Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Roles of Temptation Strength and Self-efficacy in Predicting Smoking Cessation Attempts

This paper examines the predictive value of self-efficacy and strength of temptations in determining whether a person will try to give up smoking, and successfully do so for at least one day. Participants were 62 smokers calling a quit-smoking telephone service. They were assessed by self-report questionnaires by telephone. Fifty-six per cent had made an attempt to stop smoking within 3 weeks. Measures of self-efficacy to quit smoking and strength of temptations to smoke were not closely related. Multivariate analyses revealed that after intention to quit entered the equation, self-efficacy was inversely related to making a quit attempt, as was temptation strength and extent of addiction. This study extends previous work that showed self-efficacy has a complex relationship with making quit attempts by showing that self-efficacy operates quite differently from strength of temptations. This may be because measures of self-efficacy, when made in the context of intention to act, contain a motivational component as well as an assessment of skills to resist temptations.
Comparative evaluation of microscopic car-following behavior

Microscopic traffic-simulation tools are increasingly being applied to evaluate the impacts of a wide variety of intelligent transport systems (ITS) applications and other dynamic problems that are difficult to solve using traditional analytical models. The accuracy of a traffic-simulation system depends highly on the quality of the traffic-flow model at its core, with the two main critical components being the car-following and lane-changing models. This paper presents findings from a comparative evaluation of car-following behavior in a number of traffic simulators [advanced interactive microscopic simulator for urban and nonurban networks (AIMSUN), parallel microscopic simulation (PARAMICS), and Verkehr in Stadten-simulation (VISSIM)]. The car-following algorithms used in these simulators have been developed from a variety of theoretical backgrounds and are reported to have been calibrated on a number of different data sets. Very few independent studies have attempted to evaluate the performance of the underlying algorithms based on the same data set. The results reported in this study are based on a car-following experiment that used instrumented vehicles to record the speed and relative distance between follower and leader vehicles on a one-lane road. The experiment was replicated in each tool and the simulated car-following behavior was compared to the field data using a number of error tests. The results showed lower error values for the Gipps-based models implemented in AIMSUN and similar error values for the psychophysical spacing models used in VISSIM and PARAMICS. A qualitative "drift and goal-seeking behavior" test, which essentially shows how the distance headway between leader and follower vehicles should oscillate around a stable distance, also confirmed the findings.
Normal aging modulates prefrontoparietal networks underlying multiple memory processes

A functional decline of brain regions underlying memory processing represents a hallmark of cognitive aging. Although a rich literature documents age‐related differences in several memory domains, the effect of aging on networks that underlie multiple memory processes has been relatively unexplored. Here we used functional magnetic resonance imaging during working memory and incidental episodic encoding memory to investigate patterns of age‐related differences in activity and functional covariance patterns common across multiple memory domains. Relative to younger subjects, older subjects showed increased activation in left dorso‐lateral prefrontal cortex along with decreased deactivation in the posterior cingulate. Older subjects showed greater functional covariance during both memory tasks in a set of regions that included a positive prefronto‐parietal‐occipital network as well as a negative network that spanned the default mode regions. These findings suggest that the memory process‐invariant recruitment of brain regions within prefronto‐parietal‐occipital network increases with aging. Our results are in line with the dedifferentiation hypothesis of neurocognitive aging, thereby suggesting a decreased specialization of the brain networks supporting different memory networks.
NOD2 transgenic mice exhibit enhanced MDP-mediated down-regulation of TLR2 responses and resistance to colitis induction.

