Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of the computer-adaptive version of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument.

BACKGROUND Having psychometrically strong disability measures that minimize response burden is important in assessing of older adults. METHODS Using the original 48 items from the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument and newly developed items, a 158-item Activity Limitation and a 62-item Participation Restriction item pool were developed. The item pools were administered to a convenience sample of 520 community-dwelling adults 60 years or older. Confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory were employed to identify content structure, calibrate items, and build the computer-adaptive testings (CATs). We evaluated real-data simulations of 10-item CAT subscales. We collected data from 102 older adults to validate the 10-item CATs against the Veteran's Short Form-36 and assessed test-retest reliability in a subsample of 57 subjects. RESULTS Confirmatory factor analysis revealed a bifactor structure, and multi-dimensional item response theory was used to calibrate an overall Activity Limitation Scale (141 items) and an overall Participation Restriction Scale (55 items). Fit statistics were acceptable (Activity Limitation: comparative fit index = 0.95, Tucker Lewis Index = 0.95, root mean square error approximation = 0.03; Participation Restriction: comparative fit index = 0.95, Tucker Lewis Index = 0.95, root mean square error approximation = 0.05). Correlation of 10-item CATs with full item banks were substantial (Activity Limitation: r = .90; Participation Restriction: r = .95). Test-retest reliability estimates were high (Activity Limitation: r = .85; Participation Restriction r = .80). Strength and pattern of correlations with Veteran's Short Form-36 subscales were as hypothesized. Each CAT, on average, took 3.56 minutes to administer. CONCLUSIONS The Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument CATs demonstrated strong reliability, validity, accuracy, and precision. The Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument CAT can achieve psychometrically sound disability assessment in older persons while reducing respondent burden. Further research is needed to assess their ability to measure change in older adults.
Brain area specific regulation of synaptic AMPA receptors by phosphorylation

Regulation of synaptic AMPA receptors (AMPARs) is one of the key elements that allow the nervous system to adapt to changes in the sensory environment as well as for memory formation. One way to regulate AMPAR function is by reversible changes in the phosphorylation of its subunits. We recently reported that phosphorylation of the AMPAR subunit GluA1 (or GluR1) on serine-845 (S845) is a pre-requisite step for sensory experience-dependent homeostatic synaptic plasticity in the visual cortex. In particular, increasing GluA1-S845 phosphorylation up-regulated cell surface and synaptic AMPAR levels. Here we report that this is rather specific to the visual cortex, in that increasing GluA1-S845 phosphorylation in hippocampal slices only increase cell surface expression, but not synaptic AMPAR function. Our results suggest that depending on the brain region divergent mechanisms may exist to regulate synaptic AMPAR function with phosphorylation.
Implications of Sea Bream and Sea Bass Escapes for Sustainable Aquaculture Management: A Review of Interactions, Risks and Consequences

ABSTRACT Gilthead sea bream and European sea bass aquaculture is widely established in the Mediterranean and North-eastern Atlantic regions, and rearing is mainly in coastal net-pen facilities. The rapid growth of the fish farming industry increases the potential number of farmed fish in the wild. Escape-related issues are likely to increase unless escape-management policies are included into the aquaculture legislation in the near future. This review summarizes the potential direct interactions among escaped fish and nearby farmed fish stocks, wild conspecifics, and coastal fish populations, since these interactions could compromise sustainability in coastal areas. Socioeconomic implications are also addressed, given that escape events can also lead to economic losses for farmers and may alter local fishery landings. Fish markets and consumers might be also affected. This review compiles the current knowledge on the potential effects of escapees in coastal areas, and contributes to the existing risks analyses regarding sea bream and sea bass escapes. Eventually, the need to design management policies to prevent or minimize escape events and to mitigate further impacts, applicable to Mediterranean countries and of special interest in areas where these species are locally absent, is discussed in the context of sustainable fin-fish aquaculture.
Only a Minority of the Inhibitory Inputs to Cerebellar Golgi Cells Originates from Local GABAergic Cells

