Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Behavioral and Brain Functions

Background: We examined the hypothesis that deficits in learning, memory, and other cognitive functions are associated with the ε4 allele of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene in a non-demented sample with memory complaints recruited from a population with a high prevalence of this allele. Methods: The study group comprised 70 consecutively referred patients aged 50–75 seeking assessment due to memory complaints. They were screened for dementia, for neurological and psychiatric disease, and for cerebral infarction using Magnet Resonance Imaging (MRI). Participants were classified as non-demented based on clinical evaluation and results on cognitive tests. Results: APOE ε4 carriers (56% of the sample) showed poorer performance than non-carriers on the Mini Mental State Examination, a number of measures of verbal memory function from the California Verbal Learning Test, and visual recall. In 46% of the participants, psychometric criteria for amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment (aMCI) were satisfied. Conclusion: Findings may be partly explained by a significant number of participants being in a preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease. The observed deficits in learning performance and the lack of significant age modulation of the genetic association suggest a more general genetic effect. The findings are consistent with known neurobiological function of APOE ε4, including both increased risk of neurodegenerative disease and reduced synaptic integrity in older age. Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent form of dementia in all age groups, with less than 1% incidence before age 65, but with an exponential increase with age [1]. Prior to diagnosis of AD many patients go through a clinical phase termed mild cognitive impairment (MCI), which has been characterized by subjective memory complaints and clinical criteria of cognitive impairment without being demented [2,3]. Memory may be the only cognitive function affected (amnestic MCI), but MCI may also affect other cognitive domains in isolation or in combination with memory impairment [3]. Patients with MCI Published: 31 October 2007 Behavioral and Brain Functions 2007, 3:57 doi:10.1186/1744-9081-3-57 Received: 24 January 2007 Accepted: 31 October 2007 This article is available from: http://www.behavioralandbrainfunctions. com/content/3/1/57 © 2007 Wehling et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Dispersal of Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera: Culicidae) in a Hawaiian Rain Forest

Abstract Introduced mosquito-borne pathogens avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum Grassi and Feletti) and avian pox virus (Avipoxvirus) have been implicated in the past extinctions and declines of Hawaiian avifauna and remain significant obstacles to the recovery and restoration of endemic Hawaiian birds. Effective management of avian disease will require extensive mosquito control efforts that are guided by the local ecology of the vector Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae). During October and November 1997 and September through November 1998 five mark–release–recapture experiments with laboratory-reared Cx. quinquefasciatus were conducted in a native rain forest on Hawaii Island. Of the overall 66,047 fluorescent dye-marked and released females, 1,192 (1.8%) were recaptured in 43–52 CO2-baited traps operated for 10–12-d trapping periods. Recaptured mosquitoes were trapped in all directions and at distances up to 3 km from the release site. The cumulative mean distance traveled (MDTs) over the trapping period ranged from a high of 1.89 km after 11 d (September 1998) to a low of 0.81 km after 11 d (November 1998). Released mosquitoes moved predominately in a downwind direction and they seemed to use forestry roads as dispersal corridors. Applying an estimated MDT of 1.6 km to a geographical information system-generated map of the Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge clearly demonstrated that the effective refuge area could be reduced 60% by mosquitoes infiltrating into managed refuge lands. These findings should have significant implications for the design of future refuges and development of effective mosquito-borne avian disease control strategies.
Characterizing Stimulus–Response Functions Using Nonlinear Regressors in Parametric fMRI Experiments

Parametric study designs proved very useful in characterizing the relationship between experimental parameters (e.g., word presentation rate) and regional cerebral blood flow in positron emission tomography studies. In a previous paper we presented a method that fits nonlinear functions of stimulus or task parameters to hemodynamic responses, using second-order polynomial expansions. Here we expand this approach to model nonlinear relationships between BOLD responses and experimental parameters, using fMRI. We present a framework that allows this technique to be implemented in the context of the general linear model employed by statistical parametric mapping (SPM). Statistical inferences, in this instance, are based on F statistics and in this respect we emphasize the use of corrected P values for F fields (i.e., SPM¿F¿). The approach is illustrated with a fMRI study that looked at the effect of increasing auditory word-presentation rate. Our parametric design allowed us to characterize different forms of rate-dependent responses in three critical regions: (i) bilateral frontal regions showed a categorical response to the presence of words irrespective of rate, suggesting a role for this region in establishing cognitive (e.g., attentional) set; (ii) in bilateral occipitotemporal regions activations increased linearly with increasing word rate; and (iii) posterior auditory association cortex exhibited a nonlinear (inverted U) relationship to word rate.
Development of a novel resin with antimicrobial properties for dental application

