Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hypocortisolemic reactivity to acute social stress among lonely young women

ABSTRACT We examined biopsychosocial stress of acute social pain in relation to chronic loneliness. Hypotheses: 1) Cyberball exclusion (vs. inclusion) would be associated with lower cortisol reactivity to a speech task, and 2) loneliness would moderate the relationship between social exclusion and cortisol reactivity to a speech task, such that higher loneliness would be linked to lower cortisol. Participants (n = 31, women, aged 18–25, 51.6% non-Hispanic white) were randomized to be excluded or included in a game of Cyberball, then completed a speech task. Salivary cortisol was measured at baseline, pre-speech, post-speech, and 15 minutes post-speech. Cortisol reactivity was calculated using area under the curve-increase (AUCi). ANOVA revealed a non-significant, meaningful effect of Cyberball exclusion on cortisol AUCi (p=.103, η p 2 =.10), accounting for contraceptive use. Moderation analysis revealed among women with high loneliness, women in the exclusion condition had significantly lower cortisol reactivity than women in the inclusion condition (p=.001). For women with low and medium loneliness, there were no significant differences by Cyberball condition. In sum, lonely young women who are excluded may have hypocortisolemic responses to social stress. Results are consistent with literature suggesting that chronic stress is linked to lower cortisol responses, which is linked to negative physical health outcomes.
Does Varicocele Repair Improve Conventional Semen Parameters? A Meta-Analytic Study of Before-After Data

Purpose The purpose of this meta-analysis is to study the impact of varicocele repair in the largest cohort of infertile males with clinical varicocele by including all available studies, with no language restrictions, comparing intra-person conventional semen parameters before and after the repair of varicoceles. Materials and Methods The meta-analysis was performed according to PRISMA-P and MOOSE guidelines. A systematic search was performed in Scopus, PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase databases. Eligible studies were selected according to the PICOS model (Population: infertile male patients with clinical varicocele; Intervention: varicocele repair; Comparison: intra-person before-after varicocele repair; Outcome: conventional semen parameters; Study type: randomized controlled trials [RCTs], observational and case-control studies). Results Out of 1,632 screened abstracts, 351 articles (23 RCTs, 292 observational, and 36 case-control studies) were included in the quantitative analysis. The before-and-after analysis showed significant improvements in all semen parameters after varicocele repair (except sperm vitality); semen volume: standardized mean difference (SMD) 0.203, 95% CI: 0.129–0.278; p<0.001; I2=83.62%, Egger’s p=0.3329; sperm concentration: SMD 1.590, 95% CI: 1.474–1.706; p<0.001; I2=97.86%, Egger’s p<0.0001; total sperm count: SMD 1.824, 95% CI: 1.526–2.121; p<0.001; I2=97.88%, Egger’s p=0.0063; total motile sperm count: SMD 1.643, 95% CI: 1.318–1.968; p<0.001; I2=98.65%, Egger’s p=0.0003; progressive sperm motility: SMD 1.845, 95% CI: 1.537%–2.153%; p<0.001; I2=98.97%, Egger’s p<0.0001; total sperm motility: SMD 1.613, 95% CI 1.467%–1.759%; p<0.001; l2=97.98%, Egger’s p<0.001; sperm morphology: SMD 1.066, 95% CI 0.992%–1.211%; p<0.001; I2=97.87%, Egger’s p=0.1864. Conclusions The current meta-analysis is the largest to date using paired analysis on varicocele patients. In the current meta-analysis, almost all conventional semen parameters improved significantly following varicocele repair in infertile patients with clinical varicocele.
A Short-Range to Early-Medium-Range Ensemble Prediction System for the European Area

