Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The role of lymphocytes in the development and treatment of alopecia areata

Alopecia areata (AA) development is associated with both innate and adaptive immune cell activation, migration to peri- and intra-follicular regions, and hair follicle disruption. Both CD4+ and CD8+ lymphocytes are abundant in AA lesions; however, CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes are more likely to enter inside hair follicles, circumstantially suggesting that they have a significant role to play in AA development. Several rodent models recapitulate important features of the human autoimmune disease and demonstrate that CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes are fundamentally required for AA induction and perpetuation. However, the initiating events, the self-antigens involved, and the molecular signaling pathways, all need further exploration. Studying CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes and their fate decisions in AA development may reveal new and improved treatment approaches.
New insights into the pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis and hopes for the clinic

Giant cell arteritis is a complex immune-mediated disease that involves large blood vessels in individuals older than 50 years. Recent studies have confirmed a strong association of this form of vasculitis with the HLA region, particularly with HLA class II genes. However, other non-HLA loci, such as protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22, may also account for the susceptibility to giant cell arteritis. In addition, genetic variants located in genes encoding proinflammatory cytokines seem to influence the phenotypic expression of the disease, including the risk of severe ischemic complications, the presence of polymyalgia rheumatica and the higher incidence of relapses observed in some patients. The identification of putative genetic markers of disease severity could have clear therapeutic implications, as it may allow us to identify patients who are potentially responders to specific treatments.
Studying Facebook via data extraction: the Netvizz application

This paper describes Netvizz, a data collection and extraction application that allows researchers to export data in standard file formats from different sections of the Facebook social networking service. Friendship networks, groups, and pages can thus be analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively with regards to demographical, post-demographical, and relational characteristics. The paper provides an overview over analytical directions opened up by the data made available, discusses platform specific aspects of data extraction via the official Application Programming Interface, and briefly engages the difficult ethical considerations attached to this type of research.
Angiogenin, a piece of the complex puzzle of neurodegeneration

patients were examined and observed longitudinally by a movement disorders neurologist and diagnosed with PD according to published criteria. Unrelated control individuals were free of personal or familial history suggestive of parkinsonism. We performed bidirectional DNA sequencing on all exons of the ANG gene. The ethical review boards at each institution approved the study, and all participants provided informed consent. We identified 4 coding nonsynonymous ANG variants in our patients with PD (0.63%) and zero in our controls (Table). Of the 4 variants, 2 are novel (c.70G>C; p.A-1P and c.302A>C; p.Q77P) and were not observed in the large study by van Es and colleagues. The other 2 known variants were p.K17I and p.K60E. After removing p.K17I from the analysis, the frequency remained 0.47%, which matches the findings of van Es et al. The Table displays variation observed in the ANG gene and the frequency of both common and rare variants. Statistical association for common variants was performed, and a significant association with disease risk and rs11701 was observed (uncorrected p 1⁄4 0.01). Interestingly, association of SNP rs11701 with risk of ALS first nominated ANG as the gene for ALS. The study of van Es et al has demonstrated the important role rare variants play in the individual risk of susceptibility to PD. Further studies are warranted to characterize patients with PD who carry rare variants in ANG and determine whether there are clinicopathologic correlates that distinguish carriers from typical late onset sporadic PD patients. As we move toward an era of individualized medicine, it will be crucial to determine the frequency of rare variants and elucidate their influence on disease risk. The feasibility of genetic testing for such rare variants will need to be addressed in the long term.
ULTRASONOGRAPHY OF THE EQUINE TARSUS

Ultrasonography was used to delineate the sonographic anatomy of the equine tarsus with emphasis on the flexor tendons and plantar ligament at the plantar surface of the tarsus, the medial collateral ligaments and the dorsomedial joint capsule of the tibiotarsal joint. The cross-sectional gross anatomy of these tendons and ligaments was evaluated in 6 cadaver limbs. Using a 5.5 MHz mechanical sector scanner, the examined tendons and ligaments were easily identified as hyperechoic structures in 10 limbs of normal live horses. The normal ultrasonographic appearance of the dorsomedial tibiotarsal joint capsule was studied in 8 cadaver limbs. The inner surface of the tibiotarsal joint capsule was covered with villi; short and pointed in the mid region, resembling a small nodular mass proximally and a straggly beard distally. In 4 lame horses diagnostic ultrasound aided the diagnosis of plantar swellings, medial collateral joint ligamentous injury and hypertrophic synovitis.
Readiness of health-care institutions in KwaZulu-Natal to implement telepsychiatry

