Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Minimum spanning tree analysis of the human connectome

One of the challenges of brain network analysis is to directly compare network organization between subjects, irrespective of the number or strength of connections. In this study, we used minimum spanning tree (MST; a unique, acyclic subnetwork with a fixed number of connections) analysis to characterize the human brain network to create an empirical reference network. Such a reference network could be used as a null model of connections that form the backbone structure of the human brain. We analyzed the MST in three diffusion‐weighted imaging datasets of healthy adults. The MST of the group mean connectivity matrix was used as the empirical null‐model. The MST of individual subjects matched this reference MST for a mean 58%–88% of connections, depending on the analysis pipeline. Hub nodes in the MST matched with previously reported locations of hub regions, including the so‐called rich club nodes (a subset of high‐degree, highly interconnected nodes). Although most brain network studies have focused primarily on cortical connections, cortical–subcortical connections were consistently present in the MST across subjects. Brain network efficiency was higher when these connections were included in the analysis, suggesting that these tracts may be utilized as the major neural communication routes. Finally, we confirmed that MST characteristics index the effects of brain aging. We conclude that the MST provides an elegant and straightforward approach to analyze structural brain networks, and to test network topological features of individual subjects in comparison to empirical null models.
Sarcopenia: Prevalence, and Impact on Operative and Oncologic Outcomes in the Multimodal Management of Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer

Objective: The aim of this article was to study the prevalence and significance of sarcopenia in the multimodal management of locally advanced esophageal cancer (LAEC), and to assess its independent impact on operative and oncologic outcomes. Summary of Background Data: Sarcopenia in cancer may confer negative outcomes, but its prevalence and impact on modern multimodal regimens for LAEC have not been systematically studied. Methods: Two hundred fifty-two consecutive patients were studied. Lean body mass (LBM), skeletal muscle index (SMI), and fat mass (FM) were determined pre-treatment, preoperatively, and 1 year postoperatively. Sarcopenia was defined by computed tomography (CT) at L3 as SMI < 52.4 cm2/m2 for males and SMI < 38.5 cm2/m2 for females. All complications were recorded prospectively, including comprehensive complications index (CCI), Clavien-Dindo complication (CDC), and pulmonary complications (PPCs). Multivariable linear, logistic, and Cox regression analysis was performed. Results: In-hospital mortality was 1%, and CCI was 21 ± 19. Sarcopenia increased (P = 0.02) from 16% at diagnosis to 31% post-neoadjuvant therapy, with loss of LBM (-3.0 ± 5.4 kg, P < 0.0001), but not FM (-0.3 ± 2.7 kg, P= 0.31) during treatment. On multivariable analysis, preoperative sarcopenia was associated with CCI (P = 0.043), and CDC ≥IIIb (P = 0.003). PPCs occurred in 36% nonsarcopenic versus 55% sarcopenic patients (P = 0.01). Sarcopenia did not impact disease-specific (P = 0.14) or overall survival (P = 0.11) after resection. At 1 year, 35% had sarcopenia, significantly associated with pre-treatment BMI (P = 0.013) but not complications (P = 0.20). Conclusions: Sarcopenia increases through multimodal therapy, is associated with an increased risk of major postoperative complications, and is prevalent in survivorship. These data highlight a potentially modifiable marker of risk that should be assessed and targeted in modern multimodal care pathways.
Phagocyte NADPH oxidase, chronic granulomatous disease and mycobacterial infections

Infection of humans with Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains frequent and may still lead to death. After primary infection, the immune system is often able to control M. tuberculosis infection over a prolonged latency period, but a decrease in immune function (from HIV to immunosenescence) leads to active disease. Available vaccines against tuberculosis are restricted to BCG, a live vaccine with an attenuated strain of M. bovis. Immunodeficiency may not only be associated with an increased risk of tuberculosis, but also with local or disseminated BCG infection. Genetic deficiency in the reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐producing phagocyte NADPH oxidase NOX2 is called chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). CGD is among the most common primary immune deficiencies. Here we review our knowledge on the importance of NOX2‐derived ROS in mycobacterial infection. A literature review suggests that human CGD patient frequently have an increased susceptibility to BCG and to M. tuberculosis. In vitro studies and experiments with CGD mice are incomplete and yielded – at least in part – contradictory results. Thus, although observations in human CGD patients leave little doubt about the role of NOX2 in the control of mycobacteria, further studies will be necessary to unequivocally define and understand the role of ROS.
Estimating Acute Cardiovascular Effects of Ambient PM2.5 Metals

