Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social inclusion and relationship satisfaction of patients with a severe mental illness

Background: Research suggests that patients with a severe mental illness (SMI) are among the most social excluded in society. However, comparisons of social network composition and relationship satisfaction between SMI patients and a control group are rare. Aims: Our aim was to compare differences in size, satisfaction and composition of the social network between patients with SMI and a control group. Potential sociodemographic and clinical risk factors in relation to social network size in SMI patients were explored. Methods: The sample consisted of a control group (N = 949) and SMI patients (N = 211) who were under treatment in Dutch mental health care institutions. In these groups, network size, relationship satisfaction, sociodemographic and clinical (patients only) characteristics were assessed. Results: Social network size was 2.5 times lower in SMI patients, which was also reflected in a lower relationship satisfaction. The composition of the social network of SMI patients differs from that of controls: patients’ network seems to consist of a smaller part of friends. Different risk factors were associated with the impoverishment of the social network of family, friends and acquaintances of patients with SMI. Conclusion: SMI patients have very small networks compared to controls. This may be a problem, given the ongoing emphasis on outpatient treatment of SMI patients and self-dependence. This outcome advocates for more attention to social isolation of SMI patients and involvement of family in the treatment and aftercare of SMI patients.
The Future of Canadian Political Science: Boundary Transgressions, Gender and Anti-Oppression Frameworks

Abstract In light of the Canadian Journal of Political Science (CJPS) self-reflexive “50th Anniversary” issue on the state of Canadian political science (CPS), this article maps the discipline's engagement with intersectional anti-oppression scholarship. Analyzing abstracts in CJPS and the Canadian Political Science Review, we argue while these journals—and mainstream CPS more generally—tackle questions of diversity, there remains a gap between conversations recognized in these particular forums and the incorporation of what we term an intersectional anti-oppression lens. In its deconstruction of systems of power and privilege, we explore analytic and pedagogical possibilities this lens presents for mainstream CPS. Résumé En considération du numéro célébrant le « 50e anniversaire » du Revue canadienne de science politique (RCSP) consacré à l'état de la science politique canadienne (SCP), cet article décrit l'engagement de la discipline dans la recherche anti-oppression intersectionnelle. En analysant les résumés parus dans RCSP et la Canadian Political Science Review, nous soutenons que, bien que ces revues - et le courant dominant de la SCP plus généralement - abordent les questions de diversité, il subsiste un écart entre les conversations reconnues dans ces forums particuliers et l'intégration de ce que nous appelons une optique anti-oppression intersectionnelle. Dans sa déconstruction des systèmes de pouvoir et de privilège, nous explorons les possibilités analytiques et pédagogiques que cette optique présente pour la SCP dominante.
Impact of Surgical and Medical Castration on Serum Testosterone Level in Prostate Cancer Patients

Introduction: The paper aims at evaluating the role of testosterone levels and their cut-off points in the treatment of prostate cancer with androgen deprivation therapy. Materials and Methods: We performed a non-systematic review of the literature, searching Medline using the following key words: ‘Prostatic neoplasms/therapy’ [MeSH], ‘Buserelin’ [MeSH], ‘Goserelin’ [MeSH], ‘Leuprolide’ [MeSH], ‘Triptorelin’ [MeSH], ‘prostate cancer*’ [tiab], and ‘testoster*’ [tiab]. Results: The most commonly used cut-off point of testosterone to define castration was 50 ng/dl. In this respect, GnRH agonists allowed castration in a very high percentage of patients (87.5–100%). Specifically, triptorelin was reported to yield castration level of testosterone in 98.8%, the classical formulation of leuprolide in 95–98.8% of the cases, and Eligard®, a novel formulation of leuprolide, in 99–100%. With regard to the 20-ng/dl breakpoint, available data suggest that goserelin yields castration level of testosterone in 96%, the classical formulation of leuprolide in 87–92% of the patients, and the novel formulation in 88–97.5%. Conclusions: The clinical significance of different levels of testosterone yielded during androgen deprivation therapy is still unknown. Considering the standard cut-off point of 50 ng/dl, GnRH agonists allowed castration in a very high percentage of patients.
The impact of multinational and domestic enterprises on regional productivity: evidence from the UK

