Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Is Period3 Genotype Associated With Sleep and Recovery in Patients With Disorders of Consciousness?

Background. Sleep evaluation is increasingly being used as prognostic tool in patients with disorders of consciousness, but, surprisingly, the role of Period3 (Per3) gene polymorphism has never been evaluated. Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of Per3 genotype on sleep quantity and consciousness recovery level in patients with disorders of consciousness (DOC). Methods. In this observational study, we evaluated 71 patients with DOC classified as vegetative state/unresponsive wakefulness syndrome or minimally conscious state. Demographic and clinical data were collected and a standardised diagnostic workup, including a polysomnographic record, was applied. After informed consent provided by proxy, genomic DNA was obtained and Per3 polymorphism was analysed by polymerase chain reaction to identify 5/5, 4/5, or 4/4 genotype. Results. Per35/5 genotype was found in 12.7% of our DOC patients. The median total Coma Recovery Scale–revised score in Per35/5 carriers was significantly higher than 4/4 genotype (10, range 5-16 vs 7, range 4-11; post hoc P = .036). Moreover, total sleep time seemed to be higher in 5/5 genotype (5/5, 221 minutes, range 88-515 minutes; 4/4, 151.5 minutes, range 36-477 minutes; and 4/5, 188 minutes, range 44-422 minutes). Conclusion. For the first time we have shown a possible association between Per3 polymorphism and consciousness recovery level in DOC patients. Even though the exact molecular mechanism has not been defined, we speculate that its effect is mediated by higher total sleep time and slow wave sleep, which would improve the preservation of main cerebral connections.
Continuity and change in time perspective: a longitudinal field study of youth workers.

The current temporal research agenda in time and organizations emphasizes the importance of continuity and change. This research sought to examine the coexistence of continuity and change in time perspective using the model proposed by (Zimbardo and Boyd, 1999). The research sought answers to the following four research questions: 1. Do time perspectives demonstrate differential continuity? 2. Do time perspectives demonstrate mean level continuity? 3. Do time perspectives demonstrate interindividual differences in intraindividual change? 4. Do individuals demonstrate individual change in their time perspectives? Survey data were collected from 128 youth workers across three measurement occasions using a twelve month prospective longitudinal panel design and measurement occasions were separated by a four month interval. Data were analysed using retest correlations, individual stability coefficients, latent growth modeling and the reliable change index. Time perspectives demonstrated rank order continuity and there was evidence of individual variation in stability. Although there was a decline in rank order continuity, it was not statistically significant. Time perspectives showed mean level continuity but did not demonstrate interindividual differences in intraindividual change. However, evidence of individual differences in change was indicated by the reliable change index across all time perspectives. The findings supported the co-existence of continuity and change in time perspectives. The research makes a methodological and theoretical contribution. Methodologically, the research contributes to a more thorough understanding of continuity and change in time perspective and provides different answers to the question, do time perspectives change? Theoretically, the research advocates an alternative perspective which questions current assumptions.
Hippocampal Sclerosis in the Elderly: Genetic and Pathologic Findings, Some Mimicking Alzheimer Disease Clinically

BackgroundHippocampal sclerosis (HpScl) in the elderly is often associated with neurodegeneration. MethodsWe studied the clinical and pathologic features of HpScl in 205 consecutive patients with dementia who came to autopsy from 1997 to 2008, focusing on associations with TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) pathology and allelic variants in the progranulin (GRN) and apolipoprotein E (APOE). ResultsOf the 205 dementia patients, 28 had HpScl (14%). TDP-43 pathology was more frequent in cases with HpScl compared with those without HpScl (89% vs. 24%). GRN rs5848 T-allele but not APOE &egr;4 was associated with HpScl. In cases of HpScl with TDP-43 pathology and age of onset after 75 years (n=11), 8 had Alzheimer disease (AD)-like amnestic syndrome, but most (6 of 8) had pathology not consistent with AD (Braak stage III or less), including 4 with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP, 1 with diffuse Lewy body disease, and 1 with “pure HpScl. ” ConclusionsHpScl is common in an elderly cohort with dementia, occurring in 14% of the cases in this series, and 89% have TDP-43 pathology, often associated with a risk variant in GRN. Patients with HpScl who present after the age of 75 years often have presentations consistent with AD, but at autopsy have non-Alzheimer pathologies. Elderly patients with HpScl may be mistaken for AD.
Are you a mindful driver? A review of the potential explanatory value of mindfulness in predicting speeding behaviour

