Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Risk for eating disorders and neuropsychological functioning: Developing risk models

Introduction Evidence suggests that diagnosis of an eating disorder (ED) is associated with differential cognitive functioning. Whether differences are present prior to onset, possibly affecting risk status for development of an ED, or whether differences are a consequence of secondary features of the disorder such as low nutritional intake, is not conclusive. One method of investigating cognitive functioning prior to onset of a disorder is to investigate cognitive functioning in those that are at high risk of developing that disorder. Studies have shown that first-degree relatives of probands are at higher risk of developing an ED than the general population. Methods This is the first study to investigate intelligence, global cognition, executive functioning, social communication and emotion recognition of children at high risk of developing an ED, in comparison to children who are not, in a large community sample. High risk status of children was defined in two ways: (i) maternal self-report diagnosis of an ED during pregnancy; (ii) maternal lifetime ED behavioural phenotype. Results Children at high risk for ED demonstrated superior intellectual functioning and working memory; but inferior attentional capacity, social communication and emotion recognition. Profile of children at high risk differed according to type of maternal ED. There was also some evidence of maternal behavioural phenotype being a better predictor of children’s functioning than maternal self-report of ED diagnosis. Discussion Results suggest that the differences observed in children at high risk are putative intermediate phenotypes for ED, possibly affecting risk status for development. Findings are extremely important: both in relation to the identification of vulnerable individuals (and therefore preventative efforts); and in furthering our understanding of which neuropsychological profiles are linked to susceptibility for ED. Also, use of a lifetime behavioural ED phenotype may provide the homogeneity required for research investigating intermediate phenotypes and genetic correlates of ED.
Role of Infrainguinal Angioplasty in the Treatment of Critical Limb Ischaemia

Objective: To review the published papers reporting on the use of infrainguinal angioplasty in the treatment of critical limb ischaemia (CLI). Methods: A MEDLINE (1966–2005) and Cochrane library search for articles relating to the use of infrainguinal angioplasty in the treatment of CLI. Results: Recent papers reporting on the results of infrainguinal angioplasty as treatment for CLI patients show excellent limb salvage rates regardless of the patency rates. The Cochrane Database of systematic reviews has accepted two prospective randomised trials comparing bypass operations and angioplasty among CLI patients. Pooling both trials showed no overall significant difference in amputation rates between the surgery and PTA groups. A multicentre, randomised controlled trial, the BASIL (bypass versus Angioplasty in Severe Ischaemia of the Leg) trial showed that in the medium term (after six months), the outcomes after angioplasty or surgery among CLI patients did not differ significantly with respect to amputation-free survival, all-cause mortality and quality of life. Conclusions: Infrainguinal PTA is feasible in CLI patients. Data from the BASIL trial show the similar ability of bypass surgery and balloon angioplasty in preserving both life and limb in short term. These results are, however, not applicable for the majority of CLI patients as only 15% (70/456) of the patients with severe limb ischaemia were considered candidates for the trial.
Effects of olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone on neurocognitive function in early psychosis: a randomized, double-blind 52-week comparison.

