Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The effect of hypertension on the apparent diffusion coefficient values of kidneys.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to diagnose hypertension- induced renal microvascular dysfunction using renal diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and to identify any correlation between blood pressure level and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. MATERIALS AND METHODS The study included 77 consecutive patients (41 women and 36 men). The patients were divided into 4 groups according to their blood pressure level. Group 1 consisted of normotensive control patients; group 2, pre-hypertensive patients; group 3, stage 1 hypertensive patients; and group 4, stage 2 hypertensive patients. All patients underwent transverse diffusion-weighted multi-section echo-planar MRI. In the transverse ADC maps, rectangular regions of interest were placed in the cortex at 3 sites (upper, middle, and lower pole) of each kidney. The ADCs of the kidneys were calculated separately for low, average, and high b values to enable the differentiation of the relative influence of the perfusion fraction and true diffusion. In addition, a multi-slab balanced turbo field-echo magnetic resonance angiographic technique (without the use of a contrast agent) was used to exclude renal artery stenosis. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference between the groups in age, and no significant correlation between the ADC values of both kidneys and blood pressure level in each group (P > 0.05). In addition, the ADC values of patients with microalbuminuria did not differ from those of the other patients (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION Despite the end-organ damage caused by hypertension, renal microvascular functions were preserved and hypertension did not affect ADC values.
Ordeal Therapy: Unusual Ways to Change Behavior

Now available once again, in this classic book noted therapist Jay Haley explains how and why ordeals work in therapy. With the ordeal technique, the therapist's task is easily defined: It is to impose an ordeal appropriate to the problem of the person who wants to change, an ordeal more severe than the problem. The main requirement of an ordeal is that it should cause distress equal to or greater than that caused by the symptom, just as a punishment should fit the crime. If an ordeal isn't severe enough to extinguish the symptom, it can be increased in magnitude until it is. Haley explains how ordeals can succeed in promoting change even in cases with long histories of therapeutic failure, and describes the use of different kinds of ordeals. Problems discussed include psychosomatic symptoms, uncontrollable and violent children, separation and divorce, anxiety, incontinence, sexual frustration, alcoholism, speech blocks, and depression.
The effect of tolerance for ambiguity and risk preference on entrepreneurial performance in high role conflict situations : Australian evidence

Research interest in the personality profile of entrepreneurs has generated a large number of papers focusing on the direct impacts of different personality characteristics on perceived performance. However, empirical evidence on the moderator effects of these personality attributes in the entrepreneurship context is more limited, though examples can be found in the non-entrepreneurship literature such as the moderating influence of tolerance for ambiguity on the relationship between role conflict and perceived performance among production managers (Lysonski & Andrews, 1990) and the moderating effects of individual differences on the relationship between supervisory behaviours and salespeople's response (DeConinck & Brock, 1992/93).
Monitoring the treatment of carcinoid disease using blood serotonin and plasma 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid: three case examples

The results for plasma 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), whole blood serotonin and the chromogranins on three patients following their treatment for carcinoid disease with somatostatin analogues are presented. Two of the patients (a 56-year-old woman and a 55-year-old man) demonstrated a good clinical response following treatment, with initial high blood serotonin and plasma 5-HIAA concentrations showing a significant decline. However, blood serotonin concentrations remained above the reference range during the course of treatment, whereas plasma 5-HIAA remained borderline high or marginally elevated with respect to the clinical cut-off concentration. The third patient, a 79-year-old man, demonstrated saturation of platelets with serotonin and increasing elevation of plasma 5-HIAA, which later fell with the introduction of interferon into this patient's treatment regimen. Results for the plasma chromogranin fragments, pancreastatin (Chromogranin A) and GAWK (Chromogranin B), showed a much greater degree of variability in all three cases. This study shows promise for plasma 5-HIAA as a useful marker for monitoring carcinoid disease. The limitations of blood serotonin expressed to the platelet count are highlighted.
Treatment outcome in recurrent major depression: a post hoc comparison of elderly ("young old") and midlife patients.

OBJECTIVE The authors compared response rates, the temporal course of response to acute treatment, and relapse rates during continuation treatment of elderly and midlife patients with recurrent major depression. METHOD They analyzed results from two separate controlled studies of maintenance therapies for recurrent major depression, in which 148 elderly patients (mean age = 67.9 years) and 214 midlife patients (mean age = 38.5 years) were treated in open acute and continuation therapy with a combination of interpersonal psychotherapy and a tricyclic antidepressant (nortriptyline for the elderly, imipramine for the midlife patients). In an intent-to-treat analysis, remission rates during acute treatment and relapse rates during continuation treatment were examined. Random regression analysis of weekly Hamilton depression scale ratings was used to compare the temporal course of response. RESULTS During acute-phase therapy, 78.4% (N = 116) of the elderly patients and 69.6% (N = 149) of the midlife patients had remissions. The midlife patients had a faster reduction of Hamilton depression ratings. Following stabilization, 15.5% of the elderly patients and 6.7% of the midlife patients relapsed. Ultimately, 66.2% of the late-life patients and 57.0% of the midlife patients recovered fully. CONCLUSIONS Older patients appear to benefit as much as, but perhaps more slowly then, midlife patients from treatment of major depression. Continuation treatment should be vigorous and closely monitored, given the apparently higher relapse rates among the elderly. These conclusions should be viewed as preliminary because of the post hoc nature of the analysis reported here.
Wafer-level package interconnect options

