Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Beyond reductionism: Refocusing on the individual with individual-based modeling

A s a psychologist, my research focuses on the behavior of individual organisms. Such research often requires the integration of causes at multiple levels of organization to explain, predict, and control behavior (e.g., lower levels include genetic, physiological, hormonal, and neurological causes; upper levels include, group, social, and ecological causes of behavior). A question of fundamental importance is whether focusing on the individual is more than a disciplinary perspective. Do individual organisms hold a special place in our understanding of the world? If so, how can we hope to integrate information from multiple levels of organization into a deeper understanding of the complex behavior of individual organisms? In this essay, I argue that individual organisms do hold a special place in our world. My starting point is the precept that individual organisms are complex systems that are intractable to reductionistic explanation. This does not imply that JEFFREY C. SCHANK
Remission in rheumatoid arthritis: agreement of the disease activity score (DAS28) with the ARA preliminary remission criteria.

OBJECTIVE To determine which cut-off point in the RA disease activity score (DAS28) corresponds to fulfilment of the ARA criteria for clinical remission. METHODS The disease activity of patients included in the Nijmegen RA inception cohort was systematically assessed every 3 months. For all visits, a modification of the ARA preliminary criteria for clinical remission was applied and the DAS28 was calculated. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to determine the cut-off point with maximum sensitivity and specificity in DAS28 corresponding with fulfilment of the modified ARA criteria. RESULTS Three hundred and seventy-eight patients contributed 4378 visits. In 6.5% of the visits four of the five items and in 1.5% all five items of the modified ARA criteria were fulfilled. The optimal cut-off point for the DAS28 that corresponds to fulfilment of the modified ARA criteria was determined to be 2.66. CONCLUSION DAS28 <2.6 corresponds to fulfilment of the preliminary ARA criteria for clinical remission in RA.
Manifold regularization for structured outputs via the joint kernel

By utilizing the label dependencies among both the labeled and unlabeled data, semi-supervised learning often has better generalization performance than supervised learning. In this paper, we extend a popular graph-based semi-supervised learning method, namely, manifold regularization, to structured outputs. This is performed via the joint kernel directly and allows a unified manifold regularization framework for both unstructured and structured data. Experimental results on various data sets with inter-dependent outputs demonstrate the usefulness of manifold information in improving prediction performance.
Angle Specific Analysis of Side-to-Side Asymmetry in the Shoulder Rotators

Abstract: Although side-to-side asymmetry of the shoulder rotators calculated by independent peak torque (IPT) has been used for interpretation of injury risks in athletes, it may not measure strength through the entire range of motion (ROM) tested. The aim of this study was to compare side-to-side asymmetry of the shoulder rotators between independent peak torque (IPT) and ten-degree angle specific torque (AST). Twenty healthy adult males (24.65 ± 2.4 years) performed concentric and eccentric internal rotation (IR) and external rotation (ER) of the preferred and non-preferr ed arms on an isokinetic dynamometer at 60°/s through 150° of total ROM. The total ROM was divided into 14 ten-degree angles of the physiological ROM from −90° of ER to 60° of IR. Concentric and eccentric IR IPT (10.5% ± 8.7% and 12.1% ± 7.2%) and ER IPT (13.6% ± 9.8% and 8.7% ± 5.6%) were significantly less than AST at several angles ( p < 0.05). IPT might lead to erroneous interpretations of side-to-side asymmetry in the shoulder rotators and does not represent the entire ROM tested. This information could be us ed to prescribe strength exercises to enhance overhead performance and reduce risk of shoulder injuries.
The second international workshop on mobile internet user experience

Mobile access to the Internet is increasing but still dominated by early adopters. To attract more users, user experience of mobile Internet needs to be improved. This requires understanding better mobile users and usage contexts to identify the kinds of services that users will be ready to use. In addition to increasing the attractiveness of services, successful user experience also requires improvements in devices and infrastructures such as networks, browsers and proxies and means to find situationally relevant services. This workshop calls developers and researchers of mobile Internet to exchange experiences and ideas how user experience of mobile Internet could be improved.
A review of wildland fire spread modelling, 1990-present 3: Mathematical analogues and simulation models

