Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Brain and emotion: Cognitive neuroscience of emotions

Cognitive neuroscience of emotions is a rapidly growing field. It focuses on the neural basis of emotional and social processes and strongly contributes to the better understanding of the biological basis of emotional processing. It integrates the results of neural and behavioral levels of analysis in healthy and clinical populations as well. The main topics and questions in cognitive neuroscience of emotions are the role of emotions in information processing, their neural basis for both cortical and sub-cortical levels, the perception of arousing and neutral stimuli, emotions and memory, the role of emotion in decision making, detecting emotional versus neutral faces, and individual differences in emotionality and their biological background. Brain imaging techniques (e.g., functional magnetic resonance imaging–fMRI) are used both for examining functional connections between emotion and perception, attention, memory and decision making, and for localizing specific psychological functions to specific brain areas. In this paper we discuss not only current research trends and methods but some important brain areas responsible for emotions (e.g., amygdala, anterior cingular cortex, prefrontal cortex) as well.
Occult tonsillar carcinoma in the unknown primary

Objectives: Evaluate effectiveness of routine tonsillectomy in the assessment of patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the neck of unknown primary, and evaluate outcomes of this group compared with patients without a primary identified initially. Study Design: A retrospective review of the medical records of 37 patients presenting with an unknown primary tumor over a 10‐year period. Methods: Charts were reviewed for age and sex of patients, methods of evaluation and diagnosis, sites of tissues obtained on biopsy, N stage of disease, and presence of extracapsular spread. Recurrence and survival data were collected over a mean follow‐up period of 34 months. Results: All primary lesions discovered through pathologic evaluation arose from the tonsil (9/9), and all were detected in patients undergoing tonsillectomy in conjunction with direct laryngoscopy. None of the patients (0/9) with occult tonsillar carcinoma have had recurrence, in contrast to 60% (15/25) of remaining patients. Patients with tonsillar primary lesions demonstrated less extracapsular spread of disease (25%) than patients without tonsillar primaries (67%), despite similar N staging within the two groups. Conclusions: Occult tonsillar carcinoma accounts for the unknown primary more frequently than was previously recognized. Bilateral tonsillectomy is recommended to increase the detection yield and to capture the rare case of bilateral disease. A lower incidence of extracapsular spread and reduced recurrence rates in patients with unknown primary tumors presenting as occult tonsillar carcinoma may contribute to the improved prognosis observed in this group. Laryngoscope, 108:1605–1610, 1998
Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Rehabilitation for Bilateral Vestibular Hypofunction: Preliminary Report

Vestibular rehabilitation (VR) is increasingly popular, but few data exist to support enthusiasts' claims of efficacy in improving functional abilities of patients with bilateral vestibular hypofunction (BVH). A double-blind, controlled study of eight subjects (mean, 64 ± 12 years; seven females, one male) with bilateral vestibular hypofunction was conducted. Subjects in group A Received 8 weeks of VR followed by 8 weeks of home VR exercises, whereas those in group B Received 8 weeks of control treatment (isometric strengthening exercises) followed by 8 weeks of VR. At the end of 8 weeks, group A walked 8% faster and, during paced gait and stair-climbing, with greater stability, evidenced by a 10% larger maximum moment arm and a 17% decreased double-support duration during gait and stair stance. Group B improved less than 1% during the control treatment. Self-reported Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores did not differ significantly between control and active VR. All subjects improved compared with baseline tests at the 16-week post-test on both functional testing and on the Self-reported Dizziness Handicap Inventory scale. We conclude that in this small sample, VR effectively improved functional, dynamic stability during locomotion, but even strengthening exercises result in self-reported symptomatic improvement.
Loss of FOXP3 expression in natural human CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells upon repetitive in vitro stimulation