Abstract An ensemble prediction system, especially designed for the short to early-medium range for the European domain, is presented. The initial perturbations of each ensemble are based on singular vectors that maximize the 3-day total energy error growth above the European area and the northern Atlantic. In total, a set of 51 ensembles, each consisting of 51 members, has been integrated, comprising 28 winter cases in 1996 and 1997, 2 spring, and 21 autumn cases in 1997. The impact on performance, relative to the operational ensemble prediction system at ECMWF, appears to be modest for the winter set. However, for the combined spring and autumn set, the impact is significantly positive, especially for rare (extreme) events of large-scale precipitation, 2-m temperature, 10-m wind speed, and the pressure at mean sea level. For the targeted ensembles, the situation that a complete ensemble misses an extreme event occurs much less than for the operational ensemble system. As a result, the range of cost–loss.
The generalized Weber problem with expected distances

Dans cet article on etudie un probleme de Weber generalise ou la demande et l'origine qu'on doit localiser peuvent etre des regions et on assume qu'elles sont distribuees selon quelque mesure de probabilite dans chaque region. On propose une notation generale pour decrire ces problemes de localisation et on prouve quelques proprietes qui vont nous permettre la resolution du probleme en utilisant des algorithmes qui existent deja. Dans quelques cas speciaux on evalue le gradient de la fonction objective et on arrive a la resolution d'un vaste ensemble de problemes meme quand l'expression exacte de la fonction objective n'est pas connue. On applique cette methodologie dans quelques cas
Patient and Clinician Perspectives on Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in the Management of Advanced CKD: A Qualitative Study.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can substantially affect patients' health-related quality of life. Electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) may capture symptoms and health-related quality of life and assist in the management of CKD. This study explored patient and clinician views on the use of a renal ePROM system. STUDY DESIGN Qualitative study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS 12 patients with stage 4 or 5 CKD (non-dialysis dependent); 22 clinicians (6 CKD community nurses, 1 clinical psychologist, 10 nephrologists, 3 specialist registrars, and 2 renal surgeons) in the United Kingdom. ANALYTICAL APPROACH Semi-structured interviews and focus group discussion during which patients received paper versions of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 and the Integrated Patient Outcome Scale-Renal to exemplify the type of content that could be included in an ePROM. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts. RESULTS 4 themes were identified: (1) general opinions of PROMs, (2) potential benefits and applications of an ePROM system, (3) practical considerations for the implementation of ePROMs, and (4) concerns, barriers, and facilitators. Patients were willing to complete ePROMs on a regular basis as part of their care despite clinician concerns about patient burden. Patients assessed the questionnaires favorably. Clinicians suggested that the extent of adoption of renal ePROM systems in routine clinical settings should be based on evidence of significant impact on patient outcomes. Clinicians were concerned that an ePROM system may raise patient expectations to unrealistic levels and expose clinicians to the risk for litigation. Patients and clinicians identified potential benefits and highlighted issues and concerns that need to be addressed to ensure the successful implementation of the renal ePROM system. LIMITATIONS Transferability of the findings may be limited because only English-speaking participants were recruited to the study. CONCLUSIONS A renal ePROM system may play a supportive role in the routine clinical management of patients with advanced CKD if the concerns of clinicians and patients can be sufficiently addressed.
The Influence of Low Shear Microbore Extrusion on the Properties of High Molecular Weight Poly(l-Lactic Acid) for Medical Tubing Applications

