Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Deep brain stimulation of the medial forebrain bundle for treatment-resistant depression – a narrative literature review

Purpose Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a relatively new and still experimental treatment modality for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). There is preliminary evidence that stimulation of brain reward circuit structures or their connecting white matter bundles may exert an antidepressant effect. The main nucleus of the reward circuit is the nucleus accumbens (NAc), which plays a critical role in reward-seeking behavior, motivation, and addiction. Also, white matter bundles connecting different structures of the reward circuit have been studied clinically as targets for DBS, including the medial forebrain bundle (MFB) – a central component of the mesolimbic dopaminergic reward circuit. This review aims to present the clinical outcomes of MFB DBS for TRD. Views The scientific literature was reviewed using the following keywords: ‘DBS’, ‘major depressive disorders’, ‘TRD’, and ‘MFB’. The identified studies were assessed on the basis of patient characteristics, clinical outcomes, and adverse events related to DBS. The search revealed five open-label clinical case studies and four case reports reporting the cumulative number of 35 patients treated by MFB DBS for TRD. Conclusions The current clinical data of MFB DBS are limited by small sample size and the small number of clinical open-label trials. There is an urgent need for more clinical trials targeting the MFB for TRD. The results obtained in these studies showed a very rapid antidepressant effect observed within one week after the start of stimulation. MFB DBS for TRD should be considered as a last resort treatment due to its invasive character. However, this treatment may be a promising alternative for TRD patients.
Improving Child Mental Health Policy in Canada

Evergreen is Canada’s first official national mental health framework for children that was developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada in 2010. The program is primarily an online consultation service, which is a beneficial aspect since it provides widespread access for those seeking mental health services for children, especially those in rural and underserved areas. Despite the program’s benefits and high ratings, Canada still lacks an adequate mental health framework for children because not all provinces and territories fulfilled the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for child mental health, which shows that Evergreen has not been effective. As summarized in this review article, out of the 13 provinces and territories, the four provinces that met the minimum criteria for the WHO guidelines for child mental health policies were Ontario (ON), Alberta (AB), Saskatchewan (SK), and British Columbia (BC), with British Columbia being the leader in child mental health policies in Canada. For those that met the guideline, many performed poorly or failed to meet some of the WHO evaluation criteria for child mental health policies. For future progress, Canada should assess and evaluate its child mental health policies and incorporate that into a new and improved national standard and framework. Mental health data from Canada should also be analyzed to either implement an improved system or to fix old systems such as Evergreen that are currently in place. Finally, child mental health policy for Canada should constantly be reevaluated and improved to compensate for changes over time.
Numerical investigation of fracture behavior by crazing in graphene reinforced polymers

Abstract For graphene reinforced polymers, toughness value is found to be scattered and specifically is based on experimental results. Therefore, it is highly desirable to have a proper estimation model for fracture toughness of such composites. In this study a RVE model was proposed to investigate the graphene–craze interaction and fracture behavior of graphene reinforced polymers. A craze presented in polymeric matrix and an interacting graphene platelet randomly located were assumed in the RVE model. Validations were made by both theoretical and experimental results. Parametric studies showed that Young’s modulus ratio of 500 is preferably recommended from the perspective of toughening effect.
An automatic polarization switching antenna structure for batteryless IoT devices

Microwave power transmission (MPT) has many advantages. However, previous studies have indicated that MPT interferes with wireless data communication. In this paper, an adaptive polarization switchable rectenna architecture is proposed for simultaneous wireless information and power transfer. When the rectenna is activated by a wireless energy transmitter, the antenna automatically switches to another quadrature polarization state for wireless data communication. The experimental results show that the adaptive switching characteristic provides a wireless channel isolation of more than 23 dB between wireless power transfer and data communication. In a practical indoor environment, the measurement of packet error rate of the communication link shows that the power level of MPT could be increased by 16 dB and still keep the wireless connectivity. Thus, the proposed design is suitable for devices powered by MPT and for simultaneous wireless information and power transfer applications.
Should We Start with an Easy Task Having a Short Deadline, or a Difficult Task Having a Long Deadline

Prior studies have investigated people’s task-order decisions, whether people put off a task or start the task as soon as possible. However, the effect of the time frame, whether the task has a long or a short deadline, on task order decisions has not been clarified. We hypothesized that 1) starting a series of tasks with a difficult task when given a long deadline is related to increased self-control; 2) starting with an easy task given a long deadline is related to reduced self-control and starting with an easy task given a short deadline en-hances well-being and self-control. A cross-sectional study (N = 1085, 21 - 78 years age) supported these hypotheses. These findings are extended current knowledge by identifying differences in the time frame and expected to clarify how people make task order decisions.
Underrepresentation of Women STEM Leaders: Twelve Women on Different Journeys Using Their Voices to Shape the World through Science

