Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
White Matter Abnormalities Associated With Subsyndromal Psychotic-Like Symptoms Predict Later Social Competence in Children and Adolescents

Introduction: Recent data suggest that healthy children and adolescents who report psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) evidence abnormalities in white matter (WM). To date, no study has examined whether WM abnormalities associated with PLEs are predictive of outcome at a later time-point. The present study examined whether abnormalities in WM associated with PLEs in children and adolescents at a baseline assessment were predictive of social functioning at a 12-month follow-up. Subjects and Methods: Healthy children and adolescents aged 8–18 years (N = 56) were recruited from the community and received a diffusion tensor imaging exam and a clinical exam at baseline. Voxel-wise statistical analysis of fractional anisotropy (FA), using Tract-Based Spatial Statistics, and probabilistic tractography were used to identify WM abnormalities associated with PLEs at baseline. These abnormalities were then examined for association to social problems and social competence in 28 participants at 12-month follow-up. Results: Lower FA in regions proximal to the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) and corticospinal tract bilaterally as well as in the left inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus and inferior longitudinal fasciculus were associated with higher levels of PLEs at baseline. Moreover, baseline FA in the SLF, but not baseline severity of PLEs, was significantly predictive of social competence at a 12-month follow-up. In contrast, baseline severity of PLEs, but not baseline FA in the SLF, predicted social problems at 12-month follow-up. Discussion: These findings suggest that alterations in WM, which are associated with symptoms of psychosis well below the threshold of clinical significance, may have significant ramifications for later social development.
Sensitivity analysis of the recovery time for a population under the impact of an environmental disturbance

Wildlife populations are often affected by natural or artificial disasters that reduce their vital rates leading to drastic fluctuations in population dynamics. We use a stage‐structured matrix model to study the recovery process of a population given an environmental disturbance. We focus on the time it takes the population to recover to its pre‐event level and develop general formulas to calculate the sensitivity and elasticity of the recovery time to changes in the initial population, vital rates, and event severity. Our results suggest that the recovery time is independent of the initial population size but it is sensitive to the initial structure. Moreover, the recovery time is more sensitive to reductions in vital rates than to the duration of the impact of the event. We explore an application of the model to the sperm whale population in Gulf of Mexico following a disturbance such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
Channel estimation in OFDM power line communication based on pilots and particle filtering

Aiming at the nonlinear, non Gaussian and time-varying characteristics of power line channel, a comb-type pilot arrangement channel estimation scheme combined PF algorithm and linear interpolation method is proposed. In the proposed scheme, firstly the indoor power line channel has measured using the pseudo-noise (PN) correlation method, and an autoregressive (AR) model has set up to describe the measured channel. Then, channel estimation for the measured channel at the pilot frequencies is exploited PF algorithm, while at the data frequencies is obtained by linear interpolation method. Furthermore, the performances of channel estimation schemes respectively based on least square (LS), Kalman filtering (KF), unscented Kalman filtering (UKF) and PF algorithm have been compared. Simulations have shown that PF algorithm is particularly useful in dealing with nonlinear and non-Gaussian problems such as power line channel estimation, so the proposed scheme based on PF achieves higher estimation accuracy and better performance than the other schemes. Meanwhile, it is confirmed that PF algorithm has its own unique advantage in dealing with the power line channel estimation.
The Power of Temporal Pattern Processing in Anomaly Intrusion Detection

A clear deficiency in most of todays anomaly intrusion detection systems (AIDS) is their inability to distinguish between a new form of legitimate normal behavior and a malicious attack based on known previous normal behaviors. This deficiency is known as the lack of generalization ability. The lack of generalization ability of the present AIDS results mainly in two direct consequences. As a first consequence, the current AIDS are capable of detecting neither new sophisticated attacks nor slight variations of known attacks launched against computing systems. The high rate of false positive and false negative alerts generated by the current AIDS is the second consequence. Many research initiatives that utilize machine learning techniques including neural networks have been proposed to overcome the lack of generalization. Unfortunately, most of such research initiatives have intrinsically focused on utilizing static techniques, that perform structural pattern recognition. Temporal pattern processing techniques have not gained much attention in this arena. In this research, we present a novel anomaly intrusion detection system based on recurrent neural networks (RNN) which is a temporal pattern processing technique. We show that RNN can efficiently discriminate novel intrusive behaviors while recognizing new normal behaviors. Thus, they reduce the false positive and negative alarms, and address the lack of generalization problem associated with the current AIDS. The ability of RNN to generalize normal as well as intrusive behavior outperforms Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) neural network, a structural pattern recognition technique, in a significant way.
Locations of Calmodulin and FK506-binding Protein on the Three-dimensional Architecture of the Skeletal Muscle Ryanodine Receptor*

