Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CSF biochemistries, glucose metabolism, and diurnal activity rhythms in alcoholic, violent offenders, fire setters, and healthy volunteers.

BACKGROUND There is an extensive literature describing a central serotonin deficit in alcoholic, impulsive, violent offenders and fire setters. In the present study, we investigated biochemical concomitants of impulsivity and aggressiveness, and the physiological consequences of reduced central serotonin turnover. METHODS Forty-three impulsive and 15 nonimpulsive alcoholic offenders and 21 healthy volunteers were studied in the forensic psychiatry ward of a university psychiatric department. The subjects underwent lumbar punctures and oral glucose and aspartame challenges, and their diurnal activity rhythm was measured with physical activity monitors. Discriminant function analyses were used to investigate psychophysiological and biochemical concomitants of aggressive and impulsive behaviors. RESULTS Alcoholic, impulsive offenders with antisocial personality disorder had low mean cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) and corticotropin levels and high mean CSF testosterone concentrations. Compared with healthy volunteers, they showed increased physical activity during the daytime. Alcoholic, impulsive offenders with intermittent explosive disorder had a low mean CSF 5-HIAA concentration and blood glucose nadir after an oral glucose challenge, and desynchronized diurnal activity rhythm. Healthy volunteers had mean CSF 5-HIAA concentrations that were intermediate between those of alcoholic, impulsive and nonimpulsive offenders. Alcoholic, nonimpulsive offenders had a significantly higher mean CSF 5-HIAA concentration than all the other groups, including healthy volunteers. CONCLUSIONS In the present sample, a low CSF 5-HIAA concentration was primarily associated with impulsivity and high CSF testosterone concentration, with aggressiveness or interpersonal violence.
Validity Regions of Soil Moisture Retrieval on the  $\mbox{LAI}$–  $\theta$ Plane for Agricultural Fields at L-, C-, and X-Bands

To quantitatively examine the sensitivity of the soil moisture retrieval over agricultural fields, first, we generated a database of radar backscattering coefficients using the first-order vector radiative transfer model for various leaf area indices (LAIs), incidence angles, frequencies, and polarizations. Then, soil moisture contents were retrieved from the backscattering coefficients of the database using the water-cloud model (WCM) and Oh et al.'s scattering model. Based on the sensitivity examination for LAI and θ (incidence angle) on soil moisture retrieval, we propose validity regions of soil moisture retrieval over agricultural fields on the LAI-θ plane at L-, C-, and X-bands for vvand hh-polarizations in the form of OFpp <; -AFppLAI + θ0,Fpp, where the constants AFpp and θ0,Fpp are determined in this letter for F-frequency band and pp-polarization. The validity regions were verified with inversion results from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) data of bean and wheat fields.
Binary Coding SVMs for the Multiclass Problem of Blast Furnace System

It poses a great challenge to control the blast furnace system, often meaning to control the components of the hot metal within acceptable boundary, such as the silicon content in hot metal. For this reason, this paper focuses on addressing the multiclass classification problem about the silicon change in hope of providing reasonable blast furnace control guidance. Through the proposed binary coding support vector machine (SVM) algorithm, a four-class problem, i.e., sharp descent, slight descent, sharp ascent, and slight ascent of the silicon content in hot metal, is reduced into two binary classification problems to solve. To heel, the confidence level about these classification results is also estimated. Reliable classification effect plus very few binary classifiers make the binary coding SVMs full of competitive power for practical applications, particularly when the confidence level is high. The four-class classification results can indicate not only the silicon change direction but also the rough silicon change amplitude, which can guide the blast furnace operators to determine the blast furnace control span together with the control direction in advance.
MIMO Transmission for Single-Fed ESPAR With Quantized Loads

