Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
DSM-IV pathological gambling in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication

Background Little is known about the prevalence or correlates of DSM-IV pathological gambling (PG). Method Data from the US National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), a nationally representative US household survey, were used to assess lifetime gambling symptoms and PG along with other DSM-IV disorders. Age of onset (AOO) of each lifetime disorder was assessed retrospectively. AOO reports were used to study associations between temporally primary disorders and the subsequent risk of secondary disorders. Results Most respondents (78.4%) reported lifetime gambling. Lifetime problem gambling (at least one Criterion A symptom of PG) (2.3%) and PG (0.6%) were much less common. PG was significantly associated with being young, male, and Non-Hispanic Black. People with PG reported first gambling significantly earlier than non-problem gamblers (mean age 16.7 v. 23.9 years, z=12.7, p<0.001), with gambling problems typically beginning during the mid-20s and persisting for an average of 9.4 years. During this time the largest annual gambling losses averaged US$4800. Onset and persistence of PG were predicted by a variety of prior DSM-IV anxiety, mood, impulse-control and substance use disorders. PG also predicted the subsequent onset of generalized anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance dependence. Although none of the NCS-R respondents with PG ever received treatment for gambling problems, 49.0% were treated at some time for other mental disorders. Conclusions DSM-IV PG is a comparatively rare, seriously impairing, and undertreated disorder whose symptoms typically start during early adulthood and is frequently secondary to other mental or substance disorders that are associated with both PG onset and persistence.
Eukaryotic Chemotaxis: Distinctions between Directional Sensing and Polarization*

Directional sensing and polarization are fundamental cellular responses that play a central role in health and disease. In this review we define each process and evaluate a series of models previously proposed to explain these phenomena. New findings show that directional sensing by G protein-coupled receptors is localized at a discrete step in the signaling pathway downstream of G protein activation but upstream of the accumulation of PIP3. Local levels of PIP3, whether triggered by chemoattractants, particle binding, or spontaneous events, determine the sites of new actin-filled projections. Robust control of the temporal and spatial levels of PIP3 is achieved by reciprocal regulation of PI3K and PTEN. These observations suggest that a local excitation-global inhibition model can account for the localization of PI3K and PTEN and thereby explain directional sensing. However, elements of other models, including positive feedback and the reaction of the cytoskeleton, must be invoked to account for polarization.
Transport of Trace Elements in Runoff from Unamended and Pond-Ash Amended Feedlot Surfaces

The use of pond ash (fly ash that has been placed in evaporative ponds for storage and subsequently dewatered) for feedlot surfaces provides a drier environment for livestock and furnishes economic benefits. However, pond ash is known to have high concentrations of trace elements, and the runoff water-quality effects of feedlot surfaces amended with pond ash are not well defined. For this study, two experimental units (plots) were established in eight feedlot pens. Four of the pens contained unamended soil surfaces, and the remaining four pens had pond-ash amended surfaces. Before each test, unconsolidated surface material was removed from four of the plots for each of the amendment treatments, resulting in eight unamended plots and eight pond-ash amended plots. Concentrations for 23 trace elements were measured in cattle feedlot surface material and in the runoff water from three simulated rainfall events. Trace element concentrations in surface material and runoff did not differ between surface consolidation treatments. Amending the feedlot surface material with pond ash resulted in a significant increase in concentration for 14 of the 17 trace elements. Runoff concentrations for 21 trace elements were affected by pond-ash amendment. Sixteen of 21 trace element concentrations that differed significantly were greater in runoff from unamended soil surfaces. Concentrations in runoff were significantly correlated with concentrations in feedlot surface material for boron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, and uranium.
Sorption, degradation and leaching of pesticides in soils amended with organic matter: A review

