Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alzheimer ' s Disease : Cell-Specific Pathology Isolates the Hippocampal Formation

The lectin binding properties of both immune reactive and nonreactive hemo-cytes were studied by shifting half of the Turn1 larvae parasitized by L. hetero-toma to 29"C, a condition that ensured a high frequency of encapsulation responses , and maintaining the others at 21°C, a condition which resulted in a low frequency of encapsulated parasites. In immune competent hosts that successfully encapsulated L , heterotoma, the percentages of WGA binding hemocytes were significantly higher (P < 0.001; t-test) than in susceptible hosts that, at either 21" or 2YC, exhibited no encapsu-lation response (Fig. 5B). Parasite eggs removed from host larvae during the early stages of encapsulation (24 hours after infection) and treated with WGA showed approximately equal numbers of fluorescing and nonfluorescing cells in the outer layer of the developing capsule. In fully formed capsules (48 to 60 hours after infection) no WGA binding hemocytes were observed in the outer layer of the capsule. This suggests either that WGA binding hemocytes are not involved in the terminal stages of capsule formation or that the heavy deposits of melanin obscure their WGA binding activity. Parasites can develop in an immune competent host if they are not recognized as foreign (for example, molecular mimicry or antigen sharing), or if they produce substances that suppress the host's immune system. Past studies have shown that L. heterotoma utilizes the latter mechanism and actively inhibits the blood cell encapsulation responses of Drosophila by preventing the differentiation of plasmatocytes to lamellocytes (3, 8). It is believed that the substance which suppresses blood cell differentiation is introduced into the host by the female during oviposition. The low percentages of WGA binding hemocytes found in susceptible Turn' hosts may reflect a decrease in the percentage of lamellocytes resulting from parasite suppression of the immune response. However , it is possible that, in addition to blocking the formation of lamellocytes, the parasite also suppresses or modifies those cell surface properties that characterize the hemocytes of immune reactive hosts. In summary, our studies correlate high percentages of WGA binding hemocytes in circulation with encapsulation reactions that attend parasite encapsulation and melanotic tumor formation in the ~ u m l mutant. The data suggest that the temperature-induced increase in the immune competence of Turn1 hemocytes at 29°C is due to certain cells acquiring specific surface modifications, identified by WGA binding, which augment their adhesion to one another and to foreign surfaces. These …
Contour-HOG: A Stub Feature based Level Set Method for Learning Object Contour

In this paper, we address the problem of learning objects by contours. Toward this goal, we propose a novel curve evolution scheme which provides the classifier with more accurate contour representations. We detect edgelet feature to help localize objects in images so that the proposed evolution method can achieve more reliable contours. To capture contours of objects with large variations in pose and appearance, we adopt the similarity measure of HOG feature between the evolving contour and the contour of a class as the evaluation criteria rather than relying on strong shape priors. We encode the joint distribution of the edgelet feature, the HOG feature and the curvature feature of an object in a mixture of Gaussian model. Classification is achieved by computing the posterior of the evolved contour conditioned on the three types of features. Our method is extensively evaluated on the UCF sports dataset, the Caltech 101 dataset, and the INRIA pedestrian dataset. Results show that our method achieves improved performance for the recognition task.
A REGULARIZATION APPROACH TO SOLVING THE NAVIER-STOKES EQUATIONS FOR PROBLEMS WITH BOUNDARY LAYER

We present an alternative method for treating numerically a problem of viscous flow with a boundary layer that is based upon regularization of the Navier-Stokes equations. Shishkin (1997) showed that grid methods perform poorly in dealing with the boundary layer. Traditional grid methods give poor agreement with the experimental data for high Re number flows. Shishkin showed that the remedy for these difficulties is the construction of special meshes in boundary layer. We present an alternative approach that is more efficient and less mesh dependent. Our approach is based upon the regularization of the Navier-Stokes equations, and we discuss the mathematical and physical aspects of this approach. Numerical results that we obtained by our regularization process in 2D and 3D are compared with the experimental measurements. We compared our model against : (1) The 3D driven cavity flow by Koseff and Street (1982) at Re = 3200 and 10;000; (2) a 2D backward facing step flow by Kim et al. (1980) at Re = 44;000; and (3) a 3D thermal convection in a cylinder by Bogatirev et al. (1996) at Ra = 1000 to 100;000. This proposed regularization model is not a turbulence model, and no additional equations are introduced. Recipes for the choice of the regularization parameter are presented.
Toward Optimal Bounds in the Congested Clique: Graph Connectivity and MST

