Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Emotional Intelligence in Association With Quality of Life in Patients Recently Diagnosed With Vestibular Schwannoma

Objective The objective of this study was two-fold. First, to examine the levels of emotional intelligence in patients recently diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma, in comparison to those of healthy individuals and patients with other physical illness. Second, to evaluate the correlation between Emotional Intelligence and quality of life. Study Design Cross sectional study in a university tertiary referral center. Methods Consecutive patients (mean age [range], 56.4 [17–85] yr) diagnosed with vestibular schwannoma between April 2011 and October 2012 (N = 254). Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, disease-specific quality of life (PANQOL), and Emotional Intelligence (TEIQue-SF) were assessed by questionnaire before the start of medical treatment. Results Levels of Emotional Intelligence in patients with vestibular schwannoma (N = 178; response rate 70.1%) were significantly lower compared with healthy individuals and patients with cancer. Emotional Intelligence was highly positively correlated to disease-specific quality of life. Balance disorders and cranial nerve dysfunction made a significant negative contribution to the quality of life. For educational level, a significant positive contribution was found as well. Conclusion The substantial impact of a vestibular schwannoma-diagnosis on a psychological measure (i.e., Emotional Intelligence) in the affected patients as demonstrated in our study has important clinical and research implications when developing guidelines about counselling of these patients. This also has to be taken into account when making clinical decisions about the proposed treatment. Addressing Emotional Intelligence may be helpful in the development of a self-management program for patients with vestibular schwannoma.
Does a Superficial Musculoaponeurotic System Exist in the Face and Neck? An Anatomical Study by the Tissue Plastination Technique

&NA; An exact knowledge of the subcutaneous layers in the different regions of the face and neck is important in several surgical disciplines. In the parotid region, a superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) has been described. The existence of a SMAS as a guiding structure for the surgeon in the other regions of the face and neck has been discussed but is controversial. Therefore, the authors investigated the development of the subcutaneous connective‐tissue layers in the different facial regions and in the neck. They studied these regions in 22 human fetuses using the technique of plastination histology and in three newborn and three adult specimens using sheet plastination. In addition, they dissected the neck and face in 10 fresh adult cadavers to identify the SMAS as in the surgical situation. The results show that no SMAS could be detected in any facial regions other than the parotid region. In the parotid region, it is thick and attached to the parotid sheath. However, it becomes very thin, discontinuous, and undissectable in the cheek area. No SMAS can be found in the neck, in which the authors are the first to describe a fascia covering both sides of the platysma. This fascia has close topographical connections to the subcutaneous layers of the adjoining regions. On the basis of these findings, the surgical pathways have to be defined regionally in the face. A “platysma fascia” can be considered as a surgical landmark in the neck. Therefore, the authors conclude that it is not justified to generalize a SMAS as a surgical guiding structure. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 111: 664, 2003.)
Functional interaction between cellular p 100 and the dengue virus 3 9 UTR

Received 4 November 2010 Accepted 5 December 2010 Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 1401 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, USA Department of Microbiology, The Fourth Military Medical University, 17 Changle Xilu, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China Department of Life Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 Youyi Xilu, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710072, PR China Center of Animal Facility, The Fourth Military Medical University, 17 Changle Xilu, Xi’an, Shaanxi 710032, PR China Laboratory of Vector Borne Disease, Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, 1401 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852, USA
Title Equidistribution of Heegner points and ternary quadratic forms

We prove new equidistribution results for Galois orbits of Heegner points with respect to reduction maps at inert primes. The arguments are based on two different techniques: primitive representations of integers by quadratic forms and distribution relations for Heegner points. Our results generalize one of the equidistribution theorems established by Cornut and Vatsal in the sense that we allow both the fundamental discriminant and the conductor to grow. Moreover, for fixed fundamental discriminant and variable conductor, we deduce an effective surjectivity theorem for the reduction map from Heegner points to supersingular points at a fixed inert prime. Our results are applicable to the setting considered by Kolyvagin in the construction of the Heegner points Euler system.
Regulatory reform and labor outcomes in the U.S. electricity sector

