Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of antidepressant treatment on the quality of daily life: an experience sampling study.

BACKGROUND Although some depression trials have included quality of life (QoL) as an outcome measure, assessments were retrospective and relatively infrequent. Because QoL varies in relation to everyday experience, intensive time-sampling approaches may be useful. METHOD The experience sampling method (ESM) was used to assess effects of antidepressant treatment on the quality of life, as measured from moment to moment in daily life (mQoL), and related aspects of daily experience. Primary care patients with a DSM-III-R/DSM-IV diagnosis of major depressive disorder were randomly assigned to imipramine (N = 32) or placebo (N = 31) treatment for 6 weeks, with possible prolongation to 18 weeks. A healthy control group (N = 22) provided normative data. RESULTS Treatment-related increases in frequency and severity of physical complaints, including those not reported to the general practitioner as side effects, were associated with lowered mQoL; this negative association was especially strong in treatment dropouts. Despite greater clinical improvement at week 6, imipramine patients did not report greater increases than placebo patients in mean mQoL ratings. However, imipramine treatment stabilized mQoL fluctuations and led to reductions in time spent "doing nothing. " Patients' decisions to prolong treatment depended on clinical improvement, mQoL changes, and specific early side effects. At 18 weeks, remitted patients still showed deficits on ESM daily life measures relative to healthy controls, even though QoL had returned to normal on retrospective measures. CONCLUSION ESM provides new insights in the effects of antidepressant treatment on daily life experiences and should therefore be considered as a supplement to conventional instruments in clinical trials.
Performance analysis of holistic feature representation for scene understanding and classification

Feature representation of visual information is one of core research topics in computer vision and image understanding. In this paper, we review four holistic feature representation algorithms, and simulate the performance for each algorithm with experiments on Image SUN DataBase in details. Discussions on holistic feature representation are presented, which give some insights into future research on scene understanding and classification.
RelB is required for Peyer's patch development: differential regulation of p52–RelB by lymphotoxin and TNF

Targeted disruption of the Rel/NF‐κB family members NF‐κB2, encoding p100/p52, and RelB in mice results in anatomical defects of secondary lymphoid tissues. Here, we report that development of Peyer's patch (PP)‐organizing centers is impaired in both NF‐κB2‐ and RelB‐deficient animals. IL‐7‐induced expression of lymphotoxin (LT) in intestinal cells, a crucial step in PP development, is not impaired in RelB‐deficient embryos. LTβ receptor (LTβR)‐deficient mice also lack PPs, and we demonstrate that LTβR signaling induces p52–RelB and classical p50–RelA heterodimers, while tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activates only RelA. LTβR‐induced binding of p52–RelB requires the degradation of the inhibitory p52 precursor, p100, which is mediated by the NF‐κB‐inducing kinase (NIK) and the IκB kinase (IKK) complex subunit IKKα, but not IKKβ or IKKγ. Activation of RelA requires all three IKK subunits, but is independent of NIK. Finally, we show that TNF increases p100 levels, resulting in the specific inhibition of RelB DNA binding via the C‐terminus of p100. Our data indicate an important role of p52–RelB heterodimers in lymphoid organ development downstream of LTβR, NIK and IKKα.
Venture Capital Fund Performance

In this article, the authors analyze the investment performance of a large database of venture funds sourced from two limited partners. The results suggest that a portfolio of venture capital partnerships can provide an average return that is superior to the public equity market, although the individual fund returns are highly positively skewed. Absent these outliers, the level of fund performance is more in line with public equity market returns. This article also provides some preliminary evidence of venture capital fund performance during and immediately following the dot-com bubble.
Neuropsychological performance of methadone-maintained opiate users

Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) has been used to treat opiate dependence since the mid-1960s. Previous studies have investigated the effects of methadone on cognitive function however the findings have been inconsistent. Some report a complete absence of deficits while others report different types of cognitive impairment. Our research aimed to investigate the effects of MMT on cognitive function by comparing the performance of patients currently enrolled in MMT (n=32) with opiate-dependent subjects (n=17) and healthy control subjects (n=25) on a computerised neuropsychological test battery. Both the patients undertaking MMT and the opiate users showed less efficient interaction between visual searching and manually connecting digits and letters during the Switching of Attention Task than the healthy control subjects (F(2,64)=3.25, p=0.05), which indicates deficits in information processing. Nevertheless, the performance of the MMT group was similar to that of healthy control subjects in all other tasks, in contrast to the group of opiate users who performed poorly when compared to healthy control subjects during tests of attention (mean difference (MD)=2.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.9–4.7), p=0.001) and executive function (MD=5.9, 95% CI (1.3–10.5), p=0.007). These findings suggest that cognitive function in patients undertaking MMT is improved compared to those dependent on illicit opiates.
Sequencing of peptides and proteins with blocked N-terminal amino acids: N-Acetylserine or N-acetylthreonine

Many proteins cannot be directly sequenced by Edman degradation because they have a blocked N-terminal residue. A method is presented for deblocking such proteins when the N-terminal residue is N-acetylserine (which occurs frequently in eukaryotic proteins) or N-acetylthreonine. The method has been applied successfully to the determination of the N-terminal amino acid sequence of human, bovine, and rat parathymosins. Prothymosin alpha and other blocked proteins and peptides were also readily deblocked and sequenced by this procedure. It is proposed that the mechanism of the deblocking reaction involves an acid-catalyzed N----O shift of the acetyl group followed by a beta-elimination.
A microstrip array of aperture-coupled patches for UMTS base stations

The rising popularity of wireless communication systems has induced a demand for more and more efficient systems, able to serve larger numbers of users, to provide higher transmission speeds and to operate in more complex environments. The present limited available bandwidth and the growing request for capacity require new channels to be multiplexed. This objective can be accomplished by employing smart antenna systems at the base station. A smart antenna can be used to direct the main beam toward the desired user and to set pattern nulls in the direction of interferers. Such a system can be seen as channel multiplexing in the spatial domain, which increases both carrier-to-interference ratio (C/I) and system capacity. Moreover, it is important to note that dual-polarization sensors provide a diversity scheme. In this framework, /spl plusmn/45/spl deg/ slanted polarizations are preferred to vertical/horizontal (V/H) polarizations because they form identical azimuthal patterns and are equally sensible to horizontally and vertically polarized signals. A dual-polarized microstrip array panel is proposed, which can be used as a smart antenna in the framework of Universal Mobile Telecommunication Systems (UMTS).
Cotransfer of Antibiotic Resistance Genes and a hylEfm-Containing Virulence Plasmid in Enterococcus faecium

ABSTRACT The hylEfm gene (encoding a putative hyaluronidase) has been found almost exclusively in Enterococcus faecium clinical isolates, and recently, it was shown to be on a plasmid which increased the ability of E. faecium strains to colonize the gastrointestinal tract. In this work, the results of mating experiments between hylEfm-containing strains of E. faecium belonging to clonal cluster 17 and isolated in the United States and Colombia indicated that the hylEfm gene of these strains is also carried on large plasmids (>145 kb) which we showed transfer readily from clinical strains to E. faecium hosts. Cotransfer of resistance to vancomycin and high-level resistance (HLR) to aminoglycosides (gentamicin and streptomycin) and erythromycin was also observed. The vanA gene cluster and gentamicin resistance determinants were genetically linked to hylEfm, whereas erm(B) and ant(6)-I, conferring macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B resistance and HLR to streptomycin, respectively, were not. A hylEfm-positive transconjugant resulting from a mating between a well-characterized endocarditis strain [TX0016 (DO)] and a derivative of a fecal strain of E. faecium from a healthy human volunteer (TX1330RF) exhibited increased virulence in a mouse peritonitis model. These results indicate that E. faecium strains use a strategy which involves the recruitment into the same genetic unit of antibiotic resistance genes and determinants that increase the ability to produce disease. Our findings indicate that the acquisition of the hylEfm plasmids may explain, at least in part, the recent successful emergence of some E. faecium strains as nosocomial pathogens.
Apoptosis-induced Cleavage of β-Catenin by Caspase-3 Results in Proteolytic Fragments with Reduced Transactivation Potential*

