Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hoping against hope: The prison-to-community transition experience of men with co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorder

Abstract This thesis explores the prison-to-community transition experience after short-term incarceration, from the perspective of men with co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder in Queensland, Australia. A specific focus was to examine the impact of systems and structures on the individual experience of transition. Prior research has established that people with co-occurring mental illness and substance use are overrepresented in the Australian prisoner population. It is also known that transition from prison to community for the general custodial population is a time of vulnerability, with increased risk of substance use, homelessness, unemployment, reincarceration and post-release death. All of these risks are compounded for prisoners with co-occurring disorders who are also at risk of a range of poor criminal justice outcomes and losing contact with mental health services after release. Review of the literature indicates a tendency for research to focus on recidivism as an outcome and emphasise either individual risk behaviour or social and structural factors influencing prison-to-community transition. Interventions during transition for the current population have traditionally been based on the criminalisation hypothesis, with a focus on increased provision of mental health services in prison and an emphasis on continuity of care in the community. There is a growing recognition in the international literature that the issues are much broader than mental illness; however, there is a lack of clarity as to how to respond to the complex needs of this population. Research exploring the perspective of men with co-occurring severe mental illness and substance use disorder during their prison-to-community transition experience has rarely been undertaken. The conceptual framework developed for this study shifts the emphasis away from recidivism towards recovery and wellbeing through a lens of individual action, but only in the context of the potential for systems and structures to impact on the ability of individuals to exercise agency. A qualitative method was used comprising repeat in-depth interviews with 18 men: within 1 month prior to leaving prison, within 2 weeks post-release and at 3 months post-release. Three themes characterised the transition experience of participants: “hoping against hope”; “adrift in freedom”; and “the slippery slope”. Participants reported leaving the predictable and routine life in prison where they hoped for a better life after release, to an uncertain, unstable and isolated environment in the community, eventually sliding into drug use, chaos and despair. The risk environment framework (Rhodes, 2009) and structuration theory (Giddens, 1984) were employed to understand how participants were caught in a complex dynamic between their individual risk behaviour and broader structural risk
Dose-Escalated Robotic SBRT for Stage I–II Prostate Cancer

Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) is the precise external delivery of very high-dose radiotherapy to targets in the body, with treatment completed in one to five fractions. SBRT should be an ideal approach for organ-confined prostate cancer because (I) dose-escalation should yield improved rates of cancer control; (II) the unique radiobiology of prostate cancer favors hypofractionation; and (III) the conformal nature of SBRT minimizes high-dose radiation delivery to immediately adjacent organs, potentially reducing complications. This approach is also more convenient for patients, and is cheaper than intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Several external beam platforms are capable of delivering SBRT for early-stage prostate cancer, although most of the mature reported series have employed a robotic non-coplanar platform (i.e., CyberKnife). Several large studies report 5-year biochemical relapse rates which compare favorably to IMRT. Rates of late GU toxicity are similar to those seen with IMRT, and rates of late rectal toxicity may be less than with IMRT and low-dose rate brachytherapy. Patient-reported quality of life (QOL) outcomes appear similar to IMRT in the urinary domain. Bowel QOL may be less adversely affected by SBRT than with other radiation modalities. After 5 years of follow-up, SBRT delivered on a robotic platform is yielding outcomes at least as favorable as IMRT, and may be considered appropriate therapy for stage I–II prostate cancer.
A Study of the Central and Peripheral Arterial Pressure Pulse in Man: Correlation with Simultaneously Recorded Electrokymograms

This communication describes and discusses the results obtained in studying central and peripheral arterial pressure pulses in man by means of retrograde aortic catheterization. The pressure pulse transformation and pulse transmission in the aorticobrachial system are presented and compared with comparable tracings reported in the dog. Several normal subjects and patients with hypertension, aortic regurgitation and coarctation of the aorta were studied. The genesis of the central pulse contour in aortic regurgitation is reconsidered. The changes in central pulse pressure, produced by the Valsalva-like maneuver, and ventricular premature systoles have been investigated, especially in their relationship to cycle length, end-diastolic volume and peripheral resistance. The technic of obtaining pulse pressure recordings by retrograde aortic catheterization is recommended for determining the location, size and dynamic significance of coarctation of the aorta. As an additional study, aortic densograms and border electrokymograms from the aortic arch and left ventricular border were correlated with simultaneously recorded central aortic pressure tracings.
Mathematical Modelling in Neuroendocrinology