In recent years, advances in computational power and spatial data analysis (GIS, remote sensing, etc) have led to an increase in attempts to model the spread and behvaiour of wildland fires across the landscape. This series of review papers endeavours to critically and comprehensively review all types of surface fire spread models developed since 1990. This paper reviews models of a simulation or mathematical analogue nature. Most simulation models are implementations of existing empirical or quasi-empirical models and their primary function is to convert these generally one dimensional models to two dimensions and then propagate a fire perimeter across a modelled landscape. Mathematical analogue models are those that are based on some mathematical conceit (rather than a physical representation of fire spread) that coincidentally simulates the spread of fire. Other papers in the series review models of an physical or quasi-physical nature and empirical or quasi-empirical nature. Many models are extensions or refinements of models developed before 1990. Where this is the case, these models are also discussed but much less comprehensively.
Drug Discrimination in Methamphetamine-Trained Rats: Effects of Cholinergic Nicotinic Compounds

Accumulating evidence suggests that acetylcholine nicotinic systems may contribute importantly to the abuse-related effects of d-methamphetamine (d-MA). The present study was conducted to compare the effects of indirect dopamine (DA) agonists (d-amphetamine, d-MA, and l-methamphetamine), full [(−)-nicotine, anabaseine, (+)-epibatidine, (−)-epibatidine, isoarecolone] and partial (varenicline) nicotinic agonists, and other cholinergic compounds (mecamylamine, dihydro-β-erythroidine hydrobromide, methyllycaconitine, atropine, scopolamine, rivastigmine, and donepezil) in rats trained to discriminate 0.3 mg/kg i.p. d-MA from saline. All indirect DA agonists fully substituted for d-MA in a dose-related manner. Among nicotinic agonists, only (−)-nicotine fully substituted for d-MA in a dose-dependent manner, whereas all other nicotinic agonists and, to a limited extent, muscarinic antagonists produced partial d-MA-like responding. Other cholinergic compounds failed to produce d-MA-like discriminative stimulus effects. In drug interaction studies, varenicline served to dose-dependently attenuate the d-MA-like effects of (−)-nicotine, whereas mecamylamine, but not varenicline, reduced the discriminative stimulus effects of the training dose of d-MA. Differences between (−)-nicotine and other nicotinic agonists may be related to their ability to activate the DA system. These results provide further evidence that nicotinic mechanisms may be useful neurochemical targets for the development of therapeutics for the management of monoaminergic stimulant abuse and addiction.
Evaluation of association of maternal IL-10 polymorphisms with risk of preeclampsia by A meta-analysis

Emerging evidence shows that interleukin (IL)‐10 gene polymorphisms can regulate its expression level and thus influence person's susceptibility to preeclampsia. However, various published results were inconsistent. To explore the association between maternal IL‐10 gene polymorphisms and preeclampsia, we performed a meta‐analysis based upon 11 individual studies here. Our meta‐analysis results indicated that IL‐10 ‐819C/T (C versus T, OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.08–1.50, P = 0.003) and ‐592C/A (C versus A, OR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.03–1.59, P = 0.03) polymorphisms were associated with preeclampsia. Although there was no overall association between ‐1082A/G polymorphism and preeclampsia (G versus A, OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.77–1.13, P = 0.49), such association existed among Asian (G versus A, OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.04–1.60, P = 0.02) and South American (G versus A, OR = 0.72, 95% CI = 0.54–0.94, P = 0.02) populations in the subgroup analysis stratified by continents.
Limited Acute Influences of Electrical Baroreceptor Activation on Insulin Sensitivity and Glucose Delivery: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Crossover Clinical Study

