Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Magnetic resonance imaging-three-dimensional printing technology fabricates customized scaffolds for brain tissue engineering

Conventional fabrication methods lack the ability to control both macro- and micro-structures of generated scaffolds. Three-dimensional printing is a solid free-form fabrication method that provides novel ways to create customized scaffolds with high precision and accuracy. In this study, an electrically controlled cortical impactor was used to induce randomized brain tissue defects. The overall shape of scaffolds was designed using rat-specific anatomical data obtained from magnetic resonance imaging, and the internal structure was created by computer-aided design. As the result of limitations arising from insufficient resolution of the manufacturing process, we magnified the size of the cavity model prototype five-fold to successfully fabricate customized collagen-chitosan scaffolds using three-dimensional printing. Results demonstrated that scaffolds have three-dimensional porous structures, high porosity, highly specific surface areas, pore connectivity and good internal characteristics. Neural stem cells co-cultured with scaffolds showed good viability, indicating good biocompatibility and biodegradability. This technique may be a promising new strategy for regenerating complex damaged brain tissues, and helps pave the way toward personalized medicine.
An Anonymous Authentication Protocol with Single-database PIR

This paper focuses on anonymous authentication systems in multi-service environment, in which service providers communicate with the central manager in every authentication. Such systems have a merit that the central manager can easily update the database of user information by comparison to the existing anonymous authentication systems without communications between service providers and the central manager. The purpose of this paper is to realize a practical authentication protocol for such systems which satisfies four requirements for security and privacy protection, that is, correctness, impersonation resistance against passive insider, anonymity against central manager, and anonymity against service providers. The existing protocol consists of a multi-database PIR scheme, in which there are copies of the same database and none of these copies are allowed to communicate with each other. This paper proposes an authentication protocol which consists of the single-database PIR scheme proposed by Kushilevitz and Ostrovsky. This protocol also realizes all these requirements in the random oracle model. This protocol is more practical since using a single database implies the above-mentioned assumptions for multi-database PIR schemes are not required any more.
IMU-camera self-calibration using planar mirror reflection

In this paper, we first look at the problem of estimating the transformation between an inertial measurement unit (IMU) and a calibrated camera, based on images of planar mirror reflections (IPMR) of arbitrary feature points with unknown positions. Assuming that only the reflection of the feature points are observable by the camera, the IMU-camera calibration parameters and the position of the feature points in the camera frame are estimated using the Sigma-Point Kalman filter framework. In the next step, we consider the case of estimating varying camera intrinsic parameters using the estimated static parameters from the previous stage. Therefore, the estimated parameters are used as initial values in the state space model of the system to estimate the camera intrinsic parameters together with the rest of the parameters. The proposed method does not rely on using a fixed calibration pattern whose feature points' positions are known relative to the navigation frame. Additionally, the motion of the camera, which is mounted on the IMU, is not limited to be planar with respect to the mirror. Instead, the reflection of the feature points with unknown positions in the camera body frame are tracked over time. Simulation results show subcentimeter and subdegree accuracy for both IMU-camera translation and rotation parameters as well as submillimeter and subpixel accuracy for the position of the feature points and camera intrinsic parameters, respectively.
WORKING WITH A MAN WHO HAS PRADER-WILLI SYNDROME AND HIS SUPPORT STAFF USING MOTIVATIONAL PRINCIPLES

This paper describes an intervention with a man who has Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) and mild learning disabilities in a residential setting. PWS is a chromosomal disorder that is characterized by a wide range of behavioural characteristics including overeating and challenging behaviour. The intervention was based on a range of principles derived from a motivational interviewing approach, which were embedded in a broader behavioural framework that was designed to assist in weight reduction and reduce challenging behaviour. Records of weight and challenging behaviour kept over time suggest that the approach had relatively little impact on overall weight. However, levels of challenging behaviour were reduced quickly and have been maintained at a stable and lower level. Weight has also been maintained at a reasonably constant level without confrontation with staff or excessive restrictions on the individual concerned. Relationships between the individual and staff in the home also improved over the course of the intervention.
New Aspects in Chinese Herb Materials Identification by DNABarcoding