BACKGROUND & AIMS Mutations in the CARD15 gene encoding NOD2 are susceptibility factors in Crohn's disease. We explored the mechanism of this susceptibility using mice that over express NOD2. METHODS Cellular and molecular responses of mice bearing an NOD2 transgene or administered plasmids that express wild-type and mutated NOD2 constructs were examined. RESULTS In initial studies, we showed that splenocytes from NOD2 transgenic mice as compared with littermate controls exhibit decreased interleukin (IL)-12p70 responses to peptidoglycan (PGN), a TLR2 ligand that contains muramyl dipeptide, but not other TLR ligands; in contrast, IL-12 responses to PAM(3)CSK(4), a TLR2 ligand that does not contain muramyl dipeptide, were normal. Similarly, transgenic mice as compared with controls exhibited greatly decreased IL-12p40 responses to intraperitoneal administration of PGN but not to lipopolysaccharide. In further studies, we showed using electrophoretic mobility shift assay that PGN-stimulated cells from transgenic mice exhibited decreased activation of nuclear factor kappaB. Finally, in a series of studies on the effect of the NOD2 on susceptibility to induced colitis, we found that (1) transgenic mice were highly resistant to induction of PGN colitis and partially resistant to induction of trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS) colitis and (2) mice administered a plasmid expressing a wild-type NOD2 gene were completely resistant to TNBS colitis whereas mice administered a plasmid expressing an NOD2 gene with the Crohn's disease frameshift mutation were only slightly resistant to TNBS colitis. CONCLUSIONS These data offer new evidence that NOD2 mutations contribute to inflammatory bowel disease by causing excessive TLR2 cytokine responses.
Health expectancy of the Dutch population

Gezonde levensverwachting is een relatief nieuwe indicator voor de volksgezondheid, die zowel mortaliteit als morbiditeit en/of beperkingen in de beschouwing opneemt. Deze integrale maat is door Sullivan in de jaren zeventig ontworpen en gebaseerd op het eenvoudige idee om de levensverwachting te verminderen met het aantal jaren doorgebracht in ongezondheid. In dit rapport wordt de gezonde levensverwachting voor Nederland op twee manieren berekend: ten eerste de levensverwachting zonder beperkingen, en ten tweede de levensverwachting op basis van (zeer) goede ervaren gezondheid. In de eerste benadering zijn lange termijn beperkingen berekend op basis van leeftijdsspecifieke antwoorden op 10 vragen behorende bij de OECD vragenlijst in de CBS-gezondheidsenquete, terwijl korte termijn beperkingen ontleend zijn aan enkele andere vragen in de CBS-gezondheidsenquete over beperkingen in de veertien dagen voorafgaande aan het interview. In de tweede benadering is gezondheid gemeten met behulp van de vraag naar ervaren gezondheid. Het blijkt dat ofschoon de levensverwachting bij de geboorte van vrouwen die van mannen met ruim zes jaar overtreft, dit verschil bijna geheel wegvalt als het aantal jaren dat vrouwen in ongezondheid of met beperkingen doorbrengt, in de beschouwing wordt opgenomen. De trend studie 1983-1990 geeft een aanwijzing voor een toename in het gezonde levenspercentage bij mannen, hoewel deze toename alleen voor de leeftijdsklasse van 45-64 jaar significant was. Voor vrouwen blijkt het gezonde levenspercentage af te nemen. Dit is in overeenstemming met trend studies uit andere landen. Het geeft meer steun aan een theorie over expansie van morbiditeit dan aan een theorie over compressie van morbiditeit. De analyse van gezonde levensverwachting naar sociaal-economische status onthulde dat er in Nederland een verschil is van meer dan 10% in gezonde levensverwachting tussen hoge en lage sociaal-economische status, hetgeen overeenkomt met de bevindingen in het Verenigd Koninkrijk.
Robust PCTL model checking

This paper deals with the notion of approximate probabilistic bisimulation (APB) relation for discrete-time labeled Markov Chains (LMC). In order to provide a quantified upper bound on a metric over probabilistic realizations for LMC, we exploit the structure and properties of the APB and leverage the mathematical framework of Markov set-Chains. Based on this bound, the article proves that the existence of an APB implies the preservation of robust PCTL formulae, which are formulae that allow being properly relaxed or strengthened, according to the underlying APB. This leads to a notion of robustness for probabilistic model checking.
Association between Central Obesity and Circadian Parameters of Blood Pressure from the Korean Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Registry: Kor-ABP Registry