Mindfulness is a concept which has been widely used in studies on consciousness, but has recently been applied to the understanding of behaviours in other areas, including clinical psychology, meditation, physical activity, education and business. It has been suggested that mindfulness can also be applied to road safety, though this has not yet been researched. A standard definition of mindfulness is “paying attention in a particular way, on purpose in the present moment and non-judgemental to the unfolding of experience moment by moment” [1]. Scales have been developed to measure mindfulness; however, there are different views in the literature on the nature of the mindfulness construct. This paper reviews the issues raised in the literature and arrives at an operational definition of mindfulness considered relevant to road safety. It is further proposed that mindfulness is best construed as operating together with other psychosocial factors to influence road safety behaviours. The specific case of speeding behaviour is outlined, where the psychosocial variables in the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) have been demonstrated to predict both intention to speed and actual speeding behaviour. A role is proposed for mindfulness in enhancing the explanatory and predictive powers of the TPB concerning speeding. The implications of mindfulness for speeding countermeasures are discussed and a program of future research is outlined.
A methodology for building log of collaboration processes

The analysis of data produced during collaborative activities allows organizations to improve collaboration management. Since people use several collaboration tools, these kind of data are difficult to obtain. Furthermore they are heterogeneous and require an important preprocessing step to be useful. In the present work we introduce a methodology aimed at obtaining a single log with all data related to team activities. To improve process analysis, such data log is semantically enriched by means of a multidimensional taxonomy capable of describing collaboration activities at various abstraction levels. We also introduce a case study to be used throughout the paper as an illustrative example.
Sequential Effects of Ultraviolet Radiation on the Histomorphology, Cell Density and Antioxidative Status of the Lens Epithelium—An In Vivo Study¶

Abstract In vivo progressive effects of UV irradiation on the lens epithelium were studied using various histomorphological and biochemical parameters. Fifteen day old rat pups were exposed to 600 mW/m2 of radiation, including UV-A and UV-B, 12 h daily for 90, 120, 150 and 180 days. Biochemical parameters such as protein-bound and non–protein-bound sulfhydryl groups in both soluble and insoluble fractions and enzymes, which play an important role in combating the oxidative stress, were studied. Decreased cell density of lens epithelial cells (LEC) was observed in all three zones along with the decrease in the levels of soluble sulfhydryls (S-SH), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT). On the other hand, an increase in insoluble sulfhydryls was observed. Because of the decrease in S-SH and GR activities, the LEC became vulnerable to oxidative stress. Decreased activities of SOD, GPx and CAT suggest elevated oxidative stress. This effect of UV radiation may lead to cell death that may be responsible for the observed decrease in the cell density in all three zones of the lens epithelium.
Visual Representations for Fine-grained Categorization

In contrast to basic-level object recognition, fine-grained categorization aims to distinguishbetween subordinate categories, such as different animal breeds or species, plant species or man-made product models. The problem can be extremely challenging due to the subtle differences in the appearance of certain parts across related categories and often requires distinctions that must be conditioned on the object pose for reliable identification. Discriminative markings are often highly localized, leading traditional object recognition approaches to struggle with the large pose variations often present in these domains. Face recognition is the classic case of fine-grained recognition, and it is noteworthy that the best face recognition methods jointly discover facial landmarks and extract features from those locations. We propose pose-normalized representations, which align training exemplars, either piecewise by part or globally for the whole object, effectively factoring out differences in pose and in camera viewing angle.I first present the methods of using the idea of pose-normalization for two related applications: human attribute classification and person recognition beyond frontal face. Following the recent success of deep learning, we use deep convolutional features as feature representations. Next, I will introduce the part-based RCNN method as an extension of state-of-art object detection method RCNN for fine-grained categorization. The model learns both whole-object and part detectors, and enforces learned geometric constraints between them. I will also show the results of using the recent compact bilinear features to generate the pose-normalized representations. However, bottom-up region proposals is limited by handengineered features and in the final work, I will present a fully convolution deep network, trained end-to-end for part localization and fine-grained classification.
Blind phase recovery for QAM communication systems

In this paper, a novel phase estimator that can be employed for both square and cross Quadrature Amplitude Modulation (QAM) based digital transmission is presented. It does not need gain control and requires only the knowledge of the type of the transmitted symbol constellation, i.e., square or cross. It is based on the evaluation of the fourth power of the received data and the measurement of the orientation of the concentration ellipses of the bivariate Gaussian distribution having the same second-order moments. The analytical evaluation of the estimation error as well as of the asymptotic variance is provided. Experimental results outline the good performance of the estimator described here, which is superior to that of well-known phase estimation methods. Finally, it is outlined how the eccentricity of the concentration ellipses can be used to devise a test for detecting the constellation type.
On the diversity of partial relaying cooperation with relay selection in finite-SNR regime

