Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome: the Current Status

The Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome is a movement disorder characterised by both motor and vocal (phonic) tics. It was once thought to be rare, and the literature until the 1970s consisted predominantly of case reports, both highlighting the fascinating clinical manifestations and speculating as to their aetiology. Many areas of GTS are under investigation, including the neurology, psychopathology, neurophysiology, biochemistry, and genetics. This review briefly considers early descriptions of GTS as well as current research, highlighting the areas of agreement and controversy.
Inhibition of Herpes Simplex Virus Types 1 and 2 In Vitro Infection by Sulfated Derivatives of Escherichia coli K5 Polysaccharide

ABSTRACT Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) and HSV-2 are neurotropic viruses and common human pathogens causing major public health problems such as genital herpes, a sexually transmitted disease also correlated with increased transmission and replication of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Therefore, compounds capable of blocking HIV-1, HSV-1, and HSV-2 transmission represent candidate microbicides with a potential added value over that of molecules acting selectively against either infection. We report here that sulfated derivatives of the Escherichia coli K5 polysaccharide, structurally highly similar to heparin and previously shown to inhibit HIV-1 entry and replication in vitro, also exert suppressive activities against both HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections. In particular, the N,O-sulfated [K5-N,OS(H)] and O-sulfated epimerized [Epi-K5-OS(H)] forms inhibited the infection of Vero cells by HSV-1 and -2, with 50% inhibitory concentrations (IC50) between 3 ± 0.05 and 48 ± 27 nM, and were not toxic to the cells at concentrations as high as 5 μM. These compounds impaired the early steps of HSV-1 and HSV-2 virion attachment and entry into host cells and reduced the cell-to-cell spread of HSV-2. Since K5-N,OS(H) and Epi-K5-OS(H) also inhibit HIV-1 infection, they may represent valid candidates for development as topical microbicides preventing sexual transmission of HIV-1, HSV-1, and HSV-2.
Morphologic changes and outcome following endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair as a function of aneurysm size.

HYPOTHESIS Small infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms have a more favorable clinical and morphologic outcome compared with medium and large abdominal aortic aneurysms following endovascular aneurysm repair(EVAR). DESIGN A prospective clinical series of 206 patients undergoing elective EVAR between 1996 and 2001. SETTING A tertiary care academic health center. PATIENTS Patients were grouped according to aneurysm size: small (<50 mm), medium (50-60 mm), and large (>60 mm). INTERVENTIONS Primary EVAR and secondary procedures to secure fixation of the stent graft and surgical conversions. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Aneurysm diameter, endoleaks, and long-term morphologic changes were analyzed postoperatively with 3-dimensional reconstructions of computed tomographic angiograms. RESULTS Groups were similar in age, comorbidities, and follow-up (mean +/- SD, 32.1 +/- 11.8 months). There were 30 small aneurysms, 92 medium aneurysms, and 84 large aneurysms, with a mean size of 45.1 +/- 3.7 mm, 53.8 +/- 3.1 mm, and 66.1 +/- 6.8 mm, respectively (P<.01). There was no significant difference in proximal neck or iliac artery diameter among the 3 groups. The proximal aortic neck length (28.1 +/- 11.6 mm [small]; 23.9 +/- 11.3 mm [medium]; and 22.1 +/- 11.6 mm [large]; P<.05) was significantly shorter in large aneurysms. Furthermore, there was a significant increase (6% [small]; 15% [medium]; and 21% [large]; P<.05) in angulated necks in large aneurysms. Following treatment, aneurysm diameter remained stable in most patients (83% [small]; 82% [medium]; and 83% [large]), with a mean decrease of 2.0 +/- 6.5 mm, 2.1 +/- 6.1 mm, and 3.7 +/- 7.7 mm in each group, respectively (P =.45). There was no difference in the incidence of endoleaks, aneurysm contraction, or aneurysm expansion based on preoperative aneurysm diameter. Secondary procedures were performed in 5 (20%) of 25, 9 (5.2%) of 170, and 5 (36%) of 11 aneurysms that contracted, remained stable, or expanded, respectively, following EVAR (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS There is a 15% increase in neck angulation and a 27% decrease in neck length in large compared with small infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms, with no difference in outcome. Aneurysms that are stable following EVAR have a significantly lower incidence of requiring secondary procedures.
Hormonal control of the onset, magnitude and duration of uterine sensitivity in the rat by steroid hormones of the ovary.

