Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Marital quality and depression: a review

Abstract The present review examines (a) the published literature on the association between marital quality and depression in mixed-age groups, and (b) the association between these variables during later life. With regards to both issues, target studies were grouped into three categories: cross-sectional research, longitudinal research, and research on mediator and moderator variables. The main theoretical models that account for the relation between marital quality and depression are briefly presented. Whereas the evidence for a cross-sectional association between marital quality and depression seems robust, longitudinal research as well as research on mediator/moderator variables is less conclusive. This is particularly so vis-a-vis older adults, where studies are scarce. We conclude with suggestions for future research and the clinical implications of work in this area.
Explicit Congestion Control for Efficient Reliable Transport in IP-based Tactical Networks

This paper focuses on the performance of reliable unicast transport protocols in the mobile ad hoc environment. It highlights inherent TCP limitations that can severely degrade its performance in such environments. It emphasizes the importance of an explicit congestion notification capability for differentiating between losses due to congestion and other causes, such as bit error. It briefly discusses properties of different TCP variants and selects ATCP as the most effective protocol in achieving congestion control. Using simulation results, it illustrates throughput improvements that ATCP can provide over standard TCP in the tactical environment. It further establishes superior ATCP performance by comparing transfer times measured for transferring a large file between two computers in a laboratory environment using standard Linux TCP implementation and our implementation of ATCP in the Linux environment
Evolution of PTLD following renal transplantation in a child

Abstract: We report the case of an eight‐yr‐old child with early onset PTLD half a year after renal transplantation. The patient developed gastrointestinal pain and bowel biopsies revealed imposing lymphoid infiltrates with small spots of lymphoid blasts in the colonic mucosa. These findings were interpreted as transplantation associated B‐cell stimulation. However, the persistent severe abdominal pain led to the resection of a jejunal segment. Here, gut wall perforation caused by a tumor mass was seen. Histologically, a blastic lymphoid cell proliferation of B‐cell origin with high proliferation rate and EBV association could be demonstrated. IgH rearrangement analysis and in situ hybridization revealed an oligoclonal B‐cell pattern. Reduction of immunosuppression and treatment with rituximab led to lymphoma remission and conversion of EBV serology four wk later. The report presented herein demonstrates the evolution of an oligoclonal lymphoproliferation with direct disease progression towards EBV associated PTLD by analyzing different stages of the disease.
Manufacturing process for patterned IPMC actuator with millimeter thickness

As a kind of soft actuation materials, Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs), displaying an excellent capability of converting electrical energy to mechanical energy, are promising applications in robotics and medical devices. In this paper, we introduce a millimeter thickness IPMC actuator with a new patterned configuration. Firstly, a perfluorinated ion exchange membrane with millimeter thickness is fabricated by solution casting process. And then, in order to achieve complex deformation of IPMC actuator, a novel method that rapidly patterns the multiple electrodes and minimizes the damage of the membrane is developed. Finally, initial performances of thick patterned IPMC are measured and characterized by a visual system. The study reveals that multi degree of freedom (MDOF) deformation is implemented successfully by the IPMC with patterned configuration.
The effect of mixing on gentamicin release from polymethylmethacrylate bone cements

We compared the release of gentamicin from 6 different commercially available, antibiotic-loaded PMMA bone cements used for vacuum- and hand-mixed cement using a Cemvac vacuum mixing system. We also measured the release of gentamicin after manual addition of the antibiotic to different commercial, unloaded bone cements after hand-mixing. The porosity of cements was reduced in all vacuum-mixed cements, as compared with hand-mixed cements, concurrent with a statistically significant reduction (3 of 6) or increase (1 of 6) in the total amounts of gentamicin released. The total gentamicin release was studied in 3 of the brands after manual addition and mixing of the antibiotics. We found that the release of antibiotics was lower than in samples made from industrial mixing. In conclusion, the manual addition and mixing of gentamicin in PMMA bone cements leads to a lower release of antibiotics than that in corresponding commercially available antibiotic-loaded cements, while vacuum-mixing only leads to a minor reduction in antibiotic release, as compared to hand-mixing.
Dose escalation of carmustine in surgically implanted polymers in patients with recurrent malignant glioma: a New Approaches to Brain Tumor Therapy CNS Consortium trial.