Underrepresentation of Women STEM Leaders: Twelve Women on Different Journeys Using Their Voices to Shape the World through Science. ABSTRACT This study examined the conditions contributing to the underrepresentation of women leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education. It was a qualitative phenomenological study of twelve women with twelve unique journeys. The women included secondary educators, postsecondary university professors, and professional STEM field careerists. This study examined the experiences of women in STEM through storytelling and identified four common themes shared by the twelve participants: a) shaping of mental exploration ; b) math efficacy ; c) self-discovery through problem-solving regarding why and how things work; and d) connection to an encouraging learning community. While numerous studies have uncovered systemic causes of underrepresentation, this qualitative inquiry sought to learn about the experiences of women in STEM through their own voices and therefore advance qualitative studies in this area. The study participants were limited to women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics identified through convenience and snowball sampling in the geographical study area. This study aims to reveal how self-efficacy takes shape during adolescence and, in turn, influences the persistence of women leaders in STEM education and careers.
A Model Following Controller Optimized for Gust Rejection during Shipboard Operations

A flight control design methodology for reducing pilot workload during shipboard operation of helicopters is presented. The objective of the control synthesis is to improve the gust rejection properties of the aircraft when operating in an unsteady ship airwake. An airwake compensator is designed to integrate with a standard model following control scheme. The spectral properties of the ship airwake are used in the design of the airwake compensator. The model following controller and airwake compensator are implemented in a simulation model of a UH-60A Black Hawk operating near an LHA-class ship. Simulations were performed for approaches and hovering over the deck. The results show that the airwake compensator results in significantly lower angular motion of the aircraft when compared to a basic model following controller without the airwake compensator.
Relationship Between Finance And Economic Growth In The Context Of Structural Transformations

The paper deals with the problem of the relationship between finance and economic growth in the context of structural transformations. Changing technologies require significant financial resources, and the financial factor provides its owners with a dominant position compared to other actors. The development of the financial sector, which ensures the reallocation of financial resources, can facilitate the process of technological changes through the reallocation of investment flows and their concentration in leading areas. The financial sector significantly affects the social and economic system being incorporated into the social and economic relationships. The development of the financial sector in this context is triggered by economic development, which implies a more complex logic of their relationship, when the level of economic development determines the internal and external boundaries for the development of the financial sector, and the latter can become both a driver and a brake for economic growth. Modern society, which is characterized by dynamic structural shifts, is facing the increasing role of specific assets as new factors of economic activity that depend on investment in knowledge and development of knowledge infrastructure. Structural transformations ensure the growth of labor productivity and raise living standards thus becoming the core of economic development. Changes in the structure of the domestic economy, which are necessary to overcome the crisis and enter the trajectory of sustainable economic growth, require a shift of the financing vector to innovative activities, which is not characteristic of purely market relations and involves an active financial policy.
Characteristics of fixed-frequency hybrid resonant converter operating on the utility line

A single-phase single-stage AC-to-DC controlled rectifier using a high-frequency transformer isolated hybrid parallel series resonant converter bridge, operating on the utility line, is described. A fixed-frequency phase-shift control scheme is used to achieve high line power factor with reduced line current harmonic distortion. Based on both approximate AC and state-space analysis, design curves are obtained. A design example for a 150 W converter is presented. The converter performance is evaluated with SPICE simulation (without active control) and by measurements on the 150 W broadband model. The line power factor is greater than 0.95 with harmonic distortion of 16.5% (at full load), even without active control. A simple active line current control technique has been used for waveshaping the line current waveform close to sinusoid, and to reduce the line current total harmonic distortion.
Enhancing Safety with a Mutual Assistance System for Automobile

