Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Multimodal analysis of the serotonergic neurotransmitter system

Aim: In this thesis different aspects regarding multimodal analysis at voxellevel within the field of neuroimaging was investigated. The focus was on preprocessing of image data, data modeling, data analysis, and interpretation of results. Materials/methods: A review of the theory behind both the univariate general linear model (GLM) and the multivariate approaches, principal component anlaysis (PCA), partial least squares (PLS) and canonical correlation analysis (CCA) was given. Furthermore, the multivariate methods were formulated in a computationally efficient way that facilitates their application to large neuroimaging data sets. A novel thresholding strategy for quantified PET images was proposed as an additional part of the preprocessing pipeline. This may reduce the impact of quantification noise to a voxel-level analysis of quantified PET images. An extensive analysis of a data set acquired from healthy subjects was performed. The data set originated from the CIMBI project, and included positron emission tomography (PET) images of the serotonin receptor subtype 5HT2A and the serotonin transporter (5HTT), as well as structural magnetic resonance (MR) images. Results: In a conventional unimodal analysis no associations between the five NEO-PI-R personality dimensions and 5HT2A receptor binding (BP) were observed. A strong global negative correlation between 5HT2A BP and age was observed. The widespread spatial distribution in this negative relationship was dramatically reduced when gray matter (GM) concentrationwas included as a voxel-wise covariate. In a multivariate multimodal approach PLS was applied in an analysis of 5HT2A BP in conjunction with GM concentration and of 5HT2A BP in conjunction with 5HTT BP, respectively. In both analyses a latent variable associated with the PLS model was found to be highly correlated with age. Conclusion: Even though the integration of more modalities into a single analysis is in the very beginning, this thesis outlined some widespread future possibilities and challenges.
Role of ability and prior knowledge in complex training performance.

A causal model of the role of general cognitive ability and prior job knowledge in subsequent job-knowledge acquisition and work-sample performance during training was developed. Participants were 3,428 U.S. Air Force officers in pilot training. The measures of ability and prior job knowledge came from the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test. The measures of job knowledge acquired during training were derived from classroom grades. Work-sample measures came from check flight ratings. The causal model showed that ability directly influenced the acquisition of job knowledge. General cognitive ability influenced work samples through job knowledge. Prior job knowledge had almost no influence on subsequent job knowledge but directly influenced the early work sample. Early training job knowledge influenced subsequent job knowledge and work-sample performance. Finally, early work-sample performance strongly influenced subsequent work-sample performance.
[Comparative study of the cost/effectiveness of surgical wash with various antiseptics].

BACKGROUND "Surgical scrub" of the hands and arms is a fundamental procedure for reducing infection risk. We undertook this study in order to compare different antiseptics and their microbicidal effects, costs and times of the procedures. METHODS Thirty students followed the surgical scrub procedure using benzalkonium chloride. Seven days later the students used povidone-iodine and, 7 days after that, they used chlorhexidine/alcohol. After the surgical scrub, cultures were obtained from the palms of their hands and from their nail beds. The students wore sterile gloves, which were removed 30 min later to obtain new cultures from the same sites. The cost of the products was calculated in Mexican pesos and the time of each procedure was measured in minutes. RESULTS There was a statistically significant difference in the number of colony-forming units (CFUs). The number of CFUs was lower in the groups of students who used chlorhexidine/alcohol and povidone-iodine as compared to the benzalkonium chloride group. There was no difference between chlorhexidine/alcohol and povidone-iodine. Costs were higher for povidone-iodine and benzalkonium chloride compared to chlorhexidine/alcohol. Procedure times were similar with povidone-iodine and benzalkonium chloride but the time was reduced approximately five times when using chlorhexidine/alcohol. CONCLUSIONS It is a proven fact that the lack of surgical scrub favors wound infections, longer hospital stays and increased costs. Therefore, further studies are needed to determine the best antiseptic according to cost/benefit. Chlorhexidine/alcohol proved to be the superior antiseptic in terms of cost/benefit compared to povidone-iodine and benzalkonium chloride.
International Norm Dynamics and Political Change

