Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Factor structure models for the Post-Concussion Syndrome Scale with monolingual Spanish-speaking adults from Colombia

ABSTRACT Primary Objective: The Post-Concussion Syndrome Scale (PCSS) is a self-report questionnaire that measures post-concussive symptom severity and has been primarily normed on young Caucasian samples. This study aims to explore the factor structure models of a Spanish translation of the PCSS at a chronic post-traumatic brain injury (TBI) time point. Research Design: Descriptive and exploratory research designs were utilized. Methods and Procedures: The study consisted of a monolingual sample of Spanish-speaking adults from Colombia, with 100 subjects in the control group and 70 subjects in the TBI group. A t-test, chi-square, and MANOVA were calculated to compare group differences. Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to investigate reliability. Confirmatory factor analysis compared item loadings onto an existing four-factor model. Exploratory factor analysis sought to identify a new factor model if the loadings did not fit. Main Outcomes and Results: There were no group differences in demographic variables. Internal consistency was acceptable. Model fit indices revealed a poor fit with the original four factors. Item loadings revealed a novel six-structure model. Conclusions: While the PCSS appears to capture general post-TBI sequelae, the underlying factors may differ due to cultural and linguistic differences in Spanish-speaking individuals. Clinical implications and future directions are further discussed.
Dose‐dependent chemopreventive effects of citronellol in DMBA‐induced breast cancer among rats

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among women world wide and its incidence is on tremendous increase. The present study is aimed to analyze the dose‐dependent chemopreventive efficacy of citronellol on 7,12‐dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)‐induced rat mammary carcinogenesis. The mammary tumor was induced through a single dose of DMBA (25 mg/rat) injected subcutaneously near the mammary gland of rats. In DMBA‐injected rats, 100% tumor incidence, increased tumor volume, and tumor burden along with loss of body weight were observed. Biochemical analysis revealed the increased levels of phase I detoxification proteins (cytochrome P450 and b5) and decreased activities of phase II detoxification enzymes (glutathione‐S‐transferase and glutathione reductase) in hepatic and mammary tissues. The levels of enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidants (superoxidedismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and (GPx) and reduced glutathione) were decreased and lipid peroxidation by‐products (thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and lipid hydroperoxide) got increased in plasma and mammary tissues. Oral administration of different doses of citronellol (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg body weight) to DMBA‐treated rats for 16 weeks absolutely inhibited the tumor incidence and restored the biochemical parameters near to normal level in 50 and 100 mg doses whereas the histopathological studies also supported the biochemical findings. Hence, the result suggests that the citronellol of 50 mg/kg body weight exerted significant chemopreventive effects and can be considered as a minimum optimum dose in the prevention of mammary carcinogenesis.
Mediation of area and edge effects in forest fragments by adjacent land use

Habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation have pervasive detrimental effects on tropical forest biodiversity, but the role of the surrounding land use (i.e., matrix) in determining the severity of these impacts remains poorly understood. We surveyed bird species across an interior‐edge‐matrix gradient to assess the effects of matrix type on biodiversity at 49 different sites with varying levels of landscape fragmentation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest—a highly threatened biodiversity hotspot. Both area and edge effects were more pronounced in forest patches bordering pasture matrix, whereas patches bordering Eucalyptus plantation maintained compositionally similar bird communities between the edge and the interior and exhibited reduced effects of patch size. These results suggest the type of matrix in which forest fragments are situated can explain a substantial amount of the widely reported variability in biodiversity responses to forest loss and fragmentation.
Oxygen Uptake On-Kinetics during Low-Intensity Resistance Exercise: Effect of Exercise Mode and Load

Oxygen uptake (VO2) kinetics has been analyzed through mathematical modeling of constant work-rate exercise, however, the exponential nature of the VO2 response in resistance exercise is currently unknown. The present work assessed the VO2 on-kinetics during two different sub maximal intensities in the inclined bench press and in the seated leg extension exercise. Twelve males (age: 27.2 ± 4.3 years, height: 177 ± 5 cm, body mass: 79.0 ± 10.6 kg and estimated body fat: 11.4 ± 4.1%) involved in recreational resistance exercise randomly performed 4-min transitions from rest to 12% and 24% of 1 repetition maximum each, of inclined bench press (45°) and leg extension exercises. During all testing, expired gases were collected breath-by-breath with a portable gas analyzer (K4b2, Cosmed, Italy) and VO2 on-kinetics were identified using a multi-exponential mathematical model. Leg extension exercise exhibited a higher R-square, compared with inclined bench press, but no differences were found in-between exercises for the VO2 kinetics parameters. VO2 on-kinetics seems to be more sensitive to muscle related parameters (upper vs. lower body exercise) and less to small load variations in the resistance exercise. The absence of a true slow component indicates that is possible to calculate low-intensity resistance exercise energy cost based solely on VO2 measurements.
Enhancing DPM Techniques in Outdoor Industrial WSN Applications

