Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Character strengths in children and adolescents: Reliability and initial validity of the german values in action inventory of strengths for youth (German VIA-Youth)

The Values in Action Inventory of Strengths for Youth (VIA-Youth) is a self-report inventory assessing 24 character strengths among people 10–17 years of age. This paper describes the adaptation and initial validation of a German version of this measure utilizing several samples (in total N = 2,110 self-reports of participants aged 10–17 years, 56.5% girls; N = 219 parent-reports) from Germany and Switzerland. The 24 scales yielded high reliability and exhibited stability over 4 months. Self-reports and parent-ratings of strengths converged well. An oblique five-factor solution was found to represent the data well. There were small age effects, and small to medium gender effects (e.g., girls scored higher on beauty and kindness). Character strengths of hope, gratitude, love, and zest correlated positively with global life satisfaction. Furthermore, most of the strengths were strong predictors of general self-efficacy. Overall, the German VIA-Youth demonstrated good psychometric properties and promising ev.
Gender differences in perception of PAD: a pilot study

Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) report profound limitations in all domains of quality of life that are worse than those for patients with chronic pulmonary disease and moderate to severe heart failure. While claudication has detrimental effects on quality of life, little is understood about the factors that influence quality of life and whether these determinants are similar for men and women with PAD and claudication. The purpose of the present investigation was to evaluate the effect of claudication on quality of life in 71 men and 26 women (mean age 72 and 73 years respectively) with PAD. Disease severity as assessed by ankle brachial index (ABI) and community-based walking was similar for men and women, although men reported greater comorbid conditions than women. Despite the similarity in disease severity, women reported decreased physical functioning (p = 0.01), more bodily pain (p = 0.04) and greater mood disturbance (p = 0.012) than men. Claudication and PAD had a greater impact on women than on men and may result from the higher prevalence of mood disturbance and bodily pain reported by women.
Analysis of binding interactions in an idiotope-antiidiotope protein-protein complex by double mutant cycles.

The idiotope-antiidiotope complex between the anti-hen egg white lysozyme antibody D1.3 and the anti-D1.3 antibody E5.2 provides a useful model for studying protein-protein interactions. A high-resolution crystal structure of the complex is available [Fields, B. A. , Goldbaum, F. A. , Ysern, X. , Poljak, R.J., & Mariuzza, R. A. (1995) Nature 374, 739-742], and both components are easily produced and manipulated in Escherichia coli. We previously analyzed the relative contributions of individual residues of D1.3 to complex stabilization by site-directed mutagenesis [Dall'Acqua, W. , Goldman, E. R. , Eisenstein, E. , & Mariuzza, R. A. (1996) Biochemistry 35, 9667-9676]. In the current work, we introduced single alanine substitutions in 9 out of 21 positions in the combining site of E5.2 involved in contacts with D1.3 and found that 8 of them play a significant role in ligand binding (delta Gmutant-delta Gwild type > 1.5 kcal/mol). Furthermore, energetically important E5.2 and D1.3 residues tend to be juxtaposed in the crystal structure of the complex. In order to further dissect the energetics of specific interactions in the D1.3-E5.2 interface, double mutant cycles were carried out to measure the coupling of 13 amino acid pairs, 9 of which are in direct contact in the crystal structure. The highest coupling energy (4.3 kcal/mol) was measured for a charged-neutral pair which forms a buried hydrogen bond, while side chains which interact through solvated hydrogen bonds have lower coupling energies (1.3-1.7 kcal/mol), irrespective of whether they involve charged-neutral or neutral-neutral pairs. Interaction energies of similar magnitude (1.3-1.6 kcal/mol) were measured for residues forming only van der Waals contacts. Cycles between distant residues not involved in direct contacts in the crystal structure also showed significant coupling (0.5-1.0 kcal/mol). These weak long-range interactions could be due to rearrangements in solvent or protein structure or to secondary interactions involving other residues.
Rate constant for the reaction of nitrogen dioxide with sulfur(IV) over the pH range 5.3-13.

