Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Global brain connectivity analysis by diffusion MR tractography

The human cerebral cortex consists of approximately 1010 neurons that are organized into a complex network of local circuits and long-range connections. During the past years there has been an increasing interest from the neuro-scientific community towards the study of this network, referred to as the human connectome. Due to its ability to probe the tissue microstructure in vivo and non invasively, diffusion MRI has revealed to be a helpful tool for the analysis of brain axonal pathways at the millimeter scale. Whereas the neuronal level remains unreachable, diffusion MRI enables the mapping of a low-resolution estimate of the human connectome, which should give a new breath to the study of normal or pathologic neuroanatomy. After a short introduction on diffusion MRI and tractography, the process by which fiber tracts are reconstructed from the diffusion images, we present a methodology allowing the creation of normalized whole-brain structural connection matrices derived from tractography and representing the human connectome. Based on the developed framework we then investigate the potential of front propagation algorithms in tractography. We compare their performance with classical tractography approaches on several well-known associative fiber pathways, and we discuss their advantages and limitations. Several solutions are proposed in order to evaluate and validate the connectome-related methodology. We develop a method to estimate the respective contributions of diffusion contrast versus other effects to a tractography result. Using this methodology, we show that whereas we can have a strong confidence in mid- and long-range connections, short-range connectivity has to be interpreted with care. Next, we demonstrate the strong relationship between the structural connectivity obtained from diffusion MR tractography and the functional connectivity measured with functional MRI. Then, we compare the performance of several diffusion MRI techniques through connectome-based measurements. We find that diffusion spectrum imaging is more sensitive and therefore enhances the results of tractography. Finally, we present two network-oriented applications. We use the human connectome to reveal the small-world architecture of the brain, a very efficient network topology in terms of wiring and power supply. We identify the cortical areas that belong to the core of structural connectivity. We show that these regions also belong to the default mode network, a set of dynamically coupled brain regions that are found to be more highly activated at rest. As a conclusion, we emphasize the potential of human connectome mapping for clinical applications and pathological studies.
A cognitive theory of consciousness

List of figures and tables Preface Part I. Introduction: 1. What is to be explained some preliminaries Part II. The Basic Model: 2. Model 1: conscious representations are internally consistent and globally distributed 3. The neural basis of conscious experience Part III. The Fundamental Role of Context: 4. Model 2: unconscious contexts shape conscious experience 5. Model 3: conscious experience is informative - it always demands some degree of adaptation Part IV. Goals and Voluntary Control: 6. Model 4: Goal contexts, spontaneous problem solving, and the stream of consciousness 7. Model 5: volition as ideomotor control of thought and action Part V. Attention, self, and conscious self-monitoring: 8. Model 6: attention as control of access to consciousness 9. Model 7. Self as the dominant context of experience and action Part VI. Consciousness is Functional: 10. The functions of consciousness Part VII. Conclusion: 11. A summary and some future directions Glossary and guide to theoretical claims References Name index, Subject index.
The effect of insulin and FFA on myocardial glucose uptake.

In addition to direct stimulation of glucose uptake and metabolism in cardiac myocytes, insulin inhibits lipolysis and, thereby, reduces serum free fatty acid (FFA) concentrations. This, in turn, has been suggested to enhance myocardial glucose utilization. To study the mechanism of insulin action on myocardial glucose uptake (MGU) in vivo, five patients with stable coronary artery disease were studied with positron emission tomography (PET) and [18F]FDG. All patients underwent two PET studies after a 12-h fast, once during low serum FFA but high insulin concentrations (during insulin clamp), and once during low serum FFA and low insulin concentrations (in the fasting state after two oral doses of 250 mg of an antilipolytic drug, acipimox). The MGU in the normal myocardium was measured using dynamic PET imaging. Plasma glucose concentrations were comparable during the insulin clamp and after administration of acipimox (5.0 +/- 0.4 v 5.2 +/- 0.3 mmol/l, n.s.). Serum insulin concentrations were high during clamp but remained in low fasting concentrations after acipimox (74 +/- 9 mU/l v 6 +/- 5 mU/l, P = 0.0001). Serum FFA concentrations were similar during both approaches (230 +/- 110 v 200 +/- 40 mumol/l, respectively, n.s.). No difference in cardiac work load was detected between the approaches. The calculated MGU values in normal myocardium were similar during both approaches (57 +/- 23 mumol/min/100 g v 61 +/- 14 mumol/min/100 g, respectively, n.s.). The MGU values correlated inversely to serum FFA concentration (r = -0.87, P = 0.001) and directly to myocardial work load (r = 0.73, P = 0.016) but not to serum insulin concentration. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Neuroscience research: related to the neuropathology of schizophrenia, neuroendocrinology of obesity, and brain map