The numerous noxious reactions have overwhelming concerning by misusing medicinal plant ingredients. This phenomenon has aroused the worldwide demand over the safe application in pharmaceuticals. DNA barcoding offers a powerful means to complement morphological and chemical processes for distinguishing Chinese medicinal plants. Consequently, a DNA barcoding system should be continuous renewal containing mass information about authentic plant materials and potentially substitutes or adulterants. Recent accomplishments in the new field of DNA barcoding that provide new aspects for identification Chinese herbal medicines. Several DNA regions (ITS, ITS2, psbA-trnH, rbcL, matK) have been established as the hot topical barcodes for Chinese herb. This review summarizes the significant progresses in the DNA barcoding about Chinese herb material authentication.
Prototypicality, conformity and depersonalized attraction: A self‐categorization analysis of group cohesiveness

The affective component of group cohesiveness is reconceptualized in terms of a distinct group‐based form of attraction: social attraction. It is hypothesized, from self‐categorization theory, that under conditions of self‐conception based on social as opposed to personal identity the basis and structure of attraction within a group becomes depersonalized in terms of the group prototype. Four‐person single‐sex groups made autokinetic judgements under conditions designed to accentuate individuality (low salience) or group membership (high salience). Females behaved as predicted. They manifested depersonalized attraction associated with self‐categorization in group terms, indicated by greater convergence on the group norm in the high salience condition. For males depersonalized attraction occurred in the low salience condition and was linked to convergence on some, not all, measures. The results are discussed in terms of subjective uncertainty, which was abnormally and inexplicably high among low salience male groups, and differences between this and an earlier naturalistic study by Hogg & Hardie (1991). In the light of this discussion it is concluded that the data for both sexes conform to a self‐categorization analysis of social attraction. 1992 The British Psychological Society
The optimum reperfusion pathway for ST elevation acute myocardial infarction: development of a decision framework

There is currently much debate about the relative roles of pharmacological reperfusion (ie, thrombolysis) and mechanical reperfusion (ie, primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) in the management of patients with acute ST segment elevation acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). Whilst the scientific debate is reaching some resolution in terms of appropriate interpretation of the evidence base, there are still significant resource issues within the UK that limit our ability to implement gold standard reperfusion therapy. Current evidence supports the use of one or other strategy in certain situations depending on various patient-related and logistical factors. This paper reviews the literature and builds the case for developing a strategic approach which includes both mechanical and pharmacological interventions, proposing that these are not mutually exclusive—indeed, that an approach which excludes one of these interventions will not be to the benefit of all patients. There is also a discussion of the role of rescue PPCI, facilitated PPCI and early post thrombolysis angiography in the management of STEMI. Cardiac networks throughout the UK are developing strategies to improve access to these interventions and this paper offers advice on the logical selection of interventions for reperfusion in the context of a clinical decision framework that is evidence-based, pragmatic and develops through a series of scenarios with increasing availability of resources. Four sequential scenarios are presented: the first to set the scene is largely consigned to history; the last, as of yet, is not robustly achievable within the UK, but represents the “optimum reperfusion pathway”, to which most cardiac networks are striving. Most of us currently find ourselves in a period of change between the two and will relate to either scenario two or three.
Evaluation of antinociceptive activity of aqueous extract of bark of psidium guajava in albino rats and albino mice.

BACKGROUND Psidium guajava is commonly known as guava. Psidium guajava is a medium sized tree belonging to the family Myrtaceae found throughout the tropics. All the parts of the plant, the leaves, followed by the fruits, bark and the roots are used in traditional medicine. The traditional uses of the plant are Antidiarrheal, Antimicrobial Activity, Antimalarial/Antiparasitic Activity, Antitussive and antihyperglycaemic. Leaves are used as Anti-inflammatory, Analgesic and Antinociceptive effects. AIM To evaluate the antinociceptive activity of aqueous extract of bark of Psidium guajava in albino rats with that of control and standard analgesic drugs aspirin and tramadol. MATERIALS AND METHODS Mechanical (Tail clip method) and thermal (Tail flick method using Analgesiometer), 0.6% solution of acetic acid writhing models of nociception were used to evaluate the extract antinociceptive activity. Six groups of animals, each consists of 10 animals, first one as control, second and third as standard drugs, Aspirin and Tramadol, fourth, fifth and sixth groups as text received the extract (100, 200, and 400 mg/ kg) orally 60 min prior to subjection to the respective test. RESULTS The results obtained demonstrated that aqueous extract of bark of Psidium guajava produced significant antinociceptive response in all the mechanical and thermal-induced nociception models. CONCLUSION AEPG antinociceptive activity involves activation of the peripheral and central mechanisms.
Rank-Biserial Correlation when Ties Are Present

