Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Exploring change in a group-based psychological intervention for multiple sclerosis patients

Abstract Purpose: The study is focused on a group-based cognitive behavioral intervention aimed at promoting the quality of life and psychological well-being of multiple sclerosis patients. The study investigates how the group intervention promoted change among participants and fostered their adjustment to the illness. Materials and methods: The intervention involved six groups of patients (a total of 41 patients) and included four consecutive sessions and a 6-month follow-up. To explore change, verbatim transcripts of the intervention sessions were analyzed using a mixed-methods content analysis with qualitative data combined with descriptive statistics. The categories of resistance and openness to change were used to describe the process of change. Results: Resistance and openness to change coexisted during the intervention. Only in the first session did resistance prevail over openness to change; thereafter, openness to change gradually increased and stabilized over time, and openness to change was then always stronger than resistance. Conclusions: The study builds on previous research on the effectiveness of group-based psychological interventions for multiple sclerosis patients and gives methodological and clinical suggestions to health care professionals working with multiple sclerosis patients. Implications for rehabilitation The study suggests that a group-based cognitive behavioral intervention for multiple sclerosis patients focused on the promotion of identity redefinition, a sense of coherence and self-efficacy in dealing with multiple sclerosis fosters the process of change and may be effective in promoting patients’ adjustment to their illness. Health care professionals leading group-based psychological interventions for multiple sclerosis patients should be aware that resistance and openness to change coexist in the process of change. The study suggests that the duration of the intervention is a crucial factor: a minimum of three sessions appears to be necessary for group participants to develop greater openness to change and follow-up sessions should be implemented to maintain positive changes among participants. The use of qualitative instruments to evaluate group interventions captures the complexity of processes and gives useful indications to health professionals to improve rehabilitation programs.
Individualism and Collectivism: Cross-cultural Perspectives on Self-ingroup Relationships We Wish to Thank Our Research Collaborators for Stimulating Ideas, Data, and Moral Support in Carrying out a Complex Set of Studies. They

The individualism and collectivism constructs are theoretically analyzed and linked to certain hypothesized consequences (social behaviors, health indices). Study 1 explores the meaning of these constructs within culture (in the United States), identifying the individual-differences variable, idio-centrism versus allocentrism, that corresponds to the constructs. Factor analyses of responses to items related to the constructs suggest that UrS. individualism is reflected in (a) Self-Reliance With Competition, (b) Low Concern for Ingroups, and (c) Distance from Ingroups. A higher order factor analysis suggests that Subordination oflngroup Goals to Personal Goals may be the most important aspect of U.S. individualism. Study 2 probes the limits of the constructs with data from two collectiv-ist samples (Japan and Puerto Rico) and one individualist sample (Illinois) of students. It is shown that responses depend on who the other is (i.e., which ingroup), the context, and the kind of social behavior (e.g., feel similar to other, attentive to the views of others). Study 3 replicates previous work in Puerto Rico indicating that allocentric persons perceive that they receive more and a better quality of social support than do idiocentric persons, while the latter report being more lonely than the former. Several themes, such as self-reliance, achievement, and competition, have different meanings in the two kinds of societies, and detailed examinations of the factor patterns show how such themes vary across cultures. This article contains two parts. Part 1 presents a theoretical analysis of the constructs of individualism (e.g., de Tocqueville, 1946) and collectivism, including a discussion of the probable antecedents and consequents of the emphases on these values in different cultures. Part 2 presents three studies. The first study, based on U.S. data, provides attitude items that can be used to measure the individual-differences dimension allocentrism versus idiocentrism. Allocentrism versus idiocentrism is a within-culture variable that corresponds to collectivism versus individualism at the cultural level. The second study tests the limits of the constructs, with data from Japan, Puerto Rico, and Illinois. The third study replicates previously obtained (in Illinois) findings with data from Puerto Rico that allocentric persons report receiving more social support and a better quality of social support, and idiocentric persons report higher levels of loneliness. 323 Theoretical Analysis Culture is a fuzzy construct. If we are to understand the way culture relates to social psychological phenomena, we must analyze it by determining dimensions of cultural variation. One of the most promising such dimensions …
Large-Scale SLAM Building Conditionally Independent Local Maps: Application to Monocular Vision

Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) algorithms based on local maps have been demonstrated to be well suited for mapping large environments as they reduce the computational cost and improve the consistency of the final estimation. The main contribution of this paper is a novel submapping technique that does not require independence between maps. The technique is based on the intrinsic structure of the SLAM problem that allows the building of submaps that can share information, remaining conditionally independent. The resulting algorithm obtains local maps in constant time during the exploration of new terrain and recovers the global map in linear time after simple loop closures without introducing any approximations besides the inherent extended Kalman filter linearizations. The memory requirements are also linear with the size of the map. As the algorithm works in a covariance form, well-known data-association techniques can be used in the usual manner. We present experimental results using a handheld monocular camera, building a map along a closed-loop trajectory of 140 m in a public square, with people and other clutter. Our results show that the combination of conditional independence, which enables the system to share the camera and feature states between submaps, and local coordinates, which reduce the effects of linearization errors, allow us to obtain precise maps of large areas with pure monocular SLAM in real time.
Sphrical Slab with Ferrocement

This research is devoted to investigate the behavior of spherical ferrocement slabs under flexural loading. The main parameters considered in the analysis are the thickness of the slab, vertical and horizontal diameters, and the effect of number of wire mesh layers on the behavior of spherical. Analysis was done using the finite element software ANSYS V. 11, which is used for solving several problems of structural engineering. The 8-node iso-parametric brick elements in ANSYS are used to represent the mortar, the wire mesh layers are considered as smeared layers elastic-perfectly plastic materials embedded within the brick elements by assuming perfect bond between the mortar and steel. An improvement was indicated in the behavior of the elements when changing the shape of the slab from straight to spherical slabs found in deflection about 64% (as indicated in ref. (1)). As well as increasing number of wire mesh layers from two to four and from two to six tend to increase the load capacity by 18% and 28% respectively. The increase in the thickness and the vertical diameter cause decrease in deflection to 20% and 10% alternately.
Formulation Development and Evaluation of Dapoxetine Hydrochloride Tablets Approved for the Treatment of Premature Ejaculation

Dapoxetine Hydrochloride a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor is a new chemical entity for the treatment of premature ejaculation. Since no systematic studies on design and development of Dapoxetine hydrochloride tablets are available in literature, we propose to develop a suitable formulation to characterize in vitro release profile of Dapoxetine hydrochloride. The aim of the present study was to formulate various formulations of immediate release tablets of Dapoxetine Hydrochloride using different excipients by direct compression and wet granulation method. The granules and tablets of Dapoxetine HCl were evaluated for various pre and post compression parameters like Angle of repose, Compressibility index, Hausner’s ratio, Tablet hardness, Thickness, Friability, and chemical parameters. Punches of different size were used to obtain the desired shape, ease of swallowing of tablets, to improve aesthetic value in terms of appearance and shape of tablets. To match dissolution profile of test formulation with innovator, drug particle size is reduced from D90-158 µ to D90-45 µ, which resulted in an increased surface area exposed to the dissolution medium. Final formulation was evaluated for multimedia dissolution in three different media and dissolution data was found satisfactory. Accelerated stability studies conducted for 2 Months at 40°C and 75% RH and were found within specification.
A Flexible Question-and-Answer Task for Measuring Speech Understanding

This report introduces a new speech task based on simple questions and answers. The task differs from a traditional sentence recall task in that it involves an element of comprehension and can be implemented in an ongoing fashion. It also contains two target items (the question and the answer) that may be associated with different voices and locations to create dynamic listening scenarios. A set of 227 questions was created, covering six broad categories (days of the week, months of the year, numbers, colors, opposites, and sizes). All questions and their one-word answers were spoken by 11 female and 11 male talkers. In this study, listeners were presented with question-answer pairs and asked to indicate whether the answer was true or false. Responses were given as simple button or key presses, which are quick to make and easy to score. Two preliminary experiments are presented that illustrate different ways of implementing the basic task. In the first experiment, question-answer pairs were presented in speech-shaped noise, and performance was compared across subjects, question categories, and time, to examine the different sources of variability. In the second experiment, sequences of question-answer pairs were presented amidst competing conversations in an ongoing, spatially dynamic listening scenario. Overall, the question-and-answer task appears to be feasible and could be implemented flexibly in a number of different ways.
Negative indirect effects of an avian insectivore on the fruit set of an insect-pollinated herb

Though an abundance of research has focused on direct interactions between birds and plants, relatively few studies have reported on indirect interactions. Of those reports, all have focused on positive indirect effects of birds on plants through predation of plant natural enemies. We conducted an observational study along the Middle Rio Grande in New Mexico to determine if avian aerial insectivores had a negative, indirect impact on insect-pollinated plants through predation of insect pollinators. We found considerable taxonomic overlap, at the order and family level, between insects visiting sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis) and those eaten by cliff swallows (Hirundo pyrrhonota). We found a significant negative relationship between proximity of sweet clover to cliff swallow breeding colonies and sweet clover fruit set during the cliff swallow nestling period. The apparent effect of cliff swallows was strongest within 200 m of breeding colonies (approximately 50% reduction in fruit set) and decreased nonlinearly to a distance of approximately 400 m. Finally, we found that the clover fruit set gradient disappeared after the nestling period, when chicks had fledged and the colony was abandoned.
Additive manufacturing: the role of welding in this window of opportunity

