Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pharmacologic treatments for the behavioral symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders across the lifespan

This review outlines pharmacologic treatments for the behavioral symptoms associated with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in children, adolescents, and adults. Symptom domains include repetitive and stereotyped behaviors, irritability and aggression, hyperactivity and inattention, and social impairment. Medications covered include serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs), mirtazapine, antipsychotics, psychostimulants, atomoxetine, α-2 agonists, D-cycloserine, and memantine. Overall, SRIs are less efficacious and more poorly tolerated in children with ASDs than in adults. Antipsychotics are the most efficacious drugs for the treatment of irritability in ASDs, and may be useful in the treatment of other symptoms. Psychostimulants demonstrate some benefit for the treatment of hyperactivity and inattention in individuals with ASDs, but are less efficacious and associated with more adverse effects compared with individuals with ADHD. D-cycloserine and memantine appear helpful in the treatment of social impairment, although further research is needed.
A W-Band Injection-Locked Frequency Doubler Based on Top-Injected Coupled Resonator

A W-band injection-locked frequency doubler in 65-nm CMOS is proposed. By using the coupled resonator, a 69.2-94.6-GHz locking range has been achieved with a 3.4- ~ 4.1-dBm injected power. The second-order harmonic current is injected from the top of the resonator, which avoids the source degeneration issue. The measured phase-noise deterioration from that of the injected signal at 100-kHz offset is only 6.2 dB, which is close to the theoretical calculation. The doubler occupies a die area of 0.16 mm2, including the buffers, and draws 9.7- ~ 11.4-mA current from a 1.0-V power supply excluding the buffers.
Anti-idiotypic antibody-induced protection against Clostridium perfringens type D

A monoclonal antibody (BALB/c mouse) with specificity for a neutralizing epitope on the epsilon-toxin produced by Clostridium perfringens type D was used to raise anti-idiotypic antibodies (anti-Id) in different strains of mice and rabbits. These were purified and used in cross-immunization studies to induce anti-(anti-idiotype). All strains of mice and rabbits immunized with BALB/c-derived anti-Id showed a high-titer antibody response directed towards the active site of the toxin. This protected the animals against toxin challenge and against an oral dose of the vegetative organisms. Animals immunized with other anti-Id preparations showed no specific antibody response and were not protected. Guinea pig peritoneal macrophages have a cell surface receptor for the toxin, and incubation of these cells with BALB/c anti-Id allowed them to survive toxin challenge, indicating that occupation of the receptors by the anti-Id prevented binding by the toxin. In conclusion, we have shown that an internal-image anti-Id preparation will induce protective immunity in syngeneic and xenogeneic animals and furthermore that immunity to a single epitope on the exotoxin is sufficient to protect against the toxin and clinical sequelae evoked by the disease-causing organism itself.
Drosophila Activated Cdc42 Kinase Has an Anti-Apoptotic Function

Activated Cdc42 kinases (Acks) are evolutionarily conserved non-receptor tyrosine kinases. Activating somatic mutations and increased ACK1 protein levels have been found in many types of human cancers and correlate with a poor prognosis. ACK1 is activated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor signaling and functions to regulate EGF receptor turnover. ACK1 has additionally been found to propagate downstream signals through the phosphorylation of cancer relevant substrates. Using Drosophila as a model organism, we have determined that Drosophila Ack possesses potent anti-apoptotic activity that is dependent on Ack kinase activity and is further activated by EGF receptor/Ras signaling. Ack anti-apoptotic signaling does not function through enhancement of EGF stimulated MAP kinase signaling, suggesting that it must function through phosphorylation of some unknown effector. We isolated several putative Drosophila Ack interacting proteins, many being orthologs of previously identified human ACK1 interacting proteins. Two of these interacting proteins, Drk and yorkie, were found to influence Ack signaling. Drk is the Drosophila homolog of GRB2, which is required to couple ACK1 binding to receptor tyrosine kinases. Drk knockdown blocks Ack survival activity, suggesting that Ack localization is important for its pro-survival activity. Yorkie is a transcriptional co-activator that is downstream of the Salvador-Hippo-Warts pathway and promotes transcription of proliferative and anti-apoptotic genes. We find that yorkie and Ack synergistically interact to produce tissue overgrowth and that yorkie loss of function interferes with Ack anti-apoptotic signaling. Our results demonstrate how increased Ack signaling could contribute to cancer when coupled to proliferative signals.
Accurate projection of Vccmin by modeling “dual slope” in FinFET based SRAM, and impact of long term reliability on end of life Vccmin