In neuroendocrinology, mathematical modelling is about formalising our understanding of the behaviour of the complex biological systems with which we deal. Formulating our explanations mathematically ensures their logical consistency, and makes them open to structured analysis; it is a stringent test of their intellectual coherence. In addition, however, modellers are seeking to extend our understanding in new ways, by seeking novel, simple explanations for complex behaviour. Here we discuss some styles of modelling as they have been applied to neuroendocrine systems, and discuss some of their strengths and limitations.
Representation and Inference in the Consul System

Users of interactive systems need a single cooperative interface for all of the services in their environment. The interface must behave in a consistent manner in understanding natural user requests and in providing explanation and help as required. The Consul system is designed to provide such an interface. Its natural interaction capability is achieved by mapping between detailed descriptions of users and systems in order to translate requests and provide explanations An interactive system of this Kind would be infeasible if the ones of constructing the knowledge base and inference techniques were placed on the individual service builders in Consul, service-dependent information is incorporated into the Knowledge base by semi-automatic acquisition, resulting in incorporation of the new Knowledge into the system's built-in abstract framework. This incorporation allows the service-dependent data to appropriately influence Consul's knowledge based mapping processes. The current Consul prototype demonstates natural request handling and explanation for a mail service.
Evolution and expression of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor-associated protein from the amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri

The cDNA encoding a gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor-associated protein (GABARAP) was identified from the gut cDNA library of amphioxus Branchiostoma belcheri. It consisted of 1246 bp with a 354 bp open reading frame coding for a 117 amino acids protein of 13.9 kDa. The phylogenetic tree analysis showed that amphioxus GABARAP clustered with GABARAPs, separating from GABARAP-like proteins including amphioxus GABARAPL2. Amphioxus GABARAP gene had an exon–intron organization similar to human, mouse, zebrafish and sea squirt GABARAP homologs in terms of both exon number and sequence homology of each exon, hinting at the clue that GABARAP gene transcription is regulated similarly in all the chordates. In situ hybridization histochemistry revealed a ubiquitous expression pattern of amphioxus GABARAP gene, although it was temporally expressed specifically in the primitive gut of 2- to 10-day larvae, suggesting a conserved role of GABARAP in amphioxus as well as in mammalian species.
Testing for the Martingale Hypothesis

This paper proposes general speci.cation tests for the martingale hypothesis. They can be used to test the null hypothesis that a given time series is a martingale process, against the alternative hypothesis that it is a stationary ergodic nonmartingale process. We consider tests of two di¤erent types: one is a generalized Kolmogorov-Smirnov test and the other is a Cramer-von Mises type test. The tests introduced in the paper are simple to compute, neither depend upon any smoothing parameter nor require any resampling procedure to simulate the null distributions. The null distributions of the test statistics are given by the functionals of a continuous martingale process, which are free of any nuisance parameter. We show that the tests are consistent against stationary ergodic non-martingale alternatives, and further investigate the . nite sample properties of the test statistics through simulation. Our tests are found to be rather powerful in moderate size samples against a wide variety of non-martingales including exponential autoregressive, threshold autoregressive, markov switching, and chaotic processes. First Draft: June 10, 1999 This version: December 1, 1999
Text Recognition in Natural Images using Multiclass Hough Forests