This work studies the performance of a cooperative network which consists of two channel-coded sources, multiple relays, and one destination. Due to the spectral efficiency constraint, we assume that a single time slot is dedicated to relaying. Conventional network-coded based cooperation (NCC) selects the best relay which uses network coding to serve the two sources simultaneously. It is shown that NCC, however, only achieves diversity of order two regardless of the number of available relays and the channel code. In this paper, we propose a novel partial relaying based cooperation (PARC) scheme to improve the system diversity in the finite signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regime. Firstly, closed-form expressions for the system bit error rate (BER) and diversity order of PARC are derived as a function of the operating SNR value and the minimum distance of the channel code. Secondly, we analytically show that the proposed PARC achieves full diversity order in the finite SNR regime, given that an appropriate channel code is used. Finally, numerical results verify our analysis and demonstrate a large SNR gain of PARC over NCC in the SNR region of interest.
Link-Diversity Routing: A Robust Routing Paradigm for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

We present link-diversity routing, a routing paradigm that achieves high path resilience in mobile ad hoc networks. Link-diversity routing chooses each hop of a packet's route, so that the choice reflects the amount of outgoing links towards the destination at the intermediate hops. This choice maximizes the opportunities to make progress at every hop in the presence of unpredictable link failures caused by mobility or fading effects. As a result, link diversity routing takes paths which are less prone to fail due to individual link failures than traditional routing. We develop a loop-free and distributed link-diversity routing algorithm. The algorithm is based on an analogy from the heat theory which consists of routing packets along the steepest gradient of a temperature field. We perform simulations of our algorithm with a DSDV-based implementation. Our simulations show that link-diversity routing increases the end-to-end packet delivery ratio to a factor of up to four without any additional protocol overhead compared to the traditional minimum hop- count based DSDV.
Temperature-Dependent Conjugative Transfer of R27: Role of Chromosome- and Plasmid-Encoded Hha and H-NS Proteins

ABSTRACT IncHI plasmids encode multiple-antibiotic resistance in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. These plasmids have been considered to play a relevant role in the persistence and reemergence of this microorganism. The IncHI1 plasmid R27, which can be considered the prototype of IncHI plasmids, is thermosensitive for transfer. Conjugation frequency is highest at low temperature (25 to 30°C), decreasing when temperature increases. R27 codifies an H-NS-like protein (open reading frame 164 [ORF164]) and an Hha-like protein (ORF182). The H-NS and Hha proteins participate in the thermoregulation of gene expression in Escherichia coli. Here we investigated the hypothetical role of such proteins in thermoregulation of R27 conjugation. At a nonpermissive temperature (33°C), transcription of several ORFs in both transfer region 1 (Tra1) and Tra2 from R27 is upregulated in cells depleted of Hha-like and H-NS-like proteins. Both chromosome- and plasmid-encoded Hha and H-NS proteins appear to potentially modulate R27 transfer. The function of R27-encoded Hha-like and H-NS proteins is not restricted to modulation of R27 transfer. Different mutant phenotypes associated with both chromosomal hha and hns mutations are compensated in cells harboring R27.
Learning strategies and causal attributions in second language learning

17 Although in itself “motivation to learn” is a complex multifaceted construct, according to Dornyei (2001), the picture becomes even more complex when the motivation to learn a foreign/second language (L2) is concerned since L2 is a “learnable” school subject as well as socially and culturally bound (it requires the integration of elements of the L2 culture into student’s life space). In a similar manner Gardner (1979) points out that in the second language acquisition the student is faced with the task of not simply learning new information which is part of his own culture but rather with the task of acquiring symbolic elements of a different ethno linguistic community. Thus, many studies have recently looked into a number of personal, social and contextual variables which may be motivational determinants of second language acquisition. In the past few decades researchers have identified many factors which account for some of the differences in how students learn a second language. The most debatable issue in this context is “How do successful language learners learn? ”. Investigations into the features of successful language learners attempt to determine what their characteristics are and what procedures they follow. As a result, an active role of the learner in the language learning process has been acknowledged. Rohrkemper and Corno (1988) suggest that the highest cognitive engagement students use to learn is self-regulated learning. Similarly, Baumert, Schnabel, and Lehrke (1998) claim that self-regulated learning is the ability to develop knowledge, skills and attitudes which enhance and facilitate future learning and which can be transferred to other learning situations. Self regulated learning, therefore, entails an integrated use of students’ “skill” and “will”. (Pintrich & De Groot, 1990). Self-regulation is an interaction of personal, behavioural and environmental triadic processes which are proactively, as well as reactively, adapted for the attainment of personal goals (Zimmerman, 2000). This perspective distinguishes three cyclical phases of self-regulation of learning: a forethought phase, a performance or volitional control phase and a self-reflection phase. The performance (volitional) control phase involves processes that occur during learning and affect attention and action. One of the key factors in this phase of self regulated learning is the students’ capability to select, combine and manage learning strategies. Similarly, Garcia (1995) noted that self-regulated learning behaviour was often interpreted in the light of the students’ use of learning strategies for the self-regulation of cognition and behaviour. Oxford (1990) defines learning strategies as “operations used by the learner to aid the acquisition, storage or Izabela Sorić, Department of Psychology, University of Zadar, Krešimirova obala 2, 23000 Zadar, Croatia. E-mail: isoric@unizd.hr (the address for correspondence);
An In-House RD 1-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunospot – Gamma Interferon Assay Instead of the Tuberculin Skin Test for Diagnosis of Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