We study two fundamental graph problems, Graph Connectivity (GC) and Minimum Spanning Tree (MST), in the well-studied Congested Clique model, and present several new bounds on the time and message complexities of randomized algorithms for these problems. No non-trivial (i.e., super-constant) time lower bounds are known for either of the aforementioned problems; in particular, an important open question is whether or not constant-round algorithms exist for these problems. We make progress toward answering this question by presenting randomized Monte Carlo algorithms for both problems that run in O(log log log n) rounds (where n is the size of the clique). Our results improve by an exponential factor on the long-standing (deterministic) time bound of O(log log n) rounds for these problems due to Lotker et al. (SICOMP 2005). Our algorithms make use of several algorithmic tools including graph sketching, random sampling, and fast sorting. The second contribution of this paper is to present several almost-tight bounds on the message complexity of these problems. Specifically, we show that Ω(n2) messages are needed by any algorithm (including randomized Monte Carlo algorithms, and regardless of the number of rounds) that solves the GC (and hence also the MST) problem if each machine in the Congested Clique has initial knowledge only of itself (the so-called KT0 model). In contrast, if the machines have initial knowledge of their neighbors' IDs (the so-called KT1 model), we present a randomized Monte Carlo algorithm for MST that uses O(n polylog n) messages and runs in O(polylog n) rounds. To complement this, we also present a lower bound in the KT1 model that shows that Ω(n) messages are required by any algorithm that solves GC, regardless of the number of rounds used. Our results are a step toward understanding the power of randomization in the Congested Clique with respect to both time and message complexity.
Integral and Asymptotic Properties of Solitary Waves in Deep Water

We consider two‐ and three‐dimensional gravity and gravity‐capillary solitary water waves in infinite depth. Assuming algebraic decay rates for the free surface and velocity potential, we show that the velocity potential necessarily behaves like a dipole at infinity and obtain a related asymptotic formula for the free surface. We then prove an identity relating the “dipole moment” to the kinetic energy. This implies that the leading‐order terms in the asymptotics are nonvanishing and in particular that the angular momentum is infinite. Lastly we prove that the “excess mass” vanishes. © 2018 the Authors. Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematics is published by the Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Abnormalities in visual processing amongst students with body image concerns

Individuals with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) appear to possess abnormalities in the way they observe and discriminate visual information. A pre-occupation with perceived defects in appearance has been attributed to a local visual processing bias. We studied the nature of visual bias in individuals who may be at risk of developing BDD – those with high body image concerns (BICs) – by using inverted stimulus discrimination. Inversion disrupts global, configural information in favor of local, feature-based processing. 40 individuals with high BIC and 40 low BIC controls performed a discrimination task with upright and inverted faces, bodies, and scenes. Individuals with high BIC discriminated inverted faces and bodies faster than controls, and were also more accurate when discriminating inverted bodies and scenes. This reduction in inversion effect for high BIC individuals may be due to a stimulus-general local, detail-focused processing bias, which may be associated with maladaptive fixation on small features in their appearance.
Generation of Individualized Thalamus Target Maps by Using Statistical Shape Models and Thalamocortical Tractography

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neurosurgical interventions of the thalamus rely on transferring stereotactic coordinates from an atlas onto the patient's MR brain images. We propose a prototype application for performing thalamus target map individualization by fusing patient-specific thalamus geometric information and diffusion tensor tractography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Previously, our workgroup developed a thalamus atlas by fusing anatomic information from 7 histologically processed thalami. Thalamocortical connectivity maps were generated from DTI scans of 40 subjects by using a previously described procedure and were mapped to a standard neuroimaging space. These data were merged into a statistical shape model describing the morphologic variability of the thalamic outline, nuclei, and connectivity landmarks. This model was used to deform the atlas to individual images. Postmortem MR imaging scans were used to quantify the accuracy of nuclei predictions. RESULTS: Reliable tractography-based markers were located in the ventral lateral thalamus, with the somatosensory connections coinciding with the VPLa and VPLp nuclei; and motor/premotor connections, with the VLpv and VLa nuclei. Prediction accuracy of thalamus outlines was higher with the SSM approach than the ACPC alignment of data (0.56 mm versus 1.24; Dice overlap: 0.87 versus 0.7); for individual nuclei: 0.65 mm, Dice: 0.63 (SSM); 1.24 mm, Dice: 0.4 (ACPC). CONCLUSIONS: Previous studies have already applied DTI to the thalamus. As a further step in this direction, we demonstrate a hybrid approach by using statistical shape models, which have the potential to cope with intersubject variations in individual thalamus geometry.
Hofstede and Schwartz's models for classifying individualism at the cultural level: their relation to macro-social and macro-economic variables1

