Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Savoring positive events in couple life: Impacts on relationship quality and dyadic adjustment

Savoring is as an emotion regulation process that moderates the effect of positive events on positive feelings and helps people to generate, maintain, and increase their positive emotional experiences. Savoring processes are expected to have an impact on romantic relationships, although no study has yet been conducted. Using self-reported data from 473 adults in a conjugal relationship, this study investigated the predictive value of savoring strategies regarding relationship quality and dyadic adjustment; and whether savoring responses moderate the relationship between positive events in couplehood and the relational outcomes. Counting blessings, feeling relieved, memory building, and kill-joy thinking strategies predict several relational dimensions. Moderation analyses highlight that the behavioral expression, counting blessings, and memory building strategies affect positive events’ impact on several relational outcomes. Given the suggested role of savoring strategies in partners’ relational well-being, we believe that this issue may be targeted in marital counseling or training programs.
Learning, exploiting and benchmarking problem structures in real-valued evolutionary optimization

In the context of real-valued evolutionary optimization in high dimensional domains, understanding and exploiting the problem structure can lead to significant improvements in final result quality while also lowering the computational burdens by cutting down evaluation time. This dissertation presents novel approaches for linkage learning and gene sensitivity detection through machine learning methods in the real-valued domains and a proposed idea to jointly represent these measures. A surrogate-assisted perturbation-check for non-linearity that does not stress the true fitness function is introduced and various machine learning methods are employed and compared in terms of their ability to rank gene importance. Furthermore, novel surrogate-assisted crossover operators that incorporate linkage knowledge through crossover masks are defined and evaluated on synthetic fitness functions to empirically validate their utility. Finally, a new benchmark with overlapping linkage groups of increasing size is presented, which provides a platform for comparison of real-valued global optimization algorithms. Index words: Machine Learning, Evolutionary Computation, Linkage Learning, Problem Structures, Genetic Algorithms, Benchmark Learning, Exploiting and Benchmarking Problem Structures in Real-Valued Evolutionary Optimization
Effects of focus on prosodic reflections of phrase structure in American English

Reports in the sentence processing literature on whether untrained speakers reliably disambiguate syntactic phrase structure ambiguities with prosody have shown mixed results. Allbritton et al (1996), Straub (1997), and Snedeker et al (1999) found little to no evidence of prosodic disambiguation of syntax when other factors resolved the ambiguity, and argued that prosodic disambiguation is produced only when required by the situation. Schafer et al (2000) and Warren et al (2000) found strong evidence of prosodic disambiguation even in unambiguous situations. We examine how another factor, focus, affects the prosodic disambiguation of syntactic phrase structure, potentially clarifying these seemingly conflicting results.
Computable Categoricity

We study the notion of computable categoricity of computable structures, comparing it especially to the notion of relative computable categoricity and its relativizations. In particular, we show that every 1-decidable computably categorical structure is relatively ∆2-categorical, but that there is a computably categorical structure that is not even relatively arithmetically categorical. We also study the complexity of various index sets associated with computable categoricity and relative computable categoricity, though the index set complexity of the computably categorical structures remains open. Finally, we introduce and study a variation of relative computable categoricity, comparing it to both computable categoricity and relative computable categoricity and its relativizations.
Healing Medicare Hospital Recidivism: Causes and Cures

The role of Medicare in our national market for acute care hospital services is that of a power buyer. Medicare beneficiaries in 2008 included some 45.2 million people. Total benefits paid in 2008 were $462 billion, including 29% of all hospital spending. Medicare's dominance in the buyer's market for acute care hospital beds renders the program particularly wellsuited to scrutinize the role of acute care hospital services in producing effective and efficient outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries. “[I]f there are to be far-reaching changes in the way medicine is practiced in this country, Medicare will have to drive them. ” It is a historical irony that a program, a scaled-down version of national health insurance, could have grown to this power buyer status; but the history of Medicare is full of ironies—the greatest of which may prove to be that Medicare reforms now sit at the very center of the funding mechanisms for the 2010 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA).
The Drosophila javelin Gene Encodes a Novel Actin-Associated Protein Required for Actin Assembly in the Bristle

ABSTRACT The Drosophila melanogaster bristle is a highly polarized cell that builds specialized cytoskeletal structures. Whereas actin is required for increasing bristle length, microtubules are essential for bristle axial growth. To identify new proteins involved in cytoskeleton organization during bristle development, we focused on identifying and characterizing the javelin (jv) locus. We found that in a jv mutant, the bristle tip is swollen and abnormal organization of bristle grooves is seen over the entire bristle. Using confocal and electron microscopy, we found that in jv mutant bristles, actin bundles do not form properly due to a loss of actin filaments within the bundle. We show that jv is an allele of the predicted CG32397 gene that encodes a protein with no homologs outside insects. Expression of the Jv protein fused to a green fluorescent protein (GFP) shows that the protein is colocalized with actin bundles in the bristle. Moreover, expression of Jv-GFP within the germ line led to the formation of ectopic actin bundles that surround the nucleus of nurse cells. Thus, we report that Jv is a novel actin-associated protein required for actin assembly during Drosophila bristle development.
[Molecular biological study of aloe vera in the treatment of experimental allergic rhinitis in rat].

