Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced Text Spacing Improves Reading Performance in Individuals with Macular Disease

The search by many investigators for a solution to the reading problems encountered by individuals with no central vision has been long and, to date, not very fruitful. Most textual manipulations, including font size, have led to only modest gains in reading speed. Previous work on spatial integrative properties of peripheral retina suggests that ‘visual crowding’ may be a major factor contributing to inefficient reading. Crowding refers to the fact that juxtaposed targets viewed eccentrically may be difficult to identify. The purpose of this study was to assess the combined effects of line spacing and word spacing on the ability of individuals with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) to read short passages of text that were printed with either high (87.5%) or low contrast (17.5%) letters. Low contrast text was used to avoid potential ceiling effects and to mimic a possible reduction in letter contrast with light scatter from media opacities. For both low and high contrast text, the fastest reading speeds we measured were for passages of text with double line and double word spacing. In comparison with standard single spacing, double word/line spacing increased reading speed by approximately 26% with high contrast text (p < 0.001), and by 46% with low contrast text (p < 0.001). In addition, double line/word spacing more than halved the number of reading errors obtained with single spaced text. We compare our results with previous reading studies on ARMD patients, and conclude that crowding is detrimental to reading and that its effects can be reduced with enhanced text spacing. Spacing is particularly important when the contrast of the text is reduced, as may occur with intraocular light scatter or poor viewing conditions. We recommend that macular disease patients should employ double line spacing and double-character word spacing to maximize their reading efficiency.
Altered connectivity of the right anterior insula drives the pain connectome changes in chronic knee osteoarthritis

Abstract Resting-state functional connectivity (FC) has proven a powerful approach to understand the neural underpinnings of chronic pain, reporting altered connectivity in 3 main networks: the default mode network (DMN), central executive network, and the salience network (SN). The interrelation and possible mechanisms of these changes are less well understood in chronic pain. Based on emerging evidence of its role to drive switches between network states, the right anterior insula (rAI, an SN hub) may play a dominant role in network connectivity changes underpinning chronic pain. To test this hypothesis, we used seed-based resting-state FC analysis including dynamic and effective connectivity metrics in 25 people with chronic osteoarthritis (OA) pain and 19 matched healthy volunteers. Compared with controls, participants with painful knee OA presented with increased anticorrelation between the rAI (SN) and DMN regions. Also, the left dorsal prefrontal cortex (central executive network hub) showed more negative FC with the right temporal gyrus. Granger causality analysis revealed increased negative influence of the rAI on the posterior cingulate (DMN) in patients with OA in line with the observed enhanced anticorrelation. Moreover, dynamic FC was lower in the DMN of patients and thus more similar to temporal dynamics of the SN. Together, these findings evidence a widespread network disruption in patients with persistent OA pain and point toward a driving role of the rAI.
Finding all solutions of piecewise-linear resistive circuits using the simplex method

An efficient algorithm is proposed for finding all solutions of piecewise-linear (PWL) resistive circuits using the simplex method. By numerical examples, it is shown that the proposed algorithm could find all solutions of relatively large scale problems (including those where the number of PWL resistors is 500-2000 and the number of linear regions is 10/sup 500/-1000/sup 2000/) in practical computation time.
An Optimal Online Resource Allocation Algorithm for Energy Harvesting Body Area Networks

In Body Area Networks (BANs), how to achieve energy management to extend the lifetime of the body area networks system is one of the most critical problems. In this paper, we design a body area network system powered by renewable energy, in which the sensors carried by patient with energy harvesting module can transmit data to a personal device. We do not require any a priori knowledge of the stochastic nature of energy harvesting and energy consumption. We formulate a user utility optimization problem. We use Lyapunov Optimization techniques to decompose the problem into three sub-problems, i.e., battery management, collecting rate control and transmission power allocation. We propose an online resource allocation algorithm to achieve two major goals: (1) balancing sensors’ energy harvesting and energy consumption while stabilizing the BANs system; and (2) maximizing the user utility. Performance analysis addresses required battery capacity, bounded data queue length and optimality of the proposed algorithm. Simulation results verify the optimization of algorithm.
Neighborhood Attainment over the Adult Life Course