GLASS (1966) presents an interesting simplification of the formula for the rank-biserial correlation, and shows that in the untied case it is algebraically equivalent to one given by the writer (Cureton, 1956) in a form rather cumbersome for computation. Let Y be a ranking, with ties if any treated by the mean-rank procedure, and let X be an arbitrary dichotomy of another ranking, assumed identical with that of Y if ties are present in the latter. We
Trauma Among Street-Involved Youth

Previous research documents that street-involved youth experience rates of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that are significantly higher than their housed counterparts. Trauma and PTSD are of particular concern for homeless youth as they can negatively affect youths’ ability to function adaptively and to transition off the streets. This mixed-methods study investigates the intricacies of trauma experienced by homeless youth across three U.S. cities. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of 145 homeless youth in Los Angeles (n = 50), Denver (n = 50), and Austin (n = 45) to explore youths’ perspectives on the definition of trauma and the contexts associated with victimization. Quantitative standardized assessments investigated youths’ trauma experiences before and after becoming homeless. Trauma screening identified high rates of trauma incidents (78%), with 28% of participants meeting criteria for PTSD. Participants reported various traumatic experiences that occurred before leaving home and while on the streets, and high rates of polyvictimization. Qualitative themes describe particular people and places most vulnerable on the streets. Implications for services to prevent and treat trauma among homeless youth are discussed.
The ups and downs of cognitive bias: Dissociating the attentional characteristics of positive and negative affectivity

Despite considerable past interest in distinguishing the patterns of attentional bias that characterise vulnerability to anxiety and to depression, little research has yet sought to delineate the attentional correlates of two affective dimensions that differentially contribute to these alternative forms of emotional vulnerability—negative and positive affectivity. In the present study, we employ a novel variant of the attentional probe task to examine selective attentional engagement with, and disengagement from, negative words, in participants whose heightened emotional vulnerability reflects either elevated negative affectivity, or attenuated positive affectivity. Elevated negative affectivity was found to be associated with both increased attentional engagement with, and impaired attentional disengagement from, negative information, especially when this was anxiety relevant. In contrast, attenuated positive affectivity was associated with facilitated attentional disengagement from negative information, especially when this was depression relevant. We discuss how this new insight into the attentional characteristics of negative and positive affectivity may serve to illuminate the basis of previously observed discrepancies between the patterns of attentional selectivity observed in anxious and in depressed participants.
The VLBA-BU-BLAZAR Multi-Wavelength Monitoring Program

We describe a multiwavelength program of monitoring of a sample of bright γ-ray blazars, which the Boston University (BU) group has being carrying out since June 2007. The program includes monthly monitoring with the Very Long Baseline Array at 43 GHz, optical photometric and polarimetric observations, construction and analysis of UV and X-ray light curves obtained with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and Swift satellites, and construction and analysis of γ-ray light curves based on data provided by the Large Area Telescope of the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. We present general results about the kinematics of parsec-scale radio jets, as well as the connection between γ-ray outbursts and jet events.
Matchgates and classical simulation of quantum circuits

Let G(A, B) denote the two-qubit gate that acts as the one-qubit SU(2) gates A and B in the even and odd parity subspaces, respectively, of two qubits. Using a Clifford algebra formalism, we show that arbitrary uniform families of circuits of these gates, restricted to act only on nearest neighbour (n.n.) qubit lines, can be classically efficiently simulated. This reproduces a result originally proved by Valiant using his matchgate formalism, and subsequently related by others to free fermionic physics. We further show that if the n.n. condition is slightly relaxed, to allow the same gates to act only on n.n. and next n.n. qubit lines, then the resulting circuits can efficiently perform universal quantum computation. From this point of view, the gap between efficient classical and quantum computational power is bridged by a very modest use of a seemingly innocuous resource (qubit swapping). We also extend the simulation result above in various ways. In particular, by exploiting properties of Clifford operations in conjunction with the Jordan–Wigner representation of a Clifford algebra, we show how one may generalize the simulation result above to provide further classes of classically efficiently simulatable quantum circuits, which we call Gaussian quantum circuits.
A Qualitative Study Examining the Spatial Ability Phenomenon from the Chinese Student Perspective

