Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Role of Oxidative Damage in the Pathogenesis and Progression of Alzheimer's Disease and Vascular Dementia

Oxidative stress (OS) has been demonstrated to be involved in the pathogenesis of the two major types of dementia: Alzheimer's disease (AD) and vascular dementia (VaD). Evidence of OS and OS-related damage in AD is largely reported in the literature. Moreover, OS is not only linked to VaD, but also to all its risk factors. Several researches have been conducted in order to investigate whether antioxidant therapy exerts a role in the prevention and treatment of AD and VaD. Another research field is that pertaining to the heat shock proteins (Hsps), that has provided promising findings. However, the role of OS antioxidant defence system and more generally stress responses is very complex. Hence, research on this topic should be improved in order to reach further knowledge and discover new therapeutic strategies to face a disorder with such a high burden which is dementia.
Intensity of factor VIII treatment and the development of inhibitors in non‐severe hemophilia A patients: results of the INSIGHT case–control study

Essentials Research suggests that intensive treatment episodes may increase the risk to develop inhibitors. We performed an international nested case‐control study with 298 non‐severe hemophilia A patients. Surgery and a high dose of factor VIII concentrate were associated with increased inhibitor risk. Physicians need to review arguments for factor VIII dose and elective surgery extra critically.
Evaluation of Tularemia Cases in Samsun Province Between 2011 and 2018

Objective: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease that can cause outbreaks. In our study, we aimed to examine the tularemia cases that were detected between 2011 and 2018. Methods: In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the data of 16 patients admitted to Samsun Training and Research Hospital Outpatient Clinic of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology between January 2011 and April 2018, and diagnosed as tularemia clinically and with serological findings. Results: The mean age of the cases was 47.5 (age range 17-74), 4 (25%) were male and 12 (75%) were female. One case was identified each year in 2012, 2014 and 2016, but 13 cases were detected in 2017. When the residence places of the cases in 2017 were considered, 10 cases were from Samsun’s Kavak sub-province, 3 cases from Havza sub-province, 2 cases from Salıpazarı sub-province and 1 case from Vezirköprü sub-province. The number of cases in Kavak province hit the top and ended early in February and March 2017. The most common form was oropharyngeal tularemia (62.5%). All tularemia cases were treated with streptomycin for 14 days. Conclusions: Tularemia which causes epidemics in the Central Black Sea region, including Samsun, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with fever and cervical lymphadenopathy. Klimik Dergisi 2019; 32(1): 62-6.
Concurrent sexual and substance-use risk behaviours among female sex workers in Kenya's Coast Province: Findings from a behavioural monitoring survey

While many studies confirm the association between HIV, alcohol and injecting drug use by female sex workers (FSWs), little is known about their use of marijuana, khat and other substances and the association of these substances with HIV, risky sexual behaviour, and sexual violence. To better understand this association, data were analysed from a cross-sectional, behavioural survey of 297 FSWs in Mombasa, a well-known tourist destination and the second largest port in Africa and capital city of the Coast Province in Kenya. Among the FSWs, lifetime use of different substances was reported by 91% for alcohol, 71% for khat, 34% for marijuana, and 6% for heroin, cocaine, glue or petrol. The majority (79%) used more than one substance, and multiple-substance use was reported by all respondents who ever used marijuana, heroin, cocaine, glue and petrol. The risk of HIV acquisition was perceived as medium to high by 41% of respondents, 75% of whom attributed this risk to multiple partners. Sexual violence was reported by 48% of respondents, and 30% indicated that this happened several times. Despite HIV prevention programmes targeting FSWs in Mombasa, most of them continue to engage in risky sexual behaviours. This suggests that harm reduction strategies for substance use should be coupled with efforts to promote consistent condom use and partner reduction.
Apolipoprotein E polymorphism and hippocampal atrophy across the spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies

Apolipoprotein E ɛ4-allele (APOE-ε4) is a major susceptibility factor across the spectrum of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The characterization of this shared risk using neuroimaging and clinicopathological phenotypes is desirable for biomarker development. In this thesis, we first conduct a systematic literature review to synthesize current knowledge on the relationship between APOE-ε4 and hippocampal volumes in AD. We then study 298 patients (AD=250, DLB=48; 38 pathology-confirmed) to explore the association of APOE-ε4 with hippocampal volumes, irrespective of clinical diagnosis. Across the AD/DLB spectrum, (1) hippocampal volumes were smaller with increasing APOE-ε4 dosage, (2) learning performance was associated with hippocampal volumes only among APOE-ε4 carriers, (3) APOE-ε4 carriers performed worse on long-delay word-recall. Hippocampal volumes were also inversely related to APOE-ε4 dosage within the AD and DLB groups. We provide evidence that APOE-ε4 is linked to hippocampal atrophy across the AD/DLB spectrum, possibly via shared neurodegenerative mechanisms.
Encapsulation of Implicit and Explicit Memory in Sequence Learning