We assessed the preparedness of health districts and designated hospitals in the KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) province for proposed telepsychiatry services. An e-health readiness questionnaire for developing countries was administered to managers of health districts and managers of designated psychiatric hospitals by telephone interview. Ten of the 11 district managers and managers/medical officers of 45 of 58 designated hospitals were interviewed. Notwithstanding some concerns regarding the tool, low levels of e-health readiness were found. District managers recorded e-health readiness scores of 137–217 out of 300. This was similar to the hospital managers, who recorded readiness scores of 121–260 out of 300. For telepsychiatry to succeed in KZN, an awareness programme will be required to facilitate the necessary change management.
Developmental Screening Referrals

This study researched the predictive impact of developmental screening results and the effects of child and family characteristics on completion of referrals given for evaluation. Logistical and hierarchical logistic regression analyses were used to determine the significance of 10 independent variables on the predictor variable. The number of concerns was the most significant variable in predicting screening referral outcomes. Health concerns noted in child screening results were highly predictive of having no referral evaluation completed. Social-emotional concerns had a less striking but consistently negative relationship with referral completion. Speech-language delays and developmental concerns were not significant predictors. Being female and White were strong predictors of completed referrals. The findings have implications for the timing of referrals for children’s atypical screening results and underscore the importance of follow-up in developmental screening referrals made for children with multiple areas of concern and for those who have specific health concerns.
The freestyle dressage competition as a test of the horse's performance

The objective of the study has been to examine whether the freestyle dressage classes are judged reliably and to elaborate a method assessing the consistency of judging. The data contained 13 000 marks of the ten best-ranked horses at nine Grand Prix classes and four Intermediate I classes from ten international competitions. The marks concerned 119 horses in total and were given by 37 judges. A method for evaluating the consistency of judging has been proposed. The index of disagreement (ID) assesses the disagreement of ranking by an individual judge relative to the general ranking based on the sum of marks awarded by five judges. The results show that the mean ID of individual judges is highly differentiated. The ID is influenced by the judge's position in the arena. The consistency of judging was lower in Intermediate I Freestyle Tests than in Grand Prix Freestyle Tests and it varied in different competitions. The conclusion of the study is that the results of the freestyle dressage classes are often biased. The present system of judging should be permanently checked. The offered method of evaluating agreement between judges' rankings may help to improve the consistency of judging and the reliability of the horses' scores.
Mind the theoretical gap: interpreting, using, and developing behavioral theory in HCI research

Researchers in HCI and behavioral science are increasingly exploring the use of technology to support behavior change in domains such as health and sustainability. This work, however, remain largely siloed within the two communities. We begin to address this silo problem by attempting to build a bridge between the two disciplines at the level of behavioral theory. Specifically, we define core theoretical terms to create shared understanding about what theory is, discuss ways in which behavioral theory can be used to inform research on behavior change technologies, identify shortcomings in current behavioral theories, and outline ways in which HCI researchers can not only interpret and utilize behavioral science theories but also contribute to improving them.
Community insights: helping community leaders enhance the value of enterprise online communities

Online communities are increasingly being deployed in enterprises to increase productivity and share expertise. Community leaders are critical for fostering successful communities, but existing technologies rarely support leaders directly, both because of a lack of clear data about leader needs, and because existing tools are member- rather than leader-centric. We present the evidence-based design and evaluation of a novel tool for community leaders, Community Insights (CI). CI provides actionable analytics that help community leaders foster healthy communities, providing value to both members and the organization. We describe empirical and system contributions derived from a long-term deployment of CI to leaders of 470 communities over 10 months. Empirical contributions include new data showing: (a) which metrics are most useful for leaders to assess community health, (b) the need for and how to design actionable metrics, (c) the need for and how to design contextualized analytics to support sensemaking about community data. These findings motivate a novel community system that provides leaders with useful, actionable and contextualized analytics.
Turkopticon: interrupting worker invisibility in amazon mechanical turk

As HCI researchers have explored the possibilities of human computation, they have paid less attention to ethics and values of crowdwork. This paper offers an analysis of Amazon Mechanical Turk, a popular human computation system, as a site of technically mediated worker-employer relations. We argue that human computation currently relies on worker invisibility. We then present Turkopticon, an activist system that allows workers to publicize and evaluate their relationships with employers. As a common infrastructure, Turkopticon also enables workers to engage one another in mutual aid. We conclude by discussing the potentials and challenges of sustaining activist technologies that intervene in large, existing socio-technical systems.
The effect of virtual achievements on student engagement