Text detection and recognition in natural images are popular yet unsolved problems in computer vision. In this paper, we propose a technique that attempts to detect and recognize text in a unified manner by searching for words directly without reducing the image into text regions or individual characters. We present three contributions. First, we modify an object detection framework called Hough Forests (Gall et al., 2011) by introducing "Cross-Scale Binary Features" that compares the information between the same image patch at different scales. We use this modified technique to produce likelihood maps for every text character. Second, our word-formation cost function and computed likelihood maps are used to detect and recognize the text in natural images. We test our technique with the Street View House Numbers (Netzer et al., 2011) and the ICDAR 2003 (Lucas et al., 2003) datasets. For the SVHN dataset, our algorithm outperforms recent methods and has comparable performance using fewer training samples. We also exceed the state-of-the-art word recognition performance for ICDAR 2003 dataset by 4%. Our final contribution is a realistic dataset generation code for text characters.
In situ grown Ni9S8 nanorod/O-MoS2 nanosheet nanocomposite on carbon cloth as a free binder supercapacitor electrode and hydrogen evolution catalyst

Transition metal sulfide nanostructure composites have received significant attention as energy conversion and storage devices. In this work, we report a three-dimension (3D) nanostructure with the Ni9S8 nanorods embedded in oxygen-incorporated MoS2 (O-MoS2) nanosheets for supercapacitors and hydrogen evolution catalysts. The in situ grown Ni9S8/O-MoS2 nanocomposite on carbon cloth can be used as a free binder supercapacitor electrode and hydrogen evolution catalyst. The Ni9S8/O-MoS2 nanocomposite exhibits electrochemical behaviors with a specific capacitance of 907 F g−1 (at 2 A g−1) and good cycle stability after 1200 cycles due to its unique mutual embedding 3D nanostructure. Furthermore, the Ni9S8/O-MoS2 nanocomposite also shows highly electrocatalytic features for hydrogen production with an onset overpotential of ∼150 mV and a low Tafel slope of ∼81 mV dec−1. The oxygen incorporation of MoS2 provides more active sites to participate in the catalytic process for the hydrogen evolution reaction.
Person Re-Identification by Saliency Learning

Human eyes can recognize person identities based on small salient regions, i.e., person saliency is distinctive and reliable in pedestrian matching across disjoint camera views. However, such valuable information is often hidden when computing similarities of pedestrian images with existing approaches. Inspired by our user study result of human perception on person saliency, we propose a novel perspective for person re-identification based on learning person saliency and matching saliency distribution. The proposed saliency learning and matching framework consists of four steps: (1) To handle misalignment caused by drastic viewpoint change and pose variations, we apply adjacency constrained patch matching to build dense correspondence between image pairs. (2) We propose two alternative methods, i.e., K-Nearest Neighbors and One-class SVM, to estimate a saliency score for each image patch, through which distinctive features stand out without using identity labels in the training procedure. (3) saliency matching is proposed based on patch matching. Matching patches with inconsistent saliency brings penalty, and images of the same identity are recognized by minimizing the saliency matching cost. (4) Furthermore, saliency matching is tightly integrated with patch matching in a unified structural RankSVM learning framework. The effectiveness of our approach is validated on the four public datasets. Our approach outperforms the state-of-the-art person re-identification methods on all these datasets.
Function of Heterologous Mycobacterium tuberculosis InhA, a Type 2 Fatty Acid Synthase Enzyme Involved in Extending C20 Fatty Acids to C60-to-C90 Mycolic Acids, during De Novo Lipoic Acid Synthesis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

