Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impaired corticostriatal connectivity in impulse control disorders in Parkinson disease

Objectives: To compare the striatum's resting-state functional connectivity in patients with Parkinson disease (PD) with and without impulse control disorders (ICDs). Methods: Twenty patients with PD and ICDs, 19 patients with PD but no ICDs, and 19 healthy controls underwent fMRI in the resting state. The ventral striatum, dorsal caudate, and anterior and posterior putamen were segmented semiautomatically. For each region of interest, a seed-based connectivity analysis was performed on preprocessed fMRI data mapped on the ipsilateral cortical surface. An additional cortical thickness analysis was used to assess and compare gray matter atrophy in the 3 study subgroups. Results: The presence of an ICD in patients with PD was associated with functional disconnection between the left anterior putamen and both the left inferior temporal gyrus and the left anterior cingulate gyrus, as well as a trend toward a functional disconnection between several motor and associative striatal regions and limbic, associative, and motor cortical regions. Patients without ICDs did not differ from healthy controls in corticostriatal connectivity. The cortical thickness analysis did not reveal any significant differences among the 3 study subgroups. Conclusions: In PD, ICDs are associated with altered connectivity between an associative striatal area (the left anterior putamen) and associative and limbic cortical regions (the left inferior temporal gyrus and the left anterior cingulate gyrus).
Neural Network Based Face Recognition Using RBFN Classifier

Face Biometrics is a science of automatically identifying individuals based on their unique facial features. The paper presents neural network classifier(Radial Basis Function Network) to detect frontal views of faces. The curvelet transform, Linear Discriminant Analysis(LDA) are used to extract features from facial images first, and Radial Basis Function Network(RBFN) is used to classify the facial images based on features. Radial Basis Function Network is used to reduce the number of misclassification caused by not-linearly separable classes. 200 images are taken from ORL database and was tested, where the parameters like recognition rate, acceptance ratio and execution time performance are calculated. Neural network based face recognition is robust and has better performance of recognition rate 98.6% and acceptance ratio 85 %. Index Terms Face recognition, Curvelet Transform, Linear Discriminant analysis , Radial Basis Function Network ,Recognition rate, Acceptance ratio, Execution time.
A 10-Gb/s Adaptive Look-Ahead Decision Feedback Equalizer With an Eye-Opening Monitor

We demonstrate a novel adaptive look-ahead decision feedback equalizer (LADFE) that uses the measured eye diagram for equalization adaptation and verification. The eye diagram is obtained with a new type of eye-opening monitor (EOM), which measures the magnitude of the received signals having different data patterns and, using this, estimates intersymbol interference and determines the amount of adaptation needed for the LADFE. A 10-Gb/s adaptive two-tap LADFE with an EOM is fabricated in 90-nm CMOS technology. The eye diagrams for equalized signals are successfully obtained, and adaptation of the LADFE is achieved for PCB channels up to 40 cm. The LADFE core occupies and consumes 11 mW at 1.2-V supply voltage.
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Care for older people in Dutch general practice : Results from the FIT study

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The collective action problem in primate territory economics

Group-living animals often do not maintain territories, but instead have highly overlapping ranges, even though in principle these are economically defendable. We investigate whether this absence of range defence reflects a collective action problem, since a territory can be considered a public good. In a comparative analysis comprising 135 primate species, we find a positive association between range overlap and group size, controlling for economic defendability and phylogenetic non-independence. We subsequently demonstrate that groups with multiple adults of both sexes suffer levels of range overlap twice as high as groups with only a single adult representative of either sex, consistent with the presence of a collective action problem. Finally, we reveal that this collective action problem can be overcome through philopatry of the larger sex. These results suggest that a social complication of group living is a stronger determinant of between-group relations among social animals than ecological factors, but also that collective defence is still achieved where the dominant sex is philopatric and effective defence is critical to reproductive success and survival. In addition, our findings support the idea that human-like warfare, defined as escalated collective territorial conflict, has an evolutionary basis reflected by cases of convergent evolution among non-human primates.
Lifetime abstainers and mortality risk in the United States

We examine variability in mortality risk among heterogeneous nondrinking statuses. We employ Cox proportional hazard models and the United States National Health Interview Survey-Linked Mortality Files (NHIS-LMF) to examine the risk of death associated with drinking and nondrinking statuses, net of demographic, socioeconomic, behavioural, health and geographic factors. Mortality risk is low for light drinkers and many individuals who abstain from drinking—including those who abstain for religious and moral reasons, have a responsibility to family, were brought up not to drink and are not social. Mortality is higher among former, infrequent and moderate drinkers, and among individuals who abstain because they do not like the taste of alcohol, are concerned that they will lose control or are concerned about adverse consequences. Unsurprisingly, mortality risk is by far the highest for heavy drinkers. Our results show that reasons for abstention capture heterogeneity in the risk of death among lifetime abstainers.
Rapid screening of invertebrate predators for multiple prey DNA targets