The adhesion of biofilm on dental prostheses is a prerequisite for the occurrence of oral diseases. Objective To assess the antimicrobial activity and the mechanical properties of an acrylic resin embedded with nanostructured silver vanadate (β-AgVO3). Material and Methods The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of β-AgVO3 was studied in relation to the species Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Streptococcus mutans ATCC 25175, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The halo zone of inhibition method was performed in triplicate to determine the inhibitory effect of the modified self-curing acrylic resin Dencor Lay - Clássico®. The surface hardness and compressive strength were examined. The specimens were prepared according to the percentage of β-AgVO3 (0%-control, 0.5%, 1%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10%), with a sample size of 9x2 mm for surface hardness and antimicrobial activity tests, and 8x4 mm for the compression test. The values of the microbiologic analysis were compared and evaluated using the Kruskal-Wallis test (α=0.05); the mechanical analysis used the Shapiro-Wilk's tests, Levene's test, ANOVA (one-way), and Tukey's test (α=0.05). Results The addition of 10% β-AgVO3 promoted antimicrobial activity against all strains. The antimicrobial effect was observed at a minimum concentration of 1% for P. aeruginosa, 2.5% for S. aureus, 5% for C. albicans, and 10% for S. mutans. Surface hardness and compressive strength increased significantly with the addition of 0.5% β-AgVO3 (p<0.05). Higher rates of the nanomaterial did not alter the mechanical properties of the resin in comparison with the control group (p>0.05). Conclusions The incorporation of β-AgVO3 has the potential to promote antimicrobial activity in the acrylic resin. At reduced rates, it improves the mechanical properties, and, at higher rates, it does not promote changes in the control.
A Ferroelectric Ferromagnetic Composite Material with Significant Permeability and Permittivity

Composite materials containing both ferroelectric and ferromagnetic phases have been synthesized from nanometer‐sized powders of BaTiO3 (ferroelectric phase) and NiCuZn ferrite (ferromagnetic phase) by a standard ceramic method. The coexistence of magnetic and electric hysteresis in the composite material has been observed at room temperature. Upon the application of magnetic and electric fields, the magnetization and electric polarization of the composite material can easily be tuned based on the changing BaTiO3 content of the materials studied. These composite materials exhibit both excellent dielectric and soft‐magnetic properties with a variation of the frequency. Our results strongly suggest that this composite material may be the best candidate for the development of truly integrated passive filters. Due to the combination of both inductance and capacitance in one material, the adoption of an integrated passive filter could greatly reduce the size of printed circuit boards and could efficiently suppress electromagnetic interference, thereby enabling significant miniaturization of electronic elements and devices.
Prediction of the rodent carcinogenicity of organic compounds from their chemical structures using the FALS method.

Fuzzy adaptive least-squares (FALS), a pattern recognition method recently developed in our laboratory for correlating structure with activity rating, was used to generate quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models on the carcinogenicity of organic compounds of several chemical classes. Using the predictive models obtained from the chemical class-based FALS QSAR approach, the rodent carcinogenicity or noncarcinogenicity of a group of organic chemicals currently being tested by the U.S. National Toxicology Program was estimated from their chemical structures.
Development of a new expendable probe for the study of pelagic ecosystems from voluntary observing ships

Physical and biological processes of the marine ecosystem have a high spatial and temporal variability, whose study is possible only through high resolution and synoptic observations. The Temperature and Fluorescence Launchable Probe was charted in order to answer to the claim of a cost effective temperature and fluorescence expendable profiler, to be used in ships of opportunity. The development of the expendable fluorometer has followed similar concepts of the XBT (a wire conducting the signal to a computer card), but differently from the latter it was developed with an electronic system which can be improved and adapted to several variables measure channels. To reach the aim of a low-cost probe, were utilized commercial components: a glass bulb temperature resistor for the temperature measurement, blue LEDs, a photodiode and available selective glass filters, for the fluorescence measurement. The measurement principle employed to detect phytoplankton's biomass is the active fluorescence. This method is an in vivo chlorophyll estimation, that can get the immediate biophysical reaction of phytoplankton inside the aquatic environment; it is a non-disruptive method which gives real time estimation and avoids the implicit errors due to the manipulation of samples. The possibility of using a continuous profiling probe, with an active fluorescence measurement, is very important in real time phytoplankton's study; it is the best way to follow the variability of sea productivity. In fact, because of the high time and space variability of phytoplankton, due to its capability to answer in a relatively short time to ecological variations in its environment and because of its characteristic patchiness, there isn't a precise quantitative estimation of the biomass present in the Mediterranean Sea.
THE EFFECT OF SOCCER MATCH INDUCED FATIGUE ON NEUROMUSCULAR PERFORMANCE

