Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of augmenting response options of the MMPI-2-RF: An extension of previous findings

Abstract The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of augmenting the response options of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Second Edition-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). Numerous investigations indicate that scores on scales with more response options tend to possess better psychometric properties than those with fewer response options. A previous investigation by Cox and colleagues compared the psychometric performance of the MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical scales using the standard response format to a version using an augmented, four-point response format. Scores from the augmented version demonstrated superior internal consistency compared to the standard form. Scores from the augmented version failed to demonstrate superior convergent validity compared to the standard form. The current study replicates and expands these findings to all the MMPI-2-RF scales. The augmented version took approximately 3 minutes longer to complete, but participants felt the augmented response format allowed them to describe themselves more accurately. As in the previous study, internal consistency was superior for scores on the augmented version, but these gains did not lead to increased convergent validity. No order effects were observed. Potential explanations for this counterintuitive finding are discussed, and recommendations are made for future investigations in response option augmentation.
Running induces menstrual disturbances but bone mass is unaffected, except in amenorrheic women.

PURPOSE To investigate the prevalence of exercise-related menstrual and sex hormonal disturbances and the effect of exercise on bone mass and metabolism in female runners at various training levels. SUBJECTS AND METHODS Two hundred five premenopausal women (running 0 to 140 km a week) were recruited from a large population of female runners who had responded to a questionnaire regarding exercise habits. Maximum oxygen uptake was determined by treadmill testing. Gynecologic status was assessed on entries in a menstrual calendar and by transvaginal ultrasonography; sex hormonal status was measured three times with 10-day intervals. Bone mass was measured in the lumbar spine, proximal femurs, and total body by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry, and in the forearm by single-photon absorptiometry. Bone turnover was assessed by measurement of plasma osteocalcin, serum alkaline phosphatase, and urinary calcium and hydroxyproline. RESULTS Sex hormonal disturbances were significantly related to training intensity. Compared with the normally active women, the baseline levels and fluctuations of estradiol and progesterone in the elite runners were reduced by up to 25% to 44% (0.01 < p < 0.05). The prevalence of amenorrhea increased from 1% in the normally active subjects to 11% in the elite runners. No statistically significant relation was found between running activity and bone mineral measurements or bone turnover. However, the group of amenorrheic runners had a 10% reduction in lumbar bone density as compared with the normally menstruating runners (p < 0.05), but the bone turnover was similar. CONCLUSION In the large majority of the female runners, no skeletal affection was found despite significant sex hormonal and menstrual disturbances. Only the runners with amenorrhea might be at increased risk of osteoporosis.
Recurrent Hypertensive Crises in an Endoscopist: A Possible Occupational Link

CASE REPORT A middle-aged gastroenterologist with a history of wellcontrolled hypertension and impaired fasting glucose was repeatedly hospitalized for hypertensive crises. Several weeks prior to presentation, the patient began to experience episodes of searing “hot poker” occipital headache immediately followed by facial flushing and neck rash associated with blood pressures (BPs) >170/ 120 mm Hg while performing endoscopy, all of which resolved following completion of the procedure. Of note, the endoscopist was required to rotate and extend his neck to view video monitors while performing endoscopy. These episodes continued to intensify, and the patient required seven hospitalizations during a period of 3 weeks for stabilization and treatment of BP values exceeding 230/130 mm Hg. The patient’s medical history was significant only for hypertension well controlled with a single agent and impaired fasting glucose not requiring medication. He did not have any toxic habits or psychosocial stressors. He did not have a history of neck trauma, surgery, or radiation. He did not have a family history of pheochromocytoma. Physical examination of the patient was significant for orthostatic hypertension and an erythematous rash on his neck. An increase in BP >30 mm Hg could be elicited with neck rotation, chewing, and talking. With an arterial line in place, the patient’s BP was observed to instantly increase whenever he rotated his neck to the left, as he would when performing endoscopy. There was no carotid or abdominal bruit. Funduscopic examination found no evidence of chronic hypertensive changes. Comprehensive serologic testing included electrolytes, renal function, hepatic function, thyroid function, catecholamines, renin, aldosterone, serotonin, dopamine, chromogranin, and tryptase, which were within normal limits. Results from urine catecholamines, metanephrines, and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid were within normal limits. Comprehensive imaging including magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography of the brain, neck, and abdomen; cardiac catheterization; and whole-body positron emission tomographic, octreotide, and radiopharmaceutical metaiodobenzylguanidine scans failed to find an adrenal tumor or extra-adrenal paraganglioma or carotid glomus tumor. Nocturnal oxygen saturation did not fall below 90%. Tilt table autonomic testing, performed once while the patient was taking antihypertensive medications, was inconclusive. The patient’s BP was ultimately stabilized on a regimen of amlodipine and labetalol. He does, however, continue to have occasional breakthrough episodes and can intentionally elicit them by rotating his neck to the left. Because of the disabling nature of his condition, the patient retired from his practice.
Recent Developments in Aerial Robotics: A Survey and Prototypes Overview

