Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Combined Couples’ Therapy: A Qualitative Study of Individual and Conjoint Sessions

ABSTRACT Combined couples’ therapy is an integrative format of couple therapy where the therapist combines the use of individual and conjoint sessions in therapy. However, little is known about the processes that occur in this type of therapy. In this study, a qualitative analysis of written records was undertaken to identify certain characteristics of combined couples’ therapy themes and goals. There were 15 cases identified for inclusion in this study. The majority of the clients were young educated couples in their first family life cycle stage, from middle to upper socioeconomic status, having dual careers. Results show that while dyadic/systemic issues are discussed in individual and conjoint sessions, the sessions differ in goals addressed. Moreover, certain themes like self-in-marriage concerns, unresolved past conflicts, violence, and resistance for conjoint sessions are addressed exclusively in individual sessions. The findings have implications for individual and conjoint sessions in couples’ therapy.
Quantitative magnetization transfer imaging in postmortem multiple sclerosis brain

To investigate the relationship of myelin content, axonal density, and gliosis with the fraction of macromolecular protons (fB) and T2 relaxation of the macromolecular pool (T2B) acquired using quantitative magnetization transfer (qMT) MRI in postmortem brains of subjects with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Techniques for Precancerous Lesion Diagnosis

The development of the oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a multistep process that requires the accumulation of multiple genetic alterations usually preceded by detectable mucosal changes, most often leukoplakias and erythroplakias. The clinical appearance of oral precancerous lesions and their degree of epithelium dysplasia suggests the malignization potential. Several techniques have been developed to improve the clinical and cytological diagnosis of oral precancerous lesions. The present paper reviews the main techniques used to improve premalignant lesion diagnosis.
A Fuzzy-Hierarchical Algorithm for Proportionally-Fair Rate Allocation to Elastic Users

SUMMARY Fairness is one of the most important features of a rate allocation strategy. Proportional fairness criterion has been recently proposed by F.P. Kelly and his colleagues. In this paper, we have proposed a twolevel hierarchical technique which allocates proportionally-fair rates to the network elastic users. Part of the network links which are used commonly by the end-users and are congestion prone, constitute the higher (first) level of the hierarchy. In this level, the users with common path in the network are grouped as virtual users. End-users and remaining network links constitute the lower (second) level of hierarchy. To improve the convergence rate of the algorithm, a combination of Jacobi method and fuzzy techniques is deployed in the higher level of hierarchy. Implementing such fast algorithms in the higher level (which is topologically simpler than the whole network), reduces the computational complexity with respect to the use of such algorithms in the whole network. Additionally, the lower level penalty function computation is done once in each N iterations, which reduces the computational complexity furthermore. The simulation results show that
Children of two to three years of age in France: early childhood settings and age divisions

ABSTRACT In a French early childhood care and education system that is strongly divided by age and institution, the current research studies the collective life of children at the pivotal age of two to three years of age in four different early childhood settings: 1) a group of ‘grands’ (nursery) in a crèche (daycare centre), 2) a jardin maternel, 3) a classe passerelle and 4) a group including ‘tout-petits’ in an école maternelle (nursery school). Our methods combine the observation of children and the point of view of professionals, obtained using visual aids (photos and videos). We analyse successively the institutional organisation of ages, material culture and professional practices. Depending on the ways in which their age is defined by these settings, we show how these settings create different experiences for children, which make them ‘petit’ (at the école maternelle) or ‘grand’ (at the crèche). The interest of the jardin maternel and the classe passerelle is to show intermediate ways of framing the age of children two to three years old.
Communications Semantics for WSBPEL Processes

WSBPEL opens up the possibility of applying a range of formal techniques to the verification of Web service behaviors from two points of view: constraints between activities within the same process and dependencies between activities of different processes. In a previous work, we have described an approach for the verification of Web service compositions defined by a set of BPEL processes. The key aspect of such a verification task is the model adopted for representing the communications among the services participating to the composition. In this paper, we propose to extend this approach to handle dependencies between activities of different process orchestrations through message exchanges. Our aim is to enable supporting models of service choreography with multiple interacting Web services compositions, from the perspective of a collaborative distributed composition development environment. The process of behavior analysis moves from a single local process to that of modelling and analyzing the behavior of multiple processes across composition domains.
Virtual Modeling and Prototyping in Collaborative Product Design

process (McGrath, 2004). Virtual and networked organizations should explore these computational tools to the utmost. Among CAD/CAE tools, virtual modeling and rapid prototyping are very pertinent for virtual and networked organizations due to the large impact those tools can have here (Wright, 2001). Adequately used, virtual modeling allows collaborative development to its full extent, either among team members inside a company or between companies involved in the development
On the relation of nonanticipative rate distortion function and filtering theory