Isolated skeletal muscle ryanodine receptors (RyRs) complexed with the modulatory ligands, calmodulin (CaM) or 12-kDa FK506-binding protein (FKBP12), have been characterized by electron cryomicroscopy and three-dimensional reconstruction. RyRs are composed of 4 large subunits (molecular mass 565 kDa) that assemble to form a 4-fold symmetric complex that, architecturally, comprises two major substructures, a large (≈80% of the total mass) cytoplasmic assembly and a smaller transmembrane assembly. Both CaM and FKBP12 bind to the cytoplasmic assembly at sites that are 10 and 12 nm, respectively, from the putative entrance to the transmembrane ion channel. FKBP12 binds along the edge of the square-shaped cytoplasmic assembly near the face that interacts in vivo with the sarcolemma/transverse tubule membrane system, whereas CaM binds within a cleft that faces the junctional face of the sarcoplasmic reticulum membrane at the triad junction. Both ligands interact with a domain that connects directly to a cytoplasmic extension of the transmembrane assembly of the receptor, and thus might cause structural changes in the domain which in turn modulate channel gating.
Human intention estimation method for a new compliant rehabilitation and assistive robot

Focusing on physical human-robot interaction, biosignal feedback allows a rehabilitation and assistive robotic system possess many advantages, such as providing human intention estimations, suitable treatment evaluations, capacity of generating power assistive strategies in advance, etc. In general, electromyogram (EMG), angle, and force signals can be used to estimate the intention of the human by two kinds of human intention estimators, such as binary intention and continuous intention estimators. In this paper, we propose a hybrid estimator of human intention using a Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Linear Regression to recognize human intention and apply it to a new rehabilitation and assistive system, the coupled elastic actuation robotic system (CEBOT), which is designed to enhance the human mobility. With unique intrinsic adjustable stiffness and human intention recognition capacity, the CEBOT, possessing inherent safety, gentler treatment, suitable motion patterns, capacity of combining functional electric stimulation, etc. The design and investigations of the system are provided and discussed. The proposed method for human intention estimations is verified by experimental results.
Prevalence and risk factors of noncontrolled and resistant arterial hypertension in renal transplant recipients.

BACKGROUND Arterial hypertension (HT) is common in renal transplant recipients (RTRs). Control of HT is not optimal in this high-risk population despite recommendations for target blood pressure levels under 130/80 mm Hg. METHODS We performed a cross-sectional analysis of the prevalence of uncontrolled HT, and using a Cox regression model, we identified the risk factors associated with resistant HT. RESULTS Eight hundred eleven RTRs (>1 year after transplantation) were included. A total of 10.5% were normotensive (<130/80 mm Hg without treatment), 41% had controlled HT, 32.5% uncontrolled HT, and 16% resistant HT. In univariate analysis, compared to controlled HT, the RH group had significantly higher body mass index and older donors, delayed graft function, prevalence of metabolic syndrome (69.2 vs. 51.9%), fast glycemia and glycated hemoglobin, albuminuria, triglycerides and uric acid levels, and worse measured glomerular filtration rate (mGFR). In multivariate analysis, recipient age (P < 0,001), mGFR (P = 0.037), albuminuria (P < 0.001), and metabolic syndrome (P = 0.007) were significantly associated with RH. Association of metabolic syndrome with RH was much stronger than each of its components. CONCLUSION Our data show that despite the recommendations issued by scientific societies, blood pressure control in RTRs is far from the recommended targets. At least a third of our patients (uncontrolled HT) did not receive optimal treatment and suffered therapeutic inertia. Decreased mGFR, metabolic syndrome, and urinary albumin excretion emerged as strong predictors of poor HT control. Whether prevention and management of the metabolic syndrome and reduction of albuminuria could help to more consistently reach the blood pressure recommended targets deserves further investigation.
Managing invasive plants in a rural-amenity landscape: the role of social capital and Landcare

Rural-amenity migration is changing the social and ecological compositions of landscapes globally. The in-migration of new landholders is contributing to significant biophysical changes to rural landscapes, as well as the weakening of collective awareness, knowledge and skills needed to manage natural resources. This is leading to the proliferation of environmental harm. This paper focuses on invasive plants as one such harm, detailing how collective action is developed and challenged in a rural landscape undergoing increasing property turnover and diversifying management priorities. Focusing on the role of a Landcare group, located in southern New South Wales, Australia, I explore how social capital – with a particular focus on trust and social norms – is mobilised to recruit newly arrived residents and maintain commitment among landholders to manage invasive plants. This research provides insights into how policy can better steer management interventions, particularly how to develop and maintain collective action in diversifying rural landscapes.
Total synthesis of (±)-4′-demethylmacrophyllol, a naturally occurring compound

The naturally occurring compound 4′-Demethylmacrophyllol (1), 8-Hydroxy-3-(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-isochroman-1-one, was synthesized starting from 4-benzyloxy-3,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde (3) and a phosphonium salt (2) in four steps with an overall yield of 44%. This is the first report on the total synthesis of 4′-demethylmacrophyllol (1). The structures of compounds were determined by NMR and MS and elemental analysis techniques.
Socially induced food avoidance in lambs: direct or indirect maternal influence?

