Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating the Mechanisms Underlying Neuronal Death in Ischemia Using In Vitro Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation: Potential Involvement of Protein SUMOylation

It is well established that brain ischemia can cause neuronal death via different signaling cascades. The relative importance and interrelationships between these pathways, however, remain poorly understood. Here is presented an overview of studies using oxygen-glucose deprivation of organotypic hippocampal slice cultures to investigate the molecular mechanisms involved in ischemia. The culturing techniques, setup of the oxygen-glucose deprivation model, and analytical tools are reviewed. The authors focus on SUMOylation, a posttranslational protein modification that has recently been implicated in ischemia from whole animal studies as an example of how these powerful tools can be applied and could be of interest to investigate the molecular pathways underlying ischemic cell death. NEUROSCIENTIST
Translating basic behavioral and social science research to clinical application: the EVOLVE mixed methods approach.

OBJECTIVE To describe a mixed-methods approach to develop and test a basic behavioral science-informed intervention to motivate behavior change in 3 high-risk clinical populations. Our theoretically derived intervention comprised a combination of positive affect and self-affirmation (PA/SA), which we applied to 3 clinical chronic disease populations. METHOD We employed a sequential mixed methods model (EVOLVE) to design and test the PA/SA intervention in order to increase physical activity in people with coronary artery disease (post-percutaneous coronary intervention [PCI]) or asthma (ASM) and to improve medication adherence in African Americans with hypertension (HTN). In an initial qualitative phase, we explored participant values and beliefs. We next pilot tested and refined the intervention and then conducted 3 randomized controlled trials with parallel study design. Participants were randomized to combined PA/SA versus an informational control and were followed bimonthly for 12 months, assessing for health behaviors and interval medical events. RESULTS Over 4.5 years, we enrolled 1,056 participants. Changes were sequentially made to the intervention during the qualitative and pilot phases. The 3 randomized controlled trials enrolled 242 participants who had undergone PCI, 258 with ASM, and 256 with HTN (n = 756). Overall, 45.1% of PA/SA participants versus 33.6% of informational control participants achieved successful behavior change (p = .001). In multivariate analysis, PA/SA intervention remained a significant predictor of achieving behavior change (p < .002, odds ratio = 1.66), 95% CI [1.22, 2.27], controlling for baseline negative affect, comorbidity, gender, race/ethnicity, medical events, smoking, and age. CONCLUSIONS The EVOLVE method is a means by which basic behavioral science research can be translated into efficacious interventions for chronic disease populations.
SPREAD: spatial phylogenetic reconstruction of evolutionary dynamics

Summary: SPREAD is a user-friendly, cross-platform application to analyze and visualize Bayesian phylogeographic reconstructions incorporating spatial–temporal diffusion. The software maps phylogenies annotated with both discrete and continuous spatial information and can export high-dimensional posterior summaries to keyhole markup language (KML) for animation of the spatial diffusion through time in virtual globe software. In addition, SPREAD implements Bayes factor calculation to evaluate the support for hypotheses of historical diffusion among pairs of discrete locations based on Bayesian stochastic search variable selection estimates. SPREAD takes advantage of multicore architectures to process large joint posterior distributions of phylogenies and their spatial diffusion and produces visualizations as compelling and interpretable statistical summaries for the different spatial projections. Availability: SPREAD is licensed under the GNU Lesser GPL and its source code is freely available as a GitHub repository: https://github.com/phylogeography/SPREAD Contact: filip.bielejec@rega.kuleuven. be
Regulation of the Expression of GARP/Latent TGF-β1 Complexes on Mouse T Cells and Their Role in Regulatory T Cell and Th17 Differentiation

GARP/LRRC32 was defined as a marker of activated human regulatory T cells (Tregs) that is responsible for surface localization of latent TGF-β1. We find that GARP and latent TGF-β1 are also found on mouse Tregs activated via TCR stimulation; however, in contrast to human Tregs, GARP is also expressed at a low level on resting Tregs. The expression of GARP can be upregulated on mouse Tregs by IL-2 or IL-4 exposure in the absence of TCR signaling. GARP is expressed at a low level on Tregs within the thymus, and Treg precursors from the thymus concomitantly express GARP and Foxp3 upon exposure to IL-2. The expression of GARP is independent of TGF-β1 and TGF-β1 loading into GARP and is independent of furin-mediated processing of pro–TGF-β1 to latent TGF-β1. Specific deletion of GARP in CD4+ T cells results in lack of expression of latent TGF-β1 on activated Tregs. GARP-deficient Tregs develop normally, are present in normal numbers in peripheral tissues, and are fully competent suppressors of the activation of conventional T cells in vitro. Activated Tregs expressing GARP/latent TGF-β1 complexes are potent inducers of Th17 differentiation in the presence of exogenous IL-6 and inducers of Treg in the presence of IL-2. Induction of both Th17-producing cells and Tregs is caused preferentially by Tregs expressing the latent TGF-β1/GARP complex on their cell surface rather than by secreted latent TGF-β1.
Menopausal Hormone Therapy and Breast Cancer Risk in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study Cohort