The adoptive transfer of CD4+CD25+ natural regulatory T cells (Treg) is a promising strategy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and the prevention of alloresponses after transplantation. Clinical trials exploring this strategy require efficient in vitro expansion of this rare cell population. Protocols developed thus far rely on high‐grade purification of Treg prior to culture initiation, a process still hampered by the lack of Treg cell‐specific surface markers. Depletion of CD127+ cells was shown to separate activated conventional T cells from natural Treg cell populations allowing the isolation of highly enriched FOXP3+ cells with all functional and molecular characteristics of natural Treg. Here, we demonstrate that upon in vitro expansion, CpG methylation in a conserved region within the FOXP3 gene locus increased in CD4+CD25+CD127low Treg, correlating with loss of FOXP3 expression and emergence of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. Further analysis identified CD45RA−FOXP3+ memory‐type Treg as the main source of converting cells, whereas CD45RA+FOXP3+ Treg from the same donors showed no conversion within 3 wk of in vitro expansion. Thus, Treg cell lineage differentiation does not seem to represent a final fate decision, as natural Treg can lose their cell‐type‐specific characteristics after repetitive TCR stimulation.
Extending self-healing in grid environment by pulse monitoring

The increasing complexity of Grid services and systems demands larger human effort for system configuration and performance management. The physical management of these systems is not only tedious but also error-prone. Inherently, effective monitoring is essential for Grid management, which can further facilitate self-management of the Grid as advocated by Autonomic computing i.e. shifting the burden of managing systems from people to technologies. This paper proposes a pulse monitoring based Grid Monitoring System that passes the monitoring data to Fault Discovery and Healing System, which has been designed for facilitating self-healing in Grid. The Grid monitoring system demonstrates that through efficient monitoring, self-healing can be achieved in a Grid environment and Grid can work autonomously, thus minimizing the physical management and service-downtime.
Impact of age related macular degeneration on quality of life

Aims: To describe the impact of age related macular degeneration (AMD) on quality of life and explore the association with vision, health, and demographic variables. Methods: Adult participants diagnosed with AMD and with impaired vision (visual acuity <6/12) were assessed with the Impact of Vision Impairment (IVI) questionnaire. Participants rated the extent that vision restricted participation in activities affecting quality of life and completed the Short Form General Health Survey (SF-12) and a sociodemographic questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the 106 participants (66% female) was 83.6 years (range 64–98). One quarter had mild vision impairment, (VA<6/12–6/18) and 75% had moderate or severely impaired vision. Participants reported from at least “a little” concern on 23 of the 32 IVI items including reading, emotional health, mobility, and participation in relevant activities. Those with mild and moderate vision impairment were similarly affected but significantly different from those with severe vision loss (p<0.05). Distance vision was associated with IVI scores but not age, sex, or duration of vision loss. Conclusion: AMD affects many quality of life related activities and not just those related to reading. Referral to low vision care services should be considered for people with mild vision loss and worse.
Orientierungsunterstützung in Ressourcenräumen mithilfe interaktiver Visualisierungen