One of the most used dimensions for comparing human values at the cultural level is that of indivi dualism-collectivism. It was originally proposed by Hofstede (1984), and continues to be employed in current theoretical models such as those of Triandis (1995) and Schwartz (1994). Although the Hofstede and Schwartz models have been compared in previous studies, there is little data that permits an evaluation of their explanatory potential with respect to macro-social and macro-economic variables. Furthermore, even when there is evidence to the relation of the individualism-collectivism dimension with others, such as power distance, autonomy and conservation, they are not usually treated in the same study. In this sense, our work compares these two models in relation to the values of individualism-collectivism. With this goal in mind, the same 20 countries that have scores in Hofstede and Schwartz's studies on these dimensions are compared in relation to a group of macro-social (birth rate, human development, illiteracy rate, etc.) and macro-economic (gross national product, rate of agricultural activity, rate of inflation, etc.) variables. Results show that the Hofstede model is better explained by macro-economic variables while the Schwartz model is better accounted for by macro-social variables.
Measurement of Cytosolic Free Calcium Concentration in Isolated Rat Ventricular Myocytes with Quin 2

Cytosolic free calcium concentration was determined in isolated ventricular myocytes from adult rats with the calcium-sensitive indicator, quin 2. The fluorescence signal from resting cells indicated that cytosolic free calcium concentration was 181 ± 18 nM (mean ± SEM, n = 18). Inhibition of the sodium-potassium pump with strophanthidin (0.1 mM) resulted in an increase of cytosolic free calcium concentration from 186 ± 17 to 736 ± 129 nM (n = 6). The results indicate that it is possible to measure cytosolic free calcium concentration in cardiac muscle cells that have been isolated enzymatically. Moreover, they confirm the observation that inhibition of the sodium-potassium pump increases cytosolic free calcium concentration, presumably via the sodium-calcium exchange mechanism.
Cells : Clinical Implications Antibody , Induces Cytotoxicity in Human Multiple Myeloma Mechanisms by which SGN-40 , a Humanized Anti-CD 40

CD40 is expressed on B-cell malignancies, including human multiple myeloma (MM) and a variety of carcinomas. We examined the potential therapeutic utility of SGN-40, the humanized anti-CD40 monoclonal antibody, for treating human MM using MM cell lines and patient MM cells (CD138 , CD40 ). SGN-40 (0.01–100 g/ml) induces modest cytotoxicity in MM cell lines and patient MM cells. In the presence of de novo protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, SGN-40 significantly induced apoptosis in Dexamethasone (Dex)-sensitive MM.1S and Dex-resistant MM.1R cells and in patient MM cells. SGN-40-mediated cytotoxicity is associated with up-regulation of cytotoxic ligands of the tumor necrosis factor family (Fas/FasL, tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand, and tumor necrosis factor ). SGN-40 treatment also induces a down-regulation of CD40 dependent on an endocytic pathway. Consequently, pretreatment of MM cells with SGN-40 blocked sCD40L-mediated phosphatidylinositol 3 -kinase/AKT and nuclear factor B activation. Importantly, pretreatment of MM.1S and MM.1R cells with SGN-40 inhibited proliferation triggered by interleukin 6 (IL-6) but not by insulinlike growth factor-I. In addition, SGN-40 pretreatment of MM.1S cells blocked the ability of IL-6 to protect against Dex-induced inhibition of DNA synthesis. This was associated with a 2–4-fold reduction of IL-6 receptor at protein and mRNA levels in SGN-40-treated MM.1S cells and patient MM cells. Taken together, these results provide the preclinical rationale for the evaluation of SGN-40 as a potential new therapy to improve patient outcome in MM.
Detection of the Lactate Threshold in Runners: What is the Ideal Speed to Start an Incremental Test?

Abstract Incremental tests on a treadmill are used to evaluate endurance athletes; however, no criterion exists to determine the intensity at which to start the test, potentially causing the loss of the first lactate threshold. This study aimed to determine the ideal speed for runners to start incremental treadmill tests. The study consisted of 94 runners who self-reported the average speed from their last competitive race (10-42.195 km) and performed an incremental test on a treadmill. The speeds used during the first three test stages were normalised in percentages of average competition speed and blood lactate concentration was analysed at the end of each stage. The relationship between speed in each stage and blood lactate concentration was analysed. In the first stage, at an intensity corresponding to 70% of the reported average race speed, only one volunteer had blood lactate concentration equal to 2 mmol·L-1, and in the third stage (90% of the average race speed) the majority of the volunteers had blood lactate concentration ≥2 mmol·L-1. Our results demonstrated that 70% of the average speed from the subject’s last competitive race - from 10 to 42.195 km - was the best option for obtaining blood lactate concentration <2 mmol·L-1 in the first stage, however, 80% of the average speed in marathons may be a possibility. Evaluators can use 70% of the average speed in competitive races as a strategy to ensure that the aerobic threshold intensity is not achieved during the first stage of incremental treadmill tests.
Lost in Space Or Positioning in Sensor Networks