Supply voltage (Vcc) scaling is mostly used method to achieve low power consumption. However, a high Vccmin is required to meet the high target yield because the SRAM yield according to Vcc scaling shows “dual slope”. In this paper, the root causes of “dual slope” are analyzed. Both side effect of SRAM bitcell on the yield is also considered to accurately project Vccmin, which results in 40mV increase of Vccmin to meet 99% target yield for 32nm HK/MG planar 1M SRAM. The “dual slope” effect on the yield is compared for 32nm HK/MG planar and FinFET 32M SRAMs with high (HD) and low doping (LD). Under the “dual slope” effect, the channel length adjustment method for pass gate transistor is proposed to reduce Vccmin of FinFET SRAM. When the number of finis is 1∶2∶2(=PU∶PG∶PD), HD and LD 32M FinFET SRAMs improve Vccmin by 370mV and 500mV, respectively, compared to 32M planar counterparts using the proposed the channel length adjustment method. Effect of NBTI and PBTI on Vccmin is also investigated. BTI degradation is greatly dependent on HK thickness and surface plane orientation of FinFET. End of Life (EOL) Vccmin optimization therefore requires careful selection of HK thickness and surface orientation.
The Brain and the Meaning of Life

Why is life worth living? What makes actions right or wrong? What is reality and how do we know it? The Brain and the Meaning of Life draws on research in philosophy, psychology, and neuroscience to answer some of the most pressing questions about life's nature and value. Paul Thagard argues that evidence requires the abandonment of many traditional ideas about the soul, free will, and immortality, and shows how brain science matters for fundamental issues about reality, morality, and the meaning of life. The ongoing Brain Revolution reveals how love, work, and play provide good reasons for living.Defending the superiority of evidence-based reasoning over religious faith and philosophical thought experiments, Thagard argues that minds are brains and that reality is what science can discover. Brains come to know reality through a combination of perception and reasoning. Just as important, our brains evaluate aspects of reality through emotions that can produce both good and bad decisions. Our cognitive and emotional abilities allow us to understand reality, decide effectively, act morally, and pursue the vital needs of love, work, and play. Wisdom consists of knowing what matters, why it matters, and how to achieve it.The Brain and the Meaning of Life shows how brain science helps to answer questions about the nature of mind and reality, while alleviating anxiety about the difficulty of life in a vast universe. The book integrates decades of multidisciplinary research, but its clear explanations and humor make it accessible to the general reader.
Loss of TDAG51 Results in Mature-Onset Obesity, Hepatic Steatosis, and Insulin Resistance by Regulating Lipogenesis

Regulation of energy metabolism is critical for the prevention of obesity, diabetes, and hepatic steatosis. Here, we report an important role for the pleckstrin homology–related domain family member, T-cell death–associated gene 51 (TDAG51), in the regulation of energy metabolism. TDAG51 expression was examined during adipocyte differentiation. Adipogenic potential of preadipocytes with knockdown or absence of TDAG51 was assessed. Weight gain, insulin sensitivity, metabolic rate, and liver lipid content were also compared between TDAG51-deficient (TDAG51−/−) and wild-type mice. In addition to its relatively high expression in liver, TDAG51 was also present in white adipose tissue (WAT). TDAG51 was downregulated during adipogenesis, and TDAG51−/− preadipocytes exhibited greater lipogenic potential. TDAG51−/− mice fed a chow diet exhibited greater body and WAT mass, had reduced energy expenditure, displayed mature-onset insulin resistance (IR), and were predisposed to hepatic steatosis. TDAG51−/− mice had increased hepatic triglycerides and SREBP-1 target gene expression. Furthermore, TDAG51 expression was inversely correlated with fatty liver in multiple mouse models of hepatic steatosis. Taken together, our findings suggest that TDAG51 is involved in energy homeostasis at least in part by regulating lipogenesis in liver and WAT, and hence, may constitute a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of obesity and IR.
Epithelial Remodeling After Femtosecond Laser-assisted High Myopic LASIK: Comparison of Stand-alone With LASIK Combined With Prophylactic High-fluence Cross-linking

