Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A systematic analysis of distressing near-death experience accounts

ABSTRACT Near-death experiences (NDEs) are usually associated with positive affect, however, a small proportion are considered distressing. We aimed to look into the proportion of distressing NDEs in a sample of NDE narratives, categorise distressing narratives according to Greyson and Bush’s classification (inverse, void or hellish), and compare distressing and “classical” NDEs. Participants wrote down their experience, completed the Memory Characteristics Questionnaire (assessing the phenomenology of memories) and the Greyson scale (characterising content of NDEs). The proportion of suicidal attempts, content and intensity of distressing and classical NDEs were compared using frequentist and Bayesian statistics. Distressing NDEs represent 14% of our sample (n = 123). We identified 8 inverse, 8 hellish and 1 void accounts. The proportion of suicide survivors is higher in distressing NDEs as compared to classical ones. Finally, memories of distressing NDEs appear as phenomenologically detailed as classical ones. Distressing NDEs deserve careful consideration to ensure their integration into experiencers’ identity.
There's No Smoke without Fire: Equity Returns Response to Indictment Filing

Markets react to new information and it is widely expected that the publication of negative news regarding a firm would negatively affect the returns on its equity. This work employs event study mythology on indictment filings in Israel during the period January 2011 to March 2014. We find that such events cause statistically significant negative abnormal returns during a twenty-day period after the event date. Interestingly, we also find that market reaction starts about a week after the event and that it appears to vary with the economic significance of the indictment. This is remarkable as prior research does not find significant reaction in relatively small markets to other corporate and rating agency announcements.
Brivaracetam efficacy and safety in focal epilepsy

ABSTRACT Introduction: Brivaracetam (BRV) is an analog of levetiracetam (LEV) with 15–30 times greater affinity to SV2A and greater brain permeability than LEV. These properties have stimulated interest in its clinical trial data and post-marketing experience. Areas covered: The authors provide a background on epilepsy and its treatment, discuss the racetam family of antiepileptic drugs to which BRV belongs, and then discuss BRV properties and its efficacy and tolerability in the treatment of epilepsy. Expert opinion: While preclinical data suggest a broad spectrum of efficacy, BRV is only approved for focal epilepsy. The recommended starting dose is 100 mg per day, but in the absence of urgency, it may be prudent to start at 50 mg per day, considered the lowest effective dose. There was no added benefit when BRV was used adjunctively with LEV in clinical trials. However, post-marketing data suggest that some patients may experience improved seizure control when switching from LEV. Behavioral adverse effects seemed less common than with LEV, and most patients switched to BRV after experiencing behavioral adverse effects on LEV reported improvement. Prior or anticipated intolerability to LEV is the strongest indication for BRV in clinical practice.
Does hand grip strength decrease in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbation? A cross-sectional study

Background/aim Respiratory and peripheral muscle strength are reduced in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). There is a well-known correlation between handgrip strength (HGS) and strenght extremity muscles. Our aim in this study was to measure HGS and investigate the related factors in COPD patients with exacerbation. Materials and methods Subjects with COPD exacerbation (n = 101) and stable COPD (n = 22), and subjects without COPD (n = 201), were enrolled in this study. Age, sex, and body mass index were similar. HGS was measured using a Vigorimeter. Pulmonary function tests and 6-min walk tests were performed. Results The mean HGS was significantly lower in subjects with COPD exacerbation than those with stable COPD and subjects without COPD. The mean HGS was similar between stable COPD and non-COPD subjects. The mean 6-min walk distance (6MWD) was significantly lower in subjects with COPD exacerbation than stable COPD. There was a significant correlation between HGS and 6MWD but no correlation between HGS and pulmonary function tests. Conclusion In subjects with COPD exacerbation, the HGS was lower than that of stable COPD patients, and this difference was not explained by age, comorbidities, severity of obstruction, or smoking. Physical inactivity and steroid use during exacerbation might be possible factors affecting HGS. HGS was moderately correlated with 6MWD in cases of exacerbation. It may be used as a measure of muscle performance in COPD exacerbation, especially when the 6-min walk test cannot be performed.
Change detection algorithm for multi-temporal satellite images: a review

