Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Drinking motives of adult patients seeking treatment for problematic alcohol use

ABSTRACT The Drinking Motives Questionnaire measures motives for alcohol consumption on four subscales. Coping with negative affect and enhancement of positive affect have been shown to be associated with high levels of alcohol consumption and alcohol-related problems. Few studies exist concerning drinking motives among treatment-seeking patients. The aims of the study were to investigate the factor structure of the shortened-form of the revised Drinking Motives Questionnaire, map main drinking motives, explore group differences in motives due to sex, age, level of drinking problems, and symptoms of depression/anxiety and to investigate whether different drinking motives predict alcohol-related problems in this group. There were 274 treatment-seeking patients recruited from four addiction treatment clinics in Sweden. The shortened-form of the revised Drinking Motives Questionnaire was administered in conjunction with a regular visit to the clinics together with measures of degree of alcohol-related problems, psychiatric symptoms, and demographic factors. Main drinking motives were identified. A confirmatory factor analysis was run to confirm the factor structure of the shortened-form of the revised Drinking Motives Questionnaire. A logistic regression using the Enter method was performed to investigate associations between predictors and Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test scores. The results confirmed the four-factor structure reported in studies on non-treatment-seeking individuals. Coping was the most commonly expressed motive. Not previously found in a clinical sample, the results showed that coping motives, together with being male and having elevated anxiety scores, were associated to Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test scores indicative of alcohol dependence. The shortened-form of the revised Drinking Motives Questionnaire is a brief and valid instrument that holds potential for clinical use in mapping drinking motives among treatment seekers.
Social instability, hippocampal plasticity and resilience

Experience-dependent changes in the production and function of new neurons may serve as a means to fine-tune the hippocampus to the predicted environment. Here we describe a series of studies done to examine the effects of naturalistic social disruption on structural plasticity and behavior in adult rats. Our results provide novel mechanistic evidence that social disruption shapes behavior in an adaptive way by reducing adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus. First, we developed an ethologically relevant model of social instability by forming stable dominance hierarchies in a visible burrow system and then switching dominant rats between hierarchies, a manipulation that increased aggression. Next, we examined the brains of rats subjected to social disruption and compared them to those living in a stable hierarchy and to those living in standard laboratory cages. We found that social disruption dramatically reduced the number of neural stem cells, as well as the number of new neurons, in the hippocampus regardless of social position. Instead of producing the predicted deleterious consequences of social stress, like impaired cognition and increased anxiety, we found no change in cognition and reduced anxiety-like behavior in rats from a disrupted hierarchy. We also found that socially disrupted rats did not show impairments in the ability to detect novelty in a social setting, but they did show a preference for familiar, as opposed to novel, conspecifics. Taken together, this behavioral profile suggests a potential " stress inoculation " or resilience, as opposed to the emergence of pathology. Next, we used two approaches to investigate whether these behavioral effects were causally linked to the reduction in adult neurogenesis in the hippocampus. We used oxytocin to stimulate adult neurogenesis just after social disruption occurred and found that this manipulation prevented the preference for familiar conspecifics. Then we used transgenic conditional neurogenesis knockout (GFAP-TK) rats to reduce adult neurogenesis in rats without ii social disruption experience and found that these rats preferred familiar rats, similar to what we observed in social disrupted wild-types. The mechanisms by which new neurons influence social preference remain to be determined. iii iv Acknowledgements
IBM Research Report Fringe Contacts: People-Tagging for the Enterprise

Tagging has arisen as way to enable users to contribute to a loose taxonomy characterizing web pages, pictures, products and other things. We propose tagging people in order to help individuals keep track of each other while contributing to a loose characterization of their friends and colleagues. “Fringe Contacts” is a reference system designed to test whether people-tagging is a viable and useful approach. It includes both user and programmatic interfaces to tagging functions. The latter is included to enable integration with other collaborative applications such as email or instant messaging. Some client plugins have been developed, and preliminary usage data are encouraging. We think that some characteristics of the enterprise —a clear notion of identity, “professional” environment, and existing need to classify people by their skills and projects—may be necessary ingredients for people-tagging to work.
High resolution physical mapping of human HDAC3, a potential tumor suppressor gene in the 5q31 region

Histone deacetylases have been described as crucial cofactors of mammalian transcriptional complexes. We have recently identified human histone deacetylase HDAC3 on chromosome 5q31 by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) in a region commonly deleted in malignant myeloid disease. Since HDAC3 carries strong potential to be a tumor suppressor gene, we report herein its exact position between the CD14 and GRIA1 genes within the 5q31.1 subband.
Self-reported racial/ethnic discrimination and bronchodilator response in African American youth with asthma

