Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Symptoms of psychosis and depression in middle-aged and older adults with psychotic disorders: The role of activity satisfaction

The presence of depressive symptoms among patients with psychosis is well documented in the literature. Behavioral models of depression emphasize the role of environmental factors in the onset and maintenance of depressive symptoms. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of an activity-buffering model of well-being, in which increased satisfaction with leisure activities serves to moderate the relationship between symptoms of psychosis and multiple measures of well-being. Participants were 210 middle-aged and older adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Analyses examined the main and interactive effects of positive symptoms, negative symptoms, and activity satisfaction for predicting both depressive symptoms and overall well-being. Results indicated that when individuals were less satisfied with their leisure activities, the relationship between negative symptoms and depressive symptoms was significant (p < 0.001). However, when individuals had high satisfaction, negative symptoms and depressive symptoms were no longer related (p = 0.243). Similar results were observed for overall well-being. These results provide initial support for an activity-buffering model of well-being among middle-aged and older patients with psychosis. Behavioral therapies which encourage engagement in reinforcing activities may provide additional benefits to existing treatments for psychosis, including reduced depression, improved well-being, and possibly functional outcomes.
Who did What: A Large-Scale Person-Centered Cloze Dataset

We have constructed a new "Who-did-What" dataset of over 200,000 fill-in-the-gap (cloze) multiple choice reading comprehension problems constructed from the LDC English Gigaword newswire corpus. The WDW dataset has a variety of novel features. First, in contrast with the CNN and Daily Mail datasets (Hermann et al., 2015) we avoid using article summaries for question formation. Instead, each problem is formed from two independent articles --- an article given as the passage to be read and a separate article on the same events used to form the question. Second, we avoid anonymization --- each choice is a person named entity. Third, the problems have been filtered to remove a fraction that are easily solved by simple baselines, while remaining 84% solvable by humans. We report performance benchmarks of standard systems and propose the WDW dataset as a challenge task for the community.
From Evolutionary Computation to Computational Evolution

This paper proposes that evolutionary computation be understood more like computational evolution, i.e., to use the evolutionary process for construction , rather than for optimization. For this purpose simulation of the evolutionary process should include a non-linear developmental process from genotype to phenotype. In this developmental process the environment has an important role. In order to model the developmental process under the in-uence of the environment, a new modeling language is introduced. The focus of this language is on the interactions, which are considered to be the basic elements for environmental adaptation. The developed modeling method provides a complete simulation environment for the construction of organisms. The developed system aims to construct intelligence as adaptive behavior based on artiicial neural networks.
Unsupervised Fuzzy Ensembles and Their Use in Intrusion Detection

This paper proposes a novel method for unsupervised en- sembles that specifically addresses unbalanced, unsupervised, binary clas- sification problems. Unsupervised learning often experiences the curse of dimensionality, however subspace modeling can overcome this problem. For each subspace created, the classifier produces a decision value. The aggregation of the decision values occurs through the use of fuzzy logic, creating the fuzzy ROC curve. The one-class SVM is utilized for unsuper- vised classification. The primary source of data for this research is a host based computer intrusion detection dataset.
Adrenotropic activity of mammo-somatotropic tumors in rats and mice. I. Biologic aspects.

Summary Two transplantable rat mammo-somatotropic tumor strains, MtT.F4 and MtT.W5, were studied for AtH activity. MtT.F4 caused marked enlargement of adrenals, lymphopenia, thymic atrophy, and moderate enlargement of most viscera. MtT.W5 caused thymic enlargement, no lymphopenia, and moderate enlargement of most viscera, including the adrenals. The findings suggested that both strains have growth-promoting and mammary gland-stimulating activities; MtT.F4 also has AtH activity, whereas MtT.W5 does not. Similar findings suggested that one mouse MtT (Strain 50) had AtH activity and another (Strain 48) did not. Adrenalectomy further increased body and tumor weights in the MtT.F4 hosts and had no such effect on MtT.W5 hosts. In normal rats, adrenalectomy tripled thymic weights; in MtT.F4 rats adrenalectomy not only prevented thymic involution but caused enlargement of this organ to 6 times normal, thus disclosing the somatotropic potency of its hormones. The increase in thymic weight, notably in adrenalectomized hosts, appears to be a good index of somatotropic activity and may serve as a growth hormone assay. Enhancement of tumor growth, and StH and MtH activities of strain MtT.F4 by adrenalectomy support the view that one cell produces one hormone with the three activities (MtH, StH, and AtH).
Partial replication in the Database State Machine