Background: Few epidemiologic studies have investigated health effects of water-soluble fractions of PM2.5 metals, the more biologically accessible fractions of metals, in their attempt to identify health-relevant components of ambient PM2.5. Objectives: In this study, we estimated acute cardiovascular effects of PM2.5 components in an urban population, including a suite of water-soluble metals that are not routinely measured at the ambient level. Methods: Ambient concentrations of criteria gases, PM2.5, and PM2.5 components were measured at a central monitor in Atlanta, Georgia, during 1998–2013, with some PM2.5 components only measured during 2008–2013. In a time-series framework using Poisson regression, we estimated associations between these pollutants and daily counts of emergency department (ED) visits for cardiovascular diseases in the five-county Atlanta area. Results: Among the PM2.5 components we examined during 1998–2013, water-soluble iron had the strongest estimated effect on cardiovascular outcomes [RR^=1.012 (95% CI: 1.005, 1.019), per interquartile range increase (20.46ng/m3)]. The associations for PM2.5 and other PM2.5 components were consistent with the null when controlling for water-soluble iron. Among PM2.5 components that were only measured during 2008–2013, water-soluble vanadium was associated with cardiovascular ED visits [RR^=1.012 (95% CI: 1.000, 1.025), per interquartile range increase (0.19ng/m3)]. Conclusions: Our study suggests cardiovascular effects of certain water-soluble metals, particularly water-soluble iron. The observed associations with water-soluble iron may also point to certain aspects of traffic pollution, when processed by acidifying sulfate, as a mixture harmful for cardiovascular health. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2182
RGB-D data fusion in complex space

Most of the RGB-D fusion methods extract features from RGB data and depth data separately and then simply concatenate them or encode these two kinds of features. Such frameworks cannot explore the correlation between the RGB pixels and their corresponding depth pixels. Motivated by the physical concept that range data correspond to the phase change and color information corresponds to the intensity, we first project raw RGB-D data into a complex space and then jointly extract features from the fused RGB-D images. Consequently, the correlated and individual parts of the RGB-D information in the new feature space are well combined. Experimental results of SIFT and fused images trained CNNs on two RGB-D datasets show that our proposed RGB-D fusion method can achieve competing performance against the classical fusion methods.
Designing a product service system in a social framework: methodological and ethical considerations

Macroscopic social and economic changes in the last few years are forcing business companies and public institutions to redefine their approach to social intervention, focusing on local and highly individualised solutions. This change is also calling for a new design approach. The challenge for designers is not only to be able to provide local and highly individualised solutions, but also to propose strategies to transfer and reproduce the solutions, or part of them, into different local contexts, thus creating economy of scope. This would be possible by using forms of codification and modularisation of the most relevant components in local solutions. The code refers to the organisational knowledge included in local components and the way each component interacts with the others. Like software systems, local product-service systems can be built upon a source code. This paper will illustrate how this process was developed in a concrete case. Through this case the authors analyse the possibility to build something similar to a source code for initiatives based on social interaction and investigate the process of construction of such a code Furthermore, the author discuss differences and analogies between design intervention in a social context and in the normal business context. The question of codification suggests a methodological approach for supporting transferability both in the problem space (dealing with complexity) and in the solution space (dealing with contingency). The analysis of differences and similarities between business- and socially-oriented processes suggests a new role for designers and new opportunities for innovation. Keywords: Product Service Systems, Methodology, Design and Morality, Codification, Transferability
Patchwork-Based Audio Watermarking Method Robust to De-synchronization Attacks

This paper presents a patchwork-based audio watermarking method to resist de-synchronization attacks such as pitch-scaling, time-scaling, and jitter attacks. At the embedding stage, the watermarks are embedded into the host audio signal in the discrete cosine transform (DCT) domain. Then, a set of synchronization bits are implanted into the watermarked signal in the logarithmic DCT (LDCT) domain. At the decoding stage, we analyze the received audio signal in the LDCT domain to find the scaling factor imposed by an attack. Then, we modify the received signal to remove the scaling effect, together with the embedded synchronization bits. After that, watermarks are extracted from the modified signal. Simulation results show that at the embedding rate of 10 bps, the proposed method achieves 98.9% detection rate on average under the considered de-synchronization attacks. At the embedding rate of 16 bps, it can still obtain 94.7% detection rate on average. So, the proposed method is much more robust to de-synchronization attacks than other patchwork watermarking methods. Compared with the audio watermarking methods designed for tackling de-synchronization attacks, our method has much higher embedding capacity.
Quantify entanglement by concurrence hierarchy

We define the concurrence hierarchy as d − 1i ndependent invariants under local unitary transformations in d-level quantum system. The first one is the original concurrence defined by Wootters (1998 Phys. Rev. Lett. 80 2245) and Hill and Wootters (1997 Phys. Rev .L ett. 78 5022) in a two-level quantum system and generalized to the d-level pure quantum state case. We propose to use this concurrence hierarchy as a measurement of entanglement. This measurement does not increase under local quantum operations and classical communication.
Person Re-Identification by Deep Joint Learning of Multi-Loss Classification