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible topographic epithelial profile thickness changes (remodeling) after high myopic femtosecond laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) with concurrent prophylactic high-fluence cross-linking (CXL) in comparison with standard femtosecond LASIK. Methods: Preoperative and 6-month postoperative 3-dimensional epithelial thickness distribution maps were investigated through clinical spectral domain anterior-segment optical coherence tomography in 2 groups of femtosecond laser–assisted myopic LASIK cases. Group A represented 67 eyes treated additionally with concurrent prophylactic CXL (LASIK-Xtra); group B represented 72 eyes subjected to stand-alone femtosecond LASIK. Optical coherence tomography measurements of the epithelial thickness over the center 2-mm-diameter disk, mid-peripheral 5-mm rim, and overall (the entire 6-mm-diameter disc area) were investigated. Results: The comparison of matched myopic correction subgroups indicated statistically significant differences in the epithelial thickness increase specifically between high myopia subgroups. For example, in group A (LASIK-Xtra), the mid-peripheral epithelial thickness increase was +3.79 and +3.95 &mgr;m for the “−8.00 to −9.00 diopter” and “−7.00 to −8.00 diopter” subgroups, which compare with increased thickness in group B (stand-alone LASIK), of +9.75 &mgr;m (P = 0.032) and +7.14 &mgr;m (P = 0.041), respectively, for the same subgroups. Conclusions: Application of prophylactic CXL concurrently with high myopic LASIK operation results in a statistically significant reduced epithelial increase in comparison with stand-alone LASIK. This comparison is observed between matched high myopic correction subgroups. This difference may correlate with higher regression rates and/or may depict increased biomechanical instability in stand-alone LASIK.
Postretention stability after orthodontic closure of maxillary interincisor diastemas

Anterior spaces may interfere with smile attractiveness and compromise dentofacial harmony. They are among the most frequent reasons why patients seek orthodontic treatment. However, midline diastema is commonly cited as a malocclusion with high relapse incidence by orthodontists. Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the stability of maxillary interincisor diastemas closure and the association of their relapse and interincisor width, overjet, overbite and root parallelism. Material and Methods Sample comprised 30 patients with at least a pretreatment midline diastema of 0.5 mm or greater after eruption of the maxillary permanent canines. Dental casts and panoramic radiographs were taken at pretreatment, posttreatment and postretention. Results Before treatment, midline diastema width was 1.52 mm (SD=0.88) and right and left lateral diastema widths were 0.55 mm (SD=0.56) and 0.57 mm (SD=0.53), respectively. According to repeated measures analysis of variance, only midline diastema demonstrated significant relapse. In the overall sample the average relapse of midline diastema was 0.49 mm (SD=0.66), whilst the unstable patients showed a mean space reopening of 0.78 mm (SD=0.66). Diastema closure in the area between central and lateral incisors showed great stability. Multivariate correlation tests showed that only initial diastema width (β=0.60) and relapse of overjet (β=0.39) presented association with relapse of midline diastema. Conclusions Midline diastema relapse was statistically significant and occurred in 60% of the sample, while lateral diastemas closure remained stable after treatment. Only initial diastema width and overjet relapse showed association with relapse of midline diastema. There was no association between relapse of interincisor diastema and root parallelism.
Investigating the Role of Gender and Delinquency in Exposure to Violence Among Puerto Rican Youth

