Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
London taxi drivers and bus drivers: A structural MRI and neuropsychological analysis

Licensed London taxi drivers show that humans have a remarkable capacity to acquire and use knowledge of a large complex city to navigate within it. Gray matter volume differences in the hippocampus relative to controls have been reported to accompany this expertise. While these gray matter differences could result from using and updating spatial representations, they might instead be influenced by factors such as self‐motion, driving experience, and stress. We examined the contribution of these factors by comparing London taxi drivers with London bus drivers, who were matched for driving experience and levels of stress, but differed in that they follow a constrained set of routes. We found that compared with bus drivers, taxi drivers had greater gray matter volume in mid‐posterior hippocampi and less volume in anterior hippocampi. Furthermore, years of navigation experience correlated with hippocampal gray matter volume only in taxi drivers, with right posterior gray matter volume increasing and anterior volume decreasing with more navigation experience. This suggests that spatial knowledge, and not stress, driving, or self‐motion, is associated with the pattern of hippocampal gray matter volume in taxi drivers. We then tested for functional differences between the groups and found that the ability to acquire new visuo‐spatial information was worse in taxi drivers than in bus drivers. We speculate that a complex spatial representation, which facilitates expert navigation and is associated with greater posterior hippocampal gray matter volume, might come at a cost to new spatial memories and gray matter volume in the anterior hippocampus. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The Metallicity Distribution in the Outer Halo of M33

We present the results of deep I- and V-band photometry of the halo stars near the southeast minor axis of the Local Group spiral galaxy M33. An (I,V-I) color-magnitude diagram distinctly reveals the red giant branch stars at the bright end of the color-magnitude diagram. A luminosity function in the I band that uses a background field to remove the contaminating effects of Galactic foreground stars and distant, unresolved galaxies reveals the presence of the tip of the red giant branch at (m - M)I = 20.70 ± 0.10. Assuming an absolute magnitude of the tip of the red giant branch of MI,TRGB = -4.1 ± 0.1 and a foreground reddening of E(V-I) = 0.054 ± 0.020, the distance modulus of M33 is determined to be (m - M)0 = 24.72 ± 0.14 (880 ± 60 kpc). The metallicity distribution function derived by interpolating between evolutionary tracks of red giant branch models is dominated by a relatively metal-poor stellar population, with a mean metallicity of [M/H] = -0.94 ± 0.04 or [Fe/H] = -1.24. We fit a leaky-box chemical enrichment model to the halo data, which shows that the halo is well represented by a single-component model with an effective yield of yeff = 0.0024. The mean metallicity of a sample of globular clusters in the M33 halo ([Fe/H] = -1.3 ± 0.1) matches very closely the metallicity of the halo, but the cluster sample is too small to investigate other aspects of the metallicity distribution function of the clusters.
Adolescents’ Sibling Relationship and Friendship Experiences: Developmental Patterns and Relationship Linkages

The goal of this study was to compare developmental changes in adolescents’ relationship experiences with their siblings versus with their best friends and to determine whether individual differences in adolescents’ sibling experiences were associated with differences in friendship experiences. Participants included 179 firstborn-secondborn adolescent sibling pairs (N = 358). At the onset of the study, firstborns averaged 15 years of age, and secondborns, 12.5 years of age. Siblings were interviewed individually about their relationship experiences during home interviews each year for three consecutive years. Analyses focused on two relationship dimensions: emotional intimacy and control. Adolescents reported more intimacy with friends than with siblings and more control with siblings than with friends. In the face of these overall patterns, developmental changes in both firstborns’ and secondborns’ reports of intimacy differed across relationships, with sibling intimacy increasing and friendship intimacy decreasing; declines were evident in these two relationships in the case of control. Associations between sibling and friendship experiences were more apparent for control than for intimacy and for secondborns as compared to firstborns. Discussion focuses on the conditions underlying connections between adolescents’ interpersonal relationship experiences.
Spatially Distinct Neutrophil Responses within the Inflammatory Lesions of Pneumonic Plague