Abstract Additive manufacturing (AM) can be considered as an evolution from rapid prototyping as it allows us to manufacture a component from a computer file (CAD 3D), though its applications extrapolate the production of prototypes. This technique involves the layered design of a component and subsequent welding deposition of the multilayer structure to produce parts without the need of moulds or other tools. Although AM is frequently associated with the use of high density processes, the need for higher competitiveness expanded its range of technologies to include arc welding processes. This article aims to summarize up-to-date information on AM, particularly involving arc welding processes. Emphasis is given on the challenges associated with the building up of components during multilayered deposition and on post-deposition procedures.
Effects of polymer molecular weight on relative oral bioavailability of curcumin

Background Polylactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) nanoparticles have been used to increase the relative oral bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds and polyphenols in recent years, but the effects of the molecular weight of PLGA on bioavailability are still unknown. This study investigated the influence of polymer molecular weight on the relative oral bioavailability of curcumin, and explored the possible mechanism accounting for the outcome. Methods Curcumin encapsulated in low (5000–15,000) and high (40,000–75,000) molecular weight PLGA (LMw-NPC and HMw-NPC, respectively) were prepared using an emulsification-solvent evaporation method. Curcumin alone and in the nanoformulations was administered orally to freely mobile rats, and blood samples were collected to evaluate the bioavailability of curcumin, LMw-NPC, and HMw-NPC. An ex vivo experimental gut absorption model was used to investigate the effects of different molecular weights of PLGA formulation on absorption of curcumin. High-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection was used for quantification of curcumin in biosamples. Results There were no significant differences in particle properties between LMw-NPC and HMw-NPC, but the relative bioavailability of HMw-NPC was 1.67-fold and 40-fold higher than that of LMw-NPC and conventional curcumin, respectively. In addition, the mean peak concentration (Cmax) of conventional curcumin, LMw-NPC, and HMw-NPC was 0.028, 0.042, and 0.057 μg/mL, respectively. The gut absorption study further revealed that the HMw-PLGA formulation markedly increased the absorption rate of curcumin in the duodenum and resulted in excellent bioavailability compared with conventional curcumin and LMw-NPC. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that different molecular weights of PLGA have varying bioavailability, contributing to changes in the absorption rate at the duodenum. The results of this study provide the rationale for design of a nanomedicine delivery system to enhance the bioavailability of water-insoluble pharmaceutical compounds and functional foods.
Research on the Sirofil Spinning Process and Tensile Properties of PLA Filament-Cotton Blended Yarn

In order to develop new yarn product of biodegradable PLA filament, the PLA filament and cotton fiber were blended using Sirofil spinning technology. The effect of Sirofil spinning parameters, such as blending ratio of PLA filaments and cotton, space between PLA filament and cotton roving, and twist of Sirofil yarn, on the tensile properties of PLA filament-cotton blended yarn was studied. Finally, the optimum Sirofil spinning parameters as follows 60/40 blending ratio, 8 mm space between PLA filament and cotton roving, 700 T/m twist of Sirofil yarn were used. And the PLA filament-cotton blended yarn with excellent performances was made.
Selection of stabilizing agents to provide effective penetration of gold nanoparticles into cells

Abstract Objective: Gold nanorods are known to be promising agents for photothermal therapy. But the uptake of rod-shaped nanoparticles is lower than their spherical counterpart. It was therefore the objective of this study to select gold nanoparticles (GNPs)-stabilizing agents in order to provide effective penetration into cancer cells. Materials and methods: The work was carried out on human ovarian adenocarcinoma SKOV-3 cells. The gold nanorods used in this work had a plasmon resonance peak at 800 nm. The nanoparticles were stabilized by Pluronic® F-127 (PF127), chitosan or polyethylene glycol (PEG); the latter with 6000 Da and 40,000 Da molecular weight. Penetration and intracellular distribution of GNPs were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and two-photon luminescence microscopy (2PLM) techniques. Results: By means of 2PLM and TEM, it could be shown that PF127 facilitates cellular uptake of GNPs very effectively. PF127-stabilized GNPs rapidly (by 1.5 h) penetrated the cell membrane and into the cytoplasm and cell nucleus. GNPs stabilized by chitosan were slowly internalized by the cells in smaller amount. GNPs stabilized by PEG with different molecular weights had difficulty to penetrate into the cells – GNPs were localized on the outer side of the cell membrane after short incubation, and single agglomerates were found in the cells after an extended incubation time. Conclusion: Nanoparticles stabilized with PF127 were the most effective nanoparticles to penetrate into the cells and were located in the cytoplasm and cell nuclei. Nanoparticles stabilized with chitosan were internalized into cells at a slower rate and in smaller amounts than those stabilized with PF127. Nanoparticles stabilized with PEG6000 Da and PEG40.000 Da were located mainly on cell membranes and could be found in the cytoplasm only after a longer incubation time.
Cortical interneuron development: a tale of time and space

