Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Asperger syndrome and high functioning autism : same, different, or a spectrum? An investigation using a comprehensive communication assessment battery

Language and communication difficulties are central to Asperger Syndrome/Disorder (AS) and Autistic Disorder (AD), two pervasive developmental disorders classified in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition (DSM-IV). Research findings from studies investigating language and communication skills in AS and AD may, therefore, have the potential to assist with the development of clinical intervention strategies to promote positive psychosocial, educational, behavioural, and vocational outcomes for children and adults with the disorders. Research into the language and communication skills associated with AS and high-functioning individuals with AD (HFA) reflects the ongoing debate regarding if and how AS fits into the autism paradigm. Three theoretical approaches have been applied to research. These are a) validation studies, where the relevance of developmental language history on linguistic outcomes in AS and HFA has been examined; b) studies where AS and HFA are combined into a single experimental group; and c) studies that view AS and HFA as dimensions on an autism spectrum (ASD). The clinical understanding of the language and communication skills associated with AS and HFA, however, may not be an accurate reflection of the difficulties experienced by individuals with the diagnoses due to three methodological limitations of research to date. Firstly, the extent of language assessment used in studies to date has been restricted. Considerable research has investigated basic linguistic abilities only, such as semantic and syntactic development. This focus reflects DSM-IV’s interest in early semantic and syntactic development as the differential diagnostic criterion between AS and AD. Subsequent development of communicative competence is not a DSM-IV diagnostic issue. Nevertheless, an accurate definition of the communicative difficulties experienced by individuals with a diagnosis of either AS or HFA is a clinical issue if intervention and support are to be specific to the individual’s communicative needs. Secondly, research to date has focused predominantly on children. Long-term studies of adults with developmental histories of language impairment, but not
Deaminase-independent inhibition of HIV-1 reverse transcription by APOBEC3G

APOBEC3G (A3G), a host protein that inhibits HIV-1 reverse transcription and replication in the absence of Vif, displays cytidine deaminase and single-stranded (ss) nucleic acid binding activities. HIV-1 nucleocapsid protein (NC) also binds nucleic acids and has a unique property, nucleic acid chaperone activity, which is crucial for efficient reverse transcription. Here we report the interplay between A3G, NC and reverse transcriptase (RT) and the effect of highly purified A3G on individual reactions that occur during reverse transcription. We find that A3G did not affect the kinetics of NC-mediated annealing reactions, nor did it inhibit RNase H cleavage. In sharp contrast, A3G significantly inhibited all RT-catalyzed DNA elongation reactions with or without NC. In the case of (−) strong-stop DNA synthesis, the inhibition was independent of A3G's catalytic activity. Fluorescence anisotropy and single molecule DNA stretching analyses indicated that NC has a higher nucleic acid binding affinity than A3G, but more importantly, displays faster association/disassociation kinetics. RT binds to ssDNA with a much lower affinity than either NC or A3G. These data support a novel mechanism for deaminase-independent inhibition of reverse transcription that is determined by critical differences in the nucleic acid binding properties of A3G, NC and RT.
Audio segmentation based on multi-scale audio classification

Content-based audio segmentation plays an important role in multimedia applications. In order to segment accurately and on-line, most conventional algorithms are based on small-scale feature classification and always result in a high false alarm rate. Our experimental results show that large-scale audio can be more easily classified than small ones. According to this fact, we present a novel multi-scale framework for audio segmentation. First, a rough segmentation step based on large-scale classification is taken to ensure the integrality of the content of segments, which can avoid the consecutive audio belonging to the same kind being segmented into different pieces. Then a subtle segmentation step is taken to further locate the segmentation points for the boundary areas computed by the rough segmentation step. Experimental results show that a low false alarm rate can be achieved while preserving a low missing rate.
Pattern of relapses in Iranian patients with ulcerative colitis. A prospective study.

BACKGROUND The pattern of relapses in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) has a significant role in taking decisions about the therapy and the follow up of patients. This study is designed to find out the pattern, time and severity of relapses in Iranian patients with UC. METHOD From 1991 to 2003, a period of 13 years, the pattern of relapses in 163 patients with UC who had been admitted to a private referral gastroenterology clinic in Iran were evaluated. RESULTS 163 patients (58.3% female, 41.7% male) were included, aged from 17 to 74 years with mean age of 38.9 ± 12.3 years. Mean follow up time was 52.7 ± 41.4 months (ranges 12 and 155 months). Mean relapse chance was 0.028 ± 0.036 for each patient in every month (ranges 0-0.21). The mean time from the initial attack to the first relapse was 23.8 ± 22.5 months, which was not the same in patients with different primary disease severity (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION The time and severity of the relapses relate to the severity of UC. Iranian patients have a milder course of the disease.
Contribution of inflammation and impaired angiogenesis to the pathobiology of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension

Deficient angiogenesis and systemic inflammation could be involved in the pathophysiology of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). We aimed to characterise the histopathology of pulmonary vascular lesions from 52 CTEPH patients who underwent a pulmonary endarterectomy (PEA) and investigate a potential link between clinical, biological and morphometric parameters. Collagen, elastin, fibrin, lipid, endothelial, smooth muscle and inflammatory cell content was investigated using immunohistochemistry. Qualitative changes were evaluated using severity scores. Circulating levels of inflammatory mediators were measured using ELISA. Neointima, thrombotic, recanalised and atherosclerotic lesions were found. Accumulation of macrophages, T-lymphocytes and neutrophils was found mainly in atherosclerotic and thrombotic lesions. Angiogenesis was observed in all kinds of lesions; low-scored angiogenesis predicted adverse outcome, including persistent pulmonary hypertension post-PEA, start of medical therapy and poor survival. C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-10, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, macrophage inflammatory protein-1α and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were significantly elevated in CTEPH patients. Plasma CRP and MMP-9 levels correlated with neutrophil and macrophage accumulation, respectively. Enhanced systemic inflammation parallels local inflammatory cell infiltration in major pulmonary arteries at advanced stages of CTEPH. Impaired neovascularisation is associated with poor survival, start of medical treatment and persistent pulmonary hypertension post-PEA. These findings suggest that inflammation and impaired angiogenesis could contribute to the progression of the disease. Inflammation and deficient angiogenesis are involved in the pathogenesis of CTEPH http://ow.ly/LHIUa
Connectivity and orientation of the seven helical bundle in the tachykinin NK‐1 receptor probed by zinc site engineering.

A high affinity, tridentate metal ion site has been constructed previously by His substitutions in an antagonist binding site located between transmembrane segment (TM)‐V and TM‐VI in the substance P NK‐1 receptor. Here, an attempt is made to probe helix‐helix interactions systematically in the NK‐1 receptor by engineering of bis‐His Zn(II) sites. His residues were introduced at selected positions individually and in combinations in the exterior segments of TM‐II, III and V in both the wild‐type background and after Ala substitution of naturally occurring His residues, and the increase in the affinity for Zn(II) was monitored in competition binding experiments with iodinated substance P or a tritiated non‐peptide antagonist. In this way, two high affinity bis‐His sites were constructed between position 193 in TM‐V (Glu193, G1uV:01) and position 109 in TM‐III (Asn1O9, AsnIII:05) as well as between the neighboring, naturally occurring His108 in TM‐III (HisIII:04) and position 92 in TM‐II (Tyr92, TyrII:24), respectively. Functionally, the coordination of zinc ions at these two sites blocked the receptor as it antagonized the substance P‐induced increase in phosphatidylinositol turnover. It is concluded that the bis‐His zinc sites from the central TM‐III helix to TM‐II and ‐V, respectively, together with the interconnected, previously constructed tridentate site between TM‐V and ‐VI, constitute a basic network of distance constraints for the molecular models of receptors with seven transmembrane segments which, for example, strongly support an anti‐clockwise orientation of the seven helical bundle as viewed from the extracellular space.
A fuzzy supervisory control for induction machines operating from a DC Microgrid

Microgrids (MG) are an operative solution to the integration of Distributed Energy Resources (DER) with Electrical Industrial Systems (EIS) supplying some part of the power consumption demanded in the system, and providing high reliability with reduction of distribution losses. Induction motors and Adjustable Speed Drivers (ASD) are vital in all kind of industrial processes based on their multiple applications. This document proposes a fuzzy supervisory control for a DC industrial Micro-grid which involves three phase induction motors in its automation processes and Renewable Energy Sources (RES). Two control layers are presented, the lower layer adjusts the local/individual speed set points in each motor under different torque loads and the upper layer coordinates or synchronises all the motors, which is a priority in EIS. The design of the local controller and the global control law are presented in detail based on two study industry cases. Load regulation tests under disturbances demonstrate the well supervisory controller response and performance.
Organizational and Functional Status of the Y-linked Genes and Loci in the Infertile Patients Having Normal Spermiogram