Aripiprazole has been used effectively to treat schizophrenia in the clinic ; however, its mechanisms of action are not clear. This study examined how shortand long-term aripiprazole treatment affects dopaminergic transmission in mesolimbic and nigrostriatal pathways. For comparison, the effects of haloperidol and olanzapine treatment were also examined. Aripiprazole significantly increased D2 receptor mRNA expression and decreased tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA expression in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) after 1and 12-wk treatment, but had no effect in substantia nigra (SN) and nucleus accumbens (NAc). Aripiprazole also decreased dopamine transporter (DAT) binding density in NAc (for 1and 12wk treatment) and VTA (1-wk treatment). In contrast, haloperidol significantly increased D2 receptor binding density and decreased DAT binding density in NAc and caudate putamen (CPu) after 1and 12wk treatment, and it also decreases DAT binding in VTA after 12-wk treatment. Olanzapine had less widespread effects, namely an increase in D2 receptor mRNA in VTA after 12-wk treatment and decreased DAT binding in NAc after 1-wk treatment. These results suggest that aripiprazole has selective effects on the mesolimbic dopaminergic pathway. Selectively reducing dopamine synthesis in VTA is a possible therapeutic mechanism for the long-term efficacy of aripiprazole in controlling schizophrenia symptoms with reduced extrapyramidal side-effects. Received 2 October 2008 ; Reviewed 4 November 2008 ; Revised 16 December 2008 ; Accepted 30 December 2008 ; First published online 10 February 2009
Campylobacter concisus : an emerging pathogen of the gastrointestinal tract

This chapter explores the role of Campylobacter concisus, as an emerging pathogen of the human gastrointestinal tract. This bacterium is a Gram negative curved rod that composes part of the gingival flora of the human oral cavity. The association of C. concisus with human periodontal diseases and gingivitis has been reported since the 1980s. However in this decade the focus on this species has shifted to its role in gastroenteritis in children and immunocompromised adults, in addition to its association with inflammatory bowel diseases. In particular the chapter focuses on the association of C. concisus with oral and intestinal infections, and on recent developments in applied molecular detection techniques to highlight the molecular diversity and virulence factors of this emerging pathogen.
Whores of the Court: The Fraud of Psychiatric Testimony and the Rape of American Justice

A scathing expose of the fraud inherent in the use of "expert" psychological testimony in the courtroom. From the high-profile murder trials of the Menendez brothers and Jeffrey Dahmer to personal injury, product liability and child custody cases, lawyers across the country have increasingly turned to "expert" testimony from psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers to influence the decisions of judges and juries. Psychologist Margaret Hagen, a professor and medical industry insider, details the very real danger of this booming business. In every state, a child can be taken away from a parent on the strength of five minutes of "neutral" testimony from a social worker. A criminal suspect's freedom or incarceration can depend on a superficial psychological examination performed by an incompetent, overworked, or, at worst, paid-off psychologist. Parole hearings hinge on the testimony of similarly incomplete or fraudulent evaluations, allowing "rehabilitated" violent criminals back onto the street to commit more heinous crimes, with no accountability for the reviewing "expert. " Unmasking some legal psycho-expertise as a total fraud, Dr. Hagen instructs readers to protect themselves and their families from being victimized by psychological testimony in the courtroom. In today's frenzied legal climate, her insight and wisdom make for provocative, compelling and invaluable reading. "This sizzling expose by a courageous psychological scientist shines a brilliant light on the incalculable harm done to millions of Americans by the purveyors of psychological pseudoscience who have invaded our courtrooms. "--Elizabeth Loftus, Ph.D., author of "The Myth of Repressed Memory" and "EyewitnessTestimony"
Acellular dermis-assisted breast reconstruction with the use of crescentric tissue expansion: a functional cosmetic analysis of 40 consecutive patients.

