Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelos factoriales confirmatorios de las escalas de Ryff en una muestra de personas mayores

Factorial confirmatory models of Ryff's scales in a sample of elderly people. Several recent works have analysed the factorial structure of well-being measures. The aim of our study is to analyse the factorial structure of a widely used well-being scale, Ryff's Scales of Psychological Well-being, but in a specific subpopulation of the Spanish population, the elderly. For this particular subpopulation, the construct of well-being has been employed in most theoretical models that explain quality of life, and its role is therefore pivotal. The sample comprised 169 elderly people (65 years or more), sampled within the Valencian Community. The 54-item version of Ryff's scales was used. An item parcelling process was analytically employed before confirmatory factor analyses, allowing a total of 18 well-being indicators. Confirmatory factor analyses were specified and tested, including all theoretical and empirical solutions found in the literature, either in the general population or in specific populations of different cultural contexts. Goodness-of-fit results were similar to the ones found in the literature. Best solutions were a six-factor model with correlated factors, as defended by the authors, and a five-factor correlated solution, collapsing environmental mastery and self-acceptance into a single factor.
Combination Therapy with Interleukin-6 Receptor Superantagonist Sant7 and Dexamethasone Induces Antitumor Effects in a Novel SCID-hu In vivo Model of Human Multiple Myeloma

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) protects multiple myeloma cells against apoptosis induced by glucocorticoids. Here, we investigated whether inhibition of the IL-6 signaling pathway by the IL-6 receptor superantagonist Sant7 enhances the in vivo antitumor effects of dexamethasone on the IL-6–dependent multiple myeloma cell line INA-6. For this purpose, we used a novel murine model of human multiple myeloma in which IL-6–dependent INA-6 multiple myeloma cells were directly injected into human bone marrow implants in severe combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice (SCID-hu). The effect of in vivo drug treatments on multiple myeloma cell growth was monitored by serial determinations of serum levels of soluble IL-6 receptor (shuIL-6R), which is released by INA-6 cells and served as a marker of tumor growth. In SCID-hu mice engrafted with INA-6 cells, treatment with either Sant7 or dexamethasone alone did not induce significant reduction in serum shuIL-6R levels. In contrast, the combination of Sant7 with dexamethasone resulted in a synergistic reduction in serum shuIL-6R levels after 6 consecutive days of treatment. Gene expression profiling of INA-6 cells showed down-regulation of proliferation/maintenance and cell cycle control genes, as well as up-regulation of apoptotic genes in multiple myeloma cells triggered by Sant7 and dexamethasone combination. In vitro colony assays showed inhibition of myeloid and erythroid colonies from normal human CD34+ progenitors in response to dexamethasone, whereas Sant7 neither inhibited colony growth nor potentiated the inhibitory effect of dexamethasone. Taken together, these results indicate that inhibition of IL-6 signaling by Sant7 significantly potentiates the therapeutic action of dexamethasone against multiple myeloma cells, providing the preclinical rationale for clinical trials of Sant7 in combination with dexamethasone to improve patient outcome in multiple myeloma.
Brd4 Is Required for E2-Mediated Transcriptional Activation but Not Genome Partitioning of All Papillomaviruses

ABSTRACT Bromodomain protein 4 (Brd4) has been identified as the cellular binding target through which the E2 protein of bovine papillomavirus type 1 links the viral genome to mitotic chromosomes. This tethering ensures retention and efficient partitioning of genomes to daughter cells following cell division. E2 is also a regulator of viral gene expression and a replication factor, in association with the viral E1 protein. In this study, we show that E2 proteins from a wide range of papillomaviruses interact with Brd4, albeit with variations in efficiency. Moreover, disruption of the E2-Brd4 interaction abrogates the transactivation function of E2, indicating that Brd4 is required for E2-mediated transactivation of all papillomaviruses. However, the interaction of E2 and Brd4 is not required for genome partitioning of all papillomaviruses since a number of papillomavirus E2 proteins associate with mitotic chromosomes independently of Brd4 binding. Furthermore, mutations in E2 that disrupt the interaction with Brd4 do not affect the ability of these E2s to associate with chromosomes. Thus, while all papillomaviruses attach their genomes to cellular chromosomes to facilitate genome segregation, they target different cellular binding partners. In summary, the E2 proteins from many papillomaviruses, including the clinically important alpha genus human papillomaviruses, interact with Brd4 to mediate transcriptional activation function but not all depend on this interaction to efficiently associate with mitotic chromosomes.
Gonadal hormone modulation of hippocampal neurogenesis in the adult