Food avoidance can be directly motivated in the sense that an animal refrains from eating a food because of an aversion to it, or indirectly motivated in the sense that an animal ingests little of one item because it prefers another. We studied whether the reluctance of a lamb to eat a shrub (Cercocarpus montanus) its mother avoided resulted from a socially induced aversion to C. montanus or from a socially induced preference for an alternative shrub (Amelanchier alnifolia). Each lamb (n = 6) in the treatment group was exposed with its mother to either A. alnifolia or C. montanus for 5 min, followed by 5 min of exposure to the other food for 5 d. Mothers in the treatment group avoided C. montanus because its ingestion had previously been paired with lithium chloride, but they readily ate A. alnifolia. Each lamb in the control group (n = 6) was exposed with its mother to only A. alnifolia. Following weaning, lambs in both groups strongly preferred A. alnifolia to C. montanus when offered a choice between the two species (P < .05), but they readily ate C. montanus when only C. montanus was offered. Accordingly, the data support the hypothesis that the low consumption of C. montanus occurred as a result of a socially induced preference for A. alnifolia, not as a result of a socially induced aversion to C. montanus. If food avoidance had been directly mediated, lambs whose mother avoided C. montanus would have completely avoided the shrub during testing, as in the case when acquired food aversions are directly mediated by toxins.
Inkjet-Printed Microstrip Patch Antennas Realized on Textile for Wearable Applications

This letter introduces a new technique of inkjet printing antennas on textiles. A screen-printed interface layer was used to reduce the surface roughness of the polyester/cotton material that facilitated the printing of a continuous conducting surface. Conducting ink was used to create three inkjet-printed microstrip patch antennas. An efficiency of 53% was achieved for a fully flexible antenna with two layers of ink. Measurements of the antennas bent around a polystyrene cylinder indicated that a second layer of ink improved the robustness to bending.
Teaching Software Developers to Perform UX Tasks

Good UX design is becoming important within the industry when developing new products. This entails that UX skills have to be available in the development processes. This paper investigates the opportunities of using software developers as a UX work resource in the day-to-day working practice. This is done via an action research study where the developers were provided with material concerning a modified AB usability test, by training them in performing this type of work, and by using their feedback to improve the method and the material. The overall result of the study is positive and it is found that by using the developers' feedback in the modification process, the method has truly become applicable within an agile, industrial setting. In combination with a guideline and template this has induced the developers to feel confident in independently performing this type of work.
The use of conformation‐specific ligands and assays to dissect the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases

The use of conformation‐specific ligands has been closely linked to progress in the molecular characterization of neurodegenerative diseases. Deposition of misfolded or misprocessed proteins is now recognized as a hallmark of all neurodegenerative diseases. Initially, dyes like Congo red and thioflavin T were used as crudely conformation‐specific ligands for staining the β‐sheeted protein components of amyloid deposits in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease (AD) and prion disease, the two diseases in which protein conformations were distinguished early on. This conformational characterization of extracellular protein deposits with dyes ultimately led to the identification of key players in the disease processes. The recent discovery of intermediate conformational species, i.e., soluble oligomers for AD and PK‐sensitive PrPSc for prion disease, whose conformation and assembly are thought to be distinct from both the physiological and the fibrillar conformational states, replaced the former notion that the microscopic protein deposits themselves caused disease. This insight and the generation of conformation‐specific monoclonal antibodies to these conformers further advanced diagnosis and the understanding of molecular mechanisms of AD and are likely to do so in other neurodegenerative diseases. Here we review how conformer distinction performed by a variety of different techniques, including biophysical, biochemical, and antibody‐based methods, led to the current molecular concepts of AD and the prion diseases. We provide an outlook on the application of these techniques in advancing the understanding of molecular mechanisms of other neurodegenerative diseases or degenerative brain conditions. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Taken-for-Granted Labor of Communication: Seeing beyond Words

