Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ultrasonographic evaluation in psoriatic arthritis is of major importance in evaluating disease activity

Objective To investigate the association between clinical and ultrasonographic (US) evidence of inflammation in psoriatic arthritis (PsA), as well as to compare clinical and US remission criteria. Methods In this cross-sectional study 141 PsA outpatients were included. Minimal disease activity (MDA), 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28), Disease Activity Index for PSoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) and modified versions of Composite Psoriatic Disease Activity Index (CPDAI) and Psoriatic ArthritiS Disease Activity Score (PASDAS) were assessed. Remission criteria were explored. US evaluation was performed on 34 joints, in addition to joints being tender/swollen by 66/68 joint count, 30 tendons, 10 entheses and additionally entheses found to be tender by clinical examination of 19 other entheses. Power Doppler (PD) and grey scale global scores on joints, entheses and tendons were assessed. US remission was defined as no PD activity in joints, entheses and tendons. Results DAPSA and DAS28, but not CPDAI and PASDAS, were associated with PD activity. MDA was fulfilled in 22.7% and the clinical remission criteria in 5.7%–9.9% of the patients. US remission was found in 49.6% of the patients. The prevalence of PD activity at joints, entheses and tendons was similar for patients fulfilling versus not fulfilling MDA/clinical remission criteria. MDA (OR 2.3, p=0.048), DAPSA ≤3.3 (OR 4.2, p=0.025) and Boolean's (OR=7.8, p=0.033) definitions of remission were found to predict US remission. Conclusions We found major discrepancies between US and clinical findings. DAPSA and DAS28 reflected US findings better than CPDAI and PASDAS. MDA, DAPSA and Boolean's remission criteria predicted US remission.
FOR IMPROVING USER SATISFACTION

Storing data in relational databases is widely increasing to support keyword queries but search results does not gives effective answers to keyword query and hence it is inflexible from user perspective. It would be helpful to recognize such type of queries which gives results with low ranking. Here we estimate prediction of query performance to find out effectiveness of a search performed in response to query and features of such hard queries is studied by taking into account contents of the database and result list. One relevant problem of database is the presence of missing data and it can be handled by imputation. Here an inTeractive Retrieving-Inferring data imputation method (TRIP) is used which achieves retrieving and inferring alternately to fill the missing attribute values in the database. So by considering both the prediction of hard queries and imputation over the database, we can get better keyword search results.
The Natufian culture in the Levant, threshold to the origins of agriculture

The aim of this paper is to provide the reader with an updated description of the archeological evidence for the origins of agriculture in the Near East. Specifically, I will address the question of why the emergence of farming communities in the Near East was an inevitable outcome of a series of social and economic circumstances that caused the Natufian culture to be considered the threshold for this major evolutionary change.1–4 The importance of such an understanding has global implications. Currently, updated archeological information points to two other centers of early cultivation, central Mexico and the middle Yangtze River in China, that led to the emergence of complex civilizations.4 However, the best‐recorded sequence from foraging to farming is found in the Near East. Its presence warns against the approach of viewing all three evolutionary sequences as identical in terms of primary conditions, economic and social motivations and activities, and the resulting cultural, social, and ideological changes. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Professional Culture of the Specialist of the Future THE USE OF BUSINESS GAMES IN RUSSIAN HIGHER EDUCATION : PREREQUISITES AND OBSTACLES

