Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term outcome of extratemporal epilepsy surgery among 154 adult patients.

OBJECT The goal of this study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients who underwent extratemporal epilepsy surgery and to assess preoperative prognostic factors associated with seizure outcome. METHODS This retrospective study included 154 consecutive adult patients who underwent epilepsy surgery at Bethel Epilepsy Centre, Bielefeld, Germany between 1991 and 2001. Seizure outcome was categorized based on the modified Engel classification. Survival statistics were calculated using Kaplan-Meier curves, life tables, and Cox regression models to evaluate the risk factors associated with outcomes. RESULTS Sixty-one patients (39.6%) underwent frontal resections, 68 (44.1%) had posterior cortex resections, 15 (9.7%) multilobar resections, 6 (3.9%) parietal resections, and 4 (2.6%) occipital resections. The probability of an Engel Class I outcome for the overall patient group was 55.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 52-58% at 0.5 years), 54.5% (95% CI 50-58%) at 1 year, and 51.1% (95% CI 48-54%) at 14 years. If a patient was in Class I at 2 years postoperatively, the probability of remaining in Class I for 14 years postoperatively was 88% (95% CI 78-98%). Factors predictive of poor long-term outcome after surgery were previous surgery (p = 0.04), tonic-clonic seizures (p = 0.02), and the presence of an auditory aura (p = 0.03). Factors predictive of good long-term outcome were surgery within 5 years after onset (p = 0.015) and preoperative invasive monitoring (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS Extratemporal epilepsy surgery is effective according to findings on long-term follow-up. The outcome at the first 2-year follow-up visit is a reliable predictor of long-term Engel Class I postoperative outcome.
Propeptide-Mediated Inhibition of Cognate Gingipain Proteinases

Porphyromonas gingivalis is a major pathogen associated with chronic periodontitis. The organism’s cell-surface cysteine proteinases, the Arg-specific proteinases (RgpA, RgpB) and the Lys-specific proteinase (Kgp), which are known as gingipains have been implicated as major virulence factors. All three gingipain precursors contain a propeptide of around 200 amino acids in length that is removed during maturation. The aim of this study was to characterize the inhibitory potential of the Kgp and RgpB propeptides against the mature cognate enzymes. Mature Kgp was obtained from P. gingivalis mutant ECR368, which produces a recombinant Kgp with an ABM1 motif deleted from the catalytic domain (rKgp) that enables the otherwise membrane bound enzyme to dissociate from adhesins and be released. Mature RgpB was obtained from P. gingivalis HG66. Recombinant propeptides of Kgp and RgpB were produced in Escherichia coli and purified using nickel-affinity chromatography. The Kgp and RgpB propeptides displayed non-competitive inhibition kinetics with Ki values of 2.04 µM and 12 nM, respectively. Both propeptides exhibited selectivity towards their cognate proteinase. The specificity of both propeptides was demonstrated by their inability to inhibit caspase-3, a closely related cysteine protease, and papain that also has a relatively long propeptide. Both propeptides at 100 mg/L caused a 50% reduction of P. gingivalis growth in a protein-based medium. In summary, this study demonstrates that gingipain propeptides are capable of inhibiting their mature cognate proteinases.
SELECTIVE DELAY ACTIVITY IN THE MEDIAL PREFRONTAL CORTEX: THE CONTRIBUTION OF SENSORY-MOTOR INFORMATION AND EXPECTATION

The medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a critical role in the organization of goal directed behavior. This role is suggested by the anatomy of mPFC as the region rests at the top of a complex cortical and sub-cortical hierarchy, receives convergent sensory and motor information from multiple modalities, and is the target of modulatory brainstem nuclei that respond to prediction and reward. Given these observations, it was hypothesized that mPFC neurons store associations between stimuli when the stimuli contribute to the prediction of reward. To test this hypothesis, neural ensemble spiking activity was recorded in the mPFC as rats performed a paired-associate discrimination task. In one condition, both elements of the paired-associate stimulus-sequence provided information about reward delivery. In another condition, only the first stimulus contributed to the prediction. As hypothesized, stimulus-selective, prospective delay activity was observed during sequences in which both elements contributed to rewardprediction. Unexpectedly, however, selective delay responses were associated with slight variations in head position and thus were not necessarily generated by intrinsic mnemonic processes. Interestingly, the sensitivity of neurons to head position was greatest during intervals when reward delivery was certain. These result suggest that a major portion of delay activity in the rat mPFC reflects task-relevant sensory-motor activity, possibly related to behavioral strategies rather than to the local storage of stimulus-stimulus associations. These observations agree with evidence suggesting that mPFC neurons are particularly responsive during the performance of actions related to the acquisition of
Investigating the Chaperone Properties of a Novel Heat Shock Protein, Hsp70.c, from Trypanosoma brucei

The neglected tropical disease, African Trypanosomiasis, is fatal and has a crippling impact on economic development. Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is an important molecular chaperone that is expressed in response to stress and Hsp40 acts as its co-chaperone. These proteins play a wide range of roles in the cell and they are required to assist the parasite as it moves from a cold blooded insect vector to a warm blooded mammalian host. A novel cytosolic Hsp70, from Trypanosoma brucei, TbHsp70.c, contains an acidic substrate binding domain and lacks the C-terminal EEVD motif. The ability of a cytosolic Hsp40 from Trypanosoma brucei J protein 2, Tbj2, to function as a co-chaperone of TbHsp70.c was investigated. The main objective was to functionally characterize TbHsp70.c to further expand our knowledge of parasite biology. TbHsp70.c and Tbj2 were heterologously expressed and purified and both proteins displayed the ability to suppress aggregation of thermolabile MDH and chemically denatured rhodanese. ATPase assays revealed a 2.8-fold stimulation of the ATPase activity of TbHsp70.c by Tbj2. TbHsp70.c and Tbj2 both demonstrated chaperone activity and Tbj2 functions as a co-chaperone of TbHsp70.c. In vivo heat stress experiments indicated upregulation of the expression levels of TbHsp70.c.
The Role of Rescue Therapies in the Treatment of Severe ARDS

ARDS is characterized by a non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema with bilateral chest radiograph opacities and hypoxemia refractory to oxygen therapy. It is a common cause of admission to the ICU due to hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation. Corticosteroids are not recommended in ARDS patients. Rescue therapies alleviate hypoxemia in patients unable to maintain reasonable oxygenation: recruitment maneuvers, prone positioning, inhaled nitric oxide, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation improve oxygenation, but their impact on mortality remains unproven. Restrictive fluid management seems to be a favorable strategy with no significant reduction in 60-d mortality. Future studies are needed to clarify the efficacy of these therapies on outcomes in patients with severe ARDS, and institution of these therapies may be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Configuration Tracking for Continuum Manipulators With Coupled Tendon Drive

Robotic control of flexible devices can enhance and simplify many medical procedures. We present a method for controlling a tendon-driven continuum manipulator by means of specifying the shape configuration. The basis for control is a linear beam configuration model that transforms beam configuration to tendon displacement by modeling internal loads of the compliant system. An essential aspect of this model is the inclusion of both the mechanical and geometrical coupling among serial articulating sections. Important capabilities of this model are the general forward kinematics and the decoupled inverse kinematics that allow for independent control of multiple sections. Tracking results are presented for a cardiac catheter with two articulating sections.
Reciprocal relationship of Tn/NF‐κB and sTn as an indicator of the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

In order to determine whether the expression of tumour‐associated carbohydrate antigens (Tn/sTn) and a representative inflammation marker, nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB), is associated with the invasiveness of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), this study has attempted to investigate the correlation of the aforementioned markers with the well‐established invasive pattern grading score (IPGS) and clinicopathological parameters.
Relationship Between a GABAAα6 Pro385Ser Substitution and Benzodiazepine Sensitivity

OBJECTIVE: In humans, interindividual variation in sensitivity to benzodiazepine drugs may correlate with behavioral variation, including vulnerability to disease states such as alcoholism. In the rat, variation in alcohol and benzodiazepine sensitivity has been correlated with an inherited variant of the GABAAa6 receptor. The authors detected a Pro385Ser [1236C>T] amino acid substitution in the human GABAAa6 that may influence alcohol sensitivity. In this pilot study, they evaluated the contribution of this polymorphism to benzodiazepine sensitivity. METHOD: Sensitivity to diazepam was assessed in 51 children of alcoholics by using two eye movement measures: peak saccadic velocity and average smooth pursuit gain. Association analysis was performed with saccadic velocity and smooth pursuit gain as dependent variables and comparing Pro385/Ser385 heterozygotes and Pro385/Pro385 homozygotes. RESULTS: The Pro385Ser genotype was associated with less diazepam-induced impairment of saccadic velocity but not with.
Intracorneal ring segments implantation followed by same-day topography-guided PRK and corneal collagen CXL in low to moderate keratoconus.

PURPOSE To evaluate the safety and efficacy of intrastromal corneal ring segments (ICRS) implantation followed by same-day topography-guided photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) and ultraviolet-A/riboflavin collagen cross-linking (CXL) in patients with low to moderate keratoconus. METHODS Patients with low to moderate keratoconus and contact lens intolerance were included in the study. All patients first underwent femtosecond laser-enabled placement of ICRS (Keraring, Mediphacos) (first step). Same-day topography-guided PRK and CXL (second step) were subsequently performed in all patients after the refraction was stable (average 6 months [range: 3 to 11 months]). RESULTS Thirteen eyes from 13 patients were included in the study. Based on values before the first step and 6 months after the second step, significant improvements were noted in uncorrected distance visual acuity (0.7±0.32 logMAR vs 0.08±0.08 logMAR), corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) (0.16±0.19 logMAR vs 0.02±0.04 log-MAR), sphere (-3.65±3.08 diopters [D] vs 0.06±1.6 D), astigmatism (-3.31±1.5 D vs -0.98±0.75 D), average K (47.28±1.99 D vs 41.42±3.22 D), and coma (2.36±1.23 μm vs 1.47±0.68 μm) (P<.05). Approximately 63% of eyes gained ⩾2 lines of CDVA, whereas no change in CDVA was reported in ∼27% of eyes. No eyes lost lines of CDVA. CONCLUSIONS The combination of ICRS implantation followed by sequential same-day topography-guided PRK/CXL may be a reasonable option for improving visual acuity in patients with low to moderate keratoconus.
Dynamic Interplay in Clinical Improvisation

When a therapist and patient/client are actively engaged in improvising music together, the potential exists for the development of an intimate and dynamic emotional relationship. The improvisation reveals both players' capacity for forming, expressing and communicating dynamic forms of feeling, within the context of this music relationship. This paper examines the concept of dynamic forms, with recourse to the literature on mother-infant interaction, and applies this concept to clarify the use of clinical improvisation in music therapy.
Impact of Bilingualism on Cognitive Outcome After Stroke

Background and Purpose— Bilingualism has been associated with slower cognitive aging and a later onset of dementia. In this study, we aimed to determine whether bilingualism also influences cognitive outcome after stroke. Methods— We examined 608 patients with ischemic stroke from a large stroke registry and studied the role of bilingualism in predicting poststroke cognitive impairment in the absence of dementia. Results— A larger proportion of bilinguals had normal cognition compared with monolinguals (40.5% versus 19.6%; P<0.0001), whereas the reverse was noted in patients with cognitive impairment, including vascular dementia and vascular mild cognitive impairment (monolinguals 77.7% versus bilinguals 49.0%; P<0.0009). There were no differences in the frequency of aphasia (monolinguals 11.8% versus bilinguals 10.5%; P=0.354). Bilingualism was found to be an independent predictor of poststroke cognitive impairment. Conclusions— Our results suggest that bilingualism leads to a better cognitive outcome after stroke, possibly by enhancing cognitive reserve.
Model validation and discovery for complex stochastic system

In this thesis, we study two fundamental problems that arise in the modeling of stochastic systems: (i) Validation of stochastic models against behavioral specifications such as temporal logics, and (ii) Discovery of kinetic parameters of stochastic biochemical models from behavioral specifications. We present a new Bayesian algorithm for Statistical Model Checking of stochastic systems based on a sequential version of Jeffreys' Bayes Factor test. We argue that the Bayesian approach is more suited for application domains like systems biology modeling, where distributions on nuisance parameters and priors may be known. We prove that our Bayesian Statistical Model Checking algorithm terminates for a large subclass of prior probabilities. We also characterize the Type I/II errors associated with our algorithm. We experimentally demonstrate that this algorithm is suitable for the analysis of complex biochemical models like those written in the BioNetGen language. We then argue that i.i. d. sampling based Statistical Model Checking algorithms are not an effective way to study rare behaviors of stochastic models and present another Bayesian Statistical Model Checking algorithm that can incorporate non-i.i. d. sampling strategies. We also present algorithms for synthesis of chemical kinetic parameters of stochastic biochemical models from high level behavioral specifications. We consider the setting where a modeler knows facts that must hold on the stochastic model but is not confident about some of the kinetic parameters in her model. We suggest algorithms for discovering these kinetic parameters from facts stated in appropriate formal probabilistic specification languages. Our algorithms are based on our theoretical results characterizing the probability of a specification being true on a stochastic biochemical model. We have applied this algorithm to discover kinetic parameters for biochemical models with as many as six unknown parameters.
Job insecurity and employee health: The buffering potential of job control and job self-efficacy

Abstract This study examines the direct and moderating effects of two types of control that employees have over the work situation – job control and job self-efficacy – on the relationship between job insecurity and employee health. The authors hypothesize that job control and job self-efficacy attenuate the negative effects of job insecurity on both a short-term (i.e. need for recovery) and a long-term health outcome (i.e. impaired general health). These hypotheses were examined using survey data collected from a heterogeneous sample of 1368 Belgian workers. Results of moderated regression analysis showed that job control, but not job self-efficacy, buffered the negative effects of job insecurity on employee health. We conclude that organizations can temper the negative health effects of job insecurity by giving their employees more control over their work.
Treatment response in relation to subthreshold bipolarity in patients with major depressive disorder receiving antidepressant monotherapy: a post hoc data analysis (KOMDD study)

Background The aim of this observational study was to determine whether subthreshold bipolarity affects treatment response and remission in patients with major depressive disorder receiving antidepressant (AD) monotherapy over a 6-month follow-up period. Methods Seventy-eight patients with major depressive disorder were stratified into two subgroups according to the presence of subthreshold bipolarity, identified using the Korean version of the Mood Disorder Questionnaire (K-MDQ), which classifies patients as positive for a screening of bipolarity based on the cutoff for the total K-MDQ score (ie, 7 points). They received AD monotherapy such as escitalopram, sertraline, paroxetine, or tianeptine for 6 months. The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD), Hamilton Anxiety Scale, and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation were applied at baseline, 1 week, 3 weeks, 2 months, 3 months, and 6 months. Results The mean HAMD, BDI, and Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation scores were higher in the bipolarity group than in the nonbipolarity group at 3 weeks. The mean BDI score was also higher in the bipolarity group than in the nonbipolarity group at 6 months. Evaluation of the ratio of improvement for each scale revealed different patterns of percentage changes between the two groups over the 6-month follow-up period. Furthermore, the response and remission rates (as assessed using BDI and HAMD scores) were higher in the nonbipolarity group than in the bipolarity group, with the exception of HAMD scores at the 3-week follow-up time point. Conclusion The findings of this study showed that depressed patients with bipolarity had a worse response to AD monotherapy than did those without bipolarity.
Nonlinear dielectric thin films for high-power electric storage with energy density comparable with electrochemical supercapacitors