This paper investigates the use of partial replication in the Database State Machine approach introduced earlier for fully replicated databases. It builds on the order and atomicity properties of group communication primitives to achieve strong consistency and proposes two new abstractions: Resilient Atomic Commit and Fast Atomic Broadcast. Even with atomic broadcast, partial replication requires a termination protocol such as atomic commit to ensure transaction atomicity, With Resilient Atomic Commit our termination protocol allows the commit of a transaction despite the failure of some of the participants. Preliminary performance studies suggest that the additional cost of supporting partial replication can be mitigated through the use of Fast Atomic Broadcast.
Early healing of implants placed into fresh extraction sockets: an experimental study in the beagle dog. II: ridge alterations.

AIMS To describe the early phases of healing at the alveolar ridge around dental implants placed into fresh extraction sockets and to study whether (i) the dimension of the socket and (ii) a new implant surface nano-topography may have any influence. MATERIALS AND METHODS Sixteen beagle dogs received 64 test (new surface) and control implants randomly placed at the distal socket of 3P3 and 4P4. The implant shoulder was levelled with the marginal buccal bone crest. Animals were sacrificed at 4 h, 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks for histological examination. RESULTS Bone loss occurred at the buccal crest between the 4-h and 1-week healing intervals, being more pronounced at the third premolar site [vertical bone loss between day 0 and 8 weeks 1.1 (0.5) mm]. The corresponding loss at the fourth premolar site was 0.3 (0.5) mm. Test sites containing implants with discrete crystalline deposition nano-particles' surface exhibited less buccal bone resorption than control sites at 8 weeks. CONCLUSION Dimensions of the socket influenced the process of wound healing of implants placed into fresh extraction sockets, with more bone loss in the narrower sockets; however, the implant surface nano-topography seemed to have a limited effect in the healing of this implant surgical protocol.
Analysis by Multiplex PCR of the Physical Status of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 DNA in Cervical Cancers

ABSTRACT Integration of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA occurs early in cancer development and is an important event in malignant transformation of cervical cancer. Integration of HPVs preferentially disrupts or deletes the E2 open reading frame, which results in the loss of its expression. The preferential disruption of the E2 gene causes the absence of the E2 gene sequences in the PCR product following integration. Twenty-two carcinomas positive for HPV type 16 (HPV-16) DNA were first tested for the disruption of the E2 gene by PCR. A specific fragment of the E2 gene was not amplified in 10 cases, suggesting integration of HPV DNA into the host genome. Next, multiplex PCR for the HPV E2 and E6 genes was carried out in the remaining 12 cases. Copy numbers of both genes should be equivalent in episomal forms, while the E2 gene copy number will be smaller than that for E6 following the preferential disruption of the E2 gene in concominant forms. Although relative ratios of HPV E2 to E6 PCR products (E2/E6 ratios) ranged from 1.40 to 2.34 in 10 of 12 cases, multiplex PCR products from 2 cases displayed extremely low ratios of 0.69 and 0.61. Southern blot hybridization with an HPV-16 probe revealed that only in these two cases was both episomal and integrated HPV DNA being carried simultaneously. Thus, multiplex PCR for the E2 and E6 genes of HPV-16 DNA following PCR for the E2 gene can distinguish the pure episomal form from a mixed form of episomal and integrated HPV DNA. Clinical application of this technique will help researchers to understand the implication of the integration of HPV DNA for cervical carcinogenesis and cervical cancer progression.
Rapid in vivo assessment of drug efficacy against Mycobacterium tuberculosis using an improved firefly luciferase