In diesem Beitrag wird untersucht, wie die Orientierung in umfangreichen Sammlungen digitaler Ressourcen mithilfe interaktiver Visualisierungen unterstützt werden kann. Solche Ressourcenräume können dabei aus einer heterogenen Menge an digitalen Ressourcen wie z. B. Wikipedia-Artikel, Lehrbücher und Videos bestehen. Da heutzutage ein einfacher Zugang zu einer Fülle von Ressourcen zu jedem beliebigen Thema möglich ist, kann es bei der manuellen Auswertung schnell zu einer Informationsüberflutung kommen. Darum werden effiziente Techniken benötigt, solche Ressourcen automatisiert zu analysieren und zu strukturieren. Dazu wurde ein prototypisches System entwickelt, welches eine Visualisierungspipeline zur automatisierten Extraktion von Informationsdimensionen aus Ressourcen ermöglicht, diese in eine Abhängigkeitsstruktur gruppiert und schließlich in Form einer TreeMap bzw. eines Wurzelbaums visualisiert und dem Nutzer zugänglich macht. Im Rahmen einer Laborstudie konnte gezeigt werden, dass eine Strukturierung der Ressourcen basierend auf einer Stichwörter-Hierarchie als Unterstützung zur Orientierung in Ressourcenräumen geeignet ist.
Measurement of interleukin 8 in combination with C-reactive protein reduced unnecessary antibiotic therapy in newborn infants: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE Neonatal bacterial infections carry a high mortality when diagnosed late. Early diagnosis is difficult because initial clinical signs are nonspecific. Consequently, physicians frequently prescribe antibiotic treatment to newborn infants for fear of missing a life-threatening infection. This study was designed to test the hypotheses that a diagnostic algorithm that includes measurements of interleukin 8 (IL-8) and C-reactive protein (CRP) 1) reduces antibiotic therapy and 2) does not result in more initially missed infections compared with standard management that does not include an IL-8 measurement. METHODS Term and preterm infants who were <72 hours of age and had clinical signs or obstetric risk factors suggesting neonatal bacterial infection but stable enough to wait for results of diagnostic tests were enrolled into the study. A total of 1291 infants were randomly assigned to receive antibiotic therapy according to the guidelines of each center (standard group) or to receive antibiotic therapy when IL-8 was >70 pg/mL and/or CRP was >10 mg/L (IL-8 group). The primary outcome variables were 1) the number of infants treated with antibiotics and 2) the number of infants with infections missed at the initial evaluation. RESULTS In the IL-8 group, fewer infants received antibiotic therapy than in the standard group (36.1% [237 of 656] vs 49.6% [315 of 635]). In the IL-8 group, 24 (14.5%) of 165 infants with infection were not detected at the initial evaluation, compared with 28 (17.3%) of 162 in the standard group. CONCLUSIONS The number of newborn infants who received postnatal antibiotic therapy can be reduced with a diagnostic algorithm that includes measurements of IL-8 and CRP. This diagnostic strategy seemed to be safe.
Allgemeine Staatslehre und Verfassungslehre

Das Lehr- und Studienbuch macht diese neuere Entwicklung des Staates und der Staatslehre berall sichtbar; gleichzeitig versucht es aber auch, die gro en humanen und befreienden Errungenschaften des demokratischen Rechtsstaates zu wahren. Auf die fa liche Darstellung der typischen Einrichtungen des "modernen Staates" und seiner Verfassung wird daher gr ter Wert gelegt. Der methodische Grundansatz des Buches in einer modernen, humanen und kologischen Verantwortungsethik gew hrleistet, da dem Leser in der verwirrenden Komplexit t der heutigen "Suprastaatlichkeit" nicht nur Informationen, sondern auch jene wertorientierte Orientierung der Rechtserkenntnis und Rechtsanwendung geboten wird, deren er in dieser Situation ebenso dringend bedarf wie der immer perfekteren Datenverarbeitungssysteme.
The Application and Use of an Automated Spatial Pattern Recognition (SPR) System in the Identification and Solving of Yield Issues in Semiconductor Manufacturing

Modern semiconductor manufacturing facilities process thousands of wafers a week and produce enormous volumes of data that must be quickly and efficiently mined for yield signals. AMD has embarked on a project with Rudolph Technologies to create an automated pattern recognition system for use in AMD manufacturing and test facilities. This paper will explain what advantages are gained by deploying an automated spatial pattern classification system, as well as some of the challenges in making the system successful. We will also give examples of how SPR information is used for control, problem identification, and ultimately root cause determination in a high volume fab environment.
POWER QUALITY IMPACT OF ELECTRIC AND PLUG-IN HYBRID VEHICLES

