Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thyroid neoplasia risk is increased nearly 30 years after the Chernobyl accident

To evaluate risk of thyroid neoplasia nearly 30 years following exposure to radioactive iodine (I‐131) from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear accident, we conducted a fifth cycle of thyroid screening of the Ukrainian‐American cohort during 2012–2015, following four previous screening cycles started in 1998. We identified 47 thyroid cancers (TC) and 33 follicular adenomas (FA) among 10,073 individuals who were <18 years at the time of the accident and had a mean I‐131 dose of 0.62 Gy. We found a significant I‐131 dose response for both TC and FA, with an excess odd ratio per Gy of 1.36 (95% CI: 0.39–4.15) and 2.03 (95% CI: 0.55–6.69), respectively. The excess risk of malignant and benign thyroid neoplasia persists nearly three decades after exposure and underscores the importance of continued follow‐up of this cohort to characterize long‐term pattern of I‐131 risk.
Low power shorted gate fin-FET based high performance amplifier

In mixed and analog signals circuit design, the overall performance of integrated circuits is extremely depended upon the performance of OP-AMP so the power consumption in OP-AMP is needs to be reduced. This requires minimum parasitic interconnection elements along with the reduction in internal supply voltage. In view of the requirements for low power and low voltage with highly efficient circuit, an ultra low power and low voltage two stage FinFET based OP-AMP with very high unity gain bandwidth (UGB) and high open loop gain (DC gain) is proposed to achieve fast settling requirements and accuracy. FinFET design is suitable for reducing short channel effects in lower technology node. In this work cascode technique is employed for attaining high open loop gain with quick settling time and the unity gain bandwidth is improved by the gain stage along the miller capacitor feedback path. The proposed FinFET based OP-AMP offers open loop gain of 92 dB, unity gain bandwidth of 230 MHz and having power consumption of only 15.43 μW. All the simulations are performed using Cadence in 45nm technology.
Eosinophils are not essential for maintenance of murine plasma cells in the bone marrow

Eosinophils were reported to serve as an essential component of the plasma cell niche within the bone marrow. As the potential contribution of eosinophils to humoral immunity has remained incompletely understood, we aimed to further characterize their role during antibody responses and to additionally investigate their role in autoimmune disease. Contrary to our expectations and the currently prevailing paradigm, we found that eosinophils are fully dispensable for the survival of murine bone marrow plasma cells and accordingly do not contribute to antibody production and autoantibody‐mediated disease. Littermate wild type and eosinophil‐deficient ΔdblGATA‐1 animals showed similar numbers and frequencies of plasma cells and did not differ in steady state levels of immunoglobulins or their ability to raise antigen‐specific antibody responses. Eosinophils were likewise dispensable for autoantibody production or autoantibody‐induced disease in a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus. Our findings thus argue against a role of eosinophils during the maintenance of the plasma cell pool and challenge the hitherto postulated concept of an eosinophil‐sustained bone marrow niche.
Plasmonic Nanodisk Thin-Film Terahertz Photoconductive Antenna

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and measurement of a plasmonic thin-film terahertz photoconductive antenna. Conventional terahertz photoconductive antennas suffer from poor optical-to-terahertz conversion efficiency, often on the order of 10−4. This is due to the low quantum efficiency of the device. The goal of this work is to demonstrate enhanced terahertz emission from a plasmonic thin-film device architecture. The combination of plasmonic nanodisks, a 120-nm low-temperature-grown gallium arsenide thin-film, and a bottom-located bowtie antenna has demonstrated the feasibility of producing such devices. Fabrication attempts and failure analysis is discussed in this work. Experimental characterization measuring the peak-to-peak electric field values of the terahertz pulses emitted from the device prototypes showed approximately five times improvement in plasmonic thin-film devices compared to conventional devices. The plasmonic thin-film devices had a measureable terahertz bandwidth of ∼5 THz. This indicates that the plasmonic thin-film architecture has a potential for producing high optical-to-terahertz conversion efficiencies across a wide frequency range.
Security auditing in the fog

Technology specific expert knowledge is often required to analyse security configurations and determine potential vulnerabilities, but it becomes difficult when it is a new technology such as Fog computing. Furthermore, additional knowledge is also required regarding how the security configuration has been constructed in respect to an organisation's security policies. Traditionally, organisations will often manage their access control permissions relative to their employees needs, posing challenges to administrators. This problem is even exacerbated in Fog computing systems where security configurations are implemented on a large amount of devices at the edges of Internet, and the administrators are required to retain adequate knowledge on how to perform complex administrative tasks. In this paper, a novel approach of translating object-based security configurations in to a graph model is presented. A technique is then developed to autonomously identify vulnerabilities and perform security auditing of large systems without the need for expert knowledge. Throughout the paper, access control configuration data is used as a case study, and empirical analysis is performed on synthetically generated access control permissions.
Feature Evolution and Reuse - An Exploratory Study of Eclipse

