Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
No Evidence That Gratitude Enhances Neural Performance Monitoring or Conflict-Driven Control

It has recently been suggested that gratitude can benefit self-regulation by reducing impulsivity during economic decision making. We tested if comparable benefits of gratitude are observed for neural performance monitoring and conflict-driven self-control. In a pre-post design, 61 participants were randomly assigned to either a gratitude or happiness condition, and then performed a pre-induction flanker task. Subsequently, participants recalled an autobiographical event where they had felt grateful or happy, followed by a post-induction flanker task. Despite closely following existing protocols, participants in the gratitude condition did not report elevated gratefulness compared to the happy group. In regard to self-control, we found no association between gratitude—operationalized by experimental condition or as a continuous predictor—and any control metric, including flanker interference, post-error adjustments, or neural monitoring (the error-related negativity, ERN). Thus, while gratitude might increase economic patience, such benefits may not generalize to conflict-driven control processes.
Use of antacid medication in patients receiving clozapine: a comparison with other second-generation antipsychotics.

To the Editors: Dyspeptic complaints seem to be highly prevalent in chronic psychiatric patients, particularly those taking clozapine. Clozapine has also been reported to be temporally associated with the emergence of reflux esophagitis and an increased use of antacid medication. Despite this, large-scale effectiveness studies have not reported increased rates of antacid prescribing in clozapine-treated cohorts relative to those on other atypical drugs. To date, no study has attempted to establish the comparative prevalence of antacid use in those taking clozapine and those receiving other second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs). One of the reasons for this is that clozapine is dispensed only by discrete hospital pharmacies, a practice that precludes large-scale analysis of prescribing practice using computer databases. During 2009, we identified all community (ie, discharged) patients receiving SGA medication from Lambeth and Maudsley hospital pharmacy departments in southeast London. For each patient, we established sex, ethnicity, age, and prescribed medication. Data were derived from electronic case notes and prescription charts and by contacting general practitioners when necessary. We compared the prevalence of antacid use (proton-pump inhibitors [PPIs], H2 antagonists, and other antacids (alginates, magnesium trisilicate, misoprostol) in those receiving clozapine with patients receiving nonclozapine SGAs by establishing crude odds ratio (OR) and OR adjusted for statistically significant (P G 0.05) confounding variables (ie, those shown to be associated with antacid prescribing). To do this, we first constructed a univariate logistic regression model and then established a final multivariable model (using SAS Enterprise Guide version 3.0, SAS Institute Inc, Cary, NC). The characteristics of the 2 study groups are shown in Table 1. Mean dose of clozapine was 423 (SD, 162) mg/d (range, 70Y1000 mg/d). Mean duration of treatment with clozapine was 393 (SD, 256) weeks (range, 15Y994 weeks). In the nonclozapine group, 155 patients (43%) received olanzapine as the principal antipsychotic, 80 (22%) risperidone, 64 (18%) aripiprazole, 41 (11%) quetiapine, 23 (6%) amisulpride, and 1 patient (0.3%) received ziprasidone. In the clozapine group, 45 patients were prescribed PPIs (13.1%), 7 (2.0%) H2 antagonists, and 12 (3.5%) were prescribed
Toward BestE ort Services over WDM networks with FairAccess and Minimum Bandwidth Guarantee 1

Most existing wavelength-division multiplexed (WDM) networks employ circuit switching, typically with one session having exclusive use of one entire wavelength. Consequently they are not suitable for data applications involving bursty traac patterns. The All-Optical Network (AON) Consortium has developed an all-optical LAN/MAN testbed which provides time-slotted WDM service 1]. In this paper, we explore extensions of this service to achieve ne-grained statistical multiplexing with diierent virtual circuits time-sharing the wavelengths in a fair manner. We develop a very fast, best-eeort time-slotted WDM network protocol with very good fairness and throughput characteristics. As an additional design feature, our protocol supports the assignment of guaranteed bandwidths (GBW) to selected sessions. This feature acts as a rst step towards supporting integrated services at the optical layer in WDM networks.
Obesity and excess mortality among the elderly in the United States and Mexico