Compact parasitic arrays in the form of electronically steerable parasitic antenna radiators (ESPARs) have emerged as a new antenna structure that achieves multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) transmission with a single RF chain. In this paper, we study the application of precoding on practical ESPARs, where the antennas are equipped with load impedances of quantized values. We analytically study the impact of the quantization on the system performance, where it is shown that while ideal ESPARs with ideal loads can achieve a similar performance to conventional MIMO, the performance of ESPARs will be degraded when only loads with quantized values are available. We further extend the performance analysis to imperfect channel state information. In order to alleviate the performance loss, we propose to approximate the ideal current vector by optimization, where a closed-form solution is further obtained. This enables the use of ESPARs in practice with quantized loads. Simulation results validate our analysis and show that a significant performance gain can be achieved with the proposed scheme over ESPARs with quantized loads. Finally, the tradeoff between performance and power consumption is shown to be favorable for the proposed ESPAR approaches compared with conventional MIMO, as evidenced by our energy efficiency results.
A 7-port microstrip grid array

A 7-port microstrip grid array is firstly presented in this paper, showing sufficient design flexibility to configure the large microstrip grid array into one or two unbalanced antennas as well as one or two balanced antennas. As an example, we designed and fabricated the 7-port microstrip grid array of 145 radiating elements in RT/duroid 5880 substrate with a size of 100×100×0.381 mm3 for 24-GHz applications. The measured results show that the 7-port microstrip grid array has achieved excellent performances: 1.57% impedance bandwidth, 4.51% gain bandwidth, and 25.15-dBi gain at 24.12 GHz as an unbalanced antenna, 2.11% impedance bandwidth, 4.80% gain bandwidth, and 25.36-dBi gain at 24.09 GHz as a balanced antenna, and 3.06% impedance bandwidth, 5.42% gain bandwidth, and 25.82-dBi gain at 24.73 GHz as two balanced antenna. The proposed structure can also operate as MIMO antennas with envelope correlations between radiation patterns of the two antenna elements lower than −30 dB over the 10-dB input impedance bandwidth of the proposed structure.
Single Silver Nanoparticle Instillation Induced Early and Persisting Moderate Cortical Damage in Rat Kidneys

The potential toxic effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), administered by a single intratracheal instillation (i.t), was assessed in a rat model using commercial physico-chemical characterized nanosilver. Histopathological changes, overall toxic response and oxidative stress (kidney and plasma protein carbonylation), paralleled by ultrastructural observations (TEM), were evaluated to examine renal responses 7 and 28 days after i.t. application of a low AgNP dose (50 µg/rat), compared to an equivalent dose of ionic silver (7 µg AgNO3/rat). The AgNPs caused moderate renal histopathological and ultrastructural alteration, in a region-specific manner, being the cortex the most affected area. Notably, the bulk AgNO3, caused similar adverse effects with a slightly more marked extent, also triggering apoptotic phenomena. Specifically, 7 days after exposure to both AgNPs and AgNO3, dilatation of the intercapillary and peripheral Bowman’s space was observed, together with glomerular shrinkage. At day 28, these effects still persisted after both treatments, accompanied by an additional injury involving the vascular component of the mesangium, with interstitial micro-hemorrhages. Neither AgNPs nor AgNO3 induced oxidative stress effects in kidneys and plasma, at either time point. The AgNP-induced moderate renal effects indicate that, despite their benefits, novel AgNPs employed in consumer products need exhaustive investigation to ensure public health safety.
Comparison of destination brand equity models of competitive convention cities in East Asia

ABSTRACT Since convention host cities in East Asia, such as Hong Kong, Beijing, and Seoul, are in competition, this study adopts the customer-based brand equity concept to compare their brand equity models. Among several important implications, destination image attributes affected the perceived quality in different ways in the three convention cities. This indicates that destination brand image can determine the assessment of a destination. Being that perceived quality does not affect overall brand equity indicates that it can be reinforced through loyalty rather than direct effects of assessment of overall brand equity.
Role of Hypermutability in the Evolution of the Genus Oenococcus