: Recently, a number of safety assistance systems for automobiles have been proposed. Most systems, such as adaptive cruise control systems (ACC), attempt to assist in improving driving safety for individual drivers. The authors’ study focuses on a new type of safety assistance system, by which drivers are able to mutually assist each other based on a “Mutual Assistance” paradigm. The authors’ previous study examined the e ﬀ ectiveness of the mutual assistance system from both the recipient and assister side with a driving simulator. In this paper, the e ﬀ ectiveness of a mutual assistance system is examined with a more detailed analysis. The results of experiments from the assistance recipient side indicate that early warning from a mutual assistance system statistically decreases the risks of collision by increasing the margin of collision avoidance. The results from the assister side indicate that a mutual assistance system brings positive attitude changes and enhances self-e ﬃ cacy, particularly by including some voluntary actions. From the results of experiments the authors’ proposed system is expected to contribute to a much safer driving environment by reducing the target level of risk.
SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein and Its Receptor Binding Domain Promote a Proinflammatory Activation Profile on Human Dendritic Cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are the most potent antigen-presenting cells, and their function is essential to configure adaptative immunity and avoid excessive inflammation. DCs are predicted to play a crucial role in the clinical evolution of the infection by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus (CoV)-2. DCs interaction with the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein, which mediates cell receptor binding and subsequent fusion of the viral particle with host cell, is a key step to induce effective immunity against this virus and in the S protein-based vaccination protocols. Here we evaluated human DCs in response to SARS-CoV-2 S protein, or to a fragment encompassing the receptor binding domain (RBD) challenge. Both proteins increased the expression of maturation markers, including MHC molecules and costimulatory receptors. DCs interaction with the SARS-CoV-2 S protein promotes activation of key signaling molecules involved in inflammation, including MAPK, AKT, STAT1, and NFκB, which correlates with the expression and secretion of distinctive proinflammatory cytokines. Differences in the expression of ACE2 along the differentiation of human monocytes to mature DCs and inter-donor were found. Our results show that SARS-CoV-2 S protein promotes inflammatory response and provides molecular links between individual variations and the degree of response against this virus.
Multisection impedance-transforming coupled-line baluns

A new class of multisection impedance-transforming coupled-line baluns is presented in this paper. It is based on the quarter-wavelength coupled-line balun. By cascading several coupled and uncoupled-line sections, broad-band baluns with good amplitude and phase balance can be realized using simple microstrip coupled lines. The resulting circuit has a simple structure with minimal discontinuities that is highly suited for very high-frequency applications. Simple design equations and experimental verifications will be presented. Using microstrip coupled sections with even-mode impedance of 159 /spl Omega/, the fabricated balun achieved 0.5-dB amplitude balance over 30% bandwidth. With higher even-mode impedance, almost perfect amplitude balance was achieved over 100% bandwidth.
Changes in Hepcidin Levels in an Animal Model of Anemia of Chronic Inflammation: Mechanistic Insights Related to Iron Supplementation and Hepcidin Regulation

We examined changes in hepcidin (closely associated with anemia of chronic inflammation (ACI)) and upstream regulatory pathways after intravenous (IV) iron supplementation in an ACI animal model. ACI was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneally administering complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). Two weeks after starting CFA treatment, ACI rats received IV iron (CFA-iron) or vehicle (CFA-saline). Three days after IV iron treatment, iron profiles, hepcidin levels, and expression of proteins involved in the signaling pathways upstream of hepcidin transcription in the liver were measured. In CFA-treated rats, anemia with a concomitant increase in the levels of serum inflammatory cytokines and reactive oxygen species occurred. In CFA-iron rats, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was still lower than that in control rats. In CFA-saline rats, hepatic hepcidin and ferritin levels increased compared with those in control rats and were further increased in CFA-iron rats. In CFA-saline rats, NADPH oxidase- (NOX-) 2, NOX-4, and superoxide dismutase levels in the liver were upregulated compared with those in control rats and their levels were further increased in CFA-iron rats. In CFA-saline rats, activities of the IL-6/STAT and BMP/SMAD pathways were enhanced in the liver compared with those in control rats and their levels were further increased in CFA-iron rats, whereas IL-6 expression remained unaffected after IV iron administration. In HepG2 cells, iron caused phosphorylation of STAT-3 and SMAD1/5 and knockdown of STAT-3 and SMAD1/5 using siRNAs reduced iron-induced hepcidin upregulation to levels similar to those in corresponding control cells. Renal erythropoietin expression and serum erythroferrone concentration were lower in CFA-iron rats than those in control rats. In ACI rats, IV iron supplementation did not recover Hb within three days despite an increase in hepatic ferritin levels, which might be attributable to an additional increase in hepcidin levels that was already upregulated under ACI conditions. Both STAT-3 phosphorylation and SMAD1/5 phosphorylation were associated with hepcidin upregulation after IV iron treatment, and this seems to be linked to iron-induced oxidative stress.
GMAW power supply based on parallel full-bridge LLC resonant converter