Importance Asthma is a multifactorial disease composed of endotypes with varying risk profiles and outcomes. African Americans experience a high burden of asthma and of psychosocial stress, including racial discrimination. It is unknown which endotypes of asthma are vulnerable to racial/ethnic discrimination. Objective We examined the association between self-reported racial/ethnic discrimination and bronchodilator response (BDR) among African American youth with asthma ages 8 to 21 years (n = 576) and whether this association varies with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) level. Materials and methods Self-reported racial/ethnic discrimination was assessed by a modified Experiences of Discrimination questionnaire as none or any. Using spirometry, BDR was specified as the mean percentage change in forced expiratory volume in one second before and after albuterol administration. TNF-α was specified as high/low levels based on our study population mean. Linear regression was used to examine the association between self-reported racial/ethnic discrimination and BDR adjusted for selected characteristics. An interaction term between TNF-α levels and self-reported racial/ethnic discrimination was tested in the final model. Results Almost half of participants (48.8%) reported racial/ethnic discrimination. The mean percent BDR was higher among participants reporting racial/ethnic discrimination than among those who did not (10.8 versus 8.9, p = 0.006). After adjustment, participants reporting racial/ethnic discrimination had a 1.7 (95% CI: 0.36–3.03) higher BDR mean than those not reporting racial/ethnic discrimination. However, we found heterogeneity of this association according to TNF-α levels (p-interaction = 0.040): Among individuals with TNF-α high level only, we observed a 2.78 higher BDR mean among those reporting racial/ethnic discrimination compared with those not reporting racial/ethnic discrimination (95%CI: 0.79–4.77). Conclusions We found BDR to be increased in participants reporting racial/ethnic discrimination and this association was limited to African American youth with TNF-α high asthma, an endotype thought to be resistant to traditional asthma medications. These results support screening for racial/ethnic discrimination in those with asthma as it may reclassify disease pathogenesis.
Energy-based Bayesian spectrum sensing over α-η-μ fading channels

The α-η-μ distribution is a generalized distribution which models the fading statistics to a sufficient degree of accuracy in practice. This distribution includes the well-studied models such as Rice, Rayleigh, Nakagami-m, Weibull, η-μ and α-μ distributions as special cases. We study the problem of energy-based spectrum sensing over the α-η-μ fading channel, following a Bayesian approach. We present an analysis on the minimum probability of error, which is a linear combination of the probabilities of false-alarm and miss, and present a fast-converging, infinite series expression. Moreover, we derive an expression for the detection threshold for the energy detector, which is optimal in terms of minimizing the probability of error. Through thorough Monte Carlo simulations and numerical techniques, we present a performance study of the detector for different parameter values to validate our analysis.
Set-Switching and Learning Transfer

In this experiment I investigated the relationship between set-switching and transfer learning, both of which presumably invoke executive functioning (EF), which may in turn be correlated with intelligence. Set-switching was measured by a computerized version of the Wisconsin Card Sort Task. Another computer task was written to measure learning-transfer ability. The data indicate little correlation between the ability to transfer learning and the capacity for set-switching. That is, these abilities may draw from independent cognitive mechanisms. The major difference may be requirement to utilize previous learning in a new way in the learning-transfer task. INDEX WORDS: Learning Transfer, Transfer Index, Wisconsin Card Sort Task, Setswitching, Intelligence, Executive Functioning SET-SWITCHING AND LEARNING TRANSFER
The Parameterized Complexity of k-Biclique

Given a graph G and a parameter k, the k-Biclique problem asks whether G contains a complete bipartite subgraph Kk,k. This is one of the most easily stated problems on graphs whose parameterized complexity has been long unknown. We prove that k-Biclique is W[1]-hard by giving an fpt-reduction from k-Clique to k-Biclique, thus solving this longstanding open problem. Our reduction uses a class of bipartite graphs with a certain threshold property, which might be of some independent interest. More precisely, for positive integers n, s and t, we consider a bipartite graph G = (A [EQUATION] B, E) such that A can be partitioned into A = V1 [EQUATION] V2 [EQUATION], . , [EQUATION] Vn and for every s distinct indices i1, . , is, there exist vi1 ∈ Vi1, . , vis ∈ Vis such that vi1, . , vis have at least t + 1 common neighbors in B; on the other hand, every s+1 distinct vertices in A have at most t common neighbors in B. We prove that given such threshold bipartite graphs, we can construct an fpt-reduction from k-Clique to k-Biclique. Using the Paley-type graphs and Weil's character sum theorem, we show that for t = (s +1)! and n large enough, such threshold bipartite graphs can be computed in polynomial time. One corollary of our reduction is that there is no f(k) · no(k) time algorithm to decide whether a graph contains a subgraph isomorphic to Kk! ,k! unless the Exponential Time Hypothesis (ETH) fails. We also provide a probabilistic construction with better parameters t = Θ(s2), which indicates that k-Biclique has no f(k) · no([EQUATION]k)-time algorithm unless 3-SAT with m clauses can be solved in 2o(m)-time with high probability. Besides the lower bound for exact computation of k-Biclique, our result also implies a dichotomy classification of the parameterized complexity of cardinality constraint satisfaction problems and the inapproximability of the maximum k-intersection problem.
ERK1/2 MAP kinases promote cell cycle entry by rapid, kinase-independent disruption of retinoblastoma–lamin A complexes

