Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Corticospinal Tract: A Biomarker to Categorize Upper Limb Functional Potential in Unilateral Cerebral Palsy

Children with unilateral cerebral palsy (CP) typically present with largely divergent upper limb sensorimotor deficits and individual differences in response to upper limb rehabilitation. This review summarizes how early brain damage can cause dramatic deviations from the normal anatomy of sensory and motor tracts, resulting in unique “wiring patterns” of the sensorimotor system in CP. Based on the existing literature, we suggest that corticospinal tract (CST) anatomy and integrity constrains sensorimotor function of the upper limb and potentially also the response to treatment. However, it is not possible to infer CST (re)organization from clinical presentation alone and conventional biomarkers, such as time of insult, location, and lesion extent seem to have limited clinical utility. Here, we propose a theoretical framework based on a detailed examination of the motor system using behavioral, neurophysiological, and magnetic resonance imaging measures, akin to those used to predict potential for upper limb recovery of adults after stroke. This theoretical framework might prove useful because it provides testable hypotheses for future research with the goal to develop and validate a clinical assessment flowchart to categorize children with unilateral CP.
Chronic illness burden and quality of life in an aging HIV population

Abstract The population of persons living with HIV (PLWH) is growing older and more prone to developing other chronic health conditions. Disease progression has been shown to be related to quality of life (QoL). However, descriptions of chronic comorbid illnesses and the unique QoL challenges of older adults living with HIV are not well understood and have not been examined in multiple geographic locations. About 452 PLWH aged 50 years or older were recruited from AIDS Service Organizations in nine states. Participants completed a telephone survey that included measures of other chronic health conditions, perceived stress, depression, and health-related quality of life. As much as 94% of the sample reported a chronic health condition in addition to HIV (mode = 2). The highest reported conditions were hypertension, chronic pain, hepatitis, and arthritis. Despite relatively high rates of depression, overall QoL was moderately high for the sample. Physical functioning was most impacted by the addition of other chronic health problems. Social functioning, mental health functioning, stress, and depression were also strongly associated with chronic disease burden. Additional chronic health problems are the norm for PLWH aged 50 years and older. QoL is significantly related to the addition of chronic health problems. As increasing numbers of PLWH reach older age, this raises challenges for providing comprehensive healthcare to older PLWH with multiple chronic conditions.
Eigenvalues of products of unitary matrices and quantum Schubert calculus

We describe the inequalities on the possible eigenvalues of products of unitary matrices in terms of quantum Schubert calculus. Related problems are the existence of flat connections on the punctured two-sphere with prescribed holonomies, and the decomposition of fusion product of representations of SU(n), in the large level limit. In the second part of the paper we investigate how various aspects of the problem (symmetry, factorization) relate to properties of the Gromov-Witten invariants.
An adaptive niching EDA based on clustering analysis

Estimation of Distribution Algorithms (EDAs) still suffer from the drawback of premature convergence for solving the optimization problems with irregular and complex multimodal landscapes. In this paper, we propose an adaptive niching EDA based on Affinity Propagation (AP) clustering analysis. The AP clustering is used to adaptively partition the niches and mine searching information from the evolution process. The obtained information is successfully utilized to improve the EDA performance by a balance niching searching strategy. Two different categories of optimization problems are used to evaluate the proposed adaptive niching EDA. The first is the continuous EDA based on single Gaussian probabilistic model to solve two benchmark functional multimodal optimization problems. The second is a real complicated discrete EDA optimization problem, the protein 3-D HP model based on k-order Markov probabilistic model. The experiment studies demonstrate that the proposed adaptive niching EDA is an efficient method.
Functional Genetic Approach Identifies MET, HER3, IGF1R, INSR Pathways as Determinants of Lapatinib Unresponsiveness in HER2-Positive Gastric Cancer

Purpose: Targeting human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) therapy is currently considered as the standard treatment for HER2-positive (HER2+) advanced gastric cancer. However, as seen in recent clinical trials, most of HER2+ gastric cancer are actually unresponsive to HER2-targeted agents, including lapatinib. The aim of this study is to identify the responsible receptor tyrosine kinases (RTK) potentially conferring lapatinib unresponsiveness in HER2+ gastric cancer and elucidate the molecular mechanism underlying this RTKs-induced resistance. Experimental Design: A functional RNAi screen targeting human RTKs and related growth factors was used to identify candidate RTKs conferring lapatinib unresponsiveness in HER2+ gastric cancer cells. Independent siRNAs transfection and corresponding ligands supplement were performed to validate the effects of candidate RTKs on lapatinib sensitivity. Cross-talks of pathways involved were analyzed via Western blot analysis. Cell apoptosis and cell motility were detected using FACS system and Transwell assay. Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze protein expression in clinical samples. Results: MET, HER3, insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1R, and INSR were identified to mediate lapatinib unresponsiveness in HER2+ gastric cancer cells. Activation of these bypass RTKs attenuated lapatinib-induced apoptosis and suppression of cell motility, mechanistically because of restimulating the shared downstream AKT or ERK signaling, as well as restimulating WNT signaling and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT)–like process. Patients' specimens revealed that these unresponsiveness-conferring RTKs were particularly enriched in the majority of patients with HER2+ gastric cancer. Conclusions: MET, HER3, IGF1R, and INSR pathways activation represent novel mechanism underlying lapatinib unresponsiveness in HER2+ gastric cancer. Combination strategy may be recommended in treating patients with HER2+ gastric cancer with these pathways activation. Clin Cancer Res; 20(17); 4559–73. ©2014 AACR.
In-flight calibration of the ISGRI camera