Central obesity has been reported as a risk for atherosclerosis and metabolic syndrome. The influence of central obesity on diurnal blood pressure (BP) has not been established. In this study, we investigated the influence of central obesity on the circadian parameters of BP by 24 hr ambulatory BP monitoring. Total 1,290 subjects were enrolled from the Korean Ambulatory BP registry. Central obesity was defined as having a waist circumference≥90 cm in males and ≥85 cm in females. The central-obese group had higher daytime systolic BP (SBP), nighttime SBP and diastolic BP (DBP) than the non-obese group (all, P<0.001). There were no differences in nocturnal dipping (ND) patterns between the groups. Female participants showed a higher BP mean difference (MD) than male participants with concerns of central obesity (daytime SBP MD 5.28 vs 4.27, nighttime SBP MD 6.48 vs 2.72) and wider pulse pressure (PP). Central obesity within the elderly (≥65 yr) also showed a higher BP MD than within the younger group (daytime SBP MD 8.23 vs 3.87, daytime DBP 4.10 vs 1.59). In conclusion, central obesity has no influence on nocturnal dipping patterns. However, higher SBP and wider PP are associated with central obesity, which is accentuated in women.
RNA‐seq reveals regional differences in transcriptome response to heat stress in the marine snail Chlorostoma funebralis

To investigate the role of gene expression in adaptation of marine ectotherms to different temperatures, we examined the transcriptome‐wide thermal stress response in geographically separated populations of the intertidal snail Chlorostoma funebralis. Snails from two southern (heat tolerant) and two northern (heat sensitive) populations were acclimated to a common thermal environment, exposed to an environmentally relevant thermal stress and analysed using RNA‐seq. Pooling across all populations revealed 306 genes with differential expression between control and heat‐stressed samples, including 163 significantly upregulated and 143 significantly downregulated genes. When considered separately, regional differences in response were widely apparent. Heat shock proteins (Hsps) were upregulated in both regions, but the magnitude of response was significantly greater in northern populations for most Hsp70s, while the southern populations showed greater upregulation for approximately half of the Hsp40s. Of 177 stress‐responsive genes in northern populations, 55 responded to heat stress only in northern populations. Several molecular chaperones and antioxidant genes that were not differentially expressed in southern populations showed higher expression under control conditions compared with northern populations. This suggests that evolution of elevated expression of these genes under benign conditions preadapts the southern populations to frequent heat stress and contributes to their higher thermal tolerance. These results indicate that evolution has resulted in different transcriptome responses across populations, including upregulation of genes in response to stress and preadaptation of genes in anticipation of stress (based on evolutionary history of frequent heat exposure). The relative importance of the two mechanisms differs among gene families and among populations.
Comparative Genomic Evidence for a Close Relationship between the Dimorphic Prosthecate Bacteria Hyphomonas neptunium and Caulobacter crescentus

ABSTRACT The dimorphic prosthecate bacteria (DPB) are α-proteobacteria that reproduce in an asymmetric manner rather than by binary fission and are of interest as simple models of development. Prior to this work, the only member of this group for which genome sequence was available was the model freshwater organism Caulobacter crescentus. Here we describe the genome sequence of Hyphomonas neptunium, a marine member of the DPB that differs from C. crescentus in that H. neptunium uses its stalk as a reproductive structure. Genome analysis indicates that this organism shares more genes with C. crescentus than it does with Silicibacter pomeroyi (a closer relative according to 16S rRNA phylogeny), that it relies upon a heterotrophic strategy utilizing a wide range of substrates, that its cell cycle is likely to be regulated in a similar manner to that of C. crescentus, and that the outer membrane complements of H. neptunium and C. crescentus are remarkably similar. H. neptunium swarmer cells are highly motile via a single polar flagellum. With the exception of cheY and cheR, genes required for chemotaxis were absent in the H. neptunium genome. Consistent with this observation, H. neptunium swarmer cells did not respond to any chemotactic stimuli that were tested, which suggests that H. neptunium motility is a random dispersal mechanism for swarmer cells rather than a stimulus-controlled navigation system for locating specific environments. In addition to providing insights into bacterial development, the H. neptunium genome will provide an important resource for the study of other interesting biological processes including chromosome segregation, polar growth, and cell aging.
Advanced cardboard modeling: exploring the aesthetics of the third way