The main challenge during designing a new node is reducing the power consumption as much as possible to maximize the lifetime of wireless sensor network (WSN) since most nodes are powered from a finite source of energy, in general nonrechargeable battery. In this paper we propose a solution to minimize the power consumed by the microcontroller (MCU), which is the main processing component in the node. Our energy power optimization solution is based on two techniques: firstly enhance dynamic power management (DPM) policies by reducing MCU consumption during standby mode; secondly, focus on temperature impact on low power consumption. In this context, a microcontroller dynamic power management (MDPM) algorithm is proposed to improve DPM scheme. This algorithm is deployed on a measurement circuit able to calculate the consumption during the different low power modes in real environments conditions and then selects the better one. These two techniques are combined in a novel way to provide an efficient energy solution for wireless sensor networks nodes. Our solution is validated and qualified with STM32F446RE MCU.
VOC pattern recognition of lung cancer: a comparative evaluation of different dog- and eNose-based strategies using different sampling materials

Abstract Background: It has been reported that canine scent tests offer the possibility to screen for cancer. Assuming that breath samples can be collected with carrier materials, we tested the practicability of different carrier materials to be presented to dogs and validated and compared results with an electronic nose (eNose). Moreover, we hypothesized that cancer detection ability of dogs differs according to their working experience. Methods: In a methodological approach, two dog teams participated, one using experienced working dogs and the other ordinary household dogs to find the most qualified dogs and training method. To find best carrier material for breath sampling we compared charcoal containing glass tubes and fleece masks. In a second validating part, experienced working dogs were trained with improved training strategies. For breath sampling, two different, previously successfully tested fleece-based carrier materials were used: one was used with the dog team and both materials were compared with eNose. Results: In the methodological approach, it turned out that the charcoal-based sampling strategy qualified not sufficiently for VOC-detection. Moreover, we could determine that using experienced working dogs provided several advantages. Overall results of dogs in the validating part regarding specificity were 83%, regarding sensitivity 56%, but with great variability among dogs. Using eNose for breath analysis collected with both fleece carrier materials, specificity was 97% and sensitivity 89–100%. Conclusion: Our data confirmed that the diagnostic accuracy of dogs depended on the type of dog training and on the carrier materials. A comparison of breath samples analysis with an eNose achieved better results for both, sensitivity and specificity than for dogs. The use of fleece masks or fleeces in glass tubes as a sampling material can be recommended as successful VOC carriers, encouraging their use for clinical screenings.
Echocardiographic quantitation of left heart size and function in 122 healthy dogs: A prospective study proposing reference intervals and assessing repeatability

Abstract Background Broadly applicable reference intervals (RIs) for measurements of left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) size and function generated prospectively using statistically appropriate methods are limited. Objectives To generate body size‐independent RIs for linear, area, and volume measurements of LA size and LV size and function. Animals Healthy adult dogs (n = 122) of variable size and somatotype. Methods Prospective study. All dogs underwent an echocardiogram performed by the same examiner. Effects of body weight, sex, age, and heart rate were evaluated by regression and correlation analyses. Scaling exponents and prediction intervals were generated for linear measurements using the allometric equation. After normalization to body weight, 95% RIs were determined using nonparametric methods with 2.5 and 97.5 percentiles serving as the lower and upper limits (each with 90% confidence intervals), respectively. Results Linear LA and LV measurements were strongly correlated (R 2 ≥ 0.79) with body weight. Scaling exponents were close to the expected 1/3 (0.299‐0.392). Prediction intervals for linear measurements of LV chamber size were considerably narrower than previously reported. Weak correlations (r = −0.42 to −0.50) among LV fractional shortening, fractional area change, and ejection fraction and body weight were identified. No other meaningful relationships were identified between the measurements and sex, age, and heart rate. Conclusions and Clinical Importance Body size‐independent RIs for several linear, area, and volume measurements of LA and LV size and function were generated prospectively from a large and diverse reference population and are available for clinical use.
Secure ECG-Based Biometric Authentication in Body Area Sensor Networks