Gonadal hormones modulate neurogenesis in the dentate gyrus (DG) of adult rodents in complex ways. Estradiol, the most potent estrogen, initially enhances and subsequently suppresses cell proliferation in the dentate gryus of adult female rodents. Much less is known about how estradiol modulates neurogenesis in the adult male rodent; however, recent evidence suggests that estradiol may have a moderate effect on cell proliferation but enhances cell survival in the DG of newly synthesized cells but only when estradiol is administered during a specific stage in the cell maturation cycle in the adult male rodent. Testosterone likely plays a role in adult neurogenesis, although there have been no direct studies to address this. However, pilot studies from our laboratory suggest that testosterone up‐regulates cell survival but not cell proliferation in the DG of adult male rats. Progesterone appears to attenuate the estradiol‐induced enhancement of cell proliferation. Neurosteroids such as allopregnalone decrease neurogenesis in adult rodents, while pregnancy and motherhood differentially regulate adult neurogenesis in the adult female rodent. Very few studies have investigated the effects of gonadal hormones on male rodents; however, studies have indicated that there is a gender difference in the response to hormone‐regulated hippocampal neurogenesis in the adult. Clearly, more work needs to be done to elucidate the effects of gonadal hormones on neurogenesis in the DG of both male and female rodents. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss Inc.
Photoelectrochemical Properties of Graphene and Its Derivatives

Graphene and its derivatives combine a numerous range of supreme properties that can be useful in many applications. The purpose of this review is to analyse the photoelectrochemical properties of pristine graphene, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and their impact on semiconductor catalysts/quantum dots. The mechanism that this group of materials follows to improve their performance will be cleared by explaining how those properties can be exploited in several applications such as photo-catalysts (degradation of pollutants) and photovoltaics (solar cells).
Laryngeal Features of External Superior Laryngeal Nerve Denervation: Revisiting a Century-Old Controversy

A long-standing controversy exists regarding the laryngoscopic features associated with unilateral denervation of the external superior laryngeal nerve (ESLN). Recently, we modeled acute unilateral cricothyroid muscle paralysis by blocking the ipsilateral ESLN with lidocaine hydrochloride, and identified epiglottic petiole deviation to the side of paralysis during high-pitched voice production as a possible diagnostic sign. This study provides preliminary clinical evidence supporting the presence of petiole deviation in cases of ESLN denervation. Epiglottic petiole deviation to the side of weakness was present in electromyographically confirmed cases of unilateral partial or complete ESLN denervation, in isolation or in combination with denervation of other branches of the vagus nerve. In addition, a case of complete ESLN and recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) denervation showed return of the petiole to the midline 6 months after surgical reinnervation of the ESLN and RLN. Finally, petiole deviation was not present in isolated RLN paralysis — A finding suggesting that the diagnostic sign is uniquely associated with ESLN denervation. We concluded that deviation of the petiole to the side of cricothyroid muscle weakness during high-pitched voice production represents a potential diagnostic sign of unilateral ESLN denervation. Further research is necessary to determine factors that influence the expression and detection of this sign, as well as its diagnostic precision.
Sonographic Markers of Hemoglobin Bart Disease at Midpregnancy

