Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strategic Lesions in the Anterior Thalamic Radiation and Apathy in Early Alzheimer's Disease

Background Behavioural disorders and psychological symptoms of Dementia (BPSD) are commonly observed in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and strongly contribute to increasing patients' disability. Using voxel-lesion-symptom mapping (VLSM), we investigated the impact of white matter lesions (WMLs) on the severity of BPSD in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI). Methods Thirty-one a-MCI patients (with a conversion rate to AD of 32% at 2 year follow-up) and 26 healthy controls underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination at 3T, including T2-weighted and fluid-attenuated-inversion-recovery images, and T1-weighted volumes. In the patient group, BPSD was assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory-12. After quantitative definition of WMLs, their distribution was investigated, without an a priori anatomical hypothesis, against patients’ behavioural symptoms. Unbiased regional grey matter volumetrics was also used to assess the contribution of grey matter atrophy to BPSD. Results Apathy, irritability, depression/dysphoria, anxiety and agitation were shown to be the most common symptoms in the patient sample. Despite a more widespread anatomical distribution, a-MCI patients did not differ from controls in WML volumes. VLSM revealed a strict association between the presence of lesions in the anterior thalamic radiations (ATRs) and the severity of apathy. Regional grey matter atrophy did not account for any BPSD. Conclusions This study indicates that damage to the ATRs is strategic for the occurrence of apathy in patients with a-MCI. Disconnection between the prefrontal cortex and the mediodorsal and anterior thalamic nuclei might represent the pathophysiological substrate for apathy, which is one of the most common psychopathological symptoms observed in dementia.
Do Genes Contribute to the “Gender Gap”?

The nature and mechanisms underlying the differences in political preferences between men and women continues to be debated with little consideration for the biology of sex. Genetic influences on social and political attitudes have been reported for each sex independently, yet neither the magnitude nor sources of genetic influences have been explored for significant differences between males and females. In a large sample of adult twins, respondents indicated their attitudes on contemporary social and political items. Finding significant differences in the magnitude of genetic, social, and environmental variance for political preferences, and the potential for different genes in males and females to influence these phenotypes, we provide evidence that sex modulates the effects of genetic and environmental differences on political preferences.
Optimization of Multi-Reservoir Management Rules Subject to Climate and Demand Change in the Potomac River Basin

2012 Ph.D. in Civil Engineering. Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University (Virginia Tech). Optimization of multi-reservoir management rules subject to climate and demand change in the Potomac river basin. 2006 M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering. University of Maryland. Field evaluation of hydrologic and water quality bene ts of grass swales for managing highway runo . 2004 B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering with Honors. University of Maryland. Organic contaminant sorption to natural and surfactant-modi ed soil with varying properties.
The Role of Tourism in Local Development Strategies on the Example of Selected Tourism Comunnities in Malopolska Region, Poland

Strategic planning of socio-economic development is one of the most important function and task of local, regional and national authorities. Tourism development should be included in this process of strategic planning and in case of places where tourism plays an important role this role should also be mirrored in official strategic documents and also should be carefully included in strategic planning by public authorities at all levels. The aim of the paper is presentation of the way in which tourism is included in strategic documents of four selected four communities from Malopolska voivodeship (region) in the southern part of Poland. Communities were selected purposely and selected communities might be described as typically tourism areas. Their development strategies (Zakopane and Szczawnica) tourism was perceived as a major factor of socio-economic development, and in two cases (Krynica-Zdroj and Uoecie Gorlickie) the role of tourism was acknowledged but tourism was not pointed in all main statements. The main research approach used in the paper was reviewing official documents of selected communities available on-line or in community offices.
Episode-of-Care Characteristics and Costs for Hip and Knee Replacement Surgery in Hospitals Belonging to the High Value Healthcare Collaborative Compared With Similar Hospitals in the Same Health Care Markets

Background: To inform consumers and restrain health care cost growth, efforts to promote transparency and to reimburse for care episodes are accelerating in the United States. Objective: To compare characteristics and costs of 30-day episode of care for hip and knee replacement occurring in High Value Healthcare Collaborative (HVHC)-member hospitals to those occurring in like non–HVHC-member hospitals in the same 15 health care markets before interventions by HVHC members to improve health care value for those interventions. Research Design: This is a retrospective analysis of fee-for-service Medicare data from 2012 and 2013. Subjects: For hip arthroplasty, 4030 HVHC-member and 7572 non–HVHC-member, and for knee arthroplasty, 6542 HVHC-member and 13,900 non–HVHC-member fee-for-service Medicare patients aged 65 and older. Measures: Volumes, patient demographics, hospital stay characteristics, and acute and postacute care standardized costs for a 30-day episode of care. Results: HVHC-member hospitals differed from similar non–HVHC-member hospitals in the same health care markets when considering volumes of surgeries, patient demographics, Charlson scores, and patient distance to care during the index admission. There was little variation in acute care costs of hip or knee replacement surgery across health care markets; however, there was substantial variation in postacute care costs across those same markets. We saw less variation in postacute care costs within markets than across markets. Regression analyses showed that HVHC-member status was not associated with shorter lengths of stay, different complication rates, or lower total or postacute care costs for hip or knee replacement. Conclusions: Health care regions appear to be a more important predictor of episode costs of care than HVHC status.
Processing of S-cone signals in the inner plexiform layer of the mammalian retina