The paper studies serious games as a learning tool in the context of post-industrial society. It shows that the use of business games helps to simulate real-world scenarios, requiring students to make creative, independent and responsible decisions under stress and uncertainty. The research addresses objective prerequisites for the use of business games in higher education and demonstrates that the method drives individualisation, enhances the quality of training and the level of student engagement, identifies potential entrepreneurs and develops entrepreneurial skills. The paper looks at obstacles in the use of serious games and the associated challenges. The “escape from freedom” is a fundamental philosophical and psychological problem, which can be solved only by a change in the overall learning paradigm. The lingering influence of traditional Soviet teaching practices can be overcome by public outreach activities and implementation of active learning methods. The problem of high cost of gamification can be resolved by a wider use of paper-based business games. The problem of low motivation of teaching staff can be resolved by introduction of a new system of evaluation based on the instructor’s use of innovative educational technologies and ability to engage and develop students. We have developed and tested a method of appraisal of undergraduates’ exposure to business games based on courses syllabi analysis. We show that, in terms of the usage levels of business games, Russian economics education lags behind developed countries by approximately twenty years. © 2018 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy. org.UK
Engagement of P-selectin Glycoprotein Ligand-1 Enhances Tyrosine Phosphorylation and Activates Mitogen-activated Protein Kinases in Human Neutrophils*

During inflammation, P-selectin on activated platelets and endothelial cells initiates adhesion of leukocytes through interactions with P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1). We investigated whether ligation of PSGL-1 also transmits signals into leukocytes. Neutrophils incubated with anti-PSGL-1 monoclonal antibodies, but not with Fab fragments of these antibodies, rapidly increased tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins with relative molecular masses of 105–120, 70–84, and 42–44 kDa. PSGL-1-dependent adhesion of neutrophils to P-selectin increased tyrosine phosphorylation of similarly sized proteins. Cytochalasin B did not prevent the tyrosine phosphorylation induced by ligation of PSGL-1, suggesting that an intact cytoskeleton is not required for signaling. Engagement of PSGL-1 activated the GTPase Ras through a mechanism that did not require tyrosine phosphorylation of PSGL-1 or association of the Shc·Grb2·Sos1 complex with PSGL-1. Engagement of PSGL-1 activated the 42–44-kDa extracellular signal-regulated kinase family of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases through a pathway that required activation of the MAP kinase kinase. Ligation of PSGL-1 also stimulated secretion of interleukin-8. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, blocked tyrosine phosphorylation and secretion of interleukin-8, whereas the MAP kinase kinase inhibitor PD98059 partially inhibited secretion of interleukin-8. Tyrosine phosphorylation stimulated through PSGL-1 on selectin-tethered leukocytes may propagate a signaling cascade that is integrated with signals generated by other mediators.
Analysis of DMT in multi-user wireless network using orthogonal, non-orthogonal and cluster MDS FFNC

In this paper, a new method is proposed to improve the diversity order of the wireless network to combat the fading in the channel. The network is assumed to have multiple sources, multiple relays, and one common destination. The relay in the network is assumed to use the `decode and forward' protocol. The relay, with binary network code (BNC), to transmit the message from source to destination, the network achieves the diversity order of K with K relays. The network is proposed with finite field network code (FFNC) with orthogonal transmission i.e., each user transmit the message in single time slot and it is termed as orthogonal Minimum Distance Separable (MDS) FFNC protocol. Instead of separately retransmitting each source message, if the relay employs a class of spectrally efficient FFNC codes to assist the sources, it is termed as non orthogonal MDS FFNC protocol. Fully orthogonal or fully non orthogonal transmission among sources/ relays does not necessarily provide optimized Diversity Multiplexing tradeoff (DMT) performance. Thus, the transmission protocol that divides the sources and relays into individual clusters, termed as cluster MDS FFNC, is proposed. The nodes within one cluster transmit non- orthogonally while the transmissions of different cluster span orthogonal channels. The DMT for orthogonal, non orthogonal and clustering strategies are compared.
Protein-Protein Interactions Mediate Mitochondrial Cholesterol Transport and Steroid Biosynthesis*