In recent years, research and development in aerial robotics (i.e., unmanned aerial vehicles, UAVs) has been growing at an unprecedented speed, and there is a need to summarize the background, latest developments, and trends of UAV research. Along with a general overview on the definition, types, categories, and topics of UAV, this work describes a systematic way to identify 1,318 high-quality UAV papers from more than thirty thousand that have been appeared in the top journals and conferences. On top of that, we provide a bird's-eye view of UAV research since 2001 by summarizing various statistical information, such as the year, type, and topic distribution of the UAV papers. We make our survey list public and believe that the list can not only help researchers identify, study, and compare their work, but is also useful for understanding research trends in the field. From our survey results, we find there are many types of UAV, and to the best of our knowledge, no literature has attempted to summarize all types in one place. With our survey list, we explain the types within our survey and outline the recent progress of each. We believe this summary can enhance readers' understanding on the UAVs and inspire researchers to propose new methods and new applications.
The Na+-Ca2+ Exchanger Is Essential for the Action of Cardiac Glycosides

The widely accepted model to explain the positive inotropic effect of cardiac glycosides invokes altered Na+-Ca2+ exchange activity secondary to Na+ pump inhibition. However, proof of this model is lacking and alternative mechanisms have been proposed. We directly tested the role of the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger in the action of the glycoside ouabain using Na+-Ca2+ exchanger knockout mice. Ablation of the exchanger is embryonic lethal, but contractility can be studied in embryonic heart tubes at day 9.5 postcoitum. Heart tubes isolated from homozygous Na+-Ca2+ exchanger knockout mice (NCX−/−) display surprisingly normal Ca2+ transients. Removal of extracellular Na+ induces Ca2+ overload in wild-type heart tubes but does not alter the Ca2+ transients of NCX−/− heart tubes. Similarly, ouabain, at levels causing Ca2+ overload in wild-type heart tubes, has no effect on NCX−/− heart tubes. We conclude that in embryonic mouse myocytes the Na+-Ca2+ exchanger is absolutely required for the effect of cardiac glycosides on Ca2+i.
Nefopam reduces thermal hypersensitivity in acute and postoperative pain models in the rat.

The activity of nefopam, a centrally acting compound, not structurally related to other analgesics, was examined in acute and postoperative thermal pain models in the rat. Its antinociceptive potency was evaluated using heat noxious stimuli either in intact or in injured animals after skin and muscular incisions. In the hot plate and in the plantar tests, nefopam after acute administration by different routes exhibited a dose-dependent attenuation of the nociceptive responses at 10-30 mg x kg(-1) by intraperitoneal or subcutaneous administration, at 60 mg x kg(-1) by oral dosing, and from 3 mg x kg(-1) after intravenous injection. In the postoperative pain model, at 30 mg x kg(-1) nefopam augmented the endpoint to thermal threshold, 60 and 90 minutes after administration compared to the threshold recorded after the incision. In the same conditions, morphine and tramadol displayed antinociceptive activities. As the plantar test provides a good index of nociception in humans, these results point out the usefulness of nefopam for attenuating moderate to severe pain, and for postoperative analgesia. In conclusion, nefopam has shown potent properties to reduce thermal hypersensitivity after acute or postoperative pain in rats.
Hypoxia and Expression of Vegf‐A Protein in Relation to Capillary Growth in Electrically Stimulated Rat and Rabbit Skeletal Muscles

