Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Imaging the where and when of tic generation and resting state networks in adult Tourette patients

Introduction: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder with the core phenomenon of tics, whose origin and temporal pattern are unclear. We investigated the When and Where of tic generation and resting state networks (RSNs) via functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods: Tic-related activity and the underlying RSNs in adult TS were studied within one fMRI session. Participants were instructed to lie in the scanner and to let tics occur freely. Tic onset times, as determined by video-observance were used as regressors and added to preceding time-bins of 1 s duration each to detect prior activation. RSN were identified by independent component analysis (ICA) and correlated to disease severity by the means of dual regression. Results: Two seconds before a tic, the supplementary motor area (SMA), ventral primary motor cortex, primary sensorimotor cortex and parietal operculum exhibited activation; 1 s before a tic, the anterior cingulate, putamen, insula, amygdala, cerebellum and the extrastriatal-visual cortex exhibited activation; with tic-onset, the thalamus, central operculum, primary motor and somatosensory cortices exhibited activation. Analysis of resting state data resulted in 21 components including the so-called default-mode network. Network strength in those regions in SMA of two premotor ICA maps that were also active prior to tic occurrence, correlated significantly with disease severity according to the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTTS) scores. Discussion: We demonstrate that the temporal pattern of tic generation follows the cortico-striato-thalamo-cortical circuit, and that cortical structures precede subcortical activation. The analysis of spontaneous fluctuations highlights the role of cortical premotor structures. Our study corroborates the notion of TS as a network disorder in which abnormal RSN activity might contribute to the generation of tics in SMA.
Nutritional Risk, Micronutrient Status and Clinical Outcomes: A Prospective Observational Study in an Infectious Disease Clinic

Malnutrition has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional status and micronutrient levels of hospitalized patients in an infectious disease clinic and investigate their association with adverse clinical outcomes. The nutritional status of the study participants was assessed using the Nutritional Risk Screening 2002 (NRS 2002) and micronutrient levels and routine biochemical parameters were tested within the first 24 h of the patient’s admission. The incidence of zinc, selenium, thiamine, vitamin B6, vitamin B12 deficiency were 66.7% (n = 40), 46.6% (n = 29), 39.7% (n = 27), 35.3% (n = 24), 14.1% (n = 9), respectively. Selenium levels were significantly higher in patients with urinary tract infections, but lower in soft tissue infections. Copper levels were significantly higher in patients with soft tissue infections. In the Cox regression models, lower albumin, higher serum lactate dehydrogenase levels and higher NRS-2002 scores were associated with increased death. Thiamine, selenium, zinc and vitamin B6 deficiencies but not chromium deficiencies are common in infectious disease clinics. New associations were found between micronutrient levels and infection type and their adverse clinical outcomes. Hypoalbuminemia and a high NRS-2002 score had the greatest accuracy in predicting death, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and sepsis on admission.
Role of Striatum in Updating Values of Chosen Actions

The striatum is thought to play a crucial role in value-based decision making. Although a large body of evidence suggests its involvement in action selection as well as action evaluation, underlying neural processes for these functions of the striatum are largely unknown. To obtain insights on this matter, we simultaneously recorded neuronal activity in the dorsal and ventral striatum of rats performing a dynamic two-armed bandit task, and examined temporal profiles of neural signals related to animal's choice, its outcome, and action value. Whereas significant neural signals for action value were found in both structures before animal's choice of action, signals related to the upcoming choice were relatively weak and began to emerge only in the dorsal striatum ∼200 ms before the behavioral manifestation of the animal's choice. In contrast, once the animal revealed its choice, signals related to choice and its value increased steeply and persisted until the outcome of animal's choice was revealed, so that some neurons in both structures concurrently conveyed signals related to animal's choice, its outcome, and the value of chosen action. Thus, all the components necessary for updating values of chosen actions were available in the striatum. These results suggest that the striatum not only represents values associated with potential choices before animal's choice of action, but might also update the value of chosen action once its outcome is revealed. In contrast, action selection might take place elsewhere or in the dorsal striatum only immediately before its behavioral manifestation.
Choosing the Variables to Estimate Singular DSGE Models

We propose two methods to choose the variables to be used in the estimation of the structural parameters of a singular DSGE model. The first selects the vector of observables that optimizes parameter identification; the second the vector that minimizes the informational discrepancy between the singular and non-singular model. An application to a standard model is discussed and the estimation properties of different setups compared. Practical suggestions for applied researchers are provided.
How are sexually abused children interviewed during criminal proceedings in Italy?