This studio revolves around the exploration of (tangible and actuated) interactive products and systems by means of physical sketching and prototyping. It is a hands-on studio where cardboard modeling techniques are combined with Arduino controlled sensors and actuators (the advanced cardboard modeling platform) to explore the notion of 'the aesthetics of the third way'. The 'aesthetics of the third way' recognizes different approaches to 'dematerialization' (the process of the physical becoming digital, e.g., LPs and CDs become digital files and loose the physical media) and tries to balance the qualities of both the physical and the digital in a new manner. In this workshop we both aim to acquaint participants with a new, low threshold platform for exploration as give them insight in -and a vocabulary of the 'third way. The studio lasts the whole day -- a six hour time slot.
Dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI of the breast: quantitative method for kinetic curve type assessment.

OBJECTIVE The type of contrast enhancement kinetic curve (i.e., persistently enhancing, plateau, or washout) seen on dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) of the breast is predictive of malignancy. Qualitative estimates of the type of curve are most commonly used for interpretation of DCE-MRI. The purpose of this study was to compare qualitative and quantitative methods for determining the type of contrast enhancement kinetic curve on DCE-MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ninety-six patients underwent breast DCE-MRI. The type of DCE-MRI kinetic curve was assessed qualitatively by three radiologists on two occasions. For quantitative assessment, the slope of the washout curve was calculated. Kappa statistics were used to determine inter- and intraobserver agreement for the qualitative method. Matched sample tables, the McNemar test, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve statistics were used to compare quantitative versus qualitative methods for establishing or excluding malignancy. RESULTS Seventy-eight lesions (77.2%) were malignant and 23 (22.8%) were benign. For the qualitative assessment, the intra- and interobserver agreement was good (kappa = 0.76-0.88), with an area under the ROC curve (AUC) of 0.73-0.77. For the quantitative method, the highest AUC was 0.87, reflecting significantly higher diagnostic accuracies compared with qualitative assessment (p < 0.01 for the difference between the two methods). CONCLUSION Quantitative assessment of the type of contrast enhancement kinetic curve on breast DCE-MRI resulted in significantly higher diagnostic performance for establishing or excluding malignancy compared with assessment based on the standard qualitative method.
Smartive: Agreement-based Mobile Composite Agents for Multimedia Services

This work considers encapsulation of multimedia contents as services, and their autonomous provision and distribution by agents. This approach enables content providers to have their contents provided and distributed together with their own business logics regarding interaction with other services and contents, control logic for various options upon provision, and value-added services. This paper proposes a framework for development of agents that provide and distribute such content services. In the framework, the interaction logic of agents is first developed in the same way as in development of ordinary Web services. Control descriptions are then given for each aspect, such as selection of partner agents, negotiation on service options, and migration. The separated descriptions for each aspect facilitate incremental development and test, as well as later modification, of agents with complex behaviors.
Closed form metrics to accurately model the response in general arbitrarily-coupled RC trees

Closed form expressions are presented for the first and second moment of the impulse response for arbitrarily-coupled RC trees with multiple drivers, and used to generate accurate second order estimations of the transfer function from any driver to the receiver. The superposition of the waveforms for all switching events allows precise delay and noise calculations for systems of coupled interconnects with different aggressor arrival times, with a minimum of computational complexity.
Joint Mode and Rate Adaptation for Asymmetric Full-Duplex Communications in WLANs