To investigate the role of hypoxia as a stimulus to the early upregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in fast skeletal muscles during chronic low frequency stimulation, blood flow, oxygen consumption, VEGF expression and capillary:fibre ratio were measured in chronically stimulated tibialis anterior and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles in rabbits and rats. No differences were found in blood flow, oxygen consumption and extraction between rabbit muscles stimulated for 2 or 4 days (8 h on‐16 h off) and controls. Muscle PO2 polarographically measured immediately at the end of stimulation on day 2 was also no different from control under resting conditions (10.7 ± 1.6 vs. 9.5 ± 1.2 Torr, n.s.). Unlike control muscles, however, PO2 in 2 day stimulated muscles did not increase immediately after a further acute bout of contractions. This difference was not apparent after similar acute contractions in 4 day stimulated muscles. The involvement of VEGF in early angiogenesis in stimulated muscles was studied in serial cryosections of rat EDL. The proportion of capillaries positively immunostained for VEGF increased from 25 ± 1% to 40 ± 1% (P < 0.05) in muscles removed on day 2 immediately at the end of chronic stimulation; it decreased slightly after 16 h rest, and increased again after 4 days of stimulation. Capillary:fibre ratio was unchanged throughout the experiment. Capillary cell proliferation increased only after the rest period on day 2 (20‐fold increase) and day 4 (12‐fold increase), indicating angiogenesis in progress. Thus the timing of transient hypoxia and increase in capillary‐linked VEGF in stimulated muscles, albeit in different species, was similar, and increased VEGF staining and capillary cell proliferation occurred even after the hypoxia had resolved. This suggests (1) a connection between hypoxia and VEGF during the early stages of stimulation, although ensuing capillary proliferation may thereafter rapidly correct for local hypoxia, and (2) that the subsequent angiogenesis and VEGF expression are dependent on factors other than hypoxia.
Multiple approaches to the study of bifacial technologies.

Bifacial chipped stones have been used by archaeologists to document the evolution of human technology and cognition during the Pleistocene and as index fossils for a myriad of cultures in both the Old World and the New. Bifaces provide some of the most convincing dimensions of stylistic variability observable in stone tool assemblages. With an international cast of contributors, from St. Petersburg to South Carolina, this volume shows how bifacial technology changed through time and according to different environments, complementing the evolution of human cognition and physical abilities. It also addresses how the different technological and social systems of past hunter-gatherers are reflected in bifacial technology, from the earliest African bifaces to North American Woodland projectile points. Contributors: Miguel Almeida, Dryas Arqueologia, Lda. • Nick Ashton, British Museum • Thierry Aubry, Parque Arqueologico do Vale do Coa • Douglas B. Bamforth, University of Colorado • J. Desmond Clark, University of California • Vladimir Doronichev and Lubov Golovanova, Laboratory of Prehistory • Maureen A. Hays, College of Charleston • Jack Hofman, University of Kansas • Janusz K. Kozlowski, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski • Shannon P. McPherron, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro • Dimitris Metaxas, Rutgers University • Maria Joao Neves, Dryas Arqueologia, Lda. • Michael Noll, Smithsonian Institution • April Nowell, University of Victoria • Marcel Otte, Universite de Liege • Jinah Park, KAIST Computer Science • Kyoungju Park, University of Pennsylvania • Michael D. Petraglia, University of Cambridge • Derek A. Roe, Oxford University • Kathy Schick, Indiana University • Michael Shott, University of Northern Iowa • Bertrand Walter, Musee de la Poterne • Mark White, University of Durham
600 V-18 A GaN Power MOS-HEMTs on 150 mm Si Substrates With Au-Free Electrodes

We present the development of an Au-free ohmic contact metallization for high voltage GaN-based high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs). In this letter, low contact resistance (0.81 Ω·mm) is obtained for Au-free electrodes on AlGaN/GaN HEMT structures. Using Au-free ohmic processes, large scale high power GaN metal-oxide-semiconductor HEMTs were successfully fabricated in a procedure fully compatible with standard Si CMOS manufacturing with the maximum drain current of more than 18 A and low OFF-state leakage current of 3×10-7 A at VDS of 600 V. The practicality of the devices was further demonstrated by measurements of the current collapse effects under severe operating conditions and the temperature dependence of the electrical characteristics.
A pooled analysis of bone marrow micrometastasis in breast cancer.