The study evaluates the effect of soccer match induced fatigue on the neuromuscular performance. Prior to, during the break period between the 1st and 2nd part of the game and after the game, parameters of agility, explosive power of lower limbs, static and dynamic balance, speed of step initiation and the soccer kick were evaluated in a group of 10 soccer players. Reaction time in the agility test was measured using the FiTRO Agility Check. The task of the subject was to touch, as fast as possible, with either the left or right lower limb one of the four mattresses located in the four corners inside of a square (80 cm and 1.5 m, respectively) in accordance with the location of stimulus in one of the corners of the screen. Heights of squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) were calculated from the flight time registered by the FiTRO Jumper. The same method was applied to measure contact time during a drop jump from a height of 45 cm. Postural stability was evaluated under both the static and dynamic conditions (wobble board) with the eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC). Velocity of the centre of pressure (COP) was registered at 100 Hz by means of the posturography system FiTRO Sway check based on a dynamometric platform. Speed of step initiation and the soccer kick were measured using the FiTRO Dyne. Results showed that after the first 45 minutes of a soccer match only dynamic balance with EC was impaired and the drop jump ground contact time increased. Its further increase was observed after the second part of the match. Along with it also the dynamic balance with EO and the agility performance in the test on a shorter (80 cm) distance between mats was affected. On the other hand, there were no pre-post match differences in the agility performance in the test on a longer (1.5 m) distance between mats, height of SJ and CMJ, speed of step initiation and soccer kick, and static balance with EO and EC. It may be concluded that soccer match induced fatigue increases the drop jump ground contact time, concomitant with the impairment of dynamic balance and agility performance when moving over a short distance. In contrast, there were no changes in the agility performance over a longer movement distance, explosive power of lower limbs, speed of step initiation, speed of the soccer kick, and static balance.
ilsson ’ s Power Model connecting speed and road trauma : Applicability by road ype and alternative models for urban roads

Nilsson (1981) proposed power relationships connecting changes in traffic speeds with changes in road crashes at various levels of injury severity. Increases in fatal crashes are related to the 4th power of the increase in mean speed, increases in serious casualty crashes (those involving death or serious injury) according to the 3rd power, and increases in casualty crashes (those involving death or any injury) according to the 2nd power. Increases in numbers of crash victims at cumulative levels of injury severity are related to the crash increases plus higher powers predicting the number of victims per crash. These relationships are frequently applied in OECD countries to estimate road trauma reductions resulting from expected speed reductions. The relationships were empirically derived based on speed changes resulting from a large number of rural speed limit changes in Sweden during 1967-1972. Nilsson (2004) noted that there had been very few urban speed limit changes studied to test his power model. This paper aims to test the assumption that the model is equally applicable in all road environments. It was found that the road environment is an important moderator of Nilsson’s power model. While Nilsson’s model appears satisfactory for rural highways and freeways, the model does not appear to be directly applicable to traffic speed changes on urban arterial roads. The evidence of monotonically increasing powers applicable to changes in road trauma at increasing injury severity levels with changes in mean speed is weak. The estimated power applicable to serious casualties on urban arterial roads was significantly less than that on rural highways, which was also significantly less than that on freeways. Alternative models linking the parameters of speed distributions with road trauma are reviewed and some conclusions reached for their use on urban roads instead of Nilsson’s model. Further research is needed on the relationships between urban serious road trauma and
First Surface-resolved Results with the Infrared Optical Telescope Array Imaging Interferometer: Detection of Asymmetries in Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars

We have measured nonzero closure phases for about 29% of our sample of 56 nearby asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, using the three-telescope Infrared Optical Telescope Array (IOTA) interferometer at near-infrared wavelengths (H band) and with angular resolutions in the range 5-10 mas. These nonzero closure phases can only be generated by asymmetric brightness distributions of the target stars or their surroundings. We discuss how these results were obtained and how they might be interpreted in terms of structures on or near the target stars. We also report measured angular sizes and hypothesize that most Mira stars would show detectable asymmetry if observed with adequate angular resolution.
Analysis of the Cutting Parameters Influence During Machining Aluminium Alloy A2024-T351 with Uncoated Carbide Inserts

This work aims to analyze the effect of the cutting parameters on chip segmentation of the aluminium alloy A2024-T351 during machining process. In this work, two parameters are considered: the tool rake angle of the cutting tool and the feed under dry machining. An orthogonal cutting FE model is developed in Abaqus/Explicit for this purpose. A thermo-visco- plastic-damage model for the machined material and thermo-rigid behaviour for the cutting tool have been assumed. At the chip/tool contact zone, the modified Coulomb friction model has been adopted. Thermal effects are considered by taking into account the heat flux generated by visco-plastic strain and also by friction at the tool-workpiece interface. The obtained results showed the effect of the tool rake angle and feed on the cutting force and chip morphology as well as temperature distribution at the tool rake face.
Preventing Obesity in the Military Community (POMC): The Development of a Clinical Trials Research Network