M. Scott Niederjohn is an economics doctoral candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. E-mail: niederjs@uwm.edu The last 10 years have seen many States aggressively pursuing the restructuring of their electric utilities. These reforms were motivated by a number of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) orders that encouraged competitive markets for wholesale electric power.1 While the effects of these reforms on the product market (and competition) have been widely studied, there is a dearth of research examining the effect of regulatory reform on the U.S. electricity sector’s labor market, which employs more than 300,000 highly skilled workers. This heavily unionized workforce operates and maintains the country’s critical electrical infrastructure that both families and businesses rely on for their daily activities. This study explains the effect of electricity deregulation on this sector’s workforce by addressing several factors. After initially reviewing the recent history of the U.S. electricity sector’s regulatory movement, the study briefly reviews some of the theoretical background on regulatory reform. Then, data is analyzed on employment, earnings, and unionization in the U.S. electricity sector—before and during the regulatory reform movement, which is still underway. These results are compared with similar results for other previously restructured industries. The data for the electricity sector reveal employment reductions that are associated with regulatory reform. The findings also indicate that earnings have not been negatively affected by this restructuring, unlike other sectors examined. In fact, when compared with the earnings of similar workers, the industry earning premiums for electricity-sector employees have actually increased, while the level of unionization in this sector has drifted down. These results are particularly significant, as this is the first deregulated industry to show such contrasting earnings and employment patterns.
Characterization of Gliclazide-Loaded Combination of Polymer Microspheres Prepared by Emulsification Solvent Evaporation Method

The study investigated the production of microencapsulated gliclazide by the emulsion-solvent evaporation method. Microspheres were prepared using combination of polymers Eudragit ® RS PO and ethyl cellulose by solvent evaporation method and characterized for different properties. Compatibility studies were performed by differential scanning calorimetry, fourier trans form infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The resulting microspheres were white free flowing in nature. The particle size of microspheres ranged from 162-497μm and the encapsulation efficiencies ranged from 51.61-99.61%. The encapsulation efficiency was found to be dependent on nature of polymer used in the formulation. The infrared spectra confirmed the stable character of gliclazide in the drugloaded microspheres. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the microspheres were spherical in nature. From the in vitro drug dissolution studies showed that the sustaining effect of microspheres depended on the polymer concentration, amount of dispersant and the type of polymer used in the formulation. The mechanism of drug release from the microspheres was non-fickian type. Results suggest that combination of polymers containing gliclazide microspheres could be prepared successfully by using an emulsion solvent evaporation technique using polymethacylate polymers, which will not only sustain the drug release but also manage the complicacy of the diabetes in better manner.
Preserving MapReduce Network Using SDN

MapReduce is a popular programming model and an associated implementation for parallel processing big data in the distributed environment. Since large scaled MapReduce data centers usually provide services to many users, it is an essential problem to preserve the privacy between different applications in the same network. In this paper, we propose SDPMN, a framework that using software defined network (SDN) to distinguish the network between each application, which is a manageable and scalable method. We design this framework based on the existing SDN structure and Hadoop networks. Since the rule space of each SDN device is limited, we also propose the rule placement optimization for this framework to maximize the hardware supported isolated application networks. We state this problem in a general MapReduce network and design a heuristic algorithm to find the solution. From the simulation based evaluation, with our algorithm, the given network can support more privacy preserving application networks with SDN switches.
Tumor Vaccine Based on Cell Surface Expression of DcR3/TR61

DcR3/TR6, a secreted protein belonging to the TNF receptor superfamily, interacts with lymphotoxin-like, exhibits inducible expression, and competes with herpes simplex virus glycoprotein D for herpes virus entrance mediator (LIGHT), Fas ligand (FasL), and TL1A, all members of the TNF superfamily. Solid-phase TR6 can trigger reverse signaling of LIGHT and FasL expressed on T cells, and lead to T cell costimulation. In this study, we engineered tumor cells to express cell surface TR6 and used these cells as a tumor vaccine. We demonstrated that mastocytoma P815 cells expressing surface TR6 (TR6-P815) effectively augmented the T cells response in vitro and ex vivo in terms of proliferation, as well as IL-2 and IFN-γ secretion. TR6-P815 cells had reduced tumorigenicity compared with parental P815 cells. When inactivated TR6-P815 cells were employed as a vaccine, they protected the mice from challenge with live parental P815 cells, and eliminated established P815 tumors. The cell surface TR6-based tumor vaccine was also effective against low antigenicity tumors, such as B16 melanoma; co-administration of bacillus Calmette-Guérin further enhanced the vaccine’s efficacy. Thus, cell surface TR6 expression is a useful addition to our tumor vaccine arsenal.
The Uncertain Consultation and Patient Satisfaction: The Impact of Patients' Illness Perceptions and a Randomized Controlled Trial on the Training of Physicians' Communication Skills

