Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neurofeedback as an adjunct therapy for treatment of chronic posttraumatic stress disorder related to refugee trauma and torture experiences: two case studies

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the use of neurofeedback for refugee-related chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in two case studies. Methods: We describe the assessment and application of neurofeedback integrated into the treatment of two clients with chronic PTSD. We include details of our treatment schedule, symptoms and quantitative electrophysiological data for each case. Results All clients achieved significant reduction in symptoms of PTSD and improvement in daily functioning post-neurofeedback therapy. Quantitative electroencephalogric (EEG) measures indicate a normalisation of EEG markers relating to trauma, including overarousal at rest and working memory function. Conclusions Neurofeedback as an adjunct to trauma-informed therapy may help to remediate chronic PTSD relating to refugee experiences. If replicated then improvements demonstrated in this population would be generalisable to all chronic PTSD.
Advisor-Teller Money Manager (ATM) therapy for substance use disorders.

OBJECTIVE Patients with concomitant psychiatric and substance use disorders are commonly assigned representative payees or case managers to help manage their funds, but money management has not been conceptualized as a theory-based treatment. This randomized clinical trial was conducted to determine the effect of a money management-based therapy, advisor-teller money manager (ATM), on substance abuse or dependence. METHODS Ninety patients at a community mental health center who had a history of cocaine or alcohol abuse or dependence were assessed after random assignment to 36 weeks of ATM (N=47) or a control condition in which use of a financial workbook was reviewed (N=43). Patients assigned to ATM were encouraged to deposit their funds into a third-party account, plan weekly expenditures, and negotiate monthly budgets. Substance use calendars and urine toxicology tests were collected every other week for 36 weeks and again 52 weeks after randomization. RESULTS Patients assigned to ATM had significantly more negative toxicologies for cocaine metabolite over time than patients in the control group, and treating clinicians rated ATM patients as significantly more likely to be abstinent from illicit drugs. Self-reported abstinence from alcohol did not significantly differ between groups. Unexpectedly, patients assigned to ATM were more likely to be assigned a representative payee or a conservator than control participants during the follow-up period (ten of 47 versus two of 43). One patient in ATM assaulted the therapist when his check had not arrived. CONCLUSIONS ATM is an efficacious therapy for the treatment of cocaine abuse or dependence among people with concomitant psychiatric illness but requires protection of patient autonomy and staff safety.
New insights into the distribution of polyploid Daphnia: the Holarctic revisited and Argentina explored

It has long been known that polyploid organisms are more prevalent in arctic than in temperate environments. Past explanations for this geographical trend have focused on the role of glacial cycles in generating polyploids and the influence of abiotic factors in favouring polyploidy in the north. In combination, these mechanisms probably suffice to explain the observed geographical cline in ploidy levels in members of the Daphnia pulex complex in the Holarctic. While only diploid members of the D. pulex complex are found in the temperate regions of North America and Europe, allozyme and DNA quantification analyses indicate that the southern Argentine pulex‐complex fauna is dominated by polyploids. Indeed, the present study is the first to document the presence of polyploid members of the D. pulex complex in any temperate climate. The results of phylogeographic analyses suggest that this difference in polyploid distribution between the northern and southern hemispheres is based more on ecological and historical contingencies than direct selection for polyploidy. Specifically, competition with diploid relatives probably limits the lower latitudinal range of polyploids in the north, but appears not to have occurred in Argentina. Because of these differences, the present study provides important insights into the diverse factors that determine the distributions and evolutionary fates of polyploid organisms.
Scalable video streaming techniques over cooperative relay networks

This paper investigates a communication method using unequal loss protected layered video and explores use of this over a cooperative relay network. The method is adapted to prioritized video transmission to explore two prioritized layering (scalable) video techniques. Cooperative communication networks can reduce power consumption and benefit wireless networks, where intermediate nodes act as relays of transmitted data, increasing the coverage and network throughput. The methods are therefore evaluated in the context of a number of different relay collaboration strategies using a finite state Markov chain (FSMC) loss model for the wireless channel. Random linear codes are ideally suited to multiple path transmission because the aggregated received symbols over multiple paths assist decoding at the receiver. The results illustrate the advantages for these application scenarios using each considered strategy and analyze the impact in a relay-based network. General Terms Video communications, Relay networks, Scalable video.
Correlation Between Unilateral Free End Edentulous and Morphological Variations of Condyle Using Panoramic Radiographs