The authors used holistic and structured interviews to examine Chinese student perspectives on their own spatial ability. The results of this study were compared and contrast with a previous study that was conducted by Mohler (2008) of Caucasian student perspectives in United States. Findings of the current study agree with other literature that Chinese student spatial ability may be culturally formed. Their background, experiences, and upbringing may contribute to Chinese student development of spatial ability and appear to differ significantly from students in United States. Recommendations and educational implications are discussed in the following contribution. As an educator in the field of graphics and engineering, Mohler (2008) questioned whether suitable intervention techniques would improve student spatial ability. There is a general agreement that spatial ability involves one’s mental operation. Lohman defined spatial ability as being related to one’s ability to mentally “generate, manipulate, and retain abstract information and/or images” (1979, p. 188). Spatial ability has been acknowledged to be integral for success not only in engineering graphics but also in architecture, art, design, and the medical field. Thus, early intervention to improve spatial ability for individuals is critical. There are different opinions regarding whether spatial ability is innate or acquired through experience (El Koussy, 1935). Thurstone (1938) and Piaget and Inhelder (1971) strongly agreed that spatial ability is an innate ability. Nevertheless, numerous studies have argued that spatial ability can be obtained and improved through
Graph Indexing of Road Networks for Shortest Path Queries with Label Restrictions

The current widespread use of location-based services and GPS technologies has revived interest in very fast and scalable shortest path queries. We introduce a new shortest path query type in which dynamic constraints may be placed on the allowable set of edges that can appear on a valid shortest path (e.g., dynamically restricting the type of roads or modes of travel which may be considered in a multimodal transportation network). We formalize this problem as a specific variant of formal language constrained shortest path problems, which we call the Kleene Language Constrained Shortest Paths problem. To efficiently support this type of dynamically constrained shortest path query for large-scale datasets, we extend the hierarchical graph indexing technique known as Contraction Hierarchies. Our experimental evaluation using the North American road network dataset (with over 50 million edges) shows an average query speed and search space improvement of over 3 orders of magnitude compared to the naive adaptation of the standard Dijkstra's algorithm to support this query type. We also show an improvement of over 2 orders of magnitude compared to the only previously-existing indexing technique which could solve this problem without additional preprocessing.
Spinal implantation of hNT neurons and neuronal precursors: graft survival and functional effects in rats with ischemic spastic paraplegia

Transient spinal ischemia, a complication associated with aortic cross‐clamp may lead to spastic paraplegia. Once fully developed this deficit is permanent. Quantitative histopathological assessments and pharmacological studies show that the ischemic spasticity is secondary to the loss of lumbar GABA and glycinergic inhibitory interneurons. In the present study, we investigated whether human hNT neurons or committed Sprague–Dawley rat spinal neuronal precursors (SNPs) when grafted into previously ischemic spinal segments depleted of inhibitory neurons would restore local inhibitory tone and ameliorate spasticity. Rats with functionally and electrophysiologically defined spasticity that received spinal graft of hNT neurons or neuronal precursors and immunosuppressive treatment displayed a progressive recovery of motor function that correlated with the improvement of otherwise exacerbated peripheral motor response evoked by stimulation of motor cortex. In contrast, in control, medium‐injected or oligodendrocyte‐grafted animals no significant therapeutic effect was seen. Stereological quantification of grafted neurons revealed 1–2% survival at three months after transplantation. These surviving neurons displayed a robust axo‐dendritic sprouting and expression of markers typical of mature neurons including NSE, NeuN and synaptophysin. In both treatment groups a subpopulation of grafted neurons developed GABA immunoreactivity. These data provide evidence that a region specific grafting of hNT neurons or other neuronally committed cells, which have a potential to develop inhibitory neurotransmitter phenotype, represent an effective treatment modality to modulate ischemia‐induced spastic paraplegia.
Double agents

The way investors choose fund managers may cause anomalies in the markets Sep 13th 2014 | From the print edition MOST financial assets these days are not held directly by investors but by professional fund managers on their behalf. And that separation may explain a couple of big anomalies that undermine belief in the efficiency of markets. The most striking anomaly is momentum—the fact that an asset that has recently been rising in price typically continues to do so. If markets were completely efficient, then past price movements should tell you nothing about the future. But lots of commodity-trading advisers, a type of hedge fund, make their living using sophisticated formulae to exploit this mysterious but abiding tendency. A new paper