PURPOSE This New Approaches to Brain Tumor Therapy CNS Consortium study sought to determine the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of carmustine (BCNU) that can be implanted in biodegradable polymers following resection of recurrent high-grade gliomas and the systemic BCNU exposure with increasing doses of interstitial BCNU. PATIENTS AND METHODS Forty-four adults underwent tumor debulking and polymer placement. Six patients per dose level were studied using polymers with 6.5%, 10%, 14.5%, 20%, and 28% BCNU by weight. Toxicities were assessed 1 month after implantation by a safety monitoring committee to determine whether subsequent escalations should occur. Nine additional patients were studied at the MTD to confirm safety. BCNU blood levels were obtained before and after polymer implantation. RESULTS No dose-limiting toxicities were identified at the 6.5%, 10%, or 14.5% dose levels, although difficulties with wound healing, seizures, and brain edema were noted. At the 20% dose, these effects seemed more prominent, and six additional patients were treated at this dose and tolerated treatment well. Three of four patients receiving the 28% polymers developed severe brain edema and seizures, and accrual to this cohort was stopped. Nine additional patients received 20% polymer, confirming this as the MTD. Maximum BCNU plasma concentrations with the 20% loaded polymers were 27 ng/mL. Overall median survival was 251 days. CONCLUSION The MTD of BCNU delivered in polymer to the surgical cavity is 20%. This polymer provides five times more BCNU than standard commercially available BCNU polymers and results in minimal systemic BCNU exposure. Additional studies are needed to establish the efficacy of high-dose BCNU polymers.
Development of an early city in Central Mexico: the Tlalancaleca Archaeological Project

Abstract The origins of the large Classic and Postclassic urban centres of Central Mexico remain poorly understood. Archaeological investigations at the Formative site of Tlalancaleca in Puebla (Mexico) provide the first detailed study of a large-scale urban centre of that period. Preliminary results suggest that the growth and development of this particular site may have influenced the subsequent growth of Teotihuacan itself. This study explores how urbanisation can be identified archaeologically by tracing the expansion of population and the emergence of monumental architecture.
Evidence for a reduced chemokine response in the lungs of beige mice infected with Mycobacterium avium

The basis of the increased susceptibility of beige mice to Mycobacterium avium infections is still not clearly understood. In this study we examined the growth of three virulent strains of M. avium in beige mice and normal C57BL/6 controls. Depletion of natural killer (NK) cells by administration of anti‐asialo GM1 antisera did not affect the growth of M. avium in any of the groups of animals. Similarly, interferon‐γ (IFN‐γ) gene‐disrupted mice were more susceptible to infection than control mice but the growth of M. avium was not further affected by NK‐cell depletion. In terms of effector immunity, beige mice showed enhanced expression of IFN‐γ and tumour necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α) when compared with wild‐type C57BL/6 mice. In agreement with these results, I‐A and interferon‐inducible protein (IP‐10) expression was also higher in beige mice than in wild‐type animals, as was expression of the chemokines macrophage inflamatory protein‐2 (MIP‐2) and macrophage chemotactic protein (MCP‐1) during latter stages of the infection. However, over the first few weeks of the infection, when the susceptibility of the beige mouse lung first becomes evident, MIP‐1β and MIP‐2 chemokine expression in the lungs was lower in beige mice than in wild‐type animals. These data indicate, therefore, that the increased susceptibility of beige mice to M. avium infection in the lung is not due to lack of NK‐cell activity, nor can it be explained in terms of the effector cytokine response. Instead, the lower early expression of the neutrophil chemoattractants MIP‐1β and MIP‐2 in the lungs of beige mice tends to suggest that the enhanced susceptibility of these mice to M. avium infection may be due in part to defective recruitment of neutrophils or other cells responsive to these specific chemokines.
Prognostic factors in patients with glioblastoma multiforme ( clinical research )

Mehmet Ali EKİCİ*,Turgay BULUT, Bülent TUCER, Seyit Kaan BAŞARSLAN, Ali KURTSOY Department of Neurosurgery, Şevket Yılmaz Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey Department of Neurosurgery, Private Kızılay Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Mustafa Kemal University, Hatay, Turkey
Improved imaging of intrahepatic colorectal metastases with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose respiratory-gated positron emission tomography

Background In 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT, respiratory motion induces bias in image interpretations (i.e. organ misregistration or lesion omission/underestimation). Objective The present study applied our custom gating method (referred to as ‘CT-based gated PET’ and that has already been validated by our research group) to PET imaging of the liver and compared its per lesion sensitivity with that of standard clinical (i.e. ungated) PET. Methods A total of 13 patients scheduled for liver surgery were referred to our department for PET/CT imaging. Each patient underwent both ungated and CT-based gated PET imaging protocols. Two independent, blinded observers interpreted the two sets of PET images and reached a consensus when necessary. Image interpretations were combined with histological analysis and/or intraoperative ultrasound examination to compute each method’s per lesion sensitivity and true positive fraction. Analyses were also performed by considering lesions according to their size (longest axis over 10 mm or over 15 mm). Results Forty-eight lesions were confirmed by pathology reports. When considering all the uptakes, the ungated and the CT-based gated PET methods had sensitivities of 54.2 and 64.6% (P=0.025) and true positive fractions of 83.9 and 86.1%, respectively. When considering uptakes greater than 10 mm in size, ungated and CT-based gated PET had sensitivities of 74.3 and 88.6% (P=0.025), respectively. For lesions greater than 15 mm in size, the corresponding sensitivities were 85.2 and 100% (P=0.046). Conclusion CT-based gated PET yielded a higher lesion-based sensitivity than routine, ungated PET did. Hence, this method improves the detection of intrahepatic colorectal metastases – especially for lesions that are close in size to the detection limit of the PET gantry.
The role of substance P in inflammatory disease