Cortical interneurons are a diverse group of neurons that project locally and are crucial for regulating information processing and flow throughout the cortex. Recent studies in mice have advanced our understanding of how these neurons are specified, migrate and mature. Here, we evaluate new findings that provide insights into the development of cortical interneurons and that shed light on when their fate is determined, on the influence that regional domains have on their development, and on the role that key transcription factors and other crucial regulatory genes play in these events. We focus on cortical interneurons that are derived from the medial ganglionic eminence, as most studies have examined this interneuron population. We also assess how these data inform our understanding of neuropsychiatric disease and discuss the potential role of cortical interneurons in cell-based therapies. Summary: This Review examines new insights into cortical GABAergic interneuron subtype specification, focussing on spatial, temporal and genetic mechanisms regulating cell fate decisions in the mouse medial ganglionic eminence.
Draft Genome Sequence of Herpetosiphon geysericola GC-42, a Nonphototrophic Member of the Chloroflexi Class Chloroflexia

ABSTRACT We report here the draft genome sequence of Herpetosiphon geysericola GC-42, a predatory nonphototrophic member of the class Chloroflexia in the phylum Chloroflexi. This genome provides insight into the evolution of phototrophy and aerobic respiration within the Chloroflexi.
Vibration analysis of FG cylindrical shells with power-law index using discrete singular convolution technique

Abstract In the present manuscript, free vibration response of circular cylindrical shells with functionally graded material (FGM) is investigated. The method of discrete singular convolution (DSC) is used for numerical solution of the related governing equation of motion of FGM cylindrical shell. The constitutive relations are based on the Love’s first approximation shell theory. The material properties are graded in the thickness direction according to a volume fraction power law indexes. Frequency values are calculated for different types of boundary conditions, material and geometric parameters. In general, close agreement between the obtained results and those of other researchers has been found.
Multivariate Analysis

One of the goals of Current Protocols is to provide information from the very basic level to the very advanced. This unit is an excellent example of providing explanation and application for a complex area. Building upon several other units on data analysis, it provides a detailed explanation of how multivariate analytical techniques are applied to flow cytometry data. The unit deals with the covariance matrix, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis and provides sources for software as well as example data files. This material will be particularly valuable to the graduate student trying to obtain a good understanding of statistical methods in flow cytometry, as well as to the experienced investigator who uses these tools on a regular basis without really understanding how they operate. Keywords: principal components analysis; cluster analysis; FCS file format One of the goals of Current Protocols is to provide information from the very basic level to the very advanced
Human papillomavirus infection as a prognostic marker for lung adenocarcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Although a number of studies have investigated the association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and lung cancer prognosis, the results remain inconsistent. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies to address this issue. Searches of the MEDLINE and EMBASE electronic databases from their inception until June 30, 2016 yielded nine studies involving a total of 1,205 lung cancer cases that were used to conduct the meta-analysis. Study-specific risk estimates were pooled using a random-effects model. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) comparing HPV-positive to HPV-negative cancers 1.00 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.78-1.28) was not significantly correlated with overall survival. However, lung adenocarcinoma patients with HPV infections exhibited a survival benefit compared to those without HPV infection (HR=0.69, 95% CI: 0.50-0.96). This meta-analysis suggests HPV infection is a prognostic marker in lung adenocarcinoma. To further elucidate the epidemiology and pathogenesis of HPV infections in lung cancer, future large prospective studies are encouraged to stratify survival analysis based on the pathological type and clinical stage of the cancer.
Eco-Friendly Electromagnetic Interference Shielding Materials from Flexible Reduced Graphene Oxide Filled Polycaprolactone/Polyaniline Nanocomposites

ABSTRACT Hybrid nanocomposites have the unique ability of enhancing material properties due to the existing synergistic effect of the fillers. In this study, the authors report such an eco-friendly hybrid nanocomposite comprising of polyaniline and reduced graphene oxide in polycaprolactone. The conducting polyaniline improved the processability of polycaprolactone, and the final composites were prepared by incorporating graphene oxide reduced at 200 and 600°C temperatures to the polycaprolactone–polyaniline blend. Polyaniline, polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide200, and polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide600 imparted good electrical conductivity to polycaprolactone, and the fabricated flexible polycaprolactone–polyaniline/reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites exhibited good mechanical property, increased thermal stability, and excellent electromagnetic interference shielding up to 42 dB at 13 GHz. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT