Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dissociating Memory Networks in Early Alzheimer’s Disease and Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration - A Combined Study of Hypometabolism and Atrophy

Introduction We aimed at dissociating the neural correlates of memory disorders in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Methods We included patients with AD (n = 19, 11 female, mean age 61 years) and FTLD (n = 11, 5 female, mean age 61 years) in early stages of their diseases. Memory performance was assessed by means of verbal and visual memory subtests from the Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS-R), including forgetting rates. Brain glucose utilization was measured by [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and brain atrophy by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) of T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans. Using a whole brain approach, correlations between test performance and imaging data were computed separately in each dementia group, including a group of control subjects (n = 13, 6 female, mean age 54 years) in both analyses. The three groups did not differ with respect to education and gender. Results Patients in both dementia groups generally performed worse than controls, but AD and FTLD patients did not differ from each other in any of the test parameters. However, memory performance was associated with different brain regions in the patient groups, with respect to both hypometabolism and atrophy: Whereas in AD patients test performance was mainly correlated with changes in the parieto-mesial cortex, performance in FTLD patients was correlated with changes in frontal cortical as well as subcortical regions. There were practically no overlapping regions associated with memory disorders in AD and FTLD as revealed by a conjunction analysis. Conclusion Memory test performance may not distinguish between both dementia syndromes. In clinical practice, this may lead to misdiagnosis of FTLD patients with poor memory performance. Nevertheless, memory problems are associated with almost completely different neural correlates in both dementia syndromes. Obviously, memory functions are carried out by distributed networks which break down in brain degeneration.
The role of overdiagnosis and reclassification in the marked increase of esophageal adenocarcinoma incidence.

BACKGROUND The incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is rising dramatically. This increase may reflect increased disease burden, reclassification of related cancers, or overdiagnosis resulting from increased diagnostic intensity, particularly upper endoscopy for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease or Barrett esophagus. METHODS We used the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database to extract information on incidence, stage distribution, and disease-specific mortality for esophageal adenocarcinoma as well as information on related cancers. RESULTS From 1975 to 2001, the incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma rose approximately sixfold in the United States (from 4 to 23 cases per million), a relative increase greater than that for melanoma, breast, or prostate cancer. Reclassification of squamous cell carcinoma is an unlikely explanation for the rise in incidence, because the anatomic distribution of esophageal cancer in general has changed. The only location with increased incidence is the lower third of the esophagus-the site where adenocarcinoma typically arises. Reclassification of adjacent gastric cancer is also unlikely because its incidence has also increased. Because there has been little change in the proportion of patients found with in situ or localized disease at diagnosis since 1975 (from 25% to 31%) and because esophageal adenocarcinoma mortality has increased more than sevenfold (from 2 to 15 deaths per million), overdiagnosis can be excluded as an explanation for the rise in incidence. CONCLUSION The rising incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma represents a real increase in disease burden.
Clinical response and temporal patterns of acute cellular rejection: relationship to chronic transplant nephropathy

Abstract The association between acute cellular rejection (ACR) and the development of chronic rejection has been the subject of much debate. Studies have suggested that the two phenomena may be linked, or, conversely that there may be no association at all. In order to clarify this relationship the outcome of 284 renal allografts were examined. The transplants were all performed at a single institution between April 1989 and December 1991, allowing a minimum follow up of 5 years. ACR was classified into three clinical response groups: (1) fully responsive to therapy (type 1 ACR), (2) partially responsive (type 2) and (3) ACR requiring treatment with ATG or OKT3 (type 3). Acute and chronic rejection were determined by histological (Banff) criteria. Chronic transplant nephropathy (CTN) occurred significantly more frequently in those with late ACR after day 60 than in those who had early rejection (53.5 % versus 17.3 %, respectively, P < 0.00001). Acute rejection that was fully responsive to therapy (type 1) had no association with CTN, but partially responsive rejection and rejection requiring second-line treatment were both significantly associated with CTN (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.001, respectively). This study suggests that it is the clinical behaviour and response to treatment of ACR that is paramount in determining the onset of chronic rejection, and not the mere presence or absence of the clinical phenomenon.
UK legislation on analgesic packs: before and after study of long term effect on poisonings