Male fertility is an orchestrated interplay of loci on the Y chromosome with a number of genes from across the other chromosomes. In this context, micro-deletions in the Y chromosome have been correlated with spermatogenic failure often leading to infertility. However, causes of infertility in the patients with the normal spermiogram have remained unclear and therefore pose another level of challenge. In the present study, we analyzed 64 STSs, studied different Y-linked genes and loci and conducted single nucleotide variant (SNV) analyses in 31 infertile males with normal spermiogram along with 67 normal fertile males (NFMs) to gain an insight into the organization of their Y chromosome. Further, employing quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR), we studied copy number variation of DYZ1 arrays and three genes and mutational status of SRY by direct sequence analyses. STS analyses of the AZFa, b and c regions in these patients showed known and new mutations. Further, copies of DAZ and BPY2 in the patients were found to be affected compared to those in NFMs. All the patients had normal copy number of the SRY however its sequence analysis (in silico) showed mutations in eight patients. In four of these eight patients, SRY mutations resulted into truncated proteins. Similarly, DYZ1 analysis showed micro-deletions and it's much reduced copy number as compared to those in NFMs. Present study in males with unexplained infertility revealed deletions similar to those observed in oligospermic and azoospermic patients. Thus, there are some common but still unknown factors underlying infertility in these patients irrespective of their spermatogenic status. This work is envisaged to augment DNA diagnosis, proving beneficial in the context of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and genetic counselling.
Addition of Aromatic Substrates Restores Trichloroethylene Degradation Activity in Pseudomonas putida F1

ABSTRACT The rate of trichloroethylene (TCE) degradation by toluene dioxygenase (TDO) in resting cells of Pseudomonas putida F1 gradually decreased and eventually stopped within 1.5 h, as in previous reports. However, the subsequent addition of toluene, which is the principal substrate of TDO, resulted in its immediate degradation without a lag phase. After the consumption of toluene, degradation of TCE restarted at a rate similar to its initial degradation, suggesting that this degradation was mediated by TDO molecules that were present before the cessation of TCE degradation. The addition of benzene and cumene, which are also substrates of TDO, also caused restoration of TCE degradation activity: TCE was degraded simultaneously with cumene, and a larger amount of TCE was degraded after cumene was added than after toluene or benzene was added. But substrates that were expected to supply the cells with NADH or energy did not restore TCE degradation activity. This cycle of pseudoinactivation and restoration of TCE degradation was observed repeatedly without a significant decrease in the number of viable cells, even after six additions of toluene spread over 30 h. The results obtained in this study demonstrate a new type of restoration of TCE degradation that has not been previously reported.
How do patients from eastern and western Germany compare with regard to their preferences for shared decision making?

BACKGROUND Increasing emphasis is being placed on involving patients in decisions concerning their health. This shift towards more patient engagement by health professionals and towards more desire by patients for participation may be partly based on socio-political factors. METHODS To compare the preferences for shared decision making of patients from eastern and western Germany we analysed five patient samples (n = 2318) (general practice patients and schizophrenia patients from eastern and western Germany). Patients' role preferences for shared decisions were measured using the decision-making subscale of the Autonomy Preference Index. RESULTS Patients resident in eastern Germany expressed lower preferences for shared decision making than patients in western Germany. This was true after controlling for socio-demographic variables and for patient group. CONCLUSION The cultural imprint (e.g. western vs. former communist society) seems to have a significant influence on patients' expectations and behaviour in the medical encounter. Health services providers need to be aware that health attitudes within the same health system might vary for historical and cultural reasons. The engagement of patients in medical decisions might not be susceptible to a 'one size fits all' approach; doctors should instead aim to accommodate the individual patient's desire for autonomy.
MiR-26b/KPNA2 axis inhibits epithelial ovarian carcinoma proliferation and metastasis through downregulating OCT4

Karyopherin alpha 2 (KPNA2) is a nuclear transport protein upregulated in many cancers. Our previous study has identified KPNA2 overexpression in epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) tissues, which predicts poor prognosis. However, the mechanism of KPNA2 overexpression in EOC remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the role of miRNA in KPNA2 dysregulation. Our results showed that miR-26b was downregulated in EOC samples, and correlated inversely with KPNA2 expression. Low expression of miR-26b was associated with advanced FIGO stage, poor differentiation, higher risk of distant metastasis and recurrence. Downregulation of miR-26b predicted poor disease-free survival and overall survival in EOC patients. KPNA2 was validated as a direct target of miR-26b. Knockdown of KPNA2 or ectopic expression of miR-26b could downregulate OCT4, vimentin and upregulate E-cadherin. Reintroduction of KPNA2 partially abrogated the suppression effect induced by miR-26b. We further verified that miR-26b/KPNA2/OCT4 axis inhibited EOC cell viability, migratory ability and sphere-forming capacity in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our results reveal that miR-26b is downregulated in EOC, and directly targets KPNA2. miR-26b/KPNA2 axis suppresses tumor proliferation and metastasis through decreasing OCT4 expression, which is indicative of the important role of miR-26b/KPNA2/OCT4 axis in EOC carcinogenesis and progression.
Homeostatic increase in excitability in area CA1 after Schaffer collateral transection in vivo