Change detection (CD) is the process of detecting changes from multitemporal satellite images that have undergone spatial changes due to natural and man-made disaster. The objective is to analyse different change detection techniques, in order to use appropriately in various applications with the help of image processing. Techniques that are used in current researches are Image Differencing, Image Regression, Change Vector Analysis (CVA),Principal Component Analysis(PCA), Tasselled Cap, Gramm-Schmidt(GS), Post Classification Comparison, EM Detection, Unsupervised Change Detection, Li-Strahler Reflectance Model, Spectral Mixture Model, Biophysical Parameter Method, Integrated GIS and Remote Sensing Method, GIS Approach, Visual Interpretation and so on. Effective change detection is required for various applications such as rate of deforestation, costal changes, urban developments, damage evaluation, resource monitoring and land disposition.
Structural and Functional MRI Techniques in Multiple Sclerosis Related Cognitive Dysfunction

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system that is prevalent in young adults and therefore with significant social impact. Cognitive impairment occurs in 40% to 70% of patients with MS and has a weak correlation with disease duration. Neuropsycho-logical assessment is a standard method in the detection of cognitive dysfunction. However, in order to understand the etiology and evolution of cognitive dysfunction, several elaborate magnetic resonance techniques have been developed. Their aim is to measure structural changes in the CNS that are considered main substrates in cognitive function such as whole brain and gray matter atrophy, cortical lesions and changes in subcortical gray matter. Evidence shows that the clinical manifestations of multiple sclerosis are complex interactions between tissue damage, tissue repair and cortical reorganization. In order to study this heterogeneity, structural magnetic resonance analysis of brain morphology and functional magnetic resonance imaging are essential. This review summarizes current techniques in structural MRI and the value of functional MRI in understanding the link between cognitive deficit and cortical activation and reorganization.
Review of Network Steganography Techniques

: The term steganography is described as the means to conceal secret information in honest carriers that are not aware of the existence of the secret information, which is subsequently extracted at the destination. This paper discusses the fundamental principles of network steganography that is a relatively new approach of information hiding, followed by a brief overview of various network steganography procedures and techniques.
Effects of antioxidant-rich foods on altitude-induced oxidative stress and inflammation in elite endurance athletes: A randomized controlled trial

Background Various altitude training regimes, systematically used to improve oxygen carrying capacity and sports performance, have been associated with increased oxidative stress and inflammation. We investigated whether increased intake of common antioxidant-rich foods attenuates these processes. Methods In a randomized controlled trial, 31 elite endurance athletes (23 ± 5 years), ingested antioxidant-rich foods (n = 16), (> doubling their usual intake), or eucaloric control foods (n = 15) during a 3-week altitude training camp (2320 m). Fasting blood and urine samples were collected 7 days pre-altitude, after 5 and 18 days at altitude, and 7 days post-altitude. Change over time was compared between the groups using mixed models for antioxidant capacity [uric acid-free (ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP)], oxidative stress (8-epi-PGF2α) and inflammatory biomarkers (IFNγ, IL1α, IL1RA, IL1β, IL2, IL5, IL6, IL7, IL10, IL12p70, IL13, IL17, TNFα, MCP-1 and micro-CRP). The cytokine response to a stress-test (VO2max ramp test or 100 m swimming) was assessed at pre- and post-altitude. Results FRAP increased more in the antioxidant compared to the control group (p = 0.034). IL13 decreased in the antioxidant group, while increasing in the controls (p = 0.006). A similar trend was seen for IL6 (p = 0.062). A larger decrease in micro-CRP was detected in the antioxidant group compared to controls (β: -0.62, p = 0.02). We found no group differences for the remaining cytokines. 8-epi-PGF2α increased significantly in the whole population (p = 0.033), regardless group allocation. The stress response was significantly larger post-altitude compared with pre-altitude for IL1β, IL6, IL7, IL13, IL12p70 and TNFα, but we found no group differences. Conclusions Increased intake of antioxidant-rich foods elevated the antioxidant capacity and attenuated some of the altitude-induced systemic inflammatory biomarkers in elite athletes. The antioxidant intervention had no impact on the altitude-induced oxidative stress or changes in acute cytokine responses to exercise stress-tests.
Adrenalectomy impairs insulin-induced hypophagia and related hypothalamic changes.