Norms have never been absent from the study of international politics, but the sweeping “ideational turn” in the 1980s and 1990s brought them back as a central theoretical concern in the field. Much theorizing about norms has focused on how they create social structure, standards of appropriateness, and stability in international politics. Recent empirical research on norms, in contrast, has examined their role in creating political change, but change processes have been less well-theorized. We induce from this research a variety of theoretical arguments and testable hypotheses about the role of norms in political change. We argue that norms evolve in a three-stage “life cycle” of emergence, “norm cascades,” and internalization, and that each stage is governed by different motives, mechanisms, and behavioral logics. We also highlight the rational and strategic nature of many social construction processes and argue that theoretical progress will only be made by placing attention on the connections between norms and rationality rather than by opposing the two.
Positive stabilization of infinite-dimensional linear systems

The main goal of this paper is to give a short tutorial on the positivity and the positive stabilization of infinite dimensional linear systems together with some new points of view and perspectives. Algebraic conditions of positivity for dynamical systems defined on an ordered Banach space whose positive cone has an empty interior are derived. The positive stabilization problem for linear infinite-dimensional systems is also addressed. Sufficient conditions are established to stabilize positively a class of distributed parameter systems, such that the closed loop system is stable and positive.
Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection Down-Regulates HLA Class 11 Expression and Induces Differentiation in Promonocytic U 937 Cells

Westudied the effect of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on the surface-marker expression of the human promonocytic cell line U937. U937 cells persistently produced HIV as detected by reverse transcriptase activity in culture supernatant. Expression of HLAclass U antigens on U937/HIV cells was decreased 2to 10-fold, depending on the Mab used. Class II expression of U937/HIV cells increased approximately twofold by treatment with r-interferon-'y. Whereas noninfected U937 cells expressed moderate amounts of lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) (CD11a) and minimal amounts of the C3bi receptor (CD11b) and p150/95 (CDI1c), U937/HIV cells expressed moderate amounts of C3bi receptor and p150/ 95 and showed elevated expression of LFA-la (CD1la) and -f (CD18) chains. Expression of these adhesion molecules resulted in strongly enhanced phorbolester-induced aggregation of U937/ HIV cells compared with the noninfected U937 cells. In addition, almost all U937/HIV cells, but not noninfected U937 cells, intensely stained for cytoplasmic nonspc esterase activity. The effects of HIV infection on U937 cells strikingly resemble the effects of differentiation-inducing agents, such as PMAand DMSO,on the U937 phenotype. Our finding suggests that HIV infection, apart from down regulating class II expression, induces differentiation of U937 cells.
Amniotic fluid index values after preterm premature rupture of the membranes and subsequent perinatal infection.

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to determine whether an amniotic fluid index (AFI) <5 cm after preterm premature rupture of the membranes is associated with an increased risk of perinatal infection. STUDY DESIGN We performed a nonconcurrent prospective analysis of 225 singleton pregnancies complicated by preterm premature rupture of the membranes, with delivery between 24 and 32 weeks' gestation. All included patients received 2 doses of betamethasone antenatally, in the first 24 hours after admission, and broad-spectrum antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients were categorized into 2 groups on the basis of a 4-quadrant AFI <5 cm (n = 131) or > or =5 cm (n = 94). Perinatal outcomes analyzed included latency until delivery, mode of delivery, and frequencies of clinical chorioamnionitis, postpartum endometritis, and culture-proved early neonatal sepsis. Continuous data were evaluated for normal distribution and tested for significance with the Student t test. Categoric data were tested with the chi(2) and Fisher exact tests. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed with chorioamnionitis, endometritis, and early-onset neonatal sepsis each as the dependent variable in separate analyses. All 2-sided P values <. 05 were considered significant. RESULTS Both groups were similar with respect to selected demographics, gestational age at rupture of the membranes, birth weight, and maternal group B streptococcal colonization. Patients with an AFI <5 cm demonstrated a shorter mean latency until delivery (5.5 +/- 4.0 vs 14.1 +/- 5.2) (mean +/- SD) days (P =.02), greater frequency of amnioinfusion therapy (23.6% vs 5.3%) (P <.001), and cesarean delivery for nonreassuring fetal testing (18.3% vs 4. 3%) (P =.01). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that an AFI <5 cm was the only significant risk factor independently associated with early-onset neonatal sepsis (P =.004) and chorioamnionitis (P =.024). CONCLUSIONS An AFI <5 cm after preterm premature rupture of the membranes between 24 and 32 weeks' gestation is associated with an increased risk of perinatal infection and a shorter latency preceding delivery.
The Ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi Has a Flow-Through System for Digestion with Three Consecutive Phases of Extracellular Digestion