Biodegradable polymers play a crucial role in the medical device field, with a broad range of applications such as suturing, drug delivery, tissue engineering, scaffolding, orthopaedics, and fixation devices. Poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) is one of the most commonly used and investigated biodegradable polymers. The objective of this study was to determine the influence low shear microbore extrusion exerts on the properties of high molecular weight PLLA for medical tubing applications. Results showed that even at low shear rates there was a considerable reduction in molecular weight (Mn = 7–18%) during processing, with a further loss (Mn 11%) associated with resin drying. An increase in melt residence time from ~4 mins to ~6 mins, translated into a 12% greater reduction in molecular weight. The degradation mechanism was determined to be thermal and resulted in a ~22-fold increase in residual monomer. The differences in molecular weight between both batches had no effect on the materials thermal or morphological properties. However, it did affect its mechanical properties, with a significant impact on tensile strength and modulus. Interestingly there was no effect on the elongational proprieties of the tubing. There was also an observed temperature-dependence of mechanical properties below the glass transition temperature.
Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disorder caused by repetitive head trauma,1,2 remains a pathologic diagnosis. Traumatic encephalopathy syndrome (TES) was proposed and developed to describe the clinical presentation of suspected CTE based on cognitive, behavioral, and other supportive features.3,4 Owing to the lack of specificity in the original 2014 criteria,4 a consensus panel convened in 2021 to develop increased evidence-informed, expert consensus research diagnostic criteria.5 These updated criteria include repetitive head trauma (RHI); clinical features of cognitive impairments (memory and/or executive function) and/or neurobehavioral dysregulation; a progressive course of disease; and clinical features not fully accounted for by another condition, as well as a five-point grading scale ranging from independence to dependence.5 Despite its improvement over the 2014 criteria, limitations to the 2021 diagnostic criteria for TES remain. In particular, previous research relied mostly on a retrospective review of deceased athletes with definitive postmortem confirmation—primarily American football players—rather than prospective exploration of living athletes. This lack of longitudinal research is particularly problematic for TES, which is defined by its progressive course.5
Visual attention is not limited to the oculomotor range

Significance Various studies have claimed that attention can only be deployed to where we can potentially make an eye movement. Here, we measured the ability to shift attention toward a cue presented within or beyond participants’ oculomotor range. Participants rotated their head to the left (eye abduction), making a cue presented far to the right unreachable by their eyes but still visible. We found that attention was deployed toward the cue regardless of whether participants were able to look at it. This contradicts the results of earlier studies based on experimental or pathologic eye movement restrictions and supports the view that attention-modulating feedback from gaze control areas, relying on visual and visuomotor cell activity, is not bound by oculomotor limitations. Both patients with eye movement disorders and healthy participants whose oculomotor range had been experimentally reduced have been reported to show attentional deficits at locations unreachable by their eyes. Whereas previous studies were mainly based on the evaluation of reaction times, we measured visual sensitivity before saccadic eye movements and during fixation at locations either within or beyond participants’ oculomotor range. Participants rotated their heads to prevent them from performing large rightward saccades. In this posture, an attentional cue was presented inside or outside their oculomotor range. Participants either made a saccade to the cue or maintained fixation while they discriminated the orientation of a visual noise patch. In contrast to previous reports, we found that the cue attracted visual attention regardless of whether it was presented within or beyond participants’ oculomotor range during both fixation and saccade preparation. Moreover, when participants aimed to look to a cue that they could not reach with their eyes, we observed no benefit at their actual saccade endpoint. This demonstrates that spatial attention is not coupled to the executed oculomotor program but instead can be deployed unrestrictedly also toward locations to which no saccade can be executed. Our results are compatible with the view that covert and overt attentional orienting are guided by feedback projections of visual and visuomotor neurons of the gaze control system, irrespective of oculomotor limitations.
Robust ℋ︁∞ filtering for uncertain Markovian jump linear systems

This paper investigates the problem of ℋ︁∞ filtering for a class of uncertain Markovian jump linear systems. The uncertainty is assumed to be norm‐bounded and appears in all the matrices of the system state‐space model, including the coefficient matrices of the noise signals. It is also assumed that the jumping parameter is available. We develop a methodology for designing a Markovian jump linear filter that ensures a prescribed bound on the ℒ︁2‐induced gain from the noise signals to the estimation error, irrespective of the uncertainty. The proposed design is given in terms of linear matrix inequalities. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Longitudinal Imaging of Regional Brain Volumes, SV2A, and Glucose Metabolism In Huntington's Disease

Development of disease‐modifying treatments for Huntington's disease (HD) could be aided by the use of imaging biomarkers of disease progression. Positron emission tomography (PET) with 11C‐UCB‐J, a radioligand for the brain‐wide presynaptic marker synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A), detects more widespread brain changes in early HD than volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 18F‐fludeoxyglucose (18F‐FDG) PET, but longitudinal 11C‐UCB‐J PET data have not been reported. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity of 11C‐UCB‐J PET, 18F‐FDG PET, and volumetric MRI for detection of longitudinal changes in early HD.
On the Absorber and the Nature of Energy