The use of pesticides in modern agriculture is unavoidable because they are required to control weeds. Pesticides are poisonous; hence, they are dangerous if misused. Understanding the fate of pesticides will be useful to use them safely. Therefore, contaminations of water and soil resources could be avoided. The fates of pesticides in soils are influenced by their sorption, decomposition and movement. Degradation and leaching of pesticides are control by sorption. Soil organic matter and clay content are main soil constituents that have a high capacity for sorption of pesticides. Addition of organic maters to amend the soils is a usual practice that every year has been done in a huge area of worldwide. The added organic amendments to the soils affect the fate of pesticides in soils as well. Pesticides fates in different soils are different. The addition of organic matter to soils causes different fates for pesticides as well. It is known from the studies that sorption of non-ionic pesticides by soil in aqueous system is controlled mainly by the organic matter content of the soils. Sorption of pesticides has been reported to increase by amending soils with organic matter. In general, conditions that promote microbial activity enhance the rate of pesticides degradation, and those that inhibit the growth of microorganisms reduce the rate of degradation. Amendment of soils with organic matter may modify leaching of pesticides in soil. Some studies showed that organic matter added to soils reduced pesticides in ground water. Generally, organic amendments induces the restriction of pesticides leaching in soils.
Retrospective evaluation of laboratory-confirmed and recovered cases of influenza A(H1N1)v

To retrospectively evaluate patients that were diagnosed with H1N1 and recovered from the disease in the initial period of an influenza A(H1N1)v epidemic in the province of Diyarbakir. It is estimated that 34-67 million individuals around the world have been infected by influenza A(H1N1)v, that 154,000-303,000 individuals have been hospitalized, and that 7000-13,000 individuals have lost their lives. Materials and methods: We were able to include 250 of 362 cases (69.0%) of confirmed influenza A(H1N1)v, from which the patients recovered, from the samples received between 19 October and 3 December 2009 after a pandemic alarm was given in the province of Diyarbakir. Patients with laboratory-confirmed cases were reached by telephone 15 days after the onset of influenza symptoms. Results: In terms of demographics, 44.8% of patients were between the ages of 0-14, 51.6% were male, and 44.0% were students. In 77.6% of the cases, fever was observed, while 53.2% had coughs and 18.4% had vomiting problems. It was determined that patients older than 45 years old, pregnant women, and individuals with chronic diseases were hospitalized more frequently than the young, nonpregnant women, and individuals without a chronic disease. The secondary attack rate within the clinic was 24.6%. Conclusion: Children and individuals with chronic diseases are important risk groups. It is believed that precautions such as hand-washing, limiting visits, and ensuring proper ventilation within houses will reduce in-house infectivity and the secondary attack rate.
Test Size Estimation for Object Oriented Software Based on Analysis Model

Software test size estimation at the early analysis phase of software development lifecycle is crucial for predicting the associated effort and cost. This paper proposes a new method namely System Test Size Point (STSP) to estimate the system testing size of the object oriented software. The novel approach for the system test size estimation at the analysis phase is based on the Use Case Model (UCM) which adapts the Function Point Analysis (FPA) technique. The various features such as use case graph, test set, test set suite, relationships, main flow and alternate flow, are extracted from the UCM. Based on this, UCM components for estimation are derived. The FPA components are appropriately mapped to the UCM components and the complexity based on the weightage is specified to calculate the STSP. This proposed test size estimation approach has been evaluated with the object oriented software developed in our software engineering laboratory to assess its ability to predict the system test size.
Video clip recognition using joint audio-visual processing model

The automatic recognition of video clips is an important capability with applications in broadcast monitoring for content theft and adherence to advertisement campaign. We present an approach for video clip recognition based on HMM and Gaussian mixture modeling for modeling video and audio streams respectively. The approach is used to model TV commercials. The recognition results of using single stream and joint models are compared The error rate of 0.01% is achieved when the joint audiovisual processing model is employed.
Rac1 Modulates Endothelial Function and Platelet Aggregation in Diabetes Mellitus