ABSTRACT The paper explores the respective effects of multinational enterprises (MNEs) and domestic enterprises (DOMEs) on regional productivity in the case of UK regions. The empirical evidence shows that the more intensive in terms of research and development and intangibles, MNEs have a stronger effect on regional productivity than DOMEs. However, when one controls for the origin of the MNEs, it is found that DOMEs can outperform MNEs from certain countries. It is submitted that regions that lag behind can absorb the intangible assets of DOMEs more readily; and that MNE strategies may not be always aligned to the needs of host regions.
Africa in the Global Capitalism: An Era of Development or Exploitation?

Abstract During the past twentieth century, African researchers and loyal leaders have been on alert and yearned for notable development concerning Africa’s political economy via the so-called New International Economic Order. In addition, during the first decade of the new millennium, a myriad of African citizens enthusiastically awaited optimistic and promising development in the effective policy of the international development bodies like the International Labor Organization (ILO) and World Trade Organization (WTO). Minimal objectives have been achieved in those years, and therefore, one can be curious to know, what reflection these glitzy modifications have shown on African economic prosperities that were placed in the bottom-most rank of the capitalist world? Does the advancement of Indonesia, China and Malaysia from being developing countries to developed nations echo substantial changes to the capitalist system’s operation? The only option to illuminate whether advanced countries of the north have eliminated their operational flaws, which deprived Africa equal benefits from capitalism is to examine the fundamental issues and main features, which are still in existence in African communities, which necessitates this study.
Group Psychotherapy for Opiate Addicts in Methadone Maintenance Treatment – A Controlled Trial

A controlled trial was conducted evaluating cognitive-behavioural group psychotherapy as a measure to reduce concomitant drug use in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). 73 opiate addicts were randomly assigned to local routine MMT or to routine MMT plus group psychotherapy (20 sessions over 20 weeks). Psychotherapy was delivered by therapists according to a manual. Drug use (urine screen) was compared at onset of psychotherapy, end of intervention period (6 months after study onset), and 6 months later. Data analysis was done according to intention-to-treat principles. Results indicated that patients in the psychotherapy group (n = 41) showed less drug use than control subjects (n = 32). This group difference was statistically significant at 6-month follow-up (p = 0.02). These findings underscore the usefulness of group psychotherapy in MMT. The delayed effect is comparable to other studies evaluating cognitive-behavioural psychotherapy.
Spatiotemporal Profiles of Field Potentials in Mouse Superior Colliculus Analyzed by Multichannel Recording

The onset and vector of orienting behaviors, such as saccades, are controlled by commands that descend from a population of neurons in deep layers of the superior colliculus (dSC). In this study, to characterize the role of the collicular local circuitry that generates the spatiotemporal pattern of command activity in the dSC neuronal population, responses evoked by single-pulse electrical stimulation in superficial layers of the superior colliculus (sSC) were analyzed by a 64-channel field potential recording system (planar electrode, 8 × 8 pattern; 150 μm interelectrode spacing) in slices obtained from 16- to 22-d-old mice. A negative field potential with short latency and short duration spatially restricted to the recording sites in sSC was evoked adjacent to the stimulation site. After bath application of 10 μm bicuculline, the same stimulus induced a large negative field response with long duration that spread from sSC to dSC. The dSC potential initially showed a positive response, presumably because of reversal of the negative potential that originated in sSC, and then a long negative response that spread horizontally as far as 1 mm. These responses disappeared after application of an NMDA receptor antagonist, 2-amino-5-phosphonovelarate, indicating that NMDA receptors have an important role in the generation of these responses. Simultaneous whole-cell patch-clamp recordings showed that the long-lasting negative field potentials corresponded to the depolarization accompanying burst spike activity of SC neurons. The present study revealed an extensive excitatory network in the dSC that may contribute to the generation of activity by a large population of neurons that discharge before a saccade.
NBER WORKING PAPER SERIES AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IN EDUCATION: EVIDENCE FROM ENGINEERING COLLEGE ADMISSIONS IN INDIA