ISGRI, the IBIS low energy camera (15 keV - 1 MeV) on board INTEGRAL, is the first large CdTe gamma-ray imager in orbit. We present here an overview of the ISGRI in-flight calibrations performed during the first months after launch. We discuss the stability of the camera as well as the CdTe pixels response under cosmic radiation. The energy calibrations were done using lead and tungsten fluorescence lines and the $\mathrm{^{22}Na}$ calibration unit. Thermal effects and charge correction algorithm are discussed, and the resulting energy resolution is presented. The ISGRI background spatial and spectral non-uniformity is also described, and some image correction results are presented.
Differential Dependence on GluR2 Expression of Three Characteristic Features of AMPA Receptors

The GluR2 subunit controls three key features of ion flux through the AMPA subtype of glutamate receptors—calcium permeability, inward rectification, and channel block by external polyamines, but whether each of these features is equally sensitive to GluR2 abundance is unknown. The relations among these properties were compared in native AMPA receptors expressed by acutely isolated hippocampal interneurons and in recombinant receptors expressed by Xenopusoocytes. The shape of current–voltage (I–V) relations between −100 and +50 mV for either recombinant or native AMPA receptors was well described by a Woodhull block model in which the affinity for internal polyamine varied over a 1000-fold range in different cells. In oocytes injected with mixtures of GluR2:non-GluR2 mRNA, the relative abundance of GluR2 required to reduce the log of internal blocker affinity by 50% was two- to fourfold higher than that needed to half-maximally reduce divalent permeability or channel block by external polyamines. Likewise, in interneurons the affinity of externally applied argiotoxin for its blocking site was a steep function of internal blocker affinity. These results indicate that the number of GluR2 subunits in AMPA receptors is variable in both oocytes and interneurons. More GluR2 subunits in an AMPA receptor are required to maximally reduce internal blocker affinity than to abolish calcium permeability or external polyamine channel block. Accordingly, single-cell RT-PCR showed that approximately one-half of the physiologically characterized interneurons exhibiting inwardly rectifying AMPA receptors expressed detectable levels of edited GluR2. The physiological effects of a moderate change in GluR2 relative abundance, such as occurs after ischemia or seizures or after chronic exposure to morphine, thus will be dependent on the ambient GluR2 level in a cell-specific manner.
Developing Students' Prosocial Behavior based on their Value Orientations

-The purpose of this study was to develop new guidance model, namely “Prosocial Guidance Model”. Developing students’ prosocial behavior is a very important program in the living situation that increasingly complicated, individualistic, and hedonistic. In this study, 250 Junior High School students over West Kalimantan were involved as a participant. Inventory of prosocial and inventory of value orientation was used as a research instrument. The distribution of frequency and analysis of variance was used to data analysis. The findings indicate that: (1) The Junior High School students’ prosocial behavior was on the “lower level” over all its aspects accept “collaboration” aspect. There was no difference viewed from school differences. (2) The Junior High School students’ value orientations were on the “moderate” level. The dominant value was “religious value” and “solidarity value” that they were on the “high level. ” (3) Based on the Effect Size, the “solidarity value” and “art value” were having a significant effect on the students’ prosocial behavior (ES= .69 and .50). Keywords—prosocial, altruism, value orientation, individual factors, situational factors, guidance model
Estimation of rare events probabilities in computer experiments

We are interested in estimating probabilities of rare events in the context of computer experiments. These rare events depend on the output of a physical model with random input variables. Since the model is only known through an expensive black box function, standard efficient Monte Carlo estimates of rare events probabilities can not be used. We then propose two strategies to deal with this difficulty: a Bayesian estimate and an importance sampling method. Both proposals rely on Kriging metamodeling and are able to achieve sharp upper confidence bounds on the rare events probabilities. The variability due to the Kriging metamodeling step is properly taking into account. The proposed methodologies are applied to a toy example and a real case study which consists of finding an upper bound of the probability that the trajectory of an airborne load collides the aircraft that has released it.
From Juvenile to Adult Offender : An Investigation into the Determinants of Juvenile Arrests and the Relationship between Juvenile and Adult Arrests