Transport of cholesterol into the mitochondria is the rate-determining, hormone-sensitive step in steroid biosynthesis. Here we report that the mechanism underlying mitochondrial cholesterol transport involves the formation of a macromolecular signaling complex composed of the outer mitochondrial membrane translocator protein (TSPO), previously known as peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor; the TSPO-associated protein PAP7, which binds and brings to mitochondria the regulatory subunit RIα of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKARIα); and the hormone-induced PKA substrate, steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). Hormone treatment of MA-10 Leydig cells induced the co-localization of TSPO, PAP7, PKARIα, and StAR in mitochondria, visualized by confocal microscopy, and the formation in living cells of a high molecular weight multimeric complex identified using photoactivable amino acids. The hormone-induced recruitment of exogenous TSPO in this complex was found to parallel the increased presence of 7-azi-5α-cholestan-3β-ol in the samples. Co-expression of Tspo, Pap7, PkarIα, and Star genes resulted in the stimulation of steroid formation in both steroidogenic MA-10 and non-steroidogenic COS-F2-130 cells that were engineered to metabolize cholesterol. Disruption of these protein-protein interactions and specifically the PKARIα-PAP7 and PAP7-TSPO interactions, using PAP7 mutants where the N0 area homologous to dual A-kinase-anchoring protein-1 or the acyl-CoA signature motif were deleted or using the peptide Ht31 known to disrupt the anchoring of PKA, inhibited both basal and hormone-induced steroidogenesis. These results suggest that the initiation of cAMP-induced protein-protein interactions results in the formation of a multivalent scaffold in the outer mitochondrial membrane that mediates the effect of hormones on mitochondrial cholesterol transport and steroidogenesis.
Mechanisms of antiepileptic drug resistance

Purpose of reviewThe present review considers new developments in the study and our understanding of resistance to treatment with antiepileptic drugs in epilepsy. Recent findingsStudies suggest that mechanisms of resistance to drug treatment that operate in other diseases may also be relevant in human and animal drug-resistant epilepsy. Immunohistochemical and molecular genetic data show that there is overexpression of a number of genes and proteins that mediate nonspecific resistance to drug treatment. In particular, there is upregulation of P-glycoprotein and multidrug resistance-associated proteins 1 and 2. These proteins appear to be expressed in cerebral parenchymal cell populations that do not normally do so. Work in animal models suggests that these proteins are able to reduce the local concentration of antiepileptic drugs. Although these proteins are therefore good candidates for mediators of drug resistance, there is still limited proof that they are functionally important in human drug-resistant epilepsy. SummaryCareful attention needs to be given to the identification and confirmation of the practical importance of mechanisms postulated to underlie drug resistance in human epilepsy. If certain mechanisms are shown to be involved, then new therapeutic options for drug-resistant human epilepsy may be forthcoming.
Progressing neurological deficit secondary to acute ischemic stroke. A study on predictability, pathogenesis, and prognosis.

OBJECTIVES To identify predictors and possible pathogenetic mechanisms of early neurological deterioration in patients with acute ischemic strokes and to evaluate their impact on clinical outcome. DESIGN Case series. SETTING University hospital's stroke unit. PATIENTS A continuous series of 152 patients with first-ever ischemic hemispheric strokes were hospitalized within 5 hours of onset, evaluated with the Canadian Neurological Scale, and underwent a computed tomographic (CT) scan. The initial subset of 80 patients also underwent angiography. A repeated CT scan or autopsy was performed within 5 to 9 days of a patient's stroke. Progressing neurological deficit was defined as a decrease of one point or more in the global neurological scale score during hospitalization, when compared with that at entry. RESULTS The conditions of 39 patients (26%) deteriorated during the initial 4 days; 20 patients (51%) had an impaired level of consciousness, and 19 patients (49%) had impaired limb strength and/or speech. They had been hospitalized earlier and had higher serum glucose levels at admission; the baseline CT scans of these patients showed an early focal hypodensity and initial mass effect more frequently. On the repeated CT scan (144 patients) or at autopsy (eight patients), patients with a progressing course more frequently had large infarcts, severe mass effect, and hemorrhagic infarction. We found no differences with regard to demographic data, medical history, and treatments that were given; only subcutaneous heparin calcium was more frequently administered to patients with a progressing course. Twenty-two (27%) of the 80 patients who underwent angiography had a progressing course, of whom 20 (91%) had an intracranial and/or extracranial arterial occlusion, with collateral blood supply in seven patients (35%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the independent predictors of progression were the serum glucose levels at admission and the early focal hypodensity with cortical and corticosubcortical locations, with the positive predictive values of the latter being 34% (95% confidence interval [CI], 26% to 42%) and 57% (95% CI, 47% to 67%), respectively. Among patients who underwent angiography, logistic regression analysis showed a significant correlation between carotid siphon occlusion and a progressing course. The 30-day case-fatality ratio and disability (Barthel index, < 60) were higher in patients with a progressing course (36% and 54% vs 12% and 35%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Early stroke deterioration is still an event that is difficult to predict; it is largely determined by cerebral edema following an arterial occlusion, as indicated by an early focal hypodensity and initial mass effect on the baseline CT scan. Since early deterioration anticipates a bad outcome in 90% of patients, it might be used as an early surrogate end point in therapeutic trials.
Using zonal agent distribution effectively for routing in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