Objectives In vivo experimentation is costly and time-consuming, and presents a major bottleneck in anti-tuberculosis drug development. Conventional methods rely on the enumeration of bacterial colonies, and it can take up to 4 weeks for Mycobacterium tuberculosis to grow on agar plates. Light produced by recombinant bacteria expressing luciferase enzymes can be used as a marker of bacterial load, and disease progression can be easily followed non-invasively in live animals by using the appropriate imaging equipment. The objective of this work was to develop a bioluminescence-based mouse model of tuberculosis to assess antibiotic efficacy against M. tuberculosis in vivo. Methods We used an M. tuberculosis strain carrying a red-shifted derivative of the firefly luciferase gene (FFlucRT) to infect mice, and monitored disease progression in living animals by bioluminescence imaging before and after treatment with the frontline anti-tuberculosis drug isoniazid. The resulting images were analysed and the bioluminescence was correlated with bacterial counts. Results Using bioluminescence imaging we detected as few as 1.7 × 103 and 7.5 × 104 reporter bacteria ex vivo and in vivo, respectively, in the lungs of mice. A good correlation was found between bioluminescence and bacterial load in both cases. Furthermore, a marked reduction in luminescence was observed in living mice given isoniazid treatment. Conclusions We have shown that an improved bioluminescent strain of M. tuberculosis can be visualized by non-invasive imaging in live mice during an acute, progressive infection and that this technique can be used to rapidly visualize and quantify the effect of antibiotic treatment. We believe that the model presented here will be of great benefit in early drug discovery as an easy and rapid way to identify active compounds in vivo.
Locating Genes Controlling Allelopathic Effects against Barnyardgrass in Upland Rice

To understand the genetic control of allelopathy in rice (Oryza saliva L.), quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping was performed using a population of 142 recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between cultivar IAC 165 (japonica upland variety) and cultivar CO 39 (indica irrigated variety). The map contained 140 DNA markers. The relay seeding technique, which is a laboratory bioassay measuring the inhibition in weed root growth due to the presence of rice seedlings, was used to evaluate the allelopathic effect of the rice lines. Cultivar IAC 165 showed strong and consistent allelopathic activity against barnyardgrass [Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) Beauv. ], whereas CO 39 was weakly allelopathic. Transgressive segregation for allelopathic activity in both directions was observed in the population. No significant correlation was found between root morphology of the lines and their allelopathic potential, suggesting that allelopathy in rice was under genetic control independent from root morphology. Four main-effect QTLs located on three chromosomes were identified, which collectively explained 35% of the total phenotypic variation of the allelopathic activity in the population. One pair of digenic epistatic loci, not involving any of the main-effect loci, was also detected. Once confirmed, these QTLs may be useful for genetic improvement of allelopathy in rice using marker-assisted selection.
Winter mortality and cold stress in Yekaterinburg, Russia: interview survey