Using a longitudinal sample of Puerto Rican adolescents living in the Bronx, New York, this study examines the predictors of exposure to violence within gender. Results from a series of negative binomial regressions suggested (a) sensation seeking, peer delinquency, coercive discipline, and initial delinquency increased the likelihood of exposure to violence for both males and females at multiple time points and (b) initial delinquency was the only consistent predictor of exposure to violence at all time points. Regarding the role of gender, the results indicated that some risk factors were similar across genders (e.g., sensation seeking, coercive discipline, peer delinquency, and delinquent behavior), whereas other risk factors differed across gender (e.g., age and welfare among males and school environment for females). Study limitations and implications are discussed.
Local effect of compression stockings on skin microcirculatory activity through the measurement of skin effective thermal conductivity

This paper presents a preliminary study to demonstrate the instantaneous local effect of compression stocking (Class 2) on skin microcirculatory activity. The measurement needs to be carefully performed as the sensor is placed under the garment. To assess the local effect of compression stockings, we use the ambulatory device Hematron located on the calf under the garment. Skin microcirculatory activity is assessed through the skin's effective thermal conductivity measurement. A specific housing for the sensor has been designed to avoid excessive pressure induced by the sensor when squeezed by stockings. The experiment, conducted on ten healthy subjects, comprised two stages: without and with compression stockings. Skin effective thermal conductivity was recorded at three successive positions (supine, sitting and standing). Significant improvement in skin microcirculatory activity was recorded by the Hematron device for the three positions. We have also demonstrated that Hematron sensor can be used under compression stockings.
The effect of aprotinin (a serine protease inhibitor) on renal function and renin release.

We studied the effect of aprotinin, a reversible inhibitor of kallikrein and other serine proteases, upon urinary kallikrein and kinin excretion, renal function and hemodynamics, blood pressure, and plasma renin activity (PRA). When aprotinin was administered to anesthetized rats at 10,000 KIU/kg as a bolus, and at 1000 KIU/kg/min infusion for 60 minutes, urinary kininogenase activity and immunoreactive kallikrein, kinins, sodium, potassium, and water excretion, and PRA decreased significantly. Aprotinin also caused a 36% decrease (p less than 0.001) in renal blood flow (RBF), and a 37% decrease (p less than 0.001) in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), although neither blood pressure nor cardiac output changed. The effect of aprotinin on PRA was further studied in conscious rats before and after stimulation of renin release by isoproterenol or furosemide. Aprotinin (5,000 KIU/kg bolus and 1000 KIU/kg/min infusion for 60 minutes) did not alter basal or isoproterenol-stimulated PRA, but it blunted the increase in PRA as stimulated by furosemide. Aprotinin at a higher dose (20,000 KIU/kg bolus and 5000 KIU/kg/min infusion for 60 minutes) significantly lowered blood pressure and increased hematocrit and PRA. These effects may be due to inhibition of serine protease(s) or to other as yet unrecognized properties of this peptide resulting from its highly cationic nature. In conclusion, aprotinin at a low dose decreased kallikrein, kinin, sodium, and water excretion. These decreases may be due to the inhibition of kallikrein and/or other serine proteases or may be secondary to the renal hemodynamic changes. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Guided Notes, Review, and Achievement of Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities in Mainstream Content Courses.

As an increasing number of students with learning disabilities (LD) are being integrated into regular-curriculum content classes, effective strategies are needed that compensate for their skill deficits and provide opportunities for them to actively participate and achieve alongside their nonhandicapped peers. Two strategies, guided notes and guided notes with supervised review time, were examined to determine which strategy generated the most socially significant gains for six students with LD integrated into a regular-curriculum science class. After training, students used guided notes only and guided notes with supervised review time during two separate conditions. A single-subject reversal design was used to examine the outcomes. While the students with LD realized sizable gains using guided notes, the guided notes with supervised review time strategy produced socially significant gains across all participants. Implications of the results and promising areas for future research conclude the discussion.
[Whole-body MRI in comparison to skeletal scintigraphy for detection of skeletal metastases in patients with solid tumors].