Increasing levels of obesity could compromise future gains in life expectancy in low-and high-income countries. Although excess mortality associated with obesity and, more generally, higher levels of body mass index (BMI) have been investigated in the United States, there is little research about the impact of obesity on mortality in Latin American countries, where very the rapid rate of growth of prevalence of obesity and overweight occur jointly with poor socioeconomic conditions. The aim of this article is to assess the magnitude of excess mortality due to obesity and overweight in Mexico and the United States. For this purpose, we take advantage of two comparable data sets: the Health and Retirement Study 2000 and 2004 for the United States, and the Mexican Health and Aging Study 2001 and 2003 for Mexico. We find higher excess mortality risks among obese and overweight individuals aged 60 and older in Mexico than in the United States. Yet, when analyzing excess mortality among different socioeconomic strata, we observe greater gaps by education in the United States than in Mexico. We also find that although the probability of experiencing obesity-related chronic diseases among individuals with high BMI is larger for the U. S. elderly, the relative risk of dying conditional on experiencing these diseases is higher in Mexico.
Anti-gastritis and wound healing effects of Momordicae Semen extract and its active component

Momordicae Semen, Momordica cochinchinensis Springer (Cucurbitaceae), has long been known to effectively relieve boils, rheumatic pain, and hemorrhoids. In this study, we investigated whether Momordicae Semen extract (MSE) has anti-gastritis effects in various rodent models and also explored possible mechanisms for the gastroprotective effects of MSE. MSE provided remarkable protective effects, comparable to those of rebamipide, in ethanol- and diclofenac-induced acute gastritis. In addition, it has demonstrated protective effect in a Helicobacter pylori-insulted chronic gastritis model. MSE also showed wound healing effect on cutaneous injury of mice and stimulated calcitonin gene-related peptide and somatostatin receptors, which may be related to its anti-gastritis effects. In a single oral dose toxicity study, the approximate lethal dose of MSE was determined at >2000 mg/kg/day. The NOAEL was set to be 2000 mg/kg/day from the repeated oral dose toxicity study. Moreover, momordica saponin I, a major ingredient of MSE, treatment decreased gastric mucosa damage indices in the ethanol- and diclofenac-induced acute gastritis models. The results suggest that MSE could be a promising gastroprotective herbal medicine and momordica saponin I might be used as an active marker compound for MSE.
Green Synthesis of Ag/Ag2O Nanoparticles Using Aqueous Leaf Extract of Eupatorium odoratum and Its Antimicrobial and Mosquito Larvicidal Activities

The health challenges associated with pathogens and ectoparasites highlight the need for effective control approaches. Metal nanoparticles have been proposed as highly effective tools towards combatting different microbial organisms and parasites. The present work reports the antimicrobial and larvicidal potential of biosynthesized Ag/Ag2O nanoparticles using aqueous leaf extract of Eupatorium odoratum (EO). The constituents of the leaf extract act as both reducing and stabilizing agents. The UV-VIS spectra of the nanoparticles showed surface plasmon resonance. The particle size and shape of the nanoparticles was analysed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The larvicidal study was carried out using third and fourth instar Culex quinquefasciatus larvae. The mosquito larvae were exposed to varying concentrations of plant extract (EO) and the synthesized nanoparticles, and their percentage of mortality was accounted for at different time intervals of 12 h and 24 h periods of exposure. The nanoparticles were more lethal against third and fourth instars of Culex quinquefasciatus larvae at the 24 h period of exposure with lower lethal concentration values (LC50 = 95.9 ppm; LC90 = 337.5 ppm) and (LC50 = 166.4 ppm; LC90 = 438.7 ppm) compared to the plant extract (LC50 = 396.8 ppm; LC90 = 716.8 ppm and LC50 = 448.3 ppm; LC90 = 803.9 ppm, respectively). The antimicrobial properties of the nanoparticles were established against different clinically-isolated microbial strains and compared to that of the plant extract (EO) and standard antimicrobial drugs. The nanoparticles were generally more active than the plant extract against the selected microbial organisms. The Gram-negative bacterial strains Escheerichua coli and Salmonella typhi were more susceptible towards the nanoparticles compared to the Gram-positive strains and the fungal organism.
Heuristic algorithms for obtaining Polynomial Threshold Functions with low densities

In this paper we present several heuristic algorithms, including a Genetic Algorithm (GA), for obtaining polynomial threshold function (PTF) representations of Boolean functions (BFs) with small number of monomials. We compare these among each other and against the algorithm of Oztop via computational experiments. The results indicate that our heuristic algorithms find more parsimonious representations compared to the those of non-heuristic and GA-based algorithms.
School Segregation, Charter Schools, and Access to Quality Education