As integrated circuit technology enters the nanometer era, global interconnects are becoming a bottleneck for overall chip performance. In this paper, we show that wafer-level package interconnects are an effective alternative to conventional on-chip global wires. These interconnects behave as LC transmission lines and can be exploited for their near speed of light transmission and low attenuation characteristics. We compare performance measures such as bandwidth, bandwidth density, latency, and power consumption of the package-level transmission lines with conventional on-chip global interconnects for different International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) technology nodes. Based on these results, we show that package-level interconnects are well suited for power demanding low-latency applications. We also analyze different interconnect options such as memory buses, long inter tile interconnects, clock, and power distribution
ENHANCED VASOCONSTRICTION BY SEROTONIN IN RABBIT CAROTID ARTERIES WITH ATHEROMA‐LIKE LESIONS IN VIVO

1. In a new animal model which mimics the cellular events of early human atherosclerosis, atheroma‐like lesions were produced by positioning a hollow silastic collar around the common carotid arteries of rabbits. The functional significance of these arterial lesions on blood flow responses to vasoactive agents was then studied in anaesthetized rabbits in vivo.
ON HETEROSCEDASTICITY IN ROBUST REGRESSION

This work studies the phenomenon of heteroscedasticity and its consequences for various methods of linear regression, including the least squares, least weighted squares and regression quantiles. We focus on hypothesis tests for these regression methods. The new approach consists in deriving asymptotic heteroscedasticity tests for robust regression, which are asymptotically equivalent to standard tests computed for the least squares regression. One approach to modeling heteroscedasticity assumes a prior knowledge or specific model for the variability of random regression errors. Another (and more general) approach does not assume a specific form of heteroscedasticity. The paper also describes heteroscedastic regression, which is a tool to incorporate heteroscedasticity to the model. This allows us to define the heteroscedastic least weighted squares regression.
NEWS AS PURPOSIVE BEHAVIOR: ON THE STRATEGIC USE OF ROUTINE EVENTS, ACCIDENTS, AND SCANDALS*

The manner in which access is accomplished can vary and these variations lead to a typology of event types: routines, accidents, scandals and serendipitous events. Each type of event tends to reveal different kinds of information about the ways society is organized, and each type holds different challenges to those who have or lack power. The general implications of this schema for the study of media and power are discussed. veryone needs news. In everyday life, news tells us what we do not experience directly and thus renders otherwise remote happenings observable and meaningful. Conversely, we fill each other in with news. Although those who make their living at newswork (reporters, copy editors, publishers, typesetters, etc.) have additional needs for news, all individuals, by virtue of the ways they attend to and give accounts of what they believe to be a pregiven world, are daily newsmakers.
What's around me? Multi-actuator haptic feedback on the wrist

We present the design, implementation and evaluation of a novel wrist-based vibrotactile multi-actuator bracelet, based on a coplanar circular configuration of actuators, for the provision of intuitive and informative haptic feedback for navigation tasks. A two-phase evaluation was conducted in order to assess the perception of the vibrotactile feedback provided by the bracelet and in particular, the ability of users to discriminate a range of vibrotactile patterns. First, a pilot study designed to test perception of different kinds of pattern was conducted with the aim of both refining the pattern design and aiding the choice of a discriminable set of patterns. Second, an identification experiment with the previously chosen set of patterns was conducted with the aim of conveying navigational directions and points of interest to the user. Results highlighted the difficulties in identifying the number of activated actuators as well as their position on the wrist, which subsequently had an impact on the pattern recognition. It was found that one-way horizontal and vertical movements were difficult to perceive correctly, however, less specific movements such as circular or alternating lateral movements and rhythm proved to be suitable parameters for the perception of patterns as long as the patterns were not too similar in design.
Reason has no sell‐by date

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to respond to Richard Slaughter's essay on “Is America the ‘land of the future’? ”Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on a variety of literature and the authors' opinions to present the case in favour of Enlightenment values.Findings – The paper finds that the USA is perhaps the most faithful political expression of the eighteenth century Enlightenment whose values have since been assimilated throughout the world. Enlightenment values are not beyond criticism, but that does not justify uninformed anti‐American attitudes.Originality/value – The paper provides a counter‐balance to Slaughter's essay by arguing for a reasoned debate on the issues.
Structure and Optical Properties of CdS Superclusters in Zeolite Hosts

