Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Altered Brain Activity during Reward Anticipation in Pathological Gambling and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Background Pathological gambling (PG) and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are conceptualized as a behavioral addiction, with a dependency on repetitive gambling behavior and rewarding effects following compulsive behavior, respectively. However, no neuroimaging studies to date have examined reward circuitry during the anticipation phase of reward in PG compared with in OCD while considering repetitive gambling and compulsion as addictive behaviors. Methods/Principal Findings To elucidate the neural activities specific to the anticipation phase of reward, we performed event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in young adults with PG and compared them with those in patients with OCD and healthy controls. Fifteen male patients with PG, 13 patients with OCD, and 15 healthy controls, group-matched for age, gender, and IQ, participated in a monetary incentive delay task during fMRI scanning. Neural activation in the ventromedial caudate nucleus during anticipation of both gain and loss decreased in patients with PG compared with that in patients with OCD and healthy controls. Additionally, reduced activation in the anterior insula during anticipation of loss was observed in patients with PG compared with that in patients with OCD which was intermediate between that in OCD and healthy controls (healthy controls < PG < OCD), and a significant positive correlation between activity in the anterior insula and South Oaks Gambling Screen score was found in patients with PG. Conclusions Decreased neural activity in the ventromedial caudate nucleus during anticipation may be a specific neurobiological feature for the pathophysiology of PG, distinguishing it from OCD and healthy controls. Correlation of anterior insular activity during loss anticipation with PG symptoms suggests that patients with PG fit the features of OCD associated with harm avoidance as PG symptoms deteriorate. Our findings have identified functional disparities and similarities between patients with PG and OCD related to the neural responses associated with reward anticipation.
Clinical outcomes of the Otago-Southland Breast Cancer Screening Programme 1991-1996.

AIM To document the clinical outcome of the Otago-Southland Breast Cancer Screening Programme through its first two rounds of screening, from 1991-1996. METHODS Review and analysis of clinical and pathological records. RESULTS In the first round of screening, 13,876 women were screened, giving 75% uptake; 12.2% were referred for assessment and 126 cancers detected, 9.1 per thousand women screened. For the 9946 incidence screens in the second round, 3.9% of women screened were referred to assessment and 50 cancers detected, 5.0 per thousand women screened. The uptake and cancer detection rates exceed the targets and exceed other published results; the size distribution of the cancers detected was comparable to the Swedish two-counties study, showing that the results should produce an ultimate mortality reduction. The referral rate to assessment was higher than expected in the first round of screening, but within the targeted range in the second round. The benign to malignant ratio for all biopsies was 1.4:1 for the prevalence screen of the first round and 1.2:1 for the incidence screens in the second round, both exceeding the targets set. CONCLUSIONS The results show that the uptake and clinical results of the programme exceed expectations and that a large number of small invasive tumours have been successfully detected. These results are comparable to the best of overseas studies, and give confidence that mortality reductions will ultimately occur.
The Emergence of Edge Computing

Industry investment and research interest in edge computing, in which computing and storage nodes are placed at the Internet's edge in close proximity to mobile devices or sensors, have grown dramatically in recent years. This emerging technology promises to deliver highly responsive cloud services for mobile computing, scalability and privacy-policy enforcement for the Internet of Things, and the ability to mask transient cloud outages. The web extra at www.youtube. com/playlist? list=PLmrZVvFtthdP3fwHPy_4d61oDvQY_RBgS includes a five-video playlist demonstrating proof-of-concept implementations for three tasks: assembling 2D Lego models, freehand sketching, and playing Ping-Pong.
The Vestibular Aqueduct and the Para-Vestibular Canal

Advanced oto-surgery in cases of Meniere's disease has initiated preoperative tomography of the temporal bone (CLEMIS & VALVAS SORI 1968, BRUNNER & PEDERSEN 1971, SESANA et coll, 1971, WILBRAND 1971, BISCH & BARRIONUEVO 1972). The membranous labyrinth with the cochlear and vestibular receptor organs has contact with the posterior fossa by the endolymphatic duct in the vestibular aqueduct (Fig. 1). The endolymphatic duct ends with a blind sac, saccus endolymphaticus, on the cerebellar surface of the pyramid between two sheets of the dura. Much interest has been focused on the duct and sac in investigations of the aetiology and treatment of Meniere's disease. Extensive anatomic and embryologic examinations of the inner ear have been reported by BAST & ANSON (1949) and ANSON et call. (1965, 1967, 1968), primarily as a basis for surgery. Additional measurements have been performed by OGURA & CLEMIS (1971), who have also demonstrated a para-vestibular bone channel, running from the vestibule to the posterior fossa close to the vestibular aqueduct.
Are serum chemerin levels different between obese and non-obese polycystic ovary syndrome women?