ABSTRACT We describe the physiological function of heterologously expressed Mycobacterium tuberculosis InhA during de novo lipoic acid synthesis in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) mitochondria. InhA, representing 2-trans-enoyl-acyl carrier protein reductase and the target for the front-line antituberculous drug isoniazid, is involved in the activity of dissociative type 2 fatty acid synthase (FASII) that extends associative type 1 fatty acid synthase (FASI)-derived C20 fatty acids to form C60-to-C90 mycolic acids. Mycolic acids are major constituents of the protective layer around the pathogen that contribute to virulence and resistance to certain antimicrobials. Unlike FASI, FASII is thought to be incapable of de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. Here, the genes for InhA (Rv1484) and four similar proteins (Rv0927c, Rv3485c, Rv3530c, and Rv3559c) were expressed in S. cerevisiae etr1Δ cells lacking mitochondrial 2-trans-enoyl-thioester reductase activity. The phenotype of the yeast mutants includes the inability to produce sufficient levels of lipoic acid, form mitochondrial cytochromes, respire, or grow on nonfermentable carbon sources. Yeast etr1Δ cells expressing mitochondrial InhA were able to respire, grow on glycerol, and produce lipoic acid. Commensurate with a role in mitochondrial de novo fatty acid biosynthesis, InhA could accept in vivo much shorter acyl-thioesters (C4 to C8) than was previously thought (>C12). Moreover, InhA functioned in the absence of AcpM or protein-protein interactions with its native FASII partners KasA, KasB, FabD, and FabH. None of the four proteins similar to InhA complemented the yeast mutant phenotype. We discuss the implications of our findings with reference to lipoic acid synthesis in M. tuberculosis and the potential use of yeast FASII mutants for investigating the physiological function of drug-targeted pathogen enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis.
Attachment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to the Surfaces and Internal Structures of Apples as Detected by Confocal Scanning Laser Microscopy

ABSTRACT Confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM) was used to demonstrate the attachment of Escherichia coli O157:H7 transformed with a plasmid encoding for green fluorescent protein (GFP) to the surface and within the internal structures of nonwaxed Red Delicious cv. apples. Apples at 2 or 25°C were inoculated with an E. coli O157:H7 cell suspension at 2 or 25°C. The effect of a negative temperature differential (cold inoculum, warm apple), a positive differential (warm inoculum, cold apple), and no differential (warm inoculum, warm apple), in combination with a pressure differential (atmospheric versus 10,130 Pa), on the attachment and infiltration of cells was determined. CSLM stereo images of external surfaces of apples subjected to all combinations of test parameters showed preferential cellular attachment to discontinuities in the waxy cuticle on the surface and to damaged tissue surrounding puncture wounds, where the pathogen was observed at depths up to 70 μm below the skin surface. Attachment to lenticels was sporadic but was occasionally observed at depths of up to 40 μm. Infiltration through the floral tube and attachment to seeds, cartilaginous pericarp, and internal trichomes were observed in all apples examined, regardless of temperature differential during inoculation. The pressure differential had no effect on infiltration or attachment of E. coliO157:H7. Image analysis to count cells at various depths within tissues was used to quantitatively compare the extent of infiltration into various apple structures as well as the effects of the temperature differential. Puncture wounds harbored greater numbers of the pathogen at greater depths than did other sites examined. Attachment or infiltration of cells was greater on the intact skin and in lenticels, russet areas, and the floral tube of apples inoculated under a negative temperature differential compared to those inoculated under no temperature differential. The results suggest that E. coliO157:H7 attached to internal core structures or within tissues of apples may evade decontamination treatments. Interventions designed to deliver disinfectants to these locations or to remove viable cells ofE. coli O157:H7 and other pathogens from apples by other means need to be developed and validated.
Dengue and Chikungunya Fever among Viral Diseases in Outpatient Febrile Children in Kilosa District Hospital, Tanzania

