Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detecting hotspots in network data based on spectral graph theory

Detection of hotspots (also known as dense subgraphs) in network data is an important data analysis problem due to it's significance in many contemporary applications. Clique-based formulation of this problem employing maximum flow implementation turns out to be an optimization task limiting the solution to be an approximate one. On the other hand, an iterative method building the hotspots (dense sub-graphs) in an incremental manner starting from primitive graph entities looks more practical and more conducive to incorporating application specific characteristics of interest. Motivated by this idea, we propose a novel algorithm for detecting dense sub-graphs based on spectral graph theory. The underlying principle is that the largest eigenvalue of a graph is a numerical indicator of the inherent dense connectivity. Accordingly, our algorithm starts from the egonets (sub-graphs) of individual nodes and determines the dense egonets as the primitive entities based on their eigenvalues. It then discovers hotspots (dense sub-graphs) through iterative merging of the dense egonets in a controlled manner. Experimental evaluation on benchmark graph data sets demonstrates the efficacy of the proposed method.
Online information search and utilization of electronic word-of-mouth

Research on online consumer information search behavior has typically concentrated on search-type information instead of experience information. This article focuses on electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) as a source of experience information, and we study the relationships between the antecedents, amount and utilization of eWOM searched. Using survey data from 1660 customers of two travel agencies, we find that 1) the search for eWOM differs distinctively from the search for marketer-generated online content, and 2) the more eWOM is being searched, the less it is being utilized in the final purchase decision.
Impacts of Initial Soil Moisture and Vegetation on the Diurnal Temperature Range in Arid and Semiarid Regions in China

To assess the impacts of initial soil moisture (SMOIS) and the vegetation fraction (Fg) on the diurnal temperature range (DTR) in arid and semiarid regions in China, three simulations using the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model are conducted by modifying the SMOIS, surface emissivity and Fg. SMOIS affects the daily maximum temperature (Tmax) and daily minimum temperature (Tmin) by altering the distribution of available energy between sensible and latent heat fluxes during the day and by altering the surface emissivity at night. Reduced soil wetness can increase both the Tmax and Tmin, but the effect on the DTR is determined by the relative strength of the effects on Tmax and Tmin. Observational data from the Semi‐Arid Climate and Environment Observatory of Lanzhou University (SACOL) and the Shapotou Desert Research and Experimental Station (SPD) suggest that the magnitude of the SMOIS effect on the distribution of available energy during the day is larger than that on surface emissivity at night. In other words, SMOIS has a negative effect on the DTR. Changes in Fg modify the surface radiation and the energy budget. Due to the depth of the daytime convective boundary layer, the temperature in daytime is affected less than in nighttime by the radiation and energy budget. Increases in surface emissivity and decreases in soil heating resulting from increased Fg mainly decrease Tmin, thereby increasing the DTR. The effects of SMOIS and Fg on both Tmax and Tmin are the same, but the effects on DTR are the opposite.
Self-Calibration of a Rotating Camera with Varying Intrinsic Parameters

We present a method for self-calibration of a camera which is free to rotate and change its intrinsic parameters, but which cannot translate. The method is based on the so-called infinite homography constraint which leads to a non-linear minimisation routine to find the unknown camera intrinsics over an extended sequence of images. We give experimental results using real image sequences for which ground truth data was available.
Alternatives to hormone therapy for hot flashes: many choices but science is lacking

Clinical Scenario A 51-year-old postmenopausal third-grade teacher requests help for her hot flashes. She finds them especially troubling as she stands in front of her class and starts sweating. Although one student offers her tissues, others make fun of her—disrupting the class. Her sleep is interrupted several times a night. She refuses to use any form of estrogen because her mother died of breast cancer at the age of 60 years. Perhaps alternative therapies can help her.
Clinical Manifestations of Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations and a variable course. In numerous investigations, it has been shown that exogenous factors, such as UV‐light and drugs, can induce this disease. However, not all clinical aspects can be explained and therefore, the pathogenesis of CLE is currently under extensive research. The various cutaneous manifestations of LE are divided into LE‐nonspecific and LE‐specific skin disease based on histologic criteria. LE‐nonspecific manifestations are mostly associated with systemic LE but can also occur in other diseases and include particularly vascular skin lesions such as pe‐riungual telangiectases. LE‐specific skin disease includes the subtypes of CLE such as acute cutaneous LE (ACLE), subacute cutaneous LE (SCLE), chronic cutaneous LE (CCLE), and intermittent CLE (ICLE). The subdivision of these subtypes with different prognosis and course is supported by genetic, clinical, histologic, and immunoserologic findings. The subtypes of CLE require a specific morphological and clinical analysis, which is described in the first part of this review. In the second part of this review, further diagnostic procedures and therapeutic strategies in patients with CLE are discussed.
The impacts of an invasive species citizen science training program on participant attitudes, behavior, and science literacy

