Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Identifying Brain Abnormalities with Schizophrenia Based on a Hybrid Feature Selection Technology

Many medical imaging data, especially the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, usually have a small sample size, but a large number of features. How to reduce effectively the data dimension and locate accurately the biomarkers from such kinds of data are quite crucial for diagnosis and further precision medicine. In this paper, we propose a hybrid feature selection method based on machine learning and traditional statistical approaches and explore the brain abnormalities of schizophrenia by using the functional and structural MRI data. The results show that the abnormal brain regions are mainly distributed in the supramarginal gyrus, cingulate gyrus, frontal gyrus, precuneus and caudate, and the abnormal functional connections are related to the caudate nucleus, insula and rolandic operculum. In addition, some complex network analyses based on graph theory are utilized on the functional connection data, and the results demonstrate that the located abnormal functional connections in brain can distinguish schizophrenia patients from healthy controls. The identified abnormalities in brain with schizophrenia by the proposed hybrid feature selection method show that there do exist some abnormal brain regions and abnormal disruption of the network segregation and network integration for schizophrenia, and these changes may lead to inaccurate and inefficient information processing and synthesis in the brain, which provide further evidence for the cognitive dysmetria of schizophrenia.
ABO Blood Groups, G6PD Deficiency and Abnormal Haemoglobins in Syphilis Patients of Three Ethnic Groups

SUMMARY A total of 1,041 syphilis patients of both sexes and different ethnic origin (Chinese, Malay, and Indian) were investigated for the distribution of ABO blood groups and haemoglobin genotypes. There was no signif icant difference in the incidence of ABO blood groups and abnormal haemoglobins between disease and con trol series in any of the racial groups. From the above series, 819 male patients were investigated for the incidence of G6PD deficiency. There was no significant difference in the incidence of this genetic marker in disease and normal series.
Tribological behavior of the low‐concentration boric acid and ZDDP lubricating oil mixtures

Zinc dithiophosphate (ZDDP)‐free environmental friendly lubricating oil research studies have gained importance due to the governmental regulations over the last decade. In this study, low concentration boric acid‐base oil and ZDDP‐base oil mixtures were investigated with a ball on flat reciprocating tribometer to evaluate their tribological performances. The tribological performances of 1, 3, and 5% additive and base oil mixtures were evaluated at boundary lubrication condition in three main contexts including wear rates, surface tribochemistry, and friction. Results showed that there was no significant difference between boric acid and ZDDP friction coefficients. However, boric acid showed poor wear resistance when compared with ZDDP and it cannot be an alternative additive alone to ZDDPs.
On the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases in Modern Landscapes: Urban Settings and Drug Resistance

Extraordinary medical advances have led to significant reductions in the burden of infectious diseases in humans. However, infectious diseases still account for more than 13 million annual deaths. This large burden is partly due to some pathogens having found suitable conditions to emerge and spread in denser and more connected host populations, and others having evolved to escape the pressures imposed by the rampant use of antibiotics. It is then critical to improve our understanding of how diseases spread in these modern landscapes, characterized by new host population structures and socio-economic environments, as well as containment measures such as the deployment of drugs. Thus, the motivation of this dissertation is two-fold. First, we study, using both data-driven and modeling approaches, the the spread of infectious diseases in urban areas. As a case study, we use confirmed-cases data on sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in the United States to assess the conduciveness of population size of urban areas and their socio-economic characteristics as predictors of STD incidence. We find that the scaling of STD incidence in cities is superlinear, and that the percent of African-Americans residing in cities largely determines these statistical patterns. Since disparities in access to health care are often exacerbated in urban areas, within this project we also develop two modeling frameworks to study the effect of health care disparities on epidemic outcomes. Discrepant results between the two approaches indicate that knowledge of the shape of the recovery period distribution, not just its mean and variance, is key for assessing the epidemiological impact of inequalities. The second project proposes to study, from a modeling perspective, the spread of drug resistance in human populations featuring vital dynamics, stochasticity and contact structure. We derive effective treatment regimes that minimize both the overall disease burden and the spread of resistance. Additionally, targeted treatment in structured host populations may lead to higher levels of drug resistance, and if drug-resistant strains are compensated, they can spread widely even when the wild-type strain is below its epidemic threshold.
Simulations of source recovery and completeness in galaxy surveys at high redshift