A novel routing protocol for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks (MANETs) utilising zonal distribution of mobile ant like agents is presented. The routing zones are bound together by a Mean Weighted Power Factor (MWPF) unique to each zone. Each node ensconced in a zone has the same MWPF, enabling it to form a new zone on discovery of a different power factor broadcast from its local neighbourhood.
Microglia as neuroprotective, immunocompetent cells of the CNS

The role of glial cells is to support and sustain proper neuronal function and microglia are no exception to this. This viewpoint article emphasizes the fundamental interdependence of microglia and neurons and takes a look at the possibility of what could happen if microglial cells became dysfunctional as a result of aging, genetics, or epigenetics. Could microglial senescence be a factor in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases? The cautious answer to that question is ‘yes’. Future studies along these lines may provide novel insights into microglial involvement in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis. GLIA 40:133–139, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analyzing the Effect of Credit and Liquidity Risks on Profitability of Conventional and Islamic Jordanian Banks

The present paper investigates the influence of financial risks on the profitability of banks in Jordan (Islamic and conventional) for the period between 2006 and 2015. Profitability was measured in this study by return on assets (ROA) and return on equity (ROE), while the financial risks were reflected by liquidity and credit risks. The study has employed panel data regression to test the hypotheses. Results illustrated a substantial influence of credit risks on both ROA and ROE for the Islamic as well as the conventional banks. The association between liquidity risk and ROE were found to be insignificant for the Islamic and conventional banks. The influence of liquidity risk on ROA is significant for the Islamic and conventional banks. This result gives a clear indication to bank managers and the sector as a whole, that undertaking risks funding ventures will result in higher funding losses, with the consequence to banks, of considerable depletion of resources.
What is eSports and why do people watch it?

Purpose: In this study we investigate why do people spectate eSports on the internet. We define eSports (electronic sports) as a form of sports where the primary aspects of the sport are facilitated by electronic systems; the input of players and teams as well as the output of the eSports system are mediated by human-computer interfaces. In more practical terms, eSports refer to competitive video gaming (broadcasted on the internet). Methodology: We employed the MSSC (Motivations Scale for Sports Consumption) which is one of the most widely applied measurement instruments for sports consumption in general. The questionnaire was designed and pre-tested before distributing to target respondents (N=888). The reliability and validity of the instrument both met the commonly accepted guidelines. The model was assessed first by examining its measurement model and then the structural model.Findings: The results indicate that escapism, acquiring knowledge about the games being played, novelty and eSports athlete aggressiveness were found to positively predict eSport spectating frequency.Originality: During recent years, eSports (electronic sports) and video game streaming have become rapidly growing forms of new media in the internet driven by the growing provenance of (online) games and online broadcasting technologies. Today, hundreds of millions of people spectate eSports. The present investigation presents a large study on gratification-related determinants of why people spectate eSports on the internet. Moreover, the study proposes a definition for eSports and further discusses how eSports can be seen as a form of sports.
Multi-threaded compression of Earth observation time-series data