ABSTRACT During pneumonic plague, the bacterium Yersinia pestis elicits the development of inflammatory lung lesions that continue to expand throughout infection. This lesion development and persistence are poorly understood. Here, we examine spatially distinct regions of lung lesions using laser capture microdissection and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis to identify transcriptional differences between lesion microenvironments. We show that cellular pathways involved in leukocyte migration and apoptosis are downregulated in the center of lung lesions compared to the periphery. Probing for the bacterial factor(s) important for the alteration in neutrophil survival, we show both in vitro and in vivo that Y. pestis increases neutrophil survival in a manner that is dependent on the type III secretion system effector YopM. This research explores the complexity of spatially distinct host-microbe interactions and emphasizes the importance of cell relevance in assays in order to fully understand Y. pestis virulence. IMPORTANCE Yersinia pestis is a high-priority pathogen and continues to cause outbreaks worldwide. The ability of Y. pestis to be transmitted via respiratory droplets and its history of weaponization has led to its classification as a select agent most likely to be used as a biological weapon. Unrestricted bacterial growth during the initial preinflammatory phase primes patients to be infectious once disease symptoms begin in the proinflammatory phase, and the rapid disease progression can lead to death before Y. pestis infection can be diagnosed and treated. Using in vivo analyses and focusing on relevant cell types during pneumonic plague infection, we can identify host pathways that may be manipulated to extend the treatment window for pneumonic plague patients. Yersinia pestis is a high-priority pathogen and continues to cause outbreaks worldwide. The ability of Y. pestis to be transmitted via respiratory droplets and its history of weaponization has led to its classification as a select agent most likely to be used as a biological weapon. Unrestricted bacterial growth during the initial preinflammatory phase primes patients to be infectious once disease symptoms begin in the proinflammatory phase, and the rapid disease progression can lead to death before Y. pestis infection can be diagnosed and treated. Using in vivo analyses and focusing on relevant cell types during pneumonic plague infection, we can identify host pathways that may be manipulated to extend the treatment window for pneumonic plague patients.
Policy borrowing and transfer, and policy convergence: justifications for the adoption of the Bologna Process in the CEMAC region and the Cameroonian higher education system through the LMD reform

The borrowing and transfer of policies, ideas and practices from one system to another may in part explain the convergence of educational systems. Using text documents as research material, this paper examines the adoption and transfer of Bologna Process (BP) ideas in the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC) and in the Cameroonian higher education (HE) system through the lens of policy borrowing and transfer, and policy convergence, in order to understand the justification for such transfer at the local level. In 1999, in what is known as the BP, 29 ministers of HE signed the Bologna Declaration with the intention of creating a European HE area. In 2005, the heads of state of the CEMAC region signed the Libreville Declaration with the intention of creating the CEMAC Space for Higher Education, Research and Professional Training through licence, master and doctorat reform. The justification for the adoption of BP ideas in the CEMAC region was attributed to the convergence of educational systems. The need to legitimise the harmonisation of the degree structure and to adhere to international standards for international recognition of certificates and graduates was found to be the major justification for the reform in the Cameroonian HE system. This paper draws attention to two aspects: first, how the BP, a European model of harmonisation, has spread beyond Europe and is influencing reforms in other parts of the world, including Africa; and second, how borrowed models are justified at the local level.
Influence of starch addition on properties of urea formaldehyde/starch copolymer blends for application as a binder in the coating industry

Urea formaldehyde resin was reactively blended with various concentrations (10 to 70%) of cassava starch in order to develop a paint binder for emulsion paint formulation. Some physical properties and formaldehyde emission of the blended resin were investigated. Viscosity initially decreased before a gradual increase was noted with increase in starch concentration. Refractive index and elongation at break increased initially but gradually decreased with cassava starch content in the blend. Gel time, density, melting point, moisture uptake and formaldehyde emission decreased with increase in starch inclusion. The interaction between the two different polymers shows that 50% starch was the optimal loading inclusion. This new system has advantages of low brittleness, low formaldehyde emission and water reduction characteristics. Therefore the polymer blend can be recommended as binder for coating industry. Key words: Urea formaldehyde, starch, copolymer, binder.
Discrimination of language skills at five years of age using event‐related potentials recorded at birth