The search for and characterisation of galaxies at high-redshift is a very active topic in Astrophysics. Thanks to advances in observations from space, the redshift frontier is approaching the epoch of formation of first generation objects. Thus, these samples of galaxies can give us insight into the processes that govern galaxy formation and evolution. One of the key observables used to characterise galaxy populations throughout the cosmic history is their luminosity function (number of galaxies per unit luminosity per unit volume), which requires knowledge and characterisation of the completeness and selection functions of a survey, in addition to the catalogue of discovered objects. In this thesis, we present a search for high-redshift galaxies (redshift z & 6) in two in the Hubble Space Telescope surveys, the Brightest of Reionizing Galaxies Survey (BoRG), and the Reionization Lensing Cluster Survey (RELICS) using a photometric selection technique (the Lyman break dropout selection). We aim at using the resulting galaxy candidates to estimate a new measurement of the luminosity function at z ∼ 10. To achieve that, we develop GLACiAR, an open Python-based tool available on GitHub, which is designed to estimate the completeness and selection functions in galaxy surveys. The code is tailored for multiband imaging datasets aimed at searching for high-redshift galaxies through the Lyman Break technique, but it can be applied broadly. The code generates artificial galaxies that follow Sérsic profiles with different indexes and with customisable size, redshift and spectral energy distribution properties, adds them to input images, and measures the recovery rate. We finally apply GLACiAR to quantify the completeness and redshift selection functions for J-dropouts sources (redshift z ∼ 10 galaxies). Our comparison with a previous completeness analysis on the same dataset shows overall agreement, but also highlights how different modelling assumptions for artificial sources can impact completeness estimates.
Validación de escala de la seguridad alimentaria doméstica en Antioquia, Colombia

Objective. To adapt and validate in households of Antioquia, Colombia, a food security scale previously applied in households of Caracas, Venezuela. Material and Methods. The study was carried out in 44 municipalities in the department of Antioquia, Colombia, in 2003 and 2004, with a randomly selected sample of 1 624 rural and urban households with children under 10 years of age, representative for family units located in the department of Antioquia. The sample was selected using a confidence interval of 95% and an error of 3%. Household food security scale previously used by Paulina Lorenzana in Venezuela were validated for this survey. Internal consistency of the scale was determined using the Spearman correlation coefficient and Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. Construct validity was established through principal components analysis for categorical data. Prinqual procedure and Rasch modeling were used to define the components and items in the scale. Results. Factor analysis showed two components: 1) variables related to “food insecurity without hunger”, which is explained in 95%; 2) variables related to “food insecurity with hunger”, which is explained in 89.4%. Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients for “food insecurity without hunger” and “food insecurity with hunger” were 0.95 and 0.89, respectively. When analyzed using Rasch modeling, all items showed infit values within a range of 0.8 and 1.2. The scale correlated significantly (p<0.000) with food availability, begging, children’s labor, household size,
Ultrasonographic measurement of spleen volume in horses

Ante-mortem measurement of spleen size may be valuable to understand and study hemodynamic changes during exercise and in clinical determination of splenomegaly. The hypotheses were that spleen volume can be calculated from transcutaneous ultrasonographic measurements in live standing horses; and that the spleen volume is proportional to blood volume, maximal under the influence of detomidine and minimal under the influence of epinephrine. Eight donated horses free of splenic disease were studied. Ultrasonographic spleen volume and Evans blue dye-dilution blood volume were measured before (baseline) and after intravenous administration of detomidine and epinephrine (separately). Spleen volume was calculated using a standard ellipsoid formula (VOLstandard) and with the formula modified for the unique shape of the equine spleen (VOLmodified). Horses were euthanised using pentobarbital sodium, spleens removed immediately and measurements repeated on the removed spleen. Descriptive statistics, correlation and.
Evaluatie wet bijzondere politieregisters

