Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Novel Concussion Protocol With Infralow Frequency Neuromodulation Demonstrates Significant Treatment Response in Patients With Persistent Postconcussion Symptoms, a Retrospective Study

Introduction Concussion is a growing public health concern. No uniformly established therapy exists; neurofeedback studies report treatment value. We use infralow frequency neuromodulation (ILF) to remediate disabling neurological symptoms caused by traumatic brain injury (TBI) and noted improved outcomes with a novel concussion protocol. Postconcussion symptoms (PCS) and persistent postconcussion symptoms (PPCS; >3 months post head injury) are designated timelines for protracted neurological complaints following TBI. We performed a retrospective study to explore effectiveness of ILF in PCS/PPCS and investigated the value of using this concussion protocol. Method Patients with PCS/PPCS seen for their first neurology office visit or received their first neurofeedback session between 1 August 2018 and 31 January 2021 were entered. Outcomes were compared following treatment as usual (TAU) vs. TAU with ILF neurotherapy (TAU+ILF). The study cohort was limited to PPCS patients; the TAU+ILF group was restricted further to PPCS patients receiving at least 10 neurotherapy sessions. Within the TAU+ILF group, comparisons were made between those who trained at least 10 sessions using concussion protocol (TAU+ILF+CP) and those who trained for at least 10 sessions of ILF regardless of protocol (TAU+ILF-CP). Results Among our resultant PPCS cohort (n = 59) leading persistent neurological complaints were headache (67.8%), memory impairment (57.6%), and brain fog (50.8%). PPCS patients in TAU+ILF+CP (n = 25) demonstrated greater net (p = 0.004) and percent (p = 0.026) improvement of symptoms compared to PPCS subjects in TAU (n = 26). PPCS patients in TAU+ILF-CP (n = 8) trended toward significant symptom improvements compared to TAU, and TAU+ILF+CP trended toward greater efficacy than TAU+ILF-CP. Conclusion PPCS patients who received TAU+ILF+CP demonstrated significantly greater improvement as a group when compared to TAU. When used as an integrative modality to treatment as usual in managing patients with PPCS, ILF neuromodulation with use of concussion protocol provided significant symptom improvements.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Process of Ovarian Development and Nutrition Metabolism in Chinese Mitten Crab, Eriocheir Sinensis

Ovarian development is a key physiological process that holds great significance in the reproduction of the Chinese mitten crab (Eriocheir sinensis), which is an economically important crab species for aquaculture. However, there is limited knowledge for the regulatory mechanisms of ovarian development. To study the molecular mechanisms of its ovarian development, transcriptome analysis was performed in the ovary and hepatopancreas of E. sinensis during ovarian stages I (oogonium proliferation), II (endogenous vitellogenesis), and III (exogenous vitellogenesis). The results showed that 5,520 and 226 genes were differentially expressed in the ovary and hepatopancreas, respectively. For KEGG enrichment analysis, the differentially expressed genes in the ovary were significantly clustered in phototransduction-fly, phagosome, and ECM-receptor interaction. Significantly enriched pathways in the hepatopancreas included fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid metabolism, and riboflavin metabolism. Further analysis showed that 25 genes and several pathways were mainly involved in oogenesis, including the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, cyclic AMP-protein kinase A signaling pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway. Twenty-five candidate genes involved in vitellogenesis and endocrine regulation were identified, such as vitellogenin, vitellogenin receptor, estrogen sulfotransferase, ecdysone receptor, prostaglandin reductase 1, hematopoietic prostaglandin D synthase and juvenile hormone acid O-methyltransferase. Fifty-six genes related to nutritional metabolism were identified, such as fatty acid synthase, long-chain-fatty-acid-CoA ligase 4, 1-acyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 4, fatty acid-binding protein, and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase 1. These results highlight the genes involved in ovarian development and nutrition deposition, which enhance our understanding of the regulatory pathways and physiological processes of crustacean ovarian development.
The Water-Energy-Food Nexus Beyond “Technical Quick Fix”: The Case of Hydro-Development in the Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia

This paper builds upon empirical material from a case study of two dam sites in Ethiopia to revisit nexus narratives from a political ecology perspective. The two dams on tributaries of the Upper Blue Nile are examples of the success of hydro-development in increasing food and energy production, but at the same time they are evidence of the controversial effects these developments have on local populations. The paper argues that conventional nexus thinking has often been too water- and economy-centric, and too much focussed on a “technical quick fix” instead of a holistic approach. The paper calls for a broadening of nexus perspectives in order to better acknowledge the social complexity of hydro-development in local contexts, to understand the political construction of scarcity, and to combine different knowledges at the science-practice interface.
Does Plasma Inhibit the Activity of KCl Cotransport in Red Cells From LK Sheep?

Red cells from LK sheep represent an important paradigm for control of KCl cotransport activity, as well as being important to sheep erythroid function. A previous report (Godart et al., 1997) suggested that autologous plasma markedly inhibits red cell KCC activity and identified the presence of the bicarbonate/CO2 buffer system as the probable cause. Findings were restricted, however, to red cells from patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) swollen anisotonically and carried out at a very high O2 tension (c.700 mmHg). It was therefore important to investigate the generality of the effect described and whether it was also relevant to the two main stimuli for KCC activity encountered most often by circulating red cells in vivo - low pH in active muscle beds during exercise and high urea concentrations in the renal medulla during antidiuresis. Results confirm that inhibition was significant in response to anisotonic swelling with KCC activity in MOPS-buffered saline (MBS) vs. bicarbonate-buffered saline (BBS) and in MBS vs. plasma both reduced (by about 25 and 50%, respectively). By contrast, however, inhibition was absent at low pH and in high concentrations of urea. These findings suggest therefore that red cell KCC activity represents an important membrane permeability in vivo in red cells suspended in plasma. They are relevant, in particular, to sheep red cells, and may also be important by extension to those of other species and to the abnormal red cells found in human patients with SCD.
Time-Varying Effective Connectivity for Describing the Dynamic Brain Networks of Post-stroke Rehabilitation

Hemiplegia is a common motor dysfunction caused by a stroke. However, the dynamic network mechanism of brain processing information in post-stroke hemiplegic patients has not been revealed when performing motor imagery (MI) tasks. We acquire electroencephalography (EEG) data from healthy subjects and post-stroke hemiplegic patients and use the Fugl-Meyer assessment (FMA) to assess the degree of motor function damage in stroke patients. Time-varying MI networks are constructed using the adaptive directed transfer function (ADTF) method to explore the dynamic network mechanism of MI in post-stroke hemiplegic patients. Finally, correlation analysis has been conducted to study potential relationships between global efficiency and FMA scores. The performance of our proposed method has shown that the brain network pattern of stroke patients does not significantly change from laterality to bilateral symmetry when performing MI recognition. The main change is that the contralateral motor areas of the brain damage and the effective connection between the frontal lobe and the non-motor areas are enhanced, to compensate for motor dysfunction in stroke patients. We also find that there is a correlation between FMA scores and global efficiency. These findings help us better understand the dynamic brain network of patients with post-stroke when processing MI information. The network properties may provide a reliable biomarker for the objective evaluation of the functional rehabilitation diagnosis of stroke patients.
Anthropometrical and Physiological Determinants of Laboratory and on-Snow Performance in Competitive Adolescent Cross-Country Skiers