Objective. To evaluate the efficacy of various sonographic markers at midpregnancy in predicting fetal hemoglobin Bart disease. Methods. Four hundred eighty‐eight pregnancies at risk of having fetuses with hemoglobin Bart disease were recruited for prenatal diagnosis with cordocentesis at 18 to 21 gestational weeks. Before cordocentesis, the sonographic markers, including cardiothoracic ratio, placental thickness, pericardial effusion, pleural effusion, ascites, subcutaneous edema, cord edema, dilated umbilical vein, and amniotic fluid index, were assessed and recorded. The definite fetal diagnosis was based on blood analysis. The efficacy of each sonographic marker in predicting hemoglobin Bart disease was evaluated by sensitivity and specificity. Results. Among 488 pregnancies undergoing prenatal diagnosis, 100 fetuses were proved to be affected by hemoglobin Bart disease. The cardiothoracic ratio gave the highest sensitivity, 95.0%, with specificity of 96.1%, followed by placental thickness. Signs of hydrops fetalis were observed in 33.0% of cases; they did not increase the sensitivity of the cardiothoracic ratio but strongly reinforced the diagnosis when they appeared. Conclusions. At midpregnancy, sonographic markers can effectively differentiate normal pregnancies from those with fetal hemoglobin Bart disease. Among couples at risk with no sonographic markers, the risk of having an affected child is nearly eliminated. The most sensitive marker was the cardiothoracic ratio, followed by placental thickness.
A 10.3125Gb/s Burst-Mode CDR Circuit using a δσ DAC

The CDR circuit is fabricated in 0.25 mum SiGe BiCMOS technology. The low-speed digital blocks, such as the frequency detector, the up/down counter, the modulator, and the dither generator, are developed using CMOS transistors. The LPF used in the DAC is integrated in the chip. Two power supplies, 3.3 V for bipolar transistors and 1.8 V for CMOS, are used. PONs such as 10G-EPON systems require a burst-mode CDR circuit for upstream transmission that has an instantaneous response, tolerance to long consecutive-identical digits (CIDs), and high jitter tolerance. In this paper, a burst-mode CDR circuit achieves instantaneous locking of 1b, CID tolerance of 160b, and jitter tolerance of 0.27UIpp at 10.3125Gb/s operation. These characteristics are provided by a CDR architecture using a single gated VCO (GVCO) and DeltaSigma DAC.The simple architecture of the GVCO-based bust-mode CDR circuit provides instantaneous phase locking, which reduces the overhead time and increases the transmission efficiency.
Profile-guided I/O partitioning

In the field of high performance computing there is a growing need to process large, complex datasets. Many of these applications are file-intensive workloads, performing a large number of reads from and writes to a small number of files. When executing these workloads on cluster-based systems, performance cannot scale by simply increasing the number of compute nodes. To effectively exploit parallel resources we need to parallelize file I/O. The potential impact of exploiting parallel I/O grows as the gap between CPU and disk speeds continues to increase.While parallel I/O middleware systems (e.g., MPI I/O) provide users with environments where large datasets can be shared among multiple distributed processes, the performance of file-intensive applications depends heavily on how the data is accessed and where the data is physically located on disk. I/O operations need to be parallelized both at the application level (using middleware) and at the disk level (using partitioning). In this paper, we present a new profile-guided greedy partitioning algorithm to parallelize I/O access for file-intensive applications run on cluster-based systems. We are using MPI and MPI I/O to provide parallelization at the application level. We utilize I/O profiling to capture relevant information about the I/O stream. We then use these profiles to guide file partitioning across multiple disks to significantly improve I/O throughput.
An analytical framework for the performance evaluation of proximity-aware structured overlays

In this paper, we present an analytical study of proximity-aware structured peer-to-peer networks under churn. We use a master-equation-based approach, which is used traditionally in non-equilibrium statistical mechanics to describe steady-state or transient phenomena. In earlier work we have demonstrated that this methodology is in fact also well suited to describing structured overlay networks under churn, by showing how we can accurately predict the average number of hops taken by a lookup, for any value of churn, for the Chord system. In this paper, we extend the analysis so as to also be able to predict lookup latency, given an average latency for the links in the network. Our results show that there exists a region in the parameter space of the model, depending on churn, the number of nodes, the maintenance rates and the delays in the network, when the network cannot function as a small world graph anymore, due to the farthest connections of a node always being wrong or dead. We also demonstrate how it is possible to analyse proximity neighbour selection or proximity route selection within this formalism.
Intra-Renal Angiotensin II/AT1 Receptor, Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Progressive Injury in Renal Mass Reduction

