Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A new approach for the quantification of synchrony of multivariate non-stationary psychophysiological variables during emotion eliciting stimuli

Emotion eliciting situations are accompanied by changes of multiple variables associated with subjective, physiological and behavioral responses. The quantification of the overall simultaneous synchrony of psychophysiological reactions plays a major role in emotion theories and has received increased attention in recent years. From a psychometric perspective, the reactions represent multivariate non-stationary intra-individual time series. In this paper, a new time-frequency based latent variable approach for the quantification of the synchrony of the responses is presented. The approach is applied to empirical data, collected during an emotion eliciting situation. The results are compared with a complementary inter-individual approach of Hsieh et al. (2011). Finally, the proposed approach is discussed in the context of emotion theories, and possible future applications and limitations are provided.
Structured clinical assessment and management of risk of violent recidivism in mentally disordered offenders

5 List of Publications 7 List of Abbreviations 9 BACKGROUND 11 Violence and mental disorder 13 Violence Prediction and Risk Assessment 15 Defining Risk Assessment 20 Ethical considerations in risk prediction 22 Methods of Risk Assessment 23 Implementation into Clinical Practice 29 Risk communication 31 Risk Decision-making 32 AIMS 35 METHODS 37 Designs and Procedures 40 Statistics 43 Research Ethical considerations 44 RESULTS 47 DISCUSSION 51 Limitations 51 Comments to Results 52 Discussion Proper 54 Conclusions 56 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 61 REFERENCES 63
Graph edge coloring : Tashkinov trees and Goldberg ' s conjecture

For the chromatic index χ′(G) of a (multi)graph G, there are two trivial lower bounds, namely the maximum degree ∆(G) and the density W(G) = maxH⊆G,|V (H)|≥2 d|E(H)|/ b|V (H)|/2ce. A famous conjectures due to Goldberg [3] and Seymour [10] says that every graph G satisfies χ′(G) ≤ max{∆(G) + 1,W(G)}. This means that χ′(G) = W(G) for every graph G with χ′(G) ≥ ∆(G) + 2. The considered class of graphs J can be subdivided into an ascending sequence of classes (Jm)m≥3, and for m ≤ 13 the conjecture is already proved. The ”last” step was done by Favrholdt, Stiebitz and Toft [2] 2006, using and extending results from Tashkinov [12]. These methods are based on a coloring structure called Tashkinov tree. In this paper the same methods are used and extended to handle the ”next” step m ≤ 15. This leads to the result χ′(G) ≤ max{⌊15 14∆(G) + 12 14 ⌋ ,W(G) } for every graph G. Furthermore, the used methods also lead to several improvements of other known upper bounds for the chromatic index. In particular, an asymptotic approximation of the chromatic index can be obtained. We prove that for every 2 > 0 and every graph G satisfying ∆(G) ≥ 1 222 the estimate χ′(G) ≤ max{(1 + 2)∆(G),W(G)} holds. This extends a result of Kahn [5] as well as a result of Sanders and Steurer [7].
Correlation between Ratio of Serum Doxycycline Concentration to MIC and Rapid Decline of Antibody Levels during Treatment of Q Fever Endocarditis

ABSTRACT Endocarditis is the major clinical manifestation of chronic Q fever. Although doxycycline along with hydroxychloroquine remains the mainstay of medical therapy for Q fever endocarditis, there are wide variations in the rapidity of the patient's decline of antibody levels during such therapy. We undertook a retrospective examination of whether there was any correlation between the ratio of serum concentration to MIC of doxycycline and response to treatment in patients with Q fever endocarditis. Included herein are 16 patients from whom Coxiella burnetii was isolated from cardiac valve materials. Serology and measurement of doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine serum levels were performed and recorded after 1 year of treatment. The MIC of doxycycline for C. burnetii isolates was determined using the shell vial assay in a real-time quantitative PCR assay. At the completion of a yearlong therapy with doxycycline-hydroxychloroquine, all those that showed a low decline of antibody levels (n = 6) (i.e., <2-fold decrease in antibody titer to phase I C. burnetii antigen) had a ratio of serum doxycycline concentration to MIC between 0.5 and 1. In contrast, those having a ratio of ≥1 showed a rapid decline of phase I antibody levels (n = 9; P < 0.05). The only patient who died had a serum doxycycline-to-MIC ratio of <0.5, and the isolate of C. burnetii cultured from this patient was resistant to doxycycline (MIC = 8 μg/ml). The ratio of serum doxycycline concentration to MIC should be monitored during the course of therapy in patients with Q fever endocarditis.
On the drivers and performance outcomes of green practices adoption: An empirical study in China