Many countries mandate affirmative action in university admissions for traditionally disadvantaged groups. Little is known about either the efficacy or costs of these programs. This paper examines affirmative action in engineering colleges in India for "lower-caste" groups. We find that it successfully targets the financially disadvantaged: the marginal upper-caste applicant comes from a more advantaged background than the marginal lower-caste applicant who displaces him. Despite much lower entrance exam scores, the marginal lower-caste entrant does benefit: we find a strong, positive economic return to admission. These findings contradict common arguments against affirmative action: that it is only relevant for richer lower-caste members, or that those who are admitted are too unprepared to benefit from the education. However, these benefits come at a cost. Our point estimates suggest that the marginal upper-caste entrant enjoys nearly twice the earnings level gain as the marginal lower-caste entrant. This finding illustrates the program's redistributive nature: it benefits the poor, but costs resources in absolute terms. One reason for this lower level gain is that a smaller fraction of lower-caste admits end up employed in engineering or advanced technical jobs. Finally, we find no evidence that the marginal upper-caste applicant who is rejected due to the policy ends up with more negative attitudes towards lower castes or towards affirmative action programs. On the other hand, there is some weak evidence that the marginal lower-caste admits become stronger supporters of affirmative action programs. Marianne Bertrand Graduate School of Business University of Chicago 5807 South Woodlawn Avenue Chicago, IL 60637 and NBER marianne.bertrand@gsb.uchicago. edu Rema Hanna Wagner Graduate School of Public Service New York University 295 Lafayette Street, 2Fl New York, NY 10012 rnh4@nyu.edu Sendhil Mullainathan Department of Economics Littauer 208 Harvard University Cambridge, MA 02138 and NBER mullain@fas.harvard. edu
Statistical potential for assessment and prediction of protein structures

Protein structures in the Protein Data Bank provide a wealth of data about the interactions that determine the native states of proteins. Using the probability theory, we derive an atomic distance‐dependent statistical potential from a sample of native structures that does not depend on any adjustable parameters (Discrete Optimized Protein Energy, or DOPE). DOPE is based on an improved reference state that corresponds to noninteracting atoms in a homogeneous sphere with the radius dependent on a sample native structure; it thus accounts for the finite and spherical shape of the native structures. The DOPE potential was extracted from a nonredundant set of 1472 crystallographic structures. We tested DOPE and five other scoring functions by the detection of the native state among six multiple target decoy sets, the correlation between the score and model error, and the identification of the most accurate non‐native structure in the decoy set. For all decoy sets, DOPE is the best performing function in terms of all criteria, except for a tie in one criterion for one decoy set. To facilitate its use in various applications, such as model assessment, loop modeling, and fitting into cryo‐electron microscopy mass density maps combined with comparative protein structure modeling, DOPE was incorporated into the modeling package MODELLER‐8.
CRISPR-Cas

The CRISPR-Cas (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, CRISPR-associated genes) is an adaptive immunity system in bacteria and archaea that functions via a distinct self-non-self recognition mechanism that is partially analogous to the mechanism of eukaryotic RNA interference (RNAi). The CRISPR-Cas system incorporates fragments of virus or plasmid DNA into the CRISPR repeat cassettes and employs the processed transcripts of these spacers as guide RNAs to cleave the cognate foreign DNA or RNA. The Cas proteins, however, are not homologous to the proteins involved in RNAi and comprise numerous, highly diverged families. The majority of the Cas proteins contain diverse variants of the RNA recognition motif (RRM), a widespread RNA-binding domain. Despite the fast evolution that is typical of the cas genes, the presence of diverse versions of the RRM in most Cas proteins provides for a simple scenario for the evolution of the three distinct types of CRISPR-cas systems. In addition to several proteins that are directly implicated in the immune response, the cas genes encode a variety of proteins that are homologous to prokaryotic toxins that typically possess nuclease activity. The predicted toxins associated with CRISPR-Cas systems include the essential Cas2 protein, proteins of COG1517 that, in addition to a ligand-binding domain and a helix-turn-helix domain, typically contain different nuclease domains and several other predicted nucleases. The tight association of the CRISPR-Cas immunity systems with predicted toxins that, upon activation, would induce dormancy or cell death suggests that adaptive immunity and dormancy/suicide response are functionally coupled. Such coupling could manifest in the persistence state being induced and potentially providing conditions for more effective action of the immune system or in cell death being triggered when immunity fails.
A Non-Intrusive Drowsiness Related Accident Prediction Model Based on D-S Evidence Theory