Abstract Objective To evaluate the long term effect of legislation limiting the size of packs of analgesics sold over the counter. Design Before and after study. Setting Suicides in England and Wales, data from six liver units in England and Scotland and five general hospitals in England, and UK data on sales of analgesics, between September 1993 and September 2002. Data sources Office for National Statistics; six liver units in England and Scotland; monitoring systems in general hospitals in Oxford, Manchester, and Derby; and Intercontinental Medical Statistics Health UK. Main outcome measures Deaths by suicidal overdose with paracetamol, salicylates, or ibuprofen; numbers of patients admitted to liver units, listed for liver transplant, and undergoing transplantations for paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity; non-fatal self poisonings with analgesics and numbers of tablets taken; and sales figures for analgesics. Results Suicidal deaths from paracetamol and salicylates were reduced by 22% (95% confidence interval 11% to 32%) in the year after the change in legislation on 16 September 1998, and this reduction persisted in the next two years. Liver unit admissions and liver transplants for paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity were reduced by around 30% in the four years after the legislation. Numbers of paracetamol and salicylate tablets in non-fatal overdoses were reduced in the three years after the legislation. Large overdoses were reduced by 20% (9% to 29%) for paracetamol and by 39% (14% to 57%) for salicylates in the second and third years after the legislation. Ibuprofen overdoses increased after the legislation, but with little or no effect on deaths. Conclusion Legislation restricting pack sizes of analgesics in the United Kingdom has been beneficial. A further reduction in pack sizes could prevent more deaths.
Clinical significance of soluble p53 protein in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES p53 status and CD38 antigen are biological factors influencing response to therapy and clinical course in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). This study tests the hypothesis that soluble p53 alone and in association with CD38 can enucleate B-CLL subsets at worse prognosis. DESIGN AND METHODS Wild and mutant forms of p53 protein were evaluated in 197 B-CLL patients at diagnosis or before progression by an immunoenzymatic method in plasma using an anti-p53 monoclonal antibody. CD38 expression was analyzed by a multicolor flow cytometric assay. RESULTS Higher levels of both soluble p53 (sp53) and CD38 were significantly correlated with intermediate and high Rai stages, with higher beta2-microglobulin and soluble CD23 values, determined at diagnosis. Shorter overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were both observed in sp53+ and CD38+ patients (p<0.0001). Simultaneous positivity or negativity for sp53 and CD38 identified two subsets of patients, the former with a worse prognosis and the latter with a better prognosis with regard to PFS (p<0.0001) and OS (p<0.0001). The predictive value of sp53 and CD38 was retained among the patients within the intermediate Rai risk group. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS sp53 and CD38 together with ZAP-70 were confirmed to be independent prognostic factors in multivariate analysis. With regard to PFS, ZAP-70, sp53 and CD38 were confirmed to be independent prognostic factors. Concerning OS, ZAP-70, CD38 and age (< or > 60 years) were independent prognostic factors whereas sp53 showed only a tendency towards statistical significance.
Structural, Evolutionary, and Functional Analysis of the Class III Peroxidase Gene Family in Chinese Pear (Pyrus bretschneideri)

Peroxidases (PRXs) are widely existed in various organisms and could be divided into different types according to their structures and functions. Specifically, the Class III Peroxidase, a plant-specific multi-gene family, involves in many physiological processes, such as the metabolism of auxin, the extension and thickening of cell wall, as well as the formation of lignin. By searching the pear genome database, 94 non-redundant PRXs from Pyrus bretschneideri (PbPRXs) were identified. Subsequently, analysis of phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, conserved motifs, and microsynteny was performed. These PbPRXs were unevenly distributed among 17 chromosomes of pear. In addition, 26 segmental duplication events but only one tandem duplication were occurred in these PbPRXs, implying segmental duplication was the main contributor to the expansion of the PbPRX family. By the Ka/Ks analysis, 26 out of 27 duplicated PbPRXs has experienced purifying selection. Twenty motifs were identified in PbPRXs based on the MEME analysis, 11 of which were enriched in pear. A total of 41 expressed genes were identified from ESTs of pear fruit. According to qRT-PCR, the expression trends of five PbPRXs in subgroup C were consistent with the change of lignin content during pear fruit development. So we inferred that the five PbPRXs were candidate genes involved in the lignin synthesis pathway. These results provided useful information for further researches of PRX genes in pear.
Determination of Stability of Dental Implant from Impedance Studies Using Resonance Frequency Analysis

A new method is being proposed in this paper to ascertain the stability of the dental implant after its placement in situ. One of the established methods of doing this is by monitoring the change of resonance frequency of the system with time which is typically referred to as Resonance Frequency Analysis [1]. Traditionally, the resonance frequency is identified from the magnitude of measured voltage using a two piezo arrangement in which one piezo acts as the source for the mechanical vibration transmitted into the system while the second piezo acts as the pick up [2]. In the present work, the resonance frequency has been identified separately by analysing the magnitude as well as the phase plots of the impedance of the (single piezo) transducer attached to the total system. A comparative study has been done of the magnitude and the phase of the impedance of the total system as the resonance frequencies change with time. From this study, it is observed that the phase of the impedance is a more reliable indicator for inferring the stability of the dental implant.
Dynamic neural control for a plasma etch process

