Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cognitive-behavioral therapy for somatization disorder: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Patients diagnosed as having somatization disorder (SD) who present with a lifetime history of multiple, medically unexplained physical symptoms represent a significant challenge to health care providers. To date, no psychotherapeutic or pharmacologic intervention has been found to produce clinically meaningful improvement in symptoms or functioning of patients with SD. We examined the efficacy of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for SD. METHODS Eighty-four participants meeting criteria for SD were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 conditions: (1) standard medical care augmented by a psychiatric consultation intervention or (2) a 10-session, manualized, individually administered CBT regimen added to the psychiatric consultation intervention. Assessments were conducted at baseline and 3, 9, and 15 months after baseline. The primary outcome measure was the severity scale of the Clinical Global Impression Scale for Somatization Disorder (CGI-SD). Secondary outcome measures were responder status as determined by clinical ratings, self-reported measures of physical functioning and somatic symptoms, and health care utilization assessed via medical records. RESULTS Fifteen months after baseline, somatization symptoms were significantly less severe in the group treated with CBT (0.84 points on the CGI-SD 7-point scale) (P<.001). Patients treated with CBT also were significantly more likely to be rated as either very much improved or much improved than patients treated with only augmented standard medical care (40% [n = 17] vs 5% [n = 2]). Cognitive-behavioral therapy was associated with greater improvements in self-reported functioning and somatic symptoms and a greater decrease in health care costs. CONCLUSION For patients diagnosed as having SD, CBT may produce clinical benefits beyond those that result from the current state-of-the-art treatment.
Four billion people facing severe water scarcity

Global water scarcity assessment at a high spatial and temporal resolution, accounting for environmental flow requirements. Freshwater scarcity is increasingly perceived as a global systemic risk. Previous global water scarcity assessments, measuring water scarcity annually, have underestimated experienced water scarcity by failing to capture the seasonal fluctuations in water consumption and availability. We assess blue water scarcity globally at a high spatial resolution on a monthly basis. We find that two-thirds of the global population (4.0 billion people) live under conditions of severe water scarcity at least 1 month of the year. Nearly half of those people live in India and China. Half a billion people in the world face severe water scarcity all year round. Putting caps to water consumption by river basin, increasing water-use efficiencies, and better sharing of the limited freshwater resources will be key in reducing the threat posed by water scarcity on biodiversity and human welfare.
Global location of mobile robots using Artificial Neural Networks in omnidirectional images

This paper presents a comparison of Mobile Robots localization methods through Artifical Neural Networks in omnidirectional images. After an overview about Mobile Robotics, this work focuses on omnidirectional vision. The motivation for this work is the implementation and comparison of feature extraction techniques that can be used in omnidirectional images seeking invariance to rotation and building descriptors that can be used in Neural Networks. Five feature extraction techniques with their adaptations for omnidirectional image were presented and compared. The results were shown in order to choose the most suitable feature extractor for this application. The feature extractors are evaluated with respect to time processing and quality of scene description (accuracy of Artificial Neural Network) The results are satisfactory and elect GIST descriptor as the most suitable for the application.
Wide Dynamic Range All-Optical Clock and Data Recovery From Preamble-Free NRZ-DPSK Packets

We demonstrate an all-optical circuit that simultaneously performs packet-by-packet clock recovery (CR) and data demodulation from 10-Gb/s nonreturn-to-zero differential-phase-shift-keying packets. It includes a novel power equalizer based on a nonlinear self-polarization switch in a semiconductor optical amplifier that enables operations within 15-dB input power level fluctuations. Data demodulation is realized by a Gaussian narrow filter that simultaneously seeds a stage performing CR. CR is performed by a Fabry-Peacuterot filter-based circuit. By using the input packets as a gating signal, the circuit is able to extract clock packets with 0-bit rise and fall times. The circuit can operate asynchronously and with arbitrary packet length
Tpl2/AP-1 Enhances Murine Gammaherpesvirus 68 Lytic Replication