In this paper the relation between nonanticipative rate distortion function (RDF) and Bayesian filtering theory is investigated using the topology of weak convergence of probability measures on Polish spaces. The relation is established via an optimization on the space of conditional distributions of the so-called directed information subject to fidelity constraints. Existence of the optimal reproduction distribution of the nonanticipative RDF is shown, while the optimal nonanticipative reproduction conditional distribution for stationary processes is derived in closed form. The realization procedure of nonanticipative RDF which is equivalent to joint-source channel matching for symbol-by-symbol transmission is described, while an example is introduced to illustrate the concepts.
Multistep process of FUS aggregation in the cell cytoplasm involves RNA-dependent and RNA-independent mechanisms

Fused in sarcoma (FUS) is an RNA-binding protein involved in pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. Aggregation of mislocalized FUS into non-amyloid inclusions is believed to be pivotal in the development of cell dysfunction, but the mechanism of their formation is unclear. Using transient expression of a panel of deletion and chimeric FUS variants in various cultured cells, we demonstrated that FUS accumulating in the cytoplasm nucleates a novel type of RNA granules, FUS granules (FGs), that are structurally similar but not identical to physiological RNA transport granules. Formation of FGs requires FUS N-terminal prion-like domain and the ability to bind specific RNAs. Clustering of FGs coupled with further recruitment of RNA and proteins produce larger structures, FUS aggregates (FAs), that resemble but are clearly distinct from stress granules. In conditions of attenuated transcription, FAs lose RNA and dissociate into RNA-free FUS complexes that become precursors of large aggresome-like structures. We propose a model of multistep FUS aggregation involving RNA-dependent and RNA-independent stages. This model can be extrapolated to formation of pathological inclusions in human FUSopathies.
Acquiring 3D indoor environments with variability and repetition

Large-scale acquisition of exterior urban environments is by now a well-established technology, supporting many applications in search, navigation, and commerce. The same is, however, not the case for indoor environments, where access is often restricted and the spaces are cluttered. Further, such environments typically contain a high density of repeated objects (e.g., tables, chairs, monitors, etc.) in regular or non-regular arrangements with significant pose variations and articulations. In this paper, we exploit the special structure of indoor environments to accelerate their 3D acquisition and recognition with a low-end handheld scanner. Our approach runs in two phases: (i) a learning phase wherein we acquire 3D models of frequently occurring objects and capture their variability modes from only a few scans, and (ii) a recognition phase wherein from a single scan of a new area, we identify previously seen objects but in different poses and locations at an average recognition time of 200ms/model. We evaluate the robustness and limits of the proposed recognition system using a range of synthetic and real world scans under challenging settings.
Is liver transplant education patient‐centered?

In 2015, the scarcity of donor organs meant that liver transplantation was a lifesaving therapy for only 7127 of the 14,046 patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) on the waiting list. The Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services certifies transplant centers based in part on their provision of patient education as part of the informed consent process. Liver transplant recipients must understand complex medical information to care for themselves and their grafts. Poor comprehension is associated with involuntary nonadherence, which accounts for up to 50% of late acute rejection episodes, 15% of graft losses, and increased risk of death in solid organ transplant recipients. Patients’ understanding of information is hampered if transplant education material is not tailored to the patients’ literacy level, defined as the “degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process and understand basic health information and services needed to make appropriate health decisions. ” We hypothesize that current liver transplant education may not be patient-centered because it does not address the literacy needs of patients or their caregivers. The Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine–Transplantation (REALM-T) is a word recognition test validated to assess reading ability and comprehension in renal transplant recipients. We adapted the REALM-T to include liver-specific terms to form the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine–Liver (REALM-Liver). Content validity of the REALM-Liver was reviewed by transplant surgeons, physicians, researchers, and coordinators. We administered the REALM-Liver from 2013 to 2014 to 52 liver transplant candidates and 48 caregivers before and after routine transplant education during the evaluation process at a single center in United Network for Organ Sharing region 1 (please see Supporting Information for educational materials). The REALM-Liver assessments were administered over the course of 1 clinic day during which patients and caregivers present for transplant evaluation. We used dictionary pronunciation as the scoring standard (please see Supporting Information for the REALM-Liver). The mean age of all participants was 57.06 13.0 years, and only 65.0% reported an education level of high school or higher. Of the patients, 79.6% were male, whereas only 19.6% of caregivers were male (P< 0.001). There was no significant difference between the educational attainment of caregivers and patients. Of caregivers, 58.3% self-identified as a significant other/spouse. The patients’ median Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score at the time of testing was 15 (interquartile range, 7; range, 6-28). Alcohol and/or hepatitis C virus represented 58.0% of the primary diagnoses. A Student t test was used to assess the difference between REALM-Liver scores across patient and caregiver groups. A paired Student t test was performed to assess the paired difference between
A new UML-compatible object relationship notation (ORN)