One of the purported ways to increase productivity and reduce development time is to reuse existing features and modules. If reuse is adopted, logically then, it will have a direct impact on a system's evolution. However, the evidence in the literature is not clear on the extent to which reuse is practiced in real-world projects, nor how it is practiced. In this paper we report the results of an investigation of reuse and evolution of software features in one of the largest open-source ecosystems - Eclipse. Eclipse provides a leading example of how a system can grow dramatically in size and number of features while maintaining its quality. Our results demonstrate the extent of feature reuse and evolution and also patterns of reuse across ten different Eclipse releases (from Europa to Neon).
Internet Search Alters Intra- and Inter-regional Synchronization in the Temporal Gyrus

Internet search changed the way we store and recall information and possibly altered our brain functions. Previous studies suggested that Internet search facilitates the information-acquisition process. However, this process may cause individuals to lose the ability to store and recollect specific contents. Despite the numerous behavioral studies conducted in this field, little is known about the neural mechanisms underlying Internet searches. The present study explores potential brain activity changes induced by Internet search. The whole paradigm includes three phases, namely, pre-resting state fMRI (rs-fMRI) scan, 6-day Internet search training, and post rs-fMRI scan. We detected the functional integrations induced by Internet search training by comparing post- with pre-scan. Regional homogeneity (ReHo) and functional connectivity (FC) were used to detect intra- and interregional synchronized activity in 42 university students. Compared with pre-scan, post-scan showed decreased ReHo in the temporal gyrus, the middle frontal gyrus, and the postcentral gyrus. Further seed-based FC analysis showed that the temporal gyrus exhibited decreased FC in the parahippocampal cortex and the temporal gyrus after training. Based on the features of current task and functions exhibited by these brain regions, results indicate that short-term Internet search training changed the brain regional activities involved in memory retrieval. In general, this study provides evidence that supports the idea that Internet search can affect our brain functions.
Neuroendocrine, Cardiovascular, and Emotional Responses of Hostile Men: The Role of Interpersonal Challenge

Objective We examined the effects of hostility and harassment on neuroendocrine, cardiovascular, and emotional responses in 52 healthy white men. Methods Subjects were preselected on the basis of scores in the top and bottom quartiles (above 23 and below 15, respectively) on the Cook and Medley Hostility (Ho) scale. Subjects participated in a solvable anagram task. Thirty subjects were harassed by the technician during the task. Results Harassed subjects with high Ho scores exhibited enhanced and prolonged blood pressures, heart rate, forearm blood flow, forearm vascular resistance, norepinephrine, testosterone, and cortisol responses relative to low-Ho subjects in the harassed condition and high and low-Ho subjects in the nonharassed condition. Heightened physiological reactivity in high-Ho subjects was correlated with arousal of negative affects. Conclusions The findings are consistent with the general hypothesis that high hostile men show excessive behaviorally-induced cardiovascular and neuroendocrine responsivity to interpersonal challenging situations. Moreover, in high-Ho men, the stress-induced cardiovascular and neuroendocrine hyperreactivity is associated with the arousal of negative affects such as anger.
Combining web‐based tools for transparent evaluation of data for risk assessment: developmental effects of bisphenol A on the mammary gland as a case study

Different tools have been developed that facilitate systematic and transparent evaluation and handling of toxicity data in the risk assessment process. The present paper sets out to explore the combined use of two web‐based tools for study evaluation and identification of reliable data relevant to health risk assessment. For this purpose, a case study was performed using in vivo toxicity studies investigating low‐dose effects of bisphenol A on mammary gland development. The reliability of the mammary gland studies was evaluated using the Science in Risk Assessment and Policy (SciRAP) criteria for toxicity studies. The Health Assessment Workspace Collaborative (HAWC) was used for characterizing and visualizing the mammary gland data in terms of type of effects investigated and reported, and the distribution of these effects within the dose interval. It was then investigated whether there was any relationship between study reliability and the type of effects reported and/or their distribution in the dose interval. The combination of the SciRAP and HAWC tools allowed for transparent evaluation and visualization of the studies investigating developmental effects of BPA on the mammary gland. The use of these tools showed that there were no apparent differences in the type of effects and their distribution in the dose interval between the five studies assessed as most reliable and the whole data set. Combining the SciRAP and HAWC tools was found to be a useful approach for evaluating in vivo toxicity studies and identifying reliable and sensitive information relevant to regulatory risk assessment of chemicals. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
MULTICOMPONENT Fe-BASED AMORPHOUS ALLOYS WITH WIDE SUPERCOOLED LIQUID REGION