This study uses data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, in conjunction with neighborhood-level data from the U.S. decennial census and American Community Survey, to examine the trajectory of individuals’ neighborhood characteristics from initial household formation into mid-to-late adulthood. Multilevel growth curve models reveal both different starting points and different life course trajectories for blacks and whites in neighborhood economic status and neighborhood racial composition. Among respondents who first established an independent household during the 1970s, improvement in neighborhood income over the adult life course was substantially greater for white than for black respondents; the racial difference in the percentage of neighbors who were non-Hispanic white narrowed slightly with age. Racial differences in the characteristics of neighborhoods inhabited during adolescence help explain racial differences in starting points and, to a lesser extent, subsequent trajectories of neighborhood attainment. Residing in an economically advantaged neighborhood during adolescence confers greater subsequent benefits in neighborhood economic status for white than for black respondents. We use these findings to begin developing a life course perspective on neighborhood attainment.
A Novel In Vitro Model for Studying Quiescence and Activation of Primary Isolated Human Myoblasts

Skeletal muscle stem cells, satellite cells, are normally quiescent but become activated upon muscle injury. Recruitment of resident satellite cells may be a useful strategy for treatment of muscle disorders, but little is known about gene expression in quiescent human satellite cells or the mechanisms involved in their early activation. We have developed a method to induce quiescence in purified primary human myoblasts isolated from healthy individuals. Analysis of the resting state showed absence of BrdU incorporation and lack of KI67 expression, as well as the extended kinetics during synchronous reactivation into the cell cycle, confirming arrest in the G0 phase. Reactivation studies showed that the majority (>95%) of the G0 arrested cells were able to re-enter the cell cycle, confirming reversibility of arrest. Furthermore, a panel of important myogenic factors showed expression patterns similar to those reported for mouse satellite cells in G0, reactivated and differentiated cultures, supporting the applicability of the human model. In addition, gene expression profiling showed that a large number of genes (4598) were differentially expressed in cells activated from G0 compared to long term exponentially proliferating cultures normally used for in vitro studies. Human myoblasts cultured through many passages inevitably consist of a mixture of proliferating and non-proliferating cells, while cells activated from G0 are in a synchronously proliferating phase, and therefore may be a better model for in vivo proliferating satellite cells. Furthermore, the temporal propagation of proliferation in these synchronized cultures resembles the pattern seen in vivo during regeneration. We therefore present this culture model as a useful and novel condition for molecular analysis of quiescence and reactivation of human myoblasts.
The Transcriptomics of Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Developing Zebrafish

Cortisol is the primary corticosteroid in teleosts that is released in response to stressor activation of the hypothalamus-pituitary-interrenal axis. The target tissue action of this hormone is primarily mediated by the intracellular glucocorticoid receptor (GR), a ligand-bound transcription factor. In developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos, GR transcripts and cortisol are maternally deposited into the oocyte prior to fertilization and influence early embryogenesis. To better understand of the molecular mechanisms involved, we investigated changes in the developmental transcriptome prior to hatch, in response to morpholino oligonucleotide knockdown of GR using the Agilent zebrafish microarray platform. A total of 1313 and 836 mRNA transcripts were significantly changed at 24 and 36 hours post fertilization (hpf), respectively. Functional analysis revealed numerous developmental processes under GR regulation, including neurogenesis, eye development, skeletal and cardiac muscle formation. Together, this study underscores a critical role for glucocorticoid signaling in programming molecular events essential for zebrafish development.
Compromised Account Detection Based on Clickstream Data

The number of users of the world wide web is constantly increasing. However, this also increases the risks. There is the possibility that other users illegally gain access to a users' account of social networks, web shops or other web services. Previous work use graph-based methods to identify hijacked or compromised accounts. Most often posts are used in social networks to detect fraudulences. However, not every compromised account is used to spread propaganda information or phishing attacks. Therefore, we restrict ourselves to the clickstreams from the accounts. In order to identify compromised accounts by means of clickstreams, we will also consider a temporal aspect, since the preferences of a user change over time. We choose a hybrid approach consisting of methods from subsymbolic and symbolic AI to detect fraudulences in clickstreams. We will also take into account the experience of domain experts. Our approach can also be used to identify not only compromised accounts but also shared accounts on instance streaming sites.
Twitter for Sparking a Movement, Reddit for Sharing the Moment: #metoo through the Lens of Social Media

Social media platforms are revolutionizing the way users communicate by increasing the exposure to highly stigmatized issues in the society. Sexual abuse is one such issue that recently took over social media via attaching the hashtag #metoo to the shared posts. Individuals with different backgrounds and ethnicities began sharing their unfortunate personal experiences of being assaulted. Through comparative analysis of the tweets via #meToo on Twitter versus the posts shared on the #meToo subreddit, this paper makes an initial attempt to assess public reactions and emotions. Though nearly equal ratios of negative and positive posts are shared on both platforms, Reddit posts are focused on the sexual assaults within families and workplaces while Twitter posts are on showing empathy and encouraging others to continue the #metoo movement. The data collected in this research and preliminary analysis demonstrate that users use various ways to share their experience, exchange ideas and encourage each other, and social media is suitable for groundswells such as #metoo movement.
Experimental study on seismic behavior of strengthened RC column-beam joints damaged by simulated earthquake

