Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping cortical brain asymmetry in 17,141 healthy individuals worldwide via the ENIGMA Consortium

Significance Left–right asymmetry is a key feature of the human brain's structure and function. It remains unclear which cortical regions are asymmetrical on average in the population and how biological factors such as age, sex, and genetic variation affect these asymmetries. Here, we describe by far the largest-ever study of cerebral cortical asymmetry, based on data from 17,141 participants. We found a global anterior–posterior “torque” pattern in cortical thickness, together with various regional asymmetries at the population level, which have not been previously described, as well as effects of age, sex, and heritability estimates. From these data, we have created an online resource that will serve future studies of human brain anatomy in health and disease. Hemispheric asymmetry is a cardinal feature of human brain organization. Altered brain asymmetry has also been linked to some cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders. Here, the ENIGMA (Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta-Analysis) Consortium presents the largest-ever analysis of cerebral cortical asymmetry and its variability across individuals. Cortical thickness and surface area were assessed in MRI scans of 17,141 healthy individuals from 99 datasets worldwide. Results revealed widespread asymmetries at both hemispheric and regional levels, with a generally thicker cortex but smaller surface area in the left hemisphere relative to the right. Regionally, asymmetries of cortical thickness and/or surface area were found in the inferior frontal gyrus, transverse temporal gyrus, parahippocampal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex. These regions are involved in lateralized functions, including language and visuospatial processing. In addition to population-level asymmetries, variability in brain asymmetry was related to sex, age, and intracranial volume. Interestingly, we did not find significant associations between asymmetries and handedness. Finally, with two independent pedigree datasets (n = 1,443 and 1,113, respectively), we found several asymmetries showing significant, replicable heritability. The structural asymmetries identified and their variabilities and heritability provide a reference resource for future studies on the genetic basis of brain asymmetry and altered laterality in cognitive, neurological, and psychiatric disorders.
Attitudes to ageing and objectively-measured sedentary and walking behaviour in older people: The Lothian Birth Cohort 1936

Background Prolonged sitting and low activity—both common in older people—are associated with increased mortality and poorer health. Whether having a more negative attitude to ageing is associated with higher levels of these behaviours is unclear. Objective We investigated the prospective relationship between attitudes to ageing and objectively measured sedentary and walking behaviour. Methods Participants were 271 members of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936. At age 72 years, participants completed the Attitudes to Ageing Questionnaire which assesses attitudes on three domains—Psychosocial loss, Physical change and Psychological growth. At age 79 years, participants wore an activPAL activity monitor for seven days. The outcome measures were average daily time spent sedentary, number of sit-to-stand transitions, and step count. Results There were no significant associations between any of the Attitude to Ageing domain scores and time spent sedentary or number of sit-to-stand transitions. In sex-adjusted analysis, having a more positive attitude to ageing as regards Physical change was associated with a slightly higher daily step count, for a SD increment in score, average daily step count was greater by 1.5% (95% CI 0.6%, 2.4%). On further adjustment for potential confounding factors these associations were no longer significant. Conclusion We found no evidence that attitudes to ageing at age 72 were predictive of sedentary or walking behaviour seven years later. Future studies should examine whether attitudes to ageing are associated with objectively measured walking or sedentary behaviour at the same point in time. The existence of such an association could inform the development of interventions.
The X-Ray Spectral Properties of SCUBA Galaxies

Deep SCUBA surveys have uncovered a large population of massive submillimeter-emitting galaxies (SMGs; f850μm ≳ 4 mJy) at z ≳ 1. Although it is generally believed that these galaxies host intense star formation activity, there is growing evidence that a substantial fraction also harbor an active galactic nucleus (AGN; i.e., an accreting super-massive black hole [SMBH]). We present here possibly the strongest evidence for this viewpoint to date: the combination of ultradeep X-ray observations (the 2 Ms Chandra Deep Field-North) and deep Keck spectroscopic data of SMGs with radio counterparts. We find that the majority (≈75%) of these radio-selected spectroscopically identified SMGs host AGN activity; the other ≈25% have X-ray properties consistent with star formation (X-ray-derived star formation rates of ≈1300-2700 M☉ yr-1). The AGNs have properties generally consistent with those of nearby luminous AGNs (Γ ≈ 1.8 ± 0.5, NH ≈ 1020-1024 cm-2, and LX ≈ 1043-1044.5 ergs s-1), and the majority (≈80%) are heavily obscured (NH ≳ 1023 cm-2). We construct composite rest-frame 2-20 keV spectra for three different obscuration classes [NH < 1023 cm-2, NH = (1-5) × 1023 cm-2, and NH > 5 × 1023 cm-2], which reveal features not seen in the individual X-ray spectra. An ≈1 keV equivalent width Fe Kα emission line is seen in the composite X-ray spectrum of the most heavily obscured AGNs, suggesting Compton-thick or near Compton-thick absorption. Even taking into account the effects of absorption, we find that the average X-ray to far-IR luminosity ratio of the AGN-classified SMGs (LX/LFIR = 0.004) is approximately 1 order of magnitude below that found for typical quasars. This result suggests that intense star formation activity (of order ≈1000 M☉ yr-1) dominates the bolometric output of these SMGs. However, we also explore the possibility that the X-ray to far-IR luminosity ratio of the AGN components is intrinsically less than that found for typical quasars and postulate that some SMGs may be AGN dominated. We investigate the implications of our results for the growth of massive black holes, discuss the prospects for deeper X-ray observations, and explore the scientific potential offered by the next generation of X-ray observatories.
Rates and Locations of Regional Metastases in Sinonasal Malignancies: The Mayo Clinic Experience