Abstract Cerebellar Golgi cells (GoCs) efficiently control the spiking activity of granule cells through GABAA receptor-mediated tonic and phasic inhibition. Recent experiments provided compelling evidence for the extensive interconnection of GoCs through electrical synapses, but their chemical inhibitory synaptic inputs are debated. Here, we investigated the GABAergic synaptic inputs of GoCs using in vitro electrophysiology and quantitative light microscopy (LM) and electron microscopy (EM). We characterized GABAA receptor-mediated IPSCs in GoCs and Lugaro cells (LuCs), and found that IPSCs in GoCs have lower frequencies, smaller amplitudes, and much slower decay kinetics. Pharmacological and LM immunolocalization experiments revealed that GoCs express α3, whereas LuCs express α1 subunit-containing GABAA receptors. The selective expression and clustered distribution of the α3 subunit in GoCs allowed the quantitative analysis of GABAergic synapses on their dendrites in the molecular layer (ML). EM and LM experiments in rats, and wild-type and GlyT2-GFP transgenic mice revealed that only one third of axon terminals establishing GABAergic synapses on GoC dendrites contain GlyT2, ruling out LuCs, globular cells, and any noncortical glycinergic inputs as major inhibitory sources. We also show that axon terminals of stellate/basket cells very rarely innervate GlyT2-GFP-expressing GoCs, indicating that only a minority of the inhibitory inputs to GoCs in the ML originates from local interneurons, and the majority of their inhibitory inputs exclusively releases GABA.
Enhancing meaning in work: a prescription for preventing physician burnout and promoting patient-centered care.

1. Aggarwal R, Darzi A. Technical-skills training in the 21st century. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(25):2695-2696. 2. Yule S, Flin R, Paterson-Brown S, Maran N. Non-technical skills for surgeons in the operating room: a review of the literature. Surgery. 2006;139(2):140-149. 3. Gaba DM. The future vision of simulation in health care. Qual Saf Health Care. 2004;13(suppl 1):2-10. 4. Paige JT, Kozmenko V, Yang T, et al. High-fidelity, simulation-based, interdisciplinary operating room team training at the point of care. Surgery. 2009; 145(2):138-146. 5. Ericsson KA. Deliberate practice and the acquisition and maintenance of expert performance in medicine and related domains. Acad Med. 2004;79(10) (suppl):S70-S81. 6. Chaffin R, Imreh G, Crawford M. Practicing Perfection: Memory and Piano Performance. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 2002. 7. Lehmann A, Sloboda J, Woody R. Psychology for Musicians: Understanding and Acquiring the Skills. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; 2007. 8. Davidson J, King E. Strategies for ensemble practice. In: Williamon A, ed. Musical Excellence. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; 2004:105-122. 9. Kneebone R, Nestel D, Wetzel C, et al. The human face of simulation: patient-focused simulation training. Acad Med . 2006;81(10):919924. 10. Nestel DF, Black SA, Kneebone R, et al. Simulated anaesthetists in high fidelity simulations for surgical training: feasibility of a training programme for actors. Med Teach. 2008;30(4):407-413.
Nitric oxide reduces vascular smooth muscle cell elastase activity through cGMP‐mediated suppression of ERK phosphorylation and AML1B nuclear partitioning

Nitric oxide (NO) reduces the severity of pulmonary vascular disease in rats as do elastase inhibitors. We therefore hypothesized that NO inhibits elastase by suppressing mitogen‐activated protein kinases that trans‐activate AML1B, a transcription factor for elastase. We used cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells in which serum‐treated elastin (STE) induces a > threefold increase in elastase activity as evaluated by solubilization of [3H]‐elastin. NO donors (SNAP and DETA NONO‐ate) inhibited elastase in a dose‐dependent manner as did a cGMP mimetic (8‐pCPT‐cGMP). SNAP inhibition of elastase was reversed by coadministration of a cGMP‐PKG inhibitor (Rp‐8‐pCPT‐cGMP). The STE‐induced increase in phospho‐ERK was suppressed by NO donors and the cGMP mimetic, and reversed by cGMP‐PKG inhibitor, as was expression of AML1B and DNA binding in nuclear extracts. A concomitant increase in p38 phosphorylation was also inhibited by SNAP, but whereas MEK inhibitor (PD98059) suppressed elastase and AML1B‐DNA binding, a p38 inhibitor (SB202190) did not. Our study uniquely links NO with inhibition of elastase‐dependent matrix remodeling in vascular disease by suggesting a cGMP‐PKG‐related mechanism suppressing ERK‐mediated partitioning of AML1B in nuclear extracts. —Mitani, Y. , Zaidi, S. H. E. , Dufourcq, P., Thompson, K. , Rabinovitch, M. Nitric oxide reduces vascular smooth muscle cell elastase activity through cGMP‐mediated suppression of ERK phosphorylation and AML1B nuclear partitioning. FASEB J. 14, 805–814 (2000)
Photobiological Effects at Earth's Surface Following a 50 pc Supernova