Abstract The objective of this study is to measure serum chemerin levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and assess their relationship with clinical, metabolic, and hormonal parameters. One hundred eighteen PCOS women and 114 healthy women were recruited in this study. Their blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), fasting insulin (FIN), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), blood serum sex hormone, and blood lipid were measured. Serum chemerin, leptin, and adiponectin were measured by ELISA. Serum chemerin was significantly higher in the obese PCOS group (47.62 ± 11.27 ng/mL) compared with non-obese PCOS (37.10 ± 9.55 ng/mL) and the obese (33.71 ± 6.17 ng/mL) and non-obese (25.78 ± 6.93 ng/mL) control groups (p < 0.05). Serum chemerin was positively related to BMI, waist circumference, WHR, testosterone (T), FPG, FIN, homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), LDL-C/high-density lipoprotein(HDL-C), TC/HDL-C and serum leptin, while negatively related to glucose-to-insulin ratio (G/I), HDL-C, and adiponectin levels. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed HOMA-IR, leptin, and TC were the significant influencing factors of chemerin levels (p < 0.05). Increased serum chemerin in PCOS woman with or without obesity suggested that chemerin may be involved in the development of the pathogenesis of PCOS.
Associations of physical activity and physical fitness with cardiovascular risk factors in young men

Vaara, Jani Associations of physical activity and physical fitness with cardiovascular risk factors in young men. Jyväskylä: University of Jyväskylä, 2015, 100 p. (Studies in Sport, Physical Education and Health, ISSN 0356-1070; 221) ISBN 978-951-39-6157-2 (nid.) ISBN 978-951-39-6158-9 (PDF) Since the 1950s, an accumulative body of research has shown the health benefits of physical activity for many health outcomes. In particular, cardiorespiratory fitness is closely linked to health indices and mortality. However, muscular fitness, an important dimension of physical fitness, has been less studied regarding health outcomes. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate how muscular endurance and maximal strength are associated with cardiovascular and inflammatory risk factors independent of cardiorespiratory fitness. In addition, the associations between different physical activity dimensions and cardiovascular risk factors and physical fitness variables were studied. The present study showed an inverse association between muscular endurance and both single and clustered cardiovascular risk factors, as well as with inflammatory biomarkers independent of cardiorespiratory fitness. Although maximal strength was not associated with any of the single or clustered cardiovascular risk factors, it was inversely associated with some of the inflammatory biomarkers. In addition, commuting physical activity was inversely associated with clustered cardiovascular risk factor, however, leisuretime and occupational physical activities showed no significant associations. Leisure-time physical activity was positively associated with many of the fitness variables, whereas commuting physical activity was associated with cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular endurance, and occupational physical activity only with grip strength. The findings from the present cross-sectional study design may indicate that muscular endurance is associated with health benefits of cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory biomarkers, whereas maximal strength may be associated with some of the inflammatory biomarkers independent of cardiorespiratory fitness. Therefore, it is conluded that aerobic type physical activity, such as active travel to work, may elicit cardioprotective health benefits. In addition, different modalities of physical fitness, especially cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular endurance, may induce cardioprotective and anti-inflammatory effects and thereby decrease the risk of developing cardiometabolic diseases.
Echocardiography in the diagnosis and management of isolated left ventricular noncompaction: Case reports and review of the literature

Isolated left ventricular noncompaction (IVNC) is a congenital cardiomyopathy characterized by a loosened spongy myocardium. Recognition of this condition is extremely important because of its high mortality and morbidity due to progressive heart failure, thromboembolic events, and ventricular arrhythmias. However, IVNC is commonly misdiagnosed because of the lack of knowledge about this rare disorder. We report 2 patients with the characteristic echocardiographic presentation for IVNC. Echocardiography is the procedure of choice to confirm the diagnosis and perform follow‐up in patients with IVNC; therefore, it is important to make echocardiographers more familiar with this condition. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 34:416–421, 2006
Biology of Infantile Hemangioma