Rate constants have been determined for the reactions of NO{sub 2} with SO{sub 3}{sup 2{minus}} and HSO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} in aqueous solutions. A pulse radiolysis apparatus with signal averaging, which has allowed us to monitor the decay of NO{sub 2} directly and to measure rate constants for the reaction of NO{sub 2} with SO{sub 3}{sup 2{minus}} and HSO{sub 3}{sup {minus}} over the pH range 5.3-13. The rate constant increases from about 1.2 {times} 10{sup 7} M{sup {minus}1} s{sup {minus}1} near pH 5 to 2.9 {times} 10{sup 7} M{sup {minus}1} s{sup {minus}1} at pH 13. The reaction appears to involve the formation of an intermediate complex that may undergo subsequent reaction with NO{sub 2} to yield the ultimate products or may react with other substrates present. The formation of a long-lived intermediate would have implications on the chemistry of flue gas scrubbers and on luminol-based NO{sub 2} detectors.
Mitochondrial DNA copy number correlates with oxidative stress and predicts mortality in nondiabetic hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Oxidative stress is highly prevalent in hemodialysis patients and may contribute to atherosclerosis and mortality. The copy number of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is affected by oxidative stress in blood circulation. This study aimed to test whether mtDNA copy number correlates with oxidative stress and predicts all-cause mortality in nondiabetic hemodialysis patients. METHODS Ninety-five nondiabetic hemodialysis patients and 95 healthy subjects were enrolled. Plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and plasma free thiol were used as indicators of oxidative stress and antioxidant defense, respectively. Mitochondrial DNA copy number in peripheral blood leukocytes was measured by determining relative amounts of mtDNA to nuclear DNA by quantitative real-time PCR. All-cause mortality of hemodialysis patient was recorded during a follow-up of 3 years. RESULTS Nondiabetic hemodialysis patients showed higher TBARS levels, lower free thiol levels and higher mtDNA copy numbers compared with normal control subjects. The plasma TBARS level was a significant factor correlating positively to the mtDNA copy number (p=0.024). Patients with a mtDNA copy number higher than the median had a higher all-cause mortality than patients with a lower mtDNA copy number (17.0% vs. 4.2%; log-rank test: p=0.038). A 1-log increase in mtDNA copy number was independently related to an increase in the risk for mortality (hazard ratio 21.360; 95% confidence interval, 1.298-351.572). CONCLUSIONS Nondiabetic hemodialysis patients had higher oxidative stress and mtDNA copy numbers than healthy subjects. The mtDNA copy number correlates with oxidative stress and predicts mortality in nondiabetic hemodialysis patients.
Importance of Iron-Loss Modeling in Simulation of Wound-Field Synchronous Machines

Effect of hysteresis, eddy-current and excess-loss modeling on the 2-D field solution of 12.5-MW and 150-kVA wound-field synchronous machines is studied. The study is performed by comparing the differences in the solutions obtained with three different finite element formulations: one with iron losses fully included, one using only single-valued material properties, and one completely neglecting the iron losses from the solution. The electrical operating points, i.e., the terminal currents and powers are found to be only little influenced by the iron-loss model. However, the rotor eddy-current losses are found to be overestimated, if the skin effect of the eddy currents is uncoupled from the solution. Using single-valued material properties instead of hysteretic ones has a smaller effect on the rotor side, but increases the hysteresis losses in the stator. The effects on the total core losses thus depend on their distribution between the stator and the rotor. It is concluded that using single-valued material properties is reasonable in order to improve the computational performance despite the slight overestimation in the computed core losses. However, for accurate modeling of the rotor losses, the skin effect of the eddy currents should be included in the solution.
Differential Relationships Between Intergroup Contact and Affective and Cognitive Dimensions of Prejudice

Research on affective dimensions of intergroup relationships suggests that positive effects of intergroup contact can generalize through establishing affective ties with outgroup members. However, research on cognitive dimensions emphasizes that it is often difficult to generalize positive contact outcomes. In this research, the authors examine whether affective and cognitive dimensions of prejudice bear different relationships to intergroup contact. Using data from a larger meta-analysis of contact effects, Study 1 demonstrates that affective indicators of prejudice typically yield stronger, inverse contact-prejudice relationships than such cognitive indicators as stereotypes. Study 2 replicates these trends in a survey study using multiple indicators of affective and cognitive dimensions of prejudice. Study 2 also shows significant, inverse relationships between contact and affective prejudice when contact is assessed either as number of outgroup friends or intergroup closeness. Together, these results suggest that affective dimensions of intergroup relationships are especially critical for understanding the nature of contact-prejudice effects.
Gamma knife thalamotomy for treatment of tremor: long-term results.

OBJECT The purpose of this study was to investigate the long-term effects of gamma knife thalamotomy for treatment of disabling tremor. METHODS One hundred fifty-eight patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging-guided radiosurgical nucleus ventralis intermedius (VIM) thalamotomy for the treatment of parkinsonian tremor (102 patients), essential tremor (52 patients), or tremor due to stroke, encephalitis, or cerebral trauma (four patients). Preoperative and postoperative blinded assessments were performed by a team of independent examiners skilled in the evolution of movement disorders. A single isocenter exposure with the 4-mm collimator helmet of the Leksell gamma knife unit was used to make the lesions. In patients with Parkinson's disease 88.3% became fully or nearly tremor free, with a mean follow up of 52.5 months. Statistically significant improvements were seen in Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale tremor scores and rigidity scores, and these improvements were maintained in 74 patients followed 4 years or longer. In patients with essential tremor, 92.1% were fully or nearly tremor free postoperatively, but only 88.2% remained tremor free by 4 years or more post-GKS. Statistically significant improvements were seen in the Clinical Rating Scale for tremor in essential tremor patients and these improvements were well maintained in the 17 patients, followed 4 years or longer. Only 50% of patients with tremor of other origins improved significantly. One patient sustained a transient complication and two patients sustained mild permanent side effects from the treatments. CONCLUSIONS Gamma knife VIM thalamotomy provides relief from tremor equivalent to that provided by radiofrequency thalamotomy or deep brain stimulation, but it is safer than either of these alternatives. Long-term follow up indicates that relief of tremor is well maintained. No long-term radiation-induced complications have been observed.
ICRF-code benchmark activity in the framework of the European Task-Force on Integrated Tokamak Modelling