ABSTRACT How cellular factors regulate gammaherpesvirus lytic replication is not well understood. Here, through functional screening of a cellular kinase expression library, we identified mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 8 (MAP3K8/Tpl2) as a positive regulator of murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV-68 or γHV-68) lytic gene expression and replication. Tpl2 enhances MHV-68 lytic replication by upregulating lytic gene expression and promoter activities of viral lytic genes, including RTA and open reading frame 57 (ORF57). By screening a cellular transcription factor library, we identified the Fos AP-1 transcription factor as a downstream factor that is both necessary and sufficient for mediating the enhancement of MHV-68 lytic replication by Tpl2. In addition, Tpl2 stimulates the promoter activities of key viral lytic genes, including RTA and ORF57, in an AP-1-dependent manner. We identified an AP-1-responsive element on the MHV-68 RTA promoter as the cis element mediating the upregulation of RTA promoter activity by Tpl2. MHV-68 lytic infection upregulates Fos expression, AP-1 activity, and RTA promoter activity in a Tpl2-dependent manner. We constructed a mutant MHV-68 virus that abolished this AP-1-responsive element. This mutant virus exhibited attenuated lytic replication kinetics, indicative of a critical role of this AP-1-responsive element during lytic replication. Moreover, Tpl2 knockdown inhibited the lytic replication of wild-type MHV-68 (MHV-68-WT) but not that of the MHV-68 mutant virus, indicating that endogenous Tpl2 promotes efficient virus lytic replication through AP-1-dependent upregulation of RTA expression. In summary, through tandem functional screens, we identified the Tpl2/AP-1 signaling transduction pathway as a positive regulator of MHV-68 lytic replication.
Battery-free wireless sensors for industrial applications based on UHF RFID technology

This work provides an overview of the current state-of-the-art of the RFID technology in the Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) field. The different RFID alternatives are described with their pros and cons. The benefits and limitations of battery-free wireless sensors based on RFID technology are presented. Subsequently, the paper describes the design of an UHF RFID integrated circuit (IC) designed to harvest and store the power from an incoming RF signal in order to supply low power analog or digital sensors. The IC has been implemented using a low cost 0.35 μm CMOS process and it incorporates a serial peripheral interface (SPI) in order to communicate with the sensor. Battery-free wireless operation for industrial monitoring using the designed IC has been demonstrated by implementing two wireless sensors that monitor both temperature, using a thermistor, and pressure, using a commercial digital sensor. The wireless temperature sensor shows an error below ±1°C from -25°C to 105°C, whereas the pressure sensor error is below ±2 mbar from 325 to 1000 mbar. A battery free communication range of 1.5 meters is demonstrated for both sensors using a 2-W effective radiated output power reader.
Expression of Inflammatory Modulator COX-2 in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma and Its Relationship to Pathologic and Clinical Parameters

Despite the exceedingly poor prognosis of pancreatic cancer, it is often histologically well to moderately differentiated. The apparent resistance to conventional therapeutic modalities is poorly understood and may be related to the molecules involved in its progression or its propensity for perineurial invasion. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is an inducible enzyme homologous to COX-1 that is responsible for production of prostaglandins at sites of inflammation. It is activated by a variety of growth factors and tumor promoters, and it has been implicated in cancer progression. It may also have a role in the resistance to therapy. Anti-COX-2 agents have been documented to have antitumor activity, and some are now being tested in the therapy for various cancers, including those of the pancreas. Experience regarding the rate of COX-2 expression in pancreatic cancer and its relationship to the clinical and biologic parameters is very limited. In this study, immunohistochemical stains for COX-2 have been performed on 120 cases of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The stains were scored according to the percentage (0: no staining, 1: < 10%, 2: 10–50%, and 3: >50% of the cells staining) and intensity (0 for no staining, 1 for mild staining, and 2 for dark staining) of staining. Based on the combined score for each case, they were divided into low expressors (percentage and intensity ≤1) and high expressors (percentage or intensity >1). In addition to global scoring for each case, the glandular and solid (poorly differentiated) components, when present, were scored separately. The global scores were correlated with clinical and biologic parameters. Seventy-four percent of the cases exhibited expression of COX-2 and 53% were high expressors. No significant association was observed when comparing the global COX-2 expression to survival, tumor size, stage, and vascular invasion. Increased perineural invasion was found to be significantly associated with COX-2 expression (p < 0.05). Increased expression was also more common in the glandular component as compared with the solid component of the tumors (68% versus 35%, p < 0.05). Of the 34 patients who received radiotherapy, 9 were low expressor (median survival 19.5 months) and 25 were high expressors (median survival 14 months). The difference in survival was not statistically significant.
Comparison of Mucin Levels at the Ocular Surface of Postmenopausal Women With and Without a History of Dry Eye

Purpose: To determine if levels of the glycocalyx membrane mucins, MUC1 and MUC16, and the secreted goblet cell mucin MUC5AC are altered in conjunctival cells and tears of postmenopausal women presenting with a history of non-Sjögren dry eye and if mucin levels correlate with dry eye clinical diagnostic data. Methods: Eighty-four postmenopausal women with a history of non-Sjögren dry eye and 30 normal subjects were recruited for this study. Impression cytology samples were collected for mucin messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein analysis. Tears were collected for mucin protein assay. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used to quantitate MUC1, MUC16, and MUC5AC levels. Results: Postmenopausal women with a history of dry eye displayed significantly increased MUC1 mRNA expression and cellular protein compared with normal subjects (P < 0.001 and P < 0.0l, respectively). Similarly, cellular MUC16 protein levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001). Mucin levels were found to be correlated with the clinical characterization of the subjects, including staining and symptoms. Although cellular MUC5AC protein levels were increased in symptomatic subjects, the increase did not reach statistical significance. Conclusions: Elevation in MUC1 and MUC16 mRNA and/or protein levels in postmenopausal women with non-Sjögren dry eye with a history of dry eye may be a compensatory response to irritation and inflammation associated with the disease. Understanding the pattern of mucin expression associated with the dry eye pathology may clarify factors involved in the progression of the disease and enhance the development of targeted therapies.
Cell manipulation in microfluidics