The ctenophore (comb jelly) Mnemiopsis leidyi is a periodically abundant and voracious predator in U.S. coastal waters. Mnemiopsis leidyi is especially competitive at high prey concentrations because of its very efficient extracellular digestion. We investigated the functional basis for these outstanding digestion capabilities. Extracellular digestion takes place in the pharynx and consists of three distinct and consecutive phases. The three phases take place in different regions of the pharynx so that various prey items can be treated simultaneously in each phase. The first phase is acidic, while the second and the third are alkaline. Extracellular digestion is completed by ciliary currents that mechanically disrupt the predigested food. Bulky indigestible food fragments are expelled through the mouth. Except for a small area, the paths for ingestion and egestion are separate. Hence, both ingestion and egestion can occur simultaneously. The flattened and elongated shape of the pharynx provides the morphological basis for this flow-through system with various regions for different digestive treatments of the food. This system is highly elaborated compared with those of other lower invertebrates and allows for an efficient, fast, and simultaneous digestion of many prey items, which accounts for the outstanding feeding capabilities of M. leidyi.
Robot-assisted smartphone performance testing

This paper describes experiences and lessons learned in applying an approach of using a physical robot for testing overall smartphone device performance based on user profiles. The process consists of capturing user actions, abstracting them to usage profiles, transforming these into test models, and generating test cases from the models. The goal is to support performance testing of touch screen devices and applications in a realistic test environment. To achieve this, the tests are based on real-world generated user profiles and executed using a real physical robot, simulating the actual user. Our performance testing targets different attributes of performance such as response times, power and resource usage, and software/hardware aging. Use of different hardware and software configurations in the test scenarios is considered. This work has been performed in close collaboration with industry partners in robotics provider and user industries.
How do counselling psychologists in the UK construct their responsibilites to the wider world? : a Foucauldian discourse analysis

Counselling psychology’s Professional Practice Guidelines state that "counselling psychologists will consider at all times their responsibilities to the wider world". (Division of Counselling Psychology, 2005, p.7). It is suggested that the way in which counselling psychologists construct their relationship with the wider world could impact on practice, training, research and counselling psychology professional identity. A critique of the extant literature found that this issue has not previously been researched. Five counselling psychologists were asked in semi-structured interviews about their responsibilities to the wider world. Foucauldian Discourse Analysis was applied to the transcript of the interviews. Different constructions of the relationship between counselling psychology and the wider world were identified in the transcript and located in four wider discourses: professionalism, scientific, social activism and guru. Common themes across responsibilities constructed by participants utilising the different discourses included: the wider world being outside of the consulting room; difficulties defining responsibilities; and responsibilities being weighty. Responsibilities to communicate knowledge were constructed using three of the discourses. Both the guru and scientific discourses were mobilised to construct responsibilities to engage with technologies of the self (Foucault, 1988). In contrast the professionalism discourse was used to construct a responsibility to perform to others in order to appear professional. The implications of these constructions for counselling psychology, and the discourses mobilised by participants, are discussed.
Reflecting on Social Emotional Learning: A Critical Perspective on Trends in the United States

This critical cultural analysis of trends in the field of social emotional learning (SEL) in the United States considers how ideas concerning emotional skills and competencies have informed programmatic discourse. While currently stressing links between SEL and academic achievement, program literature also places emphasis on ideals of caring, community, and diversity. However, recommended practices across programs tend to undermine these ideals by focusing on emotional and behavioral control strategies that privilege individualist models of self. SEL in practice thus becomes another way to focus attention on measurement and remediation of individual deficits rather than a way to redirect educators’ focus toward the relational contexts of classrooms and schools. The promise of SEL to foster increased achievement and equity in American education may not be realized unless more work is done to connect ideals with practices and to address the political and cultural assumptions that are being built into contemporary approaches.
Pay and Performance in the University: An Examination of Faculty Salaries

With more attention on productivity in higher education has come a need for improved conceptualizations and policies relating to faculty salaries. Focusing on research universities, this essay examines historical patterns in salaries, recent evidence on salaries, the tenuous connections between salaries and performance, and some thoughts on the role of salaries in effective academic reward systems. The essay's goal is to help leaders craft salary policies that improve productivity in their institutions.
The Two Faces of Radical Right-Wing Populism in Western Europe