β-Catenin is a member of the Armadillo repeat protein family with a dual cellular function as a component of both the adherens junction complex and the Wnt/wingless signaling pathway. Here we show that β-catenin is proteolytically cleaved during anoikis and staurosporine-induced apoptosis. Cleavage of β-catenin was found to be caspase-dependent. Five cleavage products of β-catenin were identified in vivo and after in vitrocleavage by caspase-3. Amino acid sequencing and mass spectrometry analysis indicated two caspase-3 cleavage sites at the C terminus and three further sites at the N terminus, whereas the central Armadillo repeat region remained unaffected. All β-catenin cleavage products were still able to associate with E-cadherin and α-catenin and were found to be enriched in the cytoplasm. Functional analysis revealed that β-catenin deletion constructs resembling the observed proteolytic fragments show a strongly reduced transcription activation potential when analyzed in gene reporter assays. We therefore conclude that an important role of the β-catenin cleavage during apoptosis is the removal of its transcription activation domains to prevent its transcription activation potential.
EUROPEAN SYSTEM OF INTEGRATED SOCIAL PROTECTION STATISTICS (ESSPROS) - METHODOLOGICAL ASPECTS

The need from harmonized statistical information about system of social protection determine the development of European System of integrated Social Protection Statistics (ESSPROS). This article reviews the methodology, organization, current standing and structure of ESSPROS. A definition of the scope, objects of research and basic concepts of the system. There are presented the main statistical indicators which are developed on the basis of information gathered. The functions of social protection are described. The list of risks or needs that may give rise to social protection is as follows: Sickness/Health care, Disability, Old age, Survivors, Family/children, Unemployment, Housing, Social exclusion not elsewhere classified.
Alloimmunization to transfused HOD red blood cells is not increased in mice with sickle cell disease

BACKGROUND: Increased rates of red blood cell (RBC) alloimmunization in patients with sickle cell disease may be due to transfusion frequency, genetic predisposition, or immune dysregulation. To test the hypothesis that sickle cell pathophysiology influences RBC alloimmunization, we utilized two transgenic mouse models of sickle cell disease.
A CMOS focal-plane array for terahertz imaging

A terahertz focal-plane array (FPA) for video-rate imaging applications has been fabricated in a commercially available CMOS process technology. The 3times5 pixel array uses conventional low-cost quarter-micron NMOS transistors for incoherent power detection. Each pixel has a size of 150times150 mum2 and consists of an on-chip antenna, an incoherent power detection circuit, and a 43-dB amplifier with a 1.6-MHz bandwidth. At 0.6 THz a pixel achieves a responsivity of 50 kV/W with a minimum NEP of 400 pW/radic(Hz). Images at 0.6 THz are presented which demonstrate the feasibility of the applied method and show the potential of silicon integrate terahertz FPAs for future low-cost terahertz camera systems.
Miniaturizing of a distributed MEMS impedance matching network

This paper shows a Micro-Electro-Mechanical-Systems (MEMS) impedance matching network based on a distributed MEMS transmission line (DMTL) for wireless communication devices operating in the frequency range from 1.8 GHz to 3.6 GHz. In the proposed design, the capacitive MEMS switches are periodically located on a meandered slow-wave (SW) structure, whose slow wave effect is analytically calculated to reduce the minimum operating frequency of the network. Using this demonstrated transmission line, the size of the impedance matching network is minimized while providing a good impedance matching performance in terms of impedance coverage on the Smith chart.
Generic Object Recognition Using a Combination of ICA and Shape Cues