Abstract Color information is encoded by two parallel pathways in the mammalian retina. One pathway compares signals from long- and middle-wavelength sensitive cones and generates red-green opponency. The other compares signals from short- and middle-/long-wavelength sensitive cones and generates blue-green (yellow) opponency. Whereas both pathways operate in trichromatic primates (including humans), the fundamental, phylogenetically ancient color mechanism shared among most mammals is blue-green opponency. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of how signals from short-wavelength sensitive cones are processed in the primate and nonprimate mammalian retina, with a focus on the inner plexiform layer where bipolar, amacrine, and ganglion cell processes interact to facilitate the generation of blue-green opponency.
Seasonal variability in atmospheric black carbon at three stations in South-Asia

Abstract Filter-based optical measurements of black carbon in air, a constituent of soot, have been determined with a 528 nm light source during the period from 1 June 2005 to 31 May 2009 on samples taken at Godavari in Nepal, Sinhagad in India and Hanimaadhoo in the Maldives. In order to reduce systematic errors due to the light scattering of non-absorbing particles co-deposited on the filter, such as inorganic salts and mineral dust, an additional sensor recording backscattered light was implemented. Two protocols of corrections (optical and chemical) were applied to the samples collected at the observatories. The Indian monsoon circulation with its two annual phases in combination with the location of the combustion sources and their contribution relative to other non-anthropogenic sources dominated the observed patterns of black carbon at two of the observatories: in India and the Maldives. The observatory in Nepal was however mainly influenced by combustion sources all year around concealing possible variability related to the monsoon circulation. At the receptor observatory in the Maldives, peak values in the black carbon absorption coefficient occurred during the winter season (December to April) when air was transported from the polluted Indian subcontinent out over the Indian Ocean. A close to two orders of magnitude lower values were recorded in air that had spent more than 10-days over the Indian Ocean during the monsoon season (July to September), suggested to be dominated by particulate matter from remote marine biogenic sources and not by combustion sources.
APOBEC‐mediated interference with hepadnavirus production

APOBEC3G is a cellular cytidine deaminase displaying broad antiretroviral activity. Recently, it was shown that APOBEC3G can also suppress hepatitis B virus (HBV) production in human hepatoma cells. In the present study, we characterized the mechanisms of APOBEC‐mediated antiviral activity against HBV and related hepadnaviruses. We show that human APOBEC3G blocks HBV production in mammalian and nonmammalian cells and is active against duck HBV as well. Early steps of viral morphogenesis, including RNA and protein synthesis, binding of pregenomic RNA to core protein, and self‐assembly of viral core protein, were unaffected. However, APOBEC3G rendered HBV core protein–associated full‐length pregenomic RNA nuclease‐sensitive. Ongoing reverse‐transcription in capsids that had escaped the block in morphogenesis was not significantly inhibited. The antiviral effect was not modulated by abrogating or enhancing expression of the accessory HBV X protein, suggesting that HBV X protein does not represent a functional homologue to the HIV vif protein. Furthermore, human APOBEC3F but not rat APOBEC1 inhibited HBV DNA production. Viral RNA and low‐level DNA produced in the presence of APOBEC3F or rat APOBEC1 occasionally displayed mutations, but the majority of clones were wild‐type. In conclusion, APOBEC3G and APOBEC3F but not rat APOBEC1 can downregulate the production of replication‐competent hepadnaviral nucleocapsids. In contrast to HIV and other retroviruses, however, APOBEC3G/3F‐mediated editing of nucleic acids does not seem to represent an effective innate defense mechanism for hepadnaviruses. (HEPATOLOGY 2005;42:301–309.)
Supplementary Materials to : The complexity of dynamics in small neural circuits

In this article we present the Supplementary Materials to [1]. In order to make the mathematical part of this text as linear as possible, in some sections we repeat the derivations we already introduced in [1], and then we analyze them in more detail. On the other side, the remaining sections are completely new and self-contained. This work is organized as follows. First, in Sec. (S2) we partially calculate the codimension one bifurcation diagram of the network by evaluating the equilibrium points on the primary branch. This calculation is based on an asymptotic perturbative expansion of the neural equations, so it provides a good description of the membrane potentials in the stationary regime only for sufficiently large values of IE (see Eqs. (5) and (10) in [1]), where the branching point bifurcations do not occur. Then, as in [1], we divide the second part of the Supplementary Materials in two main sections, devoted to the study of weak (Sec. (S3)) and strong inhibition (Sec. (S4)). In both the cases we present detailed analytical calculations of the eigenvalues of the Jacobian matrix and of the codimension two bifurcation diagram for most of the local bifurcations of the network. Since the perturbative expansion introduced in Sec. (S2) cannot be extended to derive the secondary branches, a complete picture of the codimension one bifurcation diagram cannot be derived analytically. For this reason we conclude the Supplementary Materials by showing, in Sec. (S5), some panels of the codimension one bifurcations obtained by means of numerical tools, in order to further clarify the dynamics the model exhibits. As usual, all the results are obtained for the values of the parameters shown in Tab. (1).
Perfect simulation of Hawkes processes

Our objective is to construct a perfect simulation algorithm for unmarked and marked Hawkes processes. The usual straightforward simulation algorithm suffers from edge effects, whereas our perfect simulation algorithm does not. By viewing Hawkes processes as Poisson cluster processes and using their branching and conditional independence structures, useful approximations of the distribution function for the length of a cluster are derived. This is used to construct upper and lower processes for the perfect simulation algorithm. A tail-lightness condition turns out to be of importance for the applicability of the perfect simulation algorithm. Examples of applications and empirical results are presented.
On Perfect Matchings in Uniform Hypergraphs with Large Minimum Vertex Degree

We study sufficient $\ell$-degree ($1\leq\ell<k$) conditions for the appearance of perfect and nearly perfect matchings in $k$-uniform hypergraphs. In particular, we obtain a minimum vertex degree condition ($\ell=1$) for 3-uniform hypergraphs, which is approximately tight, by showing that every 3-uniform hypergraph on $n$ vertices with minimum vertex degree at least $(5/9+o(1))\binom{n}{2}$ contains a perfect matching.
Peri-Operative Morbidity Associated with Radical Cystectomy in a Multicenter Database of Community and Academic Hospitals

Objective To characterize the frequency and timing of complications following radical cystectomy in a cohort of patients treated at community and academic hospitals. Patients and Methods Radical cystectomy patients captured from NSQIP hospitals from January 1 2006 to December 31 2012 were included. Baseline information and complications were abstracted by study surgical clinical reviewers through a validated process of medical record review and direct patient contact. We determined the incidence and timing of each complication and calculated their associations with patient and operative characteristics. Results 2303 radical cystectomy patients met inclusion criteria. 1115 (48%) patients were over 70 years old and 1819 (79%) were male. Median hospital stay was 8 days (IQR 7–13 days). 1273 (55.3%) patients experienced at least 1 post-operative complication of which 191 (15.6%) occurred after hospital discharge. The most common complication was blood transfusion (n = 875; 38.0%), followed by infectious complications with 218 (9.5%) urinary tract infections, 193 (8.4%) surgical site infections, and 223 (9.7%) sepsis events. 73 (3.2%) patients had fascial dehiscence, 82 (4.0%) developed a deep vein thrombosis, and 67 (2.9%) died. Factors independently associated with the occurrence of any post-operative complication included: age, female gender, ASA class, pre-operative sepsis, COPD, low serum albumin concentration, pre-operative radiotherapy, pre-operative transfusion >4 units, and operative time >6 hours (all p<0.05). Conclusion Complications remain common following radical cystectomy and a considerable proportion occur after discharge from hospital. This study identifies risk factors for complications and quality improvement needs.
Combination treatment with benzodiazepines and SSRIs for comorbid anxiety and depression: a review.