In this paper, a non-intrusive accident prediction model based on the information fusion technique of Dempster-Shafer (D-S) evidence theory is investigated, which can infer the belief probability of the drowsiness related accidents by integrating information from driver's eyes and driving performance. Firstly, to acquire the relevant physiological signals and driving performance data used in this proposed model, a driving simulator experiment is introduced. Secondly, three features reflecting driver drowsiness are quantitatively extracted, including gaze direction changing, blinking duration and standard lateral deviation. Finally, D-S evidence theory is applied to fuse these features. The inference results can predict over 70% drowsiness related accidents and therefore demonstrate the utility of this proposed model.
Valuation Accuracy and Certainty in Developing Countries- A Socio-Political Analysis

Valuation services have become increasingly less credible in Tanzania despite an impressive digital data penetration from an inisignificant 115,000 people at the end of 2000 to over 11.5m by June 2017. Practicing valuers have been accused of valuing that which never existed, overvaluing and undervaluing to suit different situations. The key research problem for the study revolved around the lack of measure on reliability and precision of value estimates as was once observed by Dell (2013). While findings from the interviews revealed little appreciation of the intertwin relationships that exist between real estate and finance markets amongst practising valuers, it was evident, external influences mainly through government guidelines and certification processes had strong impact on the valuation estimates. The local practice is apprehensive of strict adherence to government circulars on valuation assessment and reporting standards,which to a large extent might account for the limited valuers’ inquisitiveness on the dynamics of value affecting factors. It was also established that practicing valuers have limited understanding of the general investment market which as Scarrett (2008) observes is crucial in trying to interpret the working of property investment markets. The paper observes a dichotomy between values derived from local market operations and those estimated by valuers. The paper attributes this to reliance on government published guidelines and limited continued professional training amongst valuers. The paper concludes that valuation accuracy and certainty in developing countries are influencecd by the limited roles that professional valuation boards exercise in keeping their members in pace with development in the profession.
SEROLOGIC SURVEY OF BRUCELLOSIS IN CAPTIVE NEOTROPICAL WILD CARNIVORES IN NORTHEAST BRAZIL

Abstract. This study reports the detection of antibodies against Brucella abortus and B. canis in wild neotropical carnivores kept in captivity in three zoos in northeastern Brazil. A total of 42 serum samples were examined, 17 from coatis (Nasua nasua), eight from crab-eating raccoons (Procyon cancrivorus), three from crab-eating foxes (Cerdocyon thous), three from hoary foxes (Lycalopex vetulus), two from little spotted cats (Leopardus tigrinus), five from tayras (Eira barbara), two from greater grisons (Galictis vittata), and two from neotropical river otters (Lontra longicaudis). The Rose-Bengal test and complement fixation test (CFT) were performed to detect anti-Brucella spp. antibodies, whereas the agar gel immunodiffusion test (AGID) was employed to detect anti–B. canis antibodies. The overall seroprevalence varied by species and by test; in addition, CFT and AGID seemed better able to detect antibodies against B. abortus and B. canis, respectively. This is the first study on the presence of anti-Brucella spp. antibodies in captive carnivores from Brazil, as well as the first report of antibodies to Brucella spp. in coatis, crab-eating raccoons, hoary foxes, little spotted cats, tayras, and greater grisons.
Neutrophil collection using modified fluid gelatin

