Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Regional Brain Activation During Meditation Shows Time and Practice Effects: An Exploratory FMRI Study†

Meditation involves attentional regulation and may lead to increased activity in brain regions associated with attention such as dorsal lateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined whether DLPFC and ACC were activated during meditation. Subjects who meditate were recruited and scanned on a 3.0 Tesla scanner. Subjects meditated for four sessions of 12 min and performed four sessions of a 6 min control task. Individual and group t-maps were generated of overall meditation response versus control response and late meditation response versus early meditation response for each subject and time courses were plotted. For the overall group (n = 13), and using an overall brain analysis, there were no statistically significant regional activations of interest using conservative thresholds. A region of interest analysis of the entire group time courses of DLPFC and ACC were statistically more active throughout meditation in comparison to the control task. Moreover, dividing the cohort into short (n = 8) and long-term (n = 5) practitioners (>10 years) revealed that the time courses of long-term practitioners had significantly more consistent and sustained activation in the DLPFC and the ACC during meditation versus control in comparison to short-term practitioners. The regional brain activations in the more practised subjects may correlate with better sustained attention and attentional error monitoring. In summary, brain regions associated with attention vary over the time of a meditation session and may differ between long- and short-term meditation practitioners.
Monitoring of GMAW Weld Pool From the Reflected Laser Lines for Real-Time Control

Controlling the welding process by monitoring the weld pool surface becomes more and more popular in robotic arc welding. In this paper, we propose a monitoring system to infer the P-gas metal arc welding (GMAW) weld pool geometry from the reflected laser lines, which are projected onto the specular weld pool and reflected onto a diffusive plane. The parallel straight lines are distorted according to the shape of the weld pool and thus contain the weld pool's shape information. Accurately computing the equations of the imaged laser lines in the world coordinate system is critical for the subsequent weld pool shape estimation. This paper focuses on accurately segmenting and identifying the reflected laser lines and novel image processing algorithms are proposed to fulfill this specific task. Experimental results verified the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.
Effectiveness of Screening Hospital Admissions to Detect Asymptomatic Carriers of Clostridium difficile: A Modeling Evaluation

Objective Both asymptomatic and symptomatic Clostridium difficile carriers contribute to new colonizations and infections within a hospital, but current control strategies focus only on preventing transmission from symptomatic carriers. Our objective was to evaluate the potential effectiveness of methods targeting asymptomatic carriers to control C. difficile colonization and infection (CDI) rates in a hospital ward: screening patients at admission to detect asymptomatic C. difficile carriers and placing positive patients into contact precautions. Methods We developed an agent-based transmission model for C. difficile that incorporates screening and contact precautions for asymptomatic carriers in a hospital ward. We simulated scenarios that vary according to screening test characteristics, colonization prevalence, and type of strain present at admission. Results In our baseline scenario, on average, 42% of CDI cases were community-onset cases. Within the hospital-onset (HO) cases, approximately half were patients admitted as asymptomatic carriers who became symptomatic in the ward. On average, testing for asymptomatic carriers reduced the number of new colonizations and HO-CDI cases by 40%–50% and 10%–25%, respectively, compared with the baseline scenario. Test sensitivity, turnaround time, colonization prevalence at admission, and strain type had significant effects on testing efficacy. Conclusions Testing for asymptomatic carriers at admission may reduce both the number of new colonizations and HO-CDI cases. Additional reductions could be achieved by preventing disease in patients who are admitted as asymptomatic carriers and developed CDI during the hospital stay.
A multi-state model of cortical memory

A fundamental property of cortical pathways is the ability to retain information beyond time-delimited environmental events. Here, we propose that the neural connectivity between different regions of cortex directly contributes to the preservation of memory traces. A structural network of macaque cortex was obtained from the CoCoMac database. A computational model was then employed to simulate the flow of information between regions of interest (ROIs). This model assigned discrete states to each of 47 ROIs, and allowed exchanges between ROIs as well as random memory decay over time. The rate at which memory decayed over time depended on the network topology; it was found to be markedly less in primate cortex than in a random connectivity that preserved the experimental degree distribution. These results suggest that evolutionary constraints may promote a large-scale cortical anatomy that is optimized for the continuity of memory in time.
Relationship between Long Working Hours and Suicidal Thoughts: Nationwide Data from the 4th and 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