ABSTRACT In order to reduce energy loss and improve the electrical energy conversion efficiency during the welding process and decrease electromagnetic interference (EMI) of the welding power supply, this paper introduces a gas metal arc welding (GMAW) power supply with an LLC resonant converter. The parallel full-bridge LLC resonant converter was selected according to the characteristics of GMAW, including high open-circuit voltage, low arc voltage, high welding current, and changeable arc load. Load simulation tests and welding tests were carried out using the proposed power supply. Results of load simulation tests show that the switching frequency has a significant effect on the power supply. When the load changes from a light load to the rated load, the shape of the primary-side resonant current gradually approaches the shape of a standard sine wave. Welding test results reveal that the proposed power supply achieves complete arc ignition. The stable working point of the welding process is within the efficient operating range of the LLC resonant converter. The weld bead produced in the welding test was well formed.
Plasma reflow bumping of Sn-3.5 Ag solder for flux-free flip chip package application

A new flux-free reflow process using Ar+10%H/sub 2/ plasma was investigated for application to solder bump flip chip packaging. The 100-/spl mu/m diameter Sn-3.5wt%Ag solder balls were bonded to 250-/spl mu/m pitch Cu/Ni under bump metallurgy (UBM) pattern by laser solder ball bonding method. Then, the Sn-Ag solder balls were reflowed in Ar+H/sub 2/ plasma. Without flux, the wetting between solder and UBM occurred in Ar+H/sub 2/ plasma. During plasma reflow, the solder bump reshaped and the crater on the top of bump disappeared. The bump shear strength increased as the Ni/sub 3/Sn/sub 4/ intermetallic compounds formed in the initial reflow stage but began to decrease as coarse (Cu,Ni)/sub 6/Sn/sub 5/ grew at the solder/UBM interface. As the plasma reflow time increased, the fracture mode changed from ductile fracture within the solder to brittle fracture at the solder/UBM interface. The off-centered bumps self-aligned to patterned UBM pad during plasma reflow. The micro-solder ball defects occurred at high power prolonged plasma reflow.
Computed tomography guided fine needle aspiration cytology of mass lesions of lung: our experience in a tertiary care hospital

Background: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the diagnostic usefulness of image guided fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in various lung lesions-both neoplastic and non- neoplastic.Method: This retrospective study (Jan 2016-Dec 2018) included 34 cases of lung lesions with strong probable radiological diagnosis of lung neoplasm. Computed tomography (CT)-guided FNAC was performed and cytological smears were stained with May-Grunwald-Gimesa (MGG) stain and conventional Papanicolaou (Pap) stain.Result: A total of 34 cases of lung masses in our study, included 21 males (61.7%) and 13 females (38.2%). The age interval varied from 15 to 85 years; majority presenting in 6th and 7th decade of age. Smears were broadly categorized into unsatisfactory (n=2;5.88%), benign (n=3;8.82%), suspicious of malignancy (n=2;5.88%) and malignant lesions (n=27;79.41%). Benign category included 2 cases of tuberculosis and 1 case of abscess. Malignant category included the cases, diagnosed as squamous cell carcinoma(n=8); poorly differentiated carcinoma (n=6); small cell carcinoma (n=3); adenoma carcinoma (n=2); primitive neuroectodermal tumor (n=2); non-Hodgkins lymphoma (n=2) and plasmacytoma (n=1). Malignant category also included one case each of Metastatic Adenocarcinoma, adenoid cystic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma with known primary site of Tumours.Conclusions: CT-guided FNAC is a less expensive, simple, fast, relatively safe and accurate procedure in the diagnosis of difficult lung lesions; the major limitation being the adequacy of the aspirate.
Li100A Study on the Usability of WAP Interface in the Philippines

The existence of Internet revolutionized the computer and communications world. With the rising demand for accessing the Internet, the mobile technology has incorporated the use of Internet in mobile phones. Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) has combined two of the widest utilized technology today: mobile phones and Internet. This study aims to assess the existing WAP pages offered by the top service providers in the Philippines through usability testing experiments. The paper also aims to identify existing problems in WAP interface by focusing on the errors committed by the users. From the usability study, it was found out that common usability problems are wrong selection of links, unclear grouping of categories, wrong feedback, and redundant links. The type of service provider used is significant in determining the performance of users while experience in accessing WAP is insignificant.
Human supervision in industrial process

A methodology for analysis of human supervision in industrials processes is presented. The main issue is the modelling and creation of guide lines for human behaviour, through the study of different decision sequences in front of several dynamic processes. Processes are developed with a software generator of dynamic systems, for carrying out tests and data extraction. On the other hand, since industrial programmable logic controllers are very common, this study is complemented with the development of an artificial agent based on sequential control with the final objective of the comparison between the agent and the human behaviour in order to obtain a classification of different conducts.