The continued increase of gas prices and concerns on greenhouse gas emissions in recent years have led to the steadily increasing acceptance of electric vehicles (EVs), especially the plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), by consumers. It seems that PHEVs are poised to become a serious contender for a noticeable share of the car market in the near future. As PHEV draws power through power electric circuits from the utility grid when it is being charged, utility companies are concerned with the potential power quality impact of mass penetration of PHEVs. This project was conducted to address this concern, i.e. to determine the collective impact of PHEVs on the power quality of primary and secondary distribution systems. The overall objective of the project is to provide technical information and assessment results to develop a proactive strategy to deal with the emergence of this new type of loads in residential areas of power distribution systems.
Orthopaedic Nurses' Knowledge of Delirium in Older Hospitalized Patients

BACKGROUND: Delirium is a serious health issue experienced by many hospitalized older adults following orthopaedic surgery. Nurses often do not recognize delirium, attributing symptoms to normal changes associated with aging or dementia. OBJECTIVES: To (a) describe orthopaedic nurses' baseline knowledge about delirium in orthopaedic patients, particularly those aged 65 years, (b) test the effectiveness of an educational intervention based on nationally recommended guidelines, and (c) describe factors associated with differences in (1) nurses' baseline knowledge about delirium and (2) the effectiveness of the educational intervention. METHODS: A pretest–posttest study design, using an educational evidence-based intervention. RESULTS: Regardless of education, years of experience, or shift worked, orthopaedic RNs had difficulty with questions related to recognition of delirium, predisposing, and precipitating risk factors, and medications that can contribute to delirium. The educational intervention was effective and scores significantly improved from baseline following the intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Baseline knowledge assessment confirmed orthopaedic nurses' lack of understanding of delirium. The 1-hr educational intervention, based on nationally recommended standards, improved the nurses' knowledge and could be useful in orthopaedic nursing continuing education.
Brain Activity (fNIRS) in Control State Differs from the Execution and Observation of Object-Related and Object-Unrelated Actions

ABSTRACT The authors explored cortical correlates of action execution and observation, directly comparing control condition condition and execution–observation, using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Transitive actions (meaningful gestures produced in presence of an object) or intransitive actions (meaningful gestures produced in absence of an object) were performed. Increased oxygenated hemoglobin levels were revealed for both action execution and action observation in premotor cortex, and sensorimotor cortex compared to control condition. However, a higher activity in motor areas was observed for action execution than motor observation. In contrast the posterior parietal cortex was similarly activated in case of both execution and observation task. Finally, it was shown that action execution and observation of transitive more than intransitive gestures was supported by similar parietal posterior areas. These findings support the hypothesis of a partial common network for observation and execution of action, and significant implications related to action types (transitive vs. intransitive).
Chaperoning State Evolutions by Variable Durations

McKendrick partial differential equations in demography provide the state of a population depending on chronological time $T$ and age $D$, and involve two time evolutions: the chronological one $t \in [0,T] \mapsto t \geq 0$ and the calendar age $t \in [T-D,T] \mapsto t-(T-D) \geq 0 $, both with constant velocity equal to $1$. The calendar age evolution chaperons, so to speak, the evolution $t \in [T-D,T] \mapsto x(t)$ of the state of a system. Some physical, biological, and economic problems motivate the introduction of variable durations with variable velocities (representing the fluidity of time) offering mathematical metaphors of a “subjective fleeting specious time” passing more or less slowly. Variable durations are no longer prescribed, but chosen among those available and regulated: the joint evolution of the variable evolution and the state is assumed to be governed by a differential inclusion (or control system) and provides, as a byproduct, the unknown temporal windows on which they evolve toge.
Frequency dependence of power transmission efficiencies between wearable antennas

In the present paper, in order to give an overview on the frequency characteristics of the body-centric wireless communication channels, power transmission efficiencies between wearable antennas mounted on the human body in a range from HF to UHF bands (3 MHz-3 GHz) are numerically calculated by using the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. According to the results, the transmission efficiencies increase with decreasing frequency, in a range below 200 MHz. Therefore, we conclude that the communications using the low frequency have an advantage in terms of the power consumption.
Adsorption of nerve growth factor onto surfaces. Implications for the assay in tissue culture.