Citizen science can make major contributions to informal science education by targeting participants’ attitudes and knowledge about science while changing human behavior towards the environment. We examined how training associated with an invasive species citizen science program affected participants in these areas. We found no changes in science literacy or overall attitudes between tests administered just before and after a one-day training program, matching results from other studies. However, we found improvements in science literacy and knowledge using context-specific measures and in self-reported intention to engage in pro-environmental activities. While we noted modest change in knowledge and attitudes, we found comparison and interpretation of these data difficult in the absence of other studies using similar measures. We suggest that alternative survey instruments are needed and should be calibrated appropriately to the pre-existing attitudes, behavior, and levels of knowledge in these relatively sophisticated target groups.
Processes of Change After a Sudden Gain and Relation to Treatment Outcome—Evidence for an Upward Spiral

Objective: Sudden gains are sudden symptom improvements from 1 psychotherapy session to the next. This study investigates the processes that may facilitate treatment outcome after a sudden gain occurred. Method: A sample of 211 depressed patients who underwent cognitive–behavioral therapy was analyzed. Sudden gains were identified using a session-by-session self-report symptom measure. Patient ratings of general change factors (therapeutic alliance; coping skills) in the sessions before and after a sudden gain were investigated as predictors of outcome. Propensity score matching was used to compare sudden gain patients with similar patients who did not experience a sudden gain. Results: Therapeutic alliance and coping skills increased in the postgain sessions. There were no comparable processes of change among patients without sudden gains. The therapeutic alliance was found to moderate the association between sudden gains and treatment outcome. Conclusion: Results suggest that sudden gains trigger change factors that facilitate the association between gains and treatment outcome. Patient-therapist dyads should work with sudden gains to consolidate symptom relief.
Industrial relations reform at the enterprise and workplace

This paper compares attitudes and perceptions to industrial relations reform between senior management at large Australian organisations on the one hand, and their associated workplace managers on the other. We find that significant differences exist in the opinions and policies of workplaces and enterprises. In particular, marked differences exist in the attitudes towards human resource management and industrial relations reform. These results suggest that we may conclude that in terms of human resource management and industrial relations it appears there is no corporate culture that is carried over from head office to the workplace
Calcipotriol improves the response of psoriasis to PUVA

Summary Combining PUVA with other therapeutic agents which reduce the UVA dose required for clearance of psoriasis may be of benefit by reducing the long‐term risk of cutaneous malignancy and by increasing the efficacy of treatment. We have therefore studied the effect of calcipotriol in 13 patients with plaque‐type psoriasis who were about to start twice weekly PUVA. In each patient, from the start of PUVA treatment, two plaques on symmetrical body sites were selected for assessment. Calcipotriol ointment was applied to one twice daily, and placebo to the other. Response was assessed weekly for 6 weeks: an investigator, unaware of treatment allocation. compared psoriasis severity within each of the plaques, and blood flux was measured using a scanning laser‐Doppler velocimeter. Of the 11 patients who completed the study, in nine the calcipotriol‐treated plaque either cleared before the placebo‐treated plaque (n=7) or was consistently judged to be better (n = 2). From the third week of the trial, mean blood flux was significantly lower in the calcipotriol‐treated plaques than in those treated with placebo. In the seven patients whose psoriasis was clear in at least one plaque at the end of the study period, there was a median reduction in UVA dose of 26·5% for calcipotriol compared with placebo. With the exception of one patient, the improved response was not associated with earlier relapse.
The distribution of the preferred directions of the ON–OFF direction selective ganglion cells in the rabbit retina requires refinement after eye opening

