Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of observing another person’s action on self-generated performance in schizophrenia

Introduction. Observing another person’s action influences the execution of one’s own action via the mirror neuron system. However, the ability to control the effect of such action observation on one’s voluntary action has not been investigated. The aim of this study was to elucidate the influence of observing another’s action on own voluntary movement in patients with schizophrenia. Methods. Fifteen patients with schizophrenia and 15 healthy age-matched controls participated in this study. Subjects were asked to perform a gripping task at 50% of their maximal voluntary force (MVF), whereas simultaneously watching others performed the same task with a different grip force (0%, 50% and 100% MVF). Results. The healthy controls applied a constant grip force under each condition. In patients with schizophrenia, the grip force was significantly reduced during viewing the gripping of others at 50% MVF compared to during viewing other’s gripping at 0% and 100% MVF. The score of the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) and the Scale for the Assessment of Positive Symptoms were correlated with the fluctuation in grip force among the action observation conditions. Conclusion. Patients with schizophrenia might have difficulty controlling the influence of action observation on self-generated performance.
Wave-Breaking Turbulence in the Ocean Surface Layer

AbstractObservations of winds, waves, and turbulence at the ocean surface are compared with several analytic formulations and a numerical model for the input of turbulent kinetic energy by wave breaking and the subsequent dissipation. The observations are generally consistent with all of the formulations, although some differences are notable at winds greater than 15 m s−1. The depth dependence of the turbulent dissipation rate beneath the waves is fit to a decay scale, which is sensitive to the choice of vertical reference frame. In the surface-following reference frame, the strongest turbulence is isolated within a shallow region of depths much less than one significant wave height. In a fixed reference frame, the strong turbulence penetrates to depths that are at least half of the significant wave height. This occurs because the turbulence of individual breakers persists longer than the dominant period of the waves and thus the strong surface turbulence is carried from crest to trough with the wave orb.
LIM‐only protein FHL2 regulates experimental pulmonary Schistosoma mansoni egg granuloma formation

LIM‐only protein FHL2 is associated with several immune and inflammatory diseases such as arthritis, influenza A virus infection, and lung inflammation. However, the role of FHL2 in macrophage differentiation and in the development of granuloma formation is unknown. Here, we show that expression of FHL2 is induced in mouse bone marrow derived macrophages (BMMs) following stimulation with M2 cytokines such as IL‐4 and IL‐10. FHL2‐knockout (FHL2‐KO) BMMs exhibit a proinflammatory M1 phenotype after LPS treatment and display a reduced anti‐inflammatory M2 phenotype following IL‐4 treatment. Furthermore, thioglycollate‐induced migration of macrophages and B cells is enhanced in FHL2‐KO mice. To evaluate the importance of FHL2 in the development of pulmonary granuloma formation, FHL2‐KO mice were challenged with Schistosoma mansoni eggs. FHL2‐KO mice show an enhanced number of granulomas and display decreased expression of Th2 markers and an exacerbated Th1 type of inflammation, characterized by enhanced expression of neutrophil markers and Th1 cytokines. Furthermore, the expression of barrier proteins is reduced in FHL2‐KO lung compared to WT. Collectively, these data identify a previously unrecognized role for FHL2 in the pathogenesis of pulmonary granulomatous inflammation, partly through its effect on macrophage polarization, modulation of the Th1/Th2 balance and regulation of permeability in lung.
Nortriptyline and cognitive-behavioral therapy in the treatment of cigarette smoking.