Abstract This article is the first to discuss how the complementary and practical natures of emotional labor (EL) (Guy, Newman, & Mastracci, 2006), and communication accommodation theory (CAT) (Giles, Coupland, & Coupland, 1991; Giles, et al., 2005) can help shape the field of public and nonprofit administration by translating communication breakdowns into opportunities. This is achieved by presenting these concepts and processes through the Seeing Beyond Words exercise that links EL with CAT. The exercise proposes that, if individuals acquire the necessary communication skills to determine how (a) to express or suppress emotions in career roles, and (b) to counteract these dilemmas, then they will more often attain organizational goals (Kimoto, 2006a, 2006b, 2007, 2008; Kimoto, Frasco, Mulder, & Juta, 2009).
Between Vision and Reality: A Study of Scientists’ Views on Citizen Science

Increased interest in public engagement with science worldwide has resulted in the growth of funding opportunities for scientists in the rapidly expanding field of citizen science. This paper describes a case study based on interviews and observations, including a six-month field diary, of ten scientists who engaged in a citizen science project to receive funding for their scientific research. It examines how these scientists perceived their commitment to the public, and it explores relationships between the ways that citizen science is defined and presented in the literature and the ideas that scientists in this project have about citizen science. The findings indicate that these scientists were motivated mostly by their interest in promoting scientific research and obtaining prestigious funding. Many of the scientists also found it difficult to accept the idea that the public can make actual contributions to science. Although the scientists acknowledged the advantages and benefits of citizen participation for the public, they had no desire to actively engage with the public and would rather conduct a traditional study without the public’s involvement. Exposing scientists to public engagement and citizen science concepts, especially at early stages of their scientific carrier, could help overcome barriers and encourage scientists to further engage the public in such initiatives.
Evidence for a common biological pathway linking three Parkinson's disease‐causing genes: parkin, PINK1 and DJ‐1

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterised by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain. Autosomal recessive, early‐onset cases of PD are predominantly caused by mutations in the parkin, PINK1 and DJ‐1 genes. Animal and cellular models have verified a direct link between parkin and PINK1, whereby PINK1 phosphorylates and activates parkin at the outer mitochondrial membrane, resulting in removal of dysfunctional mitochondria via mitophagy. Despite the overwhelming evidence for this interaction, few studies have been able to identify a link for DJ‐1 with parkin or PINK1. The aim of this review is to summarise the functions of these three proteins, and to analyse the existing evidence for direct and indirect interactions between them. DJ‐1 is able to rescue the phenotype of PINK1‐knockout Drosophila models, but not of parkin‐knockouts, suggesting that DJ‐1 may act in a parallel pathway to that of the PINK1/parkin pathway. To further elucidate a commonality between these three proteins, bioinformatics analysis established that Miro (RHOT1) interacts with parkin and PINK1, and HSPA4 interacts with all three proteins. Furthermore, 30 transcription factors were found to be common amongst all three proteins, with many of them being involved in transcriptional regulation. Interestingly, expression of these proteins and their associated transcription factors are found to be significantly down‐regulated in PD patients compared to healthy controls. In summary, this review provides insight into common pathways linking three PD‐causing genes and highlights some key questions, the answers to which may provide critical insight into the disease process.
Prevalence of Depression, Anxiety and Insomnia in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients and their Co-Relation with the Demographic Variables

Abstract Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an emerging health problem in both developed and developing countries. Depression, anxiety and sleep disturbances are highly prevalent in patients with chronic disease, but remain undertreated despite significant negative consequences on patients’ health. Assessment of key components of mental health early in disease course will help to identify high risk subjects in whom modifying these predictors will help in providing active and healthy life in CKD patients. Methods: We did a cross sectional study in 200 patients of CKD stage III to V-D fulfilling the eligibility criteria who were on follow up in a single tertiary care center in the state of Haryana, India. We assessed the prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia and their correlation with demographic variables in these patients. The structured questionnaire used in this study gathered information on respondent demographic and disease characteristics, and information obtained from the HADS and PSQI questionnaire. Factors associated with anxiety, depression and insomnia were examined by a multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia were found to be 71%, 69% and 86.5% respectively. As the CKD stage advanced, the prevalence as well as severity of these parameters increased. Anxiety, depression and sleep quality were found to be significantly correlated to unemployment, low income, low education, urban residence and presence of co-morbidities. The anxiety, depression and insomnia scores were found to have a strong negative correlation with eGFR, hemoglobin, serum calcium (p <0.01) and a positive correlation with TLC, blood urea, serum creatinine and serum phosphate (p <0.05). Conclusion: We observed a high prevalence of anxiety, depression and insomnia in CKD patients. There is a need to develop strategies to accurately identify “high risk” subjects who may benefit from preventive measures before complications occur. By identifying CKD patients with high risk of developing these mental health related issues, healthcare provider may be better able to ensure the provision of appropriate rehabilitation to this population.