Object Relationship Notation (ORN) is a declarative scheme that permits the semantics of a variety of relationships to be conveniently modeled and then defined to a Database Management System (DBMS), which then allows the DBMS to automatically enforce these semantics. The Unified Modeling Language (UML), which has gained much popularity since its beginning in 1994, provides another notation for describing the semantics of relationships. We have revised ORN to be compatible with this notation. This paper presents the new UML-compatible ORN.
A multiple regression analysis of syntactic and semantic influences in reading normal text

Semantic and syntactic influences during reading normal text were examined in a series of multiple regression analyses conducted on a large-scale corpus of eyemovement data. Two measures of contextual constraints, based on the syntactic descriptions provided by Abeille, Clement et Toussenel (2003) and one measure on semantic constraint, based on Latent Semantic Analysis, were included in the regression equation, together with a set of properties (length, frequency, etc.), known to affect inspection times. Both syntactic and semantic constraints were found to exert a significant influence, with less time spent inspecting highly constrained target words, relative to weakly constrained ones. Semantic and syntactic properties apparently exerted their influence independently from each other, as suggested by the lack of interaction.
Switching on the Lights for Gene Therapy

Strategies for non-invasive and quantitative imaging of gene expression in vivo have been developed over the past decade. Non-invasive assessment of the dynamics of gene regulation is of interest for the detection of endogenous disease-specific biological alterations (e.g., signal transduction) and for monitoring the induction and regulation of therapeutic genes (e.g., gene therapy). To demonstrate that non-invasive imaging of regulated expression of any type of gene after in vivo transduction by versatile vectors is feasible, we generated regulatable herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) amplicon vectors carrying hormone (mifepristone) or antibiotic (tetracycline) regulated promoters driving the proportional co-expression of two marker genes. Regulated gene expression was monitored by fluorescence microscopy in culture and by positron emission tomography (PET) or bioluminescence (BLI) in vivo. The induction levels evaluated in glioma models varied depending on the dose of inductor. With fluorescence microscopy and BLI being the tools for assessing gene expression in culture and animal models, and with PET being the technology for possible application in humans, the generated vectors may serve to non-invasively monitor the dynamics of any gene of interest which is proportionally co-expressed with the respective imaging marker gene in research applications aiming towards translation into clinical application.
Couples' Experiences With Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors After Cardiac Rehabilitation

Purpose: Many cardiac patients discontinue heart-healthy eating and physical activity (PA) behaviors in the months following cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Involving the spouse in CR with the patient may be 1 strategy to increase the maintenance of these behaviors after CR. Assisting patients and spouses with the maintenance of healthy eating and PA behavior following CR begins with a better understanding of the couple-focused factors, impacting their experiences with these behaviors. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively examine couple-focused facilitators and barriers to maintaining changes in healthy eating and PA behavior from the perspectives of both cardiac patients and their spouses following phase 2 CR. Methods: A purposive sample of 11 couples (patients undergoing postcoronary artery bypass graft surgery and their spouses) were selected from a larger randomized control trial. Semistructured, in-person interviews were conducted with patients and their spouses separately following CR. Data were analyzed using line-by-line coding to identify facilitator and barrier themes. Results: Two couple-focused barrier themes emerged: unnegotiated situations and unshared behaviors. Two couple-focused facilitator themes emerged: supportive exchanges and partnerships. Conclusion: These findings will help guide interventions targeting changes in diet and PA behavior in both patients and their spouses through minimizing unnegotiated situations, fostering supportive exchanges, and creating a partnership for the couple to work together on shared diet and PA goals. Targeting both patients and their spouses may be an innovative and effective way to intervene to increase adherence to healthy eating and PA behaviors post-CR.
Association between the food retail environment surrounding schools and overweight in Canadian youth