Background: Unilateral free end edentulous can cause a habit of one side chewing which will affect the condition of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) mechanism. The TMJ is a complex joint consisting of the glenoid fossa, mandibular condyle and disc articular. No previous studies have examined the correlation between free end edentulous and morphological variations in the mandibular condyles. Purpose: to determine the correlation between unilateral free end edentulous and morphological variations of condyle using panoramic radiographs at South Sumatera RSKGM. Methods: This analytic observational study was using 68 samples of panoramic radiographs at RSKGM South Sumatra in September 2019 - March 2020. The sample was divided into 34 unilateral free end edentulous and 34 complete teeth. The condyle morphology of each sample was traced, and the data obtained were analyzed using the Chi-square method in the SPSS application. Results: Morphological abnormalities of the condyles were more frequently seen in patients with unilateral free end edentulous conditions, that is 41.18%. While in patients with complete teeth, the visible abnormalities of the condyles was only 5.88%. There was a significant correlation between unilateral free end edentulous and morphological variations of mandibular condyles (p<0.005). Conclusion: There is a correlation between unilateral free end edentulous and morphological variations of condyle using panoramic radiographs in Dental Hospital of South Sumatera Province.
Effect of the Ethyl Acetate Fraction of Eugenia uniflora on Proteins Global Expression during Morphogenesis in Candida albicans

Candida albicans is able to switch from yeast to hyphal growth and this is an essential step for tissue invasion and establishment of infection. Due to the limited drug arsenal used to treat fungal infections and the constant emergence of resistant strains, it is important to search for new therapeutic candidates. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate by proteomic analysis the role of a natural product (Eugenia uniflora) in impairing hypha formation in C. albicans. We also tested the potential action of E. uniflora to prevent and treat oral candidiasis induced in a murine model of oral infection and the ability of polymorphonuclear neutrophils to phagocytize C. albicans cells treated with the ethyl acetate fraction of the extract. We found that this fraction greatly reduced hypha formation after morphogenesis induction in the presence of serum. Besides, several proteins were differentially expressed in cells treated with the fraction. Surprisingly, the ethyl acetate fraction significantly reduced phagocytosis in C. albicans (Mean 120.36 ± 36.71 yeasts/100 PMNs vs. 44.68 ± 19.84 yeasts/100 PMNs). Oral candidiasis was attenuated when C. albicans cells were either pre-incubated in the presence of E. uniflora or when the fraction was applied to the surface of the oral cavity after infection. These results were consistent with the reduction in CFU counts (2.36 vs. 1.85 Log10 CFU/ml) and attenuation of tissue damage observed with histopathological analysis of animals belonging to treated group. We also observed shorter true hyphae by direct examination and histopathological analysis, when cells were treated with the referred natural product. The E. uniflora ethyl acetate fraction was non-toxic to human cells. E. uniflora may act on essential proteins mainly related to cellular structure, reducing the capacity of filamentation and attenuating infection in a murine model, without causing any toxic effect on human cells, suggesting that it may be a future therapeutic alternative for the treatment of Candida infections.
Developmental aspects of cortical excitability and inhibition in depressed and healthy youth: an exploratory study

Objectives: The objective of this post-hoc exploratory analysis was to examine the relationship between age and measures of cortical excitability and inhibition. Methods: Forty-six participants (24 with major depressive disorder and 22 healthy controls) completed MT, SICI, ICF, and CSP testing in a cross-sectional protocol. Of these 46 participants, 33 completed LICI testing. Multiple linear robust regression and Spearman partial correlation coefficient were used to examine the relationship between age and the TMS measures. Results: In the overall sample of 46 participants, age had a significant negative relationship with motor threshold (MT) in both the right (rs = −0.49, adjusted p = 0.007; β = −0.08, adjusted p = 0.001) and left (rs = −0.42, adjusted p = 0.029; β = −0.05, adjusted p = 0.004) hemispheres. This significant negative relationship of age with MT was also observed in the sample of depressed youth in both the right (rs = −0.70, adjusted p = 0.002; β = −0.09, adjusted p = 0.001) and left (rs = −0.54, adjusted p = 0.034; β = −0.05, adjusted p = 0.017) hemispheres, but not in healthy controls. In the sample of the 33 participants who completed LICI testing, age had a significant negative relationship with LICI (200 ms interval) in both the right (rs = −0.48, adjusted p = 0.05; β = −0.24, adjusted p = 0.007) and left (rs = −0.64, adjusted p = 0.002; β = −0.23, adjusted p = 0.001) hemispheres. This negative relationship between age and LICI (200 ms interval) was also observed in depressed youth in both the right (rs = −0.76, adjusted p = 0.034; β = −0.35, adjusted p = 0.004) and left (rs = −0.92, adjusted p = 0.002; β = −0.25, adjusted p = 0.001) hemispheres. Conclusion: These findings suggest that younger children have higher MTs. This is more pronounced in depressed youth than healthy controls. LICI inhibition may also increase with age in youth.
Original Research Article The heterogeneous impact of oil price shocks on traditional and modern renewable energy in developed and developing countries