The grand aim of the Integrated Tokamak Modelling (ITM) task-force is to provide a flexible, modular and reliable plasma simulator in view of planning and analyzing ITER discharges. Since radio-frequency (rf) heating in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) is foreseen as one of the main additional heating systems in ITER, physics modules that simulate ICRF wave propagation and absorption are necessary for the ITM project. Here, we report on the status of the benchmark activity of ICRF codes, already imported in ITM environment platform. We consider various scenarios for ITER, limiting the comparisons to wave propagation and absorption in Maxwellian plasmas.
The Active Layer Morphology of Organic Solar Cells Probed with Grazing Incidence Scattering Techniques

Grazing incidence X‐ray scattering (GIXS) provides unique insights into the morphology of active materials and thin film layers used in organic photovoltaic devices. With grazing incidence wide angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS) the molecular arrangement of the material is probed. GIWAXS is sensitive to the crystalline parts and allows for the determination of the crystal structure and the orientation of the crystalline regions with respect to the electrodes. With grazing incidence small angle X‐ray scattering (GISAXS) the nano‐scale structure inside the films is probed. As GISAXS is sensitive to length scales from nanometers to several hundred nanometers, all relevant length scales of organic solar cells are detectable. After an introduction to GISAXS and GIWAXS, selected examples for application of both techniques to active layer materials are reviewed. The particular focus is on conjugated polymers, such as poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT).
Contribution of anthropogenic warming to California drought during 2012–2014

A suite of climate data sets and multiple representations of atmospheric moisture demand are used to calculate many estimates of the self‐calibrated Palmer Drought Severity Index, a proxy for near‐surface soil moisture, across California from 1901 to 2014 at high spatial resolution. Based on the ensemble of calculations, California drought conditions were record breaking in 2014, but probably not record breaking in 2012–2014, contrary to prior findings. Regionally, the 2012–2014 drought was record breaking in the agriculturally important southern Central Valley and highly populated coastal areas. Contributions of individual climate variables to recent drought are also examined, including the temperature component associated with anthropogenic warming. Precipitation is the primary driver of drought variability but anthropogenic warming is estimated to have accounted for 8–27% of the observed drought anomaly in 2012–2014 and 5–18% in 2014. Although natural variability dominates, anthropogenic warming has substantially increased the overall likelihood of extreme California droughts.
Hepatic artery hemodynamic responsiveness to altered portal blood flow in normal and cirrhotic livers.

PURPOSE To compare hepatic artery hemodynamic response to altered portal blood flow in normal and cirrhotic livers. MATERIALS AND METHODS The portal blood flow and hepatic artery pulsatility index were measured by means of duplex ultrasound before and after subjects (eight control subjects and 10 cirrhotic patients) ingested a 500-kcal mixed-liquid meal and during intravenous infusion of vasopressin at a rate of 0.3 U/min (nine control and nine cirrhotic subjects). The hepatic artery buffer index (ratio of maximum change from baseline in hepatic artery pulsatility index to maximum change from baseline in portal blood flow) was also calculated. RESULTS Meal consumption increased the portal blood flow and hepatic artery pulsatility index in all subjects. The hepatic artery buffer index, however, was significantly lower in cirrhotic than in control subjects (0.67 min/L +/- 0.06 [standard error of the mean] vs 1.54 min/L +/- 0.20, respectively; P < .01). Vasopressin infusion decreased the portal blood flow and hepatic artery pulsatility index in all subjects. Again, the hepatic artery buffer index was significantly lower in cirrhotic than in control subjects (0.28 min/L +/- 0.07 vs 0.50 min/L +/- 0.04, respectively; P < .05). CONCLUSION Hepatic artery vascular responsiveness to altered portal blood flow is blunted in cirrhotic livers.
The role of insulin and glucagon in experimental obstructive jaundice.