This paper investigates the determinants of juvenile delinquency and the relationship between juvenile and adult arrests. An ordered probit model for juvenile arrest is estimated separately for males and females. The results for males and females indicate that juvenile arrests are more likely for non-whites and for those who leave education early. Males and females behave differently, in that males are more likely to be repeat offenders. A treatment effects model is used to estimate juvenile and adult arrest equations jointly for males. This shows that the effect of juvenile arrest on adult arrest is largest for white men and men with fewer years of schooling. † We would like to thank Tim Fry for helpful discussion and suggestions. The Economics department at the University of Adelaide provided funding for travel and accommodation for us to work jointly on this project. Jenny Williams thanks the Economics department at the University of Illinois at Chicago for hosting her while part of this paper was written. Responsibility for any errors remains with the authors.
Focused Ultrasound-Induced Blood–Brain Barrier Opening to Enhance Temozolomide Delivery for Glioblastoma Treatment: A Preclinical Study

The purpose of this study is to assess the preclinical therapeutic efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-monitored focused ultrasound (FUS)-induced blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption to enhance Temozolomide (TMZ) delivery for improving Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) treatment. MRI-monitored FUS with microbubbles was used to transcranially disrupt the BBB in brains of Fisher rats implanted with 9L glioma cells. FUS-BBB opening was spectrophotometrically determined by leakage of dyes into the brain, and TMZ was quantitated in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma by LC-MS\MS. The effects of treatment on tumor progression (by MRI), animal survival and brain tissue histology were investigated. Results demonstrated that FUS-BBB opening increased the local accumulation of dyes in brain parenchyma by 3.8-/2.1-fold in normal/tumor tissues. Compared to TMZ alone, combined FUS treatment increased the TMZ CSF/plasma ratio from 22.7% to 38.6%, reduced the 7-day tumor progression ratio from 24.03 to 5.06, and extended the median survival from 20 to 23 days. In conclusion, this study provided preclinical evidence that FUS BBB-opening increased the local concentration of TMZ to improve the control of tumor progression and animal survival, suggesting its clinical potential for improving current brain tumor treatment.
Using Fuzzy Set as a Controller on the Lateral Dynamic of Autopilot to Reducing the Effect of the Atmospheric Disturbance

In this paper, used fuzzy set as a controller to control roll and yaw angles in lateral dynamic of the autopilot system for jet transport using MATLAB/SIMULINK. Autopilot systems are complex devices that demand exact control and stability. In this paper explained the lateral dynamic on automatic pilot and studied the effect of atmospheric disturbances on the stability then designed the fuzzy set controller to reduce three type of disturbance which faced the pilot during the flight .
Computational analysis of target hub gene repression regulated by multiple and cooperative miRNAs

MicroRNA (miRNA) target hubs are genes that can be simultaneously targeted by a comparatively large number of miRNAs, a class of non-coding RNAs that mediate post-transcriptional gene repression. Although the details of target hub regulation remain poorly understood, recent experiments suggest that pairs of miRNAs can cooperate if their binding sites reside in close proximity. To test this and other hypotheses, we established a novel approach to investigate mechanisms of collective miRNA repression. The approach presented here combines miRNA target prediction and transcription factor prediction with data from the literature and databases to generate a regulatory map for a chosen target hub. We then show how a kinetic model can be derived from the regulatory map. To validate our approach, we present a case study for p21, one of the first experimentally proved miRNA target hubs. Our analysis indicates that distinctive expression patterns for miRNAs, some of which interact cooperatively, fine-tune the features of transient and long-term regulation of target genes. With respect to p21, our model successfully predicts its protein levels for nine different cellular functions. In addition, we find that high abundance of miRNAs, in combination with cooperativity, can enhance noise buffering for the transcription of target hubs.
Tsai camera calibration enhanced

The rise of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles for surveying and sensing tasks have created new challenges for quick calibration of sensing systems, which we feel is a critical issue. In this context, calibration is performed often and needs to be achieved as quickly as possible. An approach with minimal user-interaction, which preserves sensing accuracy would be ideal. We propose a version of Tsai's camera calibration with an improved distortion model and two non-linear optimization phases to calibrate our UAV equipped with a stereo-camera system. We trialled our proposed calibration approach against three known reconstruction pipelines: an un-calibrated pipeline, a pipeline calibrated using Zhang's approach and a pipeline calibrated using Tsai's original approach. Our findings indicate that our approach has competitive accuracy, while requiring far less user-interaction than Zhang's approach.
Investigating the Presence and Correlates of Anti-Thin Bias in Adults