OBJECTIVE The authors sought to compare the effects of olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone on neurocognitive function in patients with early psychosis. METHOD In a 52-week double-blind, multicenter study, 400 patients early in the course of psychotic illness (<5 years) were randomly assigned to treatment with olanzapine (2.5-20 mg/day), quetiapine (100-800 mg/day), or risperidone (0.5-4 mg/day). The mean modal daily dose was 11.7 mg (SD=5.3) for olanzapine, 506 mg (SD=215) for quetiapine, and 2.4 mg (SD=1.0) for risperidone. A total of 224 patients completed neurocognitive assessments at baseline and at 12 weeks, and 81 patients also completed them at 52 weeks. Neurocognitive composite scores were calculated from the neurocognitive battery used in the Clinical Antipsychotic Trials of Intervention Effectiveness (CATIE) and from the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia. RESULTS At week 12, there was significant improvement in neurocognition for each treatment (p<0.01), but no significant overall difference between treatments. Composite z score improvements on the CATIE neurocognitive battery were 0.17 for olanzapine, 0.33 for quetiapine, and 0.32 for risperidone. Composite z score improvements on the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia were 0.19 for olanzapine, 0.34 for quetiapine, and 0.22 for risperidone. Statistically significant relationships between improvements in neurocognition and functional outcome were observed at weeks 12 and 52. CONCLUSIONS Olanzapine, quetiapine, and risperidone all produced significant improvements in neurocognition in early-psychosis patients. Although cognitive improvements were modest, their clinical importance was suggested by relationships with improvements in functional outcome.
Do Layoffs Payoff? An Empirical Investigation of Financial Impacts of IT Worker Downsizing

Recent years have been characterized by massive layoffs of IT workers – primarily triggered by declining corporate profitability and increased off-shoring of IT work. However, it is unclear whether IT worker downsizing has generated any economic returns or business performance improvements for IT firms. In this study, our primary objective is to investigate the financial performance impacts of IT worker layoffs. Drawing upon the human capital and knowledge-based theories, we propose a research model linking the layoff approach and layoff size to post-layoff financial performance of IT firms. Our findings reveal that, IT firms do not improve their overall financial performance, relative to their industry, by downsizing IT workers. When comparing financial performance of downsizing IT firms, IT firms adopting a strategic approach to downsizing IT workers see better performance than those who take a tactical approach. Size of IT layoff does not appear to impact post-layoff financial performance.
Hypobaric versus normobaric hypoxia: same effects on postural stability?

AIMS To test the hypothesis that postural stability would be more affected during acute exposure in hypobaric (HH) than in normobaric (NH) hypoxia. METHODS In separate trials, 12 subjects stood on a posturographic platform for two successive 25.6 sec tests in three conditions: eyes open (EO), eyes closed (EC), and verbal dual task (DT). Ambient pressure in O(2) was matched between HH and NH at 1700 and 3000 m, respectively. RESULTS Compared to NH, the length of Centre of Pression trajectory in Y-axis was increased (p<0.05) in HH for EO at 1700 m, EC at 1700 and 3000 m, and for DT at 1700 m, whereas the variance of speed of CoP was decreased (p<0.05) in EO, EC, and DT at 1700 m. Compared to normobaric normoxia (NN; 400 m), the surface of CoP trajectory was increased (p<0.05) in HH in EO and EC at 3000 m. CONCLUSIONS HH deteriorated postural stability in the antero-posterior plane, for the variance of speed and the surface of CoP in 3 conditions, whereas no difference was observed between NH and NN. These results suggest that hypobaria instead of hypoxia per se plays an important role to the altered balance classically reported in altitude.
A Comparative Study of Rurality and Urbanicity on Access to and Satisfaction with Services for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Little is known about services for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) living in rural areas. The purpose of this study was to examine parent report of access to and satisfaction with services for children with ASD in rural areas and compare results to parents from urban areas. Parents in both groups reported children were diagnosed after the age of 3 and experienced challenges accessing services, trained professionals, and educators. Parents from rural areas reported significantly more difficulty accessing trained physicians and professionals in their areas. The implications of this study and needed future research are discussed.
Dysregulation of Dopamine Transporter Trafficking and Function after Abstinence from Cocaine Self-Administration in Rats: Evidence for Differential Regulation in Caudate Putamen and Nucleus Accumbens