Purpose: To explore the anthropometrical and physiological determinants of laboratory and on-snow performance in competitive adolescent cross-country skiers. Methods: Fifty-two adolescent (25 girls) (14.8 ± 0.6 years) skiers performed an uphill treadmill rollerski session using the G2 ski skating technique. Gross efficiency (GE) was calculated from a submaximal work bout (∼84% of peak oxygen uptake; V̇O2peak) while V̇O2peak, accumulated oxygen deficit (ΣO2def) and laboratory performance were determined from a 3-min time trial (TT3min) before upper- and lower-body maximum strength were tested. Pearson’s product moment correlations and multiple regression analysis explored the relationship with anthropometrical and physiological determinations of laboratory and on-snow performance in sprint (∼1 km, ∼2.5–3 min) and distance races (5–7.5 km, ∼12–20 min) from the national championship for this age-group. Results: A large correlation was found between on-snow sprint and distance performance (boys r = 0.61, girls r = 0.76, both p < 0.01) and for on-snow distance performance with TT 3min (r = 0.51 to 0.56, p < 0.05). V̇O2peak, ΣO2def and GE explained ∼80% of variations in performance in the TT3min, but substantial lower on-snow skiing performance (∼20–30%). For the TT3min performance, V̇O2peak showed a very large and large correlation for boys and girls (r = 0.76 and 0.65 respectively, both p < 0.01), ΣO2def showed a large correlation for boys and girls (r = 0.53 and 0.55 respectively, both p < 0.01) and age showed a large correlation for boys (r = 0.56, p < 0.01), with no significant correlation for girls (r = -0.19). For on-snow distance performance, V̇O2peak showed a large correlation for boys (r = 0.53, p < 0.01) and girls (r = 0.50, p < 0.05). For on-snow sprint performance, upper-body strength (r = 0.55, both sexes p < 0.01) and body mass index (BMI) showed a large correlation for boys (r = 0.53, p < 0.01) and girls (r = 0.51, p < 0.05). Conclusion: V̇O2peak is an important determinant for overall XC skiing performance in competitive male and female adolescent skiers. However, upper-body strength and BMI correlate the most with sprint performance. While laboratory performance can to a large extent be explained by physiological factors, on-snow-performance for adolescents is based more on multivariate factors (tactics, equipment’s, technique, racecourse etc.), implying the need for a holistic approach to understanding the sport-specific demands in such age-groups.
Effect of Maternal HIV Infection on Infant Development and Outcomes

Early life represents a period of profound immunological development and heightened susceptibility to infectious disease. The developmental trajectory over this period is influenced by a number of factors, including gestational age, mode of delivery, mode of feeding, microbiome development, and environmental exposures. There are also several maternal factors that have been shown to have a negative effect on both immune development and clinical outcomes, including maternal infection and inflammation. Studies have associated maternal HIV infections with an increase in infectious morbidity and mortality and decreased growth measures among their HIV-exposed uninfected (HEU) offspring. Among HEU infants, socioeconomic factors, maternal nutrition, maternal viral load, and maternal inflammation have also all been associated with impaired infant immune status and clinical outcomes. However, the mechanisms underlying these observations have not been elucidated and, apart from measures of disease severity, few studies thus far have undertaken in-depth assessments of maternal health status or immune function during gestation and how these influence developmental outcomes in their infants. The lack of a mechanistic understanding of how these gestational influences affect infant outcomes inhibits the ability to design and implement effective interventions. This review describes the current state of research into these mechanisms and highlights areas for future study include; how HIV infection causes the inflammatory trajectory to deviate from normal gestation, the mechanism(s) by which in utero exposure to maternal inflammation influences infant immune development and clinical outcomes, the role of socioeconomic factors as an inducer of maternal stress and inflammation, and maternal nutrition during gestation.
Downlink Spectral Efficiency of Massive MIMO with Dual-Polarized Antennas

This paper considers the downlink of a single-cell massive MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) system with dual-polarized antennas at both the base station and users. We consider a channel model that takes into account several practical aspects that arise when utilizing dual polarization, such as channel cross-polar discrimination (XPD) and cross-polar receive and transmit correlations (XPC). We derive the statistical properties of the minimum mean squared error (MMSE) channel estimator for this model. Using these estimates for maximum ratio precoding, a rigorous closed-form downlink spectral efficiency (SE) expression is derived. We compare the SEs achieved in dual-polarized and uni-polarized setups numerically and evaluate the impact of XPD on the downlink SE.
IMPROVING MOTION IMAGERY ANALYSIS: INVESTIGATING DETECTION FAILURES, REMEMBERING TO PERFORM DEFERRED INTENTIONS