We discuss the success chances of a real-world implementation of a positioning system for a wireless sensor network. While much research has been done in the area of node localization, the method of choice to verify the results has been in theory or by simulation. To realize the visions of future sensor networks, we take very basic sensor nodes (prototyping the smart dust idea) and implement a series of experiments to determine their suitability for use in positioning algorithms. Specifically, we look at the accuracy and effectiveness of direct distance measurements based on different signal strengths. We found that even though links are stable and symmetric over time, positioning in the real world is yet in its infant stage and that current theoretical models of sensor networks do not apply well in unspecialized hardware.
Women empowerment and practices regarding use of dual protection among family planning clients in urban Zimbabwe

Introduction Gender related vulnerability may increase women's susceptibility to HIV infection and unintended pregnancy. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between women empowerment and practices regarding use of dual protection. Methods A non-experimental descriptive correlational study design was conducted using systematic sampling method to recruit eighty women aged 18-49 years at an urban clinic in Zimbabwe. Data was collected using a structured interview schedule and was analysed and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results A weak positive significant correlation existed between women empowerment and use of dual protection (r= .242, p=0.03). Findings demonstrated that as women empowerment levels increase practices regarding use of dual protection also increase. The coefficient of determination, R2=. 0.058, b=0.293, indicated that the total amount of variation in utilization of dual protection explained by level of women empowerment was 5.8%. The major finding was that use of dual protection was very low (3.8%) and 67.5% had low levels of practices regarding use of dual protection. Additionally, 85.0% were not confident of using the female condom. Conclusion Gender inequality within sexual relations was associated with low levels of practices regarding use of dual protection. The study provided evidence for the need for a proactive integrated approach to empower women so that they could negotiate for safer sex practices. To increase female condom utilization, manufacturers need to redesign the female condom so that it becomes user friendly. Health personnel need to involve men for any health reproductive program to succeed.
Classification of EEG Spectrogram Image with ANN Approach for Brainwave Balancing Application

In this paper, an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) algorithm for classifying the EEG spectrogram images in brainwave is presented. Gray Level Co-occurrence Matrix (GLCM) texture feature from the EEG spectrogram images have been used as input to the system. The GLCM texture feature produced large dimension of feature, therefore the Principal Component Analysis(PCA) is used to reduce the feature dimension. The result shows that the proposed model is able to classify EEG spectrogram images with 77% to 84% accuracy for three classes of brainwave balancing application with an optimized ANN model in training by varying the neurons in the hidden layer, epoch, momentum rate and learning rate.
World of Labor Evidence-based Policy Making Elevator Pitch Author's Main Message Performance-related Pay and Labor Productivity

Pros Linking pay to performance increases workers' motivation, effort, and loyalty to the company. Incentive schemes work as a screening mechanism by encouraging only more productive workers to apply. Performance-related pay can improve macroeconomic performance and the resilience of employment to economic shocks. Incentive schemes support the allocation of high-quality workers to high-productivity firms. Share-ownership schemes are associated with better firm performance in the longer-term. Many firms offer employees a remuneration package that links pay to performance as a means of motivation. It also improves efficiency and reduces turnover and absenteeism. The effects on productivity depend on the type of scheme employed (individual or group performance) and its design (commissions, piece-rate or sharing schemes). Individual incentives demonstrate the largest effect, while group or team incentives are smaller in magnitude. The case for government intervention through tax breaks and other financial incentives is highly debated due to differences across firms and the potential for economic inefficiencies. Performance-related pay (PRP) schemes increase firm productivity. Individual schemes are associated with large increases in productivity, while group incentives and profit-sharing exhibit smaller effects. Empirical evidence suggests that policy intervention that facilitates PRP can be successful in terms of productivity gain for some young and small firms. However, government intervention " across the board " should be cautious, as fiscal incentives may benefit firms that already have PRP schemes, or induce firms to introduce them simply to gain tax advantages, with resultant economic inefficiencies. Cons Risk-averse workers may prefer flat-rate schemes to performance-related pay. Explicit incentives may displace workers' intrinsic motivation. When rewards are paid for profits, but no penalty is incurred if losses are made, pay incentives may have perverse and counterproductive effects. Performance-related pay may generate excessive work intensification and psychological stress. Government intervention through tax breaks and financial incentives are not necessarily efficient. Do pay incentives and financial participation schemes have an effect on a firm's performance?