Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Using large-scale Granger causality to study changes in brain network properties in the Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) stage of multiple sclerosis

Clinically Isolated Syndrome (CIS) is often considered to be the first neurological episode associated with Multiple sclerosis (MS). At an early stage the inflammatory demyelination occurring in the CNS can manifest as a change in neuronal metabolism, with multiple asymptomatic white matter lesions detected in clinical MRI. Such damage may induce topological changes of brain networks, which can be captured by advanced functional MRI (fMRI) analysis techniques. We test this hypothesis by capturing the effective relationships of 90 brain regions, defined in the Automated Anatomic Labeling (AAL) atlas, using a large-scale Granger Causality (lsGC) framework. The resulting networks are then characterized using graph-theoretic measures that quantify various network topology properties at a global as well as at a local level. We study for differences in these properties in network graphs obtained for 18 subjects (10 male and 8 female, 9 with CIS and 9 healthy controls). Global network properties captured trending differences with modularity and clustering coefficient (p<0.1). Additionally, local network properties, such as local efficiency and the strength of connections, captured statistically significant (p<0.01) differences in some regions of the inferior frontal and parietal lobe. We conclude that multivariate analysis of fMRI time-series can reveal interesting information about changes occurring in the brain in early stages of MS.
Multiple Scale Approach to Dynamics of an LC Circuit With a Charge-Controlled Memristor

This brief presents an analysis of the nonlinear dynamics of a memristive inductive–capacitive circuit, driven by a sinusoidal voltage source. The analysis is carried out using multiple-scale technique. The memristance <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${M(q)}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> is modeled by a power law series of the electrical charge <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${q}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>, considering both passive and active <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">${M(q)}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The steady-state solution behavior, close to the resonant circuit condition, is investigated. Numerical simulations are reported for comparison with analytical results.
Transaction Cost Theory, Political Theory and Resource Dependency Theory in The Light of Unconventional Aspect

Islam as a comprehensive religion, it molds our way of life comprehensively from the religious activities to the business activities. Muslims are required to abide the Islamic teachings in their private lives as well as dealing with public. When the business dealings are examined, the top corporate players monitor the management of the company and these players are in turn observed the best corporate governance practices and guidelines issued by the respective regulators. From the conventional perspective, these guidelines are developed based on the theories developed by the prior researchers using their rational thinking and learning from the past experiences. In Islam, it is believed that human being has limited knowledge and thus, their theories founded on rational thinking might not be comprehensive and valid unless it combines with the revealed knowledge. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to examine whether the prevailing corporate governance theories such as transaction cost theory, political theory and resource dependency theory are in line with Shari'ah. It has been found out that none of them are completely in line with Islamic teachings. Thus, this paper suggests the regulators which allow the activities of Islamic finance should revisit their existing conventional corporate governance principles to ensure that they are in line with MaqasidShari'ah and applicable to the needs of the Islamic finance industry.
Social play behavior in infant Sichuan snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana) in Qinling Mountains, China

We describe the development of social play behavior and assess factors influencing the development of play in infant Sichuan snub‐nosed monkeys (Rhinopithecus roxellana). Infant snub‐nosed monkeys began to exhibit social play at 3 months of age, when they spent an average 0.89% of time engaging in this behavior (range: 0.7–1.12%). At 6 months of age, there was a significant increase in the proportion of time spent in social play, averaging 9.78% of observation time (range: 4.92–17.08%). However, from 7 to 9 months of age during the winter, social play decreased gradually before rising again from 10 months of age in the spring. Play behavior in infant snub‐nosed monkeys is influenced by environmental temperature. Males were observed to play more than females, although further data on this are required. Social rank did not influence the social play of wild Sichuan snub‐nosed monkey infants. Am. J. Primatol. 73:845–851, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Design and prototyping of wearable measuring system for trunk movement using textile sensors