Obesity impacts the U.S. military by affecting the health and readiness of active duty service members and their families. Preventing Obesity in Military Communities (POMC) is a comprehensive research program within Patient Centered Medical Homes (PCMHs) in three Military Training Facilities. This paper describes three pilot randomized controlled trials that target critical high risk periods for unhealthy weight gain from birth to young adulthood: (1) pregnancy and early infancy (POMC-Mother-Baby), (2) adolescence (POMC-Adolescent), and (3) the first tour of duty after boot camp (POMC-Early Career). Each study employs a two-group randomized treatment or prevention program with follow up. POMC offers a unique opportunity to bring together research and clinical expertise in obesity prevention to develop state-of-the-art programs within PCMHs in Military Training Facilities. This research builds on existing infrastructure that is expected to have immediate clinical benefits to DoD and far-reaching potential for ongoing collaborative work. POMC may offer an economical approach for widespread obesity prevention, from conception to young adulthood, in the U.S. military as well as in civilian communities.
Phase II trial of bexarotene capsules in patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer after failure of two or more previous therapies.

PURPOSE To evaluate the effect of bexarotene on survival in patients with relapsed non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with stage IIIB NSCLC with pleural effusion or stage IV NSCLC, who had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 2, and were previously treated with > or = two different regimens that must have included a platinum and a taxane, received oral bexarotene 400 mg/m2/d plus concomitant levothyroxine and a lipid-lowering agent. Primary efficacy end point was survival. RESULTS For the 146 assessable patients treated with bexarotene, median age was 66 years (range, 34 to 87 years), 51% were men, and the median number of prior regimens was three (range, one to seven). The overall median survival was 5 months (95% CI, 4 to 7 months) and the 1-year survival was 23% (95% CI, 16% to 31%). Survival was significantly longer in patients with bexarotene-induced hypertriglyceridemia and/or skin rash. In 26 patients who had both adverse effects, the median and 1-year survival rates were 12 months (95% CI, 8 to 15 months) and 48%, respectively. In 40 patients who had neither adverse effect, median and 1-year survival rates were 2 months (95% CI, 2 to 5 months) and 15%, respectively (P = .0002). Twenty patients (14%) discontinued therapy because of bexarotene-related toxicity. For the remaining patients, adverse reactions to bexarotene were generally mild to moderate. CONCLUSION In the intent-to-treat population, bexarotene given as third or subsequent line of therapy for relapsed NSCLC did not achieve the intended median survival of 6 months. Survival may have been extended in patients who developed bexarotene-induced hypertriglyceremia and/or skin rash. It is important to confirm these observations in a randomized controlled trial.
The first law for boosted Kaluza-Klein black holes

We study the thermodynamics of Kaluza-Klein black holes with momentum along the compact dimension, but vanishing angular momentum. These black holes are stationary, but non-rotating. We derive the first law for these spacetimes and find that the parameter conjugate to variations in the length of the compact direction is an effective tension, which generally differs from the ADM tension. For the boosted black string, this effective tension is always positive, while the ADM tension is negative for large boost parameter. We also derive two Smarr formulas, one that follows from time translation invariance, and a second one that holds only in the case of exact translation symmetry in the compact dimension. Finally, we show that the `tension first law' derived by Traschen and Fox in the static case has the form of a thermodynamic Gibbs-Duhem relation and give its extension in the stationary, non-rotating case.
Brainstem and Spinal Cord Circuitry Regulating REM Sleep and Muscle Atonia

Background Previous work has suggested, but not demonstrated directly, a critical role for both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons of the pontine tegmentum in the regulation of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Methodology/Principal Findings To determine the in vivo roles of these fast-acting neurotransmitters in putative REM pontine circuits, we injected an adeno-associated viral vector expressing Cre recombinase (AAV-Cre) into mice harboring lox-P modified alleles of either the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2) or vesicular GABA-glycine transporter (VGAT) genes. Our results show that glutamatergic neurons of the sublaterodorsal nucleus (SLD) and glycinergic/GABAergic interneurons of the spinal ventral horn contribute to REM atonia, whereas a separate population of glutamatergic neurons in the caudal laterodorsal tegmental nucleus (cLDT) and SLD are important for REM sleep generation. Our results further suggest that presynaptic GABA release in the cLDT-SLD, ventrolateral periaqueductal gray matter (vlPAG) and lateral pontine tegmentum (LPT) are not critically involved in REM sleep control. Conclusions/Significance These findings reveal the critical and divergent in vivo role of pontine glutamate and spinal cord GABA/glycine in the regulation of REM sleep and atonia and suggest a possible etiological basis for REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD).