Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Large-Scale Brain Networks in the Awake, Truly Resting Marmoset Monkey

Resting-state functional MRI is a powerful tool that is increasingly used as a noninvasive method for investigating whole-brain circuitry and holds great potential as a possible diagnostic for disease. Despite this potential, few resting-state studies have used animal models (of which nonhuman primates represent our best opportunity of understanding complex human neuropsychiatric disease), and no work has characterized networks in awake, truly resting animals. Here we present results from a small New World monkey that allows for the characterization of resting-state networks in the awake state. Six adult common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) were acclimated to light, comfortable restraint using individualized helmets. Following behavioral training, resting BOLD data were acquired during eight consecutive 10 min scans for each conscious subject. Group independent component analysis revealed 12 brain networks that overlap substantially with known anatomically constrained circuits seen in the awake human. Specifically, we found eight sensory and “lower-order” networks (four visual, two somatomotor, one cerebellar, and one caudate–putamen network), and four “higher-order” association networks (one default mode-like network, one orbitofrontal, one frontopolar, and one network resembling the human salience network). In addition to their functional relevance, these network patterns bear great correspondence to those previously described in awake humans. This first-of-its-kind report in an awake New World nonhuman primate provides a platform for mechanistic neurobiological examination for existing disease models established in the marmoset.
Glass vs. Plastic: Life Cycle Assessment of Extra-Virgin Olive Oil Bottles across Global Supply Chains

The environmental impacts of global food supply chains are growing with the need for their measurement and management. This paper explores the operations of a global supply chain for extra-virgin olive oil (EVOO) according to a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. The LCA assessment methodology is applied to determine the environmental impact categories associated with the bottled EVOO life cycle, focusing on packaging decisions. The proposed analysis identifies the greatest environmental stressors of the EVOO supply chain, thereby supporting strategic and operative decisions toward more efficient and environmentally-friendly operations management and packaging choices. This paper quantifies the environmental categories of the impacts of global warming potential, ozone layer depletion, non-renewable energy use, acidification, eutrophication and photochemical smog, for the observed EVOO supply chain, given alternative packaging configurations, i.e., a glass bottle vs. a plastic bottle. The observed system includes the supply of EVOO, the EVOO processing and bottling, the supply of packaging, the distribution of final products to customers, the end-of-life (EOL) treatments regarding the management, recycling and the disposal of waste across a global supply chain. The findings from the LCA highlight the potential of PET bottles in reducing the environmental impact of EVOO supply chains and identifies hotspots of discussion for policy-makers, EVOO producers and consumers.
Crowdfunding Practices In and Outside the US

We analyze all Kickstarter projects till December 2013. Their success is driven by the presence of a video, a higher number of rewards, a shorter campaign, and a lower goal. A more extensive description signals higher quality and helps the funding, unless it becomes too prolix. We study the distribution of non-US projects. Categories have different concentrations across countries, but the funding determinants are comparable, as Kickstarter taps the same world crowd. UK and Canada openings increase the number of projects and reduce the probability of success, due to a diminished quality and a lower “collective attention” from worldwide backers.
PC-10 as a predictor of prognosis after antigen retrieval in posterior uveal melanoma.

PURPOSE The immunoexpression of the PC-10 monoclonal antibody for the proliferating cell nuclear antigen is claimed to have prognostic value in diverse tumors, but previous data on posterior uveal melanoma are conflicting. The aim of the current study was to investigate further the potential value of the PC-10 antibody in predicting tumor-related death after enucleation for posterior uveal melanoma. METHODS One observer calculated the number of cells after antigen retrieval that showed immunoreactivity for PC-10 in the high expression areas of 212 specimens containing posterior uveal melanomas. Survival data for all patients were entered into stepwise multivariate Cox regressions that included other potential prognostic covariates. The prognostic accuracy was assessed by receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. RESULTS The only covariates of statistically significant prognostic value were the number of cells featuring immunoreactivity for PC-10 and the largest tumor diameter. When using the median PC-10 count as the cutoff, the cumulative 10-year survival proportion was 84% for the low PC-10 count group and 40% for patients harboring tumors with high PC-10 counts. Those with tumors featuring high PC-10 counts had a 5.8 times greater risk to die of metastatic melanoma. However, the prognostic accuracy of the PC-10 count was not significantly better than that of the largest tumor diameter, presumably because of insufficient statistical power. CONCLUSIONS The number of cells showing immunoreactivity for the PC-10 antibody may be used to assess prognosis in posterior uveal melanoma, provided that antigen retrieval is performed. Additional work using a larger sample size is warranted for better comparison of the predictive accuracy with that of other prognostic markers.
Social network perspective on innovation: A review