The profound alterations produced by cocaine on dopamine (DA) neurotransmission raise the possibility that dopamine transporter (DAT)-expressing neurons may modify DA transport in response to repeated cocaine exposure to maintain the appropriate efficiency of DA clearance. In this study, we determined the changes in molecular mechanisms of DAT regulation in rats with a history of repeated cocaine self-administration followed by 3 weeks of abstinence. Using ex vivo caudate putamen (CPu) and nucleus accumbens (NAcc) synaptosomal preparations, we found that DA uptake was significantly higher in the CPu and NAcc of cocaine-experienced animals compared with yoked saline animals. Surface distribution, p-Ser phosphorylation, and protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit (PP2Ac) interaction of DAT were all altered in the CPu. Maximal velocity (Vmax) values were elevated both in the CPu and NAcc of cocaine-experienced rats compared with saline controls. Although there was no change in the apparent affinity for DA in the CPu, increased DA affinity was evident in the NAcc. Consistent with elevated DAT activity in cocaine-experienced animals, a higher level of surface DAT, DAT-PP2Ac association, and decreased serine phosphorylation of DAT were observed in the CPu, but not in the NAcc. These results, for the first time, suggest that chronic cocaine self-administration followed by abstinence leads to persisting alterations in normal DAT trafficking and catalytic regulatory cascades in the CPu and NAcc in a brain region-specific manner.
The Economic Impact of Anti-Social Preferences in a Multi-Period Game with Attacks and Insurance

We report results from a multi-period game designed to stimulate anti-social preferences and to measure the cost of to a society with members who act on these preferences. There are a number of important features of our game that, while individually not unique, in total distinguish it from previous games used to examine anti-social preferences. The unique feature of our design is that it addresses the two negative effects of anti-social preferences: the wasteful expenditure of resources in an attempt to harm others and the wasteful use of resources by the targets of antisocial actions in an attempt to protect themselves. We report evidence of anti-social preferences; those who were less well-off attack those who were better off, but the pattern of attacks is more complicated than suggested by available theory. We find within class attacks to be the most common type of attack observed. Relative standing within a type seems to be the motivation. Rich players are motivated in their attacks by a desire to move up in ranking within their type, while the poor players are motivated in their attacks by a desire to avoid moving down in ranking within their type. Finally, as wasteful as attacks are, spending on protection against attacks, while individually rational, results in even more waste. Subjects purchased insurance at twice the rate of attacks. Within our laboratory society, players acting on their anti-social preferences reduce total economic welfare by approximately 20 per cent.
Severely handicapped young children and their families : research in review

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Simulation of Arrhythmogenic Effect of Rogue RyRs in Failing Heart by Using a Coupled Model

Cardiac cells with heart failure are usually characterized by impairment of Ca2+ handling with smaller SR Ca2+ store and high risk of triggered activities. In this study, we developed a coupled model by integrating the spatiotemporal Ca2+ reaction-diffusion system into the cellular electrophysiological model. With the coupled model, the subcellular Ca2+ dynamics and global cellular electrophysiology could be simultaneously traced. The proposed coupled model was then applied to study the effects of rogue RyRs on Ca2+ cycling and membrane potential in failing heart. The simulation results suggested that, in the presence of rogue RyRs, Ca2+ dynamics is unstable and Ca2+ waves are prone to be initiated spontaneously. These release events would elevate the membrane potential substantially which might induce delayed afterdepolarizations or triggered action potentials. Moreover, the variation of membrane potential depolarization is indicated to be dependent on the distribution density of rogue RyR channels. This study provides a new possible arrhythmogenic mechanism for heart failure from subcellular to cellular level.
A Study on Infections Caused By Metallo Beta Lactamase Producing Gram Negative Bacteria in Intensive Care Unit Patients