BACKGROUND A history of major depressive disorder (MDD) predicts failure to quit smoking. We determined the effect of nortriptyline hydrochloride and cognitive-behavioral therapy on smoking treatment outcome in smokers with a history of MDD. The study also addressed the effects of diagnosis and treatment condition on dysphoria after quitting smoking and the effects of dysphoria on abstinence. METHODS This was a 2 (nortriptyline vs placebo) x 2 (cognitive-behavioral therapy vs control) x 2 (history of MDD vs no history) randomized trial. The participants were 199 cigarette smokers. The outcome measures were biologically verified abstinence from cigarettes at weeks 12, 24, 38, and 64. Mood, withdrawal, and depression were measured at 3, 5, and 8 days after the smoking quit date. RESULTS Nortriptyline produced higher abstinence rates than placebo, independent of depression history. Cognitive-behavioral therapy was more effective for participants with a history of depression. Nortriptyline alleviated a negative affect occurring after smoking cessation. Increases in the level of negative affect from baseline to 3 days after the smoking quit date predicted abstinence at later assessments for MDD history-negative smokers. There was also a sex-by-depression history interaction; MDD history-positive women were less likely to be abstinent than MDD history-negative women, but depression history did not predict abstinence for men. CONCLUSIONS Nortriptyline is a promising adjunct for smoking cessation. Smokers with a history of depression are aided by more intensive psychosocial treatments. Mood and diagnosis interact to predict relapse. Increases in negative affect after quitting smoking are attenuated by nortriptyline.
CASUAL WORK ARRANGEMENTS (CWAs) AND ITS EFFECT ON RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Casual work is increasingly becoming the norm of a global economy as companies undergo restructuring, privatization, concentration on core activities and modifications in work organization and technology. These factors certainly affect traditional employment relations and the exercise of freedom of association and collective bargaining rights inherent in them. Flexible work patterns are now becoming dominant in developing countries and this makes it more difficult to organize workers for collective representation. A fall-out of globalization in Nigeria is the increase in CWAs. Workers in this form of work arrangements are subject to insecurity and little or no protection as labour legislation can seldom be effectively applied to them. Globalization is said to provoke the deterioration of working conditions in developing countries like Nigeria. According to the International Labour Organization (ILO) statistics union membership though still significant in large work places, has decreased in almost all parts of the world in the last decade. The relevance of collective representation is not always obvious when work places are small or in activities where there is little experience of collective organization and representation of interests. These factors are leading to a widening representational gap in the world of work. Based on these assertions, this study tends to examine casual work arrangements and freedom of association in Nigeria. A labour market segmentation theory provided the conceptual framework. Keywords: Casual workers, globalization, International Labour Organization (ILO), Freedom of association, Casual work arrangements (CWAs)
Clinicopathologic evidence of disseminated intravascular coagulation in horses with acute colitis.

OBJECTIVE To detect subclinical disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) in horses with colitis and to determine any association between the diagnosis of subclinical DIC and outcome or occurrence of complications in horses with colitis. DESIGN Prospective study. ANIMALS 37 horses admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital for treatment of acute colitis. PROCEDURE Coagulation profiles were obtained on each horse 0, 24, and 48 hours after admission. Six tests were performed: platelet count, plasma fibrinogen concentration, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, antithrombin activity, and serum fibrin degradation products concentration. RESULTS A clinicopathologic diagnosis of subclinical DIC was made if 3 of the 6 tests had abnormal results at any 1 sample period. No horse had clinical signs of DIC at the time of sampling. Twelve of 37 (32%) horses met the criteria for diagnosis of subclinical DIC within a 1-year period. Outcome was defined as survival or nonsurvival. Five of 12 horses with subclinical DIC and 2 of 25 horses without subclinical DIC did not survive. Crude odds ratio analysis revealed a horse with acute colitis was 8 times as likely to die or be euthanatized if a diagnosis of subclinical DIC was made. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Clinicopathologic evidence of DIC is common and is significantly associated with a poor outcome in horses with acute colitis. Treatment of subclinical DIC may influence outcome in horses with acute colitis.
Miniature double-ridged horn antennas composed of solid high-permittivity sintered ceramics for biomedical ultra-wideband radar applications