Innovation has been studied from several different perspectives. Since innovation has increasingly become a nonlinear, interactive and open activity, social network analysis provides a handy tool to examine this phenomenon. This paper aims to review and synthesize the studies that have examined the phenomenon of innovation from a social network perspective. The current state of the literature, gaps and future research direction are discussed.
Single-molecule analysis of CD9 dynamics and partitioning reveals multiple modes of interaction in the tetraspanin web

Tetraspanins regulate cell migration, sperm–egg fusion, and viral infection. Through interactions with one another and other cell surface proteins, tetraspanins form a network of molecular interactions called the tetraspanin web. In this study, we use single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to dissect dynamics and partitioning of the tetraspanin CD9. We show that lateral mobility of CD9 in the plasma membrane is regulated by at least two modes of interaction that each exhibit specific dynamics. The majority of CD9 molecules display Brownian behavior but can be transiently confined to an interaction platform that is in permanent exchange with the rest of the membrane. These platforms, which are enriched in CD9 and its binding partners, are constant in shape and localization. Two CD9 molecules undergoing Brownian trajectories can also codiffuse, revealing extra platform interactions. CD9 mobility and partitioning are both dependent on its palmitoylation and plasma membrane cholesterol. Our data show the high dynamic of interactions in the tetraspanin web and further indicate that the tetraspanin web is distinct from raft microdomains.
Gender Perspective of Risk Factors Associated with Disclosure of HIV Status, a Cross-Sectional Study in Soweto, South Africa

Background Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) status disclosure has been shown to provide several benefits, both at the individual and societal levels. Aim To determine risk factors associated with disclosing HIV status among antiretroviral therapy (ART) recipients in South Africa. Setting A cross-sectional study on risk factors for viremia and drug resistance took place at two outpatient HIV clinics in 2008, at a large hospital located in Soweto, South Africa. Methods We conducted a secondary data analysis on socio-economic characteristics and HIV status disclosure to anyone, focusing on gender differences. Descriptive and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to model the associations between risk factors and HIV status disclosure. Additionally, descriptive analysis was conducted to describe gender differences of HIV status disclosure to partner, parents, parents in law, partner, child, family, employer, and other. Patients A total of 883 patients were interviewed. The majority were women (73%) with median age of 39 years. Results Employed patients were less likely to disclose than unemployed (odds ratio (OR) 0.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.1–1.0; p = 0.05)). Women with higher income were more likely to disclose (OR 3.25; 95% CI 0.90–11.7; p = 0.07) than women with lower income, while men with higher income were less likely (OR 0.20; 95% CI 0.02–1.99; p = 0.17) than men with lower income. Men were more likely than women to disclose to their partner (p<0.01), and to partner and family (p<0.01), women were more likely than men to disclose to child and family (p<0.01), to child, family and others (p = 0.01). Conclusion Being employed imposed a risk factor for HIV status disclosure, additionally we found an interaction effect of gender and income on disclosure. Interventions designed to reduce workplace discrimination and gender-sensitive interventions promoting disclosure are strongly recommended.
Improved Prefrontal Activity and Chewing Performance as Function of Wearing Denture in Partially Edentulous Elderly Individuals: Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Study

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of wearing a denture on prefrontal activity during chewing performance. We specifically examined that activity in 12 elderly edentulous subjects [63.1±6.1 years old (mean ± SD)] and 12 young healthy controls (22.1±2.3 years old) using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) in order to evaluate the quality of prefrontal functionality during chewing performance under the conditions of wearing a denture and tooth loss, and then compared the findings with those of young healthy controls. fNIRS and electromyography were used simultaneously to detect prefrontal and masticatory muscle activities during chewing, while occlusal force and masticatory score were also examined by use of a food intake questionnaire. A significant increase in prefrontal activity was observed during chewing while wearing a denture, which was accompanied by increased masticatory muscle activity, occlusal force, and masticatory score, as compared with the tooth loss condition. Prefrontal activation during chewing while wearing a denture in the elderly subjects was not much different from that in the young controls. In contrast, tooth loss in the elderly group resulted in marked prefrontal deactivation, accompanied by decreased masticatory muscle activity, occlusal force, and masticatory score, as compared with the young controls. We concluded that intrinsic prefrontal activation during chewing with a denture may prevent prefrontal depression induced by tooth loss in elderly edentulous patients.
Interspecific Agonistic Behaviors in a Salamander Community: Implications for Alpha Selection