Apparently minor modifications to the basic method for the assay of nerve growth factor resulted in differences in measured biological activity of up to nine orders of magnitude. These differences were caused by the reversible adsorption of the material onto the apparatus used in the assay procedure. The adsorption was probably promoted by London dispersion forces since the effect persisted both over a range of pH and when glass, plastic and silicone-coated glass apparatus were used. Under conditions in which the adsorption was minimised, the test material showed a specific activity in tissue culture of between 10−2 and 10−3 [μg ml−1. Previous reports of highly active preparations of nerve growth factor, some having specific activities of about 10−10μg ml−1, can probably be attributed to similar artefacts in the assay method.
Contribution of vasopressin to orthostatic blood pressure maintenance in essential hypertension.

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been found to participate in blood pressure maintenance especially when other pressor systems are endogenously or pharmacologically impaired. The purpose of this study was to assess the pressor contribution of AVP to orthostatic blood pressure maintenance in otherwise healthy patients with essential hypertension. Twenty-seven patients were grouped according to age (young n = 13, elderly n = 14) and race (white n = 13, black n = 14). Integrity of autonomic nervous system (ANS) was assessed by Valsalva's maneuver, cold pressor test and head-up tilt. AVP contribution to blood pressure was estimated by the fall in mean arterial pressure in response to IV injection of 0.5 mg of a V1 AVP inhibitor (AVPi). Elderly subjects were found to have a mild (subclinical) ANS impairment as indicated by absence of bradycardia in phase 4 of Valsalva's maneuver and hypotension without concurrent tachycardia during head up tilt. Depressor responses to AVPi while subjects were in the upright position, were greater in elderly and blacks (-15 +/- 11 mm Hg and -15 +/- 12 mm Hg, respectively, P < .05) than young and whites (-8 +/- 6 and -7 +/- 6 mm Hg, respectively, ns). The greater importance of the AVP component in the elderly may be at least partially explained by a mild ANS impairement, whereas hormonal characteristics of hypertension in blacks may explain greater AVPi induced fall in mean arterial pressure. Our data show that both age and race influence the response to AVPi.
Combined Effect of CYP2B6 Genotype and Other Candidate Genes on a Steady-State Serum Concentration of Methadone in Opioid Maintenance Treatment

Background: A considerable interindividual variability in methadone pharmacokinetics is seen in patients on methadone maintenance treatment. The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of the reduced function CYP2B6*6 variant allele together with variants in other candidate genes on a steady-state methadone concentration in a naturalistic setting. Methods: Information of methadone serum concentration, dose, age, sex, and CYP2C9, CYP2C19, and CYP2D6 genotypes were collected from a routine therapeutic drug monitoring database, whereas variant alleles in CYP2B6 and CYP3A5 were retrospectively genotyped. Linear mixed model analyses were used to study the impact of gene variants on methadone serum concentration/dose (C/D) ratios, including age, sex, and time since the last dose intake as covariates. Results: Overall, 155 serum samples from 62 patients were included in this study. The estimated mean methadone C/D ratios was 17.8 nmol·L−1·mg−1 for homozygous carriers of CYP2B6*6, which was significantly (P < 0.001) higher than noncarriers (9.2 nmol·L−1·mg−1). There was no difference in C/D ratios between heterozygous carriers of CYP2B6*6 (9.1 nmol·L−1·mg−1) and noncarriers. An increase in mean methadone C/D ratios was also seen for homozygous carriers of CYP3A5*3 and heterozygous carriers of CYP2C9*2 or *3 and CYP2C19*2 or *3. Conclusions: Patients homozygous for CYP2B6*6 had a >90% higher methadone C/D ratio. Genotyping of CYP2B6 may therefore be of value when assessing dose requirements in methadone maintenance treatment.