ABSTRACT Oenococcus oeni is an alcohol-tolerant, acidophilic lactic acid bacterium primarily responsible for malolactic fermentation in wine. A recent comparative genomic analysis of O. oeni PSU-1 with other sequenced lactic acid bacteria indicates that PSU-1 lacks the mismatch repair (MMR) genes mutS and mutL. Consistent with the lack of MMR, mutation rates for O. oeni PSU-1 and a second oenococcal species, O. kitaharae, were higher than those observed for neighboring taxa, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Sequence analysis of the rpoB mutations in rifampin-resistant strains from both oenococcal species revealed a high percentage of transition mutations, a result indicative of the lack of MMR. An analysis of common alleles in the two sequenced O. oeni strains, PSU-1 and BAA-1163, also revealed a significantly higher level of transition substitutions than were observed in other Lactobacillales species. These results suggest that the genus Oenococcus is hypermutable due to the loss of mutS and mutL, which occurred with the divergence away from the neighboring Leuconostoc branch. The hypermutable status of the genus Oenococcus explains the observed high level of allelic polymorphism among known O. oeni isolates and likely contributed to the unique adaptation of this genus to acidic and alcoholic environments.
Exopolysaccharide biosynthesis genes required for social motility in Myxococcus xanthus

Social (S)‐motility in Myxococcus xanthus is a flagellum‐independent gliding motility system that allows bacteria to move in groups on solid surfaces. S‐motility has been shown to require type IV pili (TFP), exopolysaccharide (EPS; a component of fibrils) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Previously, information concerning EPS biogenesis in M. xanthus was lacking. In this study, we screened 5000 randomly mutagenized colonies for defects in S‐motility and EPS and identified two genetic regions essential for EPS biogenesis: the EPS synthesis (eps) region and the EPS‐associated (eas) region. Mutants with insertions in the eps and eas regions were defective in S‐motility and fruiting body formation. These mutants failed to bind the dye calcofluor white, indicating that they lacked EPS; however, they retained normal TFP and LPS. Analysis of the eps locus showed several open reading frames (ORFs) that encode homologues to glycosyltransferases, glucanases and EPS transporters as well as regulatory proteins; the eas locus contains two ORFs: one exhibits homology to hypothetical proteins with a conserved domain of unknown function and the other displays no apparent homology to other proteins in the database. Further genetic mutagenesis analysis indicates that the whole eps region is involved in the biosynthesis of fibrils and fibril EPS. The operon at the proximal end of the eps region was analysed by generating in‐frame deletion mutations. These mutants showed varying degrees of defects in the bacterium's ability to produce EPS or perform EPS‐related functions, confirming the involvement of these genes in M. xanthus EPS biogenesis.
A Model for Predicting the Piezoresistive Effect in Microflexures Experiencing Bending and Tension Loads

This paper proposes a model for predicting the piezoresistive effect in microflexures experiencing bending stresses. Linear models have long existed for describing piezoresistivity for members in pure tension and compression. However, extensions of linear models to more complex loading conditions do not match with experimental results. A second-order model to predict piezoresistive effects in tension, compression, and more complex loading conditions is proposed. A reduced form of the general second-order model is presented for thin flexures in bending. A three-step approach is used to determine the piezoresistive coefficients for this reduced-form model. The approach is demonstrated for two sets of -type polysilicon. The predictive ability of the model is investigated by comparing the results to the experimental results using the new piezoresistive model and coefficients. One of the ways to implement the model is with multiphysics finite element analysis (FEA). The piezoresistive FEA for flexures algorithm is a FEA implementation of the unidirectional form of the model for flexures. The results presented in this paper are for the simplified cases of long thin flexures experiencing bending and axial loads. This new model could contribute to optimized sensors and feedback control of microdevices, nanopositioning, and self-sensing microdevices.
[Hepatic steatosis: a common reason for elevated alanine aminotransferase levels in HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis B patients with low HBV DNA loads].

