Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Short-Term Anomia Training and Electrical Brain Stimulation

Background and Purpose— Language training success in chronic aphasia remains only moderate. Electric brain stimulation may be a viable way to enhance treatment efficacy. Methods— In a randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial, we assessed if anodal transcranial direct current stimulation compared to cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation and sham stimulation over the right temporo-parietal cortex would improve the success of short-term high-frequency anomia training. Twelve chronic poststroke aphasia patients were studied. Naming outcome was assessed after training and 2 weeks later. Results— All training conditions led to a significant increase in naming ability, which was retained for at least 2 weeks after the end of the training. Application of anodal transcranial direct current stimulation significantly enhanced the overall training effect compared to sham stimulation. Baseline naming ability significantly predicted anodal transcranial direct current stimulation effects. Conclusions— Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation applied over the nonlanguage dominant hemisphere can enhance language training outcome in chronic aphasia. Clinical Trial Registration— URL: www.clinicaltrials. gov/. Unique identifier: NCT00822068.
ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE DISCOVERY IN DATABASES

The Knowledge Discovery in Databases and Data Mining field proposes the development of methods and techniques for assigning useful meanings for data stored in databases. It gathers researches from many study fields like machine learning, pattern recognition, databases, statistics, artificial intelligence, knowledge acquisition for expert systems, data visualization and grids. While Data Mining represents a set of specific algorithms of finding useful meanings in stored data, Knowledge Discovery in Databases represents the overall process of finding knowledge and includes the Data Mining as one step among others such as selection, prei? ½processing, transformation and interpretation of mined data. This paper aims to point the most important steps that were made in the Knowledge Discovery in Databases field of study and to show how the overall process of discovering can be improved in the future.
Methodologic approach for the Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) project

Background: The Biomarkers Reflecting Inflammation and Nutritional Determinants of Anemia (BRINDA) project is a multiagency and multicountry collaboration that was formed to improve micronutrient assessment and to better characterize anemia. Objectives: The aims of the project were to 1) identify factors associated with inflammation, 2) assess the relations between inflammation, malaria infection, and biomarkers of iron and vitamin A status and compare adjustment approaches, and 3) assess risk factors for anemia in preschool children (PSC) and women of reproductive age (WRA). Design: The BRINDA database inclusion criteria included surveys that 1) were conducted after 2004, 2) had target groups of PSC, WRA, or both, and 3) used a similar laboratory methodology for the measurement of ≥1 biomarker of iron [ferritin or soluble transferrin receptor or vitamin A status (retinol-binding protein or retinol)] and ≥1 biomarker of inflammation (α-1-acid glycoprotein or C-reactive protein). Individual data sets were standardized and merged into a BRINDA database comprising 16 nationally and regionally representative surveys from 14 countries. Collectively, the database covered all 6 WHO geographic regions and contained ∼30,000 PSC and 27,000 WRA. Data were analyzed individually and combined with the use of a meta-analysis. Results: The methods that were used to standardize the BRINDA database and the analytic approaches used to address the project’s research questions are presented in this article. Three approaches to adjust micronutrient biomarker concentrations in the presence of inflammation and malaria infection are presented, along with an anemia conceptual framework that guided the BRINDA project’s anemia analyses. Conclusions: The BRINDA project refines approaches to interpret iron and vitamin A biomarker values in settings of inflammation and malaria infection and suggests the use of a new regression approach as well as proposes an anemia framework to which real-world data can be applied. Findings can inform guidelines and strategies to prevent and control micronutrient deficiencies and anemia globally.
The Influence of Power on Emotions Felt for Others