A study of the action of estrogen and progestogen on the onset, magnitude and duration of responsiveness (sensitivity) of the uterus to traumatization in the rat revealed that, in animals ovariectomized after estrus, maximal sensitivity could not be achieved by injection of progesterone alone, but was observed when both estrone and progesterone were administered simultaneously. The timing of the onset, magnitude and duration of sensitivity observed in the intact pseudopregnant rat was reproduced in rats ovariectomized after estrus by daily injections of estrone and progesterone in dosages identical with those necessary for optimal growth and maintenance of the resulting deciduomata. It is suggested that no major alteration in secretory activity of the ovary need occur to account for both the transiency of uterine sensitivity and the resulting decidual growth observed in the pseudopregnant rat. Although estrone potentiated the ability of progesterone to promote the sensitive state in the uterus, it inhibit.
Liquidity Risk and Correlation Risk: A Clinical Study of the General Motors and Ford Downgrade of May 2005

The GM and Ford downgrade to junk status during May 2005 caused a wide-spread sell-off in their corporate bonds. Using a novel dataset, we document that this sell-off appears to have generated significant liquidity risk for market-makers, as evidenced in the significant imbalance in their quotes towards sales. We also document that simultaneously, there was excess co-movement in the fixed-income securities of all industries, not just in those of auto firms. In particular, using credit-default swaps (CDS) data, we find a substantial increase in the co-movement between innovations in the CDS spreads of GM and Ford and those of firms in all other industries, the increase being greatest during the period surrounding the actual downgrade and reversing sharply thereafter. We show that a measure of liquidity risk faced by corporate bond market-makers - specifically, the imbalance towards sales in the volume and frequency of quotes on GM and Ford bonds - explains a significant portion of this excess co-movement. Additional robustness checks suggest that this relationship between the liquidity risk faced by market-makers and the correlation risk for other securities in which they make markets was likely causal. Overall, the evidence is supportive of theoretical models which imply that funding liquidity risk faced by financial intermediaries is a determinant of market prices during stress times.
Comparative study of the fractionation and evaluation of the physical properties of bitumen obtained from Agbabu and Loda in Ilaje Area of Ondo State

The results from the comparative evaluation of the physical properties and the chemical speciation of bitumen obtained from Agbabu and Loda in Ilaje Area of Ondo State. The results obtained are compared with some of the recent results obtained for heavy metals on Agbabu bitumen, but different methods of analysis to see the variation on the results obtained. The percentage bitumen content are; 79.80 ± 0.01 and 46.50 ± 0.01, percentage sand content, 10.90 ± 0.01and 53.10 ± 0.01, penetration Test (25), 44.50 ± 0.02 and 45.30 ± 0.01, specific gravity (60), 0.97517 ± 0.02 and 0.9240 ± 0.01, Marshall stability in kg at 60 are 849.50 ± 0.01 and 635.00 ± 0.01, while the viscosity at 60 (Pa/Sec) are 9.7580 ± 0.01 and 9.6415 ± 0.01 obtained from Agbabu and Loda bitumen respectively. The results obtained for the physical characteristics as indicated above where in favour of Agbabu bitumen in terms of its durability except the penetration text. The heavy metals concentrations in mg/kg are generally high in Loda bitumen for Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Mn, Cr, Zn and Fe. Fe is exceptionally high in the two samples with 9,201.2500 ± 0.20 mg/kg and 10,700.0700 ± 0.5 mg/kg respectively. The results obtained for Fe, Zn, Pb, Ni and Cu in this work were generally lower than the results obtained in the recent work. This may as a result of the extraction and experimental analysis method. Results of heavy metals studies on the fractionation of the heavy metals show that the concentration levels of Fe in residue fraction was higher than those in the carbonate fraction, iron and manganese fraction while the heavy metals bind to the organic fraction was low compared to the other fractions found in bitumen obtained from Loda.
On the Synergistic Benefits of Alternating CSIT for the MISO BC