Purpose: Epilepsy is a significant long‐term consequence of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and is likely to result from multiple mechanisms. One feature that is common to many forms of TBI is denervation. We asked whether chronic partial denervation in vivo would lead to a homeostatic increase in the excitability of a denervated cell population.
Matrix Converter-Based Unified Power-Flow Controllers: Advanced Direct Power Control Method

This paper presents a direct power control (DPC) for three-phase matrix converters operating as unified power flow controllers (UPFCs). Matrix converters (MCs) allow the direct ac/ac power conversion without dc energy storage links; therefore, the MC-based UPFC (MC-UPFC) has reduced volume and cost, reduced capacitor power losses, together with higher reliability. Theoretical principles of direct power control (DPC) based on sliding mode control techniques are established for an MC-UPFC dynamic model including the input filter. As a result, line active and reactive power, together with ac supply reactive power, can be directly controlled by selecting an appropriate matrix converter switching state guaranteeing good steady-state and dynamic responses. Experimental results of DPC controllers for MC-UPFC show decoupled active and reactive power control, zero steady-state tracking error, and fast response times. Compared to an MC-UPFC using active and reactive power linear controllers based on a modified Venturini high-frequency PWM modulator, the experimental results of the advanced DPC-MC guarantee faster responses without overshoot and no steady-state error, presenting no cross-coupling in dynamic and steady-state responses.
Effects of Inclusion on Academic Outcomes.

This study compared math and reading achievement in the fifth grades of two suburban elementary schools, one which utilized a traditional approach of pull-out special education classrooms and the other which utilized an inclusion program for special education services. The Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS) was used to measure the math outcomes of 98 fifth graders and the reading outcomes of 80 fifth graders at the inclusion school, and the math outcomes of 143 fifth graders and the reading outcomes of 129 fifth graders at the traditional school. Chi square analysis reflected no significant difference in passing rates on the TAAS in math and reading between the two groups. The study concluded that the decision as to which program is more beneficial cannot be made based solely on expected academic improvements. Appendixes include a student attitudes survey instrument, data tables, and a paper on inclusion. (Contains 20 reference notes.) (DB) *********************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ***********************************************************************
Immunohistochemical analysis of the outer plexiform layer in the nob mouse shows no abnormalities

In the nob mouse, a mutation in nyctalopin results in a loss of signal transmission from photoreceptors to depolarizing bipolar cells (DBCs). We used immunohistochemical techniques to assess the expression pattern of proteins found at either the photoreceptor terminal or bipolar cell dendrites within the outer plexiform layer. We labeled normal and nob retinas with antibodies against mGluR6, PKC, G0α, bassoon, PSD-95, the α1F subunit of voltage-gated calcium channels, trkB, and dystrophin. All labeling patterns in nob and normal retinas were comparable to those previously reported in mouse retina. Our results indicate that the absence of nyctalopin does not disrupt the expression pattern of other proteins known to be required for synaptic transmission.
Cytofluorometric studies on the action of podophyllotoxin and epipodophyllotoxins (VM-26, VP-16-213) on the cell cycle traverse of human lymphoblasts

Flow microfluorometric analysis of human lymphoid cells exposed in vitro to cytostatic concentrations of podophyllotoxin (0.01-5 mug/ml for 24 h) shows that a major part of this population (40-60%) has the DNA content of cells in the G2-M part of the cell cycle, and that approximately 60% of these cells are arrested in mitosis. Although a similar pattern of DNA distribution is seen in cultures exposed to cytostatic concentrations of VM-26(0.01 mug/ml) and VP--16-213(0.1 mug/ml), no mitotic cells are seen in these cultures. Exposure to higher concentrations: of VM-26 (0.1 mug/ml) and VP-16-213 (1.0 mug/ml) inhibits cell cycle traverse, and after 24 hr of exposure a major part of the population is arrested with the DNA content of cell in the S part of the cell cycle. Exposure to higher drug concentrations leads to a reduction in the number of cells with the late S-G2DNA content. Whereas the cell cycle block induced by cytostatic concentrations of podophyllotoxin (0.01 mug/ml) is readily reversible by reincubation of cells in drug-free medium, cells blocked by VM-26 and VP-16-213 are unable to resume cell-cycle traverse under similar conditions.