BACKGROUND Crescentric tissue expanders have the potential to improve postoperative aesthetic results via selective lower pole expansion; however, limited data are available on their efficacy. OBJECTIVES The authors assess postoperative functional and cosmetic outcomes of acellular dermis-assisted breast reconstruction with crescentric tissue expansion. METHODS This study is a single-institution, retrospective review of 40 consecutive patients who underwent acellular dermis-assisted breast reconstruction with crescentric tissue expansion. Demographic data, operative details, and procedural outcomes were recorded and assessed. Cosmetic outcomes were assessed using the Breast Evaluation Questionnaire. RESULTS Fifty-eight breasts representing 36 bilateral and 22 unilateral reconstructions were analyzed. Of these, 45 (78%) underwent tissue expander (TE) to implant exchange. The mean interval between stage 1 and stage 2 was 92 +/- 20 days, with a total follow-up time of 141 +/- 16 days. The average intraoperative expander fill volume was 213.5 mL, with an average final fill of 285 mL (range, 180-740 mL). The average number of expansions was 1.6. Overall, there were five complications (8.6%). Eighty-three percent of patients participated in the breast evaluation questionnaire. Answers to each question were reported using a qualitative five-point scale that ranged from 1 (very dissatisfied) to 5 (very satisfied). For the bilateral reconstructions, the average score in all contexts was 4.5 +/- 0.3, 4.33 +/- 0.5, and 4.36 +/- 0.33 for size, shape, and firmness, respectively. For unilateral reconstructions, the average scores were 4.0 +/- 0.58, 3.93 +/- 0.38, and 4.13 +/- 0.21, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Crescentric expander-based reconstruction with acellular dermis assistance is well tolerated, especially in smaller breasted women. Functional and cosmetic outcomes were acceptable and comparable to previous reports of traditional expander-based reconstructions.
Knowledge Transfer in Buyer-Supplier Relationships - When it (Not) Occurs

Abuyer? s technical knowledge may increase the efficiency of its supplier. Suppliers, however, frequently maintain relationships with additional buyers. Knowledge disclosure then bears the risk of benefiting one? s own competitor due to opportunistic knowledge transmission through the common supplier. We show that in one-shot relationships no knowledge disclosure takes place because the supplier has an incentive for knowledge transmission and, in anticipation of this outcome, buyers refuse to disclose any of their knowledge. In repeated relationships knowledge disclosure is stabilized by larger technological proximity between buyers and suppliers and destabilized by the absolute value of the knowledge.
Examining Structural Relationships between Work Engagement, Organizational Procedural Justice, Knowledge Sharing, and Innovative Work Behavior for Sustainable Organizations

Despite the importance of the human/social dimension of organizational sustainability, this area of scholastic endeavor has received relatively little attention when compared to the economic and environmental dimensions of sustainability. On the basis of social exchange theory, this study posited the important role that employee work engagement is a key component for improving human performance for organizational sustainability. In order to do so, it suggests the important role that employee work engagement has on the relationships among various factors in the organization, including organizational procedural justice, knowledge sharing, and innovative work behaviors. A total of 400 complete responses from full-time employees in Korean organizations were used for the purpose of data analysis with structural equation modeling (SEM). The results demonstrated that organizational procedural justice is positively related with employee work engagement, knowledge sharing, and innovative work behavior. In addition, work engagement enhances employee knowledge sharing and innovative work behavior, and knowledge sharing enhances innovative work behavior. With regard to the mechanisms of these relationships, work engagement and knowledge sharing acted as significant mediators. Based on the findings, we suggested relevant research implications and recommendations for future research on sustainable organizations.
ZRÓŻNICOWANIA KULTUROWE MIĘDZY POLSKĄ A NIEMCAMI WEDŁUG WYMIARÓW KULTURY HOFSTEDE