ABSTRACT: Race, class, neighborhood, and school quality are all highly interrelated in the U.S. educational system. In the last decade a new factor has come into play, the option of attending a charter school. We offer a comprehensive analysis of the disparities among public schools attended by white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American children in 2010–2011, including all districts in which charter schools existed. We compare schools in terms of poverty concentration, racial composition, and standardized test scores, and we also examine how attending a charter or non-charter school affects these differences. Black and Hispanic (and to a lesser extent Native American and Asian) students attend elementary and high schools with higher rates of poverty than white students. Especially for whites and Asians, attending a charter school means lower exposure to poverty. Children’s own race and the poverty and charter status of their schools affect the test scores and racial isolation of schools that children attend in complex combinations. Most intriguing, attending a charter school means attending a better-performing school in high-poverty areas but a lower performing school in low-poverty areas. Yet even in the best case the positive effect of attending a charter school only slightly offsets the disadvantages of black and Hispanic students.
Chordoid Glioma: A Case Report and Molecular Characterization of Five Cases

Chordoid gliomas are rare, slow‐growing neoplasms of the anterior third ventricle. We reported a case of chordoid glioma in a 41‐year‐old man with obstructive hydrocephalus. Histologically, the tumor consisted of polygonal epithelioid cells admixed with elongated cells in a myxoid stroma. A prominent lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate was present. The tumor cells expressed glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), vimentin, CD31, CD34, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and S100 but were negative for pankeratin and E‐cadherin. The percentage of Ki67 positive cells was approximately 3%. Weak p53 immunoreactivity was seen in less than 10% of the cells. Array comparative genomic hybridization performed on this case, as well as on four other archived cases, showed losses at several loci. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) confirmed consistent genetic alterations at 9p21 and 11q13. These are the fifth through ninth reported cases of chordoid gliomas with molecular characterization suggesting a distinct genetic origin from other gliomas.
Clinical Correlation of Oral Manifestations In HIV Seropositive Patients With CD4+ Cell, CD8+Cell Counts And CD4+/CD8+ Ratio.

The Aim of this study was to investigate the correlation of oral lesions in HIV positive patients with their CD4, CD8 cell count and CD4/CD8 ratio. 150 HIV seropositive patients of any age and sex were evaluated. Then analyses of data obtained were revealed Pseudo membranous candidiasis (P-0.0043) was the most common variant, mostly seen when CD8 count was increased (>500 cells/mm 3 , P-0.05) and CD4/CD8 ratio was > 0.31(P-0.0034). Periodontal diseases (29%) mostly were seen in patients with CD4 count >400 cell/ mm 3 (P-0.045), CD8 count >500 CD8 cell/mm 3 (P-0.55) and CD4/CD8 ratio 500 cells/mm 3 and CD4/CD8 ratio is in between 0.31 - 0.6. Oral
Telecom Inventory Management via Object Recognition and Localisation on Google Street View Images

We present a novel method to update assets for telecommunication infrastructure using google street view (GSV) images. The problem is formulated as a object recognition task, followed by use of triangulation to estimate the object coordinates from sensor plane coordinates, To this end, we have explored different state-of-the-art object recognition techniques both from feature engineering and using deep learning namely HOG descriptors with SVM, Deformable parts model (DPM), and Deep learning (DL) using faster RCNNs. While HOG+SVM has proved to be robust human detector, DPM which is based on probabilistic graphical models and DL which is a non-linear classifier have proved their versatility in different types of object recognition problems. Asset recognition from the street view images however pose unique challenge as they could be installed on the ground in various poses, orientations and with occlusions, objects camouflaged in the background and in some cases inter class variation is small. We present comparative performance of these techniques for specific use-case involving telecom equipment for highest precision and recall. The blocks of proposed pipeline are detailed and compared to traditional inventory management methods.
E-assessment of Mathematical Proofs: Chances and Challenges for Students and Tutors

Conventional e-assessment systems often are not suited for examining mathematical calculations or proofs, and the few existing ones have very limited functionality. On this account we have developed the e-assessment system EASy which focuses on mathematical proofs. As we are not aware of any documented experiences concerning the applicability, usability and acceptance of a corresponding system for students and tutors, we have evaluated EASy in a lecture on data structures and algorithms with more than 200 students.
Speciﬁc Person Retrieval via Incomplete Text Description

Searching for speciﬁc persons from surveillance videos captured by diﬀerent cameras, is a key yet under-addressed challenge in multimedia system. Related person retrieval works mainly focus on searching person by visual appearance, known as person re-identiﬁcation. However, the initial visual image may not be available in some practical applications. For example, the criminal is described by a text description indirectly, “ A young woman wearing a red casual with a backpack ”, the traditional methods can not conquer this issue. Based on a set of pre-deﬁned attributes that the text description query can be transformed to an attribute vector, thus can be used to retrieval in the gallery set. And yet, the user-provided attributes are sometimes incomplete. This new issue is deﬁned as Speciﬁc Person Retrieval via In-complete Text Description. In this paper, we conduct a spe-ciﬁc attribute completion to enrich the original text query and generate a more expressive attribute vector. Then, a pairwise-based metric learning is introduced for completed attribute vectors. Extensive experiments conducted on two benchmark datasets have shown our superior performance.
The Role of Spatial Memory in Guiding Attention During Natural Vision