Infantile hemangioma (IH), the most common tumor of infancy, is characterized by an initial proliferation during infancy followed by spontaneous involution over the next 5–10 years, often leaving a fibro-fatty residuum. IH is traditionally considered a tumor of the microvasculature. However, recent data show the critical role of stem cells in the biology of IH with emerging evidence suggesting an embryonic developmental anomaly due to aberrant proliferation and differentiation of a hemogenic endothelium with a neural crest phenotype that possesses the capacity for endothelial, hematopoietic, mesenchymal, and neuronal differentiation. Current evidence suggests a putative placental chorionic mesenchymal core cell embolic origin of IH during the first trimester. This review outlines the emerging role of stem cells and their interplay with the cytokine niche that promotes a post-natal environment conducive for vasculogenesis involving VEGFR-2 and its ligand VEGF-A and the IGF-2 ligand in promoting cellular proliferation, and the TRAIL-OPG anti-apoptotic pathway in preventing cellular apoptosis in IH. The discovery of the role of the renin–angiotensin system in the biology of IH provides a plausible explanation for the programed biologic behavior and the β-blocker-induced accelerated involution of this enigmatic condition. This crucially involves the vasoactive peptide, angiotensin II, that promotes cellular proliferation in IH predominantly via its action on the ATIIR2 isoform. The role of the RAS in the biology of IH is further supported by the effect of captopril, an ACE inhibitor, in inducing accelerated involution of IH. The discovery of the critical role of RAS in IH represents a novel and fascinating paradigm shift in the understanding of human development, IH, and other tumors in general.
Ovine HSP90AA1 Expression Rate Is Affected by Several SNPs at the Promoter under Both Basal and Heat Stress Conditions

The aim of this work was to investigate the association between polymorphisms located at the HSP90AA1 ovine gene promoter and gene expression rate under different environmental conditions, using a mixed model approach. Blood samples from 120 unrelated rams of the Manchega sheep breed were collected at three time points differing in environmental conditions. Rams were selected on the basis of their genotype for the transversion G/C located 660 base pairs upstream the gene transcription initiation site. Animals were also genotyped for another set of 6 SNPs located at the gene promoter. Two SNPs, G/C−660 and A/G−444, were associated with gene overexpression resulting from heat stress. The composed genotype CC−660-AG−444 was the genotype having the highest expression rates with fold changes ranging from 2.2 to 3.0. The genotype AG−522 showed the highest expression levels under control conditions with a fold change of 1.4. Under these conditions, the composed genotype CC−601-TT−524-AG−522-TT−468 is expected to be correlated with higher basal expression of the gene according to genotype frequencies and linkage disequilibrium values. Some putative transcription factors were predicted for binding sites where the SNPs considered are located. Since the expression rate of the gene under alternative environmental conditions seems to depend on the composed genotype of several SNPs located at its promoter, a cooperative regulation of the transcription of the HSP90AA1 gene could be hypothesized. Nevertheless epigenetic regulation mechanisms cannot be discarded.
Self-efficacy in protecting oneself against HIV transmission: A qualitative study of female university students in Malawi

This article deals with the complexity of health behaviour from a self-efficacy perspective, and shows the naivety in assuming knowledge as the main guide to better protection against HIV. The authors accentuate the importance of local knowledge when developing health strategies as in the case of protection against HIV, in this case for female university students in Malawi. Being part of a transition period, these students have to handle complex and at times opposing expectations. This makes HIV protection into a complex social- and health issue. However, the close association between universities and rational thinking has for long made public health see self-efficacy as one of the main determinants in general health behaviour. By seeing health behaviour as complex, this study explores into how female university students perceive their own self-efficacy in protecting themselves against HIV in Malawi with a HIV score of approximately 12%. The study is based on data from Chancellor College in Zomba, Malawi. The authors point to the potential of a closer collaboration between social work and public health in issues of both a social and a health nature, as in the case of HIV protection.
An Investigation into the Effect of Scour on the Loading and Deformation Responses of Monopile Foundations

Severe foundation scour may occur around monopile foundations of offshore wind turbines due to currents and waves. The so-called p-y curves method is suggested in the existing design recommendations to determine the behavior of monopiles unprotected against scour and the reduction of effective soil stress is accounted for by the extreme scour depth. This conservative design approach does not consider the geometry of the scour hole and the effect of pile diameter on the soil resistance. An underestimated foundation stiffness would be obtained, thereby influencing the predicted overall response of the support structure of an offshore wind turbine. In this study, we calculated the load-deformation response and foundation stiffness of a monopile when scour occurred. The influence of pile diameter on the initial modulus of subgrade reaction, and the modification of the ultimate soil resistance of a monopile subject to scour are evaluated. The commercial software BLADED was used to simulate the dynamic response of the reference offshore wind turbine with monopile unprotected against scour at Chang-Bin offshore wind farm in Taiwan Strait. The results showed that when the p-y curve suggested by existing design regulation was used to calculate the load-deformation response, the foundation stiffness was underestimated where the scour depth was greater than the pile diameter, but the foundation stiffness was overestimated when the scour depth was less than the pile diameter.
Receipt of appropriate surgical care for Medicare beneficiaries with cancer.