The diffuse neuroendocrine system consists of specialised endocrine cells and peptidergic nerves and is present in all organs of the body. Substance P (SP) is secreted by nerves and inflammatory cells such as macrophages, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and dendritic cells and acts by binding to the neurokinin‐1 receptor (NK‐1R). SP has proinflammatory effects in immune and epithelial cells and participates in inflammatory diseases of the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems. Many substances induce neuropeptide release from sensory nerves in the lung, including allergen, histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes. Patients with asthma are hyperresponsive to SP and NK‐1R expression is increased in their bronchi. Neurogenic inflammation also participates in virus‐associated respiratory infection, non‐productive cough, allergic rhinitis, and sarcoidosis. SP regulates smooth muscle contractility, epithelial ion transport, vascular permeability, and immune function in the gastrointestinal tract. Elevated levels of SP and upregulated NK‐1R expression have been reported in the rectum and colon of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and correlate with disease activity. Increased levels of SP are found in the synovial fluid and serum of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and NK‐1R mRNA is upregulated in RA synoviocytes. Glucocorticoids may attenuate neurogenic inflammation by decreasing NK‐1R expression in epithelial and inflammatory cells and increasing production of neutral endopeptidase (NEP), an enzyme that degrades SP. Preventing the proinflammatory effects of SP using tachykinin receptor antagonists may have therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases such as asthma, sarcoidosis, chronic bronchitis, IBD, and RA. In this paper, we review the role that SP plays in inflammatory disease. J. Cell. Physiol. 201: 167–180, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relation Between Quantitative and Qualitative Measures of Information Use

Understanding how people use information and measuring information use are essential in the successful design and testing of information technologies. This study reports on the relation between selected quantitative and qualitative approaches of measuring the use of information in the context of making decisions. Four quantitative measures were developed: information access, information time, search redundancy, and time per access. Three qualitative constructs were developed addressing participant reports of the amount of information, the usability of the information, and the adequacy of the information. The context for the study is the choice of a health plan. A Windows-based system was developed with process-tracing capabilities to track participants' information search patterns. Analysis of variance and correlation analysis showed relations between the quantitative measure of information access and the qualitative measures of amount of information and between information time and one component of the a.
Specific Serotonin Reuptake Inhibition in Major Depressive Disorder Adversely Affects Novel Markers of Cardiac Risk

There exists a growing body of evidence linking depression with cardiovascular events, although the mechanisms responsible remain unknown. We investigated the role of the autonomic nervous system and inflammation in the link between coronary heart disease and major depressive disorder (MDD), and examined the cardiac risk modification following pharmacological treatment of depression. We measured cardiac baroreflex function, heart rate variability, pulse pressure and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), all of which have an impact on cardiac risk, pre- and post-treatment in 25 patients with MDD, with no history of coronary heart disease, and in 15 healthy subjects. Treatment consisted of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors for approximately 12 weeks. No significant differences were observed between untreated MDD patients and healthy subjects in blood pressure, heart rate, baroreflex sensitivity or heart rate variability. Pulse pressure and hsCRP, however, were significantly elevated in patients with MDD prior to treatment (p=0.023 and p=0.025, respectively). Moreover, while pharmacotherapy was effective in alleviating depression, surprisingly, each of cardiac baroreflex function, heart rate variability, pulse pressure and hsCRP was modified (p<0.05) in a manner likely to increase cardiac risk. In conclusion, this study demonstrated higher pulse pressure and hsCRP plasma levels in patients with MDD, which might contribute to increased cardiac risk. Following treatment vagal activity was reduced, as indicated by reductions in baroreflex sensitivity and heart rate variability, accompanied by increases in pulse pressure and plasma hsCRP levels. Mechanisms potentially responsible for generating cardiac risk in patients treated with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors may need to be therapeutically targeted to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease in this population.
Effects of dapagliflozin on blood pressure in hypertensive diabetic patients on renin–angiotensin system blockade