Here we show that free parameters are inexistent in physics; their values are geometrical. This result originates in a resonance concept in absorber theory. The conceptual leap is that we do consider energy in all forms as a composite resonance process involving only currents. We first address the mass and coupling parameters of the standard model of particles physics, deduce their origin, their form, and the valid resonances from group theory arguments and geometry; then we show the coherence of the mass spectrum with the predictions and we compute the fine structure constant from geometry and SU(2). We also address the CKM and PMNS matrices, and show that they come from the same resonances. Next we show how gravitation comes from the absorber and we end-up with a complete reversal in concepts; we find that the origin of energy and gravitation is linear cosmos expansion. The link with quantum physics is rather trivial and it first shows that the wave is momentum. The resulting gravitational force gives an acceleration H c at galaxies borders but not in the solar system; it is compatible with the absence of dark matter.
Some Results in Infinite System with a Toeplitz Matrix

In this paper an infinite system of a Toeplitz matrix was considered and some results are demonstrated as partially new solution for the system. A survey was conducted on infinite system based on Toeplitz matrix computation. A unique solution of Markov chains is presented with some advance technique of canonical solution. Markov chains can be exploited as the basis of stable algorithms , for the computation of the solution of the nonlinear matrix. Computational integrals are carried out with operations involved in infinite Toeplitz matrix system. In this work, the integral solution of Markov chains of nonlinear matrix equations are presented.
Protective effect of ursodeoxycholic acid and resveratrol against tacrolimus induced hepatotoxicity

ABSTRACT Tacrolimus (TAC) is a potent and well-tolerated immunosuppressive drug, but serious side effects including nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity have been reported. Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) and resveratrol (RSV) exhibit hepatoprotective effects in liver diseases. We investigated the hepatoprotective effect of UDCA and RSV against TAC induced hepatotoxicity. We divided 40 male rats into five equal groups: A) control group, B) TAC group, C) TAC + UDCA group, D) TAC + RSV group, E) TAC + UDCA + RSV group. We administered 0.5 mg/kg TAC once daily, 25 mg/kg UDCA twice daily and 10 mg/kg RSV once daily. The drugs in the experimental groups were given by gavage from the first day of the study and continued for 21 days. Histopathologic and biochemical analyses were performed on day 22. In group B, serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), total oxidative status (TOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were higher compared to group A, and catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels and total antioxidant status (TAS) were lower compared to group A. Severe cellular swelling, degeneration and focal necrosis were more evident in group B than in groups C–E. Histopathological improvement was observed in groups C–E, where UDCA and RSV were combined, compared to group B. We found that UDCA and RSV, together or separately, protected the liver against oxidative stress damage caused by TAC.
Evaluations of Global Model Early Track and Formation Predictions During the Combined TCS08 and T-PARC Field Experiment

One of the objectives of the combined Tropical Cyclone Structure (TCS08) and THORPEX Pacific Asian Regional Campaign (T-PARC) field experiment during August and September 2008 was to improve understanding and prediction of western North Pacific tropical cyclone formation. One approach during TCS08 was to subjectively monitor the performance of the four global models as to whether any of the more than 50 deep convective regions labeled as TCSxxx were predicted to become a tropical depression. When a 850-mb vorticity maximum associated with the convective region could be followed in all four models, a consensus of the track forecasts to 72 h provided surprisingly good guidance for the pre-tropical cyclone seedlings and tropical depressions. An experienced analyst was able to recognize signatures in each of the models that indicate tropical cyclone formation was likely or unlikely. When all four global model forecasts were in agreement that formation was likely, high confidence could be given to the predicted scenario. This four-model consensus approach to predict tropical depression formation was most effective for the four pre-tropical cyclone seedlings that would later become typhoons, and did predict with less advance warning two seedlings that later became tropical storms. However, the global models did not consistently predict the four pre-tropical cyclone seedlings that only attained tropical depression status. The four-model consensus had a relatively small number of false alarms. Even though a three-model consensus had somewhat more false alarms, in most of the low latitude cases the lack of time continuity and a systematic decrease in consensus time to formation will make these cases relatively easy to recognize as false alarms.
RECENT ADVANCES IN VARIOUS FIELDS OF NUMERICAL PROBABILITY