Objective: To identify predictors of patient satisfaction among a range of patient and practitioner variables. In particular, to focus on patients' illness perceptions and the impact of a randomized controlled trial on the training of physicians in general communication skills and how to treat patients presenting with poorly defined illness. Methods: A randomized controlled follow-up study conducted in 28 general practices in Aarhus County, Denmark. Half of the physicians were randomized into an educational program on treatment of patients presenting with medically unexplained symptoms (somatization). One thousand seven hundred eighty-five general practice attenders presenting a new health problem completed questionnaires on illness perceptions, physical functioning, and mental distress before the consultation. After the consultation, a questionnaire including relational and communicative domains of patient satisfaction with the current consultation was completed. The physicians completed a questionnaire for each patient on diagnostics and prognostics. Predictors of patient satisfaction were determined by logistic regression. Results: A large number of patient and practitioner variables predicted satisfaction in univariate logistic regression models. Results from a multivariate logistic model showed that the illness perceptions “uncertainty” (patient not knowing what is wrong) and “emotional representations” (the complaint making the patient feel worried, depressed, helpless, afraid, hopeless) predicted dissatisfaction at OR (CI) = 1.8 (1.3–2.4), p < . 001 and OR (CI) = 1.5 (1–2.3), p = . 03 respectively. Trained physicians were associated with dissatisfaction at OR (CI) 0.7 (0.5–1), p = . 06 in the multivariate model. Furthermore, uncertain patients consulting a trained physician were less likely to be dissatisfied OR (CI) = 0.6 (0.3–1), p = . 04. Conclusions: A randomized controlled trial on the training of general practitioners' communication skills improved patient satisfaction. Illness perceptions predict satisfaction. In particular, patients feeling uncertain and negatively emotionally involved in their health problem were more inclined to being dissatisfied with the consultation. IPQ = Illness Perception Questionnaire; PSCQ-7 = Patient Satisfaction Consultation Questionnaire; TERM = the extended reattribution model; SCL = Symptom Check List; SCL-SOM = SCL-90 somatization subscale.
Determination of Gold Nanoparticles Sizes via Surface Plasmon Resonance

Surface plasmon resonance technique has been highly employed in determination of the sizes of metallic nanoparticles (NPs). Generally, NP size has been viewed as a function of SPR wavelength value only, with every value of this wavelength being associated with one particular size. In this paper, gold NPs (AuNPs) prepared through the citrate reduction method with a variation in the amount of citrate used on gold (III) chloride precursor was studied. Using UV-Vis spectra analysis of the synthesized NPs in colloidal form, SPR absorption band with a wavelength ranging from 518 to 520 nm was detected. At 518 and 519 nm peaks, the recorded average NP size was 12 nm while 520 nm coincided with NPs of diameters 11 and 13 nm. This indicated that small and large AuNPs within the plasmonic size can present similar high resonance. We attribute this observation to the atomic interactions within the NPs solution hence the availability of the high density of the surface (resonance) electrons from the NPs surface atoms. Key wordsGold NPs, Citrate reduction, Surface plasmon resonance, UV-Vis spectroscopy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Date of Submission: 22-06-2018 Date of acceptance: 09-07-2018 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjunctive therapy with oxcarbazepine in children with partial seizures

Objective: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of oxcarbazepine (OXC) as adjunctive therapy in children with inadequately controlled partial seizures on one or two concomitant antiepileptic drugs (AEDs). Background: OXC has shown antiepileptic activity in several comparative monotherapy trials in newly diagnosed patients with epilepsy, and in a placebo-controlled monotherapy trial in hospitalized patients evaluated for epilepsy surgery. Design: A total of 267 patients were evaluated in a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled trial consisting of three phases: 1) a 56-day baseline phase (patients maintained on their current AEDs); 2) a 112-day double-blind treatment phase (patients received either OXC 30–46 mg/kg/day orally or placebo); and 3) an open-label extension phase. Data are reported only from the double-blind treatment phase; the open-label extension phase is ongoing. Methods: Children (3 to 17 years old) with inadequately controlled partial seizures (simple, complex, and partial seizures evolving to secondarily generalized seizures) were enrolled. Results: Patients treated with OXC experienced a significantly greater median percent reduction from baseline in partial seizure frequency than patients treated with placebo (p = 0.0001; 35% versus 9%, respectively). Forty-one percent of patients treated with OXC experienced a ≥50% reduction from baseline in partial seizure frequency per 28 days compared with 22% of patients treated with placebo (p = 0.0005). Ninety-one percent of the group treated with OXC and 82% of the group treated with placebo reported ≥1 adverse event; vomiting, somnolence, dizziness, and nausea occurred more frequently (twofold or greater) in the group treated with OXC. Conclusion: OXC adjunctive therapy administered in a dose range of 6 to 51 mg/kg/day (median 31.4 mg/kg/day) is safe, effective, and well tolerated in children with partial seizures.
Differing strategies for forming the arthropod body plan: Lessons from Dpp, Sog and Delta in the fly Drosophila and spider Achaearanea