Wearable system is a proper solution for rehabilitation and instrumentation applications for human daily activities. Recently, several researches are concentrated on this technology significantly because of new progress in sensors and fusion sensors. In the near future, wearable and ambulatory devices will be used considerably in biomedical applications. In this study, we reviewed some methods about wearable measuring system then introduced and designed innovative wearable clothing for this purpose. Some specifications and advantages of our system in comparison with relevant researches are; using painted sensors that are manufactured through nano electro active polymer technology, low weight, low price, applicable for daily activity, three dimensional detection of human body movements and noninvasive. We utilized textile sensor to measure the trunk movements in three dimensions. Twenty textile sensors were attached on the clothing in this version of system. In addition to wearable system, clothing was prepared in order to determine the positions of textile sensors on the body. Furthermore, an electronic board is developed for data acquisition and transfer data to computer real-time. Finally, the wearable clothing for ambulatory purposes was manufactured and also different methods for the system calibration have been presented.
Chapter 35 : Methods to Assess Quality of Life and Functional Status and Their Applications in Clinical Care in Elderly Patients with CKD

Elderly patients and their caregivers are faced with a wide variety of complex treatment decisions ranging from the risks and benefits of antihypertensive therapy to the decision to pursue renal replacement therapy versus palliative care. There is a great deal of heterogeneity in health status among elderly patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and endstage kidney disease (ESKD), and age alone cannot reliably predict outcomes. In addition to measures of disease severity and psychosocial function (discussed elsewhere), measures of quality of life (QOL) and functional status may provide useful information to aid in prognostic stratification and help guide treatment decisions. QOL and functional status themselves are important outcomes that need to be carefully considered along with survival when evaluating treatment options. In this context, we review the methods to assess QOL and functional status, and their applications in clinical care, focusing on ESKD-related interventions and outcomes.
Illness Perception and Indicators of PTSD in Mothers of Childhood Cancer Survivors

Objective: to investigate the relationship among illness perception, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and posttraumatic symptomatology in mothers of childhood cancer survivors. Method: ex post facto design. Participants: 16 mothers with a mean age of 41.87 years old (SD=8.68). The instruments used regarding the illness perception (Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for Healthy People [IPQRH]) and PTSD (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist – Civilian Version [PCL-C]) were answered through a digital platform. Results: According to the evaluation criteria of the PCL-C, eight mothers (50%) obtained PTSD diagnosis indicators. Regarding the posttraumatic symptomatology, 13 mothers (81.25%) presented increased arousal, 12 (75%) reliving and eight (50%) avoidance. Considering the global score of the PCL-C, the average was 43 points (SD=14.76), indicating moderate level of PTSD indicators. Regarding the IPQ-RH, emotional representation dimension correlated positively with reliving (r=.615; p<.05), avoidance (r=.679; p<.01) and the total average of the PCL-C (r=.631; p<.01). The personal control dimension correlated negatively with avoidance (r=-.673; p<.01). Conclusions: the results showed that the experience of having a child with cancer can refl ect negatively on the mental health of mothers, turning them into a population vulnerable to stress, especially when they maintain a negative emotional representation of the illness.
A high-efficiency bidirectional non-isolated multi-input converter

A high-efficiency bidirectional non-isolated converter with multiple input sources is presented in this work. In the proposed converter, the energy from/to the input sources is transferred via the coupled inductors connecting to a switch pair. This topology does not only allow active power sharing, but also results in reduced component count. It also achieves zero-voltage-switching without any extra switching losses hence improving the cost-effectiveness, power density and efficiency.
Sema3d controls collective endothelial cell migration by distinct mechanisms via Nrp1 and PlxnD1

Semaphorins regulate guidance during cell migration. In addition to repelling endothelial cells, Hamm et al. identify a novel mechanism by which Semaphorin3d/Neuropilin1 regulates collective endothelial cell migration through activating a kinase cascade, which regulates Actin network organization and cell–cell contacts.
Efficient Indexing of Lines with the Mqr-tree