Power has been shown to influence empathy and other emotions for others, but little research seeks to understand why this might happen. The present study focuses on how power may influence appraisals of control, which thereby influence emotions felt for others. We primed participants to feel high or low power in dyads. Then each participant read about a target’s bad situation. In one condition the situation occurred due to chance circumstances (situational control), and the target expressed sadness. In the other condition a third party was to blame, and the target expressed anger (human agency). We hypothesized high power subjects would make different appraisals of control in the situational control condition, and feel less sad than low power subjects. Therefore they would be less likely to experience empathy compared to low power subjects. We predicted no difference in power on control appraisals in the human agency condition, so high power participants would experience equal or more empathy as low power participants in this condition. We found that low power subjects felt sadder overall across both agency conditions, but found no difference for power and anger. We discuss potential implications of our main effect of power on sadness, as well as discuss directions for future research.
Determination of Natamycin in Turkish Yoghurt

This study was aimed at developing RP-HPLC method for determination of natamycin in Turkish yoghurt. Chromatographic separation was achieved on a C8 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm × 5 µm) with a mobile phase of methanol : water : acetic acid (12 : 8 : 1 v/v/v), at 1 mL/min flow rate with a detection of 303 nm. Natamycin was spiked into handmade yoghurt samples and used for validation. The method has been fully validated according to ISO 9233-2, 2007 (IDF 140-2, 2007). It was successfully applied to determination of 28 different Turkish yoghurt products. Findings dealing with the presence of natamycin in cheese samples are presented.
Self-Regulated Learning Using Multimedia Programs in Dentistry Postgraduate Students: A Multimethod Approach.

The purpose of this study was to study the effect of a multimedia computing program on the production of activities and self-regulated learning processes in 18 students of the Dentistry postdegree (Celaya, Mexico). A multi-method design (quasi-experimental, pretest-post-test and qualitative: Think aloud protocol) was used. Self-regulated activities were identified with the MSLQ questionnaire. Results of the MSLQ pretest/post-test questionnaire didn't show an intervention effect. In contrast, the qualitative methodology allowed the registration of a high frequency of self-regulated dimensions on the metacognitive area, on the making of inferences (cognitive area), and on the planning time and effort (behavioural area). Our data revealed the usefulness of a qualitative methodology for the understanding of the complex nature of the self-regulatory processes on learning environments based on computers.
Clinical Significance of POU5F1P1 rs10505477 Polymorphism in Chinese Gastric Cancer Patients Receving Cisplatin-Based Chemotherapy after Surgical Resection

This study aimed to investigate the association between POU class5 homeobox 1 pseudogene 1 gene (POU5F1P1) rs10505477 polymorphism and the prognosis of Chinese gastric cancer patients, who received cisplatin-based chemotherapy after surgical resection. POU5F1P1 rs10505477 was genotyped using the SNaPshot method in 944 gastric cancer patients who received gastrectomy. The association of rs10505477 G > A polymorphism with the progression and prognosis in gastric cancer patients was statistically analyzed using the SPSS version 18.0 for Windows. The results reveal that rs10505477 polymorphism has a negatively effect on the overall survival of gastric cancer patients in cisplatin-based chemotherapy subgroup (HR = 1.764, 95% CI = 1.069–2.911, p = 0.023). Our preliminary study indicates for the first time that POU5F1P1 rs10505477 is correlated with survival of gastric cancer patients who receving cisplatin-based chemotherapy after gastrectomy. Further studies are warranted to investigate the mechanism and to verify our results in different populations.
Angiogenesis revisited – role and therapeutic potential of targeting endothelial metabolism

ABSTRACT Clinically approved therapies that target angiogenesis in tumors and ocular diseases focus on controlling pro-angiogenic growth factors in order to reduce aberrant microvascular growth. Although research on angiogenesis has revealed key mechanisms that regulate tissue vascularization, therapeutic success has been limited owing to insufficient efficacy, refractoriness and tumor resistance. Emerging concepts suggest that, in addition to growth factors, vascular metabolism also regulates angiogenesis and is a viable target for manipulating the microvasculature. Recent studies show that endothelial cells rely on glycolysis for ATP production, and that the key glycolytic regulator 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) regulates angiogenesis by controlling the balance of tip versus stalk cells. As endothelial cells acquire a tip cell phenotype, they increase glycolytic production of ATP for sprouting. Furthermore, pharmacological blockade of PFKFB3 causes a transient, partial reduction in glycolysis, and reduces pathological angiogenesis with minimal systemic harm. Although further assessment of endothelial cell metabolism is necessary, these results represent a paradigm shift in anti-angiogenic therapy from targeting angiogenic factors to focusing on vascular metabolism, warranting research on the metabolic pathways that govern angiogenesis.
Cross-Pollination of Information in Online Social Media: A Case Study on Popular Social Networks