Recent advances in the lab-on-a-chip field in association with nano/microfluidics have been made for new applications and functionalities to the fields of molecular biology, genetic analysis and proteomics, enabling the expansion of the cell biology field. Specifically, microfluidics has provided promising tools for enhancing cell biological research, since it has the ability to precisely control the cellular environment, to easily mimic heterogeneous cellular environment by multiplexing, and to analyze sub-cellular information by high-contents screening assays at the single-cell level. Various cell manipulation techniques in microfluidics have been developed in accordance with specific objectives and applications. In this review, we examine the latest achievements of cell manipulation techniques in microfluidics by categorizing externally applied forces for manipulation: (i) optical, (ii) magnetic, (iii) electrical, (iv) mechanical and (v) other manipulations. We furthermore focus on history where the manipulation techniques originate and also discuss future perspectives with key examples where available.
Covert Infection of Insects by Baculoviruses

Baculoviruses (Baculoviridae) are occluded DNA viruses that are lethal pathogens of the larval stages of some lepidopterans, mosquitoes, and sawflies (phytophagous Hymenoptera). These viruses have been developed as biological insecticides for control of insect pests and as expression vectors in biotechnological applications. Natural and laboratory populations frequently harbor covert infections by baculoviruses, often at a prevalence exceeding 50%. Covert infection can comprise either non-productive latency or sublethal infection involving low level production of virus progeny. Latency in cell culture systems involves the expression of a small subset of viral genes. In contrast, covert infection in lepidopterans is associated with differential infection of cell types, modulation of virus gene expression and avoidance of immune system clearance. The molecular basis for covert infection may reside in the regulation of host–virus interactions through the action of microRNAs (miRNA). Initial findings suggest that insect nudiviruses and vertebrate herpesviruses may provide useful analogous models for exploring the mechanisms of covert infection by baculoviruses. These pathogens adopt mixed-mode transmission strategies that depend on the relative fitness gains that accrue through vertical and horizontal transmission. This facilitates virus persistence when opportunities for horizontal transmission are limited and ensures virus dispersal in migratory host species. However, when host survival is threatened by environmental or physiological stressors, latent or persistent infections can be activated to produce lethal disease, followed by horizontal transmission. Covert infection has also been implicated in population level effects on host–pathogen dynamics due to the reduced reproductive capacity of infected females. We conclude that covert infections provide many opportunities to examine the complexity of insect–virus pathosystems at the organismal level and to explore the evolutionary and ecological relationships of these pathogens with major crop and forest pests.
Via della Vasca Navale , 79 00146 Roma , Italy A Model and a Language for Context-Aware Databases

Context awareness is an enabling technology of ubiquitous computing aimed at utilizing the location, the time, and other properties that characterize the context of use to select the information that is most appropriate to final users. Although it is widely considered a fundamental ability of modern applications, current database technology does not provide a support to context awareness yet. In this paper, we propose a logical model and an abstract query language as a foundation for context-aware database management systems. The model is a natural extension of the relational model in which contexts are first class citizens and can be described at different levels of granularity. This guarantees a smooth implementation of the approach with current database technology. The query language is a conservative extension of relational algebra where special operators allow the specification of queries over contexts. As it happens in practice, contexts in queries and contexts associated with data can be at different granularities: this is made possible by a partial order relationship defined over contexts. We also study equivalence and rewriting properties of the query language that can be used for the optimization of context-aware queries.
A NEW CONTRIBUTION TO THE HISTORY OF PASTORALISM IN WEST AFRICA

Archaeological and faunal evidence from West African Neolithic sites, including those containing shorthorn cattle from 4000 years bp, shows that cattle spread out progressively from the Saharan uplands through the Sahel and along the Atlantic coast. These migrations were modulated by Holocene climatic fluctuations in which alternating wet and dry phases altered natural ecosystems and opened up new areas to pastoralism. At the same time, the Neolithic populations were forced to modify their cultural and economic practices, culminating in the social changes that characterised the final stages of the Neolithic.
Surfactant-Free O/W-Emulsion as Drug Delivery System