OBJECTIVE To study the therapeutic mechanism of aloe vera in allergic rhinitis (AR). METHOD Ovalbumin sensitized white rat used as animal models of AR were treated intranasally with aloe vera. At the end of treatment, the differences in the behavior science were observed; the changes in the nasal mucosa were studied by pathological; IL-2, IL-4 mRNA in the nasal mucosa and spleen were used to do reverse transcriptive polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULT The behavior science score of positive controls (8.42 +/- 1.06) was higher than the experimental group (2.02 +/- 0.42) and normal controls (0); inflammatory reactions in the experimental group nasal mucosa were remarkably relieved; the mean expression level of IL-2 mRNA in the experimental group was higher significantly than positive controls (P < 0.01); but that of IL-4 mRNA was lower evidently (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION The aloe vera are suggested to be involved in the differentiation of CD4+ lymphocytes, by means of regulating the expression of Th1 and Th2 cytokines. The results suggests that local aloe vera treatment was a selective and non-traumatic method to treat the allergic rhinitis.
Biomechanical Forces in Atherosclerosis-Resistant Vascular Regions Regulate Endothelial Redox Balance via Phosphoinositol 3-Kinase/Akt-Dependent Activation of Nrf2

Local patterns of biomechanical forces experienced by endothelial cells (ECs) in different vascular geometries appear to play an essential role in regulating EC function and determining the regional susceptibility to atherosclerosis, even in the face of systemic risk factors. To study how biomechanical forces regulate EC redox homeostasis, an important pathogenic factor in atherogenesis, we have cultured human ECs under 2 prototypic arterial shear stress waveforms, “atheroprone” and “atheroprotective,” which were derived from 2 distinct vascular regions in vivo that are typically “susceptible” or “resistant” to atherosclerosis. We demonstrate that atheroprotective flow decreases EC intracellular redox level and protects ECs against oxidative stress–induced injury. To identify the molecular mechanisms that control this cellular response, we examined several major oxidative/antioxidative pathways and found that atheroprotective flow upregulated certain antioxidant genes and strongly activated the transcription factor Nrf2. Using a strategy of small interfering RNA inhibition of Nrf2 expression combined with genome-wide transcriptional profiling, we determined the downstream targets of Nrf2 activation and identified Nrf2 as a critical determinant for the changes in endothelial redox balance exerted by atheroprotective flow. In addition, we showed that atheroprotective flow activates Nrf2 via the phosphoinositol 3-kinase/Akt pathway, and this activation occurs differentially in atherosclerosis-resistant and atherosclerosis-susceptible regions of the mouse aorta. Taken together, our data demonstrate that hemodynamic forces present in atherosclerosis-resistant and -susceptible regions of the vasculature differentially regulate EC redox state and antioxidant potential. These alterations in redox homeostasis are primarily the result of the phosphoinositol 3-kinase/Akt-dependent activation of Nrf2 and its downstream transcriptional targets.
The Relation Between Compassionate Love and Prejudice

Recently, there has been an increase in prejudice toward some groups such as immigrants. In response, governments and citizens have called for compassion. In four studies, we tested the hypothesis that people who are high in compassionate love would express less prejudice than those who are low. We found that people high in compassionate love had more positive attitudes toward out-groups, including immigrants. The relation between compassionate love and prejudice toward immigrants was mediated by inclusion of out-group members in the self. An experiment provided evidence of a causal link between compassionate love and prejudice toward immigrants. Finally, people high in compassionate love were less likely to discriminate against immigrants in a budget cutting exercise and more likely to volunteer to help them. Empathy did not account for our results. We conclude that compassionate love holds promise as a positive pathway to prejudice reduction.
Upper limb recovery after stroke: The stroke survivors' perspective