Human decision makers typically use heuristics under time-pressured situations. These heuristics can potentially degrade task performance through the impact f their associated biases. Using object identification in image nalysis as the context, this paper identifies cogni ive biases that play a role in decision making. We propose a decision support system to help overcome these biases in this context. Results show that the decision support system improved human decision making in object identification, including metrics such as time taken to identify targets in an image set, accuracy of target identification, accuracy of target classification, and quantity of false positive identification.
Visible Spectrum Based Non-Contact Detection and Characterization of Blood Wave Signal Dynamics and Applications in Stress Detection

VISIBLE SPECTRUM BASED NON-CONTACT DETECTION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BLOOD WAVE SIGNAL DYNAMICS AND APPLICATIONS IN STRESS DETECTION Balvinder Kaur, Ph.D. George Mason University, 2016 Dissertation Director: Dr. Vasiliki N. Ikonomidou Stress is a major health concern that not only compromises our quality of life, but also affects our health and well-being. Despite its importance, our ability to objectively detect and quantify stress in a real-time, non-invasive manner is limited. This capability would have a wide variety of medical, military, and security applications. Under the dissertation research, we have developed a pipeline of image and signal processing algorithms for such a capability, which includes remote blood wave (BW) signal detection based on minor color intensity fluctuations in visible spectrum videos of the human skin during the cardiac cycle, and physiological stress measurements based on the temporal variability in these remotely detected cardiac signals. To detect BW signals reliably, we applied Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for noise reduction and Independent Component Analysis (ICA) algorithms for source selection. A blind deconvolution (BDC) algorithm based on least squares (LS) minimization was then applied to the BW signals to determine peaks, which were then used to detect reliable RR-intervals, the intervals between the adjacent BW signal peaks. The series of RR-interval values was then used to derive heart rate variability (HRV) features in both temporal and frequency domain. The stress significant features were then identified based on the paired t-test, which were then used with logistic regression (LR) classifier to discriminate stress states from the normal ones. In addition, we have defined a new metric called differential pulse transit time (dPTT) as the difference in arrival time of BW signal at two separate distal locations, and have demonstrated its potential use for stress detection. The developed algorithms were tested against the human subject data collected under two physiological conditions using the modified Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) and the Affective Stress Response Test (ASRT). This dissertation presents the developed algorithms and the stress detection results. This research provides a proof that the variability in remotely-acquired BW signals can be used for stress (high and mild) detection with 92% likelihood of being correct, and a guide for further development of a real-time remote stress detection system based on remote HRV and dPTT.
Chapter 21: Human-Centered Approaches to Data-Informed Feedback

Learning analytics seeks to support and enhance learning through data-informed feedback practices. As learning analytics emphasizes an iterative loop from learner to data, metrics, and interventions, it is imperative that both teachers and learners play active roles in this process and contribute to the design and evaluation of enabling technologies. A key question that concerns us is: How can learning analytics tools enhance learners’ agency in the feedback process? We argue that the design and deployment of learning analytics need to recognize feedback as a dialogic process. In doing so, we emphasize that effective feedback is not just about providing information relevant to learning, but also about the practices of the people who carry out evaluations and produce or interpret information based on such evaluations. A human-centered approach is thus critical to the effectiveness of data-informed feedback. In this chapter we discuss key elements of feedback, current approaches to data-informed feedback and associated challenges; and propose a human-centered approach which facilitates collaborative learning and continuous learning among a network of actors and highlights the importance of developing data-informed feedback literacy among learners.
Optimizing Combinatorial and Non-decomposable Metrics with ExactBoost