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine a multitude of motivators that facilitate the implementation of green practices (GP) in the context of Chinese manufacturing industry. Also, this study aims to explore the influence of GP on the environmental performance, operational performance, and financial performance of manufacturing firms. Design/methodology/approach This paper developed a conceptual model to investigate the stakeholder drivers and commensurate performance outcomes of GP. Statistical analysis was based on the data collected from 124 manufacturing firms across the Greater China. Finally, the hypotheses were empirically tested by partial least squares approach. Findings Of the ten proposed hypotheses, seven are considered valid. The statistic results reveal that pressures originate from employees, senior managers, and customers exert significant positive influence on firm’s decision to adopt GP, while the drivers generated from government and competitors is non-significant. More specifically, this study indicates that environmental performance partially mediates the relationship between GP and operational/financial performance. Originality/value The originality of this research is that it proposes a novel conceptual model, ascertains the primary drivers in promoting GP in Chinese manufacturing industry. This research provides policy insights for professional organizations, regulators, and legislators to further promote GP.
Development of a Multi-Species Biotic Ligand Model Predicting the Toxicity of Trivalent Chromium to Barley Root Elongation in Solution Culture

Little knowledge is available about the influence of cation competition and metal speciation on trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) toxicity. In the present study, the effects of pH and selected cations on the toxicity of trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) to barley (Hordeum vulgare) root elongation were investigated to develop an appropriate biotic ligand model (BLM). Results showed that the toxicity of Cr(III) decreased with increasing activity of Ca2+ and Mg2+ but not with K+ and Na+. The effect of pH on Cr(III) toxicity to barley root elongation could be explained by H+ competition with Cr3+ bound to a biotic ligand (BL) as well as by the concomitant toxicity of CrOH2+ in solution culture. Stability constants were obtained for the binding of Cr3+, CrOH2+, Ca2+, Mg2+ and H+ with binding ligand: log KCrBL 7.34, log KCrOHBL 5.35, log KCaBL 2.64, log KMgBL 2.98, and log KHBL 4.74. On the basis of those estimated parameters, a BLM was successfully developed to predict Cr(III) toxicity to barley root elongation as a function of solution characteristics.
A new MRF model for robust estimate of occlusion and motion vector fields

This paper proposes a new Markov random field (MRF) model for the detection of occluded regions in image sequences. Motion vectors are not defined in an occluded region, thus the regions with high motion compensated prediction error are commonly regarded as occluded regions. However, badly motion compensated pixels will also appear as occluded pixels, making it difficult to distinguish the true occluded pixels from the poorly motion compensated regions. The proposed MRF model addresses this problem by incorporating motion information into the occlusion model. This is derived from the observation that occlusion occurs when objects move. It is found that an accurate occlusion region can be detected and better motion estimation can be made with the new model using iterated conditional modes (ICM).
Identification of a Mitochondrial Target of Thiazolidinedione Insulin Sensitizers (mTOT)—Relationship to Newly Identified Mitochondrial Pyruvate Carrier Proteins