Direct synthesis of CdS within the pore structure of zeolites leads to a novel supercluster with a structural geometry superimposed by the host framework. Detailed X-ray powder diffraction and EXAFS analysis together with optical absorption data reveal discrete (CdS, O), cubes located within the small sodalite units of the structure which begin to interconnect as the loading density within the zeolite rises. The discrete cube building blocks consist of interlocking tetrahedra of Cd and S with a CdS bond length of 2.47 A. At higher loadings these cubes begin to occupy adjacent sodalite units where the Cd atoms point toward each other through the double six-rings linking the sodalite moieties with a Cd-Cd distance of -6 A. As this three-dimensional interconnection proceeds, the corresponding changes in optical properties indicate a progression toward a semiconductor supercluster with behavior intermediate between that of the discrete CdS cubes and bulk semiconductor. Semiconductor superclusters of this type represent a novel class of materials where the three-dimensional structure and electronic properties can be controlled by using different zeolites as the template. The unique stability of the semiconductor clusters inside the sodalite units is due to the coordination of Cd atoms with the framework oxygen atoms of the double six-ring windows. The stability of the supercluster comes from the interaction between clusters in the adjacent sodalite units. We suggest that through-bond coupling is responsible for the interaction between clusters.
Guidance of trunk neural crest migration requires neuropilin 2/semaphorin 3F signaling

In vertebrate embryos, neural crest cells migrate only through the anterior half of each somite while avoiding the posterior half. We demonstrate that neural crest cells express the receptor neuropilin 2 (Npn2), while its repulsive ligand semaphorin 3F (Sema3f) is restricted to the posterior-half somite. In Npn2 and Sema3f mutant mice, neural crest cells lose their segmental migration pattern and instead migrate as a uniform sheet, although somite polarity itself remains unchanged. Furthermore, Npn2 is cell autonomously required for neural crest cells to avoid Sema3f in vitro. These data show that Npn2/Sema3f signaling guides neural crest migration through the somite. Interestingly, neural crest cells still condense into segmentally arranged dorsal root ganglia in Npn2 nulls, suggesting that segmental neural crest migration and segmentation of the peripheral nervous system are separable processes.
Pyrethroid-Degrading Microorganisms and Their Potential for the Bioremediation of Contaminated Soils: A Review

Pyrethroid insecticides have been used to control pests in agriculture, forestry, horticulture, public health and for indoor home use for more than 20 years. Because pyrethroids were considered to be a safer alternative to organophosphate pesticides (OPs), their applications significantly increased when the use of OPs was banned or limited. Although, pyrethroids have agricultural benefits, their widespread and continuous use is a major problem as they pollute the terrestrial and aquatic environments and affect non-target organisms. Since pyrethroids are not degraded immediately after application and because their residues are detected in soils, there is an urgent need to remediate pyrethroid-polluted environments. Various remediation technologies have been developed for this purpose; however, bioremediation, which involves bioaugmentation and/or biostimulation and is a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach, has emerged as the most advantageous method for cleaning-up pesticide-contaminated soils. This review presents an overview of the microorganisms that have been isolated from pyrethroid-polluted sites, characterized and applied for the degradation of pyrethroids in liquid and soil media. The paper is focused on the microbial degradation of the pyrethroids that have been most commonly used for many years such as allethrin, bifenthrin, cyfluthrin, cyhalothrin, cypermethrin, deltamethrin, fenpropathrin, fenvalerate, and permethrin. Special attention is given to the bacterial strains from the genera Achromobacter, Acidomonas, Bacillus, Brevibacterium, Catellibacterium, Clostridium, Lysinibacillus, Micrococcus, Ochrobactrum, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Sphingobium, Streptomyces, and the fungal strains from the genera Aspergillus, Candida, Cladosporium, and Trichoderma, which are characterized by their ability to degrade various pyrethroids. Moreover, the current knowledge on the degradation pathways of pyrethroids, the enzymes that are involved in the cleavage of pesticide molecules, the factors/conditions that influence the survival of strains that are introduced into soil and the rate of the removal of pyrethroids are also discussed. This knowledge may be useful to optimize the environmental conditions of bioremediation and may be crucial for the effective removal of pyrethroids from polluted soils.
Detecting Epileptic Spikes

Summary: We present a technique for automatic detection of epileptic spikes in electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings. We used a nonlinear modeling method that enables us to detect rapidly and accurately epileptic behavior in the EEG signal. Our approach is illustrated by an application to interictal activity from a patient with focal epilepsy.
EU legitimacy revisited: the normative foundations of a multilevel polity