Many classiﬁcation algorithms require the use of surrogate losses when the intended loss function is combinatorial or non-decomposable. We introduce a fast and exact stagewise optimization algo-rithm, dubbed ExactBoost, that boosts stumps to the actual loss function. By developing a novel extension of margin theory to the non-decomposable setting, it is possible to bound the generalization error of ExactBoost for many metrics with different levels of non-decomposability
Working from Home During a Pandemic - A Discrete Choice Experiment in Poland

the IZA. on policy, but IZA takes no institutional policy positions. The IZA research network is committed to the IZA Guiding Principles of Research Integrity. aims answers to the global labor of our time. Our key to between academic research, policymakers ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed working from home from a rarity to a widely adopted job amenity. We study workers’ willingness to pay for working from home, and how it may be affected by subjective and objective assessments of COVID-19-related risks. We conducted a discrete choice experiment with more than 10,000 workers in Poland. We randomised wage differences between otherwise identical home- and office-based jobs. We also randomised an information provision treatment in which we informed 50% of workers about the level of exposure to contagion in their occupation, and how it may be reduced by working from home. We found that the demand for working from home was substantial – the majority of participants would prefer to work from home if they were offered the same wage for a home-based job as they would earn in an office-based job. On average, workers would sacrifice 5.1% of their earnings for the option to work from home, especially for 2-3 days a week (7.3%) rather than 5 days a week (2.8%). We also found that the perception of COVID-19 mattered, as workers who perceived it as a threat were willing to give up a much higher share of their earnings than those who did not. However, the willingness to pay did not differ significantly between individuals depending on whether their occupation had a high or a low level of exposure, or between individuals treated in the information experiment and those in the control group.
Covid-19-related stressors, mental disorders, depressive and anxiety symptoms: a cross-sectional, nationally-representative, face-to-face survey in Serbia

Abstract Aim The Covid-19 pandemic may be associated with an increase in mental disorders and mental distress. However, there are no representative studies testing the impact of stressors directly related to Covid-19. We aimed to determine whether Covid-19-related stressors were associated with mental disorders, depressive and anxiety symptoms in the second year of the pandemic. Method This cross-sectional observational epidemiological survey was conducted from June to October 2021. We interviewed a representative sample of the adult population in Serbia (18–65 years) in the second year of the pandemic, at a time when large parts of the population had been affected by the pandemic in different ways. A multistage probabilistic household sampling of the adult population in 60 municipalities was used. Mental disorders were assessed by in-person interviews using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Depressive and anxiety symptoms were measured by PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales. Covid-19-related stressors (Sars-CoV-2 infection, the infection of a close relative, self-isolation and lack of protective equipment at work), as well as other stressors during the pandemic (not directly related to the risk of the infection), were measured. The associations with mental disorders, depressive and anxiety symptoms were explored through univariable and multivariable regression analyses. Results In total, 1203 individuals (mean age 43.7 ± 13.6 years, 48.7% male) were interviewed. Most respondents (67.8%) of the sample had already experienced Covid-19-related stressors (20.1% had Sars-CoV-2 infection; 43.2% had a close relative member who had Covid-19; 28.2% reported lack of appropriate protection; 27.5% had been quarantined) and about 50% had already been vaccinated. The prevalence of any mental disorder was 15.2% (95% CI 13.2–17.2): mood disorders 4.6%, anxiety disorders 4.3% and substance use disorders 8.0%. Mean PHQ-9 was 3.2 ± 3.8 and GAD-7 was 2.1 ± 3.1. In this study, one Covid-19 stressor, i.e. lack of protective equipment, was weakly associated with a greater frequency of anxiety disorders (p = 0.023), while the other stressors had significant associations with several groups of mental disorders and symptom levels. Conclusions Our study did not provide any evidence that the prevalence of mental disorders exceeds the range of pre-pandemic data reported in the literature. Covid-related stressors, although frequently reported, did not dramatically influence the prevalence of mental disorders. The provision of the appropriate equipment at workplaces might lead to the reduction of anxiety disorders.