Contrasts between implicit and explicit knowledge in the serial reaction time (SRT) paradigm have been challenged because they have depended on a single dissociation: intact implicit knowledge in the absence of corresponding explicit knowledge. In the SRT task, subjects respond with a corresponding keypress to a cue that appears in one of four locations. The cue follows a repeating sequence of locations, and subjects can exhibit knowledge of the repeating sequence through increasingly rapid performance (an implicit test) or by being able to recognize the sequence (an explicit test). In our study, amnesic patients were given extensive SRT training. Their implicit and explicit test performance was compared to the performance of control subjects who memorized the training sequence. Compared with control subjects, amnesic patients exhibited superior performance on the implicit task and impaired performance on the explicit task. This crossover interaction suggests that implicit and explicit knowledge of the embedded sequence are separate and encapsulated and that they presumably depend on different brain systems.
Analytic solutions for marginal deformations in open string field theory

We develop a calculable analytic approach to marginal deformations in open string field theory using wedge states with operator insertions. For marginal operators with regular operator products, we construct analytic solutions to all orders in the deformation parameter. In particular, we construct an exact time-dependent solution that describes D-brane decay and incorporates all α' corrections. For marginal operators with singular operator products, we construct solutions by regularizing the singularity and adding counterterms. We explicitly carry out the procedure to third order in the deformation parameter.
Quantifying Position Accuracy of Multimodal Data from Global Positioning System–Enabled Cell Phones

The emergence of cell phones with embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) chips provides opportunities to push personalized real-time travel information subject to an individual's current location. One such application, a travel assistant device, notifies cognitively disabled public transportation users when it is time to request a stop and exit the vehicle. GPS-enabled cell phones must provide highly accurate real-time location data for this type of service. The components used in the data-collection process are identified, and a quantitative analysis of real-time GPS data obtained with a cell phone while walking, driving a vehicle, and riding public transportation is provided. The expectation was that position accuracy would suffer when the GPS signal was obstructed by a vehicle or the user's clothing. The obtained data demonstrate the results of location fix attempts over different transportation modes in an urban environment. The highest percentage of GPS fixes (79.0%) was obtained by users walking with the cell phone open and unobstructed; walking also produced valid GPS data (i.e., location data estimated to be accurate within 30 m of the true position) 66.2% of the time. For bus trips, GPS and valid fix percentages were 71.7% and 66.1%, respectively, when the phone was held near the window; when the phone was placed in the traveler's lap, these numbers fell to 51.3% and 27.8%, respectively. Car trips provided higher numbers: 77.7% and 71.6%, respectively. Location-based transportation applications are feasible using current technology, but predictive algorithms may be required to deliver highly accurate and timely location-aware services to cell phone users in highly obstructed environments.
Current views on the pathogenesis of bacterial endometritis in mares

Mares with persistent and recurrent endometritis are said to be susceptible to infection; in particular they are unable to resolve the acute endometritis that always follows mating. It is thought, therefore, that these mares have a local immunological defect in the uterus that impedes the elimination of bacteria. Studies on immunoglobulins, opsonins and the functional ability of neutrophils in the uterus of susceptible mares have not confirmed the presence of an impaired immune response. It is concluded that factors involved in the production and drainage of uterine fluid may be important in the aetiology of the condition.
Mismatch negativity (MMN) amplitude as a biomarker of sensory memory deficit in amnestic mild cognitive impairment

It has been suggested that changes in some event-related potential (ERP) parameters associated with controlled processing of stimuli could be used as biomarkers of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However, data regarding the suitability of ERP components associated with automatic and involuntary processing of stimuli for this purpose are not conclusive. In the present study, we studied the Mismatch Negativity (MMN) component, a correlate of the automatic detection of changes in the acoustic environment, in healthy adults and adults with aMCI (age range: 50–87 years). An auditory-visual attention-distraction task, in two evaluations separated by an interval of between 18 and 24 months, was used. In both evaluations, the MMN amplitude was significantly smaller in the aMCI adults than in the control adults. In the first evaluation, such differences were observed for the subgroup of adults between 50 and 64 years of age, but not for the subgroup of 65 years and over. In the aMCI adults, the MMN amplitude was significantly smaller in the second evaluation than in the first evaluation, but no significant changes were observed in the control adult group. The MMN amplitude was found to be a sensitive and specific biomarker of aMCI, in both the first and second evaluation.
Examining the sustainability of Screening for Distress, the sixth vital sign, in two outpatient oncology clinics: A mixed‐methods study

Research indicates that cancer patients experience significant multifactorial distress during their journey. To address this, cancer centers are implementing Screening for Distress programs; however, little is known about the sustainability of these programs. This study sought to examine the sustainability of a Screening for Distress program in 2 cancer clinics 6 months post implementation.
Nutritional status of urban schoolchildren of high and low socioeconomic status in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala.

OBJECTIVE The prevalence of overweight and obesity is growing in children in many developing countries, increasing chronic disease risk. Our objective was to assess the prevalence of stunting, underweight, overweight, and obesity in schoolchildren 8 to 10 years old who were of high or low socioeconomic status (SES) in Quetzaltenango, which is the second largest city in Guatemala. METHODS Between April and June 2005 we conducted a cross-sectional survey among 583 children in private and public elementary schools, in which we measured height and weight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2000 height-for-age z-scores, weight-for-age z-scores, and body mass index-for-age centiles were used to define stunting, underweight, overweight, and obesity. RESULTS Mean height, weight, and body mass index were significantly higher in the 327 children of high SES than in the 256 children of low SES, across sexes and age groups. The prevalence of stunting was significantly higher in low-SES children than in high-SES ones (27.0% vs. 7.3%, P < 0.01) , and this was also true for underweight (14.1% versus 4.6%, P < 0.01). In contrast, the prevalence of overweight (17.7% versus 10.5%, P < 0.01) was higher in high-SES children than in low-SES ones; the same was true for obesity (14.4% versus 2.3%, P < 0.01). The prevalence of stunting among children of low SES, and the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children of high SES far exceeded the CDC 2000 reference ranges. CONCLUSIONS A high prevalence of both stunting and excess body weight was found in this urban Guatemalan population, with notable contrasts between social classes. The obesity among high-income children indicates that the city is undergoing the nutrition transition, with further implications for future risks related to chronic disease. Nutrition and health interventions are needed to reduce these risks.
Anticoagulant activity of a sulfated galactan: Serpin-independent effect and specific interaction with factor Xa

Summary An algal sulfated galactan has high anticoagulant and antithrombotic activities. Its serpin-dependent anticoagulant action is due to promoting thrombin and factor (F)Xa inhibition by antithrombin and heparin cofactor II. Here, we evaluated the anticoagulant effect of the algal sulfated galactan using serpin-free plasma. In contrast to heparin, the sulfated galactan is still able to prolong coagulation time and delay thrombin and FXa generation in serpin-free plasma. We further investigated this effect using purified blood coagulation proteins, discovering that sulfated galactan inhibits the intrinsic tenase and prothrombinase complexes, which are critical for FXa and thrombin generation, respectively. We also investigated the mechanism by which sulfated galactan promotes FXa inhibition by antithrombin using specific recombinant mutants of the protease. We show that sulfated galactan interacts with the heparin-binding exosite of FXa and Arg-236 and Lys-240 of this site are critical residues for this interaction, as observed for heparin. Thus, sulfated galactan and heparin have similar high-affinity and specificity for interaction with FXa, though they have differences in their chemical structures. Similar to heparin, the ability of sulfated galactan to potentiate FXa inhibition by antithrombin is calcium-dependent. However, in contrast to heparin, this effect is not entirely dependent on the conformation of the γ-carboxyglutamic acid-rich domain of the protease. In conclusion, sulfated galactan and heparin have some similar effects on blood coagulation, but also differ significantly at the molecular level. This sulfated galactan opens new perspective for the development of antithrombotic drugs.
The Delusion of Possession in Chronically Psychotic Patients

Sixty-one chronically psychotic outpatients were grouped according to the presence or absence of a history of delusional possession. Compared with patients without a history of delusional possession (N = 36), possessed patients (N = 25) had significantly more self-reported childhood sexual abuse, higher dissociation scores, more cannibis abuse, more experiences of thought control, and more voices heard inside their heads. These findings support the hypothesis that in some psychotic patients, possession beliefs may reflect childhood trauma and dissociation.
Suicidal thoughts and attitudes towards suicide among medical and psychology students in Greece

This observational study investigated the self-reported suicidal behavior and attitudes towards suicide held by Greek university students in the spring term of 2009. The Suicide Opinion Questionnaire was given to medical and psychology students. The prevalence of suicidal thoughts was 20% among psychology students and 8.6% in medical school. Furthermore, previous suicide attempts differ between psychology and medical students respectively (8% vs. 3.8%). Mental illness was correlated with suicidal behavior by the medical student group; the right to die was strongly supported by psychology students. Attitudes towards the moral aspects of suicide also differentiated between student groups. This is the first to date Greek comparison study on the prevalence of suicidal behavior and attitudes towards suicide between medical and psychology students. In general, the relationship of suicide with mental illness and the right to take one's life, attributed significantly in differentiating attitudes towards suicide between medical and psychology students in one of the biggest Universities of Greece. Considering the impact of attitudes towards suicide on the professional support of patients at suicide risk, further research should address the differences in suicide related knowledge and own suicidal behavior among future suicide gatekeepers.
Attitudes Towards Mental Health in an Urban Pakistani Community in the United Kingdom

The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of Pakistani families living in an urban area of the United Kingdom, towards mental health issues, to identify the emic models used and compare them with the etic model, predominant in Western medicine. This would allow the exploration of some of the inconsistencies in the research literature relating to the incidence of mental illness in this cultural group. The second aim was to explore the needs of this community, particularly women, in relation to mental health services. Due to problems gaining access to females on their own, interviews were held with family groups. Findings suggested that there were differences in the models of mental illness being employed with greater somatisation of symptoms in the Pakistani group and an emphasis on aggressive behaviour as a significant symptom. Treatment expectations also varied with some emphasis on traditional Pakistani treatments such as Faith healers and Hakims as well as General Practitioners and hospital treatments. Language difficulties, religious and cultural practices were also identified as barriers to female treatment in particular. Recommendations were made for improved training for interpreters and more emphasis on cultural factors and emic models of mental illness as part of medical training.
Fibroblast responses to variation in soft tissue mobilization pressure.

UNLABELLED Augmented soft tissue mobilization therapy (ASTM), a newly developed massage therapy, has been successfully used in the treatment of chronic tendinitis patients. We theorized that the ASTM technique promotes healing through a controlled application of microtrauma. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine morphologic changes in the rat Achilles tendon after enzyme-induced injury with collagenase and subsequent pressure variations in ASTM therapy. METHODS Thirty male white rats were randomly assigned to one of five groups with six animals per group: tendinitis (A), tendinitis plus light ASTM (B), tendinitis plus medium ASTM (C), tendinitis plus extreme ASTM (D), and control with surgery only (E). ASTM was performed for 3 min, for a total of six treatment sessions. The Achilles tendons of each group were harvested 1 wk after the last ASTM treatment. Fibroblast numbers were assessed by light microscopy. An electron microscope was used to observe enlargement of fibroblasts. RESULTS Statistical analysis of the number of fibroblasts present indicated a significant difference (P<0.00) between group D and all other groups. CONCLUSION The morphological evidence indicated that the application of heavy pressure promoted the healing process to a greater degree than light or moderate pressure.
Three‐dimensional modeling of lacustrine diatom habitat areas: Improving paleolimnological interpretation of planktic : benthic ratios

Three‐dimensional modeling of lake morphometry enables the calculation of lake volume, planar surface area, and basin surface area, which are critical components of a conceptual model of how planktic and benthic habitat areas change with changing lake level. We have applied three‐dimensional modeling to Foy Lake, Montana, and compared model results of changing ratios of planktic and benthic habitat areas at all possible lake levels to sediment cores recovered from the lake. The model allows us to produce semiquantitative depth reconstructions and greatly improves lake‐level reconstruction of this morphometrically complex basin. The conceptual model also was modified to examine the influence of resuspension versus gravity redistribution of diatomaceous material on the sedimentary record. Comparison of the model results with both long and short sedimentary records from Foy Lake, Montana, suggests that planktic : benthic ratios may be a better predictor of mean lake depth than maximum lake depth. The model developed here is simple enough to be easily implemented, has few requirements, can be adapted to suit any lake basin, and can be augmented to examine a variety of different lake processes that affect habitat availability.
Weakly-supervised Transfer for 3D Human Pose Estimation in the Wild

In this paper, we study the task of 3D human pose estimation in the wild. This task is challenging because existing benchmark datasets provide either 2D annotations in the wild or 3D annotations in controlled environments. We propose a weakly-supervised transfer learning method that learns an end-to-end network using training data with mixed 2D and 3D labels. The network augments a state-of-the-art 2D pose estimation network with a 3D depth regression network. Unlike previous approaches that train these two sub-networks in a sequential manner, we introduce a unified training method that fully exploits the correlation between these two sub-tasks and learns common feature representations. In doing so, the 3D pose labels in controlled environments are transferred to images in the wild that only possess 2D annotations. In addition, we introduce a 3D geometric constraint to regularize the prediction 3D poses, which is effective on images that only have 2D annotations. Our method leads to considerable performance gains and achieves competitive results on both 2D and 3D benchmarks. It produces high quality 3D human poses in the wild, without supervision of in-the-wild 3D data.
Analysis of the DPG Method for the Poisson Equation

We give an error analysis of the recently developed DPG method applied to solve the Poisson equation and a convection-diffusion problem. We prove that the method is quasioptimal. Error estimates in terms of both the mesh size $h$ and the polynomial degree $p$ (for various element shapes) can be derived from our results. Results of extensive numerical experiments are also presented.