Arterial baroreflexes may regulate resistance vessels supplying glucose to skeletal muscle by modulating efferent sympathetic nervous system activity. We hypothesized that selective manipulation of baroreflex activity through electrical carotid sinus stimulation influences insulin sensitivity by changing muscular glucose delivery. We enrolled 16 hypertensive patients who responded to treatment with an electrical carotid sinus stimulator. Patients were submitted to a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test (FSIGT) with the stimulator on and with the stimulator off on separate days in a randomized, double-blind, crossover study. We monitored interstitial glucose, lactate, and pyruvate in the vastus lateralis muscle using microdialysis. Glucose and insulin concentrations in arterialized venous blood before and during FSIGT were virtually identical with the stimulator on and with the stimulator off. Insulin sensitivity, the primary end point of this study, was 3.3 ± 1.0 (mU/L)−1 ⋅ min−1 and 4.4 ± 2.6 (mU/L)−1 ⋅ min−1 (on vs. off; P = 0.7). Interstitial glucose, lactate, and pyruvate increased similarly during FSIGT regardless of the stimulator settings. In conclusion, acute changes in baroreceptor stimulation did not elicit significant changes in muscular glucose delivery and whole-body insulin sensitivity. Baroreflex-mediated changes in sympathetic vasomotor tone may have a limited acute effect on muscle glucose metabolism in patients with treatment-resistant hypertension.
Association of apolipoprotein E epsilon 4 allele with sporadic late onset Alzheimer`s disease. A meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE To obtain a better insight into the effect of the epsilon (e) 4 allele of the apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) on the risk of late onset Alzheimer`s disease (LOAD), and assess its heterogeneity in geographic regions. METHODS We performed a systemic review and meta-analysis of available studies. An electronic and manual search of international and local databases was conducted to identify relevant studies between January 1991 and December 2011 in the Central Library of Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. All articles related to patients with LOAD that evaluated APOE genotype were included in our study. Two reviewers assessed the inclusion/exclusion criteria, summarized, and analyzed the extracted data. We assessed 21 separate studies overall involving 1480 subjects; the total sample size was 6777. RESULTS According to the results, there was no heterogeneity among the included studies. The total APOE e4 allele frequency was significantly higher in AD cases compared with control subjects (35% versus 11.43%, p<0.001). The odds ratio (OR) for APOE e4 frequency in AD and control groups was 3.98 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.44-4.61). This factor in various geographic regions was different. CONCLUSION This meta-analysis is strongly supportive of the hypothesis that the APOE e4 allele increases the risk of sporadic LOAD, and determination of the e4 allele in populations may be a useful tool for monitoring demented patients and planning healthcare policies.
Characterization of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella enterica isolates determined from ready-to-eat (RTE) salad vegetables

In the last decade, ready-to-eat (RTE) salad vegetables are gaining increasing importance in human diet. However, since they are consumed fresh, inadequate washing during processing can bring on some foodborne illnesses, like salmonellosis, since these food items have natural contamination from soil and water. During 2009–2010, a total of 81 samples were purchased arbitrarily from local markets in Ankara, and were examined for Salmonella contamination. Salmonella screening was performed by using anti-Salmonella magnetic beads system and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) identification of the suspected colonies. Then, the antibiotic resistance profiles of four Salmonella strains identified (strains RTE-1, RTE-2, RTE-3, and RTE-4) were also investigated, since the mechanism by which Salmonella spp. have accumulated antibiotic resistance genes is of interest. All strains showed resistance against sulfonamides (MIC > 128 mg/L). Further results suggested that associated sulfonamide resistance genes were encoded by the 55.0 kb plasmid of strain RTE-1 that involves no integrons. As a result of using two primers (P1254 and P1283) in randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) analysis, two common amplicons (364 bp and 1065 bp) were determined. The findings of this study provide support to the adoption of guidelines for the prudent use of antibiotics in order to reduce the number of pathogens present on vegetable and fruit farms. Besides, since it is shown that these bacteria started to gain resistance to antibiotics, it is necessary to further investigate the prevalence of them in foods.
Deep-recessed GaN HEMTs using selective etch technology exhibiting high microwave performance without surface passivation