Owing to the popularity of Online Social Media (OSM), Internet users share a lot of information on and across OSM services every day. Users recommend, comment, and forward information they receive from friends, contributing in spreading the information in and across OSM services. We term this information diffusion process from one OSM service to another as Cross-Pollination, and the network formed by users who participate in Cross-Pollination and content produced in the network as Cross-Pollinated network. Research has been done about information diffusion within one OSM service, but little is known about Cross-Pollination. We aim at filling this gap by studying how information from three popular OSM services (You Tube, Flickr and Foursquare) diffuses on Twitter, the most popular microblogging service. Our results show that Cross-Pollinated networks follow temporal and topological characteristics of Twitter. Furthermore, popularity of information on source OSM (You Tube, Flickr and Foursquare) does not imply its popularity on Twitter.
Introduction: trends in epithelial transport and control.

Osmotic and ionic regulation ultimately depend on epithelial transport mechanisms and their control in most metazoans, although intracellular osmotic adjustments are probably more important in marine osmoconformers. There are a great variety of osmoregulatory organs throughout the animal kingdom and physiological information about many of these is still so incomplete that it seemed inappropriate to attempt a comprehensive review or synthesis of osmoregulation in a small discussion meeting of this type. However, given the general conservative nature of many cellular processes during the course of animal evolution, we might anticipate common protein carrier mechanisms which are organized and controlled in a limited number of ways within most epithelia. A number of such general concepts and models of epithelial transport have developed over the last ten years and these should prove useful in the future when less well studied osmoregulatory organs are investigated. With this in mind, we have included in this volume reports on some of the most intensively studied epithelia having a range of different regulatory functions. These papers will indicate (1) the types of primary and secondary transport mechanisms which are now well established and partially characterized, (2) their typical asymmetrical distribution in epithelia, and (3) cellular processes associated with their regulation. (4) Finally we consider the relative importance and characteristics of the paracellular route for ion and fluid transfer across epithelia.
Glycemic control and extended hemodialysis survival in patients with diabetes mellitus: comparative results of traditional and time-dependent Cox model analyses.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The benefits and risks of aggressive glycemic control in diabetes mellitus complicated by end-stage kidney failure remain uncertain but have importance because of the large patient population with inferior overall prognosis. Recent large observational studies with differing methodologies reached somewhat contrasting conclusions regarding the association of hemoglobin A1c with survival in diabetic chronic hemodialysis patients. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS This study supplements the authors' previous analysis (which found no correlation) by extending the follow-up period to 3 years and using time-dependent survival models with repeated measures. Among 24,875 nationally distributed study patients, 94.5% had type 2 diabetes, allowing additional analysis in the subset with type 1 diabetes. Data were collected at baseline and every quarter to a maximum of 3 years' follow-up. RESULTS Adjusted standard and time-dependent Cox models indicated that only extremes of glycemia were associated with inferior survival. There was no effect modification by serum albumin levels, a marker of protein nutrition status, and no trend associated with random glucose measurements in a post hoc analysis. In type 1 diabetic patients, upper extreme hemoglobin A1c values indicated lower survival risk. CONCLUSIONS Sustained extremes of glycemia were only variably and weakly associated with decreased survival in this population. In the absence of randomized, controlled trials, these results suggest that aggressive glycemic control cannot be routinely recommended for all diabetic hemodialysis patients on the basis of reducing mortality risk. Physicians are encouraged to individualize glycemic targets based on potential risks and benefits in diabetic ESRD patients.
COMPLETED AND ATTEMPTED SUICIDE IN ILAM, IRAN (1995 - 2002): INCIDENCE AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS

Background: Understanding the epidemiology of suicide will increase awareness of suicide as a major public health problem. The epidemiology of suicide is described for the first time in Ilam, Iran. To describe the incidence of and factors associated with completed and attempted suicide in Ilam (western part of Iran), a longitudinal prospective case-register study was conducted from 1995 to 2002. Methods: In the province of Ilam, Iran, all individual contacts concerning parasuicidal behavior were registered by the participating facilities. Demographic and case-related information were recorded. Two thousand five hundred twelve people committed suicide from the year 1995 to 2002. Cases were selected on the basis of information from the scene of crime, police inquest, office of welfare organization, autopsy findings, emergency medical services, mental health clinics and hospital records, Ilam Central Bureau of Statistics, and interview with the acquaintances of the victims and suicide attempted persons. Results: The overall annual completed suicide rate (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 10.0 (8.5 to 11.5) and 26.4 (23.9 to 28.9) per 100,000 men and women. The attempted suicide rate was 41.8 (38.7 to 44.8) and 64.5 (60.7 to 68.4) per 100,000 men and women. More women than men completed (relative risk = 2.7 [95% CI: 2.2 to 3.2]) or attempted suicide (relative risk = 1.5 [95% CI: 1.4 to 1.7]). Suicide and attempted suicide rates were highest among 20 – 29 years old and decreased with increasing the age. Self-immolation was the most common method of suicide, while drug overdose was the predominant method of suicide attempt. Suicidal behavior was associated with a higher level of education. A higher completed and attempted suicide rate was found among the married people than those who never married. Conclusion: The findings of this study highlight the need for further studies to identify population at high risk for suicide as the first step towards planning a well-organized approach to reduce the suicide rate.
Optimal training sequence length for soft iterative channel estimation

In this paper, we consider the problem of optimization of the training sequence length when a turbo-detector composed of a maximum a posteriori (MAP) equalizer and a MAP decoder is used. The initial channel estimate based on the training sequence is iteratively improved using the Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm. In order to “unbias” the EM estimates, a modified version of the EM estimator is used. The optimal length of the training sequence is found by maximizing an effective Signal-to-Noise Ratio (SNR) taking into account the data throughput loss due to the use of pilot symbols.
Cellular mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy.

Hypertrophy is the principal response of the heart to overload from any cause, including hypertension, myocardial infarction, valvar heart disease, and dilated cardiomyopathy. In the Framingham study, left ventricular hypertrophy was found on echocardiography in 15-20% of adults. 1 This is an important observation because hypertrophy is a strong, independent predictor of cardiovascular death 2 and is associated with diastolic dysction. 3 Adult cardiac myocytes are highly specialised, terminally differentiated cells which have lost the ability to divide. The increase in heart muscle mass seen in cardiac hypertrophy occurs predominantly through an increase in myocyte size rather than number, 4 though some claim evidence of mitotic division when the left ventricular mass exceeds 350 g. 5 At a cellular level the events leading to cardiac hypertrophy can be broadly divided into three stages: extracellular hypertrophic stimulus; intracellular signal transduction; and activation of nuclear events which allow development of the hypertrophic phenotype
Epithelial phenotype in total sclerocornea