Abstract Objectives: To evaluate how mortality and protective measures against exposure to cold change as temperatures fall between October and March in a region of Russia with a mean winter temperature below −6 °C. Design: Interview to assess factors associated with cold stress both indoors and outdoors, to measure temperatures in living room, and to survey unheated rooms. Setting: Sverdlovsk Oblast (district), Yekaterinburg, Russia. Subjects: Residents aged 50–59 and 65–74 living within approximately 140 km of Yekaterinburg in Sverdlovsk Oblast. Survey of sample of 1000 residents equally distributed by sex and age groups. Main outcome measures: Regression analysis was used to relate data on indoor heating and temperatures, the amount of clothing worn, the amount of physical activity, and shivering while outside, to outdoor temperature; results were compared with mortality patterns for ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease, and mortality from all causes. Results: As mean daily temperatures fell to 0°C the amount of clothing worn outdoors increased, physical activity while outdoors became more continuous, and only 11 (6.6%) of the 167 people surveyed who went outdoors at temperatures above 0°C reported shivering. The mean temperature in living rooms in the evening remained above 21.9°C. Mortality from ischaemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, respiratory disease, and all causes did not change. As the temperature fell below 0°C the number of items of clothing worn plateaued at 16.0 and the number of layers at 3.7. With regression analysis, shivering outdoors was found to increase progressively to 34.6% (P<0.001) of excursions at −25°C, and mortality (after declining slightly) rose progressively (all cause mortality rose by 1.15% for each 1°C drop in temperature from 0°C to −29.6°C, 95% confidence interval 0.97% to 1.32%). 94.2% of bedrooms were directly heated, and evening temperatures in the living room averaged 19.8°C even when outside temperatures reached −25°C. Conclusions: Outdoor cold stress and mortality in Yekaterinburg increased only when the mean daily temperature dropped below 0°C. At temperatures down to 0°C cold stress and excess mortality were prevented by increasing the number of items of clothing worn and the amount of physical activity outdoors in combination with maintaining warmth in houses. Key messages There was no increase in mortality in the population of an industrialised region of western Siberia as the temperature fell to 0°C; in western Europe the same fall in temperature is associated with large increases in mortality Warm clothing and physical activity prevented cold stress outdoors and warm housing prevented cold stress indoors These results suggest that the high excess winter mortality in western Europe could be prevented by people wearing sufficient clothing and engaging in physical activity outdoors, and by adequately heating houses
Anatomical Analysis of Saccharomyces cerevisiaeStalk-Like Structures Reveals Spatial Organization and Cell Specialization

ABSTRACT Recently we reported an unusual multicellular organization in yeast that we termed stalk-like structures. These structures are tall (0.5 to 3 cm long) and narrow (1 to 3 mm in diameter). They are formed in response to UV radiation of cultures spread on high agar concentrations. Here we present an anatomical analysis of the stalks. Microscopic inspection of cross sections taken from stalks revealed that stalks are composed of an inner core in which cells are dense and vital and a layer of cells (four to six rows) that surrounds the core. This outer layer is physically separated from the core and contains many dead cells. The outer layer may form a protective shell for the core cells. Through electron microscopy analysis we observed three types of cells within the stalk population: (i) cells containing many unusual vesicles, which might be undergoing some kind of cell death; (ii) cells containing spores (usually one or two spores only); and (iii) familiar rounded cells. We suggest that stalk cells are not only spatially organized but may undergo processes that induce a certain degree of cell specialization. We also show that high agar concentration alone, although not sufficient to induce stalk formation, induces dramatic changes in a colony's morphology. Most striking among the agar effects is the induction of growth into the agar, forming peg-like structures. Colonies grown on 4% agar or higher are reminiscent of stalks in some aspects. The agar concentration effects are mediated in part by the Ras pathway and are related to the invasive-growth phenomenon.
Utilisation de lignines Kraft comme agent de couplage dans des composites à base de polyéthylène de haute densité (HDPE) contenant des fibres d’écorce

An important decrease in demand for the pulp and paper products in the last decade has caused the shift of this industry towards the integration of biorefinery concept into existing mills. The valorization of industrial lignins is one of such solutions. In this research we have explored the application of Kraft lignins in two types of bio-composites based on high density polyethylene (HDPE): one with esterified lignin, coupling agent and HDPE and another with HDPE, lignin or coupling agent and bark fibers (extracted or not). Tensile properties of the produced composites were determined by standard tests. The results of these tests indicated the positive effect of utilization of coupling agents along with lignins on good mixing and homogeneity of HDPE based composites. The production of such composites could contribute to the sequestration of CO2 on several levels: by replacement of synthetic polymers by renewable lignins and bark fibers and through the process of lignin precipitation from black liquor itself (with CO2 provided from Kraft pulping plant). The pre-extraction of the bark fiber was determined not to cause any deterioration of tensile properties of the bio-composites containing them, and the integration of extraction step could therefore yield interesting co-products with high added value (pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, nutraceutical), transforming this process into real biorefinery.
Strategies that students use to trace code: an analysis based in grounded theory

