone-beam CT, spiral tomography, and multi-slice spiral CT.

PURPOSE For proper preoperative planning of oral implants, the need has increased for tomographic imaging for precise determination of anatomic dimensions. However, concern for radiation exposure, which is substantial with computerized tomography (CT), has also grown. In the present study, the validity of jawbone width assessment and delineation by means of cone-beam CT (CBCT) and spiral tomography on dry mandibles was compared. Secondly, the subjective image quality of CBCT images with those obtained by multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) of a fixed ex vivo cadaver with its soft tissues was compared. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 25 dry human mandibles for the dimensional study and 1 formalized maxilla for image quality assessment. Measurements of the mandibles by means of a digital sliding caliper acted as the gold standard. Radiographic examination of the premolar and canine regions was performed with both CBCT and spiral tomography. Observational measurements were carried out by postgraduates in oral imaging. Subjective image quality was assessed on the fixed maxilla, including soft tissues, by comparing CBCT and MSCT. Inter- and intraobserver variability were determined. RESULTS Direct mandibular measurements were on average 0.23 mm (SD 0.49) and 0.34 mm (SD 0.90) larger than the CBCT and spiral tomography measurements, respectively. Subjective image quality of the CBCT was significantly better than for the MSCT with regard to visualization and delineation of the lamina dura and periodontal ligament space. Subjective image quality of the MSCT was significantly better for the MSCT than the CBCT for the gingiva and cortical bone. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that on dry mandibles, jawbone width measurements by means of CBCT and spiral tomography are reliable, even if on average they slightly underestimate the bone width. For the subjective image quality, the CBCT offered better visualization of details of the small bony structures. Spiral tomography offered better visualization of the cortical bone and the gingiva.
Human J-protein DnaJB6b Cures a Subset of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Prions and Selectively Blocks Assembly of Structurally Related Amyloids*

Human chaperone DnaJB6, an Hsp70 co-chaperone whose defects cause myopathies, protects cells from polyglutamine toxicity and prevents purified polyglutamine and Aβ peptides from forming amyloid. Yeast prions [URE3] and [PSI+] propagate as amyloid forms of Ure2 and Sup35 proteins, respectively. Here we find DnaJB6-protected yeast cells from polyglutamine toxicity and cured yeast of both [URE3] prions and weak variants of [PSI+] prions but not strong [PSI+] prions. Weak and strong variants of [PSI+] differ only in the structural conformation of their amyloid cores. In line with its anti-prion effects, DnaJB6 prevented purified Sup35NM from forming amyloids at 37 °C, which produce predominantly weak [PSI+] variants when used to infect yeast, but not at 4 °C, which produces mostly strong [PSI+] variants. Thus, structurally distinct amyloids composed of the same protein were differentially sensitive to the anti-amyloid activity of DnaJB6 both in vitro and in vivo. These findings have important implications for strategies using DnaJB6 as a target for therapy in amyloid disorders.
MT1-MMP Activation of TGF-β Signaling Enables Intercellular Activation of an Epithelial-mesenchymal Transition Program in Cancer.

Membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP, MMP-14) is associated with cancer invasion and metastasis leading to poor patient prognosis. MT1-MMP mediates cancer cell invasion via degradation of basement membrane and extracellular matrix, and induction of cell migration. However, MT1-MMP expression in the cancer stroma can drive invasion of carcinoma cells in vivo, suggesting MT1-MMP may also promote cancer invasiveness via paracrinemediated mechanisms. A major step in cancer cell metastasis is thought to be an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), in which carcinoma cells evolve from a stationary epithelial phenotype to a more motile mesenchymal phenotype. We demonstrate here that EMT is triggered by MT1-MMP-mediated activation of TGF-. signaling, involving induction of CUTL1 and subsequently, of Wnt5a. Mesenchymal-like cancer cells expressing endogenous MT1-MMP reverted to an epithelial phenotype when MT1-MMP, SMAD4, CUTL1, or Wnt5a expression or TGF-. activity was inhibited. Wnt5a knockdown in MT1- MMP expressing LNCaP cells caused decreased cell migration and cell growth in soft agar. While MT1-MMP expression did not affect total TGF-. level, MT1-MMP catalytic activity increased the availability of active TGF-. , enabling MT1-MMP-expressing cells to activate the EMT in nearby cells. MT1-MMP-expressing cells induced co-cultured non-MT1-MMP-expressing cells to undergo EMT by a TGF-. -dependent process. These results highlight a pathway by which tumor invasiveness may be expanded via MT1-MMP-mediated activation of TGF-. signaling, enabling autocrine and paracrine-mediated induction of EMT.
Approximating properties of artificial neural network in time domain for the analysis of electromagnetic fields reflected from model of human body surface

The approximating properties of artificial neural network for the problem of determination of thickness a layer of layered medium by means of the analysis of reflected impulse electromagnetic fields are considered. The impulse fields are reflected from the model of human body surface. The normal incidence of plane wave with Gaussian time form on the layered medium with losses is considered. The reflected electromagnetic field is obtained by FDTD method. Initial data for neural network analysis are the values of amplitude of electrical component of reflected field in different moments of time. So, the analysis is performed in time domain directly. As an example, the network is trained to determine the thickness of one of the layers of the medium. The stability of the determination in presence of interferences, experimental errors and instabilities of medium parameters is investigated. The approximating properties of the artificial neural network are considered for the smooth change of the second layer thickness.