Ultra-wideband (UWB) radar sensors are attracting more and more attention, e.g., for biomedical applications. In contrast to established techniques like X-ray tomography or invasive diagnostic approaches, UWB radar offers the potential for remote access and ultra-low power signal intensities. Inspired by promising studies of breast tumor imaging [1], we are continuing and extending our previous work on biomedical M-sequence radar and antenna techniques [2]. We describe the development and the potential of innovative double-ridged horn antennas, based on high-permittivity sintered ceramics, which have been adapted to the envisaged biomedical applications. In this context, the miniaturization of UWB antennas, due to the restriction to small examination areas, without compromising the electromagnetic fidelity is the overall challenge. For the dielectric scaling of antennas with the potential to operate over wide bandwidths, we focus on nearly frequency independent, high-permittivity and low-loss materials. In what follows, we describe the arduous path from the first idea to functional laboratory versions of double-ridged horn antennas based on solid sintered ceramics. In this way, the paper illustrates the successful interdependence between microwave engineering and mechanical and material engineering.
Detection of Application Layer DDoS Attacks with Clustering and Bayes Factors

One of the attacks observed against HTTP protocol is HTTP-GET attack using sequences of requests to limit accessibility of web servers. This attack has been researched in this report, and a novel detection technique has been developed to tackle it. In general, the technique uses entropy-based clustering and application of Bayes factors to distinguish among legitimate and attacking sequences. It has been presented that the introduced method allows for formation of recent patterns of behaviours observed at a web server, that remain unknown to the attackers. Subsequently, Bayes factors are introduced to measure anomaly of web sessions. The method performs reasonably well, against strategy and scope varying attackers.
Effects of season on the reproductive organ and plasma testosterone concentrations in guinea cocks (Numida meleagris).

The physiological basis of seasonal breeding in the guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) still remains unknown, despite the socioeconomic importance of these birds, particularly in Ghana. A study involving a total of 50 local guinea cocks was conducted, and documented gross anatomical and histological differences in the reproductive organs of breeding and non-breeding male guinea fowls. The study also compared peripheral testosterone concentrations in breeding and non-breeding cocks. Seasonal differences in variables measured were determined using two-tailed t-test/Mann-Whitney U-test. All comparisons were made at 5% level of significance. Breeding males had significantly (P = 0.000) higher anatomical biometric parameters than their non-breeding counterparts. Also, breeding birds had thicker (P = 0.000) phalli than their non-breeding counterparts. Histologically, regressing testis was characterized by the presence of sloughed off cells and increased debris in the tubular lumen and within the excurrent duct system, collapsed tubules and reduction in tubular lumen. Germ and Sertoli cell populations and nuclear diameters and actual seminiferous tubular diameter and length in regressing testes were significantly (P = 0.000) lower than in active testes. Leydig cell nuclear diameters and populations were also significantly (P = 0.000) reduced. Relative volume of seminiferous tubules in the testis, testicular sperm production/mg testis and per testis and peripheral testosterone concentrations were all higher (P < 0.05) in breeding than non-breeding testis. The ducts in the epididymal region also saw significant (P < 0.05) reductions in luminal diameters in non-breeding birds. Significant regression in anatomical and histological structures of the guinea cock reproductive tract occurred during the non-breeding season, and lower peripheral testosterone concentrations may be responsible for this phenomenon.
Market Disequilibrium and the Impact of News Sentiment

The market price of any stock or financial instrument listed on an exchange would be assumed to be observed price, though we believe there is always a true price (or fair market value) of any. The market value and market price are identical only under conditions of market efficiency, equilibrium, and rational expectations. According to the theory of efficient market, if the observed price of a stock is beyond the market value, the price is expected to drop and vice versa. This is consistent with one of the properties of stock returns mean reversion. However, the market doesn’t always reverse. Although the long-term mean of returns tends towards zero, if we look at the small proportion of the entire market movements, some show extreme up/downwards movements. We believe sentiment takes place if the market is not reversing. In this thesis, I have used a systemic approach with two parts of the basic regression models to explore market behaviour: first, I have applied parametric models to check whether investor sentiment exists at both marketand firm-level. Second, we focused on whether we can find a non-parametric method to visualise the relationship between return/residual and sentiment. There are mainly five case studies in this thesis. The first case study confirmed the relationship between the proxy of sentiment (extracted from the textual corpus) and DJIA market returns using linear regression models. The second and the third case studies used the same method to observe the relationship between sentiment and index returns in Danish and Chinese markets. The fourth study visualised the relationship between the proxy of sentiment and the return residual (error term from the linear models) using a LOWESS model. In the fifth case study, we test all the procedures using the firm-level stock returns (23 top companies in Fortune 500) into the same model instead of the market-level returns, revealing the impact of investor sentiment on the firm-level stock returns. Results have shown that although impact of sentiment is always observed at market-level (because the coverage of market-level sentiment is better as any news of the companies included in the index can be regarded to the market news), it is not always obvious at the firm-level (with difficulties in availability of data and limitation of method).
Composition, serologic reactivity, and immunolocalization of a 120-kilodalton tube precipitin antigen of Coccidioides immitis

Diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis largely depends on serologic tests. In this investigation, the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to detect patient immunoglobulin M (IgM) precipitin antibody binding to a 120-kilodalton (kDa) fraction previously isolated from an alkali-soluble, water-soluble extract of the arthroconidial wall and mycelial culture filtrate plus toluene lysate of Coccidioides immitis. Results of the serologic response to this tube precipitin antigen (TP-Ag) in the ELISA correlated well with results of immunodiffusion assays of 30 serum samples from patients. Immunoelectron microscopic examinations of arthroconidia and spherules were performed with patient IgM precipitin antibodies isolated from sera eluted over a solid-phase immunosorbent column containing the purified 120-kDa TP-Ag. The antibody probe located the 120-kDa TP-Ag on the walls of in vitro-grown arthroconidia and spherules. Pronase digestion and heating (100 degrees C, 5 min) had no apparent effect on the activity of the 120-kDa TP-Ag, while periodate oxidation resulted in total loss of its immunodiffusion-TP activity. Analysis of the carbohydrate composition of the TP-Ag revealed xylose, 3-O-methylmannose (3-O-MM), mannose, galactose, and glucose. Competitive inhibition ELISAs were used to demonstrate that 3-O-MM is largely responsible for the reactivity of IgM precipitin antibodies with the 120-kDa TP-Ag. Synthetic 3-O-MM may be a useful probe for detection of anti-Coccidioides precipitin antibodies in the ELISA.
Risk of stillbirth at term and optimum timing of delivery in uncomplicated south Asian singleton pregnancies.

OBJECTIVES Aims of this study were to compare the perinatal mortality rate and the prospective risk of stillbirth for each given gestational age and to ascertain whether it is safe to continue the pregnancy beyond 40 weeks of gestational age and induce labour at 41 weeks in low risk singleton pregnancies. METHODS This was a retrospective study. The perinatal mortality and prospective risk were calculated per 1000 total births and 1000 ongoing pregnancies respectively in well dated singleton pregnancies. 38+0 to 39+6 gestational age was taken as the reference. RESULTS A total of 12,595 deliveries after 28 weeks of gestation were included. The risk of stillbirth at 38+0 to 39+6 weeks was 1.43 (95% CI, 0.9 to 2.4) per 1000 on going pregnancies. The perinatal mortality rate at 38+0 to 39+6 weeks was 2.9 (95% CI, 1.9 to 4.5) per 1000 total births. The perinatal mortality rate decreased throughout gestation and it was lowest at 40+0 - 41+6. In contrast, risk of stillbirth increased with advancing gestation and peaked at 40+0 - 41+6 (2.57, 95% CI, 1.4 to 4.7). However, risk of stillbirth at 40+0 - 41+6 was not statistically different from 38+0 to 39+6 (OR 1.79, 95% CI, 0.80 to 3.98). To prevent one stillbirth, 886 pregnancies should be induced at 38+0 to 39+6. CONCLUSIONS Risk of stillbirth is more informative than perinatal mortality at term. Frequent antenatal fetal surveillance should be adopted towards term in order to identify high risk pregnancies. Elective delivery before 40 weeks in low risk pregnancies is not justified.
A system on chip based stereo vision approach for disparity measurement