Although batteries possess high energy storage density, their output power is limited by the slow movement of charge carriers, and thus capacitors are often required to deliver high power output. Dielectric capacitors have high power density with fast discharge rate, but their energy density is typically much lower than electrochemical supercapacitors. Increasing the energy density of dielectric materials is highly desired to extend their applications in many emerging power system applications. In this paper, we review the mechanisms and major characteristics of electric energy storage with electrochemical supercapacitors and dielectric capacitors. Three types of in-house-produced ferroic nonlinear dielectric thin film materials with high energy density are described, including (Pb<sub>0.97</sub>La<sub>0.02</sub>)(Zr<sub>0.90</sub>Sn<sub>0.05</sub>Ti<sub>0.05</sub>)O<sub>3</sub> (PLZST) antiferroelectric ceramic thin films, Pb(Zn<sub>1/3</sub>Nb<sub>2/3</sub>)O<sub>3-</sub>Pb(Mg<sub>1/3</sub>Nb<sub>2/3</sub>) O<sub>3-</sub>PbTiO<sub>3</sub> (PZN-PMN-PT) relaxor ferroelectric ceramic thin films, and poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF)-based polymer blend thin films. The results showed that these thin film materials are promising for electric storage with outstandingly high power density and fairly high energy density, comparable with electrochemical supercapacitors.
Relationship between Maternal Parenting Styles and African American and White Adolescents' Interpersonal Relationships

One hundred and fifty adolescents, ages 13 through 19 years, were administered the Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) and the Assessment of Interpersonal Relations (AIR) in a counterbalanced order to examine the relationship between perceived maternal parenting styles and adolescents' interpersonal relations with their mothers, male peers, female peers and teachers. Parenting styles were categorized according to three parental prototypes identified by Baumrind (1971), permissive, authoritarian and authoritative. Students who described their mothers as authoritative reported better interpersonal relations than adolescents with authoritarian or permissive mothers. No significant gender differences were found on any of the measures; however, a significant race by relationship type interaction was found. African American students reported more positive relationships with their mothers than did White students; White students reported more positive relationships with their peers and with their teachers than did African American students.
Immigration and Youthful Illegalities in a Global Edge City

This research focuses on immigration and youthful illegalities in the Toronto area, one of the world’s most ethnically diverse global cities. While current research documents a negative relationship between crime and immigration, there is little attention to individual-level mechanisms that explain the paths through which immigrant youth refrain from illegalities. Through a study of two cohorts of adolescents across two generations (1976, 1999), we elaborate a process model that is generic over both generations, and in which measures of bonds to parents and schools, commitments to education, and dispositions of risk aversity mediate youth involvement in illegalities. By focusing on a period when non-European immigration to Toronto increased dramatically, we then identify a compositional effect through which the more recent cohort is engaged in fewer illegalities.
Economic Uncertainty, Job Threat, and the Resiliency of the Millennial Generation's Attitudes Toward Immigration*

type="main"> Drawing a distinction between conditional and prevalence factors that affect immigration attitudes, we examine if the recent economic recession has influenced the Millennial Generation's attitudes about immigration, compared to non-Millennials. Employing data from the 2008 American National Election Study (ANES), we conduct a logit analysis to estimate the effects of theoretically relevant factors on immigration attitudes. Our findings indicate that even in the face of poor economic conditions that disproportionately impacted Millennials, this cohort's attitudes toward immigration are quite resilient. While Millennials’ immigration attitudes vary across a number of determinants, overall, they are more tolerant of immigration than non-Millennials. Millennials’ tolerance of immigration is consistent with their general liberal beliefs. This is true even under the conditional impact of economic self-interest and the conditional and prevalence impact of culture during the recession—a time when Millennials could have been susceptible to factors mitigating their feelings toward immigrants.