Existing person re-identification (re-id) methods rely mostly on either localised or global feature representation. This ignores their joint benefit and mutual complementary effects. In this work, we show the advantages of jointly learning local and global features in a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) by aiming to discover correlated local and global features in different context. Specifically, we formulate a method for joint learning of local and global feature selection losses designed to optimise person re-id when using generic matching metrics such as the L2 distance. We design a novel CNN architecture for Jointly Learning Multi-Loss (JLML) of local and global discriminative feature optimisation subject concurrently to the same re-id labelled information. Extensive comparative evaluations demonstrate the advantages of this new JLML model for person re-id over a wide range of state-of-the-art re-id methods on five benchmarks (VIPeR, GRID, CUHK01, CUHK03, Market-1501).
Super-Resolution Surface Mapping for Scanning Radar: Inverse Filtering Based on the Fast Iterative Adaptive Approach

High-resolution scanning radar mapping of the surface is an effective tool for addressing concerns in local environmental and social investigation fields. Regrettably, the azimuth resolution of a scanning radar is constrained by the antenna beamwidth. Multiple super-resolution approaches have been applied to the scanning radar to enhance the azimuth resolution, but they suffer from limited resolution improvement. In this paper, a methodology to derive surface estimates from the scanning radar at an improved azimuth resolution is proposed. We first consider the truncated spectrum by discarding the unreliable frequencies to suppress the noise amplification. Then, based on the iterative adaptive approach (IAA), a novel inverse filtering method is formulated to obtain lower sidelobes and a higher resolution. Finally, by taking advantage of the Fourier property of the steering matrix and the Toeplitz structure of the covariance matrix, we exploit the Gohberg-Semencul representation and the data-dependent trigonometric polynomials to derive a fast IAA (FIAA)-based inverse filtering to mitigate the computational burden. Simulation results and real data processing demonstrate that the proposed FIAA-based inverse filtering outperforms the existing super-resolution approaches in resolution improvement and results in a higher computational efficiency.
Distribution of cardiac sodium channels in clusters potentiates ephaptic interactions in the intercalated disc

It has been proposed that ephaptic conduction, relying on interactions between the sodium (Na+) current and the extracellular potential in intercalated discs, might contribute to cardiac conduction when gap junctional coupling is reduced, but this mechanism is still controversial. In intercalated discs, Na+ channels form clusters near gap junction plaques, but the functional significance of these clusters has never been evaluated. In HEK cells expressing cardiac Na+ channels, we show that restricting the extracellular space modulates the Na+ current, as predicted by corresponding simulations accounting for ephaptic effects. In a high‐resolution model of the intercalated disc, clusters of Na+ channels that face each other across the intercellular cleft facilitate ephaptic impulse transmission when gap junctional coupling is reduced. Thus, our simulations reveal a functional role for the clustering of Na+ channels in intercalated discs, and suggest that rearrangement of these clusters in disease may influence cardiac conduction.
( refereed ) LARCH , leverage , and long memory

We consider the long memory and leverage properties of a model for the conditional variance V 2 t of an observable stationary sequence Xt, where V 2 t is the square of an inhomogeneous linear combination of Xs, s < t, with square summable weights bj . This model, which we call linear ARCH (LARCH), specializes, when V 2 t depends only on Xt−1, to the asymmetric ARCH model of Engle (1990), and, when V 2 t depends only on finitely many Xs, to a version of the quadratic ARCH model of Sentana (1995), these authors having discussed leverage potential in such models. The model which we consider was suggested by Robinson (1991), for use as a possibly long memory conditionally heteroscedastic alternative to i.i. d. behaviour, and further studied by Giraitis, Robinson and Surgailis (2000), who showed that integer powers X t , ` ≥ 2, can have long memory autocorrelations. We establish conditions under which the crossautocovariance function between volatility and levels, ht = Cov(V 2 t , X0), decays in the manner of moving average weights of long memory processes on suitable choice of the bj . We also establish the leverage property that ht < 0 for 0 < t ≤ k, where the value of k (which may be infinite) again depends on the bj . Conditions for finiteness of third and higher moments of Xt are also established. JEL Classification: C22 Corresponding Author: Donatas Surgailis We thank two referees and the Associate Editor for helpful comments. ∗Research supported by ESRC Grant R000238212. †Research supported by Lithuanian State Science and Studies Foundation Grant K-014. ‡Research supported by a Leverhulme Trust Personal Research Professorship and ESRC Grant R000238212.
Benefits and Challenges of the Use of High-Z Plasma Facing Materials in Fusion Devices