Adrenalectomy (ADX) induces hypophagia and glucocorticoids counter- regulate the peripheral metabolic effects of insulin. This study evaluated the effects of ADX on ICV (lateral ventricle) injection of insulin-induced changes on food intake, mRNA expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides [insulin receptor (InsR), proopiomelanocortin, cocaine and amphetamine-regulated transcript (CART), agouti-related protein, neuropeptide Y (NPY) in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus (ARC), corticotrophin-releasing factor in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus], and hypothalamic protein content of insulin signaling related molecules [insulin receptor substrate (IRS) 1, protein kinase B (AKT), extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B (PTP1B) and T cell protein tyrosine phosphatase (TCPTP)]. Compared with sham animals, ADX increased hypothalamic content of pJNK/JNK, PTP1B and TCPTP, as well as decreased mRNA expression of InsR, and corticosterone (B) treatment reversed these effects. Insulin central injection enhanced hypothalamic content of pAKT/AKT and CART mRNA expression, decreased NPY mRNA expression and food intake only in sham rats, without effects in ADX and ADX+B rats. Insulin did not alter hypothalamic phosphorylation of IRS1 and ERK1/2 in the three experimental groups. These data demonstrate that ADX reduces the expression of InsR and increases insulin counter-regulators in the hypothalamus, as well as ADX abolishes hypophagia, activation of hypothalamic AKT pathway and changes in CART and NPY mRNA expression in the ARC induced by insulin. Thus, the higher levels of insulin counter-regulatory proteins and lower expression of InsR in the hypothalamus are likely to underlie impaired insulin-induced hypophagia and responses in the hypothalamus after ADX.
Supply Network Engineering: An Approach to Robust Capacity Allocation for Stochastic Production Processes

Abstract The dynamics of supply networks can exhibit considerable complexity. Expected and unexpected events can reduce the production capacity available on average and put the timely satisfaction of customer demand at risk. In this paper we model supply networks as multiclass queueing networks and present an approach to robust capacity allocation with respect to perturbations of the production processes. To this end we consider the fluid model of a multiclass queueing network and use its stability radius to measure the robustness. The stability radius reflects the smallest decrease of production rate that destabilizes the network. Based on results concerning this measure we set up an optimization problem for the capacity allocation.
An instrumented centrifuge for studying mouse locomotion and behaviour under hypergravity

ABSTRACT Gravity may influence multiple aspects of legged locomotion, from the periods of limbs moving as pendulums to the muscle forces required to support the body. We present a system for exposing mice to hypergravity using a centrifuge and studying their locomotion and activity during exposure. Centrifuge-induced hypergravity has the advantages that it both allows animals to move freely, and it affects both body and limbs. The centrifuge can impose two levels of hypergravity concurrently, using two sets of arms of different lengths, each carrying a mouse cage outfitted with a force and speed measuring exercise wheel and an infrared high-speed camera; both triggered automatically when a mouse begins running on the wheel. Welfare is monitored using infrared cameras. As well as detailing the design of the centrifuge and instrumentation, we present example data from mice exposed to multiple levels of hypergravity and details of how they acclimatized to hypergravity. Summary: We present a system for exposing mice to hypergravity and measuring the effects on their locomotion and activity. We include details of the design and implementation, and example experimental data.
Study of the Effects of FFA and Obesity on Diabetes Through Numerical Simulation of the Mathematical Model