DNA‐based techniques are providing valuable new approaches to tracking predator–prey interactions. The gut contents of invertebrate predators can be analysed using species‐specific primers to amplify prey DNA to confirm trophic links. The problem is that each predator needs to be analysed with primers for the tens of potential prey available at a field site, even though the mean number of species detected in each gut may be as few as one or two. Conducting all these PCRs (polymerase chain reactions) is a lengthy process, and effectively precludes the analysis of the hundreds of predators that might be required for a meaningful ecological study. We report a rapid, more sensitive and practical approach. Multiplex PCRs, incorporating fluorescent markers, were found to be effective at amplifying degraded DNA from predators’ guts and could amplify mitochondrial DNA fragments from 10+ species simultaneously without ‘drop outs’. The combined PCR products were then separated by size on polyacrylamide gels on an ABI377 sequencer. New primers to detect the remains of aphids, earthworms, weevils and molluscs in the guts of carabid predators were developed and characterized. The multiplex‐sequencer approach was then applied to field‐caught beetles, some of which contained DNA from as many as four different prey at once. The main prey detected in the beetles proved to be earthworms and molluscs, although aphids and weevils were also consumed. The potential of this system for use in food‐web research is discussed.
Towards a syntactically motivated analysis of modifiers in German

The Stuttgart-Tubingen Tagset (STTS) is a widely used POS annotation scheme for German which provides 54 different tags for the analysis on the part of speech level. The tagset, however, does not distinguish between adverbs and different types of particles used for expressing modality, intensity, graduation, or to mark the focus of the sentence. In the paper, we present an extension to the STTS which provides tags for a more fine-grained analysis of modification, based on a syntactic perspective on parts of speech. We argue that the new classification not only enables us to do corpus-based linguistic studies on modification, but also improves statistical parsing. We give proof of concept by training a data-driven dependency parser on data from the TiGer treebank, providing the parser a) with the original STTS tags and b) with the new tags. Results show an improved labelled accuracy for the new, syntactically motivated classification.
Emergence of a peak in early infant mortality due to HIV/AIDS in South Africa

Objectives:South Africa has among the highest levels of HIV prevalence in the world. Our objectives are to describe the distribution of South African infant and child mortality by age at fine resolution, to identify any trends over recent time and to examine these trends for HIV-associated and non HIV-associated causes of mortality. Methods:A retrospective review of vital registration data was conducted. All registered postneonatal deaths under 1 year of age in South Africa for the period 1997–2002 were analysed by age in months using a generalized linear model with a log link and Poisson family. Results:Postneonatal mortality increased each year over the period 1997–2002. A peak in HIV-related deaths was observed, centred at 2–3 months of age, rising monotonically over time. Conclusion:We interpret the peak in mortality at 2–3 months as an indicator for paediatric AIDS in a South African population with high HIV prevalence and where other causes of death are not sufficiently high to mask HIV effects. Intrauterine and intrapartum infection may contribute to this peak. It is potentially a useful surveillance tool, not requiring an exact cause of death. The findings also illustrate the need for early treatment of mother and child in settings with very high HIV prevalence.
Respiration Effect on Wavelet-Based ECG T-Wave End Delineation Strategies

The main purpose of this paper is to study the influence of the mechanical effect of respiration over the T-wave end delineation. We compared the performance of an automatic delineation system based on the wavelet transform (WT), considering single lead (SL), global delineation locations obtained from SL annotations (SLR), and multilead (ML) approaches. The linear relation between the variations on T-wave end locations obtained with each of the methods and the mechanical effect of respiration was quantified using spectral coherence and ARARX modeling both in simulated signals and in real data. We also explored the evolution of the vectorcardiographic spatial loop using the projection on the main direction of the WT in the region close to the T-wave end ( ) and its relation with respiration. The dispersion of the additional T-wave end location error due to respiration was reduced by 15% using SLR with respect to SL, while ML allows for a reduction of around 40%. The percentage of that error correlated with respiration was in average 99% using SL while 82% and 72% using SLR and ML, respectively. Thus, results suggest that ML is the most adequate strategy for T-wave delineation, allowing the reduction of the instability of T-wave end location caused by respiration.
Spectral efficiency of multi-user adaptive cognitive radio networks