Problem statement: Metallo Beta Lactamse (MBL) producing bacteria is gradually increasing throughout the globe. There is no report of MBL producing bacteria from the city of Kolkata so far although it is a very big metropolice city in India. Thus this study was aimed to investigate the impact of this highly virulent group of bacteria in this city. Approach: In this experiment we studied the prevalence, following standard methods of isolation and identification techniques of these bacteria from clinical materials and also studied some characteristics and clinical data in relation to MBL producing bacterial infections in this locality. Results: It was seen that a high prevalence of MBL producing bacteria was present in this city and there were many differences between MBL producing bacterial infection in comparison to the MBL non producing bacterial infection, particularly in relation to age distribution, sex predominance, mortality rate, hematological changes, nature of primary diseases in which infection occurred. There were also some electron microscopic morphological alterations in MBL positive bacterial isolates. Conclusion: This study confirmed significant occurrence of MBL producing bacterial infections in Kolkata showing distinct clinic microbial changes in this type of infection.
Prenatal TCDD Exposure Delays Differentiation and Alters Cell Proliferation and Apoptosis in the Uterus of the Sprague-Dawley Rat

Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that alters cellular organiza- tion at both macroscopic and molecular levels. Our goal was to determine the effects that prenatal TCDD exposure has on uterine morphology, cell proliferation, apoptosis, and protein expression. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with 3 μg TCDD/kg body weight by gavage on gestational day 15. At 50 days postpartum, female offspring exposed in utero to TCDD displayed uteri that were atrophic in appearance, but with a 2-fold significant increase in luminal epithelial cell proliferation and a significant decrease in apoptosis (10- and 4-fold in glandular and luminal epithelium, respectively), compared to the controls. Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) was significantly increased and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was significantly decreased in uteri of rats exposed prenatally to TCDD. We conclude that TCDD can inhibit maturation and modulate uterine proteins that are known to play a role in uterine growth as well as alter epithelial cell pro- liferation and apoptosis in a manner that may enhance disease, including carcinogenesis.
Assay of Antioxidant Potential of Two Filamentous Fungi Isolated from the Indonesian Fermented Dried Cassava

The antioxidant capacity and antioxidant constituents of two filamentous fungi (Acremonium charticola and Rhizopus oryzae) isolated from the Indonesian fermented dried cassava (gathot) were evaluated in the present study. The antioxidant capacity of the fungal crude extracts was assessed based on the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethyl-benzthiazolin-6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS) method. Total phenolics were determined based on the Folin-Ciocalteu method, while the flavonoids content in the fungal extracts was determined by the spectrophotometric method with aluminum chloride. Total tannins were estimated by the Folin-Denis method. The ABTS+ radical scavenging activity was higher (p < 0.01) in A. charticola compared to that in R. oryzae and ascorbic acid (as a control). A higher (p < 0.01) content of total phenolics was detected in A. charticola than that in R. oryzae. Total flavonoids were higher (p < 0.01) in R. oryzae as compared with that in A. charticola. The fungus A. charticola had a higher (p < 0.01) level of total tannins than R. oryzae. In conclusion, both filamentous fungi isolated from the Indonesian fermented dried cassava exhibited antioxidant potentials as indicated by their capabilities to scavenge ABTS+. A. charticola had a higher antioxidant capacity than R. oryzae. The antioxidant capacity of A. charticola was attributed mainly to its phenolics and tannins contents.
Inclusion in the Early Years: Critical Analyses and Enabling Narratives

Cultures of Inclusion in the Early Years An Overview An Operational Definition of Inclusion Children's Rights and Human Rights Curriculum, Play and Developmentally Appropriate Practice Assessment Key Studies on Inclusion in the Early Years: Setting the Scene Inclusion in the Early Years Definitions of SEN Inclusive Education and Children with Learning Difficulties Inclusion and Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties Inclusive Policies and Exclusive Practices Defining Inclusion Policy Contexts in the UK The Study: Origins, Aims and Methodology Practitioners' Personal Definitions of Inclusion Responses to Inclusive Policies Thinking Inclusion Scenario 1: George Scenario 2: Mary Scenario 3: Ahmed Talking Inclusion Educators' Personal Experiences Professional Development Views of Childhood Inclusion and Exclusion The Roles of Parents Including Children Including Babies and Toddlers Including Young Children Including Parents Parental Involvement in the Early Years Practitioners' Views on Including Parents Including Parents - Examples from Practice Including Staff How Do We Know Inclusion When We See It? Inclusion - A Personal Perspective Including: The Future Professional Development for Practitioners A Shared Dialogue Citizenship for Young Children Resources and Policy Commitment
PE2rr Corpus: Manual Error Annotation of Automatically Pre-annotated MT Post-edits