Aim of the study is to analyze the effect of FFA together with the obesity on the glucose - insulin dynamics of NIDD people through a mathematical model. An attempt has been made to capture the glucose and insulin concentration levels for NIDD people having raised level of FFA and obesity through numerical simulation of the model. It has been observed from the simulation of the model that elevated level of plasma FFA inhibit glucose uptake, glucose utilization, decrease insulin sensitivity and increase insulin resistance in NIDD people in comparison to the normal people.
The βm protein, a member of the X, K-ATPase β-subunits family, is located intracellularly in pig skeletal muscle

Abstract The sequence of the pig cDNA encoding the muscle-specific βm-protein, a member of the X,K-ATPase β-subunits family, was determined. Two alternatively spliced transcripts encoding polypeptide chains of 355 and 351 residues were identified. The tissue specificity of expression of βm and other X,K-ATPase β-subunit genes was studied by RT-PCR performed on 24 tissues from newborn pigs. The βm expression was shown to be highly tissue-specific, being detected at the highest level in skeletal muscle, at a lower level in heart, and at much lower level in skin. The βm transcripts are more abundant in the tissues from the newborn than adult. Immunoblotting and deglycosylation shift assay indicated that skeletal muscle membranes of newborn pigs contain βm protein with an electrophoretic mobility and carbohydrate content very similar to that of human βm. Fractionation of membranes from both newborn and adult pig skeletal muscles by isopycnic centrifugation revealed that the majority of the βm protein is concentrated in the sarcoplasmic reticulum-containing fractions. This intracellular location is a unique property that distinguishes the βm protein from other members of the X,K-ATPase β-subunit family.
Polyamine-Stimulation of Arsenic-Transformed Keratinocytes.

Tumor promotion is strongly associated with inflammation and increased polyamine levels. Our understanding of relevant mechanisms responsible for arsenic-induced cancer remains limited. Previous studies suggest that arsenic targets and dysregulates stem cell populations that remain dormant in the skin until promoted to be recruited out of the bulge stem cell region, thus giving rise to skin tumors. In this study we explored a possible mechanism by which increased keratinocyte polyamine biosynthesis promotes tumorsphere formation and invasiveness of arsenic-transformed HaCaT keratinocytes (As-HaCaT). Unlike parental HaCaT cells, As-HaCaT cells were tumorigenic in athymic nude mice, and the CD45negative epithelial tumor cells had enriched expression of TLR4, CD34, and CXCR4 as did As-HaCaT tumorsphere cultures compared to As-HaCaT monolayer cultures. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) overexpressing keratinocytes (Ker/ODC) release increased levels of the alarmin HMGB1. Ker/ODC conditioned medium (CM) stimulated As-HaCaT but not parental HaCaT tumorsphere formation, and this was inhibited by glycyrrhizin, an inhibitor of HMGB1, and by TAK242, an inhibitor of the HMGB1 receptor TLR4. Compared to parental HaCaT cells, As-HaCaT cells demonstrated greater invasiveness across a Matrigel-coated filter using either fibroblast CM or SDF-1α as chemoattractants. Addition of Ker/ODC CM or HMGB1 dramatically increased As-HaCaT invasiveness. Glycyrrhizin and TAK242 inhibited this Ker/ODC CM-stimulated invasion of As-HaCaT cells but not HaCaT cells. These results show that polyamine-dependent release of HMGB1 promotes the expansion of stem cell-like subpopulations in arsenic-transformed keratinocytes while also increasing their invasiveness, suggesting that polyamines may be a potential therapeutic target for the prevention and treatment of arsenic-initiated skin cancers.
Shifted phenology in the pine processionary moth affects the outcome of tree–insect interaction