A selective dry etch technology of GaN over AlGaN using BCl<sub>3</sub>/SF<sub>6</sub> has been applied to passivation-free deep-recessed GaN HEMTs, significantly reducing the effects of growth and process variations on the device performance, improving reproducibility and manufacturability. The effects of Si delta-doping density on the gate leakage, breakdown voltage and dispersion were investigated. Excellent microwave power performances were achieved without SiN<sub>x</sub> passivation. 6 W/mm with PAE of 72% at V<sub>D</sub>= 30 V and 11.6 W/mm with PAE of 63% at V<sub>D</sub>=50 V were demonstrated at 4 GHz, while 5 W/mm with PAE of 63% at V<sub>D</sub>= 28 V and 10.5 W/mm with PAE of 53% at V<sub>D</sub>=48 V were obtained at 10 GHz.
The Güttingen study of psychoanalytic therapy: First results

Results of a naturalistic study of the effectiveness of psychoanalytic therapy are reported. Outcome data are presented for a sample of N = 36 patients who were treated with psychoanalytic therapy. For a sample of n = 23 of these patients, data for 1‐year follow‐up are available at present. According to the results, psychoanalytic therapy yielded signifi cant improvements in symptoms (Symptom Checklist 90‐R, SCL‐90‐R and rating of psychoanalysts), in interpersonal problems (Inventory of Interpersonal Problems, IIP), in quality of life (Questionnaire of Quality of Life, FLZ), in well‐being (Questionnaire of Changes in Experience and Behaviour, VEV) and in target problems defi ned by the patients (Goal Attainment Scaling, GAS). Large effect sizes between 1.28 and 2.48 were found in symptoms (GSI of the SCL‐90‐R), interpersonal problems (IIP‐total), quality of life (FLZ‐total), well‐being (VEV) and target problems (GAS). At 1‐year follow‐up, all improvements proved to be stable or even increased. The self‐reported improvements in symptoms were corroborated by the ratings of the psychoanalysts. At the end of therapy, 77% of the patients showed clinically signifi cant improvements. In the 1‐year follow‐up group, this was true for 80%. Further results are presented and discussed.
Automated generation of assembly animation for Korean traditional building

Korean traditional wooden building has a beautiful appearance and long history. Recently, they are inherited as a digital cultural heritage by government and researchers. The digital heritage is able to use in the education experience and the restoration of heritage. Virtual assembly and its animation are also useful to observe the components and preview the assembly procedure. Our method makes an interactive assembly animation from pre-built virtual building model. We analysis the geometrical relationship between parts and its neighbor parts to construct a part-connection hierarchical graph. We finally make a feasible interactive assembly animation and virtual assembly sequence with the graph from the part selected by a user.
Pattern of prescription drug use in Nigerian army hospitals.

BACKGROUND Most health expenditure of developing countries is on drugs and medical sundries but inappropriate use of such resources is common. To our knowledge, only few studies have been done in Africa on this issue , with inadequate consideration of the sociological context of the knowledge, attitude and practice of the prescribers especially doctors. This study presents the pooled data of the pattern of prescription drug use from three Nigerian Army hospitals using some WHO criteria, and the knowledge and attitude underlying doctors' prescribing practices in these hospitals. METHODS Retrospective cross-sectional survey of one year (March 2006-February 2007). Systematic random sample of general out patient case notes from three hospitals were collected using WHO criteria. The knowledge, attitude and practice survey of doctors at each study site towards the concept of rational drug use (RDU) were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS Data collected from 660 case notes showed that average number of drugs per encounter was 2.8 while 49.3% of drugs were prescribed in the generic form. An average of 28.1% of patients encountered antibiotics. From the knowledge, attitude and practice survey, it is evident that 90.5% of 74 prescribers were aware of the existence of national essential drugs list but 58.1% of them did not use it as basis of prescriptions. In describing types of medicines preferred, 56.7% of prescribers claimed they prescribed a mixture of generic and branded drugs. Only 12.1% of prescribers could accurately detail the 5 steps of rational prescribing. CONCLUSION The pattern of prescription drug use in Nigerian Army hospitals is unsatisfactory. It is characterised by high number of drugs per prescription, high rate of antibiotic usage and unscientific prescription by doctors. There is a need for further education and research on rational drug use among prescribers in Nigerian military health facilities.
Affected sibpair linkage tests for multiple linked susceptibility genes