Purpose. This study investigated stroke survivors' perspective of upper limb recovery after stroke. The aim was to determine factors other than medical diagnosis and co-morbidities that contribute to recovery. The objectives were to explore how stroke survivors define recovery, identify factors they believe influence recovery and determine strategies used to maximize upper limb recovery. Method. A qualitative study consisting of three focus groups and two in-depth interviews was conducted with stroke survivors (n = 19) and spouses (n = 9) in metropolitan, regional and rural Queensland, Australia. Data were analysed using principles of grounded theory. Results. Stroke survivors maximize upper limb recovery by ‘keeping the door open’ a process of continuing to hope for and work towards improvement amidst adjusting to life with stroke. They achieve this by ‘hanging in there’, ‘drawing on support from others’, ‘getting going and keeping going with exercise’, and ‘finding out how to keep moving ahead’. Conclusions. This study provides valuable insight into the personal experience of upper limb recovery after stroke. It highlights the need to develop training strategies that match the needs and aspirations of stroke survivors and that place no time limits on recovery. It reinforces the benefits of stroke support groups and advocates their incorporation into stroke recovery services. These findings can be used to guide both the development and evaluation of stroke survivor centred upper limb training programmes.
Clinical evaluation of a new model of self-obtained method for the assessment of genital human papilloma virus infection in an underserved population.

BACKGROUND We designed a self-sampling method to collect exfoliated genital cells for human papilloma virus (HPV) detection. The aim was to assess whether it was suitable as an assistant tool for the early detection of cervical pre-cancer and cancer in a special category of the women who are not frequently screened for cervical cancer. METHODS We compared the results of HPV detection that were self-obtained and physician-obtained cervical swabs from the same patient that were analyzed using hybrid capture II assay. The diagnostic rate of cervical pre-cancer and cancer between self-obtained method and physician-obtained method were analyzed. RESULTS A total of 1194 women were prospectively registered from September 1997 through September 1999. Among them, 144 (12.1%) of self-test samples and 155 (13%) of physician-obtained samples were oncogenetic associated-HPV positive. Statistically, no significant differences existed in the screening rate for cervical cancer using either the self-collected samples or the physician-obtained samples (p > .05). The sensitivity of cervical precancer or cancer detection using self-obtained HPV testing was higher (96.3%) as compared with the Pap smear (79.2%) (p < .02). CONCLUSION The detection correlation of the HPV test between the self-obtained method and physician-obtained method was 93%. Our results indicated that self-sampling was a reliable method for testing for HPV. The identification of HPV infection through the self-obtained method can be used in early identification of high-risk women with cervical precancer and cancer especially in underserved populations.
Salternamide E from a Saltern-derived Marine Actinomycete Streptomyces sp.

− Comprehensive chemical analysis of extracts and fractions of marine actinomycete strains led to the discovery of a new minor secondary metabolite, salternamide E (1), from a saltern-derived halophilic Streptomyces strain. The planar structure of salternamide E (1) was elucidated by a combinational analysis of spectroscopic data including NMR, MS, UV, and IR. The absolute configuration of salternamide E (1) was determined by circular dichroism spectroscopic analysis. Salternamide E displayed weak cytotoxicity against various human carcinoma cell lines.
Malnutrition: another health inequality?

Malnutrition (undernutrition) is one of the many health inequalities facing governments in the 21st century. Malnutrition is a common condition affecting millions of individuals in the UK, particularly older adults, the sick and those cared for within the healthcare system. It costs the National Health Service >£7·3×109 annually. New data highlight marked geographical differences in the prevalence of malnutrition across England and an inter-relationship between deprivation, malnutrition and poor outcome. As malnutrition is a largely treatable condition, prompt identification and effective prevention and treatment of this costly condition is imperative. Routine screening for malnutrition in high-risk groups (e.g. the elderly and those in areas with high deprivation) and within the healthcare system should be a priority, with screening linked to appropriate plans for the management of malnutrition. Use should be made of specialised interventions, including oral nutritional supplements and artificial nutrition, to aid recovery and improve outcome, with skilled health professionals, including dietitians, involved where possible. Equity of access to nutritional services and treatments for malnutrition needs to occur across the UK and, although complex and multi-factorial, the effects of deprivation and other relevant socio-economic and geographical factors should be addressed. Ultimately, as malnutrition is a public health problem, its identification and treatment must become a priority for governments, healthcare planners and professionals.
On the Embodied Nature of Action

A theory of the embodiment of action is proposed. Reflections on relations between human intentions, the human body and the notion of agency lead us to argue that phenomenological analysis is not sufficient for such a theory. Our consideration, that the most fundamental level of embodied agency is that of life itself, brings us to the philosophy of biology and the theory of the organism: briefly, certain parts of the natural environment are intrinsic to the constitution of organisms and, in their more sophisticated configuration, as agents. Action is embodied in the sense that certain physiological processes are internal in relation to it and play a constitutive role in its performance. The way in which environment, context and consciousness affect and constitute the nature of agency at personal and sub-personal levels is elaborated. We see that human agents perceive and act upon their world through a complex shifting between those levels. A summary of the ways in which the social sciences can be enriched by this more comprehensive view of human agency provides the basis of justification for claiming Actor-Network Theory (ANT), originally developed by sociologists studying science and technology, as a promising framework for the continuation of this reasoning.
Passive optical NRZ-to-RZ converter

We propose and demonstrate a simple passive optical NRZ-to-RZ converter based on an optical filter. This filter could be made of a birefringent device and a polarizer. The measured results show that converted RZ signal is chirp-free and its duty ratio can be adjusted by varying the birefringence of optical filter.
Non-invasive X-ray micro-computed tomographic evaluation of indomethacin on urethane-induced lung carcinogenesis in mice.

BACKGROUND Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. We previously reported that respiration-gated X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is a useful tool for analyzing lung tumor development in animal models. MATERIALS AND METHODS Lung tumors were induced by a single intraperitoneal injection (250 mg/kg) of urethane in male A/J mice, followed by indomethacin treatment at 5 ppm in the diet. The mice were scanned by micro-CT every 4 weeks from 10 to 26 weeks after urethane administration. RESULTS Total incidence and multiplicity of lung tumors were not significantly reduced by indomethacin treatment, as compared with untreated mice. However, the incidence of adenocarcinoma tended to be reduced by indomethacin treatment. Moreover, the size of lung tumors, especially adenomas, was suppressed by indomethacin treatment. Micro-CT analysis revealed that indomethacin effectively suppressed tumor development after urethane treatment for 10 weeks. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that indomethacin suppresses lung carcinogenesis in mice and micro-CT is a useful non-invasive imaging approach for evaluating the characteristics and suppression of lung tumors in mice treated with cancer chemopreventive agents.
Sensory Perception and Communication in Electric Fish

Patricia DeCoursey received her B.A. degree in Zoology from Cornell University, M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in the field of Animal Behavior, and postdoctoral experience at the Max-Planck Institute, Erling, Germany, in Behavioral Physiology. She has developed a series of coordinated experiments for her Animal Behavior course over the past two decades and has summarized these in Exercises in Animal Behavior (Fourth edition, University of South Carolina Press, 1992). Her research concerns circadian rhythms in rodents.
Modeling of flexible needle for haptic insertion simulation

Needle buckling is commonly observed in the surgical procedure of flexible needle insertion. Unexpected buckling can seriously affect the insertion performances, and it should be avoided because it causes unstable and undesirable motion of the needle, thereby damages surrounding vital tissue structures. Although needle insertion simulation methods using haptic interfaces have been reported, yet no extensive study of needle buckle modeling and its haptic simulation can be found. Therefore, in this paper modeling methods of needle buckling in air, buckling in homogeneous tissue, and buckling in multi-layered tissues are proposed. An energy-based method is used to model the feedback force in the insertion procedure through a haptic interface. An experimental simulation system based on a haptic interface is developed.
Selmer's Multiplicative Algorithm

Abstract. The behavior of the multiplicative acceleration of Selmer's algorithm is widely unknown and no general result on convergence has been detected yet. Solely for its 2-dimensional, periodic expansions, there exist some results on convergence and approximation due to Fritz Schweiger. In this paper we show that periodic expansions of any dimension do in fact converge and that the coordinates of the limit points are rational functions of the largest eigenvalue of the periodicity matrix.
Interleukin 2 gene transfer into tumor cells abrogates tumorigenicity and induces protective immunity

To study the effects of localized secretion of cytokines on tumor progression, the gene for human interleukin 2 (IL-2) was introduced via retroviral vectors into CMS-5 cells, a weakly immunogenic mouse fibrosarcoma cell line of BALB/c origin. Secretion of low levels of IL- 2 from the tumor cells abrogated their tumorigenicity and induced a long-lasting protective immune response against a challenge with a tumorigenic dose of parental CMS-5 cells. Co-injection of IL-2- producing CMS-5 cells with unmodified tumor cells inhibited tumor formation even when highly tumorigenic doses of CMS-5 cells were used. Cytolytic activity in mice injected with parental CMS-5 cells was transient and was greatly diminished 3 wk after injection, as commonly observed in tumor-bearing animals. However, in mice injected with IL-2- producing cells, tumor-specific cytolytic activity persisted at high levels for the duration of the observation period (at least 75 d). High levels of tumor-specific cytolytic activity could also be detected in parental CMS-5 tumor-bearing animals 18 d after inoculation with tumor cells, if IL-2-producing CMS-5 cells but not unmodified parental tumor cells were used as targets. These studies highlight the potential advantages of localized secretion of cytokines mediated via gene transfer to induce potent anti-tumor immune responses.