Background: Results from the Women's Health Initiative trial raise new questions regarding the effects of estrogen therapy (ET) and estrogen plus progestin therapy (EPT) on breast cancer risk. Methods: We analyzed data from 126,638 females, ages 50 to 71 years at baseline, who completed two questionnaires (1995-1996 and 1996-1997) as part of the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Cohort Study and in whom 3,657 incident breast cancers were identified through June 30, 2002. Hormone-associated relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of breast cancer were estimated via multivariable regression models. Results: Among thin women (body mass index <25 kg/m2), ET use was associated with a significant 60% excess risk after 10 years of use. EPT was associated with a significantly increased risk among women with intact uteri, with the highest risk among current, long-term (≥10 years) users (RR, 2.44; 95% CI, 2.13-2.79). These risks were slightly higher when progestins were prescribed continuously than sequentially (<15 days/mo; respective RRs of 2.76 versus 2.01). EPT associations were strongest in thin women, but elevated risks persisted among heavy women. EPT use was strongly related to estrogen receptor (ER)-positive tumors, requiring consideration of this variable when assessing relationships according to other clinical features. For instance, ER- ductal tumors were unaffected by EPT use, but all histologic subgroups of ER+ tumors were increased, especially low-grade and mixed ductal-lobular tumors. Conclusions: Both ET and EPT were associated with breast cancer risks with the magnitude of increase varying according to body mass and clinical characteristics of the tumors. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(11):3150–60)
A Channel Allocation Algorithm for Cognitive Radio Systems Using Restless Multi-Armed Bandit

The cognitive radio (CR) system in which multiple secondary users (SU) search for spectrum opportunities generated by the absence of primary users (PU) is considered in this paper. The occupancy of a CR channel is modeled as a Markov chain, and it is assumed that the Markov chain has only two states: idle or busy. Since parameters of the Markov chain are unknown to SUs \emph{a priori} and the states transit independently of the sensing and utilization of SUs, this problem can be considered as a kind of RMAB (restless multi-armed bandit) problem. We propose an efficient channel allocation algorithm for SUs, which is constructed through combination of multiple single-user MAB policies. When a performance of the proposed algorithm is measured by regret which is defined as the total reward difference from the ideal Bayesian policy in which the stationary probability is known to SUs, the order of regret growth of the proposed algorithm seems to be negatively decreasing, giving a better performance than any other existing policy under the 2-state Markov chain case. In order to estimate the performance of the proposed algorithm appropriately, we introduce a new definition of the regret, which uses a belief vector based Bayesian policy as the ideal policy. We observe experimentally that the order of the newly defined regret in the proposed algorithm is similar to logarithmic order under certain conditions.
On the Relationship between Addiction and Social Security in Urban Community

Objective: This paper is an attempt to explain the relationship between social factors and tendency to addiction and determine the relationship of this tendency with social insecurity. In addition, the contribution of each of the social factors that lead to social insecurity is determined. Method: The current research method is descriptive. At first, the relationship between the research indices (family, neighborhood, unemployment, etc.) and tendency to addiction was described. Then, the relation of this tendency with social insecurity has been expressed. In the following, the contribution of each of these factors in the estimation of social insecurity has been determined. Results: The results showed that the indices under study are significantly correlated with tendency towards addiction and social insecurity. The most important predictors of social insecurity were respectively as follows: other factors (extent of border with Pakistan and Afghanistan, international and regional trafficking activities, the booming market of drugs, etc.), anomic situation, industrialization, family, friends and peers, access to drugs, unemployment, and finally neighborhood. Conclusion: Such variables as family, neighborhood, friends and peers, anomic situation, access to drugs, industrialization, and unemployment play a significant role in social security.
Transcranial direct current stimulation for the treatment of focal hand dystonia