This paper presents results and commentary on using a cascade neural network and a policy-iteration optimization routine to provide suggested process setpoints for recovery from long-term machine drift in a LAM 4520 6-in dielectric etcher. Traditional plasma etch variables such as pressures, gas flows, temperatures, RF power, etc, are combined with a generalized representation of the time dependent effects of maintenance events to predict film etch rates, uniformity, and selectivity, A cascade neural-network model is developed using 15 months of data divided into train, test, and validation sets. The neural model both fits the validation data well and captures the nonuniformity in the in-control region of the machine. Two control algorithms use this model in a predictive configuration to identify input state changes, including maintenance events, to bring an out-of-control situation back into control. The overall goal of the optimization is to reduce equipment downtime and decrease cost of ownership of the tool by speeding up response time and extending the lifetime of consumable parts. The optimization routines were tested on 11 out-of-control situations and successfully suggested reasonable low-cost solutions to each for bringing the system back into control.
Characterization of airway inflammation in patients with COPD using fractional exhaled nitric oxide levels: a pilot study

Objective To characterize fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) levels that may be indicative of Th2-mediated airway inflammation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods This single-visit, outpatient study was conducted in 200 patients aged 40 years and older with COPD. All patients underwent spirometry and FeNO testing. COPD severity was classified according to the Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) 2010 guidelines. Results Patients who participated in the study had a mean age of 63.9±11.3 years and a mean smoking history of 46±29 pack years. Patients had a mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second % predicted of 53.9%±22.1%. The percentage of patients classified with COPD severity Stage I, II, III, and IV was 13%, 40%, 39%, and 8%, respectively. In addition, according to current procedural terminology codes, 32% of patients were classified as mixed COPD/asthma, 26% as COPD/emphysema, and 42% as all other codes. The mean FeNO level for all patients was 15.3±17.2 parts per billion (ppb). Overall, 89% of patients had a FeNO <25 ppb, 8% had a FeNO 25–50 ppb, and 3% had a FeNO >50 ppb. The percentages of patients with FeNO in the intermediate or high ranges of FeNO were greatest among patients with mixed COPD/asthma (intermediate, 11.5%; high, 6.6%) compared with COPD/emphysema (intermediate, 8%; high, 0) and all other codes (intermediate, 6.3%; high, 1.3%). Conclusion Increases in FeNO were identified in a subset of patients with COPD, particularly in those previously diagnosed with both COPD and asthma. Since FeNO is useful for identifying patients with airway inflammation who will have a beneficial response to treatment with an inhaled corticosteroid, these data may have important implications for the management of COPD patients.
Recent Developments in Powder Metallurgy

AbstractPowder metallurgy has taken two different directions in its development. One can classify them according to achievable density. There is, on the one hand, diffusion-controlled sintering as the consolidation step in conventional powder metallurgy, and there is the old and rejuvenated method of powder processing by deformation processing. Both types of development have progressed far enough to justify speaking of two different technologies.
Long-Chain Acyl Coenzyme A Dehydrogenase Deficiency: An Inherited Cause of Nonketotic Hypoglycemia

ABSTRACT: Three children from unrelated families presented in early childhood with hypoglycemia and cardiorespiratory arrests associated with fasting. Significant hepatomegaly, cardiomegaly, and hypotonia were present at the time of initial presentation. Ketones were not present in the urine at the time of hypoglycemia in any patient; however, dicarboxylic aciduria was documented in one patient at the time of the acute episode and in two patients during fasting studies. Total plasma carnitine concentration was low with an increased esterified carnitine fraction. These findings suggested a defect in mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation, and specific assays were performed for the acyl coenzyme A (CoA) dehydrogenases. These analyses showed that the activity of the long-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase was less than 10% of control values in fibroblasts, leukocytes, and liver tissue. Activities of the medium-chain, short-chain, and isovaleryl CoA dehydrogenases were not different from control values. With cultured fibroblasts, CO2 evolution from long-chain fatty acids was significantly reduced, while CO2 evolution from medium-chain and short-chain fatty acids was comparable to control values—findings consistent with a defect early in the β-oxidation sequence. Studies of acyl CoA dehydrogenase activities in fibroblasts and leukocytes from parents of the patients showed levels of long-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase activity intermediate between affected and control values and indicated an autosomal recessive form of inheritance of this enzymatic defect. These results describe a previously unrecognized metabolic disorder of fatty acid oxidation due to a deficiency of the long-chain acyl CoA dehydrogenase which may present in early childhood with disastrous consequences. This diagnosis should be considered in children who present with nonketotic hypoglycemia, carnitine insufficiency, and inadequately explained cardiorespiratory arrests.
Inhibition of Stearoyl-CoA Desaturase 1 Expression Induces CHOP-Dependent Cell Death in Human Cancer Cells