This paper addresses the problem of Generic Object Recognition by modeling the perceptual capability of human beings. In contrast to the traditional approaches, we have approached the recognition problem by proposing a framework which involves two stages of processing. First, an intelligent generic recognizer based on independent component analysis (ICA) is employed to reduce the search space to a few rank-ordered samples. It is shown that ICA captures the appearance characteristics of objects. Shape cues (distance transform based matching) are then used to verify the result of the appearance-based classifier and identify the correct object class and pose. Experiments were conducted using objects with complex appearance and shape characteristics. Sensitivity of recognition to the number of independent components and number of learning samples is analyzed on COIL-100 database. The performance of the generic classifier using ICA with and without shape matching is also analyzed.
Orthogonal symmetric Toeplitz matrices for compressed sensing: Statistical isometry property

Recently, the statistical restricted isometry property (RIP) has been formulated to analyze the performance of deterministic sampling matrices for compressed sensing. In this paper, we propose the usage of orthogonal symmetric Toeplitz matrices (OSTM) for compressed sensing and study their statistical RIP by taking advantage of Stein's method. In particular, we derive the statistical RIP performance bound in terms of the largest value of the sampling matrix and the sparsity level of the input signal. Based on such connections, we show that OSTM can satisfy the statistical RIP for an overwhelming majority of signals with given sparsity level, if a Golay sequence used to generate the OSTM. Such sensing matrices are deterministic, Toeplitz, and efficient to implement. Simulation results show that OSTM can offer reconstruction performance similar to that of random matrices.
Ameloblastoma of the Jaws

All the 49 jaw ameloblastomas reported to the Swedish Cancer Registry during the period 1958–1971 were re‐examined, using the histopathologic criteria of odontogenic tumors adopted by WHO. Thirty‐one cases (63.6%) fulfilled the criteria of simple ameloblastoma, whereas 12 cases were found to be other benign lesions and 6 to be malignant tumors other than ameloblastoma. The relationship between simple ameloblastoma, malignant ameloblastoma and other epithelial jaw tumors is discussed.
Monosomy 3 in uveal melanoma: correlation with clinical and histologic predictors of survival.

PURPOSE To correlate monosomy 3 in uveal melanoma with clinical and histologic prognostic variables and death caused by metastatic disease. METHODS Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) on chromosome 3 was investigated by PCR-based microsatellite analysis in 105 tumors and related to large basal tumor diameter (LBD), ciliary body (CB) involvement, tumor cell type, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive loops, and death related to metastatic disease. A model relating monosomy 3 to these was created with forward-stepwise logistic regression and used to derive a prognostic index. RESULTS Monosomy 3 occurred in 54 (51%) tumors and regional chromosome 3 LOH in another six (6%) tumors. Monosomy 3 was associated with epithelioid cells (chi(2) test, P < 0.001), PAS-positive loops (chi(2), P = 0.001), LBD (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.002), CB involvement (chi(2) test, P = 0.008), and metastasis-related death (log rank analysis, P = 0.0003). The regression coefficients indicated that epithelioid histology was 15 times as influential with each millimeter of increase in LBD. A prognostic score was derived: one point for each LBD category (<7.4, 7.5-12.4, 12.5-17.4, and >17.4 mm) and three points for epithelioid histology. The prevalence of monosomy 3 increased with score, from 0% in 18 tumors scoring less than 4 to 95% in 21 tumors scoring 7. CONCLUSIONS Monosomy 3 correlates with survival but can be predicted only in patients with large epithelioid tumors. The absence of monosomy 3 is predictable only in patients who have small, spindle-cell tumors. In most patients, prediction of monosomy 3 according to tumor size and histology is unreliable.
Accurate Preoperative Rod Length Measurement for Thoracoscopic Anterior Instrumentation and Fusion for Idiopathic Scoliosis