The treatment of writer's cramp, a task‐specific focal hand dystonia, needs new approaches. A deficiency of inhibition in the motor cortex might cause writer's cramp. Transcranial direct current stimulation modulates cortical excitability and may provide a therapeutic alternative. In this randomized, double‐blind, sham‐controlled study, we investigated the efficacy of cathodal stimulation of the contralateral motor cortex in 3 sessions in 1 week. Assessment over a 2‐week period included clinical scales, subjective ratings, kinematic handwriting analysis, and neurophysiological evaluation. Twelve patients with unilateral dystonic writer's cramp were investigated; 6 received transcranial direct current and 6 sham stimulation. Cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation had no favorable effects on clinical scales and failed to restore normal handwriting kinematics and cortical inhibition. Subjective worsening remained unexplained, leading to premature study termination. Repeated sessions of cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation of the motor cortex yielded no favorable results supporting a therapeutic potential in writer's cramp. © 2011 Movement Disorder Society
‚Another One Bites the Dust’: En'gender'ing the Problems of Masculinity in the Management of Innovation

The authors explore the masculine preoccupation with control in the historical context of the emergence of modern management. They then seek to contemporise the phenomenon in terms of the problem it poses for the management of innovations within the financial services sector. It is demonstrated that the theory underlying modern management panaceas such as TQM, culture change and BPR is embedded within a masculine discourse of control which is inconsistent with its concomitant concern to promote creativity, autonomy and trust within the employment relationship. Such inconsistencies are then illustrated by recourse to some empirical case study based research within a major retail bank. It is argued that the poor performance of recent management innovations cannot be understood purely as difficulties of implementation or design rather issues of gender are of critical importance both in understanding the problems of innovation but also the forms and condition of organisations and management. The central focus is the over-arching concern with control embedded within multiple masculinities and its incompatibility with innovations which emphasise quality or teamworking.
Secure Network Code for Adaptive and Active Attacks With No-Randomness in Intermediate Nodes

In secure network coding, there is a possibility that the eavesdropper can improve her performance when she changes (contaminates) the information on the attacked edges (active attack) and chooses the attacked edges adaptively (adaptive attack). We analyze the security for network code over such types of attacks. We show that active and adaptive attacks cannot improve the performance of the eavesdropper when the code is linear. Further, we give a non-linear example, in which an adaptive attack improves the performance of the eavesdropper. We derive the capacity for the unicast case and the capacity region for the multicast case or the multiple multicast case in several examples of relay networks, beyond the minimum cut theorem, when no additional random number is allowed as scramble variables in the intermediate nodes. No prior study compared the difference of the capacity and the capacity region between the existence and the non-existence of randomness in the intermediate nodes under these network models even with non-adaptive and non-active attacks.
Productive aging via volunteering: Does social cohesion influence level of engagement?

ABSTRACT This study investigated whether neighborhood social cohesion influenced volunteer intensity over two years. The sample was drawn from Health and Retirement Study respondents who completed the 2010 or 2012 Psychosocial and Lifestyle Questionnaire (n = 12,929). Results showed that compared to nonvolunteers, a one-unit increase in neighborhood social cohesion increased the odds of moderate (OR: 1.07, p < .05) and high volunteering (OR: 1.10, p < .001). However, other productive roles, social contact, and education were significant in distinguishing high intensity from moderate volunteering while neighborhood social cohesion was not. Social workers should consider the neighborhood environment when recruiting volunteers.
Challenges and proposed solutions for formative research to inform systematic intervention development in rare and unstudied conditions: The case example of Xeroderma Pigmentosum

The systematic development of interventions to change health behaviours that are linked to morbidity and mortality is a key priority area for the discipline of health psychology. There is, however, a gap in the provision of interventions to change behaviour and improve health outcomes in rare diseases, although the behaviours (e.g., photoprotection) and outcomes (e.g., avoidance of skin cancer) may not be unique to the disease. A rare disease is one that affects fewer than five individuals per 10,000 in the general population (European Commission, 2008), but some may affect far fewer people. A patient survey revealed that perceived unmet needs included the absence or poor availability of social and psychological support (Rare Disease UK, 2013). A report on adherence in rare diseases further suggested that interventions to improve self-management were needed, and should address perceptual (e.g., the need for treatment, benefits, side effects), psychological (e.g., depression, coping), and practical barriers (e.g., forgetting, routines; Cooper & Clatworthy, 2016). Despite this, a PubMed search of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of non-pharmacological interventions in 6,632 recognized rare diseases revealed only one such trial (see Kwakkenbos et al., 2013). Together, these sources emphasize the urgent need for the development, evaluation, and dissemination of behavioural and psychological interventions to support people with rare diseases. Here, we summarize the key challenges faced by intervention developers in rare diseases and, using xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) as a case example, propose solutions to these challenges by distinguishing between the novel aspects of rare diseases and those shared with more common problems.
Semi-order Preserving Encryption Technique for Numeric Data to Enhance Privacy