Thiazolidinedione (TZD) insulin sensitizers have the potential to effectively treat a number of human diseases, however the currently available agents have dose-limiting side effects that are mediated via activation of the transcription factor PPARγ. We have recently shown PPARγ-independent actions of TZD insulin sensitizers, but the molecular target of these molecules remained to be identified. Here we use a photo-catalyzable drug analog probe and mass spectrometry-based proteomics to identify a previously uncharacterized mitochondrial complex that specifically recognizes TZDs. These studies identify two well-conserved proteins previously known as brain protein 44 (BRP44) and BRP44 Like (BRP44L), which recently have been renamed Mpc2 and Mpc1 to signify their function as a mitochondrial pyruvate carrier complex. Knockdown of Mpc1 or Mpc2 in Drosophila melanogaster or pre-incubation with UK5099, an inhibitor of pyruvate transport, blocks the crosslinking of mitochondrial membranes by the TZD probe. Knockdown of these proteins in Drosophila also led to increased hemolymph glucose and blocked drug action. In isolated brown adipose tissue (BAT) cells, MSDC-0602, a PPARγ-sparing TZD, altered the incorporation of 13C-labeled carbon from glucose into acetyl CoA. These results identify Mpc1 and Mpc2 as components of the mitochondrial target of TZDs (mTOT) and suggest that understanding the modulation of this complex, which appears to regulate pyruvate entry into the mitochondria, may provide a viable target for insulin sensitizing pharmacology.
Effects of Qigong Training on Health-Related Quality of Life, Functioning, and Cancer-Related Symptoms in Survivors of Nasopharyngeal Cancer: A Pilot Study

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Qigong intervention on quality of life (QOL), health-related functioning, and cancer-related symptoms in survivors of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC). Twenty-five survivors of NPC were included in the experimental group (mean age ± SD: 55.4 ± 7.5 years) and 27 in the control group (mean age ± SD: 58.7 ± 9.5 years). The experimental group underwent a weekly 1.5-hour Qigong training program and an identical home program (three times/week) for six months. The control group received no training. Global health status/QOL, functioning, and cancer-related symptoms were assessed by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer QLQ-C30 and QLQ-H&N35 questionnaires before training began, after three months of Qigong training, at the end of the six-month Qigong intervention (i.e., posttest), and six months posttest. Intention-to-treat analysis revealed no statistically (P > 0.05) or clinically significant improvement in global health status/QOL, functioning, or symptoms in either group. The experimental group had 45.8% fewer sense-related (smell and taste) problems (P < 0.05) but 98.6% more speech-related problems (P < 0.05) than the control group after the Qigong intervention. Qigong training resulted in no apparent improvement in health-related QOL, functionality, or cancer-related symptoms in cancer-free survivors of NPC, except for a possible reduction in smell- and taste-related problems.
A Novel Human Cytomegalovirus Locus Modulates Cell Type-Specific Outcomes of Infection

Clinical strains of HCMV encode 20 putative ORFs within a region of the genome termed ULb′ that are postulated to encode functions related to persistence or immune evasion. We have previously identified ULb′-encoded pUL138 as necessary, but not sufficient, for HCMV latency in CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs) infected in vitro. pUL138 is encoded on polycistronic transcripts that also encode 3 additional proteins, pUL133, pUL135, and pUL136, collectively comprising the UL133-UL138 locus. This work represents the first characterization of these proteins and identifies a role for this locus in infection. Similar to pUL138, pUL133, pUL135, and pUL136 are integral membrane proteins that partially co-localized with pUL138 in the Golgi during productive infection in fibroblasts. As expected of ULb′ sequences, the UL133-UL138 locus was dispensable for replication in cultured fibroblasts. In CD34+ HPCs, this locus suppressed viral replication in HPCs, an activity attributable to both pUL133 and pUL138. Strikingly, the UL133-UL138 locus was required for efficient replication in endothelial cells. The association of this locus with three context-dependent phenotypes suggests an exciting role for the UL133-UL138 locus in modulating the outcome of viral infection in different contexts of infection. Differential profiles of protein expression from the UL133-UL138 locus correlated with the cell-type dependent phenotypes associated with this locus. We extended our in vitro findings to analyze viral replication and dissemination in a NOD-scid IL2Rγc null-humanized mouse model. The UL133-UL138 NULL virus exhibited an increased capacity for replication and/or dissemination following stem cell mobilization relative to the wild-type virus, suggesting an important role in viral persistence and spread in the host. As pUL133, pUL135, pUL136, and pUL138 are conserved in virus strains infecting higher order primates, but not lower order mammals, the functions encoded likely represent host-specific viral adaptations.
Validation of a questionnaire and microenvironmental model for estimating past exposures to ozone