The goal of this paper is to present a series of recent contributions on some various problems of numerical probability. Beginning with the Richardson-Romberg Multilevel Monte-Carlo method which, among other fields of applications, is a very efficient method for the approximation of diffusion processes, we focus on some adaptive multilevel splitting algorithms for rare event simulation. Then, the third part is devoted to the simulation of McKean-Vlasov forward and decoupled forward-backward stochastic differential equations by some cubature algorithms. Finally, we tackle the problem of the weak error estimation in total variation norm for a general Markov semi-group.
A membrane-sensing mechanism links lipid metabolism to protein degradation at the nuclear envelope

Lee et al. show that the inner nuclear membrane (INM) of animal cells harbors a unique lipid composition that is under local control by CTDNEP1/lipin1. An amphipathic helix in the resident INM protein Sun2 senses local changes in lipids and contributes to its INM retention.
The Abbey Pain Scale: not sufficiently valid or reliable for assessing pain in patients with advanced cancer

Abstract Background Patients with advanced cancer can be unable to verbalize their pain. The Abbey Pain Scale (APS), an observational tool, is used to assess pain in this setting, but has never been psychometrically tested for people with cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the validity, reliability, and the responsiveness of the APS to opioids for patients with advanced cancer in a palliative oncology care setting. Material and Methods Patients with advanced cancer and poor performance status, drowsiness, unconsciousness, or delirium, were assessed for pain using a Swedish translation of the APS (APS-SE) and, if possible, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS). The assessments using APS were conducted simultaneously, but independently, by the same raters on two separate occasions, approximately one hour apart. Criterion validity was assessed by comparing the APS and NRS values using Cohen’s kappa (κ). Inter-rater reliability was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), internal consistency using Cronbach’s α, and responsiveness to opioids using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results Seventy-two patients were included, of whom n = 45 could rate their pain using the NRS. The APS did not detect any of the n = 22 cases of moderate or severe pain self-reported using the NRS. The APS at first assessment had a κ of 0.08 (CI: −0.06 to 0.22) for criterion validity, an ICC of 0.64 (CI: 0.43–0.78) for inter-rater reliability, and a Cronbach’s α of 0.01 for internal consistency. The responsiveness to opioids was z = −2.53 (p = 0.01). Conclusion The APS was responsive to opioids but displayed insufficient validity and reliability and did not detect moderate or severe pain as indicated by the NRS. The study showed a very limited clinical use of the APS in patients with advanced cancer. KEY MESSAGE The Abbey Pain Scale (APS), an observational pain assessment tool, is used in patients with cancer who cannot verbalize their pain. However, when psychometrically tested, the APS did not display sufficient validity or reliability, so it cannot be recommended for clinical use in patients with advanced cancer.
Biomarker guided management of hypertension

Purpose of review Approximately 1.28 billion people are affected by hypertension globally and the incidence of hypertension is on an upward trajectory with an aging population and increasing burden of risk factors including obesity. Despite low-cost, highly-effectively, easy-to-treat strategies, it is estimated that ∼720 million people are not receiving the treatment they need for optimal hypertension management. Several factors contribute to this including an unwillingness to be treated for an asymptomatic condition. Recent findings Biomarkers such as troponin, B-type Natriuretic Peptide (BNP), N-terminal-pro hormone BNP (NT-proBNP), uric acid, microalbuminuria have been found to be associated with adverse clinical outcomes among individuals with hypertension. Biomarkers also allow for identification of asymptomatic organ damage. Summary Biomarkers have the ability to identify higher risk individuals in whom risk-benefit for therapies may be most favorable, helping optimize the net benefit of therapy. Whether biomarkers can help guide therapy intensity and choice remains to be tested.