Celem artykulu jest określenie cech kulturowych Polakow i Niemcow, opierających sie na czterech wymiarach kulturowych zaproponowanych przez Geerta Hofstede na podstawie badan empirycznych przeprowadzonych z zastosowaniem tych samych kwestionariuszy badawczych, a nastepnie identyfikacja roznic kulturowych wystepujących miedzy tymi narodami oraz porownanie wynikow tych badan z wartościami wskaźnikow wymiarow kultury wyznaczonych przez G. Hofstede. Autorzy artykulu podejmują rozwazania dotyczące zroznicowan miedzykulturowych. Pierwotne badania G. Hofstede przeprowadzone w latach 60. i 70. ubieglego wieku w koncernie IBM pozwolily na zidentyfikowanie czterech wymiarow kulturowych w kilkudziesieciu krajach, w tym w Niemczech. Z kolei wartości wymiarow dla Polski zostaly wyznaczone przez G. Hofstede szacunkowo na podstawie innych badan kulturowych z lat 90. Niniejsze badania podjeto w celu ustalenia obecnych wymiarow kulturowych w Polsce i Niemczech, jak i określenia wystepujących zroznicowan miedzy krajami oraz porownania wynikow badan z wartościami wymiarow przyjetych przez G. Hofstede. W publikacji przedstawiono teoretyczne podstawy tego projektu oraz szczegolowo wyjaśniono problem badawczy. Nastepnie zaprezentowano metodyke przeprowadzonych badan empirycznych opartych na potwierdzonej w badaniach innych autorow skali CVSCALE. W kolejnej cześci artykulu zaprezentowano wyniki oraz odniesiono sie do postawionych hipotez. Wyniki wskazują, iz wystepują relatywnie niewielkie zroznicowania kulturowe w czterech wymiarach kultury miedzy Polską a Niemcami. Najwieksze zroznicowania mają miejsce w dwoch wymiarach, tj. w unikaniu niepewności oraz w indywidualizmie versus kolektywizmie. Ponadto porownano wyniki niniejszych badan z wartościami wymiarow kulturowych przyjetych przez G. Hofstede. Stwierdzono, iz wystepują zroznicowania, ktore w zakresie wartości wskaźnikow kulturowych są znacznie wieksze w Polsce niz Niemczech. W podsumowaniu opracowania zawarto wnioski autorow oraz wskazano mozliwości wykorzystania wynikow niniejszych badan w praktyce gospodarczej i w teorii, w tym w przyszlych badaniach miedzykulturowych.
Intimate Fatherhood: A Sociological Analysis

1. Paradoxes of Contemporary Fatherhood 2. Fatherhood as Breadwinning 3. Fathering Activities and the Meaning of Time 4. Performing Emotion 5. Linking Fatherhood and Motherhood 6. Policy: Defining and Accommodating Fathers 7. Fragile Fathering 8. Discussion: Aspects of Intimacy
Pattern classification formulated as a missing data task: The audio genre classification case

This paper presents pattern classification to a predefined set of classes as a missing data task. This is achieved by first augmenting the feature vector of each training pattern with the corresponding binary codeword representing its class. A Restricted Boltzmann Machine (RBM) or a Dictionary Learning (DL) algorithm is then trained on the augmented feature space. During the classification stage, the binary codeword of the unknown pattern is treated as missing data. In the case of the RBM, it is filled in by means of an alternating Gibbs sampling procedure. In the case of the DL method, the set of atoms in the dictionary is first learned from the training data, and the label of the unknown pattern is predicted based on those atoms that represent this pattern. Application of the method in an audio genre classification task verifies that the obtained results are highly competitive compared with state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, the DL approach lends itself readily for online implementations, in line with the current trend in big data applications.
The Information Theoretic Approach to Signal Anomaly Detection for Cognitive Radio

Efficient utilisation and sharing of limited spectrum resources in an autonomous fashion is one of the primary goals of cognitive radio. However, decentralised spectrum sharing can lead to interference scenarios that must be detected and characterised to help achieve the other goal of cognitive radio—reliable service for the end user. Interference events can be treated as unusual and therefore anomaly detection algorithms can be applied for their detection. Two complementary algorithms based on information theoretic measures of statistical distribution divergence and information content are proposed. The first method is applicable to signals with periodic structures and is based on the analysis of Kullback-Leibler divergence. The second utilises information content analysis to detect unusual events. Results from software and hardware implementations show that the proposed algorithms are effective, simple, and capable of processing high-speed signals in real time. Additionally, neither of the algorithms require demodulation of the signal.
Applied Behavior Analysis and Behavioral Disorders: A Report on the Use of Marker Variables in Treatment Studies.