Epidemiology studies of the health effects associated with chronic exposure to ozone are constrained by a lack of validated exposure assessment methods that account for activity patterns and building ventilation, two potentially important predictors of ozone exposure. A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the impact of these parameters on an exposure model, to evaluate how reliably they can be reconstructed, and how this reliability affects estimates of past exposures to ozone. Fourteen subjects completed time - activity diaries and wore personal passive monitors during summer 1996 and reconstructed their activities 1 year later in a questionnaire. These data were used in a microenvironmental exposure model and the results were compared to measured personal exposure. A model using activity patterns, building ventilation, and location-specific ambient ozone data produced mean exposure estimates 18.9 ± 1.5 ppb ozone greater than personal measurements. A simpler model that omitted variation in indoor ventilation produced exposure estimates 5.0 ± 1.3 ppb ozone greater than mean measured exposures. The questionnaire was a reliable survey method for reconstructing past activity patterns. However, detailed histories of building ventilation may not be required to reconstruct reliably past exposures to ozone. The simple model was more precise and more practical for implementation in large epidemiological studies of health effects related to chronic exposure to ambient ozone.
Empowering Personal Health Records with Cloud Computing: How to encrypt with forthcoming fine-grained policies efficiently

The issue of empowering patients to be well informed with regards to their health records has been well accepted in the community, which is known as the Personal Health Record (PHR). PHR has been believed as the solution for better management of an individual’s health, and as the tool that will empower the patient in correlation with healthcare providers through the ability to provide his/her own medical history. In this work, we aim to take one step further by equipping patients with the ability to “control” the access to their PHR efficiently and easily, by incorporating the emerging cloud technology. Specifically, we aim to provide the patients with the luxury of using the power of the cloud to conduct the outsourced work efficiently. To realize this, we present the notion of online/offline ciphertext-policy attribute-based proxy re-encryption scheme, which is very useful primitive in empowering personal health records in cloud computing. We present such a notion as well as a set of security requirements. More specifically, we define two security models covering both outsider and insider attacks. Furthermore, we present a concrete construction of such a scheme, and prove that it is secure under the well known complexity assumptions and following our security models.
Discrimination Method of Synthetic Speech Using Pitch Frequency against Synthetic Speech Falsification

We propose discrimination method of synthetic speech using pitch pattern of speech signal. By applying the proposed synthetic speech discrimination system as pre-process before the conventional HMM speaker verification system, we can improve the safety of conventional speaker verification system against imposture using synthetic speech. The proposed method distinguishes between synthetic speech and natural speech according to the pitch pattern which is distribution of value of normalized short-range autocorrelation function. We performed the experiment of user verification, and confirmed the validity of the proposed method.
Characterization of Hepatitis C Virus Quasispecies by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization-Time of Flight (Mass Spectrometry) Mutation Detection

ABSTRACT Hepatitis C virus (HCV), the causative agent of hepatitis C, frequently causes chronic infection. The mechanisms of viral persistence continue to be the object of investigation. An important aspect of HCV chronic infection is the quasispecies nature of the viral population, which has been particularly well documented in the hypervariable region 1 of the E2 glycoprotein. Recent studies show that characterization of the quasispecies diversity at the amino acid level can help to predict the outcome of HCV infection. Currently the accurate characterization of HCV quasispecies requires the cloning of PCR products, followed by the sequencing of many clones. In this study we present a new method to characterize HCV quasispecies, based on in vitro translation of the amplicons, followed by mass spectrometry analysis of the resulting peptide mix. The assay was used on reference HCV samples and on clinical samples. In principle, this method could be applied to other chronic viral infections in which quasispecies play a role.
Evaluation of Erythropoiesis by Serum Transferrin Receptor and Ferritin in Infants Aged 0–6 Months

