Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Liraglutide Treatment on Prediabetes and Overweight or Obesity in Clozapine- or Olanzapine-Treated Patients With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorder: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance Compared with the general population, patients with schizophrenia have a 2- to 3-fold higher mortality rate primarily caused by cardiovascular disease. Previous interventions designed to counteract antipsychotic-induced weight gain and cardiometabolic disturbances reported limited effects. Objectives To determine the effects of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist liraglutide added to clozapine or olanzapine treatment of schizophrenia spectrum disorders. Design, Setting, and Participants This randomized clinical double-blind trial enrolled participants at 2 clinical sites in Denmark. Of 214 eligible participants with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder, 103 were randomized to liraglutide or placebo. Participants received stable treatment with clozapine or olanzapine, were overweight or obese, and had prediabetes. Data were collected from May 1, 2013, through February 25, 2016. Interventions Treatment for 16 weeks with once-daily subcutaneous injection of liraglutide or placebo. Trial drug therapy was titrated during the first 2 weeks of the study. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was change in glucose tolerance estimated by a 75-g oral glucose tolerance test result. Secondary end points included change in body weight and cardiometabolic parameters. Results Of the 103 patients undergoing randomization (60 men [58.3%] and 43 women [41.7%]), 97 were included in the efficacy analysis, with a mean (SD) age of 42.5 (10.5) years and mean (SD) body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) of 33.8 (5.9). The liraglutide and placebo groups had comparable characteristics (mean [SD] age, 42.1 [10.7] vs 43.0 [10.5] years; 30 men in each group; mean [SD] body mass index, 33.7 [5.1] vs 33.9 [6.6]). A total of 96 randomized participants (93.2%) completed the trial. Glucose tolerance improved in the liraglutide group compared with the placebo group (P < .001). Altogether, 30 liraglutide-treated participants (63.8%) developed normal glucose tolerance compared with 8 placebo-treated participants (16.0%) (P < .001; number needed to treat, 2). Body weight decreased with liraglutide compared with placebo (−5.3 kg; 95% CI, −7.0 to −3.7 kg). Reductions in waist circumference (−4.1 cm; 95% CI, −6.0 to −2.3 cm), systolic blood pressure (−4.9 mm Hg; 95% CI, −9.5 to −0.3 mm Hg), visceral fat (−250.19 g; 95% CI, −459.9 to −40.5 g), and low-density lipoprotein levels (−15.4 mg/dL; 95% CI, −23.2 to −7.7 mg/dL) occurred with liraglutide compared with placebo. Adverse events with liraglutide affected mainly the gastrointestinal tract. Conclusions and Relevance Liraglutide significantly improved glucose tolerance, body weight, and cardiometabolic disturbances in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders treated with clozapine or olanzapine. Trial Registration clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01845259
Framework for mining regular patterns in dynamic networks

Dynamic networks are categorised into four major types: Unweighted-Undirected, Weighted-Undirected, Unweighted-Directed and Weighted-Directed. Mining regular patterns in these dynamic networks finds extensive applications in prediction systems, analysing social network activity, etc. Depending on types of dynamic networks, regular patterns conforming to different characteristics of a system can be mined, each providing some unique information. Dynamic networks have pattern mining techniques that mine these characteristics individually. However, to the best of our knowledge, no such work is available that mines all these regular patterns if possible in a single run for any type of the dynamic networks. In this paper, the authors' focus is on providing a framework to make the task of mining regular patterns in dynamic networks more efficient and exhaustive. The accuracy of this framework has been verified mathematically and its efficiency is validated experimentally on a real-world network Enron dataset.
The Prognostic Value of Functional Capacity Evaluation in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain: Part 1: Timely Return to Work

Study Design. Historical cohort study. Objectives. We examined the validity of the Isernhagen Work Systems’ Evaluation in predicting timely return to work. Summary of Background Data. Functional Capacity Evaluations are used commonly to determine readiness for return to work, yet little is known of their validity. Methods. Workers’ compensation claimants undergoing Functional Capacity Evaluations following work-related low back injury were studied. Two cohorts were formed, one on which exploratory analyses were conducted and a second for confirmation. Evaluation indicators were the number of tasks in the protocol rated as failed and performance during the floor-to-waist lift task. The primary outcome investigated was time receiving total temporary disability benefits (as a surrogate of return to work) and a secondary outcome was time until claim closure in the year following Evaluation. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to determine the prognostic effect of Evaluation crudely and after controlling for potential confounders. Results. Few patients (4%) were found to pass all Evaluation tasks, yet most experienced total temporary disability suspension and claim closure within 1 year following Functional Capacity Evaluations. Better Evaluation performance was related to faster time to suspension of total temporary disability benefits and claim closure after controlling confounding factors, but explained little of the variation in these outcomes (~10%). Performance on the floor-to-waist lift was as predictive as the number of failed tasks in the entire Functional Capacity Evaluations protocol. Conclusions. Better performance on Evaluation was weakly associated with faster recovery; however, the amount of variation explained was small. One task in the Evaluation was as predictive as the entire protocol.
A novel canine model of immune thrombocytopenia: has immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) gone to the dogs?