An In-House RD1-Based Enzyme-Linked Immunospot–Gamma Interferon Assay Instead of the Tuberculin Skin Test for Diagnosis of Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection Luigi Codecasa, Paola Mantegani, Laura Galli, Adriano Lazzarin, Paolo Scarpellini, and Claudio Fortis* Villa Marelli Institute, Lombardy Regional Reference Centre for Tuberculosis, Niguarda Hospital, Milan, Italy; Clinic of Infectious Diseases, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; and “Vita-Salute” San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
Theoretical and Practical Advances on Smoothing for Extensive-Form Games

Sparse iterative methods, in particular first-order methods, are known to be among the most effective in solving large-scale two-player zero-sum extensive-form games. The convergence rates of these methods depend heavily on the properties of the distance-generating function that they are based on. We investigate the acceleration of first-order methods for solving extensive-form games through better design of the dilated entropy function---a class of distance-generating functions related to the domains associated with the extensive-form games. By introducing a new weighting scheme for the dilated entropy function, we develop the first distance-generating function for the strategy spaces of sequential games that only a logarithmic dependence on the branching factor of the player. This result improves the convergence rate of several first-order methods by a factor of Ω(bdd), where b is the branching factor of the player, and d is the depth of the game tree. Thus far, counterfactual regret minimization methods have been faster in practice, and more popular, than first-order methods despite their theoretically inferior convergence rates. Using our new weighting scheme and practical tuning we show that, for the first time, the excessive gap technique can be made faster than the fastest counterfactual regret minimization algorithm, CFRP, in practice.
Management of a dentigerous cyst in a medically compromised geriatric patient: a case report.

BACKGROUND Because of the increasing number of older persons seeking dental care, the growing trend towards a longer dental appointment and increased administration of drugs in dentistry, the possibility of occurrence of medical emergencies in dental offices has shown an upward trend. OBJECTIVE This case report discusses enucleation of a central dentigerous cyst in a 72-year old male on long-term low dose aspirin therapy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Surgical removal of impacted tooth with total enucleation of cystic lesion was performed in the dental chair under 2% lidocaine with 1:200,000 adrenaline, 3 days after aspirin cessation. After complete debridement of the surgical site, the wound was sutured and a gauge saturated with 10% tranexamic acid was placed on surgical site for 30 minutes. RESULT No post-operative complications or bleeding was seen on subsequent appointment and healing was normal. CONCLUSION A geriatric and medically compromised patient demands special care and attention; and the decision to cease aspirin before surgery or not is of critical importance.
Neuronal Depolarization Controls Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor-Induced Upregulation of NR2C NMDA Receptor via Calcineurin Signaling

In the developing cerebellum, switching of subunit composition of NMDA receptors occurs in granule cells from NR2B subunit-containing receptors to NR2C subunit-containing receptors. This switching of subunit composition plays an important role in the establishment of functional mossy fiber- granule cell synaptic transmission in the mature cerebellar network. The mechanism underlying NR2C upregulation in developing granule cells, however, has to date remained to be determined. In granule cells cultured in low (5 mm) KCl, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) upregulated NR2C mRNA via the TrkB-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 cascade and promoted the formation of an NR2C-containing NMDA receptor complex. In granule cells cultured in high (25 mm) KCl, depolarization stimulated voltage-sensitive Ca2+ channels. The resultant increase in intracellular Ca2+ activated Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent calcineurin phosphatase and blocked NR2C mRNA upregulation. Interestingly, the depolarization-induced Ca2+ increase simultaneously upregulated BDNF mRNA via Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaMK). Consequently, when calcineurin was inhibited by its inhibitor FK506 under the depolarizing condition, the CaMK-mediated increase in BDNF became a stimulatory signal, and the endogenous BDNF autocrine system was capable of upregulating NR2C mRNA via the common TrkB-ERK cascade. The importance of the BDNF-TrkB pathway was further supported by a significant reduction in NR2C in normally migrated granule cells of TrkB-/- knock-out mice in vivo. The convergent mechanism of the BDNF and Ca2+ signaling cascades thus plays an important regulatory role in NR2C induction in granule cells during cerebellar development.