Abstract In the Mediterranean and temperate regions, an increase in the frequency and intensity of drought events has been recorded, probably due to climate change. In consequence, trees will more frequently experience hydric stress, a condition that can be expected to affect insect–tree interactions, while adaptation mechanisms may be further in course. The effect of tree water stress on the performance of two allochronic populations of Thaumetopoea pityocampa was here studied. Namely, we compared a unique population of this insect, in which the larvae develop in the summer (SP), with the typical population having winter larval development (WP), to test the adaptation hypothesis to host plant status. Larvae of each population were fed on needles of young potted Pinus pinaster plants under two water supply regimes: (i) well-watered (control) and (ii) subjected to 3 months of drought stress. Compared to control, stressed plants had higher amounts of soluble sugars, phenols, and higher C/N ratio, whereas water content and chlorophylls concentrations were lower. In general, T. pityocampa larvae had lower performances on water-stressed plants, as shown by lower survival rates, lower needle consumption, and longer development times. Yet, the detrimental effects of tree stress were only significant for the WP larvae, while SP larvae were able to overcome such conditions. Results demonstrate that tree water stress can negatively affect T. pityocampa populations. Furthermore, the evidence is also provided that responses to the physiological condition of the host trees may occur at the population level, as a result of adaptation mechanisms driven by climate change.
Bilevel Optimization for Cost Function Determination in Dynamic Simulation of Human Gait

Predictive simulation based on dynamic optimization using musculoskeletal models is a powerful approach for studying human gait. Predictive musculoskeletal simulation may be used for a variety of applications from designing assistive devices to testing theories of motor control. However, the underlying cost function for the predictive optimization is unknown and is generally assumed a priori. Alternatively, the underlying cost function can be determined from among a family of possible cost functions, representing an inverse optimal control problem that may be solved using a bilevel optimization approach. In this study, a nested evolutionary approach is proposed to solve the bilevel optimization problem. The lower level optimization is solved by a direct collocation method, and the upper level is solved by a genetic algorithm. We demonstrate our approach to solve different bilevel optimization problems, including finding the weights among three common performance criteria in the cost function for normal human walking. The proposed approach was found to be effective at solving the bilevel optimization problems. This approach should provide practical utility in designing assistive devices to aid mobility, and could yield insights about the control of human walking.
Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) amongthe Managers of Teaching Hospitals

Problem statement: Organizational behavior is desirable for any organi zation, as it is associated with important organizational variables such as job satisfaction, organizational productivi ty and system maintenance. The main purpose of this st udy is to evaluate the mean organizational behavior score among the managers of the hospitals affiliated to Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd. Approach: A descriptive-analytic cross-sectional study was conducted on 117 managers in various organizational levels working at the study hospitals who were randomly selected. questionnaire was used which validity and reliability are approved by the university management professors and Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.70, respectively. All the questions were presented in a Likert scale with fiv e options measuring four dimensions: (A) Generosity (B) Civil behavior (C) Conscious (3 D) F riendship. The data were entered in the SPSS software and Fisher exact test and chi-square test were used for data analysis. Results: The mean age of the study population is 39 years among whom 66.7% were male and 33.3%were female. The working experience of the study population was aver agely 15.6 years. A total of 78 (66.7%) managers are educated in medicine, allied medicine and basic sciences. Considering the scores in different components of organizational behavior, generosity was placed first with a mean score of 12.3 and conscious was placed fourth with a mean score of 5. 47. Conclusion: There was statistically significant association between sex, education level and the fi eld of study and being placed in certain quartiles of OCBs domains (p<0.05).
A second-order conditional moment closure model for the simulation of a lifted turbulent flame

This paper presents the results of a second-order closure Conditional Moment Closure model applied to a lifted turbulent H 2 -air flame. The objective is to find out how a second-order closure will modify the lift-off height compared to first-order results. A 10-step chemical mechanism is used to predict rates of reaction in hydrogen-air mixtures but the second-order correction terms are calculated using one-step chemistry. First a progress variable for this reduced mechanism is defined and an additional equation for its conditional variance is derived. The level of the conditional fluctuation is found to be around 30% of its maximum value for stoichiometric mixtures in the flame stabilisation area. The second-order closure has a distinct effect on the flame position determined in the simulations.