Canine immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is analogous to human ITP, with similar platelet counts and heterogeneity in bleeding phenotype among affected individuals. With a goal of ultimately investigating this bleeding heterogeneity, a canine model of antibody‐mediated ITP was developed. Infusion of healthy dogs with 2F9, a murine IgG2a monoclonal antibody to the canine platelet glycoprotein GPIIb (a common target of autoantibodies in ITP) resulted in profound, dose‐dependent thrombocytopenia. Model dogs developed variable bleeding phenotypes, e.g. petechiae and haematuria, despite similar degrees of thrombocytopenia. 2F9 infusion was not associated with systemic inflammation, consumptive coagulopathy, or impairment of platelet function. Unexpectedly however, evaluation of cytokine profiles led to the identification of platelets as a potential source of serum interleukin‐8 (IL8) in dogs. This finding was confirmed in humans with ITP, suggesting that platelet IL8 may be a previously unrecognized modulator of platelet‐neutrophil crosstalk. The utility of this model will allow future study of bleeding phenotypic heterogeneity including the role of neutrophils and endothelial cells in ITP.
Age-Related Differences in Sensitivity to Emotional Facial Stimuli but Age-Independent Association between Arousal Ratings and Visual Search Efficiency

The latter part of the lifespan is commonly associated with a decline of cognitive functions, but also with changes in emotional responding. To explore the effect of age on processing of emotional stimuli, we used a two-task design. In a stimulus-rating task, we investigated the emotional responses to 15 different schematic facial emotional stimuli (one neutral, seven positive, seven negative) on Arousal, Valence and Potency measures in 20 younger (21-32 yrs, M=26, SD=3.7) and 20 older (65-81 yrs, M=72, SD=4.9) participants. In a visual attention task, we used the same 15 stimuli in a visual search paradigm to investigate differences between younger and older participants in how the emotional properties of these emotional stimuli influence visual attention. The results from the stimulus-rating task showed significantly reduced range in responses to emotional stimuli in the older compared to the younger group. This difference was found on both emotional Arousal and Potency measures, but not on emotional Valence measures; indicating an age-related flattening of affect on two of the three emotional key dimensions. The results from the visual search task showed – apart from the general extension of response latencies in older – no general emotion-related differences between how emotional stimuli influences attention in the younger and older groups. Analysis of the relationships between attention and emotion measures showed that higher ratings on Arousal and Potency were associated with both shorter reaction times and fewer errors in the attention task. This correlation was age-independent, indicating a similar influence from emotional Arousal on detection of angry faces in younger and older adults.
System oriented neural networks -- problem formulation, methodology and application

A novel methodology is proposed for the development of neural network models for complex engineering systems exhibiting nonlinearity. This method performs neural network modeling by first establishing some fundamental nonlinear functions from a priori engineering knowledge, which are then constructed and coded into appropriate chromosome representations. Given a suitable fitness function, using evolutionary approaches such as genetic algorithms, a population of chromosomes evolves for a certain number of generations to finally produce a neural network model best fitting the system data. The objective is to improve the transparency of the neural networks, i.e. to produce physically meaningful "white box" neural network model with better generalization performance. In this paper, the problem formulation, the neural network configuration, and the associated optimization software are discussed in detail. This methodology is then applied to a practical real-world system to illustrate its effectiveness.
Marketing via social media: a case study

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present a study about a successful, award-winning online video marketing project at an academic library in China, hoping to shed light on how to most effectively employ social media in libraries' marketing campaigns. Design/methodology/approach – The study examined the different aspects of the library's online video marketing project, including project preparation, video production, distribution and promotion, and evaluation of students' perception of this project via survey questionnaires. Factors that contributed to its success were also analyzed. Findings – Four factors that contributed to the success of the library's video marketing project were identified: base video content on the real campus life, reflecting what students experience in their everyday activities; convey content in a humorous, light-hearted, and refreshing style; employ social media to share content and engage the target audience; and partner with students. Practical implications – The paper .
Future Arctic temperature change resulting from a range of aerosol emissions scenarios