Significant reduction of renal mass triggers a chain of events that result in glomerular hypertension/hyperfiltration, proteinuria, glomerulosclerosis, tubulointerstitial injury, and end-stage renal disease. These events are mediated by a constellation of hemodynamic, oxidative, and inflammatory reactions that are, in part, driven by local AT1 receptor (AT1r) activation by angiotensin II (Ang II). Here we explored the effects of 5/6 nephrectomy with and without AT1r blockade (losartan for 8 weeks) on AT1r and AT2r and Ang II-positive cell count, pathways involved in oxidative stress and inflammation [NAD(P)H oxidase, nuclear factor κB (NFκB), 12-lipooxygenase, cyclooxygenase (COX)-1, COX-2, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, renal T cell, and macrophage infiltration] as well as renal function and structure. The untreated group exhibited hypertension, deterioration of renal function and structure, reduced or unchanged plasma renin activity, aldosterone concentration, marked up-regulations of AT1r (250%), Ang II-expressing cell count (>20-fold), NAD(P)H oxidase subunits (gp91phox, p22phox, and P47phox; 20–40%), COX-2 (250%), 12-lipooxygenase (100%), MCP-1 (400%), and PAI-1 (>20-fold), activation of NFκB, and interstitial infiltrations of T cells and macrophages in the remnant kidneys. AT1r blockade attenuated the biochemical and histological abnormalities, prevented hypertension, and decelerated deterioration of renal function and structure. Thus, the study demonstrated a link between up-regulation of Ang II/AT1r system and oxidative stress, inflammation, hypertension, and progression of renal disease in rats with renal mass reduction.
Towards Design Optimization with OpenModelica Emphasizing Parameter Optimization with Genetic Algorithms

One of the main goals when modeling a physical system is to optimize its design or conguration. Currently existing platforms are often dependent on commercial software or are based on in-house and special-purpose development tools. These two alternatives present disadvantages that limit sharing and reusability. The same assessment has partly motivated the origin of the Modelica language itself. In this paper, a new optimization platform called OMOptim is presented. Intrinsically linked with OpenModelica, this platform is mainly aimed at facilitating optimization algorithm development, as well as application use together with models. A rst version is already available and three test cases of which one using respectively Dymola and two using
Diverging breast and stomach cancer incidence and survival in migrants in The Netherlands, 1996–2009

Abstract Background. Migrant populations usually experience a health transition with respect to their cancer risk as a result from environmental changes and acculturation processes. We investigated potentially contrasting experiences with breast and stomach cancer risk and survival in migrants to the Netherlands in a retrospective cohort study. Methods. Invasive breast (n = 96 126) and stomach cancer cases (n = 24 496) diagnosed 1996–2009 were selected from the population-based Netherlands Cancer Registry. Standardized Incidence Ratios (SIRs) were computed as the ratio of observed and expected cancers. Differences in survival were expressed as relative excess risk of mortality (RER). Results. Women from Morocco, Suriname and Turkey exhibited a significantly lower risk for breast cancer than native Dutch women (SIR range 0.5–0.9). Relative excess mortality was significantly increased in Surinamese (RER = 1.2, 95% CI 1.0–1.5) patients. The incidence of non-cardia stomach cancer was significantly elevated in all migrants, except in Indonesians, being highest in Turkish males (SIR = 2.2, 1.9–2.6). Cardia stomach cancer appeared to be less frequent in all migrants, being lowest in Surinamese males (SIR = 0.3, 0.2–0.5). Relative excess mortality was significantly lower in patients from the Antilles (RER = 0.7, 0.5–1.0), Suriname (0.8, 0.6–0.9) and Turkey (0.7, 0.6–0.9). Conclusion. The lower incidence rates of breast and cardia stomach cancer in migrants as well as their higher non-cardia stomach cancer rates reflect most likely early life exposures including pregnancy and/or dietary patterns during life-course. While higher relative excess mortality from breast cancer in migrant women might point toward inadequate access and treatment in this group, lower excess mortality from (especially non-cardia) stomach cancer remains to be explained.
The impact of repeated mild traumatic brain injuries (concussions) on the cognitive and academic functioning of early adolescent rugby union players: A controlled, longitudinal, prospective study