Thirty-five major journals in education and psychology were reviewed and 168 studies that described the use of behavioral interventions with BD students were identified. The studies were analyzed in terms of their reporting on the classes of marker variables recommended by the UCLA Marker Variable Project (Keogh, Major-Kingsley, Omori-Gordon, & Reid, 1982). The data showed that the research populations could be more thoroughly described in terms of selection criteria, demographic characteristics, behavioral adjustment, academic performance, and other areas. The provision of such information, along with the methods used to obtain it, may be used to increase our ability to synthesize and integrate the findings of the growing number of applied research studies in the field of behavioral disorders.
Genotypic predictors of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 drug resistance

Understanding the genetic basis of HIV-1 drug resistance is essential to developing new antiretroviral drugs and optimizing the use of existing drugs. This understanding, however, is hampered by the large numbers of mutation patterns associated with cross-resistance within each antiretroviral drug class. We used five statistical learning methods (decision trees, neural networks, support vector regression, least-squares regression, and least angle regression) to relate HIV-1 protease and reverse transcriptase mutations to in vitro susceptibility to 16 antiretroviral drugs. Learning methods were trained and tested on a public data set of genotype–phenotype correlations by 5-fold cross-validation. For each learning method, four mutation sets were used as input features: a complete set of all mutations in ≥2 sequences in the data set, the 30 most common data set mutations, an expert panel mutation set, and a set of nonpolymorphic treatment-selected mutations from a public database linking protease and reverse transcriptase sequences to antiretroviral drug exposure. The nonpolymorphic treatment-selected mutations led to the best predictions: 80.1% accuracy at classifying sequences as susceptible, low/intermediate resistant, or highly resistant. Least angle regression predicted susceptibility significantly better than other methods when using the complete set of mutations. The three regression methods provided consistent estimates of the quantitative effect of mutations on drug susceptibility, identifying nearly all previously reported genotype–phenotype associations and providing strong statistical support for many new associations. Mutation regression coefficients showed that, within a drug class, cross-resistance patterns differ for different mutation subsets and that cross-resistance has been underestimated.
On the relation between graph distance and Euclidean distance in random geometric graphs

Abstract Given any two vertices u, v of a random geometric graph G(n, r), denote by d E (u, v) their Euclidean distance and by d E (u, v) their graph distance. The problem of finding upper bounds on d G (u, v) conditional on d E (u, v) that hold asymptotically almost surely has received quite a bit of attention in the literature. In this paper we improve the known upper bounds for values of r=ω(√logn) (that is, for r above the connectivity threshold). Our result also improves the best known estimates on the diameter of random geometric graphs. We also provide a lower bound on d E (u, v) conditional on d E (u, v).
Obese Children with Metabolic Syndrome Have 3 Times Higher Risk to Have Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Compared with Those without Metabolic Syndrome

Background The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in obese children. One hundred and twenty-five subjects aged 11-12 years old participated in the study. Methods Anthropometric and biochemical indices were measured, including lipid and liver profile, blood glucose, serum insulin, and liver ultrasound. Results Forty-four children (58.6%) were found to have MS. Insulin resistance was present in 78 (62.4%) children. Patients with MS were more likely to have NAFLD (P < 0.001). Children with NAFLD had significantly higher body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, fasting insulin, and lower high-density lipoprotein compared to patients with normal livers (P < 0.001). Insulin resistance was significantly higher in children with NAFLD (P < 0.001). Obese children presenting with MS were 3.01 (2.87–3.57, P < 0.002) times more likely to develop NAFLD compared to those without metabolic syndrome after adjustment of cofounders. Conclusions Obese children with MS have a higher risk of developing NAFLD. Weight management and early prevention should be the first line of treatment to prevent any possible health issues later on.