Abstract We investigated the potential biological impacts at Earth's surface of stratospheric O3 depletion caused by nearby supernovae known to have occurred about 2.5 and 8 million years ago at about 50 pc distance. New and previously published atmospheric chemistry modeling results were combined with radiative transfer modeling to determine changes in surface-level solar irradiance and biological responses. We find that UVB irradiance is increased by a factor of 1.1 to 2.8, with large variation in latitude, and seasonally at high-latitude regions. Changes in UVA and PAR (visible light) are much smaller. DNA damage (in vitro) is increased by factors similar to UVB, while other biological impacts (erythema, skin cancer, cataracts, marine phytoplankton photosynthesis inhibition, and plant damage) are increased by smaller amounts. We conclude that biological impacts due to increased UV irradiance in this SN case are not mass-extinction level but might be expected to contribute to changes in species abundances; this result fits well with species turnover observed around the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary. Key Words: UV radiation—Supernovae—Ozone—Radiative transfer. Astrobiology 18, 481–490.
Long-Term Weight Change: Association with Impaired Glucose Metabolism in Young Austrian Adults

Little is known about the associations between long-term weight change and the natural history of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) in young adults. We investigated the association between long-term body mass index (BMI) change and the risk of IFG using data of 24,930 20- to 40-year-old participants from the Vorarlberg Health Monitoring and Promotion Program (VHM&PP) cohort. Poisson models were applied to estimate the 10-year risk for new development of IFG (≥5.6 mmol/L), and persistence of IFG. Over 10 years, most men (68.2%) and women (70.0%) stayed within their initial BMI category. The risk for incident IFG was highest for men and women with persisting obesity (37.4% and 24.1%) and lowest with persisting normal weight (15.7% and 9.3%). Men transitioning from normal to overweight increased their risk of incident IFG by factor 1.45 (95%-CI: 1.31, 1.62), women by 1.70 (95%-CI: 1.50, 1.93), whereas transitioning from overweight to normal weight decreased the risk in men by 0.69 (95%-CI: 0.53, 0.90) and 0.94 (95%-CI: 0.66, 1.33) in women. Relative risks for men and women transitioning from obesity to overweight were 0.58 and 0.44, respectively. In conclusion, 10 year weight increase was associated with an increased IFG risk, weight decrease with a decreased risk of IFG in young adults.
Incremental verification of inductive invariants for the run-time evolution of self-adaptive software-intensive systems

The safe run-time evolution of complex software-intensive systems requires that the impact of changes can be predicted at run-time. In this paper we consider the specific case of self-adaptive software-intensive systems using an example for the coordination of autonomous vehicles. We show how incremental run-time checks can verify that changes in the rule set which governs the distributed rule-based self-adaptive behavior provides the required safety properties. We demonstrate how an existing verification technique for invariant checking is turned into an incremental one. We discuss the theoretical complexity of the incremental verification checks and also present some first evaluation results.
Effects of intensive glucose control on platelet reactivity in patients with acute coronary syndromes. Results of the CHIPS Study (“Control de Hiperglucemia y Actividad Plaquetaria en Pacientes con Síndrome Coronario Agudo”)