This paper presents the experimental study on the seismic behavior of 8 repaired column-beam joints(C-BJs),which had been pre-damaged under cyclic loads.The test procedures included pre-damage,rehabilitation and re-test under cyclic loads.The study concentrated on the effect of different strengthening schemes(enveloped steel or basalt fiber sheet),different levels of pre-damage and epoxy injection.Through the test data,namely the hysteretic loops,ductility,strength and stiffness degradation,etc,the following conclusion was drawn: the rehabilitation with basalt fiber sheets has notable influence on the seismic performance of joints,but leads limited increment to the ultimate strength,while the method of enveloped steel has significant improvements in both the strength,the stiffness and all aspects of seismic performance.Furthermore,the failure of‘strong beam and weak column’was changed into ‘strong column and weak beam’after rehabilitations.The study indicates the rehabilitated C-BJs can reach or even exceed the level of their original seismic performances before pre-damage,and proves the rehabilitation effective and reasonable.
Automatic polyp detection: A comparative study

In this work we present a performance comparison between a set of different state-of-the-art image descriptors for the automatic detection of polyps in colonoscopy videos. This set includes: Local binary patterns, 2-dimensional Gabor filters, wavelet-based texture, and histogram of oriented gradients. We use these descriptors in conjunction with support vector machine or nearest neighbor classifiers to classify candidate regions, which in turn are selected using the maximally stable extremal regions algorithm. We present performance scores on the ASU-Mayo Clinic polyp database.
Symptomatic Congenital Hemangioma and Congenital Hemangiomatosis Associated With a Somatic Activating Mutation in GNA11.

IMPORTANCE Congenital hemangiomas are uncommon benign vascular tumors that present fully formed at birth. They are rarely associated with transient hematologic abnormalities, which are typically less severe than the Kasabach-Merritt phenomenon associated with kaposiform hemangioendotheliomas. Congenital hemangiomas are typically solitary and have not been reported to occur in a multifocal, generalized pattern. OBJECTIVE To describe a male infant born with an unusual, large vascular mass complicated by anemia, thrombocytopenia, and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, as well as innumerable small vascular papules in a generalized cutaneous distribution. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANT This case report is a descriptive observation of the results of clinical, pathologic, and genetic studies performed in a single male infant observed for 2 years (May 2013 to June 2015) for vascular anomalies at a tertiary care referral center. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Histopathologic, immunohistochemical, and genetic study results of tumor specimens and saliva. RESULTS Careful pathologic study of 3 tumor specimens revealed similar lobular proliferations of bland endothelial cells. Lesional vessels did not express GLUT1 or the lymphatic marker D2-40, whereas WT1 was expressed. A somatic c.A626C, p.Q209P mutation in the GNA11 gene was identified in tumoral tissue. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE These findings support a unifying diagnosis of congenital hemangioma for these vascular tumors. To date, this is the first-reported case of a hemangiomatosis presentation of congenital hemangioma. In addition to highlighting this novel phenotype, this case indicates the rare association of congenital hemangioma with hematologic abnormalities and verifies somatic activating mutations as the underlying cause of congenital hemangioma.
Stoichiometric balance of protein copy numbers is measurable and functionally significant in a protein-protein interaction network for yeast endocytosis

Stoichiometric balance, or dosage balance, implies that proteins that are subunits of obligate complexes (e.g. the ribosome) should have copy numbers expressed to match their stoichiometry in that complex. Establishing balance (or imbalance) is an important tool for inferring subunit function and assembly bottlenecks. We show here that these correlations in protein copy numbers can extend beyond complex subunits to larger protein-protein interactions networks (PPIN) involving a range of reversible binding interactions. We develop a simple method for quantifying balance in any interface-resolved PPINs based on network structure and experimentally observed protein copy numbers. By analyzing such a network for the clathrin-mediated endocytosis (CME) system in yeast, we found that the real protein copy numbers were significantly more balanced in relation to their binding partners compared to randomly sampled sets of yeast copy numbers. The observed balance is not perfect, highlighting both under and overexpressed proteins. We evaluate the potential cost and benefits of imbalance using two criteria. First, a potential cost to imbalance is that leftover proteins without remaining functional partners are free to misinteract. We systematically quantify how this misinteraction cost is most dangerous for strong-binding protein interactions and for network topologies observed in biological PPINs. Second, a more direct consequence of imbalance is that the formation of specific functional complexes depends on relative copy numbers. We therefore construct simple kinetic models of two sub-networks in the CME network to assess multi-protein assembly of the ARP2/3 complex and a minimal, nine-protein clathrin-coated vesicle forming module. We find that the observed, imperfectly balanced copy numbers are less effective than balanced copy numbers in producing fast and complete multi-protein assemblies. However, we speculate that strategic imbalance in the vesicle forming module allows cells to tune where endocytosis occurs, providing sensitive control over cargo uptake via clathrin-coated vesicles.
Identification and Characterisation of Simiate, a Novel Protein Linked to the Fragile X Syndrome