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the causes of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level elevation in HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with low HBV DNA loads. METHODS One hundred nineteen HBsAg positive CHB patients with both serum HBV DNA loads less than 1000 copies/ml and ALT more than 1.25 upper limits of normal (ULN) lasting for at least 6 months were enrolled in this study. Patients co-infected with hepatitis C virus or HIV or suffering from other liver diseases were not included. HBV DNA loads were assayed by PCR. Serological biochemistry and liver biopsy histopathological changes and clinical characteristics of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS Of the 119 patients 102 were males and 17 were females. The mean age of the patients was (33.9+/-9.7) years and their body mass index (BMI) was (23.4+/-3.7) kg/m2. Mean ALT levels were (150.0+/-166.6) U/L and AST levels were (102.4+/-193.2) U/L. Liver biopsies showed hepatic steatosis in 26.9 % (32/119) of the cases, chronic hepatitis in 53.8% (64/119), non-specific changes in 12.6% (15/119), and 1 without any change. However, hepatic steatosis was more frequently seen in patients taking nucleoside analogs (56.7%), x2=10.394, Probability value less than 0.01. BMI, apolipoprotein B (APO-B), triglyceride, cholesterol and uric acid were all significantly higher in patients with hepatic steatosis than those without (t values were 5.369, 4.276, 3.216, 4.223 and 2.438 respectively, all P less than 0.05) while ALT, AST and apolipoprotein A were much lower in those with steatosis than those without (t values were -2.234, -3.877 and -2.956 respectively, all P less than 0.05). Obesity, dyslipidemia and hyperuricemia were more frequently seen in patients with steatosis than in patients without it (x2 value 3.829, 7.659, 13.389, 0.549, all P less than 0.05). The severity of inflammation and fibrosis were also more significant in patients with steatosis (x2 value 20.978, 17.550, all P less than 0.05). As compared to those patients without specific changes, serum levels of ALT, AST, GGT in patients with chronic hepatitis were obviously higher, all P less than 0.05. In contrast, there were no significant differences in mean age, BMI, male preference, obesity, diabetes, dyslipidemia or hyperuricemia, and the levels of triglyceride, cholesterol, and fasting plasma glucose between the two groups. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that hepatic steatosis might be a factor associated with elevated ALT levels in HBsAg-positive CHB patients with low HBV DNA loads, especially in patients treated with nucleoside analogs.
Parent–adolescent sex communication in China

Background Communication concerning sexual matters between parents and their adolescent children serve as a protective factor and exerts a favourable influence on adolescents' sexual behaviours. As limited data regarding parent–adolescent sex communication are available in China, this study was undertaken with the aim of exploring the patterns and related factors of such communication and its relationship with adolescent sexual behaviour. Study design Community-based data were collected in 2001 in Changchun, China. Unmarried adolescents 15–19 years of age (322 young men and 360 young women) were included in a survey using self-administered questionnaires. Results Overall, sex communication with parents was relatively infrequent. There was a significant gender difference in the pattern of sex communication, with male adolescents being more likely to talk with fathers and female adolescents with mothers. Logistic regression analysis revealed that gender of adolescents, quality of communication with mothers on general topics, and adolescent's perception of mother being the main source of sex knowledge were predictive of the level of sex communication between mother and her adolescent children. Conclusion This study reveals that communication regarding sexual matters between parents and adolescents was limited in China. The quality of communication on general topics between parents and their adolescent children is one of the important factors related to sex communication between them. It is essential that Chinese parents are better informed and skilled to be involved, in addition to school and community, in the sex education of their adolescent children. They should be able to communicate appropriately on sex-related issues with them.
NSAIDs in the older patient: balancing benefits and harms.

OBJECTIVE The older person is more likely to have pain since degenerative diseases and the effects of cancer are more common after 65 years of age. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are frequently used due to perceived safety, relatively low cost and over-the-counter availability. This brief review describes the necessity for, but risks of, NSAIDs in the older patient. DESIGN A literature search was undertaken using PubMed and search terms including pain, aging, treatment, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, arthritis, older patient, and guidelines. CONCLUSIONS Pain complaints are common in the older population. Low back pain and osteoarthritis affects over two thirds of this group. Patients and clinicians are increasingly wary about treatment since no medication appears to be safe. Older patients opting for no treatment may have worsening function including decreased sleep, mobility, socialization, and increased depression. Ninety percent of all prescription NSAIDs are taken by patients over 65. Guidelines for safe use are available but frequently not followed by the practitioner including the FDA recommended "lowest dose possible for your treatment … for the shortest time needed. " NSAIDs can be an effective treatment option for many older persons but caution should be exercised in this often fragile population.
Potential anti‐cancer effects of virgin olive oil phenolson colorectal carcinogenesis models in vitro