OBJECTIVE To investigate receipt of appropriate surgical care in Medicare beneficiaries with cancer. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING National Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry linked to Medicare claims data. PATIENTS Fee-for-service Medicare patients aged 65 years or older who underwent a definitive surgical resection for breast, colon, gastric, rectal, or thyroid cancer diagnosed between January 2000 and December 2005. Claims data were available from January 1999 through December 2007. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Receipt of care concordant with established practice guidelines in surgical oncology in the aggregate and by hospital. RESULTS Concordance with guidelines was greater than 90% for 7 of 11 measures. All guidelines regarding adjuvant therapy had concordance rates greater than 90%. Only 2 of 5 measures for nodal management had concordance rates greater than 90%. At least 50% of hospitals provided guideline-concordant care to 100% of their patients for 6 of 11 guidelines. Patients receiving appropriate care tended to be younger, healthier, white, and more affluent, to have less advanced disease, and to live in the Midwest. CONCLUSIONS We found a high level of concordance with guidelines in some domains of surgical oncology care but far less so in others, particularly for gastric and colon nodal management. Given the current national focus on improving the quality of health care, surgeons must focus on generating data to define appropriate care and translating those data into everyday practice.
Nerve Fiber Analysis and the Aging Process of the Vestibulocochlear Nerve

Nerve fiber analyses were performed on the human vestibulocochlear nerve stained with Luxol fast blue–periodic acid–Schiff–hematoxylin with use of a combination of an image-analyzer and a computer. The axons were counted and their transverse (cross-sectional) areas were measured in 12 individuals. The average numbers of axons in each vestibular and cochlear nerve were 17,727 and 25,098, and the average transverse areas of their axons were 4.02 and 1.79 μm2, respectively. Amyloid bodies and intervening Schwann cells in the vestibulocochlear nerve were also counted. The average number of amyloid bodies was 246 per transverse section of the nerve and their average size was 114 μm2. The average number of intervening Schwann cells was 1,513. Our results indicated that the transverse axonal areas of the cochlear nerve became reduced with age, while the transverse areas of the amyloid bodies in the vestibulocochlear nerve increased with age. The number of vestibular nerve fibers did not seem to change with age.
Coherent inverse scattering via transmission matrices: Efficient phase retrieval algorithms and a public dataset

A transmission matrix describes the input-output relationship of a complex wavefront as it passes through/reflects off a multiple-scattering medium, such as frosted glass or a painted wall. Knowing a medium's transmission matrix enables one to image through the medium, send signals through the medium, or even use the medium as a lens. The double phase retrieval method is a recently proposed technique to learn a medium's transmission matrix that avoids difficult-to-capture interferometric measurements. Unfortunately, to perform high resolution imaging, existing double phase retrieval methods require (1) a large number of measurements and (2) an unreasonable amount of computation. In this work we focus on the latter of these two problems and reduce computation times with two distinct methods: First, we develop a new phase retrieval algorithm that is significantly faster than existing methods, especially when used with an amplitude-only spatial light modulator (SLM). Second, we calibrate the system using a phase-only SLM, rather than an amplitude-only SLM which was used in previous double phase retrieval experiments. This seemingly trivial change enables us to use a far faster class of phase retrieval algorithms. As a result of these advances, we achieve a 100x reduction in computation times, thereby allowing us to image through scattering media at state-of-the-art resolutions. In addition to these advances, we also release the first publicly available transmission matrix dataset. This contribution will enable phase retrieval researchers to apply their algorithms to real data. Of particular interest to this community, our measurement vectors are naturally i.i. d. subgaussian, i.e., no coded diffraction pattern is required.
Using Sessions from Clickstream Data Analysis to Uncover Different Types of Twitter Behaviour

While much is known about how Twitter is used for specific tasks or by particular groups of users, we understand surprisingly little about how the service is used generally on a daily basis. To learn more about general Twitter behaviour we perform a cluster analysis on a rich set of longitudinal interaction log data describing interactions 44 users had with the Twitter website over a 5 month period. We report on and interpret 5 clusters representing common usage patterns with the service.
Demotivating Factors of University ESL Teachers

Lack of motivation may cause teachers to be less successful in teaching a foreign language. Unreasonable demands of administrators, discouraging team spirit, neglecting rewards, financial problems and many others are factors related to demotivation. This paper examines the factors that English teachers, at the university level, especially An-Najah University, find demotivating and lead to stress, teacher burnout, lack of interest, lack of accomplishment, emotional exhaustion, dissatisfaction and consequently affect their performance and achievement. Based on the results of this research recommendations are provided for the teachers and the administrators.