De Wet Bijzondere Politieregisters vloeit voort uit het onderzoek van de parlementaire enquetecommissie opsporingsmethoden (commissie Van-Traa). De wet regelt welke gegevens er in de ‘bijzondere registers’ van de politie opgenomen mogen worden, aan wie zij verstrekt mogen worden (binnen de politie en aan derden) en de bewaartermijn. Het onderzoek bestaat uit twee delen: een rechtshistorisch deel over de totstandkoming en de doelstellingen van de wet en een tweede deel over de wijze waarop de praktijk uitvoering heeft gegeven aan de wet. Gepubliceerd in Evaluatie Wet bijzondere politieregisters. In dit onderzoek wordt nagegaan wat, in de praktijk, de gevolgen zijn van de Wet Bijzondere Politieregisters, welke knelpunten zich daarbij openbaren en wat de doeltreffendheid is van deze wet?
Early development of a web-based resource for individuals with non-specific chronic low back pain: An action research-inspired approach

II DECLARATION IV ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS V TABLE OF CONTENTS VII LIST OF TABLES XI LIST OF FIGURES XII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS XIII SYMBOLS USED WITHIN THIS THESIS XIII JUSTIFICATION OF TERMS USED WITHIN THIS THESIS XIV HOW TO READ THIS THESIS XV CHAPTER ONE 1 Aims 3 PAYING FOR LOW BACK PAIN: THIRD PARTY PAYMENT IN NEW ZEALAND 4 The cost of low back pain 4 The Accident Compensation Corporation 4 THE BIG PICTURE: WHERE THIS STUDY FITS 7 CHAPTER TWO 8 Introduction 9 What is low back pain? 9 Treating low back pain 12 Low back pain and education 15 The internet as a medium for health education 19 Conclusion 22 CHAPTER THREE 23 Introduction 24
Direct Recovery of Clean Speech Using a Hybrid Noise Suppression Algorithm for Robust Speech Recognition System

A new log-power domain feature enhancement algorithm named NLPS is developed. It consists of two parts, direct solution of nonlinear system model and log-power subtraction. In contrast to other methods, the proposed algorithm does not need prior speech/noise statistical model. Instead, it works by direct solution of the nonlinear function derived from the speech recognition system. Separate steps are utilized to refine the accuracy of estimated cepstrum by log-power subtraction, which is the second part of the proposed algorithm. The proposed algorithm manages to solve the speech probability distribution function (PDF) discontinuity problem caused by traditional spectral subtraction series algorithms. The effectiveness of the proposed filter is extensively compared using the standard database, AURORA2. The results show that significant improvement can be achieved by incorporating the proposed algorithm. The proposed algorithm reaches a recognition rate of over 86% for noisy speech (average from SNR 0 dB to 20 dB), which means a 48% error reduction over the baseline Mel-frequency Cepstral Coefficient (MFCC) system.
Medication for multiple sclerosis : Ocrelizumab effect and safety

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease induced by immune cell attack on oligodendrocytes causing the loss of myelin and leading to degeneration of neuron function. The disease is divided into four subgroups based on inflammatory activity and disease progression, relapsing-remitting MS, primary progressive MS, secondary progressive MS and progressive relapsing MS. Available drugs today do not cure the disease; instead, they regulate inflammatory cytokines to decrease the demyelination process. This study takes a closer look at the newly approved medication ocrelizumab that has shown a promising effect on disease progression in comparison to baseline treatments. This study aimed to provide a better understanding of the new medication regarding effect, safety and comparison to other MS treatments. Data in this study was obtained from several high-value sources such as; Pubmed for clinical trial and review papers, medical databases including Medibas, internetmedicin, 1177.se. Books on human anatomy and disease provided the background information on multiple sclerosis. The results from 3 clinical studies and 2 review papers indicated effect of ocrelizumab in MS patients. Comparison of ocrelizumab effect to placebo groups and interferon-beta 1 groups favoured ocrelizumab in the progression and efficacy data. The disease progression was measured with three methods: Expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score, using a tracer that cannot cross a normal, intact blood brain barrier revealing Gadoliniumenhanced lesions (GEL) in the brain on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and the inflammation marker immunoglobulin G (IgG) index. Participants were aged 18-55 and had confirmed MS diagnose before trial start. Adverse events (AEs) were not absent and the most reported AE was the infusion-related reaction in ocrelizumab groups. Reports of infections were registered and were anticipated due to the drugs mechanism of action—suppression of immune response. In conclusion, results show that ocrelizumab is an effective treatment for multiple sclerosis. The drug is associated with better disability progression, MRI, and clinical rates in the treated population. Even comparison to baseline treatment showed a pronounced efficacy and lower disease activity in ocrelizumab group.
Epigenetic Down-Regulation of Sirt 1 via DNA Methylation and Oxidative Stress Signaling Contributes to the Gestational Diabetes Mellitus-Induced Fetal Programming of Heart Ischemia-Sensitive Phenotype in Late Life