In this correspondence, the comprehensive problem of joint power, rate, and subcarrier allocation have been investigated for enhancing the spectral efficiency of multi-user orthogonal frequency-division multiple access (OFDMA) cognitive radio (CR) networks subject to satisfying total average transmission power and aggregate interference constraints. We propose novel optimal radio resource allocation (RRA) algorithms under different scenarios with deterministic and probabilistic interference violation limits based on perfect and imperfect availability of cross-link channel state information (CSI). In particular, we propose a probabilistic approach to mitigate the total imposed interference on the primary service under imperfect cross-link CSI. A close form mathematical formulation of the cumulative density function (cdf) for the received signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) is formulated to evaluate the resultant average spectral efficiency (ASE). Dual decomposition is utilized to obtain sub-optimal solutions for the non-convex optimization problems. Through simulation results, we investigate the achievable performance and the impact of parameters uncertainty on the overall system performance. Furthermore, we present that the developed RRA algorithms can considerably improve the cognitive performance whilst abiding to the imposed power constraints. In particular, the performance under imperfect crosslink CSI knowledge for the proposed ‘probabilistic case’ is compared over the conventional scenarios to show the potential gain in employing this scheme.
Classical Capacities of Compound and Averaged Quantum Channels

We determine the capacity of compound classical-quantum channels. As a consequence, we obtain the capacity formula for the averaged classical-quantum channels. The capacity result for compound channels demonstrates, as in the classical setting, the existence of reliable universal classical-quantum codes in scenarios where the only a priori information about the channel used for the transmission of information is that it belongs to a given set of memoryless classical-quantum channels. Our approach is based on a universal classical approximation of the quantum relative entropy which in turn relies on a universal hypothesis testing result.
Hypertrophic and Strength Responses to Eccentric Resistance Training with Blood Flow Restriction: A Pilot Study

Research examining exercise with blood flow restriction (BFR) has indicated positive findings for the use of this novel training modality in both health and performance-related outcomes. However, eccentric resistance training combined with BFR has yet to be fully examined. Therefore, the objective of this pilot study was to investigate the muscular strength and hypertrophic responses before and following a training intervention involving resistance exercise utilizing only eccentric muscle actions with or without BFR. Eighteen resistance-trained males were randomly assigned to one of three training conditions following pre-testing measures: eccentric resistance training only, eccentric resistance training with BFR, and a control training group. Our findings suggest that four weeks of submaximal eccentric resistance training performed to repetition failure, with or without BFR, may represent alternative means of obtaining increases in muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) in resistance-trained males. Although the addition of BFR did reduce training volume, it did not result in superior adaptations.
Vaccination with Plasmid DNA Encoding TSA/LmSTI1 Leishmanial Fusion Proteins Confers Protection against Leishmania major Infection in Susceptible BALB/c Mice

ABSTRACT We have recently shown that a cocktail containing two leishmanial recombinant antigens (LmSTI1 and TSA) and interleukin-12 (IL-12) as an adjuvant induces solid protection in both a murine and a nonhuman primate model of cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, because IL-12 is difficult to prepare, is expensive, and does not have the stability required for a vaccine product, we have investigated the possibility of using DNA as an alternative means of inducing protective immunity. Here, we present evidence that the antigens TSA and LmSTI1 delivered in a plasmid DNA format either as single genes or in a tandem digene construct induce equally solid protection against Leishmania major infection in susceptible BALB/c mice. Immunization of mice with either TSA DNA or LmSTI1 DNA induced specific CD4+-T-cell responses of the Th1 phenotype without a requirement for specific adjuvant. CD8 responses, as measured by cytotoxic-T-lymphocyte activity, were generated after immunization with TSA DNA but not LmSTI1 DNA. Interestingly, vaccination of mice with TSA DNA consistently induced protection to a much greater extent than LmSTI1 DNA, thus supporting the notion that CD8 responses might be an important accessory arm of the immune response for acquired resistance against leishmaniasis. Moreover, the protection induced by DNA immunization was specific for infection with Leishmania, i.e., the immunization had no effect on the course of infection of the mice challenged with an unrelated intracellular pathogen such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Conversely, immunization of BALB/c mice with a plasmid DNA that is protective against challenge with M. tuberculosis had no effect on the course of infection of these mice with L. major. Together, these results indicate that the protection observed with the leishmanial DNA is mediated by acquired specific immune response rather than by the activation of nonspecific innate immune mechanisms. In addition, a plasmid DNA containing a fusion construct of the two genes was also tested. Similarly to the plasmids encoding individual proteins, the fusion construct induced both specific immune responses to the individual antigens and protection against challenge with L. major. These results confirm previous observations about the possibility of DNA immunization against leishmaniasis and lend support to the idea of using a single polygenic plasmid DNA construct to achieve polyspecific immune responses to several distinct parasite antigens.
Pemetrexed plus gemcitabine as front-line therapy for patients with advanced stage non-small cell lung cancer.