The degrees of freedom (DoF) of the two-user multiple-input single-output (MISO) broadcast channel (BC) are studied under the assumption that the form, Ii;i = 1; 2; of the channel state information at the transmitter (CSIT) for each user’s channel can be either perfect (P ), delayed (D) or not available (N), i.e., I1;I2 2 fP;N;Dg, and therefore the overall CSIT can alternate between the 9 resulting states I1I2. The fraction of time associated with CSIT state I1I2 is denoted by the parameter I1I2 and it is assumed throughout that I1I2 = I2I1, i.e., PN = NP; PD = DP; DN = ND. Under this assumption of symmetry, the main contribution of this paper is a complete characterization of the DoF region of the two user MISO BC with alternating CSIT. Surprisingly, the DoF region is found to depend only on the marginal probabilities ( P; D; N ) = P I2 PI2; P I2 DI2; P I2 NI2 , I22 fP;D;Ng, which represent
The Effect of Protozoa on the Composition of Rumen Bacteria in Cattle Using 16S rRNA Gene Clone Libraries

The effect of the presence of protozoa on the composition of rumen bacteria was investigated in cattle. Seven castrated Holstein cattle were divided into two groups: four faunated and three unfaunated, and 16S ribosomal RNA gene (rDNA) clonal libraries were constructed. A total of 312 clones were sequenced across 1,500 bp. The 151 sequences of the faunated cattle were classified into 98 operational taxonomic units (OTUs) having at least 97% similarity. The sequences derived from the faunated cattle were classified into Firmicutes (59.7%), Bacteroidetes (34.4%), Spirochaetes (2.6%), Actinobacteria (2.0%), and Proteobacteria (1.3%). Bacteroides and Prevotella (34.4%) were the major groups in the faunated cattle. The 161 sequences in the unfaunated cattle were classified into 72 OTUs. The sequences derived from the unfaunated libraries were classified into Firmicutes (65.7%), Bacteroidetes (31.1%), Proteobacteria (1.9%), and Spirochaetes (1.2%). The Clostridium botulinum group and its relatives (36.0%) were the major groups in the unfaunated cattle. An analysis by the computer program LIBSHUFF clarified that the presence of ruminal protozoa markedly affected the composition of rumen bacteria.
Adaptive Augmented Reality in Mobile Applications for Helping People with Mild Intellectual Disability in Ecuador

There is a huge online data about job descriptions which has been entered by job seekers and job holders that can be utilized to give insight into the current state of jobs. Employers also produce large volume of vacancy data online which can be exploited to portray the current demand of the job market. When preparing job vacancies, taking into account the information contained in job descriptions, and vice versa, the likelihood of getting the bidirectional match of a job description and a vacancy will be improved. To improve the quality of job descriptions and job vacancies, a mediating system is required that connects and supports job designers and employers, respectively. In this paper, we propose a framework of an automatic bidirectional matching system that measures the degree of semantic similarity of job descriptions provided by job-seeker, job-holder or job-designer against the vacancy provided by employer or job-agent. The system provides suggestions to improve both job descriptions and vacancies using a combination of text mining methods.
Do We Know Whom to Serve? Issues in Using Risk Factors to Identify Dropouts

This article analyzes the effectiveness of widely used risk factors for identifying students who will drop out of school. The findings indicate that nearly all risk factors are not effective predictors of dropping out. The findings suggest that dropout prevention programs often serve students who would not have dropped out, and do not serve students who would have dropped out, which has implications for program effectiveness.
The Effect of Music on Perceived Atmosphere and Purchase Intentions in a Restaurant