The ferromagnetic amorphous Fe-(Nb)-Al-Ge-P-C-B alloys with a wide supercooled liquid region before crystallization were successfully prepared. The effect of Nb addition on the thermal stability of the supercooled liguid, glass-forming ability (GFA) and soft magnetic properties was examined. The increases in the thermal stability and GFA were recognized in the replacements of Al by 1 to 3% (atomic fraction) Nb. The Fe-based amorphous alloys exhibit good magnetic properties with high saturation magnetization and low saturated magnetostriction. The coercive force is lowered and the soft magnetism is improved by annealing treatment just below the crystallization onset temperature. However, the crystallization leads to an obvious decrease in the soft magnetic properties. The Fe-based amorphous alloys exhibit a correspondence between the wide supercooled liquid region and good soft magnetic properties.
Selective Processing of Food– and Body–Related Information and Autonomic Arousal in Patients with Eating Disorders

Both attentional bias (using the modified Stroop Task) and autonomic reactivity (skin conductance level) to food- and body-related information were assessed in 25 patients with eating disorders (15 patients with anorexia, 10 patients with bulimia) and 18 women controls. Patients with anorexia showed the greatest interference in color-naming food-related words. However, on this occasion there were no differences in body condition, probably because of heterogeneity of clinical samples and because the control group were staff members, so the target information was very familiar to them. The groups differed in their autonomic reactivity while performing the Stroop, the patients with anorexia responded with higher skin conductance (p < .036). The discussion focuses on the differential profiles shown by samples and on the relationship between cognitive biases and autonomic arousal reactivity. Se evaluó el sesgo atencional (Tarea de Stroop Modificado) y la reactividad autonómica (Nivel de conductancia de la piel) a la información relacionada con comida y cuerpo en 25 pacientes con trastornos alimentarios (15 anoréxicas y 10 bulímicas) y en 18 mujeres normales. Las anoréxicas mostraron la mayor interferencia al nombrar el color de las palabras relacionadas con la comida, aunque las diferencias no resultaron significativas en cuanto a las palabras relacionadas con el cuerpo. Probablemente este resultado puede deberse tanto a la heterogeneidad de las muestras clínicas como a que el grupo control estaba compuesto por personal del hospital, por lo que la información presentada era igualmente familiar para todos ellos. Los grupos se mostraron diferentes en su reactividad autonómica mientras realizaban la tarea Stroop, siendo las anoréxicas las que mostraron una mayor activación (p < .036). Se analizan los perfiles diferenciales exhibidos por las distintas muestras, así como la relación entre sesgos cognitivos y reactividad autonómica.
A comprehensive function analysis of LMO2 in different breast cancer subtypes

Breast cancer is the most common invasive cancer in women worldwide, and can be subdivided into Luminal A, Luminal B, Her2, and Basal subtype (the PAM50 subtyping system). The lmo2 gene was traditionally recognized as a proto-oncogene in hematopoietic system but its functions in breast cancers remained largely unclear. Based on the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer dataset, herein we found that the significantly LMO2-correlated genes in normal or malignant samples were enriched in rather divergent cellular pathways, suggesting the function complexity of LMO2 in breast tissues. Moreover, high LMO2 expression level was found to predict a shorter patient survival in Luminal A type whereas a better outcome in Her2 type. Correspondingly, LMO2 also revealed function diversities in different PAM50 subtypes. In Luminal A type, the LMO2 related genes were primarily enriched in cancer-promoting pathways, including VEGF production, stemness, PPAR signal pathways, MAPK cascade and cell cycle regulation. In Her2 type however, the LMO2 related genes lacked the enrichment on most of the generally cancer-related pathways and were particularly enriched in negative regulation of ErbB pathway as well as MAPK cascade, suggesting a potentially anti-oncogenic role of LMO2 on this subtype. Taken together, this study drew a comprehensive overview of divergent functions of LMO2 on breast cancers, provided additional evidence for the function complexity of LMO2 in solid tumors and suggested the potential usage of LMO2 as a PAM50 subtype dependent biomarker for breast cancer clinic in the precision medicine era.
Systematic Review of the Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of Rapid Endovascular Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose— Rapid endovascular therapy (EVT) is an emerging treatment option for acute ischemic stroke. Several economic evaluations have been published examining the cost-effectiveness of EVT, and many international bodies are currently making adoption decisions. The objective of this study was to establish the cost-effectiveness of EVT for ischemic stroke patients and to synthesize all the publicly available economic literature. Methods— A systematic review of the published literature was conducted to identify economic evaluations and cost analyses of EVT for acute ischemic stroke patients. Systematic review best practices were followed, and study quality was assessed. Results— Four-hundred sixty-three articles were identified from electronic databases. After deduplication, abstract review, and full-text review, 17 studies were included. Seven of the studies were cost analyses, and 10 were cost-effectiveness studies. Generally, the cost analyses reported on the cost of the approach/procedure or the hospitalization costs associated with EVT. All of the cost-effectiveness studies reported a cost per quality-adjusted life year as the primary outcomes. Studies varied in regards to the costs considered, the perspective adopted, and the time horizon used. All the studies reported a cost per quality-adjusted life year of <$50 000 as the primary outcome. Conclusions— There is a robust body of evidence for the cost and cost-effectiveness of EVT. The cost analyses suggested that although EVT was associated with higher costs, it also resulted in improved patient outcomes. From the cost-effectiveness studies, EVT seems to be good value for money when a threshold of $50 000 per quality-adjusted life year gained is adopted.
Hierarchical radio resource optimization for heterogeneous networks with dynamic ABS