Objectives Hyperglycaemia has been associated with increased platelet reactivity and impaired prognosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Whether platelet reactivity can be reduced by lowering glucose in this setting is unknown. The aim of this study was to assess the functional impact of intensive glucose control with insulin on platelet reactivity in patients admitted with ACS and hyperglycaemia. Methods This is a prospective, randomised trial evaluating the effects of either intensive glucose control (target glucose 80–120 mg/dl) or conventional control (target glucose 180 mg/dl or less) with insulin on platelet reactivity in patients with ACS and hyperglycaemia. The primary endpoint was platelet aggregation following stimuli with 20 μM ADP at 24 h and at hospital discharge. Aggregation following collagen, epinephrine and thrombin receptor-activated peptide, as well as P2Y12 reactivity index and surface expression of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa and P-selectin were also measured. Results Of the 115 patients who underwent random assignment, 59 were assigned to intensive and 56 to conventional glucose control. Baseline platelet functions and inhospital management were similar in both groups. Maximal aggregation after ADP stimulation at hospital discharge was lower in the intensive group (47.9±13.2% vs 59.1±17.3%; p=0.002), whereas no differences were found at 24 h. Similarly all other parameters of platelet reactivity measured at hospital discharge were significantly reduced in the intensive glucose control group. Conclusions In this randomised trial, early intensive glucose control with insulin in patients with ACS presenting with hyperglycaemia was found to decrease platelet reactivity. Clinical Trial Registration Number http://www.controlledtrials. com/ISRCTN35708451/ISRCTN35708451.
Natural type selection in adaptive lossy compression

Consider approximate (lossy) matching of a source string /spl sim/P, with a random codebook generated from reproduction distribution Q, at a specified distortion d. Previous work determined the minimum coding rate R/sub 1/=R(P, Q, d) for this setting. We observe that for a large word length and with high probability, the matching codeword is typical with a distribution Q/sub 1/ which is different from Q. If a new random codebook is generated /spl sim/Q/sub 1/, then the source string will favor codewords which are typical with a new distribution Q/sub 2/, resulting in a minimum coding rate R/sub 2/=R(P, Q/sub 1/, d), and so on. We show that the sequences of distributions Q/sub 1/, Q/sub 2/,. and rates R/sub 1/, R/sub 2/,. , generated by this procedure, converge to an optimum reproduction distribution Q*, and the rate-distortion function R(P, d), respectively. We also derive a fixed rate-distortion slope version of this natural type selection process. In the latter case, an iteration of the process stochastically simulates an iteration of the Blahut-Arimoto (1972) algorithm for rate-distortion function computation (without recourse to prior knowledge of the underlying source distribution). To strengthen these limit statements, we also characterize the steady-state error of these procedures when iterating at a finite string length. Implications of the main results provide fresh insights into the workings of lossy variants of the Lempel-Ziv algorithm for adaptive compression.
Contrast-enhanced three-dimensional fast imaging with steady-state precession (FISP) MR angiography of supraaortic vessels: preliminary results.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of contrast-enhanced fast three-dimensional (3D) MR angiography in depicting both the carotid and vertebral arteries in their cervical portions and to compare MR angiography with conventional angiography for the evaluation of arteriosclerotic disease. METHODS Twenty-seven patients with ischemic cerebral events in the anterior (n = 18) and posterior (n = 9) circulation underwent contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography in the coronal plane. MR angiograms were examined in a blinded fashion by two observers independently. Stenosis was classified according to the appearance of the residual lumen (no stenosis, mild stenosis, moderate stenosis, severe stenosis, occlusion). Conventional angiography was used as the standard of reference. RESULTS Proximal great vessels and carotid siphons were not assessable on MR angiograms in 35% of cases owing to limited coverage. All cervical and petrous segments of the internal carotid arteries (ICAs) and 93% of the extracranial vertebral arteries were assessable. Flow-related artifacts were observed in seven cases of severe stenosis, including three with signal void at the site of narrowing and four with signal loss in the distal ICA. Interobserver agreement was good and significant. Overall agreement between 3D MR angiography and conventional angiography was good for the anterior and posterior circulations despite a tendency toward overestimation of stenoses on MR angiograms. Clinically relevant stenoses and occlusions were correctly identified on 3D MR angiograms, providing good sensitivity and specificity. CONCLUSION Contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography is a promising tool for assessing arteriosclerotic lesions of supraaortic vessels. Further studies with larger groups are required to determine its value for patient care.
Occupational therapy.