ABSTRACT Earth observation data are typically compressed using general-purpose single-threaded compression algorithms that operate at a fraction of the bandwidth of modern storage and processing systems. We present evidence that recently developed multi-threaded compression codecs offer substantial benefits over widely used single-threaded codecs in terms of compression efficiency when applied to a selection of moderate resolution imaging spectroradiometer (MODIS) datasets stored in the HDF5 format. Compression codecs from the LZ77 and Rice families are shown to vary in efficacy when applied to different MODIS data products, highlighting the need for compression strategies to be tailored to different classes of data. We also introduce LPC-Rice, a new multi-threaded codec, that performs particularly well when applied to time-series data.
Facial and Lower Cranial Neuropathies After Preoperative Embolization of Jugular Foramen Lesions With Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol

Objective To report 3 unique cases of cranial neuropathy after super-selective arterial embolization of jugular foramen vascular tumors with ethylene vinyl alcohol. Study Design Clinical capsule report. Setting Three tertiary academic referral hospitals. Patients Three patients who underwent superselective arterial embolization (SSE) of head and neck paragangliomas with ethylene vinyl alcohol are described. One individual was treated with primary SSE, whereas the remaining tumors were treated with preoperative SSE followed by surgical extirpation within 72 hours. All patients were found to have new cranial nerve deficits after SSE. Results One patient with isolated complete cranial nerve VII palsy demonstrated partial return of function at 8 months. One individual experienced cranial nerve VII, X, and XII palsies and demonstrated partial recovery of function of the involved facial nerve after 19 months. One subject experienced ipsilateral cranial nerve X and XI palsies after SSE and recovered full function of the spinal accessory nerve within 1 week but failed to demonstrate mobility of the ipsilateral true vocal fold. Conclusion We present the first report documenting facial and lower cranial neuropathies after super-selective embolization of head and neck paragangliomas with EVA. Although it is difficult to draw conclusions from this small number of cases, it is plausible that the use of ethylene vinyl alcohol during SSE may result in a higher risk of permanent cranial neuropathy than the use of other well-established and more temporary agents. Knowledge of the arterial supply to the cranial nerves can help the clinician to choose the embolization agent that will provide maximal occlusion while minimizing the risk of complications.
Nocebo context modulates long-term habituation to heat pain and influences functional connectivity of the operculum

Abstract In the past, nocebo manipulations have been found to modulate pain perception and influence long-term habituation to pain. Recently, neural correlates accompanying this finding have been identified: habituation over days is mirrored by decreased activity in pain-processing brain areas, whereas nocebo-specific modulation specifically involves the opercular cortex. Focusing on duration and central network characteristics of nocebo information in a longitudinal heat pain paradigm, we investigated 40 healthy participants over a period of 21 consecutive days, whereof sessions on days 1, 8, 14, and 21 were performed during functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning. Negative context information was given to half of the participants, inducing a nocebo manipulation through verbal suggestions. The analysis was focused on brain areas associated with habituation and nocebo effects and identified coupled brain regions using functional connectivity analysis. Decreased pain perception over days was reflected in reduced blood oxygenation level dependent signal in pain-processing areas, such as the insula and somatosensory cortices, whereas increased rostral anterior cingulate cortex activation reflected the central correlate for habituation over time. Habituation was significantly less pronounced in the nocebo group. Consistent with previous results, the nocebo manipulation not only modulated pain perception but also was accompanied by the activation of the operculum over an extended period of time. Importantly, the operculum exhibited changes in coupling during nociceptive input over time, as demonstrated by decreased connectivity with the basal ganglia and pinpoints differences, depending on whether a nocebo context was given. These data suggest that negative verbal suggestions prognosticating increasing pain may prevail by modulating basal ganglia–thalamocortical loops.