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to systematically examine the questioning of children in Italian criminal proceedings. 87 trial transcripts of 4- to 17-year-old children testifying as alleged victims of sexual abuse were analysed focusing on the differences of age with due regard for the type of questions asked and of witnesses’ responses. A total of 20,815 question-response pairs were identified. Results illustrated that age played an important role in the choice of questions asked and in the answers of the witness. In particular, younger children were asked more open-ended questions than older children and, in spite of this, they seemed to be more difficult to interview, because they provided more unresponsive instances, with misunderstandings and attempts to avoid answering questions. These findings have important implications in the way that children are examined in court.
The characteristic which makes the cell-coded HSV-inducible U90 distinctive in transformed cells is its greatly increased half-life.

A set of polypeptides detected in transformed cells of M(r) values 90,000 (a doublet) 40,000 and 32,000 that are recognised by immunoprecipitation of L-[35S]methionine-labelled tumour cell lysates, with sera from tumour-bearing rats and with antisera raised against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2)-infected cells, were previously reported (Macnab et al., 1985, 1992; Hewitt et al., 1991). These proteins are cell-coded and cannot be precipitated from similarly radiolabelled control cells. Two of these polypeptides are significantly induced by HSV-2 infection (Hewitt et al., 1991; Macnab et al., 1992). This paper further characterises one of these polypeptides, U90, and addresses which properties distinguish the behaviour of U90 in tumour cells, whether there is an equivalent in control cells and whether U90 can be induced without HSV replication. U90 can be immunoprecipitated from radiolabelled human cells which are capable of extended passage in culture, as well as from human tumour cells, rodent tumour cells and cells of different lineages, e.g. epithelial, fibroblastic and lymphoid. Purification of U90 and the subsequent production of monospecific antibodies revealed, by western blotting, a homologue of 90 kDa in control cells. Western blotting shows that HSV can increase the amount of the U90 homologue in these normal cells. The absence of an immunoprecipitate of the U90 homologue from control cells is a result of the very short half-life (i.e. high turnover) of the protein in these cells (32.9 minutes) as opposed to tumour cells (about 13 hours). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Glucose consumption is reduced in areas beyond infarction after transient focal ischemia : An in vivo Positron Emission Tomography study in the rat

1 Department of Brain Ischemia and Neurodegeneration, Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona (IIBB)-Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Barcelona, Spain; 2 Institut d’Alta Tecnología (IAT), Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB), Barcelona, Spain; 3 IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain; 4 Centre de Diagnòstic per la Imatge (CDI), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain.
Is There a Quantity-Quality Tradeoff as Enrollments Increase? Evidence from Tamil Nadu, India

In this paper we review the literature on sovereign debt with particular emphasis on indexation and maturity and the main policy proposals related to these topics. We also advance some implications derived from our work. In Alfaro and Kanczuk (2005a, b, c), we modeled sovereign debt as a contingent claim following the framework developed by Grossman and Van Huyck (1988). Our framework, however, recognizes that contingent debt might be associated with incentive problems. Applying this framework to the study of the sustainability of sovereign debt, the tradeoff between nominal and indexed debt, and the optimal debt maturity, we find some of the proposals advanced in the literature regarding lengthening debt maturity and issuing nominal debt to be unsustainable in emerging (volatile) economies.
Comparison of bias resulting from two methods of self-reporting height and weight: a validation study

Objectives To contrast the validity of two modes of self-reported height and weight data. Design Subjects’ self-reported height and weight by mailed survey without expectation of subsequent measurement. Subjects were later offered a physical exam, where they self-reported their height and weight again, just prior to measurement. Regression equations to predict actual from self-reported body mass index (BMI) were fitted for both sets of self-reported values. Residual analyses assessed bias resulting from application of each regression equation to the alternative mode of self-report. Analyses were stratified by gender. Setting Upstate New York. Participants Subjects (n = 260) with survey, pre-exam and measured BMI. Main outcome measures Prevalence of obesity based on two modes of self-report and also measured values. Bias resulting from misapplication of correction equations. Results Accurate prediction of measured BMI was possible for both self-report modes for men (R2 = 0.89 survey, 0.85 pre-exam) and women (R2 = 0.92 survey, 0.97 pre-exam). Underreporting of BMI was greater for survey than pre-exam but only significantly so in women. Obesity prevalence was significantly underestimated by 10.9% (p < 0.001) and 14.9% (p < 0.001) for men and 5.4% (p = 0.007) and 11.2% (p < 0.001) for women, for pre-exam and survey, respectively. Residual analyses showed that significant bias results when a regression model derived from one mode of self-report is used to correct BMI values estimated from the alternative mode. Conclusions Both modes significantly underestimated obesity prevalence. Underestimation of actual BMI is greater for survey than pre-exam self-report for both genders, indicating that equations adjusting for self-report bias must be matched to the self-report mode.
Amphipathic α-Helices in Apolipoproteins Are Crucial to the Formation of Infectious Hepatitis C Virus Particles

Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and ApoE have been shown to participate in the particle formation and the tissue tropism of hepatitis C virus (HCV), but their precise roles remain uncertain. Here we show that amphipathic α-helices in the apolipoproteins participate in the HCV particle formation by using zinc finger nucleases-mediated apolipoprotein B (ApoB) and/or ApoE gene knockout Huh7 cells. Although Huh7 cells deficient in either ApoB or ApoE gene exhibited slight reduction of particles formation, knockout of both ApoB and ApoE genes in Huh7 (DKO) cells severely impaired the formation of infectious HCV particles, suggesting that ApoB and ApoE have redundant roles in the formation of infectious HCV particles. cDNA microarray analyses revealed that ApoB and ApoE are dominantly expressed in Huh7 cells, in contrast to the high level expression of all of the exchangeable apolipoproteins, including ApoA1, ApoA2, ApoC1, ApoC2 and ApoC3 in human liver tissues. The exogenous expression of not only ApoE, but also other exchangeable apolipoproteins rescued the infectious particle formation of HCV in DKO cells. In addition, expression of these apolipoproteins facilitated the formation of infectious particles of genotype 1b and 3a chimeric viruses. Furthermore, expression of amphipathic α-helices in the exchangeable apolipoproteins facilitated the particle formation in DKO cells through an interaction with viral particles. These results suggest that amphipathic α-helices in the exchangeable apolipoproteins play crucial roles in the infectious particle formation of HCV and provide clues to the understanding of life cycle of HCV and the development of novel anti-HCV therapeutics targeting for viral assembly.
Changes in endogenous gene transcript and protein levels in maize plants expressing the soybean ferritin transgene

Transgenic agricultural crops with increased nutritive value present prospects for contributing to public health. However, their acceptance is poor in many countries due to the perception that genetic modification may cause unintended effects on expression of native genes in the host plant. Here, we tested effects of soybean ferritin transgene (SoyFer1, M64337) on transcript and protein levels of endogenous genes in maize. Results showed that the transgene was successfully introduced and expressed in the maize seed endosperm. mRNA abundance of seven tested iron homeostasis genes and seed storage protein genes differed significantly between seed samples positive and negative for the transgene. The PCR negative samples had higher zein and total protein content compared to the positive samples. However, PCR positive samples had significantly higher concentrations of calcium, magnesium, and iron. We have shown that the soybean ferritin transgene affected the expression of native iron homeostasis genes in the maize plant. These results underscore the importance of taking a holistic approach to the evaluation of transgenic events in target plants, comparing the transgenic plant to the untransformed controls.
Bibliometric Rankings of World Universities

Save exceptions stated by law no part of this publication may be reproduced in any form, by print, photoprint, microfilm or other means, included a complete or partial transcription, without the prior written permission of the author. Auteursrecht voorbehouden. Behoudens uitzondering door de Wet gesteld mag zonder schriftelijke toestemming van de recht-hebbende(n) op het auteursrecht niets uit deze uitgave worden vermenigvuldigd en/of openbaar gemaakt worden door middel van druk, fotokopie, microfilm of anderszins, hetgeen van toepassing is op de gehele of gedeeltelijke bewerking.
An actuarial balance model for DB PAYG pension systems with disability and retirement contingencies

In this paper we develop the theoretical basis for drawing up the �Swedish� actuarial balance of a defined benefit pay-as-you-go (DB PAYG) scheme with retirement and disability benefits. Our model enables us to obtain the system's average turnover duration, measure the scheme's solvency and explore the phenomenon identified as �pension reclassification�, an unhealthy practice that masks the system's real status and makes it very difficult to obtain accurate actuarial results by contingency. Additionally, the proposed model has practical implications which could be of interest not only to DB systems but also to notional defined contribution schemes (NDC) and policy-makers.
Animal ambassador interpretation techniques and its impact on connectedness to nature

Abstract This exploratory study examined the effects of naming animal ambassadors on participants’ level of Empathy, Altruism, Connectedness to Nature, and Commitment to Engaging in Environmentally responsible Behaviors. Raptor educational presentations were used for this study. Two animal ambassadors were used in the experiment (one animal was given its common species name versus the other was named after its natural history). Observations, online questionnaires, and telephone interviews were used to assess the effects of implementing different named animal ambassadors in programing. Findings indicated no statistical significance between control and treatment groups, but found qualitative evidence signaling the effectiveness of naming animal ambassadors.
Behavioral Symptom Confusion: Distinguishing Rejection of Care, Aggression, and Agitation in Persons with Dementia Living in the Community

s of papers to select measures that meet the following criteria: (a) published in English; (b) developed for or tested in people with dementia; (c) included items measuring rejection of care, aggression, or agitation; and (d) one or more psychometric properties were reported. The authors then reviewed the wording of the selected instruments for its relevance to rejection of care, aggression, and agitation.
Alternative ways of modulating JAK-STAT pathway