The ON–OFF direction selective ganglion cells (DSGCs) in the mammalian retina respond differentially for an object moving in different directions. DSGCs can be further segregated into four functional subtypes, namely those responsible for the detection of motion in the superior, inferior, anterior, and posterior directions of the visual field. Although it has been known that the basic neural circuit of direction selectivity is established at around the time of eye opening, it is less known if the four DSGC subtypes can be unambiguously distinguished at this time and whether their preferred directions are aligned with four canonical axes at this developmental stage. By examining the preferred directions of DSGCs in P10‐12 rabbit retinas and characterizing their distribution pattern, we have shown that the preferred directions of DSGCs at around the time of eye opening are not distinctly segregated but rather are diffusely distributed along the four canonical axes. Similar results were found in the mouse retina by reanalyzing previously published data. Furthermore, taking into account the fact that the direction tuning strength of DSGCs at P10‐12 is weaker than that in adults, this was found not to be correlated with their preferred directions, which suggests that the maturations of direction selectivity and preferred direction are independent processes. In addition, we also found that the subtypes of DSGCs, which do not display tracer coupling pattern in the adult, show extensive coupling at P10‐12. Taken together, the present study supports that the significant refinement after eye opening is required for the development of the four functional DSGC subtypes in the rabbit retina.
Interferon lambda1/IL‐29 and inorganic polyphosphate are novel regulators of neutrophil‐driven thromboinflammation

Neutrophils and neutrophil‐released meshwork structures termed neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are major mediators of thromboinflammation and emerging targets for therapy, yet the mechanisms and pathways that control the role of neutrophils in thromboinflammation remain poorly understood. Here, we explored the role of IFN‐λ1/IL‐29, a major antiviral cytokine recently shown to suppress the neutrophil migratory capacity, in prothrombotic and proNETotic functions of neutrophils. In an ex vivo human experimental setting of acute ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), we show that IFN‐λ1/IL‐29 hinders NET release and diminishes the amount of cytoplasmic TF in neutrophils. Since platelet–neutrophil interaction plays a major role in NET‐induced thromboinflammation, we further studied how IFN‐λ1/IL‐29 may interrupt this interaction. In this context, we identified inorganic polyphosphate (polyP) as a platelet‐derived NET inducer in STEMI. In arterial STEMI thrombi, polyP was present in platelets and in close proximity to NET remnants. PolyP release from activated platelets was dependent on thrombin present in infarcted artery plasma, resulting in NET formation by promoting mTOR inhibition and autophagy induction. The effect of polyP on mTOR inhibition was counteracted by IFN‐λ1/IL‐29 treatment, leading to inhibition of NET formation. Consistently, we show in an in vivo model of FeCl3‐induced arterial thrombosis that IFN‐λ2/IL‐28A exerts strong antithrombotic potential. Taken together, these findings reveal a novel function of IFN‐λ1/IL‐29 in the suppression of thromboinflammation. Copyright © 2017 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Nefiracetam Potentiates N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) Receptor Function via Protein Kinase C Activation and Reduces Magnesium Block of NMDA Receptor

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are known to be down-regulated in the brain of Alzheimer's disease patients. We have previously demonstrated that the nootropic drug nefiracetam potentiates the activity of both nicotinic acetylcholine and NMDA receptors and that nefiracetam modulates the glycine binding site of the NMDA receptor. Because the NMDA receptor is also modulated by Mg2+ and protein kinases, we studied their roles in nefiracetam action on the NMDA receptor by the whole-cell patch-clamp technique and immunoblotting analysis using rat cortical or hippocampal neurons in primary culture. The nefiracetam potentiation of NMDA currents was inhibited by the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor chelerythrine, but not by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor N-[2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinoline (H89). In immunoblotting analysis, nefiracetam treatment increased the PKCα activity with a bell-shaped dose-response relationship peaking at 10 nM, thereby increasing phosphorylation of PKC substrate and NMDA receptor. Such an increase in PKCα-mediated phosphorylation was prevented by chelerythine. Nefiracetam treatment did not affect the PKA activity. Analysis of the current-voltage relationships revealed that nefiracetam at 10 nM largely eliminated voltage-dependent Mg2+ block and that this action of nefiracetam was sensitive to PKC inhibition. It was concluded that nefiracetam potentiated NMDA currents not by acting as a partial agonist but by interacting with PKC, allosterically enhancing glycine binding, and attenuating voltage-dependent Mg2+ block.
Exoskeletons for industrial application and their potential effects on physical work load