Extending research by North and Hargreaves (1998), this study investigated the effect of music on perceived atmosphere and purchase intentions in a restaurant. Four musical styles (jazz, popular, easy listening and classical) and no music were played in a restaurant over two consecutive weeks. Results indicated that different types of music had different effects on perceived atmosphere and the amount patrons were prepared to spend. Classical, jazz and popular music were associated with patrons being prepared to spend the most on their main meal. This value was found to be significantly lower in the absence of music and when easy listening was played. There was some evidence that the type of music also had an effect on the amount of money patrons actually spent in the restaurant. Overall, the study contributes to the development of a model that seeks to account for the relationship between music and consumer behaviour.
Discussion of `Global Warming and Sociology'

Lever-Tracy has hit the nail on the head when she points to the reluctance of sociologists to consider the social implications of global warming. Meanwhile the discussion of these issues in other disciplines grows apace. Ecological modernizers see the environmental crisis as a stimulus to capitalist societies, providing new opportunities for growth from re-tooling. Yet, sections of the environmentalist movement envisage necessary social change as much more profound. A key to this debate is the likely costs of re-tooling. This technological and financial question is a prerequisite for understanding the social implications. If the costs of re-tooling are huge, as can be argued, some drastic social changes are quite likely.
Commonsense Training for Changing Male Voices

ue to be concerned that male participation in choir remains less than female participation. The male disenchantment with singing arises from several related factors: sociological perceptions about music and singing, the male's psychological and physiological development during puberty, and inappropriate choral literature and training. To keep young men interested in singing, teachers may benefit from an examination of the physiology of the male voice change, the psychology of the adolescent male, the unique
Factors associated with self-harm in community-based young offenders: the importance of psychological variables

Young offenders are known to be at high risk of self-harm, but the majority of research has examined incarcerated samples and neglected the majority of offenders managed in the community. We provide novel data on factors associated with, and motivations for, self-harm community-based young offenders. Young offenders who self-harmed reported significantly higher anxiety and depression, and lower self-esteem compared to controls who had not self-harmed. Young offenders who had harmed themselves reported predominantly internal motivations for the behavior. There was low mental health service utilization in both groups. Screening for self-harm in this population should pay particular attention to psychological risk factors. Greater recognition of risks faced by young offenders outside custody is needed.
Prediagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea via Multiclass MTS

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has become an important public health concern. Polysomnography (PSG) is traditionally considered an established and effective diagnostic tool providing information on the severity of OSA and the degree of sleep fragmentation. However, the numerous steps in the PSG test to diagnose OSA are costly and time consuming. This study aimed to apply the multiclass Mahalanobis-Taguchi system (MMTS) based on anthropometric information and questionnaire data to predict OSA. Implementation results showed that MMTS had an accuracy of 84.38% on the OSA prediction and achieved better performance compared to other approaches such as logistic regression, neural networks, support vector machine, C4.5 decision tree, and rough set. Therefore, MMTS can assist doctors in prediagnosis of OSA before running the PSG test, thereby enabling the more effective use of medical resources.
Ethnicity-based subgroup meta-analysis of the association of LOXL1 polymorphisms with glaucoma

Purpose To investigate the association and ethnic heterogeneity of lysyl oxidase-like 1 (LOXL1) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with exfoliation syndrome (XFS)/exfoliation glaucoma (XFG) and other types of glaucoma. Methods We performed meta-analysis and ethnicity-based subgroup analyses according to published studies. Allele and genotype frequencies of SNPs rs1048661, rs2165241, and rs3825942 were extracted for analysis in Reviewer Manager: (1) comparison of the allelic distributions between XFS and XFG, (2) allelic association of LOXL1 SNPs with XFS/XFG, (3) associations in homozygote, heterozygote, and dominant and recessive models, and (4) allelic association with primary open angle glaucoma (POAG). Results In total 24 reported articles were retrieved, including Caucasian, African, Japanese, Indian, and Chinese populations. There was no significant difference in the distributions of rs1048661, rs2165241, and rs3825942 between XFS and XFG. The G allele of rs3825942 was the common at-risk allele for XFS/XFG in all populations with a total odds ratio (OR) of 10.89. The total homozygote OR of rs3825942 was 9.06 for XFS/XFG combined, but the total heterozygote OR was not significant. We also found that in the recessive model, the total OR was 14.70. There was no association of the three SNPs with POAG. Conclusions The association of rs3825942, but not rs2165241 or rs1048661, with XFS/XFG is consistent in different ethnic populations in the recessive model. LOXL1 is not associated with POAG in all study populations.
A Plague on Both Parties