Author(s): Momtaz, Farshad | Advisor(s): Givargis, Tony | Abstract: Body Area Sensor Networks (BANs) utilize wireless communicating sensor nodes attached to a human body for convenience, safety, and health applications.Physiological characteristics of the body, such as the heart rate or ECG signals, are promising means to simplify the setup process and to improve security of BANs.This thesis describes the design and implementation steps required to realize an ECG-based authentication protocol to identify sensor nodes attached to the same human body.This thesis starts by reviewing the latest literature in the filed of Body Area Network, and looks at possible applications, challenges, and overall architecture of BANs.It also addresses the design of a body-area sensor system, including the hardware setup, analogue and digital signal processing, and required ECG feature detection techniques.A model-based design flow is applied, and strengths and limitations of each design step are discussed.Real-world measured data originating from the implemented sensor system then are used to set up and parametrize a novel physiological authentication protocol for BANs. The authentication protocol utilizes statistical properties of expected and detected deviations to limit the number of false positive and false negative authentication attempts.The result of the described holistic design effort is the first practical implementation of biometric authentication in BANs that reflects timing and data uncertainties in the physical and cyber parts of the system.
A Improvement GrabCut Method Based on Figure of Foreground

the improvement Grab Cut is proposed,The method is both the original algorithm is improved,one thing the user specified future the basic form of the prospects for the initial,unknown and in the background;two separate energy function is optimized.Experiments show that the improved segmentation algorithm can get faster speeds and segmentation algorithm can get faster speed and segmentation.
Tailoring the Chemical Modification of Chitosan Hydrogels to Fine Tune the Release of a Synergistic Combination of Chemotherapeutics.

Combination chemotherapy with defined ratio and sequence of drug release is a clinically established and effective route to treat advanced solid tumors. In this context, a growing body of literature demonstrates the potential of hydrogels constructed with chemically modified polysaccharides as depots for controlled release of chemotherapeutics. Identifying the appropriate modification in terms of physicochemical properties of the functional group and its degree of substitution (χ) to achieve the desired release profile for multiple drugs is, however, a complex multivariate problem. To address this issue, we have developed a computational toolbox that models the migration of a drug pair through a hydrated network of polysaccharide chains modified with hydrophobic moieties. In this study, we chose Doxorubicin (DOX) and Gemcitabine (GEM) as model drugs, as their synergistic effect against breast cancer has been thoroughly investigated, and chitosan as model polymer. Our model describes how the modification of chitosan chains with acetyl, butanoyl, and heptanoyl moieties at different values χ governs both the structure of the hydrogel network and drug migration through it. Our experimental data confirm the in silico predictions for both single and dual-drug release, and, most notably, the counterintuitive inversion of release vs. χ that occurs when switching from a single to a dual-drug system. Consensus between predicted and experimental data indicates that acetyl modifications (χ = 32-42%) and butanoyl-modifications (χ = 19-24%) provide synergistic GEM/DOX release molar ratios (5-10 i.e.,). Collectively, these results demonstrate the potential of this model in guiding the design of chemotherapeutic hydrogels to combat cancer.
GMPLS-controlled OBS network: a case study for absolute QoS

Over the last decade, the scientific community has thrown itself into assessing Optical Burst Switching (OBS) as the switching technology for next-generation all-optical networks. In this regard, a significant amount of work has concentrated on providing OBS with the required carrier-class features. During this process, however, little attention has been paid to fundamental questions on the interoperability and interworking issues that OBS will have to face in an heterogeneous network scenario such as the future Internet. The present article introduces a Generalized Multi-Protocol Label Switching (GMPLS)-based control plane architecture for future OBS networks. This GMPLS/OBS control plane solution leverages on the GMPLS interoperability to enable seamless vertical and horizontal OBS integration with different switching layers under a common control plane. In this work, the burst Label Switched Path (b-LSP) entity has been introduced to accomplish such purpose as well as to guarantee end users’ QoS requirements to seamlessly support emerging data applications. Such a b-LSP establishment does not entail explicit resource reservation, but the configuration of new entries in the forwarding tables of OBS nodes with the resources available per b-LSP. Hence, by making a resource available to multiple b-LSPs, the statistical multiplexing nature of OBS is preserved. The required protocol extensions are equally proposed. A Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) model is devised to provide the optimal b-LSP dimensioning according to traffic and QoS requirements. Also, GMPLS-driven b-LSP capacity reconfigurations are dynamically triggered whenever unfavorable network conditions are detected. Exhaustive simulations are run to assess the model on different network scenarios. Future work on the topic is finally outlined.
Mutation of a Conserved Motif of PP2C.D Phosphatases Confers SAUR Immunity and Constitutive Activity1[OPEN]