Paying attention to the right thing at the right time underlies the ability of humans and other animals to learn, perceive, and interact with their environment. A central unresolved question is the time frame in which spatial memory guides attention, with current estimates ranging from a single fixation to seconds, minutes, or even days. Here we answer this question by revealing the time course of attentional selection during natural vision. We asked human participants to visually explore either continuous or scene-shuffled video clips, and quantified the impact of memory-free influences on overt attentional selections (saccades) based on a computational saliency model. Overall, scene shuffling resulted in no significant differences in the impact of memory-free influences compared to continuous viewing. However, abrupt scene transitions (jump cuts) led to sharp peaks in the impact of memory-free influences, which then declined progressively across 7 fixations for up to 2.5 seconds. These results indicate that visual exploration of dynamic scenes critically depends on spatial memory traces that persist across several fixations for up to a couple of seconds.
Surgical management of ectopic pregnancy in a district general hospital

Summary The mainstay of management of ectopic pregnancies is laparoscopic surgery. Other treatment options include open laparotomy, methotrexate or expectant approach. Recently the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) revised its guidelines regarding management of suspected ectopic pregnancies. We undertook a retrospective study looking at management of ectopic pregnancies over a defined 12-month period (1 October 2003 – 30 September 2004) in a district general hospital to the north of London and compared this with the recommended RCOG guidelines . Cases of ectopic pregnancy were identified from the theatre, ward log, and cross-referenced with histopathological reports. The case notes of these women were reviewed and data extracted according to a drawn-up questionnaire. A total of 64 cases met the diagnostic criteria and were included in the study. Nine of the 64 cases were haemodynamically unstable and seven underwent rapid laparotomy. All of the stable 55 cases underwent laparoscopy, which was converted to open laparotomy in 13 cases (23.6%). Three patients were treated with methotrexate all of whom had been previously managed surgically. The majority of cases of ectopic pregnancy were managed according to the RCOG recommendations. Further changes in practice will be required to incorporate expectant and primary medical management as proposed by the recent guidelines (RCOG ). This study reveals progress achieved in management of ectopic pregnancies in UK with the introduction of RCOG guidelines .
Primitive Auxin Response without TIR1 and Aux/IAA in the Charophyte Alga Klebsormidium nitens1[OPEN]

Exogenous auxin inhibits cell division and elongation of Klebsormidium nitens and causes early induction of an LBD-type transcription factor. The phytohormone auxin regulates many aspects of growth and development in land plants, but the origin and evolution of auxin signaling and response mechanisms remain largely unknown. Indeed, it remains to be investigated whether auxin-related pathways diverged before the emergence of land plants. To address this knowledge deficit, we analyzed auxin responses in the charophyte alga Klebsormidium nitens NIES-2285, whose ancestor diverged from a green algal ancestor during the evolution of land plants. This strain is the same as Klebsormidium flaccidum NIES-2285, for which the draft genome was sequenced in 2014, and was taxonomically reclassified as K. nitens. This genome sequence revealed genes involved in auxin responses. Furthermore, the auxin indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was detected in cultures of K. nitens, but K. nitens lacks the central regulators of the canonical auxin-signaling pathway found in land plants. Exogenous IAA inhibited cell division and cell elongation in K. nitens. Inhibitors of auxin biosynthesis and of polar auxin transport also inhibited cell division and elongation. Moreover, exogenous IAA rapidly induced expression of a LATERAL ORGAN BOUNDARIES-DOMAIN transcription factor. These results suggest that K. nitens has acquired the part of the auxin system that regulates transcription and cell growth without the requirement for the central players that govern auxin signaling in land plants.
Pink, lavender and grey: Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex ageing in Australian gerontology

Issues concerning sexual and gender identity have been almost completely neglected in Australian research and action around ageing. This is reflected in textual discourse, clinical and service practices, training and education, research approaches and policy development. The present research investigated whether lessons might be drawn from the experience of activists in the United States of America (USA) and then applied to Australian gerontology with regard to the recognition of GLBTI ageing. The research aimed to provide guideposts for a process of change in Australia, by the investigation of the factors involved in collective action. Qualitative research was conducted in Australia and the State of California in the USA. The research findings revealed: a previously under-recognised personal dimension of action; the importance of self-determinist approaches in the USA; and the status of the Australian situation. The findings raise important implications for those who conduct research and undertake clinical or service related practice in aged care, as well as for the Australian GLBTI community.