Badge-based achievement systems are being used increasingly to drive user participation and engagement across a variety of platforms and contexts. Despite positive anecdotal reports, there is currently little empirical evidence to support their efficacy in particular domains. With the recent rapid growth of tools for online learning, an interesting open question for educators is the extent to which badges can positively impact student participation. In this paper, we report on a large-scale (n > 1000) randomized, controlled experiment measuring the impact of incorporating a badge-based achievement system within an online learning tool. We discover a highly significant positive effect on the quantity of students' contributions, without a corresponding reduction in their quality, as well as on the period of time over which students engaged with the tool. Students enjoyed being able to earn badges, and indicated a strong preference for having them available in the user interface.
Does Exercise Testing Affect the Bioelectrical Impedance Assessment of Body Composition in Children

This investigation examined the impact of a cycle ergometry exercise test (CET) on body composition determined using leg-to-leg bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA; Tanita Model TPF-305). Fifty three children (25 males, 28 females) aged 10-12 yr participated. BIA measures of body fat (BF) were obtained immediately before and within five min of a multistage CET administered to assess peak oxygen consumption. Correlations (P = 0.01) of 0.99 were noted between the pre and post CET measures of BF. A systematic difference was not found in BIA measures obtained before and after CET. BF decreased by 0.4 and 1.2% following CET in the male and female subjects, respectively.
Does my password go up to eleven?: the impact of password meters on password selection

Password meters tell users whether their passwords are "weak" or "strong. " We performed a laboratory experiment to examine whether these meters influenced users' password selections when they were forced to change their real passwords, and when they were not told that their passwords were the subject of a study. We observed that the presence of meters yielded significantly stronger passwords. We performed a followup field experiment to test a different scenario: creating a password for an unimportant account. In this scenario, we found that the meters made no observable difference: participants simply reused weak passwords that they used to protect similar low-risk accounts. We conclude that meters result in stronger passwords when users are forced to change existing passwords on "important" accounts and that individual meter design decisions likely have a marginal impact.
Oral pyogenic granuloma with mandible involvement: An unusual presentation

Pyogenic granulomas are relatively common benign mucocutaneous lesions. These are typically solitary and vascular. They may be found in the oral cavity or extraorally. Extraorally common sites are the skin of face and neck, upper and lower extremities and mucous membrane of nose and eyelids. Lesions occurring in the oral cavity are most commonly found in the anterior segment over the gingiva followed by lips, tongue and buccal mucosa. Pyogenic granuloma commonly occurs during pregnancy which requires meticulously planned management. We present a case of pyogenic granuloma in a 63-year old patient with a large size (5 × 3.5 cm) in the mandible. Key words: Oral pyogenic granuloma, peripheral giant cell granuloma, periodontal ligament.
Less invasive blood sampling in the animal laboratory: clinical chemistry and haematology of blood obtained by the Triatominae bug Dipetalogaster maximus

Dipetalogaster maximus (Dipmax), a blood-sucking bug belonging to the family Reduviidae, has been used to obtain blood samples, for example for clinical chemistry and haematology, in a variety of zoo animals and wildlife. Using this bug allows stress-free blood sampling as the bug is able to draw blood without the mammal noticing the bug. In laboratory animal science, the need for blood samples from unstressed animals may arise, especially in animal behaviour research. The use of Dipmax bugs may prove a valuable tool for this purpose. To validate the method, we compared an array of standard blood parameters sampled from New Zealand White rabbits, sampled either by the use of bugs or by the conventional method; puncture of vena auricularis caudalis. The overall hypothesis was that there was no significant difference in clinical chemistry and haematological parameters between the bug method and the conventional method. A total of 17 clinical parameters as well as 12 haematological parameters were measured and compared in New Zealand White rabbits. The results showed that for 13 of these 29 analysed parameters, the bug method and the conventional method did not give significantly different results, and the obtained results were thus directly comparable. For the remaining parameters the obtained results were significantly different. However, all parameters were measurable in the bug samples. The influences of the bug metabolism on these parameters are discussed.
The use of novel oral anticoagulants for thromboprophylaxis after elective major orthopedic surgery