The Arctic temperature response to emissions of aerosols—specifically black carbon (BC), organic carbon (OC), and sulfate—depends on both the sector and the region where these emissions originate. Thus, the net Arctic temperature response to global aerosol emissions reductions will depend strongly on the blend of emissions sources being targeted. We use recently published equilibrium Arctic temperature response factors for BC, OC, and sulfate to estimate the range of present‐day and future Arctic temperature changes from seven different aerosol emissions scenarios. Globally, Arctic temperature changes calculated from all of these emissions scenarios indicate that present‐day emissions from the domestic and transportation sectors generate the majority of present‐day Arctic warming from BC. However, in all of these scenarios, this warming is more than offset by cooling resulting from SO2 emissions from the energy sector. Thus, long‐term climate mitigation strategies that are focused on reducing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the energy sector could generate short‐term, aerosol‐induced Arctic warming. A properly phased approach that targets BC‐rich emissions from the transportation sector as well as the domestic sectors in key regions—while simultaneously working toward longer‐term goals of CO2 mitigation—could potentially avoid some amount of short‐term Arctic warming.
Coopération d’algorithmes d’apprentissage par renforcement multiples

Developpees initialement dans le cadre de l’intelligence artificielle, les methodes d’apprentissage par renforcement sont des composantes essentielles des architectures de controle robotique adaptatives. Deux grandes classes d'algorithmes ont ete proposees : avec ou sans modele interne du monde. La premiere est couteuse en calculs mais est tres adaptative, alors que la seconde est peu couteuse mais lente a converger. La combinaison de ces differents algorithmes dans une meme architecture de controle permet donc d’envisager de tirer le meilleur parti des deux mondes. Nous presentons ici ces deux familles d’algorithmes, ainsi que les methodes de combinaison qui ont ete proposees et evaluees, tant en neurosciences qu’en robotique.
Application et validation de la méthode de Saint Venant modifiée pour la résolution du problème direct en EEG dans un modèle de tête de géométrie réelle

La comprehension du cerveau et de ses fonctions est l'un des defis majeurs des neurosciences. Pour apprehender in vivo cet organe et d’une maniere non invasive, de nombreux dispositifs sont developpees, parmi eux l'electroencephalographie (EEG) [1-3]. L'EEG mesure directement les signaux du cerveau avec une haute resolution temporelle.
Advances in light curing.

PURPOSE To review and connect the scientific background of light curing with clinical requirements and new technical opportunities in order to conclude the best technology for next generation light curing units. RESULTS Three conclusions are drawn for proper light curing: (1) A minimum dose of light is needed (wavelength dependent); (2) Internal stress can be reduced by giving the sample time to flow before gel point is reached; (3) An upper intensity limit has to be respected to limit temperature increase as well as light intensity dependent deactivation of activated photoinitiators. These conclusions can best be realized by using the softstart approach. A comparison of different light generation technologies shows that LEDs are most likely to shape the next generations of curing lights. Due to their superior power conversion rate as well as to their optimum spectral emission small and handy devices can be realized that work battery-powered and totally silent. The benefits for the dentist are improved reliability, handling, and hygiene.
An endochitinase from wheat germ. Activity on nascent and preformed chitin.

A chitinase has been obtained in milligram amounts from wheat germ by affinity chromatography on chitin followed by chromatography on Sephadex G-50. The purified enzyme was free from wheat germ agglutinin and showed a single peak on sodium dodecyl sulfateacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Isoelectric focussing on acrylamide gel slabs gave rise, however, to several bands, with isoelectric points ranging between 7.5 and 9.2. The molecular weight of the enzyme, as determined from sodium dodecyl sulfate-gel electrophoresis, was 30,000, and that determined from sedimentation analysis was 33,000; therefore, the enzyme exists as a monomer in solution. The enzyme releases oligosaccharides 2 to 4 units in length from chitin, ie. it is an endochitinase. When allowed to act on “nascent” chitin, that is, chitin that is being synthesized by a preparation of solubilized chitin synthetase, the chitinase shows an enhancement in activity of about 2 orders of magnitude. The products formed under these conditions consist of higher oligosaccharides than those obtained with “preformed” chitin substrate. It is proposed that the nascent chitin is more susceptible to the enzyme because its chains have not yet coalesced with others to yield a tighter and more impervious structure. Such a situation may prevail during turnover of structural polysaccharides in uiuo; therefore, in vitro measurement of polysaccharide breakdown concomitant to synthesis may reflect conditions in the cell better than the static methods usually employed. A method for the separation and measurement of chitin, chitin oligosaccharides, and IJDP-N-acetylglucosamine by chromatography on DEAE-cellulose paper is also described.
Hormonal Responses after a Strength Endurance Resistance Exercise Protocol in Young and Elderly Males