Background Long working hours are a worldwide problem and may increase the risk of various health issues. However, the health effects of long working hours on suicidal thoughts have not been frequently studied. Our goal was to investigate the relationship between long working hours and suicidal thoughts in the rapidly developing country of Korea. Methods Data from 12,076 participants (7,164 men, 4,912 women) from the 4th and 5th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys were used for the current analysis. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for suicidal thoughts. Combined effects of long working hours and lower socioeconomic status or sleep disturbance were also estimated. Results Compared to groups who worked less than 52 hours per week, odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for suicidal thoughts in groups who worked 60 hours or more per week were 1.36 (1.09–1.70) for males and 1.38 (1.11–1.72) for females, even after controlling for household income, marital status, history of hypertension or diabetes mellitus, health-related behaviors, and past two weeks’ experience of injury, intoxication, or acute or chronic diseases, as well as type of work. The combined effects of long working hours with lower socioeconomic status, or with sleep disturbance, were also significantly higher compared to participants who worked less than 52 hours per week with higher socioeconomic status, or with 6–8 hours of nighttime sleep. Conclusion In this study, long working hours were linked to suicidal thoughts for both genders. Additionally, the odds of those suicidal thoughts were higher for lower socioeconomic groups. To prevent adverse psychological health problems such as suicidal thoughts, a strategy regarding long working hours should be investigated.
World Federation of Societies of Biological Psychiatry (WFSBP) Guidelines for the Pharmacological Treatment of Eating Disorders

Abstract Objectives. The treatment of eating disorders is a complex process that relies not only on the use of psychotropic drugs but should include also nutritional counselling, psychotherapy and the treatment of the medical complications, where they are present. In this review recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of eating disorders (anorexia nervosa (AN), bulimia nervosa (BN), binge eating disorder (BED)) are presented, based on the available literature. Methods. The guidelines for the pharmacological treatment of eating disorders are based on studies published between 1977 and 2010. A search of the literature included: anorexia nervosa bulimia nervosa, eating disorder and binge eating disorder. Many compounds have been studied in the therapy of eating disorders (AN: antidepressants (TCA, SSRIs), antipsychotics, antihistaminics, prokinetic agents, zinc, Lithium, naltrexone, human growth hormone, cannabis, clonidine and tube feeding; BN: antidepressants (TCA, SSRIs, RIMA, NRI, other AD), antiepileptics, odansetron, d-fenfluramine Lithium, naltrexone, methylphenidate and light therapy; BED: antidepressants (TCA, SSRIs, SNRIs, NRI), antiepileptics, baclofen, orlistat, d-fenfluramine, naltrexone). Results. In AN 20 randomized controlled trials (RCT) could be identified. For zinc supplementation there is a grade B evidence for AN. For olanzapine there is a category grade B evidence for weight gain. For the other atypical antipsychotics there is grade C evidence. In BN 36 RCT could be identified. For tricyclic antidepressants a grade A evidence exists with a moderate-risk-benefit ratio. For fluoxetine a category grade A evidence exists with a good risk-benefit ratio. For topiramate a grade 2 recommendation can be made. In BED 26 RCT could be identified. For the SSRI sertraline and the antiepileptic topiramate a grade A evidence exists, with different recommendation grades. Conclusions. Additional research is needed for the improvement of the treatment of eating disorders. Especially for anorexia nervosa there is a need for further pharmacological treatment strategies.
Don't Judge a (Face)Book by its Cover: A Critical Review of the Implications of Social Networking Sites

Abstract : Social networking sites (SNS) are increasingly popular, and as their popularity continues to grow, the integration of these sites within the workplace is vitally important. Although these sites may provide a number of advantages, such as improved knowledge sharing and improved relationships, there are also numerous risks associated with the use of these sites. For example, these sites may waste company time, may create tension within the workplace, and may jeopardise privacy, security and confidentiality. Hence, it is crucial for organisations to develop a clear and enforceable policy for the use of these sites, which should be coupled with a personal, meaningful and contextualised education campaign. It is vital to emphasise the possible risks, reinforce the restrictions to use, and stress the consequences of a failure to comply. This should help to ensure that organisations can benefit from the advantages of these sites, without unnecessarily jeopardising their security.
Convolutional Neural Network Language Models

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have shown to yield very strong results in several Computer Vision tasks. Their application to language has received much less attention, and it has mainly focused on static classiﬁcation tasks, such as sentence classiﬁcation for Sentiment Analysis or relation extraction. In this work, we study the application of CNNs to language modeling, a dynamic, sequential prediction task that needs models to capture local as well as long-range dependency information. Our contribution is twofold. First, we show that CNNs achieve 11-26% better absolute performance than feed-forward neural language models, demonstrating their potential for language representation even in sequential tasks. As for recurrent models, our model outperforms RNNs but is below state of the art LSTM models. Second, we gain some understanding of the behavior of the model, showing that CNNs in language act as feature detectors at a high level of abstraction, like in Computer Vision, and that the model can prof-itably use information from as far as 16 words before the target.
Endogenous R&D Symmetry in Linear Duopoly with One-Way Spillovers