During the past several years, radical right-wing populist parties have made impressive electoral gains in a growing number of West European countries. Their dramatic surge to political prominence has obscured the fact that these parties hardly form a homogeneous party group. Generally, it is possible to distinguish between neo-liberal and national populist parties. Both types of parties are a response to the profound economic, social, and cultural transformation of advanced societies interpreted as a transition from industrial welfare to postindustrial individualized capitalism. National populist parties are primarily working-class parties which espouse a radically xenophobic and authoritarian program. Neoliberal parties appeal to a mixed social constituency and tend to stress the marketoriented, libertarian elements of their program over xenophobic ones. Rather than being mere short-lived protest phenomena, radical right-wing populist parties are a reflection and expression of new political conflicts created by the transition to postindustrial capitalism.
Understanding the New Labor Movements in the "Third World": The Emergence of Social Movement Unionism

A new type of trade unionism has emerged in a number of "Third World" countries, which can best be described as "social movement unionism. " This category seeks to understand the role of trade unions in promoting radical social change in a manner that goes beyond both the prevailing "bourgeois" and Leninist conceptions of unions. This paper refines this concept and then applies it to a case study of the Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) Labor Center of the Philippines.
Fault Free Randomized Intrusion Tolerant Protocols

Much of our critical infrastructure is controlled by large software systems whose participants are distributed across the Internet. As our dependence on these critical systems continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important that they meet strict availability and performance requirements, even in the face of malicious attacks, including those that are successful in compromising parts of the system. This paper presents fault free randomized intrusion tolerant protocols and techniques capable of guaranteeing correctness, availability, and good performance even when some of the servers are compromised, enabling the construction of highly available and highly resilient systems for our critical infrastructure.
A Judicious Treatment Approach for the Management of Localized AggressivePeriodontitis: A Case Report

Background: To introduce a judicious treatment modality for Localized Aggressive Periodontitis (LAP) using bone graft with platelet rich fibrin (PRF) for satisfactorily regenerating bone in defect sites. Methods: Preoperative probing pocket depths ranging from 6-8.5 mm were present in relation to the teeth 31 and 46.Clinical attachment levels were recorded to be of same values as pocket depths. Vertical bone defects were found in periapical radiographs of teeth 46 and 31. Management of tooth 46 was done with conventional regenerative techniques but in relation to tooth 31 a customized approach was used due to limited availability for regeneration. Platelet rich fibrin with bone graft was used to regenerate the combined bone defect. Results: Soft tissue healing showed significant improvement in probing pocket depths and clinical attachment levels. (4-4.5 mm) Satisfactory bone fill of 9 mm and 6 mm were achieved in both the sites 31 and 46 respectively at the end of six months which were measured using IOPA grid system. Conclusion: A patient with localized aggressive periodontitis was treated successfully by addressing the key factors such as early diagnosis, elimination of periodontal pathogens and regeneration of the defect sites were accomplished using combination of bone grafts and PRF.
Chapter 7 Approximation algorithms II

We remind the reader that an instance of 3SAT is a boolean formula, for example F = (x 1 + x 2 + x 3)(x 4 + x 1 + x 2), and the decision problem is to decide if the formula has a satisfiable assignment. Interestingly, we can turn this into an optimization problem.
Effect of strong homonuclear proton coupling on localized 13C detection using PRESS

The effect of strong homonuclear proton coupling on 13C incorporation measurements by either indirect or direct means was investigated (and illustrated with glutamate) both numerically and experimentally at 3.0 T. In particular, two sequences were considered, each using a proton PRESS sequence for localization. The indirect 13C detection method incorporated the POCE (proton observe carbon edited) technique onto PRESS, and for direct 13C detection a DEPT (distortionless enhancement by polarization transfer) sequence was appended to the PRESS localization. Both analysis and experiment demonstrate that when strong homonuclear coupling of protons is additional to heteronuclear coupling with 13C spins, the 13C measures derived from either the indirect PRESS‐POCE sequence or the direct‐but‐enhanced PRESS‐DEPT sequence are significantly modified. Specifically, the MR lineshapes of both 13C‐bonded and nonbonded protons are changed during 13C incorporation, giving rise, for example, to a potential cross‐contamination of ≤30% between glutamate 13C3 and 13C4 measures from the PRESS‐POCE indirect method. During direct‐but‐enhanced detection, the DEPT enhancement is reduced for glutamate 13C2, 13C3, and 13C4 but not equally, and the reduction is further exacerbated by proton PRESS localization, which gives rise to enhancements that are strong functions of PRESS TE1 and TE2. Magn Reson Med, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.