The prevalence of renewable energy helps solve environmental problems and strengthens energy security with less dependence on nonrenewable energy, mainly fossil fuels. One important aspect is that renewable energy consists of two components: traditional and modern renewable energy. This paper examines the effects of an oil price shock on these two different types of renewable energy consumption by applying a local projection method to panel data from 147 countries during the period from 1993 to 2015. Our results show that the effects of an oil price shock depend on the development level and the dependence on nonrenewable energy. In highly nonrenewable energy-dependent countries, traditional renewable energy is sensitive to oil price changes, irrespective of their development levels. However, both traditional and modern renewable energy are insensitive to oil price changes in less nonrenewable energy-dependent countries, regardless of their development levels. Meanwhile, an oil price shock positively affects modern renewable energy in developed countries with high dependence on nonrenewable energy, but it does not in developing countries. These results provide important policy implications for policymakers and investors to foster modern renewable energy and call for balancing macroeconomic development with environmental benefits and costs.
Genomic Differences between Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 and Fibrobacter intestinalis DR7, Identified by Suppression Subtractive Hybridization

ABSTRACT Fibrobacter is a highly cellulolytic genus commonly found in the rumen of ruminant animals and cecum of monogastric animals. In this study, suppression subtractive hybridization was used to identify the genes present in Fibrobacter succinogenes S85 but absent from F. intestinalis DR7. A total of 1,082 subtractive clones were picked, plasmids were purified, and inserts were sequenced, and the clones lacking homology to F. intestinalis were confirmed by Southern hybridization. By comparison of the sequences of the clones to one another and to those of the F. succinogenes genome, 802 sequences or 955 putative genes, comprising approximately 409 kb of F. succinogenes genomic DNA, were identified that lack similarity to those of F. intestinalis chromosomal DNA. The functional groups of genes, including those involved in cell envelope structure and function, energy metabolism, and transport and binding, had the largest number of genes specific to F. succinogenes. Low-stringency Southern hybridization showed that at least 37 glycoside hydrolases are shared by both species. A cluster of genes responsible for heme, porphyrin, and cobalamin biosynthesis in F. succinogenes S85 was either missing from or not functional in F. intestinalis DR7, which explains the requirement of vitamin B12 for the growth of the F. intestinalis species. Two gene clusters encoding NADH-ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunits probably shared by Fibrobacter genera appear to have an important role in energy metabolism.
Obstructing Colorectal Carcinoma: Outcome and Risk Factors for Morbidity and Mortality

Background/Aims: Emergency surgery for colorectal cancer is widely thought to be associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the operative results of patients who had emergency operations for obstructing colorectal cancer. Clinical factors that might influence the outcome were also evaluated. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study including 83 patients who underwent emergency operations for completely obstructing colorectal cancers from 1991 to 2002. Demographic, clinical, and pathological variables were examined. Their influence on major morbidity and mortality was assessed using univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The overall and major morbidity rate was 67.5 and 32.5%, respectively. Mortality was 10.8%. Univariate analysis showed that high ASA class and perioperative blood transfusion were significantly associated with major complication, whereas older age and high APACHE II were linked to mortality. Independent risk factors for major morbidity were perioperative blood transfusion and high ASA class. The only independent predictor of postoperative death was high APACHE II score. Conclusions: Emergency surgery for obstructing colorectal carcinoma carries a negative impact on outcome. Patients with risk factors should undergo safe and least risky procedures. Moreover, their presence might help in selecting patients for intensive treatment after surgery.
Hongkong International Terminals Gains Elastic Capacity Using a Data-Intensive Decision-Support System

As the flagship of Hutchison Port Holdings (HPH), Hongkong International Terminals (HIT) is the busiest container terminal on the planet. HIT receives over 10,000 trucks and 15 vessels a day, about six million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) a year. HIT makes hundreds of operational decisions a minute. HIT's terminal management system, the productivity plus program (3P), optimizes resources throughout the container yard using operations research/management science (OR/MS) techniques and algorithms. It manages such interrelated decisions as how to route container trucks in the yard, where to store arriving containers, how many quay cranes to use for each vessel, how many trucks to assign to each crane, how many yard cranes to assign to each container storage block, and when to schedule incoming trucks for container pickup. As the number of container terminals in Asia grows, competition has become price driven and service driven. HIT realized its future rests not only with moving boxes but with mastering the associated information. This meant developing a decision-support system (DSS) to provide superior and differentiated services by generating optimal decisions, one that is very robust under uncertain arrival times of trucks and vessels. In its 10 years of operation, the implementation of the DSS through 3P has helped HIT to become the world's most efficient and flexible terminal operator. HIT alone saves US$100 million per year. By optimizing internal truck use at its sister terminals, the HPH group saves an additional US$54 million per year.
Priming Cross-Protective Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus-Specific Immunity Using Live-Vectored Mosaic Antigens