BACKGROUND/AIMS The oxidative phosphorylation of liver mitochondria is regulated by the amount of portal insulin available to the hepatocytes. Thus, hepatic energy is mediated by the values of blood sugar and insulin. Insulin and glucagon are the main fuel homeostats in the liver. This study was performed to investigate the concept of energy mediated by glucose, during the process of obstructive jaundice and its recovery. METHODOLOGY Experimental Wistar rats were studied, with bile duct tied for 4, 7 and 14 days respectively. The serum concentration and relative tissue concentration of insulin and glucagon were measured. And the common bile duct was tied for 4, 7 and 14 days, then relieved by time sequences for 4, 7 and 14 days. Serum concentration and relative tissue concentration of insulin and glucagon were also measured. RESULTS When the common bile duct was tied for 4, 7, and 14 days respectively, the serum concentration and relative tissue concentration of insulin declined (p < 0.05) and glucagon concentration was elevated (p < 0.05). When the common bile duct was tied for 4, 7 and 14 days, then relieved by time sequences for 4, 7 and 14 days, the concentrations of insulin in both groups appeared to decline at first (p < 0.05) and then progressively increase (p < 0.05). The concentrations of glucagon exhibit the reverse behavior. Both serum and tissue concentration are elevated at first (p < 0.05), then progressively decline (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These studies indicated that, during obstructive jaundice, more fuel is demanded to make up for the energy deficiency. In spite of surgical or non-surgical relief of obstructive jaundice, the energy reserve is still not sufficiently recovered. The recovery of the hepatic energy reserve takes longer than we expected.
Side‐By‐Side Comparison of Areas with and without Cellulite Depressions Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging

BACKGROUND Cellulite is characterized by alterations in the relief of the skin surface. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is recognized as a reliable technique for measuring adipose volume according to body site and for the visualization of the subcutaneous structures. OBJECTIVE To compare subcutaneous tissue in areas with and without cellulite on the buttocks of same subjects using a noninvasive technique. METHODS AND MATERIALS Thirty female patients with cellulite on the buttocks underwent MRI. An area with cellulite and another without cellulite on the contralateral buttock were selected. Two soft gelatin capsules of different sizes were used as skin markers to differentiate the areas with and without cellulite. RESULTS Fibrous septa were visualized in 96.7% of the area with cellulite depressions; most of them were ramified (73.3%) and presented a high‐intensity signal on T2 images (70%). All fibrous septa found in the examined areas were perpendicular to the skin surface. The average fibrous septa thickness was 2.18 ± 0.89 in the area with cellulite and 0.27 ± 0.64 in the area without cellulite. CONCLUSION Results of the MRI analysis showed that cellulite depressions on the buttocks were significantly associated with the presence of underlying fibrous septa.
Mitochondrial DNA mutations increase in early stage Alzheimer disease and are inconsistent with oxidative damage

Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage are commonly associated with early stage Alzheimer disease (AD). The accumulation of somatic mutations in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has been hypothesized to be a driver of these phenotypes, but the detection of increased mutation loads has been difficult due to a lack of sensitive methods. We used an ultrasensitive next generation sequencing technique to measure the mutation load of the entire mitochondrial genome. Here, we report a significant increase in the mtDNA mutation frequency in the hippocampus of early stage AD, with the cause of these mutations being consistent with replication errors and not oxidative damage. Ann Neurol 2016;80:301–306
Analysis of resonant particles in a coplanar microwave sensor array for thermal ablation of organic tissue

Different resonant particles are analyzed for a coplanar sensor device that is able to operate in two modes: sensing dielectric properties of organic tissue and performing thermal ablation therapy. For an efficient transfer of the electromagnetic energy into the tissue, a careful analysis of how the ablation zone is affected by the different resonator particles is performed. The investigated resonant particles coupled to a CPW line include Split-rings, spirals and intersecting rings resonators. Measurement results confirm local temperatures between 60 °C and 100 °C with a maximum input power of 7W.
Low-Dose Rituximab for Hemolytic Anemia Retreatment in a Patient With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

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Modeling aircraft performance parameters with open ADS-B data

Open access to flight data from ADS-B (Automatic Dependent Surveillance Broadcast) has provided researchers more insights for air traffic management than aircraft tracking alone. With large quantities of trajectory data collected from a wide range of different aircraft types, it is possible to extract accurate aircraft performance parameters. In this paper, a set of more than thirty parameters from seven distinct flight phases are extracted for common commercial aircraft types. It uses various data mining methods, as well as a maximum likelihood estimation approach to generate parametric models for these performance parameters. All parametric models combined can be used to describe a complete flight that includes takeoff, initial climb, climb, cruise, descent, final approach, and landing. Both analytical results and summaries are shown. When available, optimal parameters from these models are also compared with the Base of Aircraft Data and Eurocontrol aircraft performance database. This research not only presents a comprehensive set of methods for extracting different aircraft performance parameters but also provides a first part of open-source parametric performance models that is ready to be used by the ATM community.