Interference is a major performance bottleneck in Heterogeneous Network (HetNet). The LTE-A working groups are actively studying enhanced inter-cell interference coordination (eICIC) techniques such as almost blank subframes (ABS). We propose a two timescale hierarchical radio resource management (RRM) scheme for HetNet with dynamic ABS control. The long term controls, such as dynamic ABS, are adaptive to the large scale fading at a RRM server for interference control. The short term control (user scheduling) is adaptive to the local channel state information (CSI) within each BS to exploit the multi-user diversity. Such hierarchical RRM has low signaling overhead, good scalability, and robustness w.r. t. latency of the backhaul signaling. The two timescale optimization problem is challenging due to the exponentially large solution space. We exploit the sparsity in the HetNet interference graph and derive structural properties for the optimal ABS control. Based on that, we propose a two timescale alternative optimization solution which has low complexity and is asymptotically optimal at high SNR.
Sensitivity of Virulence Gene Loa22 in a Multiplex PCR for Detection of Canine Leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease caused by spirochetes of the genus Leptospira that affects human and a wide range of animals. The direct method of diagnosis of leptospirosis, has been by Microscopic agglutination test and isolation methods, but these are time consuming and potentially biohazardous. To overcome these limitations we developed a multiple PCR assay targeting virulence gene Loa 22, and lipopolysaccharide genes LipL32 and LipL 21.The virulence gene Loa 22 was found to be highly conserved among all reference serogroups and canine sera screened . The sensitivity of the virulence marker that abides the molecular koch’s postulates to be used as a diagnostic marker is reported. This simple, rapid and cost‐effective method of multiplexing can be applicable in a prediction system for effective diagnosis of Leptospirosis among canines. Keywords-Leptospira, Multiplex PCR, Lipopolysaccharides, Virulence gene
Specifying and Enforcing High-Level Semantic Obligation Policies

Obligation policies specify management actions that must be performed when a particular kind of event occurs and certain conditions are satisfied. Large scale distributed systems often produce event streams containing large volumes of low-level events. In many cases, these streams also contain multimedia data (consisting of text, audio or video). Hence, a key challenge is to allow policy writers to specify obligation policies based on high-level events, that may be derived after performing appropriate processing on raw, low-level events. In this paper, we propose a semantic obligation policy specification language called Eagle, which is based on patterns of high-level events, represented as RDF graph patterns. Our policy enforcement architecture uses a compiler that builds a workflow for producing a stream of events, which match the high-level event pattern specified in a policy. This workflow consists of a number of event sources and event processing components, which are described semantically. We present the policy language and enforcement architecture in this paper.
The functional highly sensitive brain: a review of the brain circuits underlying sensory processing sensitivity and seemingly related disorders

During the past decade, research on the biological basis of sensory processing sensitivity (SPS)—a genetically based trait associated with greater sensitivity and responsivity to environmental and social stimuli—has burgeoned. As researchers try to characterize this trait, it is still unclear how SPS is distinct from seemingly related clinical disorders that have overlapping symptoms, such as sensitivity to the environment and hyper-responsiveness to incoming stimuli. Thus, in this review, we compare the neural regions implicated in SPS with those found in fMRI studies of—Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Schizophrenia (SZ) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) to elucidate the neural markers and cardinal features of SPS versus these seemingly related clinical disorders. We propose that SPS is a stable trait that is characterized by greater empathy, awareness, responsivity and depth of processing to salient stimuli. We conclude that SPS is distinct from ASD, SZ and PTSD in that in response to social and emotional stimuli, SPS differentially engages brain regions involved in reward processing, memory, physiological homeostasis, self-other processing, empathy and awareness. We suggest that this serves species survival via deep integration and memory for environmental and social information that may subserve well-being and cooperation. This article is part of the theme issue ‘Diverse perspectives on diversity: multi-disciplinary approaches to taxonomies of individual differences’.