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) plays a key role in bovine respiratory disease complex, which can lead to pneumonia, diarrhea and death of calves. Current vaccines are not very effective due, in part, to immunosuppressive traits and failure to induce broad protection. There are diverse BVDV strains and thus, current vaccines contain representative genotype 1 and 2 viruses (BVDV-1 & 2) to broaden coverage. BVDV modified live virus (MLV) vaccines are superior to killed virus vaccines, but they are susceptible to neutralization and complement-mediated destruction triggered by passively acquired antibodies, thus limiting their efficacy. We generated three novel mosaic polypeptide chimeras, designated NproE2123; NS231; and NS232, which incorporate protective determinants that are highly conserved among BVDV-1a, 1b, and BVDV-2 genotypes. In addition, strain-specific protective antigens from disparate BVDV strains were included to broaden coverage. We confirmed that adenovirus constructs expressing these antigens were strongly recognized by monoclonal antibodies, polyclonal sera, and IFN-γ-secreting T cells generated against diverse BVDV strains. In a proof-of-concept efficacy study, the multi-antigen proto-type vaccine induced higher, but not significantly different, IFN-γ spot forming cells and T-cell proliferation compared to a commercial MLV vaccine. In regards to the humoral response, the prototype vaccine induced higher BVDV-1 specific neutralizing antibody titers, whereas the MLV vaccine induced higher BVDV-2 specific neutralizing antibody titers. Following BVDV type 2a (1373) challenge, calves immunized with the proto-type or the MLV vaccine had lower clinical scores compared to naïve controls. These results support the hypothesis that a broadly protective subunit vaccine can be generated using mosaic polypeptides that incorporate rationally selected and validated protective determinants from diverse BVDV strains. Furthermore, regarding biosafety of using a live vector in cattle, we showed that recombinant human adenovirus-5 was cleared within one week following intradermal inoculation.
HIV Testing Patterns among Black Men Who Have Sex with Men: A Qualitative Typology

Background Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the Southeastern United States are disproportionately affected by HIV. Black MSM are more likely to have unrecognized HIV infection, suggesting that testing may occur later and/or infrequently relative to current recommendations. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the HIV testing behaviors of Black MSM in Atlanta, Georgia, who were participants in the HIV Prevention Trials Network Brothers Study (HPTN 061). Methods and Findings We conducted 29 in-depth interviews and four focus groups with a community-recruited sample. Modified grounded theory methodologies were used to guide our inductive analysis, which yielded a typology comprised of four distinct HIV testing patterns. Participants could be categorized as: (1) Maintenance Testers, who tested regularly as part of routine self-care; (2) Risk-Based Testers, whose testing depended on relationship status or sexual behavior; (3) Convenience Testers, who tested irregularly depending on what testing opportunities arose; or (4) Test Avoiders, who tested infrequently and/or failed to follow up on results. We further characterized these groups with respect to age, socioeconomic factors, identity, stigma and healthcare access. Conclusions Our findings highlight the heterogeneity of HIV testing patterns among Black MSM, and offer a framework for conceptualizing HIV testing in this group. Public health messaging must account for the diversity of Black MSM's experiences, and multiple testing approaches should be developed and utilized to maximize outreach to different types of testers.
Menstrual cycle differences between women with type 1 diabetes and women without diabetes.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate menstrual cycle histories among women with type 1 diabetes, their sisters, and unrelated control subjects without diabetes across all reproductive ages. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Menstrual and reproductive histories were obtained by questionnaire from 143 women with type 1 diabetes, 186 sisters without diabetes, and 158 unrelated control subjects without diabetes participating in the Familial Autoimmune and Diabetes study. RESULTS Women with type 1 diabetes had more menstrual problems (long cycles, long menstruation, and heavy menstruation) before age 30 years than sisters and control subjects. These differences were all statistically significant, except for heavy menstruation at age <20 years. No differences were observed after age 30 years. Women with type 1 diabetes experienced later menarche, earlier natural menopause, fewer pregnancies, and more stillbirths than women without diabetes. Multiple regression analyses revealed that type 1 diabetes caused an approximate twofold increased risk of any menstrual problem before age 30 years. These were primarily related to long cycles and long menstruation in women aged <20 and 20-29 years, as well as with heavy menstruation from 20 to 29 years. Oral contraceptives were protective for any menstrual problem and heavy menstruation from 30 to 39 years of age. With history of pregnancy from 20 to 40 years of age, any menstrual problem and long menstruation were more likely. CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that type 1 diabetes is an independent risk factor for menstrual disturbances in young adults. Future studies may determine whether addressing menstrual disturbances improves quality of life and health for these women.