Single missense mutations in a conserved motif of PP2C.D proteins abolish SAUR binding, leading to constitutive phosphatase activity that restricts cell expansion. The phytohormone auxin promotes the growth of plant shoots by stimulating cell expansion via plasma membrane (PM) H+-ATPase activation, which facilitates cell wall loosening and solute uptake. Mechanistic insight was recently obtained by demonstrating that auxin-induced SMALL AUXIN UP RNA (SAUR) proteins inhibit D-CLADE TYPE 2C PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE (PP2C.D) activity, thereby trapping PM H+-ATPases in the phosphorylated, activated state, but how SAURs bind PP2C.D proteins and inhibit their activity is unknown. Here, we identified a highly conserved motif near the C-terminal region of the PP2C.D catalytic domain that is required for SAUR binding in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Missense mutations in this motif abolished SAUR binding but had no apparent effect on catalytic activity. Consequently, mutant PP2C.D proteins that could not bind SAURs exhibited constitutive activity, as they were immune to SAUR inhibition. In planta expression of SAUR-immune pp2c.d2 or pp2c.d5 derivatives conferred severe cell expansion defects and corresponding constitutively low levels of PM H+-ATPase phosphorylation. These growth defects were not alleviated by either auxin treatment or 35S:StrepII-SAUR19 coexpression. In contrast, a PM H+-ATPase gain-of-function mutation that results in a constitutively active H+ pump partially suppressed SAUR-immune pp2c.d5 phenotypes, demonstrating that impaired PM H+-ATPase function is largely responsible for the reduced growth of the SAUR-immune pp2c.d5 mutant. Together, these findings provide crucial genetic support for SAUR-PP2C.D regulation of cell expansion via modulation of PM H+-ATPase activity. Furthermore, SAUR-immune pp2c.d derivatives provide new genetic tools for elucidating SAUR and PP2C.D functions and manipulating plant organ growth.
Peer Observation of Teaching at UCL

This booklet has been written to support the implementation of peer observation of teaching at UCL. It is intended as a practical guide to the process for participants. It should be used in conjunction with the support materials that are available from the Teaching and Learning Portal (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/teachinglearning/teaching-learning-methods/peer_observation_teaching). These include a sample observation form, case studies and links to further information.
The Association between Bisphenol A Exposure and Obesity in Children—A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental chemical that has adverse effects on health, probably causing childhood obesity. However, this association remains controversial, and it is difficult to find evidence for direct causality between environmental exposure and disease using epidemiological studies. In this study, we sought to elucidate the possible causality between BPA exposure and childhood obesity by conducting two meta-analyses showing bidirectional associations, including exposure effect by obesity and obesity risk by exposure. Articles published up to September 2017 were searched in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library. We evaluated observational studies that included measurements of urinary BPA concentration and BMI or body weight. Of 436 articles, a total of 13 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Two meta-analyses were performed to investigate the association between BPA exposure and childhood obesity. The results showed that the relatively high-exposed group had a significantly higher risk of childhood obesity than the relatively low-exposed group (odds ratio = 1.566, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.097 to 2.234, p = 0.014). However, the obese group showed no significant difference in the BPA concentration when compared to the normal group (standardized mean difference = 0.166, 95% CI: −0.121 to 0.453, p = 0.257). This study suggested possible causality between BPA exposure and childhood obesity using data from epidemiological studies and showed that BPA exposure itself increased the risk of obesity in children.
EvaluatioN of ApiXaban in strOke and systemic embolism prevention in patients with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation in clinical practice Setting in France, rationale and design of the NAXOS: SNIIRAM study

Non‐vitamin K antagonists oral anticoagulants (NOACs) have recently challenged vitamin‐K antagonists (VKAs) for stroke and systemic embolism prophylaxis in patients with non‐valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Nevertheless, little information is available in routine clinical practice for France. The aim of this study is to describe the effectiveness and safety of apixaban, rivaroxaban, dabigatran or VKAs in routine clinical practice in adult NVAF patients for the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in France. The NAXOS study is a nationwide observational retrospective cohort generated from the French national healthcare insurance database (SNIIRAM—a comprehensive in‐ and outpatient healthcare consumption database), consisting of eight distinct sub‐cohorts of anticoagulant‐naive or anticoagulant‐experienced patients diagnosed with NVAF, newly initiated with either NOACs (dabigatran, rivaroxaban or apixaban) or VKAs. Patients will be included if initiating a new anticoagulant treatment for AF during the study period from 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2016. Primary effectiveness outcome will be the incidence of stroke or systemic thromboembolic events; primary safety outcome will be the incidence of major bleeding during the exposure period. The NAXOS study will provide routine clinical practice data on the effectiveness and safety profiles of apixaban vs other NOACs and VKAs in the prevention of stroke and systemic embolism in adult patients with NVAF in clinical practice conditions in France.