We consider the application of asymmetric full-duplex (AFD) communications in wireless local area networks (WLANs), exemplified by a Wi-Fi system. A full-duplex (FD)-enabled Wi-Fi access point communicates simultaneously uplink (UL) and downlink (DL) with a pair of half-duplex (HD) Wi-Fi stations (STAs). AFD enhances spectrum efficiency and reduces latency for STAs; however, it faces challenges related to node selection, switching between AFD and HD modes, and rate control. In this paper, we propose the \textit{asymmetric FD-mode and rate adaptation} (AFRA) scheme. AFRA relies on partially observable Markov decision process (POMDP) to adapt the UL and DL transmission rates as well as the transmission mode (i.e., AFD or HD; UL-only or DL-only), considering the future expected channel and interference conditions. Our simulation results indicate that AFRA outperforms classical rate-adaptation schemes and achieves up to $95\%$ of the optimal performance of AFD communications.
Role of major NMDA or AMPA receptor subunits in MK-801 potentiation of ethanol intoxication.

BACKGROUND The glutamate system plays a major role in mediating EtOH's effects on brain and behavior, and is implicated in the pathophysiology of alcohol-related disorders. N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists such as MK-801 (dizocilpine) interact with EtOH at the behavioral level, but the molecular basis of this interaction is unclear. METHODS We first characterized the effects of MK-801 treatment on responses to the ataxic (accelerating rotarod), hypothermic and sedative/hypnotic effects of acute EtOH administration in C57BL/6J and 129/SvImJ inbred mice. Effects of another NMDAR antagonist, phencyclidine, on EtOH-induced sedation/hypnosis were also assessed. Gene knockout of the NMDAR subunit NR2A or l-alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate GluR1 or pharmacological antagonism of the NMDAR subunit NR2B (via Ro 25-6981) was employed to examine whether inactivating any one of these glutamate signaling molecules modified MK-801's effect on EtOH-related behaviors. RESULTS MK-801 markedly potentiated the ataxic effects of 1.75 g/kg EtOH and the sedative/hypnotic effects of 3.0 g/kg EtOH, but not the hypothermic effects of 3.0 g/kg EtOH, in C57BL/6J and 129/SvImJ mice. Phencyclidine potentiated EtOH-induced sedation/hypnosis in both inbred strains. Neither NR2A nor GluR1 KO significantly altered basal EtOH-induced ataxia, hypothermia, or sedation/hypnosis. Ro 25-6981 modestly increased EtOH-induced sedation/hypnosis. The ability of MK-801 to potentiate EtOH-induced ataxia and sedation/hypnosis was unaffected by GluR1 KO or NR2B antagonism. NR2A KO partially reduced MK-801 + EtOH-induced sedation/hypnosis, but not ataxia or hypothermia. CONCLUSIONS Data confirm a robust and response-specific potentiating effect of MK-801 on sensitivity to EtOH's intoxicating effects. Inactivation of three major components of glutamate signaling had no or only partial impact on the ability of MK-801 to potentiate behavioral sensitivity to EtOH. Further work to elucidate the mechanisms underlying NMDAR x EtOH interactions could ultimately provide novel insight into the role of NMDARs in alcoholism and its treatment.
Innate immune control of West Nile virus infection

West Nile virus (WNV), from the Flaviviridae family, is a re‐emerging zoonotic pathogen of medical importance. In humans, WNV infection may cause life‐threatening meningoencephalitis or long‐term neurologic sequelae. WNV is transmitted by Culex spp. mosquitoes and both the arthropod vector and the mammalian host are equipped with antiviral innate immune mechanisms sharing a common phylogeny. As far as the current evidence is able to demonstrate, mosquitoes primarily rely on RNA interference, Toll, Imd and JAK‐STAT signalling pathways for limiting viral infection, while mammals are provided with these and other more complex antiviral mechanisms involving antiviral effectors, inflammatory mediators, and cellular responses triggered by highly specialized pathogen detection mechanisms that often resemble their invertebrate ancestry. This mini‐review summarizes our current understanding of how the innate immune systems of the vector and the mammalian host react to WNV infection and shape its pathogenesis.