This paper presents an evaluation of the mqr-tree for indexing a database of line data. Many spatial access methods have been proposed for handling either point or region data, with the vast majority able to handle these data types efficiently. However, line segment data presents challenges for most spatial access methods. Recent work on the mqr-tree showed much potential for efficiently indexing line data. We identify limitations of the data sets in the initial evaluation. Then, we further evaluate the ability of the mqr-tree to efficiently index line sets with different organizations that address the limitations of the initial test. A comparison versus the R-tree shows that the mqr-tree achieves significantly lower overlap and overcoverage, which makes the mqr-tree a significant candidate for indexing line and line-segment data.
Study of diurnal cycle of convective precipitation over Amazonia using a single column model

[1] The error in the diurnal cycle of precipitation over land in the tropics in the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts forecast model is investigated using a single column model with idealized forcing of the omega field, as well as short-term and long runs of the full three-dimensional model. The model precipitates a few hours after sunrise, as it does not represent correctly the morning development of a growing cumulus boundary layer. In the single column model, precipitation is closely linked to the mean forcing and surface evaporation, but the phase of diurnal varying omega forcing in relation to the diurnal solar cycle determines the relation of convective to large-scale precipitation in the control model, as well as cloudiness and the net radiation balance. With diurnal subsidence peaking at midnight, but no mean ascent, the model shows a quasi 2-day precipitation mode. With both strong mean ascent and diurnal forcing, ascent peaking in the daytime gave stratiform rain with large cloud cover and very low surface net radiation, while daytime subsidence and ascent at night gave strong daytime convective precipitation and high net radiation. INDEX TERMS: 3307 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Boundary layer processes; 3314 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Convective processes; 3322 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Land/atmosphere interactions; KEYWORDS: convective parameterization, precipitation, diurnal cycle, single column model, Amazonia
Initiation of retinoid signaling in primitive streak mouse embryos: Spatiotemporal expression patterns of receptors and metabolic enzymes for ligand synthesis

The requirement of vitamin A (retinol) for successful completion of vertebrate embryogenesis is well established. Retinoid signaling involves a two‐step metabolic event in which retinol is first converted to retinal, and then retinal is converted to the active ligand retinoic acid, which modulates the transcriptional activity of a nuclear retinoic acid receptor (RAR). During mouse embryogenesis, retinoic acid is not detected at 6.5 days of embryonic development (E6.5) when gastrulation first initiates, but it is detected at E7.5 and later. This suggests that retinoid signaling during embryo‐genesis may be initiated during the primitive streak stage. Here we have used whole‐mount in situ hybridization to examine E6.5–E8.5 mouse embryos for expression of RARα, RARβ, RARγ, and two enzymes, class IV alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH‐IV) and class I aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH‐I), which have been shown to have retinol and retinal dehydrogenase activities, respectively. At E6.5, RARα mRNA was expressed ubiquitously in embryonic and extraembryonic tissues, RARγ mRNA was detected throughout all embryonic tissues, but mRNAs for RARβ, ADH‐IV, and ALDH‐I were not detected. By E7.5, RARα mRNA was still ubiquitous, RARβ mRNA was now observed in presumptive hindbrain ectoderm and adjacent mesenchyme, RARγ mRNA was still observed in all embryonic tissues, and ADH‐IV as well as ALDH‐I mRNAs were now both expressed in primitive streak mesoderm. In E8.5 embryos, RARα mRNA was still ubiquitous, RARβ mRNA was present in the caudal hindbrain as well as the closed neural tube and foregut, RARγ mRNA was widespread but most prevalent in caudal embryonic tissues, and mRNAs for both ADH‐IV and ALDH‐I were expressed in cranial mesenchyme, somites, and paraxial mesoderm. Thus, ADH‐IV and ALDH‐I, two metabolic enzymes able to convert retinol to retinoic acid, are both initially expressed in primitive streak mesoderm at E7.5 when retinoic acid is first detectable. On the other hand, RARα and RARγ expression is widespread and present at E6.5 prior to retinoic acid detection. These results suggest that upregulation of ADH‐IV and ALDH‐I gene expression in primitive streak mesoderm may lead to retinoic acid synthesis and initiation of retinoid signaling during mouse embryogenesis. Dev. Dyn. 208:536–543, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Patterns of income diversification in rural Nigeria: determinants and impacts.