thinking (Table 4.12) showed that at baseline the numbers of non-rugby and previous players showing deficits were less than for rugby players. Although for the former two groups the numbers of participants showing deficits decreased by the third year more so for non rugby as opposed to the previous rugby group, the percentage of players showing deficits increased markedly for the rugby playing group. In addition, the percentage of participants in the more than 1 standard deviation above the mean group was higher for the non rugby group as opposed to the other two groups. Other than providing an explanation for the time effect for SIM when the effect of VOC has been accounted for, these findings could suggest that possibly the non rugby group with minimal insults to the brain, compared with the rugby group, were not hampered in terms of development of abstract thinking and that possibly they were less vulnerable given the protective factors associated with their higher estimated BRC. The findings of more deficits for SIM amongst participants playing rugby and sustaining insults to the brain could also be explained by the statistically significant lower VOC scores and the statistically significant concussion scores suggesting greater vulnerability for these participants in terms of the development of specific cognitive functions. The previous players’ performances after three years were not dissimilar from the non-players suggesting that one could again argue for the existence of a protective factor
Empathy and its development

Introduction: critical issues in the study of empathy, N.Eisenberg and J.Strayer. Part 1 Historical and theoretical perspectives: history of concept of empathy, L.Wispe evolutionary bases of empathy, R.Plutchik the contribution of empathy to justice and moral judgment, M.L. Hoffman empathy and psychotherapy, J.Marica commentary on part 1, E.Straub. Part 2 Empathy across the life span: empathy and emotional understanding - the early development of empathy, R.A. Thompson empathy and related responses in children, M.A.Barnett adults' emotional reactions to the distress of others, C.D. Batson et al commentary on part 2, P.Mussen. Part 3 Current issues and empirical findings: gender and age differences in empathy and sympathy, R.Lennon and N.Eisenberg affective and cognitive perspectives on empathy, J.Strayer mental health, temperament, family and friends - perspectives on children's empathy and social perspective taking, B.K. Bryant parental empathy and child adjustment/maladjustment, N.D. Feshbach empathy, sympathy, and altruism - empirical and conceptual links, N.Eisenberg and P.Miller motor mimicry as primitive empathy, J.B. Bavelas commentary on part 3, B.S.Moore. Part 4 Methodological issues: picture-story indices of empathy, J.Strayer self-report ratings of empathic emotion, C.D. Batson critique of comparable questionnaire methods in use to assess empathy in children and adults, B.K. Bryant somatic indices of empathy, R.F. Marcus physiological indices of empathy, N.Eisenberg et al. Conclusions: empathy viewed in context, J.Strayer and N.Eisenberg.
Translation and Validation of a Korean Version of the Xerostomia Inventory in Patients with Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome

This study was conducted to generate and validate a cross-culturally adapted Korean version of the xerostomia inventory (XI), an 11-item questionnaire designed to measure the severity of xerostomia. The original English version of the XI was translated into Korean according to the guidelines for cross-cultural adaptation of health-related quality-of-life measures. Among a prospective cohort of primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) in Korea, 194 patients were analyzed. Internal consistency was evaluated by using Cronbach’s alpha, and test-retest reliability was obtained by using an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) analysis. Construct validity was investigated by performing a correlation analysis between XI total score and salivary flow rate (SFR). Cronbach’s alpha for internal consistency was 0.868, and the ICC for test-retest reliability ranged from 0.48 to 0.827, with a median value of 0.72. Moderate negative correlations between XI score and stimulated SFR, unstimulated SFR, and differential (stimulated minus unstimulated) SFR were observed (Spearman’s rho, ρ = −0.515, −0.447, and −0.482, respectively; P < 0.001). The correlation analysis between the visual analogue scale (VAS) score of overall dryness and SFR indicated a smaller ρ value (−0.235 [P = 0.006], −0.243 [P = 0.002], and −0.252 [P = 0.003], respectively), which supports that XI more accurately reflects the degree of xerostomia in the pSS patients. In conclusion, the Korean version of the XI is a reliable tool to estimate the severity of xerostomia in patients with pSS.