7130 Background: Pemetrexed (ALIMTA), a multitargeted antifolate (MTA) and gemcitabine (GEM, GEMZAR) have demonstrated independent anti-tumor activity in patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The combination of these two therapies may produce synergistic anti-tumor effects. Previous studies of this combination have included a 90 min separation between the two drugs. More recent preclinical studies have suggested that this delay in administration might be unnecessary. This phase II study was designed to determine the objective tumor response rate and toxicity when pemetrexed is administered immediately after GEM on Day 8. METHODS Forty-six chemonaive patients Stage IIIB with pleural effusion or Stage IV NSCLC have been enrolled. Treatment consisted of GEM 1250mg/m2 (30-mins IV infusion on Days 1 and 8) and pemetrexed 500mg/m2, (10-minute IV infusion, immediately following GEM, on Day 1) q21 days. All patients received folic acid, vitamin B12, and steroid prophylaxis. RESULTS To date, results are available on 27 patients (18 M/9 F). Median age was 64.0 (range = 48-79) years, ECOG PS 0:1 = 25.9%:59.3%, Stage IIIB:IV = 11.1%:88.9%, Non-squamous (74%), squamous (26%). Cycle specific Grade 3/4 hematologic and non-hematologic toxicities consisted of neutropenia (15.8%), anemia (0%), thrombocytopenia (1.8%), asthenia (3.5%), renal insufficiency (1.8%), rash (5.3%). There were no patients experiencing grade 2 alopecia. CONCLUSIONS This schedule of pemetrexed + GEM is very tolerable and offers the advantage of not requiring a 90 min delay between the two drugs. Complete toxicity, response and time to event results on all the 48 patients will be presented. Supported by a grant from Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN. [Table: see text].
Cost-aware three-dimensional (3D) many-core multiprocessor design

The emerging three-dimensional integrated circuit (3D IC) is beneficial for various applications from both area and performance perspectives. While the general trend in processor design has been shifting from multi-core to many-core, questions such as whether 3D integration should be adopted, and how to choose among various design options must be addressed at the early design stage. In order to guide the final design towards a cost-effective direction, system-level cost evaluation is one of the most critical issues to be considered. In this paper, we propose a 3D many-core multiprocessor cost model, which includes wafer, bonding, package, and cooling cost analysis. Using the proposed cost model, we evaluate the optimal partitioning strategies for 16−, 32− and 64-core multiprocessors from the cost point of view.
Saliency Revisited: Analysis of Mouse Movements Versus Fixations

This paper revisits visual saliency prediction by evaluating the recent advancements in this field such as crowd-sourced mouse tracking-based databases and contextual annotations. We pursue a critical and quantitative approach towards some of the new challenges including the quality of mouse tracking versus eye tracking for model training and evaluation. We extend quantitative evaluation of models in order to incorporate contextual information by proposing an evaluation methodology that allows accounting for contextual factors such as text, faces, and object attributes. The proposed contextual evaluation scheme facilitates detailed analysis of models and helps identify their pros and cons. Through several experiments, we find that (1) mouse tracking data has lower inter-participant visual congruency and higher dispersion, compared to the eye tracking data, (2) mouse tracking data does not totally agree with eye tracking in general and in terms of different contextual regions in specific, and (3) mouse tracking data leads to acceptable results in training current existing models, and (4) mouse tracking data is less reliable for model selection and evaluation. The contextual evaluation also reveals that, among the studied models, there is no single model that performs best on all the tested annotations.
More than Meets the Eye: The Benefits of Augmented Reality and Holographic Displays for Digital Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage artifacts connect us to past generations and provide links to previous worlds that are beyond our reach. We developed TombSeer, an augmented reality application that aims to immerse the wearer in a museum space engaging two senses (seeing and gesturing) through a holographic heads-up interface that brings virtual, historical artifacts “back to life” through gestural interactivity. This article introduces the TombSeer software prototype and highlights the application of embodied interaction to museum visits using an emerging hardware platform for 3D interactive holographic images (e.g., Meta head-mounted display). This article discusses the TombSeer prototype's development and functionality testing with the Tomb of Kitines exhibit, which was conducted at The Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto, Canada. TombSeer's embodied gestural and visual augmented reality experience functions to aesthetically enhance museum exhibits, cultural heritage sites, and galleries.
An Examination of the Validity of Two Measures of Student Engagement

This study evaluated the psychometric properties of two measures of student engagement, the Student Engagement Instrument (SEI) and the Motivation-Engagement Scale (MES), with adolescents in the southeastern United States. Confirmatory factor analyses revealed an acceptable fit of the SEI and a relatively poor fit of the MES in this sample. Correlational analyses provided evidence of convergent and divergent validity of SEI and MES factors. In addition, SEI and MES factors were correlated as expected with external measures of academic functioning and school behavior.