Background Cancer cells present a sustained de novo fatty acid synthesis with an increase of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) production. This change in fatty acid metabolism is associated with overexpression of stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (Scd1), which catalyses the transformation of saturated fatty acids into monounsaturated fatty acids (e.g., oleic acid). Several reports demonstrated that inhibition of Scd1 led to the blocking of proliferation and induction of apoptosis in cancer cells. Nevertheless, mechanisms of cell death activation remain to be better understood. Principal Findings In this study, we demonstrated that Scd1 extinction by siRNA triggered abolition of de novo MUFA synthesis in cancer and non-cancer cells. Scd1 inhibition-activated cell death was only observed in cancer cells with induction of caspase 3 activity and PARP-cleavage. Exogenous supplementation with oleic acid did not reverse the Scd1 ablation-mediated cell death. In addition, Scd1 depletion induced unfolded protein response (UPR) hallmarks such as Xbp1 mRNA splicing, phosphorylation of eIF2α and increase of CHOP expression. However, the chaperone GRP78 expression, another UPR hallmark, was not affected by Scd1 knockdown in these cancer cells indicating a peculiar UPR activation. Finally, we showed that CHOP induction participated to cell death activation by Scd1 extinction. Indeed, overexpression of dominant negative CHOP construct and extinction of CHOP partially restored viability in Scd1-depleted cancer cells. Conclusion These results suggest that inhibition of de novo MUFA synthesis by Scd1 extinction could be a promising anti-cancer target by inducing cell death through UPR and CHOP activation.
A new Schematic for hybrid active power filter controller

Nowadays power quality in power network requests using from existing equipments as high-performance and low cost such as improvement of compensator equipment and ways of efficiency increasing can be reduced destroyer effect on network. Active power filters is more importance and finance in network and industrial. It has depended detector algorithm and switching technique. This paper presents a novel Schematic for active power filter algorithm. This algorithm based on harmonic extraction is divided into two parts as feedback loop and feedforward loop. Also it increases accuracy of harmonic extraction by reducing of isolator calculation due to elimination of voltage calculation and changing of reference signal from voltage reference to current reference than similar algorithms. Also this changing cause that it can be used with switching techniques that work base on current as they are simpler and efficacy. In this algorithm, switching losses are considered that it helps to increase accuracy. Thus using the combination of this algorithm and current switching technique increases accuracy and decreases complication of previous structures that consequently, it increases controller efficacy of active power filter. Simulation result shows performance this model clearly.
Evaporative printing of organic materials and metals and development of organic memories

The advantages of directed printing make it the ideal fabrication tool for the ubiquitous electronic technologies of the future. However, direct printing techniques such as ink-jet technology, are currently limited to materials that can be processed in solution. We developed a novel micro-machined print head capable of expanding the capabilities of inkjet printing to metals and molecules that are suited for evaporative deposition. Deposition of metals is particularly desirable advantage of the proposed printer. We demonstrate arbitrary organic and metal patterns by printing, with the line width modulated by controlling the micro-machined shutter. With the challenges and solutions for ambient pressure printing are also studied. Additionally, the printer can be used for organic crystal formation, and controlled doping. In the second part of the thesis we examine charge trapping and storage in organic thin film devices. We demonstrate that by controlled doping, we can engineer charge storage in active organic electronic devices. Charge trapping in organic heterojunction structures results in two distinct phenomena that both manifest as a memory behavior. Trapped charge can (1) increase the carrier mobility in organic structures, (2) generate current during the de-trapping process. Both processes are demonstrated in practical structures. Thesis Supervisor: Vladimir Bulovi6 Title: Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Serious Game Development as a Creative Learning Experience: Lessons Learnt

Computer programming skills in younger ages seem to be a promising and challenging aspect. Many visual programming tools have been developed in order to assist young students and to improve the current teaching practices and pedagogies. In this paper, we explore the potential effects of a Project Based Learning (PjBL) approach in the field of computer programming. In particular, we try to identify potential differences on students' programming habits/styles, between game development, simulation, and traditional learning strategy, in the context of PjBL. Our sample consisted of 53 middle school students who formed three groups. Introducing programming through a serious game development approach might inspire students towards a creative learning experience. Moreover, parameters like the class formation might affect the development of programming skills. The students in the PjBL treatment were able to complete a project successfully making fewer mistakes. On the other hand, students enrolled in a more traditional top-down approach chose to experiment with more complex curriculum but not always successfully.