Abstract The aim of this review was to provide an overview of assistive exoskeletons that have specifically been developed for industrial purposes and to assess the potential effect of these exoskeletons on reduction of physical loading on the body. The search resulted in 40 papers describing 26 different industrial exoskeletons, of which 19 were active (actuated) and 7 were passive (non-actuated). For 13 exoskeletons, the effect on physical loading has been evaluated, mainly in terms of muscle activity. All passive exoskeletons retrieved were aimed to support the low back. Ten-forty per cent reductions in back muscle activity during dynamic lifting and static holding have been reported. Both lower body, trunk and upper body regions could benefit from active exoskeletons. Muscle activity reductions up to 80% have been reported as an effect of active exoskeletons. Exoskeletons have the potential to considerably reduce the underlying factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal injury. Practitioner Summary: Worldwide, a significant interest in industrial exoskeletons does exist, but a lack of specific safety standards and several technical issues hinder mainstay practical use of exoskeletons in industry. Specific issues include discomfort (for passive and active exoskeletons), weight of device, alignment with human anatomy and kinematics, and detection of human intention to enable smooth movement (for active exoskeletons).
Formal participation and performance of the system development group: the role of group heterogeneity and group-based rewards

This study examines the influence of two selected group structural characteristics on successful participation in system development. It draws upon work-group design research to develop and test nine hypotheses that link group heterogeneity and group-based rewards to participation and performance outcomes. Some interesting findings emerge from the study.The nature of the relationship between group heterogeneity and participation is not the same as that between group-based rewards and participation. Both heterogeneity and group-based rewards directly impact participation; and as participation positively impacts outcomes, both variables indirectly impact outcomes. In addition, group-based rewards have a direct effect on performance outcomes, while no direct effect is detected between heterogeneity and performance outcomes. Contrary to conventional wisdom, this study found the effect of group-based rewards on participation is not always positive. The study suggests that group-based rewards could suppress participation in heterogeneous system development groups. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings for managerial practice and future research.
Comparison of perception of pregnancy risk of nulliparous women of advanced maternal age and younger age.

INTRODUCTION Over the last 3 decades, the proportion of women who have delayed childbearing into their mid 30s and early 40s has been increasing. Because advanced maternal age (AMA) is associated with several adverse maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes, these pregnancies are considered to be "high risk. " Research indicates that pregnancy risk perception is an important factor in pregnant women's health care use and decision making during pregnancy. The objectives of this study were to compare risk perception in pregnant women of AMA (aged 35 years or older) with that of younger women and to explore the relationship between perception of pregnancy risk and selected variables. METHODS A sample of 159 nulliparous pregnant women (105 aged 20-29 years and 54 aged 35 years or older) was recruited from a variety of settings in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Women were asked to complete questionnaires to assess perception of pregnancy risk, risk knowledge, pregnancy-related anxiety, perceived control, health status, and medical risk. RESULTS Women of AMA had higher education levels, were more likely to work during pregnancy, and had higher medical risk scores than younger women. Women of AMA perceived higher pregnancy risk for both themselves and their fetuses than did younger women. They rated their risks of cesarean birth, dying during pregnancy, preterm birth, and having a newborn with a birth defect or one needing admission to a neonatal intensive care unit higher than those of younger women. There were no significant differences between the 2 age groups in pregnancy-related anxiety, knowledge of risk, perceived control, and health status. DISCUSSION Women of AMA have a higher perception of pregnancy risk than younger women, regardless of their medical risk. This evidence suggests that incorporating discussions of pregnancy risk into prenatal care visits may assist pregnant women of AMA to make more informed choices, reduce anxiety, and avoid unnecessary interventions.
Video copy detection by fast sequence matching

Sequence matching techniques are effective for comparing two videos. However, existing approaches suffer from demanding computational costs and thus are not scalable for large-scale applications. In this paper we view video copy detection as a local alignment problem between two frame sequences and propose a two-level filtration approach which achieves significant acceleration to the matching process. First, we propose to use an adaptive vocabulary tree to index all frame descriptors extracted from the video database. In this step, each video is treated as a "bag of frames. " Such an indexing structure not only provides a rich vocabulary for representing videos, but also enables efficient computation of a pyramid matching kernel between videos. This vocabulary tree filters those videos that are dissimilar to the query based on their histogram pyramid representations. Second, we propose a fast edit-distance-based sequence matching method that avoids unnecessary comparisons between dissimilar frame pairs. This step reduces the quadratic runtime to a linear time with respect to the lengths of the sequences under comparison. Experiments on the MUSCLE VCD benchmark demonstrate that our approach is effective and efficient. It is 18X faster than the original sequence matching algorithms. This technique can be applied to several other visual retrieval tasks including shape retrieval. We demonstrate that the proposed method can also achieve a significant speedup for the shape retrieval task on the MPEG-7 shape dataset.