Modified fluid gelatin (MFG) is a possible alternative to hydroxyethyl starch (HES) for use as a red cell sedimenting agent in neutrophil collection procedures. Since the efficacy of neutrophil transfusion therapy depends upon the integrity of the infused cells, we examined the in vitro and in vivo function of neutrophils collecting using MFG. Neutrophils were collected from 17 normal subjects by continuous flow centrifugation using MFG in place of HES. In vitro measurement of neutrophil function included dye exclusion, phagocytosis, candidacidal activity, staphylococcal killing, chemotaxis, and random migration. For in vivo studies, neutrophils were labeled with 3H‐ diisopropylfluorophosphate, reinfused into the donor, and blood kinetics and skin chamber accumulation of the labeled cells were measured. In vivo results were compared with results from previous studies using neutrophils collected with HES or by phlebotomy. MFG neutrophils were normal by all in vitro functional criteria and localized normally at an in vivo inflammatory site. Intravascular survival (T ½ = 3.3 ± 0.9 hours) was significantly shorter than normal (T ½ = 7.3 ± 2.3 hours) but was identical to that of cells collected using HES. Thus, on the basis of neutrophil functional capabilities, MFG appears to be an acceptable alternative to HES in collection of neutrophils for transfusion.
Effects of biofouling on the sinking behavior of microplastics

Although plastic is ubiquitous in marine systems, our current knowledge of transport mechanisms is limited. Much of the plastic entering the ocean sinks; this is intuitively obvious for polymers such as polystyrene (PS), which have a greater density than seawater, but lower density polymers like polyethylene (PE) also occur in sediments. Biofouling can cause large plastic objects to sink, but this phenomenon has not been described for microplastics <5 mm. We incubated PS and PE microplastic particles in estuarine and coastal waters to determine how biofouling changes their sinking behavior. Sinking velocities of PS increased by 16% in estuarine water (salinity 9.8) and 81% in marine water (salinity 36) after 6 weeks of incubation. Thereafter sinking velocities decreased due to lower water temperatures and reduced light availability. Biofouling did not cause PE to sink during the 14 weeks of incubation in estuarine water, but PE started to sink after six weeks in coastal water when sufficiently colonized by blue mussels Mytilus edulis, and its velocity continued to increase until the end of the incubation period. Sinking velocities of these PE pellets were similar irrespective of salinity (10 vs. 36). Biofilm composition differed between estuarine and coastal stations, presumably accounting for differences in sinking behavior. We demonstrate that biofouling enhances microplastic deposition to marine sediments, and our findings should improve microplastic transport models.
Doubly Selective Underwater Acoustic Channel Model for a Moving Transmitter/Receiver

We propose a new method of modeling the signal transmission in underwater acoustic communications when the transmitter and receiver are moving. The motion-induced channel time variations can be modeled by sampling the transmitter/receiver trajectory at the signal sampling rate and calculating, for each position, the channel impulse response from the acoustic-field computation. This approach, however, would result in high complexity. To reduce the complexity, the channel impulse response is calculated for fewer (waymark ) positions and then interpolated by local splines to recover it at the signal sampling rate. To allow higher distances between waymarks and, thus, further reduction in the complexity, the multipath delays are appropriately adjusted before the interpolation. Because, for every time instant, this method only requires local information from the trajectory, the impulse response can recursively be computed, and therefore, the signal transmission can be modeled for arbitrarily long trajectories. An approach for setting the waymark sampling interval is suggested and investigated. The proposed method is verified by comparing the simulated data with data from real ocean experiments. For a low-frequency shallow-water experiment with a moving source that transmits a tone set, we show that the Doppler spectrum of the received tones is similar in the simulation and experiment. For a higher frequency deep-water experiment with a fast-moving source that transmits orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) communication signals, we investigate the detection performance of a receiver and show that it is similar in the simulation and experiment.