A duopoly model of cost reducing R&D-Cournot competition is extended to study the endogenous timing of R&D strategic investment. Under the assumption that R&D spillovers only flow from the R&D leader to the follower, sequential and simultaneous play at the R&D stage are compared, in order to assess the role of technological externalities in stimulating or attenuating endogenous firm asymmetry. The only timing structure of the R&D stage sustainable as subgame-perfect Nash equilibrium involves simultaneous play and zero spillovers.
Disc1 regulates both β‐catenin‐mediated and noncanonical Wnt signaling during vertebrate embryogenesis

Disc1 is a schizophrenia risk gene that engages multiple signaling pathways during neurogenesis and brain development. Using the zebrafish as a tool, we analyze the function of zebrafish Disc1 (zDisc1) at the earliest stages of brain and body development. We define a “tool” as a biological system that gives insight into mechanisms underlying a human disorder, although the system does not phenocopy the disorder. A zDisc1 peptide binds to GSK3β, and zDisc1 directs early brain development and neurogenesis, by promoting β‐catenin‐mediated Wnt signaling and inhibiting GSK3β activity. zDisc1 loss‐of‐function embryos additionally display a convergence and extension phenotype, demonstrated by abnormal movement of dorsolateral cells during gastrulation, through changes in gene expression, and later through formation of abnormal, U‐shaped muscle segments, and a truncated tail. These phenotypes are caused by alterations in the noncanonical Wnt pathway, via Daam and Rho signaling. The convergence and extension phenotype can be rescued by a dominant negative GSK3β construct, suggesting that zDisc1 inhibits GSK3β activity during noncanonical Wnt signaling. This is the first demonstration that Disc1 modulates the noncanonical Wnt pathway and suggests a previously unconsidered mechanism by which Disc1 may contribute to the etiology of neuropsychiatric disorders. —De Rienzo, G. , Bishop, J. A. , Mao, Y. , Pan, L. , Ma, T. P., Moens, C. B. , Tsai, L. H. , Sive, H. Disc1 regulates both β‐catenin‐mediated and noncanonical Wnt signaling during vertebrate embryogenesis. FASEB J. 25, 4184–4197 (2011). www.fasebj. org
Behavioral Neuroadaptation to Alcohol: From Glucocorticoids to Histone Acetylation

A prime mechanism that contributes to the development and maintenance of alcoholism is the dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activity and the release of glucocorticoids (cortisol in humans and primates, corticosterone in rodents) from the adrenal glands. In the brain, sustained, local elevation of glucocorticoid concentration even long after cessation of chronic alcohol consumption compromises functional integrity of a circuit, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), the hippocampus (HPC), and the amygdala (AMG). These structures are implicated in learning and memory processes as well as in orchestrating neuroadaptive responses to stress and anxiety responses. Thus, potentiation of anxiety-related neuroadaptation by alcohol is characterized by an abnormally AMG hyperactivity coupled with a hypofunction of the PFC and the HPC. This review describes research on molecular and epigenetic mechanisms by which alcohol causes distinct region-specific adaptive changes in gene expression patterns and ultimately leads to a variety of cognitive and behavioral impairments on prefrontal- and hippocampal-based tasks. Alcohol-induced neuroadaptations involve the dysregulation of numerous signaling cascades, leading to long-term changes in transcriptional profiles of genes, through the actions of transcription factors such as [cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB)] and chromatin remodeling due to posttranslational modifications of histone proteins. We describe the role of prefrontal–HPC–AMG circuit in mediating the effects of acute and chronic alcohol on learning and memory, and region-specific molecular and epigenetic mechanisms involved in this process. This review first discusses the importance of brain region-specific dysregulation of glucocorticoid concentration in the development of alcohol dependence and describes how persistently increased glucocorticoid levels in PFC may be involved in mediating working memory impairments and neuroadaptive changes during withdrawal from chronic alcohol intake. It then highlights the role of cAMP–PKA–CREB signaling cascade and histone acetylation within the PFC and limbic structures in alcohol-induced anxiety and behavioral impairments, and how an understanding of functional alterations of these pathways might lead to better treatments for neuropsychiatric disorders.
Flicker Compensation for Archived Film Sequences Using a Segmentation-Based Nonlinear Model