Abstract Competition between closely related species can affect behavioral interactions. Intense interspecific competition may favor the evolution of elevated levels of interspecific aggression, termed alpha selection. Salamanders of the genus Plethodon exhibit territorial aggression, and in some cases interference mechanisms may have evolved under the process of alpha selection. Throughout Ohio, two closely related and ecologically similar species of salamander, Plethodon cinereus (red-backed salamander) and P. electromorphus (northern ravine salamander), occur in similar habitats and can be found in sympatry. However, the occurrence of syntopic areas is infrequent compared to the range overlap of each species and seems to be limited by factors other than broad geographic factors. Here, we used salamanders from allopatric and sympatric locations to examine the behavior of both species toward interspecific intruders. We hypothesized that animals in sympatry would exhibit heightened aggression compared to salamanders from allopatric areas. We found support for this hypothesis, indicating that intense interference competition may occur between P. cinereus and P. electromorphus in sympatry. Further, our results are consistent with the hypothesis of alpha selection at the level of behavioral aggression. These results suggest that sympatry may represent an unstable equilibrium where neither species can gain a competitive advantage.
Dual Adaptive Control for Non-Minimum Phase Systems with Functional Uncertainties

Abstract A dual control for a nonlinear system with non-minimum phase based on the bicriterial approach is proposed and discussed. A particular class of the nonlinear input/output recursive model is composed of linear and nonlinear blocks, the latter being implemented with a multi-layered perceptron neural network. The unknown parameters of the model are estimated in real-time by the extended Kalman filter. The chosen nonlinear model with the affine structure in inputs together with the certainty equivalence principle utilization allow to obtain an analytical solution to control based on generalised minimum variance method. Behaviour of the system based on the enforcement of the certainty equivalence can negatively be affected, especially in a presence of disturbances and functional uncertainties. For that, the control action is enhanced about dual property based on the bicriterial approach that uses two separate criteria to introduce one of the opposing aspects between estimation and control.
A novel ARQ scheme based on Network Coding Theory in Cognitive Radio networks

In this paper, Network Coding (NC) Theory is introduced to improve efficiency of the traditional ARQ scheme for Cognitive Radio (CR) broadcast, named as NC-ARQ, in which we consider making the CR basestation combine the lost packets during ARQ broadcast retransmission in CR neworks (CRN), with the changeable availability of CR channel. The Broadcast Cost is defined to indicate and compare the theoretic performance between traditional ARQ scheme and NC-ARQ. Numerical results are analyzed to validate the performance improvement of NC-ARQ.
Long-Run Substitutability between More and Less Educated Workers: Evidence from U.S. States 1950-1990

We estimate the aggregate long-run elasticity of substitution between more and less educated workers (the slope of the demand curve for more relative to less educated workers) at the US state level. Our data come from the (five) 1950-1990 decennial censuses. Our empirical approach allows for state and time fixed effects and relies on time and state dependent child labor and compulsory school attendance laws as instruments for (endogenous) changes in the relative supply of more educated workers. We find the aggregate long-run elasticity of substitution between more and less educated workers to be around 1.5.
Can multibiometrics improve performance

While it is widely acknowledged that the performance improvement in current biometrics-based personal authentication systems is necessary, it is not clear what mechanisms could be used to improve the performance. In this paper, we formulate the problem of multiple biometrics integration and examine whether the improvement in performance could be achieved from integrating multiple biometrics. For two practical and commonly used situations of multibiometric integration, we analyze the performance gains. We also demonstrate empirically that integration of multiple biometrics does indeed result in a consistent and signi cant performance improvement.
Effect of advanced glycation end products on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor proteins in RF/6A cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) on the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) proteins in RF/6A cells cultured in vitro, and to investigate the association between the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF proteins. RF/6A cells were cultured in vitro and treated with AGEs and non-glycated albumin control at various concentrations (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/l) for 24 h. The expression of the VEGF protein was detected by ELISA, and western blot analysis was used to determine the levels of HIF-1α protein. The expression of HIF-1α and VEGF proteins was significantly higher in the AGE group compared with the non-glycated control group (all P<0.05). With the increase in concentration of AGEs, the expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF protein increased and reached a maximum at 200 mg/l AGE, then decreased at 400 and 800 mg/l. However this effect was not observed in the non-glycated control groups. There was a positive correlation between the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF (P<0.05). AGEs induced the expression of HIF-1α and VEGF proteins in RF/6A cells in a concentration-dependent manner. AGEs may upregulate the expression of VEGF protein by increasing the levels of HIF-1α protein, demonstrating the potential role of HIF-1α-targeted therapy in neovascularization.
Sensitivity analysis of utility-based prices and risk-tolerance wealth processes