Rationale: The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing worldwide. However, whether and how GDM exposure induces fetal programming of adult cardiac dysfunctional phenotype, especially the underlying epigenetic molecular mechanisms and theranostics remain unclear. To address this problem, we developed a late GDM rat model. Methods: Pregnant rats were made diabetic on day 12 of gestation by streptozotocin (STZ). Experiments were conducted in 6 weeks old offspring. Results: There were significant increases in ischemia-induced cardiac infarction and gender-dependent left ventricular (LV) dysfunction in male offspring in GDM group as compared to controls. Exposure to GDM enhanced ROS level and caused a global DNA methylation in offspring cardiomyocytes. GDM attenuated cardiac Sirt 1 protein and p-Akt/Akt levels, but enhanced autophagy-related proteins expression (Atg 5 and LC3 II/LC3 I) as compared to controls. Ex-vivo treatment of DNA methylation inhibitor, 5-Aza directly inhibited Dnmt3A and enhanced Sirt 1 protein expression in fetal hearts. Furthermore, treatment with antioxidant, N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) in offspring reversed GDM-mediated DNA hypermethylation, Sirt1 repression and autophagy-related gene protein overexpression in the hearts, and rescued GDM-induced deterioration in heart ischemic injury and LV dysfunction. Conclusion: Our data indicated that exposure to GDM induced offspring cardiac oxidative stress and DNA hypermethylation, resulting in an epigenetic down-regulation of Sirt1 gene and aberrant development of heart ischemia-sensitive phenotype, which suggests that Sirt 1-mediated signaling is the potential therapeutic target for the heart ischemic disease in offspring.
Effect of Flaky Plastic Particle Size and Volume Used as Partial Replacement of Gravel on Compressive Strength and Density of Concrete Mix

Common ways of disposing waste plastic such as incineration and landfilling have negative impacts on the environment. Partial replacement of natural aggregate in concrete with waste plastic including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is more environmental friendly and sustainable. The effect of adding 5% to 20% waste plastic by volume of natural coarse aggregate (“gravel”) and plastic particle size (3 to 7 mm) on the density and compressive strength of plastic-concrete mix after 28 days of curing was studied. The results showed that density of the concrete decreased from 2406.7 to 2286.7 kg/m3 as waste plastic increased from 5% to 20% v/v compared with 2443.3 kg/m3 recorded by concrete without waste plastic. Change in particle size from 3 to 7 mm has no significant effect on the density of the plastic-concrete mix. The compressive strength decreased as the volume and particle size of waste plastic increased. When waste plastic volume changed from 5% to 20% v/v, the compressive strength decreased from 20.5 to 15 MPa, 18.6 to 14.3 MPa and 17.2 to 13.8 MPa for 3, 5 and 7 mm waste plastic particle size respectively while the concrete without plastic has 21.33 MPa. Therefore, the addition of 5% (v/v gravel) of flaky waste plastic in the concrete produces a lightweight concrete which could offer economic benefit without substantially reducing the compressive strength of the plastic-concrete mix.
Repetitive subconcussive head impacts and changes in sensory processing for balance control