INVESTIGATING THE PRESENCE AND CORRELATES OF ANTI-THIN BIAS IN ADULTS By: Alexandria Davies, B.A. A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science at Virginia Commonwealth University. Virginia Commonwealth University, 2018 Director: Suzanne Mazzeo, Ph.D. Professor of Psychology Weight stigma is associated with negative health outcomes across the BMI continuum. However, few studies have examined weight discrimination targeting people with low body weights. This investigation explored the presence of anti-thin bias, defined as the belief that people with low BMIs have undesirable personality characteristics. Participants were randomly assigned to read one of six vignettes about women that differed by race (White and Black) and weight status (slightly underweight, normal weight, and slightly overweight). Negative personality characteristics were more likely to be ascribed to both underweight and overweight women, compared with normal weight women. Furthermore, participants were significantly more likely to attribute underweight women’s body weight to biological factors. Results indicate that underweight women might be more stigmatized for their body weight than normal weight women. Weight bias literature should continue to research the impact of weight discrimination for individuals across the BMI spectrum.
AKT1 Gene Polymorphisms and Obstetric Complications in the Patients with Schizophrenia

Objective We performed a genetic association study with schizophrenic patients to investigate whether the V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1 (AKT1) gene plays a role in obstetric complications. Methods One-hundred-eighty patients with schizophrenia (male, 113; female, 67) were included. All patients fulfilled DSM-IV criteria for schizophrenia. Obstetric complications were measured by the Lewis scale. Prenatal and perinatal information was retrospectively collected from the patients' mothers. We selected six single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the AKT1 gene: SNP1 (rs3803300), SNP2 (rs1130214), SNP3 (rs3730358), SNP4 (rs 1130233), SNP5 (rs2494732), and SNPA (rs2498804). The genotype data were analyzed for an association with the Lewis total score in terms of allele, genotype, and haplotype distribution. Results The mean total Lewis scores were 1.30±1.61 for males and 1.54±1.87 for females. Higher total score tended to be correlated with an earlier age of onset of schizophrenia in females. In the total sample, no SNP was associated with obstetric complications. However, the additional analyses for male and female subgroups found a significant association between SNPA and SNP4 and Lewis score in females (p=0.02 for SNPA, p=0.04 for SNP4). The SNP5-SNPA haplotype showed a positive association with obstetric complications (p=0.03) in the female patient group. Conclusion We found an association between SNPs in the AKT1 gene and total Lewis score measuring obstetric complications in female patients with schizophrenia. Because these findings did not survive a correction for multiple testing, the significance should be interpreted carefully and replication studies are required.
Drawing on LGB Identity to Encourage Participation and Disclosure of Sexual Orientation in Surveys

ABSTRACT This paper reports an experiment that tested how three survey cover designs – images of traditional families and individuals displaying themselves in typical gender ways; images of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) and heterosexual individuals and families; and no cover images – affected LGB people’s participation and disclosure of LGB identity and non-LGB people’s participation. Analyses showed the LGB-inclusive cover led to significantly more LGB respondents than the other designs, without significantly affecting the demographic, political, and religious makeup of the completed sample. We discuss what these findings mean for addressing two challenges: getting LGB people to respond to surveys and to disclose their LGB identity.
Blind collision detection and obstacle characterisation using a compliant robotic arm

This paper presents a novel blind collision detection and material characterisation scheme for a compliant robotic arm. By the incorporation of a simple MEMS accelerometer at each joint, the robot is able to detect collision, identify the material of an obstacle, and create a map of the environment. Detailed hardware design is provided, illustrating its value for building a compact and economical robot platform. The proposed method does not require the additional use of vision sensor for mapping the environment, and hence is termed as `blind' collision detection and environment mapping. Based on the shock wave and vibration signals, the proposed algorithm is able to classify a range of materials encountered. Detailed laboratory evaluation was performed with controlled obstacle collision from different orientation and locations with varying force and materials. The proposed method has achieved 98% detection sensitivity while maintaining 77% specificity. Furthermore, by using sound feature extraction and machine learning techniques, the classifier produces an accuracy of 98% for classifying four different impact materials. In this paper, we also demonstrate its use for detailed environment mapping by using the proposed method.
An ontology based scheme for sensor description in context awareness system

Sensor networks have been developed with an exponential speed in the last few decades. Sensor nodes are deployed to collect information for environmental monitoring, traffic control, civil information construction and other context awareness systems. The existing problems for sensor networks are sensor management and data sharing between sensors. Different ontology development methodologies and frameworks have been proposed by many research groups in various areas. They all agree that ontology is an adequate methodology to model sensors and their features, and allows data to be processed by machines. This paper proposes an ontology based scheme for describing sensors and their features. The suggested ontology is implemented using Protégé 4.3 and eventually evaluated utilizing the SPARQL language (Simple Protocol and RDF Query Language). The effectiveness of the presented ontology is proved by applying it to a building management system.