Abstract Hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Dapagliflozin improves glycemic control and systolic blood pressure (SBP) in T2DM patients. This double-blind phase III study evaluated the effects of dapagliflozin on glycemic control and blood pressure in patients with inadequately controlled T2DM and hypertension, despite ongoing therapy with a renin–angiotensin system blocker. Patients were randomized to receive dapagliflozin 10 mg (n = 302) or placebo (n = 311) once daily for 12 weeks. Endpoints were change from baseline to week 12 in seated SBP and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c); longitudinal repeated-measures analysis was performed. Additional endpoints included other hemodynamic measures, serum uric acid, fasting plasma glucose, body weight, blood lipids and heart rate. After 12 weeks, dapagliflozin-treated versus placebo-treated patients showed significant reductions in HbA1c (–0.6% vs –0.1%, p < 0.0001), mean seated SBP (–10.4 vs –7.3 mmHg, p = 0.0010) and mean 24 h ambulatory SBP (–9.6 vs –6.7 mmHg, p = 0.0043). Dapagliflozin also reduced body weight compared with placebo (–1.0 vs –0.3 kg). Dapagliflozin was well tolerated, with adverse events consistent with previous studies. Dapagliflozin improved glycemic control, and reduced SBP as well as body weight in patients with poorly controlled T2DM and hypertension.
Quantification of capillary blood cell flow using reflectance confocal microscopy

In vivo reflectance confocal microscopy (IVCM) is a new tool for skin microcirculation. However, the measure of quantitative blood cell flow (QBCF) has not been standardized. We studied the inter‐investigator and the intra‐capillary reproducibility of the manual measure of QBCF on IVCM videos and investigated if a software program might help measure QBCF and be sensitive to vascular occlusion tests.
Algorithm for the calculus of virtual time instants used in prosodic modifications

The topic addressed by this paper is related to a very specific operation in prosodic modifications, the calculus of the virtual time instants, for speech models based on a pitch synchronous analysis/synthesis. We propose and describe in detail a straightforward algorithm for the calculus of these moments. Also we present the results we obtained with the proposed algorithm, which show that the pitch synchronism is kept, without altering the quality of the time/pitch scaled signal.
FPGA Implementation of HS1-SIV

This work describes a hardware implementation of HS1-SIV with regular cipher parameter settings for the second round of the CAESAR competition. The implementation encompasses both the HS1-SIV hardware implementation, which is conforming to the specifications of the authenticated cipher, as well as a hardware API. The implemented API is conforming to the specifications of the GMU Hardware API for authenticated ciphers. On the target device Xilinx Virtex-7, using Xilinx XST High Level Synthesis, we achieved a throughput of 122.20 Mbit/s and an area of 103,214 LUTs with the data length of the message and the associated data set at 64 bytes and the data length of the key set at 32 bytes. Our performance results suggest that the area overhead of the API is between 8% (8-byte data length) and 15% (2048-byte data length) in comparison the the cipher-core.
Children and the Data Cycle: Rights and Ethics in a Big Data World

In an era of increasing dependence on data science and big data, the voices of one set of major stakeholders – the world’s children and those who advocate on their behalf – have been largely absent. A recent paper estimates one in three global internet users is a child, yet there has been little rigorous debate or understanding of how to adapt traditional, offline ethical standards for research involving data collection from children, to a big data, online environment (Livingstone et al., 2015). This paper argues that due to the potential for severe, long-lasting and differential impacts on children, child rights need to be firmly integrated onto the agendas of global debates about ethics and data science. The authors outline their rationale for a greater focus on child rights and ethics in data science and suggest steps to move forward, focusing on the various actors within the data chain including data generators, collectors, analysts and end-users. It concludes by calling for a much stronger appreciation of the links between child rights, ethics and data science disciplines and for enhanced discourse between stakeholders in the data chain, and those responsible for upholding the rights of children, globally.
Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Facilitates ATP Release by Stimulating a Separate ATP Release Channel for Autocrine Control of Cell Volume Regulation*

These studies provide evidence that cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) potentiates and accelerates regulatory volume decrease (RVD) following hypotonic challenge by an autocrine mechanism involving ATP release and signaling. In wild-type CFTR-expressing cells, CFTR augments constitutive ATP release and enhances ATP release stimulated by hypotonic challenge. CFTR itself does not appear to conduct ATP. Instead, ATP is released by a separate channel, whose activity is potentiated by CFTR. Blockade of ATP release by ion channel blocking drugs, gadolinium chloride (Gd3+) and 4,4′-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2′disulfonic acid (DIDS), attenuated the effects of CFTR on acceleration and potentiation of RVD. These results support a key role for extracellular ATP and autocrine and paracrine purinergic signaling in the regulation of membrane ion permeability and suggest that CFTR potentiates ATP release by stimulating a separate ATP channel to strengthen autocrine control of cell volume regulation.
A fast matrix pencil method in non-uniform sampling scheme for discrete complex image methods

Discrete complex image methods are of closed form methods for fast calculating Green's functions of stratified media, which have been widely discussed by many researchers. In the present paper, one fast non-uniform sampling matrix pencil method is proposed to improve the efficiency of discrete complex image methods. One numerical example and some comparisons are also provided, where a sampling scheme of two-segment is used in the proposed method, which validate its accuracy and improvement.