Background Repetitive subconcussive head impacts (RHI) may be associated with current and future detrimental neurological effects. However, the effects of RHI on sensory processing for balance control is unknown and may have significant clinical implications if athletes are still participating in sport despite impairments. Research Question Are there changes in sensory processing for balance control during standing and walking following RHI? Methods Thirty healthy, adult, amateur soccer players (15 males, 15 females, 21.8±2.8 years, 69.9±11.5 kg, 171.4±8.2 cm) volunteered for the standing balance assessment (i.e., experiment 1). A distinct cohort of twenty healthy, adult, amateur soccer players (10 males, 10 females, 22.3±4.5 years, 70.0±10.5 kg, 170.5±9.8 cm) volunteered for the walking balance assessment (i.e., experiment 2). We used a repeated measures design across three time points (pre-heading, 0-hours post-heading, 24-hours post-heading). Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental (i.e., performed 10 soccer headers in 10 minutes) or a control group (i.e., did not perform any soccer heading between sessions). In experiment 1, participants stood in a virtual reality cave while experiencing simultaneous perturbations to their visual, vestibular, and proprioceptive systems. In experiment 2, participants walked blindfolded along a foam walkway and experienced a vestibular perturbation on the second heel strike of the right foot. Changes in sensory processing were assessed using repeated measures ANOVAs. Results There were no changes in sensory reweighting during experiment 1 and no changes in balance responses to the vestibular stimulus in experiment 2. Significance Although the cumulative effects of RHI may result in later-life cognitive, behavioral, and mood impairments, a single episode of repeated soccer headers does not appear to be associated with acute impairments in sensory processing for balance control.
KÜTAHYA İLİ Meles meles Linnaeus, 1758 (MAMMALIA: CARNIVORA)’İN BAZI EKOLOJİK, BİYOLOJİK VE TAKSONOMİK ÖZELLİKLERİ

Bu arastirma, 2002-2004 yillari arasinda, Kutahya ili sinirlari icerisinde toplanan 10 Meles meles ornegine dayanmaktadir. Bu ture ait, habitat, beslenme, yuva, kurk rengi ve baculum gibi bazi ayirici ekolojik ve biyolojik ozellikler kaydedilmistir. Bu turun morfometrik verileri istatistiksel olarak degerlendirilerek karsilastirmalar yapilmis ve bazi taksonomik ozellikler bu calismada kaydedilmistir.
Numerical simulation of Oldroyd-B fluid with application to hemodynamics

Oldroyd-B viscoelastic fluid is numerically simulated using the stabilized Galerkin least squares finite element method. The instabilities due to the connective nature of the Oldroyd-B model is treated using the discrete viscous elastic split stress method. The model is used to study the behavior of the flow of blood through an abdominal aortic segment. The results show that the viscoelastic nature of the blood should be considered specially at low shear rates.
Separation and Identification of Oligomeric-Hindered Amine Light Stabilizer Uvasorb HA 88 by High-performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Coupled With Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALSI-TOF-MS)

Abstract Uvasorb HA 88 is widely used as a light stabilizer to prevent plastic polymer degradation. Its high molecular weight and oligomeric characters provide challenge for quality control. In this study, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with electrospray ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF MS) was applied for separation and detection of Uvasorb HA 88. The synthesis scheme was deduced and confirmed by the characterization of Uvasorb HA 88 products from different batches. Direct matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) was employed for the detailed characterization of chemical composition of Uvasorb HA 88. Furthermore, a reliable reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) coupled with MALDI-TOF MS method was established and the weight-average and number-average molecular masses were calculated. The results revealed that six oligomers with repeat unit numbers from 1 to 4 were present in Uvasorb HA 88. A molecular weight of up to 6808 g mol−1 was detected and two new series of oligomers were reported for the first time. Different series of oligomers and positional isomers were observed in Uvasorb HA 88. This work provides a suitable method to evaluate the technical grade of Uvasorb HA 88 as well as comprehensive characterization of complex oligomeric hindered amine light stabilizers.