In the general framework of a semimartingale financial model and a utility function $U$ defined on the positive real line, we compute the first-order expansion of marginal utility-based prices with respect to a ``small'' number of random endowments. We show that this linear approximation has some important qualitative properties if and only if there is a risk-tolerance wealth process. In particular, they hold true in the following polar cases: \begin{tabular}@p97mm@ for any utility function $U$, if and only if the set of state price densities has a greatest element from the point of view of second-order stochastic dominance;for any financial model, if and only if $U$ is a power utility function ($U$ is an exponential utility function if it is defined on the whole real line). \end{tabular}
Modeling Past Vegetation Change Through Remote Sensing and G . I . S : A Comparison of Neural Networks and Logistic Regression Methods

Past change in remnant vegetation patches was modeled using remotely-sensed MSS and TM imagery and G.I. S. The images covering 27 years from 1973 to 2000 were used in detecting change in vegetation through post-classification comparison and modeling it through neural networks and logistic regression methods. Physical factors, image-based layers and landscape metrics provided the 19 predictor variables used in the modeling. The area of study is the catchment of the Boorowa River in New South Wales, Australia, around 110 kms northwest of Canberra. Modeling decrease in vegetation patches over the past 27 years through neural networks and logistic regression methods proved successful. Relative operating characteristic (ROC), and a modified version of multi-resolution goodness of fit (MGF) tests together with visual comparison were used to assess success of the modeling approaches. Also, the relative effect of the 19 predictor variables were evaluated through ROC and MGF methods using 19 reduced-variable models and the full model. Overall, the neural networks method performed slightly better than the logistic regression. A surrogate layer for agricultural intensity (MAXNDVI) and the ratio of MSS band 4 to NDVI (MSS4toNDVI) were found the most important predictor variables of change in vegetation. This was also the case with the logistic regression method where additionally the slope and Para (perimeter to area ratio of the patches) parameters were demonstrated to be the other important predictor variables. The neural network method was found to be more sensitive to inclusion or exclusion of the variables as compared to the logistic regression method. The increased number of variables also created a somewhat dispersed pattern of modeled vegetation as opposed to the naturally more clumped vegetation pattern.
Chicken Farming in Grassland Increases Environmental Sustainability and Economic Efficiency

Background Grassland degradation caused by overgrazing poses a threat to both animal husbandry and environmental sustainability in most semi-arid areas especially north China. Although the Chinese Government has made huge efforts to restore degraded grasslands, a considerable attempt has unfortunately failed due to an inadequate consideration of economic benefits to local communities. Methodology/Principal Findings A controlled field experiment was conducted to test our hypothesis that utilizing natural grasslands as both habitat and feed resources for chickens and replacing the traditional husbandry system with chicken farming would increase environmental sustainability and raise income. Aboveground plant biomass elevated from 25 g m−2 for grazing sheep to 84 g m−2 for chicken farming. In contrast to the fenced (unstocked) grassland, chicken farming did not significantly decrease aboveground plant biomass, but did increase the root biomass by 60% (p<0.01). Compared with traditional sheep grazing, chicken farming significantly improved soil surface water content (0–10 cm), from 5% to 15%. Chicken farming did not affect the soil bulk density, while the traditional sheep grazing increased the soil bulk density in the 0–10 cm soil layer by 35% of the control (p<0.05). Most importantly, the economic income of local herdsmen has been raised about six times compared with the traditional practice of raising sheep. Ecologically, such an innovative solution allowed large degraded grasslands to naturally regenerate. Grasslands also provided a high quality organic poultry product which could be marketed in big cities. Conclusion/Significance Chicken farming is an innovative alternative strategy for increasing environmental sustainability and economic income, rather than a challenge to the traditional nomadic pastoral system. Our approach might be technically applicable to other large degraded grasslands of the world, especially in China.