As orchestrators of essential cellular processes like proliferation, ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase signals impact on cell cycle regulation. A-type lamins are major constituents of the nuclear matrix that also control the cell cycle machinery by largely unknown mechanisms. In this paper, we disclose a functional liaison between ERK1/2 and lamin A whereby cell cycle progression is regulated. We demonstrate that lamin A serves as a mutually exclusive dock for ERK1/2 and the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein. Our results reveal that, immediately after their postactivation entrance in the nucleus, ERK1/2 dislodge Rb from its interaction with lamin A, thereby facilitating its rapid phosphorylation and consequently promoting E2F activation and cell cycle entry. Interestingly, these effects are independent of ERK1/2 kinase activity. We also show that cellular transformation and tumor cell proliferation are dependent on the balance between lamin A and nuclear ERK1/2 levels, which determines Rb accessibility for phosphorylation/inactivation.
A Reanalysis of the Effect of Head Start on Cognitive Development: Methodology and Empirical Findings. Reprint 238.

The effect of the Head Start program on cognitive achievement is examined with two objectives in mind. First, we clarify the use of statistical models to evaluate programs that deal with nonrandom assignments to "treatment" and "control" groups, and we show the conditions for unbiased estimation of program effects. Second, we present a refined set of empirical estimates of Head Start effects, using multiple regression techniques. The data used are from the Westinghouse Learning Corporation study, and our results generally support their pessimistic findings, although some qualifications are in order. Head Start, a federally funded educational program, is designed to improve the cognitive and affective skills of preschool children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. It began in 1965 under the Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) and was based on three assumptions: that education is required to enable poor children to escape poverty in their adult years, that development during the preschool years is critical for educational success, and that children in poor families are deprived of the intellectual and cultural stimulation necessary for adequate preschool development. The program has been popular, despite the lack of clear evidence of success in achieving its goals. It survived the demise of OEO and is now administered by the U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. In 1976, 379,000 children were enrolled in the program [3].
Description of Caldanaerobius fijiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an inulin-degrading, ethanol-producing, thermophilic bacterium from a Fijian hot spring sediment, and reclassification of Thermoanaerobacterium polysaccharolyticum and Thermoanaerobacterium zeae as Caldanaerobius polysaccharolyticus comb. 

An obligately anaerobic, spore-forming, Gram-type-positive but Gram-staining-negative thermophilic bacterium, strain JW/YJL-F3(T), was isolated from a Fijian hot spring sediment sample. Cells of strain JW/YJL-F3(T) were straight to slightly curved rods, 0.5-1.2 microm in diameter and 1.5-19 microm long. The temperature range for growth was between 40 and 67 degrees C, with an optimum at 60-63 degrees C. The pH(25 degrees C) range for growth was 4.5-8.4 with an optimum of 6.8. The salinity range for growth was 0-0.5 %. Strain JW/YJL-F3(T) utilized a range of substrates including arabinose, cellobiose, galactose, glucose, inulin, lactose, maltose, mannose, raffinose, ribose, trehalose, xylose and yeast extract as carbon and energy sources. The major fermentation end products from glucose were ethanol, acetate and formate. Strain JW/YJL-F3(T) converted thiosulfate to elemental sulfur, producing sulfur globules. The DNA G+C content was 37.6 mol% as determined by HPLC. Phylogenetic analysis using the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the isolate is distantly related to the clade of the genus Thermoanaerobacterium. However, Thermoanaerobacterium polysaccharolyticum (96.7 % similarity to the type strain) and Thermoanaerobacterium zeae were the closest relatives, forming a separate, well-supported clade together with the novel isolate. Because Thermoanaerobacterium polysaccharolyticum, Thermoanaerobacterium zeae and strain JW/YJL-F3(T) have different features from other Thermoanaerobacterium species, including a higher G+C content and formate production, and are placed distantly from the remaining species of Thermoanaerobacterium (greater than 10 % distance) in the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, we propose to place the new isolate JW/YJL-F3(T) and Thermoanaerobacterium polysaccharolyticum and Thermoanaerobacterium zeae into the novel genus Caldanaerobius gen. nov. as Caldanaerobius fijiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (the type species), Caldanaerobius polysaccharolyticus comb. nov. and Caldanaerobius zeae comb. nov., respectively. The type strain of Caldanaerobius fijiensis is JW/YJL-F3(T) (=ATCC BAA-1278(T) =DSM 17918(T)).
A Major Constituent of Brown Algae for Use in High-Capacity Li-Ion Batteries