BACKGROUND We assessed the prognostic significance of the presence of micrometastasis in the bone marrow at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer by means of a pooled analysis. METHODS We combined individual patient data from nine studies involving 4703 patients with stage I, II, or III breast cancer. We evaluated patient outcomes over a 10-year follow-up period (median, 5.2 years), using a multivariable piecewise Cox regression model. RESULTS Micrometastasis was detected in 30.6 percent of the patients. As compared with women without bone marrow micrometastasis, patients with bone marrow micrometastasis had larger tumors and tumors with a higher histologic grade and more often had lymph-node metastases and hormone receptor-negative tumors (P<0.001 for all variables). The presence of micrometastasis was a significant prognostic factor with respect to poor overall survival and breast-cancer-specific survival (univariate mortality ratios, 2.15 and 2.44, respectively; P<0.001 for both outcomes) and poor disease-free survival and distant-disease-free survival during the 10-year observation period (incidence-rate ratios, 2.13 and 2.33, respectively; P<0.001 for both outcomes). In the multivariable analysis, micrometastasis was an independent predictor of a poor outcome. In the univariate subgroup analysis, breast-cancer-specific survival among patients with micrometastasis was significantly shortened (P<0.001 for all comparisons) among those receiving adjuvant endocrine treatment (mortality ratio, 3.22) or cytotoxic therapy (mortality ratio, 2.32) and among patients who had tumors no larger than 2 cm in diameter without lymph-node metastasis and who did not receive systemic adjuvant therapy (mortality ratio, 3.65). CONCLUSIONS The presence of micrometastasis in the bone marrow at the time of diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with a poor prognosis.
The cancer stem cell microenvironment and anti-cancer therapy

Purpose: Tumours are composed of a heterogeneous cell population. Cancer stem cells, which make up a minor fraction of a tumour, may be the cells that initiate and sustain tumour growth. Cancer stem cells are believed to share many properties with normal stem cells that render them relatively insensitive to classical radio- and chemotherapy. Conclusions: We discuss what those (cancer) stem cell properties are and how the interactions with the microenvironment – ‘the niche’ – control those aspects of (cancer) stem cell biology. We also describe possible strategies to target cancer stem cells in order to prevent cancers from escaping therapy.
Chronic Kidney Disease in Older People.

Should current guidelines be changed to require age calibration for diagnosis and classification of chronic kidney disease? —No. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health problem, affecting more than 10% of the world’s population and more than half of adults older than 70 years.1 Chronic kidney disease is one of several conditions that are common in older people, such as hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, and are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Like CKD, the criteria for defining and classifying these vascular disease risk factors do not vary by age, although age is important for assessing prognosis and determining treatment. The solution to the public health problem of CKD is to improve strategies for prevention and treatment and tailor these strategies to each patient’s age and risk, rather than redefine CKD.
Behaviors Associated With a Risk of HIV Transmission From HIV-Positive Street Youth to Non–Street Youth in Ukraine

Background Little is known about the extent to which HIV-infected street youth (living part or full time on the streets) exhibit behaviors associated with HIV transmission in their interactions with youth not living on the streets (“non–street youth”). We aimed to determine prevalences and predictors of such “bridging behaviors”: inconsistent condom use and needle sharing between HIV-positive street youth and non–street youth. Methods A total of 171 street youth in 3 Ukrainian cites were identified as HIV infected after testing of eligible participants aged 15 to 24 years after random selection of venues. Using data from these youth, we calculated prevalence estimates of bridging behaviors and assessed predictors using logistic regression. Results Overall, two-thirds of HIV-infected street youth exhibited bridging behaviors; subgroups with high prevalences of bridging included females (78.3%) and those involved in transactional sex (84.2%). In multivariable analysis, inconsistent condom use with non–street youth was associated with being female (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 1.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.1–1.4), working (aPR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.03–1.4), multiple partners (aPR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.2–1.6), and “never” (aPR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1–1.6) or “sometimes” (aPR, 1.3; 95% CI, 1.02–1.8) versus “always” sleeping on the street. Needle sharing with non–street youth was associated with being male (aPR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.02–2.0), orphaned (aPR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.8–3.0), and 2 years or less living on the streets (aPR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.5–2.1). Conclusions Bridging behaviors between HIV-infected street youth and non–street youth are common. Addressing the comprehensive needs of street and other at-risk youth is a critical prevention strategy.
Virtualisierung eingebetteter Echtzeitsysteme im Mehrkernbetrieb zur Partitionierung sicherheitsrelevanter Fahrzeugsoftware