While the determinants of rural income diversification have been analyzed in various developing countries, the results remain somewhat ambiguous. Likewise, many previous studies failed to consider the impacts of diversification. Hence, more research is needed to understand what conditions lead to what outcomes and to identify appropriate policy responses. Here, we analyze the situation in rural Nigeria based on recent survey data. The majority of households is fairly diversified; 50% of total income is from off-farm sources. Strikingly, richer households tend to be more diversified, suggesting that diversification is not only considered a risk management strategy but also a means to increase overall income. Econometric analysis confirms that the marginal income effect is positive. Yet, due to market imperfections, resourcepoor households are constrained in diversifying their income sources. Reducing market failures through infrastructure improvements could enhance their situation, while, at the same time, promoting specialization among the relatively better off.
Mitochondrial genomes of the sheep blowfly, Lucilia sericata, and the secondary blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala

Abstract This paper presents complete mitochondrial genomes for the sheep blowfly, Lucilia sericata (Meigen), and the secondary blowfly, Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius). Both L. sericata and C. megacephala had standard dipteran‐type mitochondrial genome architectures and lengths of 15 945 bp and 15 831 bp, respectively. Additionally, C. megacephala possessed a tRNA duplication either side of the D‐loop, as previously reported in another Chrysomya species, C. putoria; this duplication appears to be synapomorphic for the genus Chrysomya. As in other insect mitochondrial genomes, base compositions had a high AT content, with both genomes more than 76% AT‐rich.
Interplay between plasmid-mediated and chromosomal-mediated fluoroquinolone resistance and bacterial fitness in Escherichia coli.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to analyse the interplay among plasmid-mediated qnr genes, alone or in combination with multiple chromosomal-mediated fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance determinants, susceptibility to FQs and bacterial fitness in an isogenic Escherichia coli collection. METHODS E. coli ATCC 25922 was used to modify or delete chromosomal genes. qnr genes were cloned into the pBK-CMV vector. The MICs of FQs were determined by microdilution. Mutant prevention concentration and frequency of mutants were evaluated. Bacterial fitness was analysed using ΔlacZ system competition assays using in vitro and in vivo models. RESULTS The relationships between the number of resistance mutations and bacterial fitness were complex. With specific combinations of resistance mechanisms the addition of a new resistance mutation was shown to improve bacterial fitness. qnrA1 caused a decrease in fitness (7%-21%) while qnrS1 caused an increase in fitness (9%-21%) when combined with chromosomal mutations. We identified susceptible triple mutants in which the acquisition of a fourth resistance mutation significantly increased fitness and at the same time reached the clinical resistance level (the acquisition of qnrS1 in a S83L + D87N + ΔmarR genetic background). A strong correlation with the production of reactive oxygen species, as well as changes in susceptibility, was observed following treatment with ciprofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate that there may be critical stages (depending on the genotype) in resistance development, including chromosomal- and plasmid-mediated mechanisms, at which some low-fitness mutants below the resistance breakpoint are able to evolve clinical resistance with just one or two mutations, and show increased fitness.
Growth phase‐dependent biosynthesis of Nep, a halolysin‐like protease secreted by the alkaliphilic haloarchaeon Natrialba magadii