: Most of the drugs used for pharmaceutical purposes are poorly water-soluble drugs. About 40% of all newly discovered drugs are lipophilic and the numbers of lipophilic drugs seem to increase more and more. Drug delivery systems such as nanoparticles, micelles or liposomes are applied to improve their solubility and thus their bioavailability. Besides various techniques of solubilization, oil-in-water emulsions are often used to incorporate lipophilic drugs into the oil phase. To stabilize emulsions surface active substances (surfactants) are generally used. An alternative method to avoid the application of surfactants was of great interest. One possibility is to develop O/W-emulsion without any addition of surface active agents or the so called “surfactant-free emulsion or SFE”. The aim of this study was to develop and characterize SFE as a drug carrier by varying the production conditions. Lidocaine base was used as a model drug. The injection method was developed. Effects of ultrasound as well as of temperature on the properties of the emulsion were studied. Particle sizes and release were determined. The long-term stability up to 30 days was performed. The results showed that the surfactant-free O/W emulsions with pharmaceutical oil as drug carrier can be produced.
Changing Trend in the Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolated from Wound Swabs of Out-Patients and in-Patients of a Tertiary Care Hospital.

CONTEXT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common gram negative bacteria associated with nosocomial infections. Active surveillance of trends in antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa is necessary for the selection of appropriate antimicrobial agent for empirical therapy. AIM To assess the rates of antibiotic resistance and multidrug resistance among P. aeruginosa isolates and to observe the trend in its resistance pattern over a period of 5 years. MATERIALS AND METHODS Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from wound swabs during January to June 2007 and January to June 2012 were included in the study. Isolates were identified by conventional tests and antibiotic susceptibility was determined by disc diffusion method according to CLSI guidelines. RESULTS A total of 307 Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates were included in the study. Among these isolates, 165 were isolated during Jan-June 2007 and 142 were isolated during Jan-June 2012. Among in-patients, there was a significant reduction in resistance rates of the isolates to ciprofloxacin (49% to 33%), ceftazidime (50% to 33%), meropenem (35% to 19%) and imipenem (28% to 14%) in 2012. Similarly, the rate of MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa among the in-patients decreased from 37.9% in 2007 to 23.7% in 2012 (p value 0.0241). There was no significant difference in the resistance rates of the isolates from out-patients during the two study periods. CONCLUSION There was a significant decreasing trend in the resistance rates of the isolates to ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, meropenem and imipenem. Reduction in the use of ciprofloxacin could be probable reason for the decreased resistance among P. aeruginosa isolates, which needs to be further investigated.
Recruitment and retention of latino dementia family caregivers in intervention research: issues to face, lessons to learn.

PURPOSE This article reviews and critiques several issues of importance to those whose goal is to make intervention research with Latino caregivers more "user-friendly. " Issues range from current demographic trends showing the ever-increasing number of Latino caregivers to discussion of cultural values that influence their help-seeking behavior. DESIGN AND METHODS This article presents a review of current published information on this topic. The gerontological literature was searched for the past decade for relevant material; in addition, the authors' own experience in this area is described. RESULTS Although limited information was found that derived from actual empirical studies, a number of articles describe potential barriers to research involvement and provide suggestions for making participation more attractive and culturally appropriate for Latinos. IMPLICATIONS Clinical researchers need to increase their sensitivity to such issues as cultural values and language preference and develop effective collaborations with the Latino community so that intervention research programs can be designed and implemented successfully with Latinos caring for cognitively impaired elderly family members at home.
Eucaryote thermophily: role of lipids in the growth of Talaromyces thermophilus

The effects of growth temperature on the fatty acid composition of the phospholipids of the fungus Talaromyces thermophilus were investigated. This thermophilic organism was unable to increase the degree of unsaturation of its fatty acids when shifted from high to low growth temperatures. Inhibition of fatty acid synthesis by the antibiotic cerulenin was reversed by the addition of a mixture of palmitic, stearic, and oleic acids and ergosterol. The data obtained were consistent with the hypothesis that the thermophilic character of T. thermophilus is due to metabolic limitations that restrict its ability to regulate membrane fluidity.
Progression to established smoking among US youths.

OBJECTIVES Our study presents national estimates of the proportion of youths in each of 7 stages of smoking and investigates the associations between risk/protective factors and progression to established smoking. METHODS We analyzed data from the 1999 and 2000 National Youth Tobacco Surveys. RESULTS In 1999 and 2000, 48.6% of US adolescents had at least experimented with tobacco, and 7.8% were established smokers. Important correlates of progression to established smoking included parental advice not to smoke, antismoking lessons in school, susceptibility to tobacco industry advertising and promotion, peer smoking, and exposure to smoking at home. CONCLUSIONS Interventions to stop adolescent progression to established smoking should target susceptible never smokers and early experimenters as well as those in later stages of smoking.