Introduction Viral etiologies of fever, including dengue, Chikungunya, influenza, rota and adeno viruses, cause major disease burden in tropical and subtropical countries. The lack of diagnostic facilities in developing countries leads to failure to estimate the true burden of such illnesses, and generally the diseases are underreported. These diseases may have similar symptoms with other causes of acute febrile illnesses including malaria and hence clinical diagnosis without laboratory tests can be difficult. This study aimed to identify viral etiologies as a cause of fever in children and their co-infections with malaria. Methods A cross sectional study was conducted for 6 months at Kilosa district hospital, Tanzania. The participants were febrile children aged 2–13 years presented at the outpatient department. Diagnostic tests such as IgM and IgG ELISA, and PCR were used. Results A total of 364 patients were enrolled, of these 83(22.8%) had malaria parasites, 76 (20.9%) had presumptive acute dengue infection and among those, 29(38.2%) were confirmed cases. Dengue was more likely to occur in children ≥ 5 years than in <5 years (OR 2.28, 95% CI: 1.35–3.86). Presumptive acute Chikungunya infection was identified in 17(4.7%) of patients. We observed no presenting symptoms that distinguished patients with Chikungunya infection from those with dengue infection or malaria. Co-infections between malaria and Chikungunya, malaria and dengue fever as well as Chikungunya and dengue were detected. Most patients with Chikungunya and dengue infections were treated with antibacterials. Furthermore, our results revealed that 5(5.2%) of patients had influenza virus while 5(12.8%) had rotavirus and 2(5.1%) had adenovirus. Conclusion Our results suggest that even though viral diseases are a major public health concern, they are not given due recognition as a cause of fever in febrile patients. Emphasis on laboratory diagnostic tests for proper diagnosis and management of febrile patients is recommended.
Electroacupuncture Decreases Excessive Alcohol Consumption Involving Reduction of FosB/ΔFosB Levels in Reward-Related Brain Regions

New therapies are needed for alcohol abuse, a major public health problem in the U.S. and worldwide. There are only three FDA-approved drugs for treatment of alcohol abuse (naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfuram). On average these drugs yield only moderate success in reducing long-term alcohol consumption. Electroacupuncture has been shown to alleviate various drugs of abuse, including alcohol. Although previous studies have shown that electroacupuncture reduced alcohol consumption, the underlying mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. ΔFosB and FosB are members of the Fos family of transcription factors implicated in neural plasticity in drug addiction; a connection between electroacupuncture's treatment of alcohol abuse and the Fos family has not been established. In this study, we trained rats to drink large quantities of ethanol in a modified intermittent access two-bottle choice drinking procedure. When rats achieved a stable baseline of ethanol consumption, electroacupuncture (100 Hz or 2 Hz, 30 min each day) was administered at Zusanli (ST36) for 6 consecutive days. The level of FosB/ΔFosB in reward-related brain regions was assessed by immunohistochemistry. We found that the intake of and preference for ethanol in rats under 100 Hz, but not 2 Hz electroacupuncture regiment were sharply reduced. The reduction was maintained for at least 72 hours after the termination of electroacupuncture treatment. Conversely, 100 Hz electroacupuncture did not alter the intake of and preference for the natural rewarding agent sucrose. Additionally, FosB/ΔFosB levels in the prefrontal cortex, striatal region and the posterior region of ventral tegmental area were increased following excessive ethanol consumption, but were reduced after six-day 100 Hz electroacupuncture. Thus, this study demonstrates that six-day 100 Hz electroacupuncture treatment effectively reduces ethanol consumption and preference in rats that chronically drink excessive amount of ethanol. This effect of electroacupuncture may be mediated by down-regulation of FosB/ΔFosB in reward-related brain regions.
Epicardial Coronary Artery Compliance in the Dog

The dynamic compliance of 21 coronary arteries from 17 dogs was determined in situ. Intramyocardial portions were occluded with a mixture of 200μ glass beads and liquid silicone. To simulate in vivo pressure-volume conditions, 0.1 ml of saline was injected in 150 to 240 msec at a rate of 30 pulses/min. Silicone casts of the vessels, made at 100 mm Hg distending pressure, were used as a reference volume. The results indicate that the dynamic compliance decreases as the initial distending pressure rises. The change in volume for a 50 mm Hg pressure increment (initial distending pressure of 100 mm Hg) was 3.7 ± 0.6% (mean ± SE). In four dogs, phasic flow in the left circumflex coronary artery was measured. The volume of systolic flow per beat during the control state was of the same order of magnitude as the compliance of the vessels; however, during reactive hyperemia, systolic coronary flow markedly exceeded the dynamic compliance of the coronary vessels. In six dogs the static compliance of a segment of coronary artery was obtained radiographically. A 30.1 ± 1.4% change in volume occurred when the intravascular pressure was increased from 70 to 120 mm Hg.