Genome‐wide searches for susceptibility genes using pairs of affected siblings are being undertaken to dissect out individual polygenes that contribute to human multi‐factorial diseases. Efficient identity‐by‐descent (IBD)‐based sibpair linkage tests are available that test individual markers or maps of linked markers for linkage to a single potative susceptibility gene. In order to assess the support for linkage to a second putative susceptibility gene that happens to map close to an established susceptibility gene, it is necessary to use a method that correctly allows for the IBD distortion that directly results from the linkage between the two genes. A maximum likelihood‐based, multilocus linkage test is proposed, which accounts for this interdependency and evaluates the support for an interaction between constituent susceptibility genes. The size and power of a test for a second linked susceptibility gene is investigated by simulation studies. Genet. Epidemiol. 14:103–115,1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Epidemiology of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most frequent cancer diagnosis made in men and the fifth leading cause of death worldwide. Prostate cancer may be asymptomatic at the early stage and often has an indolent course that may require only active surveillance. Based on GLOBOCAN 2018 estimates, 1,276,106 new cases of prostate cancer were reported worldwide in 2018, with higher prevalence in the developed countries. Differences in the incidence rates worldwide reflect differences in the use of diagnostic testing. Prostate cancer incidence and mortality rates are strongly related to the age with the highest incidence being seen in elderly men (> 65 years of age). African-American men have the highest incidence rates and more aggressive type of prostate cancer compared to White men. There is no evidence yet on how to prevent prostate cancer; however, it is possible to lower the risk by limiting high-fat foods, increasing the intake of vegetables and fruits and performing more exercise. Screening is highly recommended at age 45 for men with familial history and African-American men. Up-to-date statistics on prostate cancer occurrence and outcomes along with a better understanding of the etiology and causative risk factors are essential for the primary prevention of this disease.
Serotonin Receptor Imaging: Clinically Useful?

Serotonin is a modulatory neurotransmitter in the human brain that regulates mood, anger, reward, aggression, and appetite and plays a central role in brain development. These effects are mediated through the interaction of serotonin with at least 15 different receptor molecules. Through the development and careful characterization of novel radiotracers, we have been able to visualize and quantify in vivo many of the key molecular sites—including serotonin receptors, reuptake transporters, and enzymes—responsible for serotonin metabolism. The clinical goals of serotonin imaging are to aid in determining the pathophysiology of brain disorders, to determine novel therapeutic strategies, to predict treatment, to estimate risk, and to determine individualized dosing strategies. Despite the contradictory results of early studies, the field as a whole has made significant progress on nearly all of these fronts, and advances in methodology suggest paths toward coherence. Through concerted, directed, and cooperative efforts, the routine use of serotonin imaging in the clinic will most likely be achieved in the next decade.
Compact rotation invariant image descriptors by spectral trimming

Image descriptors are widely used in applications such as object recognition, pattern classification and image registration. The descriptors encode the local visual content of the image to provide a compact, robust and distinctive representation of objects. If images differ in orientation, descriptors must be rotation invariant. This paper introduces a compact rotation invariant descriptor. The approach is based on the representation of the local visual content by a graph. A function living on the graph vertices is evaluated and transformed through spectral trimming. This transform is rotation invariant and reduces the dimensionality of the descriptor. The performance of the introduced descriptor is as good as the SIFT descriptor performance, while being about ten times more compact, as shown by experiments on transmission electron microscope images.