This study examined testosterone, cortisol and growth hormone responses in elderly and young men after a strength endurance protocol. Eight elderly (age: 69 +/- 5 yrs) and nine young (age: 23 +/- 1 yrs) males with recreational experience in resistance training performed a strength endurance protocol, which included six exercises. At each exercise, the subjects performed 3 sets of 15 reps at 60 % of 1-RM with a 90 s rest interval between sets. The subjects also participated in a control session. Hormonal and blood lactate concentrations were measured before exercise, immediately after exercise and 15 min after the end of exercise. Blood lactate increased (p<0.05) with resistance exercise in both age groups with the highest increases observed in the young males. Testosterone and cortisol concentrations were higher (p<0.05) immediately and 15 min after exercise as compared to the respective control session values in both young and elderly subjects, whereas no differences were observed between groups (p>0.05). Growth hormone concentration increased (p<0.05) after resistance exercise compared to the control session in both age groups. This increase was higher (p<0.05) in the young as compared to the elderly group. The above results show that a moderate intensity - high repetition resistance exercise protocol for the improvement of strength endurance, seems to be a sufficient stimulus that increases testosterone, growth hormone and cortisol concentrations in elderly males. These hormonal responses may create an optimal metabolic environment, which improves muscular function after a strength endurance program although the elderly subjects present an attenuated growth hormone response compared to younger ones.
The global transmission and control of influenza : Supporting Text 1

Here, we describe a new global model of influenza pandemics. The model includes 321 major cities on six continents, the airline travel among them, and influenza seasonality data when available. This model includes more detailed within-host influenza dynamics, more detailed influenza vaccine behavior, and more detailed seasonality data for tropical regions than other models. Nonetheless, it is a relatively simple model that does not require specialized computing resources to use. The model has two layers: a set of within-city models and a global model that links them through the air transportation network and controls seasonality. Parameters are summarized in Table S1. We first describe the within-city model.
DESIGN OF AN INTELLIGENT WOOD SPECIES RECOGNITION SYSTEM

Tropical rainforest has more than 3,000 different types of timber species. According to the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia, out of these about 200 species are being used by the timber industry. Among the major timber consumers are housing developers, wood fabricators and furniture manufacturers where the need for recognition of wood species is necessary. Automatic wood recognition has not yet been well established mainly due to lack of research in this area and the difficulty in obtaining the wood database. In this paper, an automatic wood recognition system based on image processing, feature extraction and artificial neural networks was designed. The proto-type PC-based wood recognition system is capable of classifying 30 different tropical Malaysian woods according to their species based on the macroscopic wood anatomy. Image processing is carried out using our newly developed in-house image processing library referred to as "Visual System Development Platform". The textural wood features are extracted using a co-occurrence matrix approach, known as grey-level co-occurrence matrix. A multi-layered neural network based on the popular back-propagation algorithm is trained to learn the wood samples for the classification purposes. The system can provide wood identification within seconds, eliminating the need for laborious human recognition. The results obtained show a high rate of recognition accuracy proving that the techniques used is suitable to be implemented for commercial purposes.
AKARI AND BLAST OBSERVATIONS OF THE CASSIOPEIA A SUPERNOVA REMNANT AND SURROUNDING INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM

We use new large area far infrared maps ranging from 65 to 500 μm obtained with the AKARI and the Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope missions to characterize the dust emission toward the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant (SNR). Using the AKARI high-resolution data we find a new “tepid” dust grain population at a temperature of ∼35 K and with an estimated mass of 0.06 M☉. This component is confined to the central area of the SNR and may represent newly formed dust in the unshocked supernova ejecta. While the mass of tepid dust that we measure is insufficient by itself to account for the dust observed at high redshift, it does constitute an additional dust population to contribute to those previously reported. We fit our maps at 65, 90, 140, 250, 350, and 500 μm to obtain maps of the column density and temperature of “cold” dust (near 16 K) distributed throughout the region. The large column density of cold dust associated with clouds seen in molecular emission extends continuously from the surrounding interstellar medium to project on the SNR, where the foreground component of the clouds is also detectable through optical, X-ray, and molecular extinction. At the resolution available here, there is no morphological signature to isolate any cold dust associated only with the SNR from this confusing interstellar emission. Our fit also recovers the previously detected “hot” dust in the remnant, with characteristic temperature 100 K.
Achieving robustness in distributed database systems

The problem of concurrency control in distributed database systems in which site and communication link failures may occur is considered. The possible range of failures is not restricted; in particular, failures may induce an arbitrary network partitioning. It is desirable to attain a high “level of robustness” in such a system; that is, these failures should have only a small impact on system operation. A level of robustness termed maximal partial operability is identified. Under our models of concurrency control and robustness, this robustness level is the highest level attainable without significantly degrading performance. A basis for the implementation of maximal partial operability is presented. To illustrate its use, it is applied to a distributed locking concurrency control method and to a method that utilizes timestamps. When no failures are present, the robustness modifications for these methods induce no significant additional overhead.