The aim of this study was to evaluate erythropoiesis in 198 healthy babies aged 0–6 months by determination of their blood count, serum transferrin receptor (STfR), and ferritin levels. Anemia and microcytosis were present in 9% and 13% of the sample, respectively. Microcytosis rate was as high as 45% in 6-month-old babies. In infants with normal blood counts, the values of sTfR/ferritin and sTfR-F index were increasing with the increase of sTfR and decrease of ferritin beginning from 2 months of age. In the 5- to 6-month-old group, sTfR concentrations, sTfR/ferritin ratio, and sTfR-F index were higher in infants with anemia and microcytosis. This research showed a high frequency of iron deficiency detected in otherwise healthy babies. Only problems with early weaning practices were found to be significantly more common in babies with iron deficiency.
Reduction of Asthenopia after Accommodative Facility Training

ABSTRACT Five patients reporting asthenopia secondary to accommodative deficiencies underwent automated accommodative facility training. A matched‐subjects, crossover design was used to control for placebo effects. All patients receiving automated accommodative training showed a marked increase in accommodative amplitude along with a concurrent reduction of asthenopia. Decreases of blur and increases of reading time were the most frequently reported changes by patients. This experiment shows the effectiveness of automated accommodative training in reducing asthenopia and improving accommodative facility.
Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Population-based Study of Adolescents

A cross-sectional, population-based study was conducted on 1,647 Turkish adolescents to determine the prevalence of obesity, impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2), and to determine whether the recent increase in DM2 prevalence in some countries is applicable to this population. Information was gathered through a questionnaire. All children were screened with physical examination and fasting plasma glucose. 10.7% of adolescents were overweight (BMI 85-95th percentile) and 3.6% were obese (BMI > or =95th percentile). Mean BMI was 20.25 +/- 3.31 kg/m2 with maximum BMI 35.88 kg/m2. No child was diagnosed with DM2; 1.96% had IFG (110-126 mg/dl). No significant relationship was found between IFG and obesity, socio-economic status (SES) or family history of DM. The risk of obesity was increased among children with family history of DM or obesity, and among those who had low physical activity and were of high SES level. This analysis represents the population-based data upon which future studies will be based.
The Socially Responsive Self: Social Theory and Professional Ethics

In this work, Larry May argues that socially responsive individuals need not be self-sacrificing or overly conscientious. According to the author a person's integrity and moral responsibility are shaped and limited not just by conscience, but also by socialization and moral support from the communities to which he or she belongs. Applying his theory of responsibility to professional ethics, May contends that current methods of professional socialization should be changed so that professionals are not expected to ignore considerations of personal well-being, family, or community. For instance, lawyers should not place client loyalty above concerns for the common good; doctors should not place the physical well-being of patients above their mental and spiritual well-being; scientists and engineers should not feel obliged to blow the whistle on fraud and corruption unless their professional groups protect them from retaliation.
Small Ubiquitin-related Modifier (SUMO) Binding Determines Substrate Recognition and Paralog-selective SUMO Modification*

Small ubiquitin-related modifiers (SUMOs) regulate diverse cellular processes through their covalent attachment to target proteins. Vertebrates express three SUMO paralogs: SUMO-1, SUMO-2, and SUMO-3 (SUMO-2 and SUMO-3 are ∼96% identical and referred to as SUMO-2/3). SUMO-1 and SUMO-2/3 are conjugated, at least in part, to unique subsets of proteins and thus regulate distinct cellular pathways. However, how different proteins are selectively modified by SUMO-1 and SUMO-2/3 is unknown. We demonstrate that BLM, the RecQ DNA helicase mutated in Bloom syndrome, is preferentially modified by SUMO-2/3 both in vitro and in vivo. Our findings indicate that non-covalent interactions between SUMO and BLM are required for modification at non-consensus sites and that preferential SUMO-2/3 modification is determined by preferential SUMO-2/3 binding. We also present evidence that sumoylation of a C-terminal fragment of HIPK2 is dependent on SUMO binding, indicating that non-covalent interactions between SUMO and target proteins provide a general mechanism for SUMO substrate selection and possible paralog-selective modification.