Order preserving encryption schemes have been considered as one of the most efficient encryption technique for securing numeric data in a database. Such schemes are popular because they resolved performance degradation issues, which have been significant problems in the database encryption. However, in some applications, the order itself is a sensitive information and should be preserved. Conventional order preserving encryption techniques that have published so far did not consider the issue. Therefore, in this paper, we considered two techniques that perform well and also protect the order information. One uses perturbation of original values. The other uses tree based order hiding technique. The two methods hide the order of data in such a way that can efficiently handle comparison operator and prevent performance degradation. Our methods work on the top of order preserving encryption scheme and enhances the security of data. Our experiment results show the efficiency and effectiveness of proposed two methods over baseline method or other encryption.
Comparison of Various Algorithms used for Object Detection

Recently, demand for object recognition is rising with the increase of digital images. In this paper, a performance comparison of some object recognition techniques has been made. In a dataset, images usually contain wide background areas other than the object area which is focused in the recognition. This unnecessary areas should be ignored to increase the efficiency and accuracy of object detection. In this paper, we also discuses some applications of object detection in real time world and concentrate on crack detection as an application of object detection. Crack detection of objects is used in various manufacturing companies like utensil companies and spare part manufacturing companies.
In search of an “autophagomometer”

Recent years have seen the realization that macroautophagy (which we will call autophagy) is not only important in yeast but is necessary for diverse functions in plants and animals. Importantly, autophagy can have an impact on human pathologies including infectious diseases, cancers, and neurodegenerative conditions.1 Thus, we need to be able to measure autophagy accurately in order to understand how it can be regulated physiologically and with exogenous agents.
A Pooled Analysis of Cigarette Smoking and Risk of Multiple Myeloma from the International Multiple Myeloma Consortium

Background: Past investigations of cigarette smoking and multiple myeloma have been underpowered to detect moderate associations, particularly within subgroups. To clarify this association, we conducted a pooled analysis of nine case–control studies in the International Multiple Myeloma Consortium, with individual-level questionnaire data on cigarette smoking history and other covariates. Methods: Using a pooled population of 2,670 cases and 11,913 controls, we computed odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) relating smoking to multiple myeloma risk using unconditional logistic regression adjusting for gender, age group, race, education, body mass index, alcohol consumption, and study center. Results: Neither ever smokers (OR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.87–1.05), current smokers (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.73–0.93), nor former smokers (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.92–1.14) had increased risks of multiple myeloma compared with never smokers. Analyses of smoking frequency, pack-years, and duration did not reveal significant or consistent patterns, and there was no significant effect modification by subgroups. Conclusion: Findings from this large pooled analysis do not support the hypothesis of cigarette smoking as a causal factor for multiple myeloma. Impact: Cigarette smoking is one of the most important risk factors for cancer, but the association with multiple myeloma was inconclusive. This study had excellent power to detect modest associations, and had individual-level data to evaluate confounding and effect modification by potentially important factors that were not evaluated in previous studies. Our findings confirm that smoking is not a risk factor for multiple myeloma. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 24(3); 631–4. ©2014 AACR.
Neural Correlates of Suicidal Ideation and Its Reduction in Depression

Background: The neural correlates of suicidal ideation and its reduction after treatment are unknown. We hypothesized that increased regional cerebral glucose metabolism in the infralimbic cortex (Brodmann area 25), amygdala, and subgenual anterior cingulate cortex would be associated with suicidal ideation and its reduction after ketamine infusion. Methods: Medication-free patients (n=19) with treatment-resistant major depressive disorder underwent positron emission tomography imaging at baseline and 230 minutes after an open-label ketamine infusion (0.5mg/kg for 40 minutes). Results: Baseline suicidal ideation and regional cerebral glucose metabolism in the infralimbic cortex were significantly correlated (r=.59, P=.007); but not overall mood scores (r=−.07, P=.79). Reductions in suicidal ideation after ketamine infusion were correlated with decreased regional cerebral glucose metabolism in the infralimbic cortex (r=.54, P=.02). Metabolism in other areas of interest was not significantly correlated with suicidal ideation or depression. Conclusion: The infralimbic cortex may be implicated in suicidal ideation.