This paper reconceptualizes the challenge of legitimate governance in the European Union (EU) as a multilevel polity. Legitimacy is defined as one possible motivation for accepting political rule; it roots in citizens’ affiliation with a balanced set of core values and their structural realization. This article argues that any attempt to legitimize the EU faces two distinct challenges. First, owing to the co-existence of states and individuals as political subjects, national legitimacy standards – defined by their balance of negative freedom, political equality and welfare – cannot be reproduced. Second, the legitimacy of both the Union and its member states depends upon the compatibility of values across levels. Empirically, legitimacy is hard to disentangle from other motivations behind acceptance, such as self-interest or fear of sanctions. By analysing the EU's constitutional evolution as a ‘structural proxy’ for its underlying values, we capture shifts in the supranational value configuration and identify potential incompatibilities with established national balances. Such incompatibilities, we argue, are a hitherto neglected challenge to the normative justifiability of both the EU and its member states.
Extent and distribution of white matter hyperintensities in normal aging, MCI, and AD

Objective: To analyze the extent and spatial distribution of white matter hyperintensities (WMH) in brain regions from cognitively normal older individuals (CN) and patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer disease (AD). Methods: We studied 26 mild AD, 28 MCI, and 33 CN. MRI analysis included quantification of WMH volume, nonlinear mapping onto a common anatomic image, and spatial localization of each WMH voxel to create an anatomically precise frequency distribution map. Areas of greatest frequency of WMH from the WMH composite map were used to identify 10 anatomic regions involving periventricular areas and the corpus callosum (CC) for group comparisons. Results: Total WMH volumes were associated with age, extent of concurrent vascular risk factors, and diagnosis. After correcting for age, total WMH volumes remained significantly associated with diagnosis and extent of vascular risk. Regional WMH analyses revealed significant differences in WMH across regions that also differed significantly according to diagnosis. In post-hoc analyses, significant differences were seen between CN and AD in posterior periventricular regions and the splenium of the CC. MCI subjects had intermediate values at all regions. Repeated measures analysis including vascular risk factors in the model found a significant relationship between periventricular WMH and vascular risk that differed by region, but regional differences according to diagnosis remained significant and there was no interaction between diagnosis and vascular risk. Conclusions: Differences in white matter hyperintensities (WMH) associated with increasing cognitive impairment appear related to both extent and spatial location. Multiple regression analysis of regional WMH, vascular risk factors, and diagnosis suggest that these spatial differences may result from the additive effects of vascular and degenerative injury. Posterior periventricular and corpus callosum extension of WMH associated with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease indicate involvement of strategic white matter bundles that may contribute to the cognitive deficits seen with these syndromes.
Incidence and outcome of mild cognitive impairment in a population-based prospective cohort

Objective: To estimate the age-specific incidence rate of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) according to sex and educational level and to explore the course of MCI, particularly its progression to AD, in a population-based cohort. Methods: A community-based cohort of nondemented elderly people (Personnes Agées QUID [PAQUID]) was followed longitudinally for 5 years. MCI was defined as memory complaints with objective memory impairment, without dementia, impairment of general cognitive functioning, or disability in activities of daily living. Incidence rates were calculated using the person–years method. A descriptive analysis at the different follow-up times was performed to study the course of MCI. Results: At baseline, there were 58 prevalent cases of MCI (2.8% of the sample). During a 5-year follow-up, 40 incident cases of MCI occurred in 1,265 subjects at risk. The global incidence rate of MCI was 9.9/1,000 person–years. MCI was a good predictor of AD with an annual conversion rate of 8.3% and a good specificity, but it was very unstable over time: Within 2 to 3 years, only 6% of the subjects continued to have MCI, whereas >40% reverted to normal. Conclusions: Conventionally defined MCI has reasonable predictive value and specificity for AD. However, MCI was very unstable across time in this study. Furthermore, the definition of MCI seems to be too restrictive and should probably be extended to other categories of individuals also at high risk of developing AD.
Family criticism and self‐starvation: a study of expressed emotion

The measure Expressed Emotion (EE) has been established as an exceptionally useful indicator of relapse in people with schizophrenia and depression. EE is now also being applied more broadly for the investigation of other disorders. EE is usually rated by conducting the Camberwell Family Interview, i.e. in the course of separate individual interviews with the relatives of the symptomatic individuals. This paper reports the rating of EE in adolescents with eating disorders within a semi-structured family schedule - the Standardized Clinical Family Interview. Consecutive referrals for eating disorders were assessed prior to family therapy and again at regular intervals during therapy. EE ratings for this sample, the prognostic value of EE, and the changes in EE that took place during the course of therapy are presented and their clinical implications discussed. The findings suggest that even low levels of Critical Comments from the parents to the anorexic adolescent are associated with continuing symptoms.