Abstract Objectives The objective of this study was to identify factors that may influence the rate and location of regional metastasis in sinonasal malignancies (SNMs). Design This is a retrospective review. Setting This study was set at the single-institution tertiary referral center. Participants A total of 299 patients were treated for SNMs from 1994 to 2014. Main Outcome Measures The main outcome measures were incidence and distribution of regional metastases. Results Several histologic subtypes were treated, with squamous cell carcinoma (28.4%), esthesioneuroblastoma (18.1%), and mucosal melanoma (12.4%) being the most common. Of the 299 patients, 59 (19.7%) developed a regional metastasis, either at presentation or during follow-up. Higher cumulative incidence of regional metastases was significantly associated with histologic type (p ≤0.001) and invasion of the dura (p = 0.005), infratemporal fossa (p = 0.036), orbit (p = 0.020), or palate (p = 0.016). Ipsilateral level II lymph nodes were the most commonly involved nodes. Contralateral regional metastases were associated with higher risk histologic types (p = 0.005) and dural invasion (p = 0.008). Parotid metastases were associated with invasion of the facial soft tissue (p = 0.028), and retropharyngeal metastases were associated with invasion of the pterygoid plates and musculature (p = 0.030). Conclusion Histologic type of SNM appears to be the most important factor in predicting the rate of regional metastases. Histologic type and invasion of certain neighboring structures may help define which lymphatic basins are at highest risk for metastasis.
Net Working Capital, Cash Flow and Performance of UK SMEs

Purpose - – This paper aims to examine the influence of cash flow on the relationship between net working capital and firm performance. Design/methodology/approach - – The paper uses unbalanced panel data regression analysis on a sample of 6,926 non-financial small and medium enterprises in the UK for the period from 2004 to 2013. Findings - – The results indicate a strong concave relationship between net working capital and performance in the absence of cash flow; however, the relationship becomes convex after taking cash flow into consideration. The results further show that firms with cash flow below the sample median exhibit lower investment in working capital, but firms with cash flow above the sample median have higher investment in working capital. The results suggest that managers should consider their firms cash flow when determining the appropriate investment to be made in working capital, so as to improve performance. Practical implications - – Overall, the results suggest that whilst firms with limited cash flow should strive to reduce investment in working capital, firms with available cash flow should increase investment in working capital to improve performance. Originality/value - – This current study incorporates the relevance of cash flow in assessing the association between working capital management and firm performance.
LUCON: Data Flow Control for Message-Based IoT Systems

Today's emerging Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) scenarios are characterized by the exchange of data between services across enterprises. Traditional access and usage control mechanisms are only able to determine if data may be used by a subject, but lack an understanding of how it may be used. The ability to control the way how data is processed is however crucial for enterprises to guarantee (and provide evidence of) compliant processing of critical data, as well as for users who need to control if their private data may be analyzed or linked with additional information - a major concern in IoT applications processing personal information. In this paper, we introduce LUCON, a data-centric security policy framework for distributed systems that considers data flows by controlling how messages may be routed across services and how they are combined and processed. LUCON policies prevent information leaks, bind data usage to obligations, and enforce data flows across services. Policy enforcement is based on a dynamic taint analysis at runtime and an upfront static verification of message routes against policies. We discuss the semantics of these two complementing enforcement models and illustrate how LUCON policies are compiled from a simple policy language into a first-order logic representation. We demonstrate the practical application of LUCON in a real-world IoT middleware and discuss its integration into Apache Camel. Finally, we evaluate the runtime impact of LUCON and discuss performance and scalability aspects.
Loss of hypoxia inducible factor‐1α aggravates γδ T‐cell‐mediated inflammation during acetaminophen‐induced liver injury

Acetaminophen (APAP)‐induced liver injury is closely associated with acute hepatic inflammation. Hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1) is activated during immunological processes and regulates gene expressions in various types of immune cells. Although HIF‐1 controls the differentiation and functions of conventional T cells in chronic inflammation, the pathological importance of HIF‐1 in innate‐like T cells during acute inflammation remains unknown. Here, we investigated the role of HIF‐1 in innate‐like γδ T cells during APAP‐induced acute liver injury. In response to APAP administration, T‐cell‐specific Hif‐1α gene knockout mice sustained severe liver damage compared to wild‐type control mice but without any impacts on the initial hepatic insult. This severe liver damage was accompanied by excessive neutrophil infiltration into the liver, increased serum interleukin (IL)‐17A levels, and increased hepatic expressions of C‐X‐C chemokine ligand (Cxcl) 1 and Cxcl2. Neutrophil depletion and IL‐17A neutralization completely abolished the aggravated phenotypes in T‐cell‐specific Hif‐1α gene knockout mice. Loss of the Hif‐1α gene enhanced the aberrant accumulation of IL‐17A‐producing innate‐like γδ T cells in the affected liver with no apparent effects on their IL‐17A‐producing ability. Adoptive transfer of Hif‐1α‐deficient splenic γδ T cells into recombination activating gene 2 (Rag2)‐deficient mice aggravated APAP‐induced liver injury with increased neutrophil accumulation in the liver compared to that of wild‐type γδ T cells. Furthermore, Hif‐1α‐deficient γδ T cells selectively showed aberrantly enhanced migratory ability. This ability was totally abolished by treatment with the mitochondrial adenosine triphosphate synthase inhibitor oligomycin. Conclusion: Deletion of Hif‐1α gene in T cells aggravates APAP‐induced acute inflammatory responses by enhancing aberrant innate‐like γδ T‐cell recruitment, thereby increasing excessive neutrophil infiltration into the liver. (Hepatology Communications 2018;2:571‐581)
A summary of computational resources for protein phosphorylation.

Protein phosphorylation is the most ubiquitous post-translational modification (PTM), and plays important roles in most of biological processes. Identification of site-specific phosphorylated substrates is fundamental for understanding the molecular mechanisms of phosphorylation. Besides experimental approaches, prediction of potential candidates with computational methods has also attracted great attention for its convenience, fast-speed and low-cost. In this review, we present a comprehensive but brief summarization of computational resources of protein phosphorylation, including phosphorylation databases, prediction of non-specific or organism-specific phosphorylation sites, prediction of kinase-specific phosphorylation sites or phospho-binding motifs, and other tools. The latest compendium of computational resources for protein phosphorylation is available at: http://gps.biocuckoo. org/links.php.
Life Expectancy and Income Convergence in the World: A Dynamic General Equilibrium Analysis

There is world-wide convergence in life expectancy, despite little convergence in GDP per capita. If one values longer life much more than material happiness, the world living standards may this have already converged substantially. This paper introduces the concept of the dynastic general equilibrium value of life to measure welfare gains from the increase in life expectancy. A calibration study finds sizable welfare gains, but these gains hardly mitigate the large inequality among countries. A conventional GDP-based measure remains a good approximation for (non) convergence in world living standards, even when adjusted for changes in life expectancy.
PSD Estimation and Source Separation in a Noisy Reverberant Environment Using a Spherical Microphone Array

In this paper, we propose an efficient technique for estimating individual power spectral density (PSD) components, i.e., PSD of each desired sound source as well as of noise and reverberation, in a multisource reverberant sound scene with coherent background noise. We formulate the problem in the spherical harmonics domain to take the advantage of the inherent orthogonality of the spherical harmonics basis functions and extract the PSD components from the cross-correlation between the different sound field modes. We also investigate an implementation issue that occurs at the nulls of the Bessel functions and offer an engineering solution. The performance evaluation takes place in a practical environment with a commercial microphone array in order to measure the robustness of the proposed algorithm against all the deviations incurred in practice. We also exhibit an application of the proposed PSD estimator through a source septation algorithm and compare the performance with a contemporary method in terms of different objective measures.
Children, well-being and community in a non-deprived neighbourhood

Recent UK policy rhetoric has emphasised the need for wider society to recognise their shared responsibility for the well-being and safety of young people. This thesis explores the ways in which communities can have an impact upon the welfare of local children and young people in a particular, non-deprived commuter suburb. Government policies in England and Wales have asserted that children’s well-being is ‘everybody’s business’. Similarly, political rhetoric in England about the ‘big society’ and neighbourhood based programmes in Wales have echoed this shift in responsibility for improving children’s lives from central government to local communities, although both are ambiguous about how this should be done. Drawing on primary, qualitative research, this thesis explores how communities facilitate the well-being of children in a non-deprived, modern suburban neighbourhood in South Wales. The ethnographically driven study included interviews with 35 residents and over 200 hours of observation in a variety of community settings. The findings suggest that in Newtown Common there are a number of ways in which community can be conceptualised as influencing the well-being of children and young people in its midst. These include the role of: the social and environmental hazards in the neighbourhood, in the built environment; the ensuring of children’s safety and access to facilities by community organisations and those that work in the area; and the value of local informal networks of support for children and families. The thesis concludes by reflecting on the methodological, sociological and policy implications of these messages.
A physical layer security algorithm based on constellation