A strict regulation of protein expression during developmental stages and in response to environmental signals is essential to every cell and organism. Recent research has shown that the mammalian brain is particularly sensitive to alterations in expression patterns of specific proteins and cognitive deficits as well as autistic behaviours have been linked to dysregulated protein expression. An intellectual disability characterised by changes in the expression of a variety of proteins is the fragile X syndrome. Due to the loss of a single mRNA binding protein, the Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein FMRP, vast misregulation of the mRNA metabolism is taking place in the disease. Here, we present the identification and characterisation of a novel protein named Simiate, whose mRNA contains several FMRP recognition motifs and associates with FMRP upon co-precipitation. Sequence analysis revealed that the protein evolved app. 1.7 billion years ago when eukaryotes developed. Applying antibodies generated against Simiate, the protein is detected in a variety of tissues, including the mammalian brain. On the subcellular level, Simiate localises to somata and nuclear speckles. We show that Simiate and nuclear speckles experience specific alterations in FMR1-/- mice. An antibody-based block of endogenous Simiate revealed that the protein is essential for cell survival. These findings suggest not only an important role for Simiate in gene transcription and/or RNA splicing, but also provide evidence for a function of nuclear speckles in the fragile X syndrome. Indeed, transcription and splicing are two fundamental mechanisms to control protein expression, that underlie not only synaptic plasticity and memory formation, but are also affected in several diseases associated with mental disabilities.
Key Aspects in Modeling of Thin Epi SOS Technology With Application of BSIMSOI

This work addresses the device modeling challenges of production-quality, state-of-the-art, silicon-on-sapphire (SOS) processes. Differences between SOS, silicon-on-insulator (SOI), and bulk CMOS are highlighted, with emphasis on the key differences in the modeling methodology. For RF and low-power applications, SOS has distinct advantages over SOI, such as reduced parasitics, better linearity, and enhanced electrical isolation. Yet little is reported in the literature about modeling of a commercially viable SOS process. Though originally developed for SOI, it is demonstrated that the BSIMSOI model can adequately represent SOS MOSFETs, including fully and partially depleted devices. For RF switch applications, RON and COFF are captured with reasonable accuracy. An additional RF figure of merit, fT, is also reasonably well modeled, yielding peak values in the 40-50 GHz range.
Two-Year Outcomes of the Enabling Mothers to Prevent Pediatric Obesity Through Web-Based Education and Reciprocal Determinism (EMPOWER) Randomized Control Trial

Background. Childhood overweight and obesity is a public health epidemic with far-reaching medical, economic, and quality of life consequences. Brief, web-based interventions have received increased attention for their potential to combat childhood obesity. The purpose of our study was to evaluate a web-based, maternal-facilitated childhood obesity prevention intervention dubbed Enabling Mothers to Prevent Pediatric Obesity Through Web-Based Education and Reciprocal Determinism (EMPOWER), for its capacity to elicit sustained effects at the 2-year postintervention follow-up mark. Method. Two interventions were evaluated using a randomized controlled trial design. The experimental, EMPOWER arm received a social cognitive theory intervention (n = 29) designed to improve four maternal-facilitated behaviors in children (fruit and vegetable consumption, physical activity, sugar-free beverage intake, screen time). The active control arm received a knowledge-based intervention dubbed Healthy Lifestyles (n = 28), which also targeted the same four behaviors. Results. We identified a significant group-by-time interaction of small effect size for child fruit and vegetable consumption (p = .033; Cohen’s f = 0.139) in the EMPOWER group. The construct of maternal-facilitated environment was positively associated to improvements in child fruit and vegetable behavior. We also found significant main effects for child physical activity (p = .024; Cohen’s f = 0.124); sugar-free beverage intake (p < .001; Cohen’s f = 0.321); and screen time (p < .001; Cohen’s f = 0.303), suggesting both groups improved in these behaviors over time. Conclusions. The EMPOWER arm of the trial resulted in an overall increase of 1.680 daily cups of fruits and vegetables consumed by children, relative to the comparison group (p < .001, 95% confidence interval = [1.113, 2.248]). Web-based maternal-facilitated interventions can induce sustained effects on child behaviors.