Venous thromboembolism is a common cause of morbidity and mortality among patients undergoing elective orthopedic surgery. Due to the high incidence of venous thromboembolism in this setting, perioperative anticoagulation is the recommended approach for thromboprophylaxis. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH), fondaparinux and warfarin are the agents commonly used for thromboprophylaxis. The well-recognized limitations of warfarin and the inconvenience and discomfort associated with the subcutaneous administration of low molecular weight heparin and fondaparinux inspired intense investigation to develop novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) with more predictable pharmacokinetics, fewer drug interactions and no need for regular laboratory monitoring. Three NOACs have been demonstrated to be effective for thromboprophylaxis after total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in large randomized controlled trials. Here we review the pharmacology of rivaroxaban, dabigatran, and apixaban, summarize the major clinical trials of these agents in thromboprophylaxis after THA and TKA, and discuss the clinical factors to be considered by providers when selecting a NOAC for their patients.
Examining social media use among older adults

Social media is a powerful tool that can connect family and friends across long distances as well as link people with similar interests. Social media has been widely adopted by younger adults, but older adults have been less likely to use such applications. A survey of 142 older adults (Mage=72 years, SD=11; range: 52-92) living in the metropolitan Atlanta area was conducted to understand the characteristics of older adults who do and do not use Facebook, a popular and wide-spread social media application. The present study examined the relationship between Facebook use and loneliness, social satisfaction, and confidence with technology. Demographic relationships were also examined, such as gender and age. Fifty-nine participants (42%) identified themselves as current Facebook users; 83 participants (58%) were not Facebook users. Non-Facebook users were significantly older (Mage= 75.3 years) than Facebook users (Mage= 66.5 years). Counter to expectations, there was not a significant difference in loneliness between Facebook users and non-users for this sample. However, Facebook users did score higher on assessments of social satisfaction and confidence with technology than did non-users. These preliminary results suggest that many older adults do use Facebook and they primarily use it to stay connected with family. As adults enter into older adulthood, maintaining social connectedness may become more difficult due to mobility limitations, chronic diseases, and other age-related issues, thus decreasing physical connectedness with friends, family, and community. For these reasons, social media may begin to play a more active role in keeping this population socially connected. Therefore, understanding the factors that influence social media use in older adults is becoming more critical.
Using personality to adjust diversity in recommender systems

Nowadays, although some approaches have been proposed to enhance the diversity in online recommendations, they neglect the user's spontaneous needs that might be possibly influenced by her/his personality. Previously, we did a user survey that showed some personality dimensions (such as conscientiousness which is one of personality factors according to the big-five factor model) have significant impact not only on users' diversity preference over items' individual attributes, but also on their overall diversity needs when all attributes are combined. Motivated by the findings, in the current work, we propose a strategy that explicitly embeds personality, as a moderating factor, to adjust the diversity degree within multiple recommendations. Moreover, we performed a user evaluation on the developed system. The experimental results demonstrate an effective solution to generate personality-based diversity in recommender systems.
The utility of newer imaging techniques as predictors of clinical outcomes in multiple myeloma

The 14th International Myeloma Workshop Kyoto, Japan, 3–7 April 2013 The International Myeloma Workshop (IMW) is a biannual meeting that gathers experts in multiple myeloma (MM) from all over the world and scientists interested in clinical and biological aspects of myeloma. The 2013 IMW was held in Kyoto, Japan and presented an interesting program with an appealing section on newer imaging techniques as predictor of outcome in asymptomatic and symptomatic MM. During the meeting, the importance of newer functional imaging techniques as new ways of assessing bone disease and the extent of marrow infiltration by myeloma cells was highlighted. This short meeting report will provide a review of new and/or functional imaging techniques, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), both axial and whole body (WB-MRI), dynamic contrast enhanced (DCE) MRI, diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and PET integrated with computed tomography.
Time Discounting, Present Biases, and Health-Related Behavior

Analysis of an original nationwide Internet survey reveals that health-related behavior shows associations with three aspects of time discounting: (i) impatience, measured by the overall discount rate; (ii) present bias, measured by the degree of declining impatience in the generalized hyperbolic discount function; and (iii) the sign effect, in that future losses are discounted at a lower rate than future gains. Present-biased respondents are classified as na? ve if the responses are indicative of being a time-inconsistent procrastinator, and classified as sophisticated otherwise. The health-related indicators that we examine relate to smoking, health condition, dentition status, and body habitus. We first show that a higher degree of impatience tends to worsen health-related attributes. Second, respondents with more steeply declining impatience tend to develop more unhealthy behavior and ill-health conditions, and the tendencies are likely to be stronger for na? fs than for sophisticates. Third, the sign effect, too, shows an association with health-related behavior, although the significance levels are not overly high. Consistent with these findings, the principal component of the health-related measures shows strong associations with the degrees of impatience and declining impatience.