Stereo vision systems are very inevitable part for depth measurement in most autonomous systems. This paper presents an approach to stereo vision applicable for finding disparity and depth information which is very critical for autonomous robot navigation[1] and path following applications. Using the depth information[2] it is possible to control drones and similar autonomous systems. A pair of USB webcams was used and were interfaced with Raspberry Pi, which is a Linux based low powered system on chip which makes the system very compact. The whole disparity measurement system is capable of calibrating the stereo camera rig using a light weight cross platform and powerful tool called Qt creator. The Qt creator API is linked with the dedicated real time image processing library OpenCV and for this project OpenCV[3] functions are used exclusively for calibration and stereo vision disparity measurement.
The effects of topical iodine containing antiseptics on thyroidal status of preterm versus term babies.

OBJECTIVE To determine the effect of iodine containing antiseptics on thyroid function for the first 3 weeks in non-very-low-birth weight preterm and term babies, and to evaluate their thyroid function and behavioral status 7 years later. METHODS Cohort I (between the years 1997-1998) was studied in 57 preterm (30-35 weeks) and 29 term newborns, 7 years later cohort II (in the year 2005) was created from same 28 preterm and 18 term infants at Behcet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey. Serum thyrotropin, triiodothyronine, total and free thyroxine were measured on the first, seventh, and twenty-first days (cohort I), and at the age of 7 (cohort II). In respect of used antiseptics, the patients were divided into 2 groups. The evaluation of patients was performed according to the Turgay Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychiatric Disorders, 4th edition based child and adolescent behavior disorders screening and rating scale. RESULTS On the seventh day of life, iodine-exposed newborns had significantly higher mean thyrotropin levels and lower free thyroxine, total thyroxine, and triiodothyronine levels. On the twenty-first day, thyrotropin levels of iodine-exposed newborns were similar to controls. The cohort II results showed normal thyroid function in all patents with increased hyperactivity among children born prematurely, and particularly experienced exposure to iodine. CONCLUSION Iodine excess may cause transient hypothyroxinemia in preterm babies (>30 weeks gestational age, >1.5 kg) and this may be one of the reasons for behavior problems observed later in these children.
Recombinant factor VIIa as a rescue therapy in severe haemoptysis in a patient with a Fontan circulation

Abstract We describe the successful use of recombinant factor VIIa (rFVIIa) in the control of massive haemoptysis in a 17-year-old patient with a Fontan circulation. The patient was intubated and ventilated in the ICU with deteriorating gas exchange. Conventional methods to control the haemoptysis were ineffective, and rFVIIa was successfully administered as a rescue therapy. rFVIIa is a powerful pro-thrombotic agent, which is only licensed in haemophiliacs with acquired inhibitors to anticoagulation. It has been used off-license in the treatment of massive haemorrhage, although a Cochrane review did not show any significant benefit; however, it may have a role as a rescue therapy where alternatives options have been exhausted after careful risk–benefit analysis.
Robust estimation and testing of haplotype effects in case‐control studies

Haplotype‐based analyses are thought to play a major role in the study of common complex diseases. This has led to the development of a variety of statistical methods for detecting disease‐haplotype associations from case‐control study data. However, haplotype phase is often uncertain when only genotype data is available. Methods that account for haplotype ambiguity by modeling the distribution of haplotypes can, if this distribution is misspecified, lead to substantial bias in parameter estimates even when complete genotype data is available. Here we study estimators that can be derived from score functions of appropriate likelihoods. We use the efficient score approach to estimation in the presence of nuisance parameters to a derive novel estimators that are robust to the haplotype distribution. We establish key relationships between estimators and study their empirical performance via simulation. Genet. Epidemiol. 2007. Published 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A KCNQ channel opener for experimental neonatal seizures and status epilepticus

Neonatal seizures occur frequently, are often refractory to anticonvulsants, and are associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. Genetic and electrophysiological evidence indicates that KCNQ voltage‐gated potassium channels are critical regulators of neonatal brain excitability. This study tests the hypothesis that selective openers of KCNQ channels may be effective for treatment of neonatal seizures.