Purpose To understand whether the epithelial phenotype in total sclerocornea is corneal or conjunctival in origin. Methods Four cases of total sclerocornea (male:female = 1:3; mean age = 5.4±4.3; 1–11 years old) who received penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) at our hospital between 2008 and 2011 were included. Corneal buttons obtained during PKP were used for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as well as immunoconfocal microscopy for cytokeratins 3, 12, and 13, goblet cell mucin MUC5AC, connexin 43, stem cell markers p63 and ABCG2, laminin-5, and fibronectin. Results After a mean follow-up period of 38.8±14.0 (12–54) months, the grafts remained clear in half of the patients. TEM examination revealed a markedly attenuated Bowman’s layer in the scleralized corneas, with irregular and variably thinned collagen lamellar layers, and disorganization and random distribution of collagen fibrils, which were much larger in diameter compared with a normal cornea. Immunoconfocal microscopy showed that keratin 3 was expressed in all four patients, while p63, ABCG2, and MUC5AC were all absent. Cornea-specific keratin 12 was universally expressed in Patients 1 to 3, while mucosa (including conjunctiva)-specific keratin 13 was negative in these patients. Interestingly, keratin 12 and 13 were expressed in Patient 4 in a mutually exclusive manner. Linear expression of laminin-5 in the basement membrane zone and similar expression of fibronectin were observed. Conclusions The epithelia in total sclerocornea are essentially corneal in phenotype, but in the event of massive corneal angiogenesis, invasion by the conjunctival epithelium is possible.
Conventional ultrasonography and sonoelastography in the assessment of plaque psoriasis under topical corticosteroid treatment - work in progress.

AIMS The objective of the study was to compare the efficiency of 20 MHz skin ultrasonography and 40 MHz conventional ultrasonography in the assessment of plaque psoriasis and to assess the efficiency of 40 MHz real-time sonoelastography in the early detection of steroid-induced skin atrophy in psoriatic plaques. PATIENTS AND METHODS Ultrasonographic blinded evaluation was performed on 16 plaques in three consecutive patients, at baseline and after hydrocortisone acetate 1% ointment six-week application. The parameters were epidermal and dermal thicknesses for gray-scale ultrasonography and strain ratio for sonoelastography. Strain ratio was computed between the dermis and the adjacent hypodermis. Student's t-test for paired samples was performed. A confidence level of p<. 05 was considered significant. RESULTS At follow-up, epidermal thickness was significantly reduced with 20 MHz (p = .002) and 40 MHz sonography (p = .032), while dermal thickness varied insignifcantly with 20 MHz (p = .35) and 40 MHz sonography (p = .33). Measurements at 40 MHz were significantly higher than their 20 MHz counterparts at baseline (epidermis: p < .001; dermis: p = .003) and at follow-up (epidermis: p < .001; dermis: p = .001). Strain ratio revealed no significant change of dermal elasticity (p = .96). CONCLUSIONS Although epidermal and dermal measurements varied significantly with 20 MHz and 40 MHz ultrasonography, both techniques efficiently quantified treatment response by measuring the reduction of epidermal thickness. Sonoelastographic findings were consistent with the expected outcome of short-term use of low-potency corticosteroid. Further studies are recommended.
Conflict escalation and coping with workplace bullying: A replication and extension

Bullying or mobbing is used for systematically harassing a person for a long time. In the context of stress theory, bullying is a severe form of social stressors at work, whereas in terms of conflict theory, bullying signifies an unsolved social conflict having reached a high level of escalation and an increased imbalance of power. Based on a qualitative study with 20 semi-structured interviews with victims of bullying and a quantitative questionnaire study with a total of 149 victims of bullying and a control group (N = 81), it was investigated whether bullying victims use specific conflict management strategies more often compared with individuals who are not bullied, and whether coping strategies used by successful copers with bullying differ from those of the unsuccessful copers. Successful copers were those victims who believe that their situation at work has improved again as a result of their coping efforts. The qualitative data showed that most victims started with constructive conflict-solving strategies, changed their strategies several times, and finally tried to leave the organization. In the interviews, the victims of bullying most often recommended others in the same situation to leave the organization and to seek social support. They more often showed conflict avoidance in the quantitative study. Successful victims fought back with similar means less often, and less often used negative behaviour such as frequent absenteeism. Moreover, they obviously were better at recognizing and avoiding escalating behaviour, whereas in their fight for justice, the unsuccessful victims often contributed to the escalation of the bullying conflict.