Alginate extracts help stabilize silicon nanoparticles used in a high-capacity lithium-silicon battery. The identification of similarities in the material requirements for applications of interest and those of living organisms provides opportunities to use renewable natural resources to develop better materials and design better devices. In our work, we harness this strategy to build high-capacity silicon (Si) nanopowder–based lithium (Li)–ion batteries with improved performance characteristics. Si offers more than one order of magnitude higher capacity than graphite, but it exhibits dramatic volume changes during electrochemical alloying and de-alloying with Li, which typically leads to rapid anode degradation. We show that mixing Si nanopowder with alginate, a natural polysaccharide extracted from brown algae, yields a stable battery anode possessing reversible capacity eight times higher than that of the state-of-the-art graphitic anodes.
Hypertension is an independent predictor of delayed graft function and worse renal function only in kidneys with chronic pathological lesions

Background. Delayed graft function (DGF) has been identified as one of the principal correlates of poor graft survival in cadaveric renal transplantation. However, its risk factors and clinical predictors have been poorly elucidated. Methods. We analyzed the risk factors of DGF with a specific emphasis on the role of histological damage of donor kidney. Then, we also studied the impact of DGF, and donor factors affecting DGF, on kidney graft function over the first year after engraftment in 100 consecutive cadaveric renal transplant (Tx) recipients. Results. The organs displaying DGF (n=48) had a significantly higher degree of glomerular sclerosis and tubular atrophy (P <0.01), as well as of interstitial fibrosis and vascular damage (P <0.02) in time-zero biopsies. In patients who received an “ideal” organ for Tx (total histological score ≤4), DGF showed a strong relationship with &Dgr;age D-R (70% increase of risk for donors 10 years older than recipients), and with the histological score (odds ratio 1.34). In contrast, donor hypertension was the most relevant variable independently associated with DGF (odds ratio 19.4) in patients receiving a suboptimal organ (histological score >4). Moreover, DGF and donor hypertension adversely affected graft function at 1 year, but only in Tx patients with a histological score >4 in time-zero biopsy. Of note, both patients with and those without DGF showed a very low incidence of biopsy-proven acute rejection (8.5 and 6.8%, respectively) and a rather short cold ischemia time (<16 hr). Conclusion. Our findings suggest that the quality of the transplanted organ and the occurrence of DGF are strictly related to each other and can influence graft function through apparently nonimmune mechanisms. In addition, long-standing donor hypertension is a strong independent variable affecting both DGF and graft function of suboptimal cadaveric kidneys, at least up to 1 year.
Mobile client-side personalization

The recent development of powerful mobile devices is encouraging people to take them as a computing platform. Users are expecting to personalize services to meet their individual needs and will no longer accept “one size fits all” approach. On the other hand, there is contention between personalization and privacy. This leads to the question of how to maximize the user's experience of personalized mobile services while keeping their privacy. One possible solution is to provide user's control of their personal data by keeping their user model on their personal mobile devices. In this way, a user can scrutinize the data while sharing with service providers depending on her/his requirements. The client-side personalization approach can shift the control of privacy to the users and can involve them in personalization process. In this paper, we have proposed a solution with the objective of scrutable client-side personalization while keeping the user in control of both privacy and personalization. Moreover, the objective is to provide a conceptual layer of privacy enhanced personalization for future mobile services.
Compensation of Channel and Noise Distortions Combining Maximum Likelihood based Spectral Subtraction and Normalization

Channel distortion may dramatically degrade speech recognition performance in a distant environment. Authors in their recent work proposed a novel spectral subtraction method which they named it maximum likelihood based spectral subtraction (MLBSS). They indicated that recognition performance could be improved dramatically by adjusting filter parameters based on recognition results. Previous results show effectiveness of this method in dealing with additive distortion. In this paper we propose an approach for increasing robustness of this method against channel distortion in distant talking environment. We add Cepstral Mean Normalization (CMN) in designing MLBSS filter and show that by incorporating this method into design strategy; we can use benefits of both methods. Speech recognition experiments performed in a real distant-talking environment confirm the efficiency of the proposed approach.