Most attempts to develop inhibitors of STAT transcription factors target either activating phosphorylation of tyrosine residue or SH2 domains. However, all six domains of STATs are highly conserved between the species and play important roles in the function of this family of transcription factors. STATs are involved in numerous protein-protein interactions that are likely to regulate and fine tune transcriptional activity. Targeting these interactions can provide plentiful opportunities for the discovery of novel drug candidates and powerful chemical biology tools. Using N-terminal domains as an example we describe alternative rational approaches to the development of modulators of JAK-STAT signaling.
Focus on 16p13.3 Locus in Colon Cancer

Background With one million new cases of colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosed annually in the world, CRC is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the Western world. Patients with stage I-III CRC can be cured with surgery but are at risk for recurrence. Colorectal cancer is characterized by the presence of chromosomal deletions and gains. Large genomic profiling studies have however not been conducted in this disease. The number of a specific genetic aberration in a tumour sample could correlate with recurrence-free survival or overall survival, possibly leading to its use as biomarker for therapeutic decisions. At this point there are not sufficient markers for prediction of disease recurrence in colorectal cancer, which can be used in the clinic to discriminate between stage II patients who will benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy. For instance, the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy has been most clearly demonstrated in stage III disease with an approximately 30 percent relative reduction in the risk of disease recurrence. The benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy in stage II disease are less certain, the risk for relapse is much smaller in the overall group and the specific patients at risk are hard to identify. Materials and Methods In this study, array-comparative genomic hybridization analysis (array-CGH) was applied to study high-resolution DNA copy number alterations in 93 colon carcinoma samples. These genomic data were combined with parameters like KRAS mutation status, microsatellite status and clinicopathological characteristics. Results Both large and small chromosomal losses and gains were identified in our sample cohort. Recurrent gains were found for chromosome 1q, 7, 8q, 13 and 20 and losses were mostly found for 1p, 4, 8p, 14, 15, 17p, 18, 21 and 22. Data analysis demonstrated that loss of chromosome 4 is linked to a worse prognosis in our patients series. Besides these alterations, two interesting small regions of overlap were identified, which could be associated with disease recurrence. Gain of the 16p13.3 locus (including the RNA binding protein, fox-1 homolog gene, RBFOX1) was linked with a worse recurrence-free survival in our patient cohort. On the other hand, loss of RBFOX1 was only found in patients without disease recurrence. Most interestingly, above mentioned characteristics were also found in stage II patients, for whom there is a high medical need for the identification of new prognostic biomarkers. Conclusions In conclusion, copy number variation of the 16p13.3 locus seems to be an important parameter for prediction of disease recurrence in colon cancer.
Watermarking-Based Blind QoS Assessment for Wireless Image Communication

This paper presents a novel scheme to blindly estimate the quality of an image communication link by means of an unconventional use of digital watermarking. The watermarking technique is usually employed for digital media copyright protection and authenticity verification. However, watermarking is here adopted as a method to provide a blind assessment of the quality of service (QoS) in wireless image communication. First, a compressed-domain watermarking scheme is proposed. Each 8×8 block in a JPEG compressed image is first processed by entropy decoding, and then the parity of the number of non-zero alternating current (AC) coefficients in each quantized discrete cosine transform (DCT) block is modified to embed the watermark. Second, the performances of the proposed watermarking scheme have been tested. Finally, the proposed watermarking scheme is applied to estimate the QoS of an image communication link based on the assessment factor which is associated with the errors between the extracted watermark and the original. Experimental results show the proposed scheme can evaluate the QoS of wireless image communication channels exactly without increasing the bit rate transmission. Moreover, the quality of the carrier image has not been affected. 
Cell cycle–regulated cortical dynein/dynactin promotes symmetric cell division by differential pole motion in anaphase

Evidence is presented for dynamic cortical association of dynein and dynactin in mammalian cells and its regulation by Plk1, astral microtubules, and the cell cycle. The asymmetric spindle positioning in LLC-Pk1 cells and its correction by dynein and dynactin provide a new system for analysis of spindle position and symmetric cell division.
On weakly optimal partitions in modular networks

Modularity was introduced as a measure of goodness for the community structure induced by a partition of the set of vertices in a graph. Then, it also became an objective function used to find good partitions, with high success. Nevertheless, some works have shown a scaling limit and certain instabilities when finding communities with this criterion. Modularity has been studied proposing several formalisms, as hamiltonians in a Potts model or laplacians in spectral partitioning. In this paper we present a new probabilistic formalism to analyze modularity, and from it we derive an algorithm based on weakly optimal partitions. This algorithm obtains good quality partitions and also scales to large graphs.