Standardized Test • Graduate Record Exam (GRE) revised General Test (www.ets.org/gre) • Given year-round at computer-based test centers • Length ~ 4 hours • 3 sections : Verbal Reasoning (score 130-170), Quantitative Reasoning (score 130-170), Analytical Writing (score 0-6) • Register on-line (www.ets.org/gre) • Free and low-cost preparation materials (www.ets.org/gre) • Unofficial scores on test day, official scores in 10-15 days
Geodesic knots in cusped hyperbolic 3–manifolds

We consider the existence of simple closed geodesics or "geodesic knots" in finite volume orientable hyperbolic 3-manifolds. Previous results show that at least one geodesic knot always exists [Bull. London Math. Soc. 31(1) (1999) 81-86], and that certain arithmetic manifolds contain infinitely many geodesic knots [J. Diff. Geom. 38 (1993) 545-558], [Experimental Mathematics 10(3) (2001) 419-436]. In this paper we show that all cusped orientable finite volume hyperbolic 3-manifolds contain infinitely many geodesic knots. Our proof is constructive, and the infinite family of geodesic knots produced approach a limiting infinite simple geodesic in the manifold.
Combining Distributed Vector Representations for Words

Recent interest in distributed vector representations for words has resulted in an increased diversity of approaches, each with strengths and weaknesses. We demonstrate how diverse vector representations may be inexpensively composed into hybrid representations, effectively leveraging strengths of individual components, as evidenced by substantial improvements on a standard word analogy task. We further compare these results over different sizes of training sets and find these advantages are more pronounced when training data is limited. Finally, we explore the relative impacts of the differences in the learning methods themselves and the size of the contexts they access.
Supporting document triage via annotation-based multi-application visualizations

For open-ended information tasks, users must sift through many potentially relevant documents, a practice we refer to as document triage. Normally, people perform triage using multiple applications in concert: a search engine interface presents lists of potentially relevant documents; a document reader displays their contents; and a third tool--a text editor or personal information management application--is used to record notes and assessments. To support document triage, we have developed an extensible multi-application architecture that initially includes an information workspace and a document reader. An Interest Profile Manager infers users' interests from their interactions with the triage applications, coupled with the characteristics of the documents they are interacting with. The resulting interest profile is used to generate visualizations that direct users' attention to documents or parts of documents that match their inferred interests. The novelty of our approach lies in the aggregation of activity records across applications to generate fine-grained models of user interest.
Geospatial Analysis of Changes in Vegetation Cover over Nigeria

Abstract Vegetation cover over Nigeria has been on the decrease recently, hence the need for adequate monitoring using geo-information technology. This study examined the spatio-temporal variation of vegetation cover over Nigeria for thirty years with a view to developing a strategy for enhancing environmental sustainability. In order to predict the spatial extent of vegetation cover in 2030, the study utilised satellite images from between 1981 and 2010 using the Normalised Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) coupled with cellular automata and Markov chain techniques in ArcGIS 10.3. The results showed that dense vegetal areas decreased in area from 358,534.2 km2 in 1981 to 207,812 km2 in 2010, while non-vegetal areas increased from 312,640.8 km2 in 1981 to 474,436.4 km2 in 2010 with a predicted increase to 501,504.9 km2 by 2030, i.e. an increase of about 27,068.4 km2 between 2010 and 2030. The study concluded that geoinformation techniques are effective in monitoring long-term intra- and inter-annual variability of vegetation and also useful in developing sustainable strategies for combating ecological hazards.
Convergence and scatter of cluster density profiles

We present new results from a series of ACDM simulations of cluster mass haloes resolved with high force and mass resolution. These results are compared with recently published simulations from groups using various codes including PKDGRAV, ART, TPM, GRAPE and GADGET. Careful resolution tests show that with 25 million particles within the high-resolution region we can resolve to about 0.3 per cent of the virial radius and that convergence in radius is proportional to the mean interparticle separation. The density profiles of 26 high-resolution clusters obtained with the different codes and from different initial conditions agree very well. The average logarithmic slope at one per cent of the virial radius is y = 1.26 with a scatter of ±0.17. Over the entire resolved regions the density profiles are well fitted by a smooth function that asymptotes to a central cusp p oc r -γ , where we find y = 1.16 ± 0.14 from the mean of the fits to our six highest-resolution clusters.