Aims: The alkaliphilic haloarchaeon Natrialba magadii secretes a halolysin‐like protease (Nep) that is active and stable in high salt and in organic solvents, which represents a potential resource for biocatalysis in low water activity conditions. In this study, the effect of the growth stage on Nep biosynthesis was examined.
Ku Band Continuously Tunable Circular Cavity SIW Filter With One Parameter

This letter introduces a Ku band continuously tunable filter with one parameter. The proposed filter is implemented using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) technology and has a simple and symmetrical structure. The tunability of the circular resonator is a kind of mechanical tuning, achieved by the different distance between moving copper column and the center of the circular cavity. Location of moving distance has an approximately linear relation with the dominant cavity resonance frequency. The single circular cavity has a tuning range of 12.6-15.0 GHz. The fabricated filter is made up of two cavities and has a frequency tuning ratio percentage of 19.2% compared with the center frequency 13.825 GHz. The insertion loss is between 1.7 and 2.8 dB.
Treatment of Headaches in the ED With Lower Cervical Intramuscular Bupivacaine Injections: A 1‐Year Retrospective Review of 417 Patients

Objective. —The primary objective of this retrospective chart review is to describe 1 year's experience of an academic emergency department (ED) in treating a wide spectrum of headache classifications with intramuscular injections of 0.5% bupivacaine bilateral to the spinous process of the lower cervical vertebrae.
The Effect of Low‐Dose Carvedilol, Nebivolol, and Metoprolol on Central Arterial Pressure and Its Determinants: A Randomized Clinical Trial

In this prospective, open‐label, randomized, controlled clinical trial the effects of low‐dose carvedilol, nebivolol, and metoprolol on central arterial pressure and augmentation index (AIx) and its heart rate–corrected value (AIx@75) were assessed. The authors randomized 75 hypertensive patients (18–70 years) to carvedilol 12.5/25 mg, metoprolol 50/100 mg, or nebivolol 2.5/5 mg daily and followed them up for 3 months. Central arterial pressure and AIx were measured with applanation tonometry at baseline and at the end of follow‐up. Analyses were restricted to 60 completers. Central systolic pressure decreased equally in all 3 treatment arms. AIx remained unchanged, while AIx@75 decreased significantly by 5.4%±2.5% in the nebivolol group. According to general linear models, individual change in heart rate was a strong predictor of change in AIx in the carvedilol group (r2=0.23, P=.03) although no similar association was found in the nebivolol group (r2=0.09). The impact of β‐blockers with vasodilator effects on pressure augmentation seems to be different with nebivolol having the largest potential of decreasing AIx@75. While AIx changes associated with carvedilol treatment are strongly driven by heart rate changes, those associated with nebivolol treatment seem to be the result of other mechanisms.
Retrodialysis: A Review of Experimental and Clinical Applications of Reverse Microdialysis in the Skin

Microdialysis is a method that has been used for decades to recover endogenous mediators, metabolites and drugs from the interstitial space in several tissues of both animals and humans. The principle of microdialysis is the flux of compounds across a semipermeable membrane. The application of microdialysis as a method of drug delivery is a process referred to as retrodialysis, i.e. the introduction of a substance into the extracellular space via a microdialysis probe. Thus, microdialysis also offers opportunities to deliver mediators and drugs to target tissues by adding solutes to the perfusion medium. In this context, retrodialysis combines a method for minimally invasive delivery with a sampling method to study biological processes in health and disease. The aim of this review is to give insight into the use of retrodialysis by outlining examples of retrodialysis studies focusing on applications in skin in animal studies, human experimental investigations and clinical settings.
Improved bounds for error recovery times of decision feedback equalization

New upper and lower bounds on the mean recovery time of decision feedback equalization (DFE) are derived. The recovery time is defined as the time it takes the decision feedback equalizer (DFEQ) to reach the error-free state after an error has corrupted an error-free DFEQ. The derivations of the bounds assume a causal channel response, independent data symbols, and independent noise samples. The bounds are found to be tighter, especially at large SNR, than previous bounds in a numerical example.