Last year's election night blunders by the networks highlight the extent to which the news media—and particularly television—have become major actors in presidential elections. This article employs a content analysis to examine how thorough, balanced, and substantive network news was in Campaign 2000 as compared with 1996, 1992, and 1988. Although the principal focus is on the broadcast networks, data on other news genres, as well as candidate discourse, are brought to bear on the research questions. The study finds little or no improvement in election coverage over time despite numerous reform efforts from inside and outside the newsroom. The amount of coverage has declined, along with the airtime available to candidates. Attention to the horse race increased sharply in 2000, but issue coverage did not. The tone of coverage has remained consistently negative, but Democrats sometimes fared better than Republicans. Media discourse was also less substantive and more negative than candidate discourse, and voters continued to give the media low marks for their performance. These findings call into question the effectiveness of recent efforts to make election news more useful to voters.
Metoclopramide reduces carbohydrate absorption in man.

The effect of metoclopramide (20 mg p.o) on the times taken for a radiolabelled liquid starch meal to empty from the stomach and to reach the ileum (230 cm from the mouth), the ileal flow rates and the degree of carbohydrate absorption were studied in five normal male volunteers, intubated with a four lumen intestinal tube. Administration of metoclopramide significantly reduced the time taken for delivery of 50% and 80% of the meal to the ileal aspiration site, but had no significant effect on the half time for gastric emptying. Administration of metoclopramide did not affect the average flow rate or the total postprandial volume, which passed the ileal aspiration site. Administration of metoclopramide reduced carbohydrate absorption in every subject by between 8 and 30%. This study is consistent with the hypothesis that metoclopramide may reduce the degree of absorption in the human small intestine by decreasing the contact time between food and small intestinal epithelium, though it could also act by reducing the area of mucosa in contact with nutrients.
Design and Control of a Novel Compliant Constant-Force Gripper Based on Buckled Fixed-Guided Beams

This paper presents the design and control of a novel gripper device with a passive type of compliant constant-force mechanism. The function of constant-force output is achieved by using the combination of a positive-stiffness and a negative-stiffness mechanism. The negative stiffness is generated by a bistable buckled fixed-guided beam. Conventionally, when gripping a target-object using a high-stiffness gripper, both the displacement control and force control are required to prevent the damage of the object. The uniqueness of the developed constant-force gripper is that it can eliminate the dependence on force control while keeping the force constant via its mechanical structure. The gripper performance is evaluated by the established analytical model and nonlinear finite-element analysis, and validated through experimental study on a fabricated prototype. To achieve a precise position output of the gripper jaw, a discrete-time variable structure control strategy based on a nonswitching type of reaching law is realized. The effectiveness of the gripper system is verified by conducting experimental studies on grasp-hold-release operations of a micro copper wire.
Immigration Policies in Portugal: Limits and Compromise in the Quest for Regulation

The main objective of this article is to describe the key elements of the making of immigration control policies in Portugal until 2007. First, the main policy initiatives and measures concerning the admission of foreigners are presented. Second, the mechanisms and difficulties surrounding the issue of immigration control are discussed, and a tension is identified between the structural demand for foreign labour and the measures taken for control. Third, the positions of the main political parties and of the most relevant stakeholders are highlighted. The evidence indicates that despite continued attempts to control immigration, the stated policy objectives are at odds with the outcome, characterised by endemic irregular migration. The factors hindering regulation are both internal and external, encompassing the economic, social, institutional and legal domains. Given the limits to control, policy-makers have sought to achieve a compromise by enacting frequent regularization programmes while seeking to improve admission and control. In this process, the main political parties have exhibited a significant degree of consensus, which may be partially accounted for by the convergence among the other stakeholders (employers, trade unions, Catholic organisations and immigrants' associations) and by the increasing, albeit contradictory, acceptance of immigration by public opinion.