Background Vascular complications and abnormal platelet function contribute to morbidity and mortality in diabetes mellitus. We hypothesized that the Rho‐related GTPase protein, Rac1, can influence both endothelial and platelet function and might represent a potential novel therapeutic target in diabetes mellitus. Methods and Results We used both in vitro and ex vivo approaches to test the effects of pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 during hyperglycemic condition. We evaluated the effect of NSC23766, a pharmacological inhibitor of Rac1, on vascular function in diabetic mice and platelet aggregation in diabetic subjects. We demonstrated that the administration of NSC23766 protects from hyperglycemia‐induced endothelial dysfunction, restoring NO levels, and reduces oxidative stress generated by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase. Mechanistically, we identified Rho‐associated coiled‐coil serine/threonine kinase‐1 as a downstream target of Rac1. Moreover, we reported that during hyperglycemic conditions, human platelets showed hyperactivation of Rac1 and impaired NO release, which were both partially restored after NSC23766 treatment. Finally, we characterized the antiplatelet effect of NSC23766 during hyperglycemic conditions, demonstrating the additional role of Rac1 inhibition in reducing platelet aggregation in diabetic patients treated with common antiplatelet drugs. Conclusions Our data suggest that the pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 could represent a novel therapeutic strategy to reduce endothelial dysfunction and platelet hyperaggregation in diabetes mellitus.
Adoption of Dogs in the Czech Republic

Numcova D. , P. Novak: Adoption of Dogs in the Czech Republic. Acta Vet. Brno 2003, 72: 421-427. The aim of this work was to analyze selected factors playing a role in the adoption of dogs from shelters in the Czech Republic. The study was performed in two shelters from May to December 1999. Using a questionnaire, we obtained data about the adopted dogs (time spent in the shelter, age, sex and breed of the dog, dogs admitted to shelter by incoming category, group housing vs. individual housing), and demographic data about the new owners (age, sex, urban/rural housing type, previous experience with dogs, reason for the wish to own a dog, motivation for selecting a specific dog). We compared data about dogs adopted from shelter A situated in an urban environment with a population of 50 thousand, and from shelter B situated in a rural area, in a village with approximately 2 000 inhabitants. Dogs in shelter A were most frequently brought in by the person who captured the animal (41.3%), and surrendered by the owner (28.0%). Dogs in shelter B in the rural area were most frequently delivered by municipal police (82.0%). Before adoption, the dogs spent 53 days on average in shelter A, and 85 days in shelter B. The highest fractions of dogs adopted from both shelters were puppies 2-4-month-old (26.7 and 38.0 %, respectively), closely followed by dogs aged 8 months-to-2 years and 2-5 years. Sex did not play a significant role in dog adoption. Among new owners adopting dogs from shelters A and B, those 26 to 60 years of age prevailed (χ 2 5.678, P < 0.05; χ 2 12. 294, P < 0.01, respectively) over those aged 18 to 26 years, and also over adopters older than 60 years (χ 2 26.329, P < 0.01; χ 2 13.677, P < 0.01, respectively). No differences between adopters from the two shelters were found in reasons for adoption, except for personality of the dog that prevailed in shelter A (χ 2 4.285, P < 0.05). Previous experience of dog ownership was reported by 96.0% new owners for shelter A, and 98.0% for shelter B. There were no differences found concerning the sex of new owners and presence of children in the family. The findings from this pilot study indicate that adoption is more related to factors associated with the new owners than to factors associated with the dogs. The data may serve shelter personel and veterinarians to help develop strategies aimed at improving chances for adoption of dogs and shortening the time in shelter by providing detailed and qualified information to potential dog adopters. Questionnaire, owners, dogs, age, sex, breed
Distant pulse measurement system for real-time surveillance applications