How do beginning students approach problems which require them to read and understand code? We report on a Grounded Theory-based analysis of student transcripts from 12 institutions where students were asked to "think aloud" when solving such problems. We identify 19 strategies used by students. Primary results are that all students employ a range of strategies, there were (in total) many different strategies that were applied, students use multiple strategies on each individual problem, students applied different strategies to different types of questions, and students often applied strategies poorly. We show that strategies conform with existing education theories including Bloom's Taxonomy and the Approaches to Study Inventory. Additionally, we discuss emergent theories developed through a card sort process.
Borrelia burgdorferi BmpA Is a Laminin-Binding Protein

ABSTRACT The Borrelia burgdorferi BmpA outer surface protein plays a significant role in mammalian infection by the Lyme disease spirochete and is an important antigen for the serodiagnosis of human infection. B. burgdorferi adheres to host extracellular matrix components, including laminin. The results of our studies indicate that BmpA and its three paralogous proteins, BmpB, BmpC, and BmpD, all bind to mammalian laminin. BmpA did not bind mammalian type I or type IV collagens or fibronectin. BmpA-directed antibodies significantly inhibited the adherence of live B. burgdorferi to laminin. The laminin-binding domain of BmpA was mapped to the carboxy-terminal 80 amino acids. Solubilized collagen inhibited BmpA-laminin binding, suggesting interactions through the collagen-binding domains of laminin. These results, together with previous data, indicate that BmpA and its paralogs are targets for the development of preventative and curative therapies for Lyme disease.
High incidence of CD56 expression and relapse rate in acute myeloid leukemia patients with t(8;21) in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE CD56 is a marker of natural killer cells, but can also be found on blast cells in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The prognostic implications of CD56 expression in AML are not clear. In this study, we evaluated the correlation among CD56 expression, cytogenetic abnormality, and clinical outcome in AML. METHODS CD56 expression was analyzed in leukemic cells from 94 adults with primary AML in Taiwan and was correlated with clinical and hematologic features, cytogenetics, and immunophenotypes of the leukemia. RESULTS Thirty patients (32%) showed CD56 expression. CD56+ AML patients had a higher lactate dehydrogenase level than CD56- patients (1.136 vs 730 V/L, p = 0.048). Patients with t(8;21) had a significantly higher incidence (89%, 8/9) of CD56 positivity in leukemic cells than those with normal karyotype or other cytogenetic abnormalities (26%, 22/85, p < 0.001). In general, there was no difference in overall survival time in CD56+ and CD56- AML patients. However, three patients had central nervous system involvement at initial presentation; two of these had concomitant CD56 expression and t(8;21). In addition, five of the seven patients with t(8;21) and CD56 expression who achieved complete remission later relapsed. CONCLUSIONS The incidence of CD56 expression in AML patients with t(8;21) is very high in Taiwan, and it may imply a poor prognosis in this subgroup of patients.
On the Importance of Golden Parachutes

While existing research addresses the presence of golden parachutes, it overlooks their relative importance to target CEOs. This importance is critical: it correlates with the moral hazard problem facing the executive most crucial to a merger’s outcome. Parachutes that are either too trivial or too important relative to other takeover-induced wealth changes could produce ‘unyielding resistance’ or ‘a rush to sale’ despite the acquisition price offered. Neither attitude is likely to benefit target shareholders. We examine 851 acquisition bids from 1999-2007 and find more important parachutes benefit target shareholders through higher merger completion probabilities. However, other results indicate that as parachute importance increases target shareholders receive lower acquisition premia.