Die Automobilindustrie verzeichnete innerhalb der letzten Jahre einen enormen Zuwachs an neuen elektrischen und elektronischen Fahrzeugfunktionen. Dies fuhrt gleichzeitig zu einer Mehrung der Softwareumfange in eingebetteten Systemen. Nicht-funktionale Anforderungen wie Sicherheit, Performanz, Verlasslichkeit und Wartbarkeit stellen zusatzliche Herausforderungen an die Entwicklung zukunftiger Fahrzeugsysteme dar. Um die Anzahl der Steuergerate zu reduzieren, sollen Fahrzeugfunktionen auf gemeinsamen Integrationssteuergeraten konsolidiert werden. Systemvirtualisierung kann hierfur eine zielfuhrende Herangehensweise darstellen, um die Softwaremigration auf Integrationssteuergerate zu erleichtern und gleichzeitig den geforderten Isolationsanspruchen neuer Sicherheitsstandards gerecht zu werden. In dieser Arbeit wird die Partitionierung sicherheitsrelevanter Fahrzeugfunktionen auf einer gemeinsamen Hardwareplattform fokussiert. Unter Verwendung von Methoden zur Bewertung sozialer Netzwerke wird eine graphenbasierte Herangehensweise vorgestellt, um die Partitionierbarkeit von Softwarenetzen mit sicherheitsrelevanten Anteilen abschatzen zu konnen. Zur Realisierung der Systempartitionierung wird eine Methodik zur Auswahl der geeignetsten Kernelarchitektur eingefuhrt. Dabei werden aus gewahlten nicht-funktionalen Eigenschaften potentielle technische Losungskonzepte innerhalb einer Baumstruktur abgeleitet und ingenieurmasig bewertet. Darauf aufbauend wird ein Hypervisor fur eingebettete Echtzeitsysteme der Firma ETAS Ltd. evaluiert. Um die Kosten einer zusatzlichen Hypervisorschicht beurteilen zu konnen, werden in diesem Rahmen Laufzeitmessungen durchgefuhrt. Somit werden die Auswirkungen einer zusatzlichen Virtualisierungsschicht auf Fahrzeugsoftwaresysteme zur Erfullung ausgewahlter nicht-funktionaler Eigenschaften aufgezeigt. Die Anbindung virtualisierter Systeme an die Kommunikationsschnittstellen des Hypervisors stellt einen weiteren Schwerpunkt dar. Virtuelle Steuergerate tauschen sich weiterhin uber bereits implementierte Kommunikationskanale aus und greifen auf gemeinsame Hardwareressourcen zu. Es wird somit ein Konzept eingefuhrt, um sicherheitsrelevante Anteile des AUTOSAR Microcontroller Abstraction Layers zu entkoppeln. Der Hypervisor selbst wird hierzu an relevanten Stellen erweitert und ein verlassliches Kommunikationskonzept implementiert. Ein Demonstratoraufbau, zur Konsolidierung von produktiver Fahrzeugsoftware auf einer gemeinsamen Hardwareplattform, finalisiert die Arbeit. Hierfur werden unabhangige Softwarestande paravirtualisiert. Als Resumee der Arbeit erhalt der Leser sowohl einen technischen Uberblick uber den Mehrwert als auch der Kosten paravirtualisierter Fahrzeugplattformen, welche auf Kleinststeuergeraten integriert sind.
Performance improvement of the BSB model in classifier tasks using optimization techniques

A method to improve the performance of the BSB (Brain State in a Box) model applied to classification tasks is presented. We propose a supervised learning scheme divided in two stages. In the first one the basic interconnection matrix is formed using data of a set of training points, as proposed in the original definition of the BSB model. In the second stage the behavior of the trajectories that begin in each one of these points are studied and modified by means of a change in the interconnection matrix. The correction is achieved using of a method derived from the lineal optimal control techniques, applied on the evolutions that begin in the training set points. Several simulated experiments were carried out and the effectiveness of the proposed method is shown.