Touchless heart-rate monitoring is desirable due to hygienic and discreet operation. Several approaches were proposed so far. Our design makes a step towards camera-based cardiac surveillance system. We have developed, and tested a real-time video processing algorithm. Viola-Jones body part detection framework was used for object detection. Than a Region Of Interest was determined for computation of the mean value of the selected components. A sequence of consecutive raw samples y(t) constitutes a buffer subjected to normalization which is followed by noise reduction and limiting the band by means of a temporal FIR and FFT transformation. The pulse rate was detected as the frequency corresponding to maximum energy band in spectral domain. MATLAB was used for designing and testing the system and generated C++ code was compiled to a 32-bit floating point processor. We recorded footage from 2 volunteers at resolution 800×600 and data rate up to 150Hz. Wearable pulse oximeter was used for measuring reference signal. The error of estimated pulse of subjects under controlled illumination and during their physical activities ranged from 3.1 to 18.8 bmp. All computations meet demands of 60fps real time surveillance system, making the pulse-dedicated intelligent camera a handy tool for monitoring humans, their health status and emotions.
A BIOMETRIC BASED E-SECURITY SYSTEM FOR INTERNET-BASED APPLICATIONS

-Personal identification numbers (PIN), passwords, smart cards and digital certificates are some of the means employed for user authentication in various electronic commerce applications. However, these means do not really identify a person, but only knowledge of some data or belonging of some determined object. This paper introduces the notion of Biometric Signature: a new approach to integrate biometrics with public key infrastructure (PKI) using biometric based signature key generation based on iris recognition which is secure, efficacious, fast, convenient, non-invasive and correctly identifies the maker of the transaction. It also compares integration of iris templates with two existing and widely used digital signature algorithms, RSA and DSA for biometric signatures and discusses the problems associated with them individually. Speed of both is measured and compared with the help of JAVA implementation for both approaches.
Identification of misclassified ClinVar variants using disease population prevalence

There is a significant interest in the standardized classification of human genetic variants. The availability of new large datasets generated through genome sequencing initiatives provides a ground for the computational evaluation of the supporting evidence. We used whole genome sequence data from 8,102 unrelated individuals to analyze the adequacy of estimated rates of disease on the basis of genetic risk and the expected population prevalence of the disease. Analyses included the ACMG recommended 56 gene-condition sets for incidental findings and 631 genes associated with 348 OrphaNet conditions. A total of 21,004 variants were used to identify patterns of inflation (i.e. excess genetic risk). Inflation, i.e., misclassification, increases as the level of evidence in ClinVar supporting the pathogenic nature of the variant decreases. The burden of rare variants was a main contributing factor of the observed inflation indicating misclassified benign private mutations. We also analyzed the dynamics of re-classification of variant pathogenicity in ClinVar over time. The study strongly suggests that ClinVar includes a significant proportion of wrongly ascertained variants, and underscores the critical role of ClinVar to contrast claims, and foster validation across submitters.
Development of Lipid Based Nanoparticulate Drug Delivery Systems and Drug Carrier Complexes for Delivery to Brain

Many neurotherapeutics are unsuccessful in treating CNS disorders because they cannot be effectively drug delivered. Drug delivery to the brain is a challenge even though there is relatively high blood ﬂow. There are two physiological barriers likes blood-brain barrier and blood-cerebrospinal ﬂuid barrier which separates the brain from its blood supply controlling the transport of compounds. Many of the brain or CNS associated diseases remain untreated by effective therapies. This is not because there is a lack of candidate drugs but due to the inability of many therapeutic molecules to cross the BBB, the BCSFB or other specialized CNS barriers to reach the speciﬁc areas of brain. Hence there is a need in the modern approaches and present insights into using ligand conjugation and nanotechnology to target the BBB via different transport pathways and mechanisms. The field of novel drug delivery system has fully emerged and came into existence as an ideal approach of drug targeting and delivery to brain. The new approaches of drug delivery to brain help in successful transporting drugs across the BBB.
Technological Advancements in Affinity Proteomics