In the insect Drosophila embryo, establishment of maternal transcription factor gradients, rather than cell–cell interactions, is fundamental to patterning the embryonic axes. In contrast, in the chelicerate spider embryo, cell–cell interactions are thought to play a crucial role in the development of the embryonic axes. A grafting experiment by Holm using spider eggs resulted in duplication of the embryonic axes, similar to the Spemann's organizer experiment using amphibian eggs. Recent work using the house spider Achaearanea tepidariorum has demonstrated that the homologs of decapentaplegic (dpp), short gastrulation (sog) and Delta, which encode a bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)‐type ligand, its antagonist and a Notch ligand, respectively, are required in distinct aspects of axis formation. Achaearanea Dpp appears to function as a symmetry‐breaking signal, which could account for Holm's results to some extent. Experimental findings concerning Achaearanea sog and Delta have highlighted differences in the mechanisms underlying ventral and posterior development between Drosophila and Achaearanea. Achaearanea ventral patterning essentially depends on sog function, in contrast to the Drosophila patterning mechanism, which is based on the nuclear gradient of Dorsal. Achaearanea posterior (or opisthosomal) patterning relies on the function of the caudal lobe, which develops from cells surrounding the blastopore through progressive activation of Delta‐Notch signaling. In this review, we describe the differing strategies for forming the arthropod body plan in the fly and spider, and provide a perspective towards understanding the relationship between the arthropod and vertebrate body plans.
Relating the ability of mallards to ingest high levels of sediment to potential contaminant exposure in waterfowl

When waterfowl feed from the bottom of bodies of water, they sometimes ingest sediments along with their food, and this sediment can be a major source of contaminants. Learning how much sediment waterfowl can consume in their diet and still maintain their health would be helpful in assessing potential threats from contaminants in sediment. In a controlled laboratory study the maximum tolerated percentage of sediment in the diet of mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) was measured. When fed a well‐balanced commercial avian diet, 50, 60, or 70% sediment in the diet on a dry‐weight basis did not cause weight loss over a two‐week period. Ducks fed this same commercial diet, but containing 80 or 90% sediment, lost 8.6 and 15.6% of their body weight, respectively, in the first week on those diets. After factoring in the ability of the mallards to sieve out some of the sediment from their diet before swallowing it, we concluded that the mallards could maintain their health even when approximately half of what they swallowed, on a dry‐weight basis, was sediment. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2010;29:1621–1624. © 2010 SETAC
The Association of the Arabidopsis Actin-Related Protein2/3 Complex with Cell Membranes Is Linked to Its Assembly Status But Not Its Activation1[W][OA]

In growing plant cells, the combined activities of the cytoskeleton, endomembrane, and cell wall biosynthetic systems organize the cytoplasm and define the architecture and growth properties of the cell. These biosynthetic machineries efficiently synthesize, deliver, and recycle the raw materials that support cell expansion. The precise roles of the actin cytoskeleton in these processes are unclear. Certainly, bundles of actin filaments position organelles and are a substrate for long-distance intracellular transport, but the functional linkages between dynamic actin filament arrays and the cell growth machinery are poorly understood. The Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) “distorted group” mutants have defined protein complexes that appear to generate and convert small GTPase signals into an Actin-Related Protein2/3 (ARP2/3)-dependent actin filament nucleation response. However, direct biochemical knowledge about Arabidopsis ARP2/3 and its cellular distribution is lacking. In this paper, we provide biochemical evidence for a plant ARP2/3. The plant complex utilizes a conserved assembly mechanism. ARPC4 is the most critical core subunit that controls the assembly and steady-state levels of the complex. ARP2/3 in other systems is believed to be mostly a soluble complex that is locally recruited and activated. Unexpectedly, we find that Arabidopsis ARP2/3 interacts strongly with cell membranes. Membrane binding is linked to complex assembly status and not to the extent to which it is activated. Mutant analyses implicate ARP2 as an important subunit for membrane association.