The traditional Mediterranean diet is thought to represent a healthy lifestyle; especially given the incidence of several cancers including colorectal cancer is lower in Mediterranean countries compared to Northern Europe. Olive oil, a central component of the Mediterranean diet, is believed to beneficially affect numerous biological processes. We used phenols extracted from virgin olive oil on a series of in vitro systems that model important stages of colon carcinogenesis. The effect the extract on DNA damage induced by hydrogen peroxide was measured in HT29 cells using single cell microgel‐electrophoresis. A significant anti‐genotoxic linear trend (p = 0.011) was observed when HT29 cells were pre‐incubated with olive oil phenols (0, 5, 10, 25, 50, 75, 100 μg/ml) for 24 hr, then challenged with hydrogen peroxide. The olive oil phenols (50, 100 μg/ml) significantly (p = 0.004, p = 0.002) improved barrier function of CACO2 cells after 48 hr as measured by trans‐epithelial resistance. Significant inhibition of HT115 invasion (p < 0.01) was observed at olive oil phenols concentrations of 25, 50, 75, 100 μg/ml using the matrigel invasion assay. No effect was observed on HT115 viability over the concentration range 0, 25, 50 75, 100 μg/ml after 24 hr, although 75 and 100 μg/ml olive oil phenols significantly inhibited HT115 cell attachment (p = 0.011, p = 0.006). Olive oil phenols had no significant effect on metastasis‐related gene expression in HT115 cells. We have demonstrated that phenols extracted from virgin olive oil are capable of inhibiting several stages in colon carcinogenesis in vitro. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Catatonia or abulia? A difficult differential diagnosis

In vivo imaging of the dopamine transporter, a protein on the terminals of dopaminergic projections from the substantia nigra to the striatum, provides an excellent marker of the dopaminergic system in patients with parkinsonism. 1–8 Previous studies have demonstrated that SPECT and [123I] b-CIT (2bcarboxymethoxy-3 b-(4-iodophenyl)tropane), an agent which targets the dopamine transporter, is a sensitive marker of Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and severity. 9,10 The pattern of loss of [123I] b-CIT uptake in Parkinson’s disease has been shown to be region-specific within the basal ganglia (putamen > caudate) consistent with postmortem evaluation of the dopaminergic transporter in Parkinson’s disease. 10,11 Furthermore, all Parkinson’s disease patients have demonstrated significant bilateral loss of [123I]b-CIT uptake even in patients early in their disease with hemi-parkinsonism symptoms. 12 In this report, we present the results of dopamine transporter imaging in a patient with hemi-parkinsonism with a history of repeated hemorrhages due to a midbrain arteriovenous malformation treated with radiation.
Dose-dependent cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine effects of furosemide in conscious lambs.

In recent experiments in conscious lambs, we showed that in addition to its well-known natriuretic and diuretic effects, i.v. injection of 2 mg/kg of furosemide resulted in a sustained increase in heart rate and an age-dependent increase in plasma renin activity. To determine whether these responses were dose dependent, we measured various parameters of cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine function in six chronically instrumented lambs. Three of seven doses of furosemide were tested at 48-h intervals; the range of doses was 0 to 7.5 mg/kg. A dose-dependent transient pressor response occurred within 20 min of furosemide administration; the duration of this response increased with increasing doses. Heart rate increased 40 min after doses of furosemide > or = 0.25 mg/kg; this response was not dose dependent. Renin increased following all doses; the peak and the duration of the renin response were dose dependent. These data provide new information on the dose-dependent cardiovascular, renal, and endocrine responses to furosemide in conscious newborn lambs.