A new approach for the compensation of temporal brightness variations (commonly referred to as flicker) in archived film sequences is presented. The proposed method uses fundamental principles of photographic image registration to provide adaptation to temporal and spatial variations of picture brightness. The main novelty of this work is the use of spatial segmentation to identify regions of homogeneous brightness for which reliable estimation of flicker parameters can be obtained. Additionally our scheme incorporates an efficient mechanism for the compensation of long duration film sequences while it addresses problems arising from varying scene motion and illumination using a novel motion-compensated grey-level tracing approach. We present experimental evidence which suggests that our method offers high levels of performance and compares favourably with competing state-of-the-art techniques.
Millimeter interferometry of W3 IRS5 ⋆ : A Trapezium in the making

Context. Although most young massive stars appear to be part of multiple systems, it is poorly understood how this multiplicity influences the formation of massive stars. The high-mass star-forming region W3 IRS5 is a prime example of a young massive cluster where the cluster center is resolved into multiple subsources at cm and infrared wavelengths, a potential proto-Trapezium system. Aims. We investigate the protostellar content in the 1.4 mm continuum down to subarcsecond scales and study the compact outflow components, also tracing the outflows back to their driving sources via the shocktracing SiO and SO(2) emission. Methods. The region W3 IRS5 was mapped with the PdBI at 1.4 mm and 3.4 mm in the AB configurations, tuning the receivers to observe the molecular transitions SO(2) (22(2,20) - 22(1.21)), SO(2) (8(3.5) - 9(2.8)), SiO (2 - 1), and SiO (5 - 4). Results. In the continuum we detect five sources, one of them for the first time, while counterparts were detected in the NIR, MIR or at radio wavelengths for the remaining four sources. Three of the detected sources are within the inner 2100 AU, where the protostellar number density exceeds 10(6) protostars pc(-3) assuming spherical symmetry. Lower limits for the circumstellar masses of the detected sources were calculated, ranging from similar to 0.3 to similar to 40 M circle dot although they were strongly affected by the spatial filtering of the interferometer, losing up to similar to 90% of the single-dish flux. However, the projected separations of the sources ranging between similar to 750 and similar to 4700 AU indicate a multiple, Trapezium-like system. We disentangled the compact outflow component of W3 IRS5, detecting five molecular outflows in SiO, two of them nearly in the line of sight direction, which allowed us to see the collapsing protostars in the NIR through the cavities carved by the outflows. The SO2 velocity structure indicates a rotating, bound system, and we find tentative signatures of converging flows as predicted by the gravoturbulent star formation and converging flow theories. Conclusions. The obtained data strongly indicate that the clustered environment has a major influence on the formation of high-mass stars; however, our data do not clearly allow us to distinguish whether the ongoing star-forming process follows a monolithic collapse or a competitive accretion mechanism.
A Classic Case of " Data Snooping " for Classroom Discussion

Data snooping (mistaking spurious statistical relationships for genuine ones) is an important and dangerous by-product of financial analysis. However, data snooping is a difficult concept to explain to students of financial economics because, by its very nature, it is difficult to illustrate by example (a strong statistical relationship between complex financial variables is difficult to refute). To overcome this pedagogical difficulty, I present an example of data snooping where one variable is non-financial: I show that near both new moon and full moon, stock market volatility is higher and stock market returns are lower than away from the new or full moon. The simple and off-beat nature of this example enables substantial classroom discussion. INTRODUCTION
Effect of Membrane Potentialon Dialysisof Calcium in a Continuous-FlowSystem

Estimation of calcium by continuous-flow analysis with use of a 30-cm (12-inch) dialyzer (1) or a 214-cm (84-inch) dialyzer (2) leads to discrepant results if acidified aqueous calcium standards are used for primary calibration. The discrepancies can be minimized by adding polyvinylpyrrolidine, 80 g/liter solution (1), or calcium-free albumin (2) to the standards to mimic the protein present in patients’ samples. Modifications of dialysis conditions, such as altering sample/diluent ratios (1) or the concentrations of acids of the donor and recipient streams (1, 2), have also been tried as a means of overcoming differing rates of dialysis from acid aqueous or protein-containing solutions. Lott and Herman suggested (2) that the different amounts of calcium dialyzed from protein-containing and protein-free samples was probably attributable to a “Donnan equilibrium effect” (3), but results of dialyzer potential measurements by Amador and Neeley (1) show that the Donnan effect is not the complete answer. More recently, Lever (4) has made potential measurements with a modified dialyzer assembly. His results show that potential differences are produced across the membrane in the absence of protein. We have repeated these dialyzer potentiometric measurements, and have examined the effects of hydrogen ion concentration on the dialysis of 45Ca. Our results show that the Donnan effect does not explain the differences in rate of dialysis between protein and aqueous samples, but that the migration of H does explain most of these differences.