We present a freely available corpus containing source language texts from different domains along with their automatically generated translations into several distinct morphologically rich languages, their post-edited versions, and error annotations of the performed post-edit operations. We believe that the corpus will be useful for many different applications. The main advantage of the approach used for creation of the corpus is the fusion of post-editing and error classification tasks, which have usually been seen as two independent tasks, although naturally they are not. We also show benefits of coupling automatic and manual error classification which facilitates the complex manual error annotation task as well as the development of automatic error classification tools. In addition, the approach facilitates annotation of language pair related issues.
Palm lines extraction using PCNN and image data field

In this paper, an approach of using image data field and pulse-coupled neuron network (PCNN) to fast extract palm lines is proposed for online palmprint images. Each pixel in an enhanced palmprint image is seen as a particle with the mass, which produces a data field. The data field is introduced to map the enhanced palmprint image from grayscale space to the corresponding potential space. By selecting the relative mass, a relative image data field is obtained. Then the enhanced palmprint image and its relative data field are input into two PCNNs with different parameters, separately. Their outputs are two binary images, and each has complementary advantages and disadvantages. In order to extract palm lines, a non-connectedness value (NCV) is defined and used to fusion the two binary images. At last, the morphological operators are used to remove noise and isolated points. The experimental results indicate that the speed of palm-line extraction promotes greatly and it can satisfy the practical requirements.
Left Atrial Spontaneous Echo Contrast Is Highly Associated With Previous Stroke in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation or Mitral Stenosis

Background and Purpose Spontaneous echo contrast is a dynamic smokelike signal that is detected by transesophageal echocardiography in patients with stasis of blood in the left atrium. We designed this study to determine if spontaneous echo contrast is associated with an increased risk of previous stroke or peripheral embolism. Methods Forty-two patients with spontaneous echo contrast were identified (34 had atrial fibrillation or mitral stenosis; 8 had neither). Control subjects comprised 40 patients randomly selected from patients with atrial fibrillation or mitral stenosis who did not have spontaneous echo contrast at transesophageal echocardiography. The frequency of vascular risk factors, echocardiographic features, and stroke or peripheral embolism within 1 year of echocardiography were compared in the two groups. Results The frequency of traditional risk factors for stroke were the same in both groups, yet 9 of 42 patients with spontaneous contrast had stroke or peripheral embolism compared with only 1 of 40 control subjects (P<02; relative risk, 10.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 88.4). In patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, 6 of 12 patients with spontaneous contrast had a stroke or peripheral embolism compared with 1 of 28 patients without spontaneous contrast (P<.001; relative risk, 27.0; 95% confidence interval, 2.7 to 267.8). Conclusions Spontaneous echo contrast is highly associated with previous stroke or peripheral embolism in patients with atrial fibrillation or mitral stenosis. Transesophageal echocardiography may enable stratification of cardioembolic risk in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation.
Ranking Stocks and Returns : A Non-Parametric Analysis of Asset Pricing Anomalies ∗

In this paper, we apply a non-parametric rank-based technique to analyze nine asset pricing anomalies. We demonstrate that many anomalies are non-monotonic, i.e. the relations between anomalous characteristics and abnormal expected returns have statistically different signs for low and high values of characteristics. We argue that due to the presence of non-monotonicity the similarity between anomalous characteristics should be examined separately for different ranges of each variable. We also introduce a distance between asset pricing anomalies and perform a cluster analysis in the anomaly space. We find that on stocks with high values of characteristics all considered anomalies except size appear to be statistically different.