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic efficacy of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) as a new and rapid examination technique with skeletal scintigraphy for detection of skeletal metastases from solid tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS In 129 patients with solid malignant tumors, WB-MRI was performed for individual comparison with skeletal scintigraphy. Examinations were performed with the innovative AngioSURF rolling table with integrated phased array surface coil and coronary TIRM sequences for different body regions. RESULTS The results for WB-MRI and skeletal scintigraphy were concordant in 81% of the cases, whereby both procedures excluded skeletal metastases in 43%. WB-MRI and skeletal scintigraphy demonstrated skeletal metastases in 38% of the cases, whereby WB-MRI provided more comprehensive findings in 45%. In 12% of the cases, skeletal scintigraphy was superior to WB-MRI and in 19% the findings were discordant, whereby WB-MRI detected skeletal metastases in 15 cases which had not been found on skeletal scintigraphy. In nine cases, skeletal scintigraphy was positive when the WB-MRI was negative. In 60% of the cases, WB-MRI evidenced tumor-associated findings. CONCLUSION WB-MRI represents a promising new staging technique for detection of skeletal metastases, which is more sensitive in many cases than skeletal scintigraphy in detecting and assessing the extent of skeletal metastases-and tumor-associated findings that are relevant for treatment strategy.
Robust labeling methods for copy protection of images

In the European project SMASH a mass multimedia storage device for home usage is being developed. The success of such a storage system depends not only on technical advances, but also on the existence of an adequate copy protection method. Copy protection for visual data requires fast and robust labeling techniques. In this paper, two new labeling techniques are proposed. The first method extends an existing spatial labeling technique. This technique divides the image into blocks and searches an optimal label- embedding level for each block instead of using a fixed embedding-level for the complete image. The embedding-level for each block is dependent on a lower quality JPEG compressed version of the labeled block. The second method removes high frequency DCT-coefficients in some areas to embed a label. A JPEG quality factor and the local image structure determine how many coefficients are discarded during the labeling process. Using both methods a perceptually invisible label of a few hundred bits was embedded in a set of true color images. The label added by the spatial method is very robust against JPEG compression. However, this method is not suitable for real-time applications. Although the second DCT-based method is slightly less resistant to JPEG compression, it is more resistant to line-shifting and cropping than the first one and is suitable for real-time labeling.
Use of Kindergarten Screening Assessments for the Identification of At-risk Readers

Early identification of students at-risk for reading problems has become a national priority. At the present time,the most commonly used kindergarten screening methods are selfmade by local districts and are not considered effective methods of early detection for at-risk readers. This retrospective study involved third, fourth and fifth grade students enrolled in a suburban elementary school during the 2007-2008 school year. The first research question examined the relationship between at-risk status determined with the Kindergarten Screening measure prior to entry into kindergarten and at-risk status determined by Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills measures administered in the fall of kindergarten. The comparison between the category classifications derived from the Kindergarten Screening Summary Scores and the category classifications derived from the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills Summary Scores produced the best combination of sensitivity and specificity values. The second research question was designed to examine the predictive relationship between the Kindergarten Screening measure and the Kindergarten Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills measures with Winter Oral Reading Fluency in Grades 1 and 2. The Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy SkillsSummary score demonstrated greater levels of sensitivity and greater improvement over chance in predicting Grade 1 Winter Oral Reading Fluency than did the Kindergarten Screening measure for two of the three cohorts and greater sensitivity than Letter Naming Fluency or Initial Sound Fluency for all cohorts. The third research question investigated the effectiveness of the reading instruction based on the results of the Kindergarten Summary Scores, Oral Reading Fluency and Measures of Academic Performace scores. Improvements in at-risk status were noted as for Oral Reading Fluency as
A quantitative analysis 0f word-final /r/-deletion in Brazilian Portugese

This study provides a quantitative analysis for the process of word-final /r/-deletion in the dialect of Portuguese spoken in the city of Belem, in northern Brazil. Two linguistic and four extralinguistic factors are considered in the investigation, all of which have a significant effect on the outcome of the process. Within the framework of Optimality Theory (Prince & Smolensky 1993), I propose an analysis for the general variation patterns found in /r/-deletion, along the lines of Reynolds (1994) and Anttila (1997).