OBJECTIVE To review the literature on the co-occurrence of anxiety with depressive disorders and the rationale for and use of combination treatment with benzodiazepines and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors/serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs/SNRIs) for treating comorbid anxiety and depression. DATA SOURCES PubMed and PsycINFO were searched using terms identified as relevant based on existing practice guidelines. The primary search terms were anxiety, anxiety disorders, depression, depressive disorders, comorbidity, epidemiology, benzodiazepines, antidepressants, pharmacology, clinical trials, and pharmacotherapy. Reference lists of identified articles were also reviewed to ensure capture of relevant literature. STUDY SELECTION Publications were selected for inclusion in the review if they applied to adult populations and specifically addressed the comorbidity of anxiety and depression, their epidemiology, or their management. Case reports and case series were not considered for inclusion. DATA EXTRACTION Each author assessed the publications independently for content related to the review topics. Findings considered relevant to the clinical understanding and management of comorbid anxiety and depression were incorporated into the review. DATA SYNTHESIS Comorbidity is very common among patients with anxiety and depressive disorders, and, even when full criteria for 2 separate disorders are not met, subsyndromal symptoms are often present. Little controlled research has explored how benzodiazepines and SSRIs/SNRIs may be usefully combined, yet their combination is frequently employed in clinical practice. Patients with comorbidities are likely to have poorer treatment outcomes and have greater utilization of health care resources. Currently SSRIs/SNRIs are considered first-line therapy and are effective in both anxiety and depressive states. Nevertheless, many patients have only a partial response or have difficulty tolerating efficacious doses of antidepressant monotherapy. Benzodiazepines appear to improve treatment outcomes when an anxiety disorder co-occurs with depression or for depression characterized by anxious features. Specifically, they may provide benefits both in terms of speed of response and overall response. CONCLUSIONS Long-term management plans for anxiety disorder with or without comorbid depression should include strategies for acute or short-term care, long-term maintenance, and episodic or breakthrough symptoms. Combination therapy with benzodiazepines and antide-pressants in appropriate clinical settings may improve outcomes over monotherapy in some patients.
An Assessment of the Clinical and Economic Impact of Establishing Ileocolic Anastomoses in Right-Colon Resection Surgeries Using Mechanical Staplers Compared to Hand-Sewn Technique

Purpose. To estimate and compare clinical outcomes and costs associated with mechanical stapling versus hand-sewn sutured technique in creation of ileocolic anastomoses after right sided colon surgery. Methods. A previously conducted meta-analysis was updated for estimates of anastomotic leak rates and other clinical outcomes. A value analysis model was developed to estimate cost savings due to improved outcomes in a hypothetical cohort of 100 patients who underwent right colon surgery involving either mechanical stapling or hand-sewn anastomoses. Cost data were obtained from publicly available literature. Results. Findings from the updated meta-analysis reported that the mechanical stapling group had lower anastomotic leaks 2.4% (n = 11/457) compared to the hand-sewn group 6.1% leaks (n = 44/715). Utilizing this data, the value analysis model estimated total potential cost savings for a hospital to be around $1,130,656 for the 100-patient cohort using mechanical stapling instead of hand-sewn suturing, after accounting for incremental supplies cost of $49,400. These savings were attributed to lower index surgery costs, reduced OR time costs, and reduced reoperation costs driven by lower anastomotic leak rates associated with mechanical stapling. Conclusion. Mechanical stapling can be considered as a clinically and economically favorable option compared to suturing for establishing anastomoses in patients undergoing right colon surgery.
The Yoyo-Man

The paper reports on two results issued from a multidisciplinary research action exploring the motor synergies of anthropomorphic walking. By combining the biomechanical, neurophysiology, and robotics perspectives, it is intended to better understand human locomotion with the ambition to better design bipedal robot architectures. The motivation of the research starts from the simple observation that humans may stumble when following a simple reflex-based locomotion on uneven terrains. The rationale combines two well established results in robotics and neuroscience, respectively: passive robot walkers, which are very efficient in terms of energy consumption, can be modeled by a simple rotating rimless wheel; humans and animals stabilize their head when moving. The seminal hypothesis is then to consider a wheel equipped with a stabilized mass on top of it as a plausible model of bipedal walking. The two results presented in the paper support the hypothesis. From a motion capture data basis of twelve human walkers, we show that the motions of the feet are organized around a geometric center, which is the center of mass, and is surprisingly not at the hip. After introducing a ground texture model that allows us to quantify the stability performance of walker control schemes, we show how compass-like passive walkers are better controlled when equipped with a stabilized 2-degree-of-freedom moving mass on top of them. The center of mass and head then play complementary roles that define what we call the Yoyo-Man. Beyond the two results presented in the paper, the Yoyo-Man model opens new perspectives to explore the computational foundations of anthropomorphic walking.
Design and control of inductive power transfer system for electric vehicles considering wide variation of output voltage and coupling coefficient

In this paper, a design and control of the inductive power transfer (IPT) system for electric vehicles are proposed considering wide variation of output voltage and coupling coefficient. The characteristics of the proposed system and a design method of the resonant network are also suggested. By utilizing the battery management converter at the final stage of the system, the design and control can be simplified while managing the output voltage and power of the battery. The 3.3kW laboratory prototype with magnetic power pads are manufactured and the validity of the proposed system is verified through the experimental results of the laboratory prototype.