Abstract Introduction There is growing interest in how the physical environment influences obesity. Few studies have considered how the food retail environment surrounding schools influences overweight in students. Objective To determine whether there is a relationship between food retailers surrounding schools and overweight among Canadian youth. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting/methods/subjects The number of food retailers was obtained within a 1 km and 5 km radius around 178 schools in Canada. Retailers included full-service restaurants, fast-food restaurants, sub/sandwich retailers, doughnut/coffee shops, convenience stores and grocery stores. An index of total food retailer exposure was also created. Multilevel analyses were used to control for individual- and area-level covariates. Results None of the individual food retailers was associated with an increased likelihood of overweight. The total food retailer index was most strongly related to overweight, but in the opposite direction to that hypothesized. At 1 km, students attending schools with at least one food retailer had a lower relative odds of overweight (OR = 0·70, 95 % CI 0·61, 0·81). At 5 km, students attending schools with the highest exposure to the total food retailer index had a lower relative odds of overweight (OR = 0·56, 95 % CI 0·47, 0·68) compared with students attending schools with no exposure. Conclusions Exposure to various types of food retailers in school neighbourhoods was not associated with an increased likelihood of overweight in Canadian school-aged youth. The opportunity to make healthy choices from a variety of options and the unique Canadian context may explain the findings.
Serum Immune-Related Proteins are Differentially Expressed during Hibernation in the American Black Bear

Hibernation is an adaptation to conserve energy in the face of extreme environmental conditions and low food availability that has risen in several animal phyla. This phenomenon is characterized by reduced metabolic rate (∼25% of the active basal metabolic rate in hibernating bears) and energy demand, while other physiological adjustments are far from clear. The profiling of the serum proteome of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) may reveal specific proteins that are differentially modulated by hibernation, and provide insight into the remarkable physiological adaptations that characterize ursid hibernation. In this study, we used differential gel electrophoresis (DIGE) analysis, liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry, and subsequent MASCOT analysis of the mass spectra to identify candidate proteins that are differentially expressed during hibernation in captive black bears. Seventy serum proteins were identified as changing by ±1.5 fold or more, out of which 34 proteins increased expression during hibernation. The majority of identified proteins are involved in immune system processes. These included α2-macroglobulin, complement components C1s and C4, immunoglobulin μ and J chains, clusterin, haptoglobin, C4b binding protein, kininogen 1, α2-HS-glycoprotein, and apoplipoproteins A-I and A-IV. Differential expression of a subset of these proteins identified by proteomic analysis was also confirmed by immunodetection. We propose that the observed serum protein changes contribute to the maintenance of the hibernation phenotype and health, including increased capacities for bone maintenance and wound healing during hibernation in bears.
Automatic Supporting System for Regionalization of Ventricular Tachycardia Exit Site in Implantable Defibrillators

Electrograms stored in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators (ICD-EGM) have been proven to convey useful information for roughly determining the anatomical location of the Left Ventricular Tachycardia exit site (LVTES). Our aim here was to evaluate the possibilities from a machine learning system intended to provide an estimation of the LVTES anatomical region with the use of ICD-EGM in the situation where 12-lead electrocardiogram of ventricular tachycardia are not available. Several machine learning techniques were specifically designed and benchmarked, both from classification (such as Neural Networks (NN), and Support Vector Machines (SVM)) and regression (Kernel Ridge Regression) problem statements. Classifiers were evaluated by using accuracy rates for LVTES identification in a controlled number of anatomical regions, and the regression approach quality was studied in terms of the spatial resolution. We analyzed the ICD-EGM of 23 patients (18±10 EGM per patient) during left ventricular pacing and simultaneous recording of the spatial coordinates of the pacing electrode with a navigation system. Several feature sets extracted from ICD-EGM (consisting of times and voltages) were shown to convey more discriminative information than the raw waveform. Among classifiers, the SVM performed slightly better than NN. In accordance with previous clinical works, the average spatial resolution for the LVTES was about 3 cm, as in our system, which allows it to support the faster determination of the LVTES in ablation procedures. The proposed approach also provides with a framework suitable for driving the design of improved performance future systems.