Proteomics has the potential to deliver disease-associated biomarkers that could provide diagnostic, prognostic and predictive information to enable precision medicine. Affinity proteomics, most commonly based on antibodies and their ability to specifically capture target proteins, has emerged has a valuable tool in biomarker discovery. Our group has developed a recombinant antibody microarray platform that can be used for protein expression profiling of serum samples to define multiplex biomarker signatures. This thesis is focused on antibody engineering and assay development to further improve the current microarray platform and also present proof-of-concept for a novel solution-based platform. In Paper I we evaluated the novel detection reagent PID in search for increased signal-to-noise ratio and improved sensitivity of the microarray assay. PID is a fluorophore-packed nanoparticle and was here used to replace the currently employed single fluorophore molecule. The result showed that it was possible to use PID as a detection reagent in our assay and even higher signals were achieved, although accompanied by a heterogeneous background that will require further optimization. In Paper II and III we explored the Dock’n’Flash method for site-specific conjugation to enable oriented immobilization or functionalization of scFvs. Immobilizing the scFvs in an oriented configuration on the slide could lead to increased sensitivity and performance of the microarray assay. Functionalization could enable novel scFv applications. The scFvs were equipped with the unnatural amino acid pBpa and photocrosslinked to beta-cyclodextrin on a coated slide or in solution. Proof-of-concept was demonstrated for one scFv in Paper II and the study was expanded and the pBpa position optimized in Paper III. In Paper IV we sought to overcome some inherent limitations associated with planar microarrays for global serum profiling by developing the solution-based MIAS platform. In MIAS, proteins were displayed on beads and quantified via DNA-barcoded scFvs using next generation sequencing (NGS). Sortase A was used to site-specifically conjugate the oligonucleotide barcode to scFvs. Proof-of-concept for the assay steps was demonstrated using barcoded scFvs targeting three different serum proteins. In summary, the work presented in this thesis can be used to improve the performance of our current antibody microarray platform and also provides the first steps towards a novel solution-based platform. This could in turn enable improved development of disease-associated protein biomarkers.
Performance during a strenuous swimming session is associated with high blood lactate: pyruvate ratio and hypoglycemia in fasted rats

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of lactatemia elevation and glycemia reduction on strenuous swimming performance in fasted rats. Three rats were placed in a swimming tank at the same time. The first rat was removed immediately (control group) and the remaining ones were submitted to a strenuous swimming session. After the second rat was exhausted (Exh group), the third one was immediately removed from the water (Exe group). According to the period of time required for exhaustion, the rats were divided into four groups: low performance (3–7 min), low-intermediary performance (8–12 min), high-intermediary performance (13–17 min), and high performance (18–22 min). All rats were removed from the swimming tanks and immediately killed by decapitation for blood collection or anesthetized for liver perfusion experiments. Blood glucose, lactate, and pyruvate concentrations, blood lactate/pyruvate ratio, and liver lactate uptake and its conversion to glucose were evaluated. Exhaustion in low and low-intermediary performance were better associated with higher lactate/pyruvate ratio. On the other hand, exhaustion in high-intermediary and high performance was better associated with hypoglycemia. Lactate uptake and glucose production from lactate in livers from the Exe and Exh groups were maintained. We concluded that there is a time sequence in the participation of lactate/pyruvate ratio and hypoglycemia in performance during an acute strenuous swimming section in fasted rats. The liver had an important participation in preventing hyperlactatemia and hypoglycemia during swimming through lactate uptake and its conversion to glucose.
Enablers in Crisis Information Management: A Literature Review

Social media often plays a central role in crisis informatics as it is an important source for assessing, understanding, and locating crises quickly and accurately. In addition, social media enables actors to react more effectively and efficiently when managing crises. However, enablers of crisis information management have not been carved out explicitly in a systematic view. Therefore, we perform a literature review to synthesize the existing literature on crisis information management with a focus on technical enablers and their classification into the crisis-management phases. As our results show, searching for crisis informatics mostly results in social media-related publications. We found that Twitter is one of the most important technical enablers but that research on other social media platforms is underrepresented. Also, most publications center on the post-crisis phases of crisis management, leaving out the pre-crisis phases.