Objective: Anterior thoracoscopic instrumentation/fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis has long operative times and does not allow surgeons to adjust rod length within the chest. Intraoperative rod length measurement requires placing measurement devices into the chest, adding operative time, and results in overestimation of rod length. The study purpose was to develop a method to preoperatively determine accurate rod length. Methods: Two groups of patients were analyzed depending on when the rod length was determined: group 1: intraoperatively using intraoperative rod-measuring device (n = 12); group 2: preoperatively using the new technique (n = 12). For group 2, the preoperative convex length was measured between planned instrumented levels on the preoperative posteroanterior (PA) film, and ideal rod length was measured on the postoperative PA radiograph. The conversion ratio was determined by dividing the preoperative convex length by the ideal rod length and was 1.29 ± 0.08. Results: For group 1, the actual rod length was 3.8 cm longer than the ideal length compared with 0.8 cm for group 2 (P < 0.05). Operative times improved (51.4 vs 46.2 min/disc level) after adopting this technique. Conclusions: A simple and accurate preoperative method to determine appropriate rod length for thoracoscopically assisted anterior instrumentation/fusion was developed, which saves operative time and is more accurate when compared with the intraoperative method. This technique can be applied when using an open anterior approach.
Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant System in Erythrocytes of Brucella Vaccinated and Challenged Goats

Brucellosis is a reemerging worldwide zoonotic disease and the occurrence of the disease in humans is largely dependent on the animal reservoir [1]. In human it is mainly caused by Brucella melitensis. The highest rate of human infection is mainly in those areas where rates of brucellosis in sheep and goats are high [2,3] as sheep and goats are main reservoir of B. melitensis [4]. The prevention and control of B. melitensis in sheep and goats can be the best fitted model to control human brucellosis. For the purpose it is important to understand the patho-physiological interface involved in the course of disease in sheep or goats as virulence of Brucella species varies according to species, strain and the number of brucellae in inoculums [5,6]. Moreover, being intra cellular parasite, the pathogenic potential of Brucella spp. is highly dependent on its ability to enter and survive within host cells particularly polymorphonuclear cells and macrophages [7]. Further for the survival of Brucella spp. in the harsh environmental stress encountered in route of entry to their replicative niche, include interactive reactive oxygen species, acidic pH, and nutrient deprivation as a key determinant of Brucella virulence [8,9]. The capacity of Brucella to induce disease is dependent on their ability to overcome host cellular response and to replicate within both host phagocytes [10]. In general the intracellular environment of any phagocytic cells is potentially hostile for microbes and, threat their viability by oxidative (MyeloperoxidaseH2O2halide) or non-oxidative (cationic protein, lysozyme, lactoferritin and proteases [11]. Depending upon the type of adjuvants or immunomodulators used in any vaccine macrophages and dendritic cells are recruited and activated for antigen processing to generate free reactive radicals resulting in inflammatory sequelae [12]. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase, and glutathione peroxidase are integral part of intracellular defense systems and antioxidant mechanism [13]. Cytotoxic effects of oxidants involve DNA damage, protein oxidation, lipid peroxidation with inhibition of cellular metabolic pathways [12]. The establishment of Brucella infection has been correlated with induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in human [8], mice [11]; cattle [14]; rat [15] and in pregnant goats [16]. Thus the aim of the present study was to assess erythrocyte redox parameters viz., lipid peroxidation, Glutathion (GSH) formation and activity of catalase, SOD and Glutathion-STransferase (GST) in clinically healthy goats during Rev.1 vaccination and challenge.
CONVERSATION ACTS IN TASK‐ORIENTED SPOKEN DIALOGUE

A linguistic form's compositional, timeless meaning can be surrounded or even contradicted by various social, aesthetic, or analogistic companion meanings. This paper addresses a series of problems in the structure of spoken language discourse, including turn‐taking and grounding. It views these processes as composed of fine‐grained actions, which resemble speech acts both in resulting from a computational mechanism of planning and in having a rich relationship to the specific linguistic features which serve to indicate their presence. The resulting notion of Conversation Acts is more general than speech act theory, encompassing not only the traditional speech acts but turn‐taking, grounding, and higher‐level argumentation acts as well. Furthermore, the traditional speech acts in this scheme become fully joint actions, whose successful performance requires full listener participation. This paper presents a detailed analysis of spoken language dialogue. It shows the role of each class of conversation acts in discourse structure, and discusses how each class can be processed and recognized. Conversation acts, it will be seen, better account for the success of conversation than speech act theory alone. They also provide a pragmatic view of meaning in which the literal/non‐literal distinction is simply irrelevant.