The cyclostationary characteristics of signals has some important applications in such as blind channel equalization, blind adaptive beamforming, and system identification. However, the cyclostationary characteristics also can be a weak link in physical layer security. With high-order cyclostationary theory, some system information can be obtained easily. In this paper, we proposed a new algorithm based on constellation phase rotation and amplitude randomization, during which the cyclostationary feature of signals can be suppressed.
Fast-Forwarding Agent States to Accelerate Microscopic Traffic Simulations

Traditionally, the model time in agent-based simulations is advanced in fixed time steps. However, a purely time-stepped execution is inefficient in situations where the states of individual agents are independent of other agents and thus easily predictable far into the simulated future. In this work, we propose a method to accelerate microscopic traffic simulations based on identifying independence among agent state updates. Instead of iteratively updating an agent's state throughout a sequence of time steps, a computationally inexpensive "fast-forward" function advances the agent's state to the time of its earliest possible interaction with other agents. To demonstrate the approach in practice, we present an algorithm to efficiently determine intervals of independence in microscopic traffic simulations and derive a fast-forward function for the popular Intelligent Driver Model (IDM). In contrast to existing acceleration approaches based on reducing the level of model detail, our approach retains the microscopic nature of the simulation. A performance evaluation is performed in a synthetic scenario and on the road network of the city of Singapore. At low traffic densities, we achieved a speedup of up to 2.8, whereas at the highest considered densities, only few opportunities for fast-forwarding could be identified. The algorithm parameters can be tuned to control the overhead of the approach.
EUS-guided tissue sampling with a 20-gauge core biopsy needle for the characterization of gastrointestinal subepithelial lesions: A multicenter study

Background and Objective: A new 20-gauge (G) biopsy needle with a core-trap technology has been developed with a large core size and enhanced flexibility. The aim of this multicenter study was to determine the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of EUS-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) with the new 20G needle in diagnosing subepithelial lesions (SELs). Materials and Methods: Retrospectively collected data from consecutive patients with SELs undergoing EUS-FNB with the 20G needle at five centers were analyzed. Results: A total of 50 SELs were included. The mean lesion size was 43.1 ± 17.5 mm. The lesion locations were esophagus (n = 1), stomach (n = 37), distal duodenum (n = 5), rectum (n = 6), and colon (n = 1). The procedure was technically feasible in all patients. Definitive diagnosis with full histological assessment including immunohistochemistry was obtained in 88% (44/50) of the patients. Considering malignant versus benign lesions, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 85% (95% confidence interval [CI] 70.2–94.3), 100% (95% CI 58.7%–100%), 100% (95% CI 85.1%–100%), and 62.5 (95% CI 27.7–84.8), respectively. No major complications requiring additional care have been observed. Conclusions: In this multicenter study, we found that EUS-FNB with the new 20G core needle is an effective and safe method for the diagnosis of SELs with a high rate of producing adequate histological material and high diagnostic accuracy even from difficult-to-approach anatomical locations.
Exploring Bedroom Usability and Accessibility in Parkinson’s Disease (PD): The Utility of a PD Home Safety Questionnaire and Implications for Adaptations

Background Although bedrooms are identified as a major location for accidents among Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, there are no studies that specifically evaluate the bedroom environments of PD patients. Objective To examine the physical bedroom environment of patients with PD by generating a home safety questionnaire to rate bedroom accessibility and usability specifically for PD patients, and piloting it in a small set of PD patients, to identify environmental barriers and recommend adaptations to reduce accident risks. Methods Questionnaire development was based on the concept of Personal (P)-Environmental (E) fit. The P component covers five clinical domains that contribute to a patients’ current state of health, including PD-related motor symptoms, PD-related non-motor symptoms, gait and balance impairments, comorbidities, and limitations on specific activities. The E component focuses on both indoor (bedroom, bathroom, living room, stairs, and kitchen), and outdoor (outdoor area and entrance) areas within a home where PD patients commonly get injured. Total score for the whole questionnaire is 171. A higher score indicates more P-E problems. Results Comprehension of questions was tested for content validity with an item-objective congruence index of above 0.6 for all items. High internal consistency (reliability) was confirmed by Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.828 (r). The pilot in five PD patients gave a mean total score of 48.2 ± 7.29 with a mean score on personal and environmental components of 16.8 ± 5.12 and 31.4 ± 4.51, respectively. Conclusion This PD home safety questionnaire is a valid and reliable instrument for examining P-E problems by a multidisciplinary team during their home visits. More studies, involving a large number of PD patients, are needed to establish its utility as a screening instrument in PD patients to assess for home adaptations.