The use of high-Z plasma facing components requires intensive research in all areas, i.e. in plasma wall-interaction, in the physics of the confined plasma, diagnostic, and in material development. Only a few present day divertor tokamaks mainly Alcator C-Mod and ASDEX Upgrade gained experience with the refractory metals molybdenum and tungsten, respectively. ASDEX Upgrade was stepwise converted from graphite to tungsten PFCs and in parallel a reduction of the deuterium retention by almost a factor of ten has been observed due to the strong suppression of D co-deposition with carbon. The deuterium retained in W is in line with laboratory results. In order to diagnose W sources and the W content in the main plasma adequate spectroscopic methods had to be developed. As expected from the sputtering threshold of Mo and W, negligible erosion by the thermal divertor background plasma is found in ASDEX Upgrade and Alcator C-Mod under low temperature divertor conditions. However, erosion by fast particles and intrinsic impurities, which additionally might be accelerated in rectified electrical fields observed during ion cyclotron frequency heating, plays an important role. The Mo and W concentrations in the plasma centre are strongly affected by plasma transport and variations up to a factor of 50 are observed for similar influxes. However, it could be demonstrated that sawteeth and turbulent transport driven by central heating can suppress central accumulation. The inward transport of high-Z ions at the edge can be efficiently reduced by ’flushing’ the pedestal region caused by frequent edge instabilities. Since with metal walls the edge radiation by low-Z impurities is reduced, it has to be substituted in a pure highZ device by artificially injected low-Z impurities in order to keep the power load at an acceptable level. Experiments at ASDEX Upgrade suggest that a regime with benign erosion and favourable confinement can be achieved. Extrapolations to ITER and DEMO are difficult since the physics of plasma transport is not yet completely understood, the particle and energy fluxes are orders of magnitude higher and the technical boundary conditions in DEMO strongly differ from those of present day devices.
Temozolomide Plus Bevacizumab in Elderly Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma and Poor Performance Status: An ANOCEF Phase II Trial (ATAG)

Abstract Lessons Learned. Results suggest that the combination of bevacizumab plus temozolomide is active in terms of response rate, survival, performance, quality of life, and cognition in elderly patients with glioblastoma multiforme with poor performance status. Whether this combination is superior to temozolomide alone remains to be demonstrated by a randomized study. Background. The optimal treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in patients aged ≥70 years with a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) <70 is not established. This clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of upfront temozolomide (TMZ) and bevacizumab (Bev) in patients aged ≥70 years and a KPS <70. Materials and Methods. Patients aged ≥70 years with a KPS <70 and biopsy‐proven GBM were eligible for this multicenter, prospective, nonrandomized, phase II trial of older patients with impaired performance status. Treatment consisted of TMZ administered at 130–150 mg/m2 per day for 5 days every 4 weeks plus Bev administered at 10 mg/kg every 2 weeks. Results. The trial included 66 patients (median age of 76 years; median KPS of 60). The median overall survival (OS) was 23.9 weeks (95% confidence interval [CI], 19–27.6), and the median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 15.3 weeks (95% CI, 12.9–19.3). Twenty‐two (33%) patients became transiently capable of self‐care (i.e., KPS >70). Cognition and quality of life significantly improved over time during treatment. Grade ≥3 hematological adverse events occurred in 13 (20%) patients, high blood pressure in 16 (24%), venous thromboembolism in 3 (4.5%), cerebral hemorrhage in 2 (3%), and intestinal perforation in 2 (3%). Conclusion. This study suggests that TMZ + Bev treatment is active in elderly patients with GBM with low KPS and has an acceptable tolerance level.
Biological characterization and mating compatibility of Helicoverpa gelotopoeon (D.) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) populations from different regions in Argentina

Abstract Helicoverpa gelotopoeon, the South American bollworm, is a polyphagous pest of the Heliothinae complex that causes damage to soybean, cotton, and chickpea crops. Some species within this complex have developed resistance to genetically modified crops and insecticides, which has led to increased interest in their genetic diversity and population structure. The objective of this study was to characterize biological and reproductive parameters of two populations of H. gelotopoeon collected in two different provinces of Argentina. Intra- and inter-population crosses revealed that H. gelotopoeon populations from both regions of Argentina did not present evidence of pre-zygotic and post-zygotic incompatibility, suggesting that Tucumán and Córdoba populations of H. gelotopoeon belong to a single wide-ranging species. Our data support the occurrence of substantial gene flow between H. gelotopoeon populations, probably due to the widely documented, long-range migratory capacity of Heliothinae species.