Limited success has been noted in prior attempts to predict language and cognitive performance during the toddler and preschool years from measures obtained at birth. Most perinatal measures, although demonstrating some success in predicting motor and early cognitive skills at 1 year of age, have generally failed to maintain their predictive effectiveness when used to predict abilities that emerge later in development. However, 1 electrophysiological technique that involves the recording of event‐related potentials (ERPs) to speech sounds may provide a means to improve such predictions. This article describes a successful extension of an earlier attempt to predict language performance during the preschool years from neonatal scalp recorded ERPs. Auditory ERPs were recorded from the frontal, temporal, and parietal scalp regions of 71 newborn infants in response to a series of 9 consonant‐vowel syllables. Following artifact rejection and averaging, these ERPs were input to a principal components analysis th.
Borrelia burgdorferi oxidative stress regulator BosR directly represses lipoproteins primarily expressed in the tick during mammalian infection

Differential gene expression is a key strategy adopted by the Lyme disease spirochaete, Borrelia burgdorferi, for adaptation and survival in the mammalian host and the tick vector. Many B. burgdorferi surface lipoproteins fall into two distinct groups according to their expression patterns: one group primarily expressed in the tick and the other group primarily expressed in the mammal. Here, we show that the Fur homologue in this bacterium, also known as Borrelia oxidative stress regulator (BosR), is required for repression of outer surface protein A (OspA) and OspD in the mammal. Furthermore, BosR binds directly to sequences upstream of the ospAB operon and the ospD gene through recognition of palindromic motifs similar to those recognized by other Fur homologues but with a 1 bp variation in the spacer length. Putative BosR binding sites have been identified upstream of 156 B. burgdorferi genes. Some of these genes share the same expression pattern as ospA and ospD. Most notably, 12 (67%) of the 18 genes previously identified in a genome‐wide microarray study to be most significantly repressed in the mammal are among the putative BosR regulon. These data indicate that BosR may directly repress transcription of many genes that are downregulated in the mammal.
Use of psychotropic medications in relation to neuropsychiatric symptoms, cognition and functional performance in Alzheimer's disease over a three-year period: Kuopio ALSOVA study

ABSTRACT Background: Psychotropic medications are widely prescribed to manage neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our objective was to investigate the longitudinal associations between psychotropic medication use and NPS, cognition, and functional performance in persons with very mild or mild AD at baseline. Methods: Data were collected as part of the prospective three-year study of home-dwelling persons with AD and their caregivers (n = 236 dyads). The associations between psychotropic medication use and clinical measures were analyzed using repeated measures Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) models. NPS, cognition, daily functioning, and disease severity were assessed with NPI, CERAD-NB, or MMSE, ADCS-ADL, and CDR-SOB, respectively. All analyses were adjusted for age, gender, education, and co-morbidities. Results: The prevalence of benzodiazepines and related medications increased from 16% to 24% (p = 0.031), antidepressants from 11% to 18% (p = 0.057), and antipsychotics from 4% to 16% (p = 0.011) in the three years following AD diagnosis. In adjusted multivariable analyses, a one-point increase in NPI increased the odds of using any psychotropic medication class by 4% (odds ratio (OR) 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.07). ADCS-ADL (1/OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.02–1.06) and CDR-SOB (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.13–1.42) were associated with use of antipsychotics. CERAD-NB and MMSE were not associated with any psychotropic medication class use in the models. Conclusions: Psychotropic medication use increased significantly in relation to increasing dependency in AD, especially with NPS. Furthermore, the use of antipsychotics increased with disease severity, and with decline in daily functioning. Cognitive performance was not associated with psychotropic medication use.
Smart Grab Bars: A Potential Initiative to Encourage Bath Grab Bar Use in Community Dwelling Older Adults

Grab bars are often prescribed to ensure safe and independent bathing and toileting. Studies have shown that seniors do not always use grab bars when they are present or are reluctant to install them due to the associated stigma. This study sought to determine if artificial intelligence could increase grab bar use by seniors and to determine the efficacy of different cues (auditory, visual, and audiovisual combination) on the frequency of use of a grab bar. Sixty-nine healthy participants aged 60 to 86 years (average 68.7 years) were randomly assigned to three subgroups. Each subgroup tested two different cueing conditions: the no cue and one of three cued conditions (visual, auditory, or combined audio-visual). Results suggest that the smart grab increased seniors' grab bars use by 39% and that the effect was maintained after removal of the cues. Participants preferred the visual cue but the auditory cue was the most powerful. Results suggest that artificial intelligence may be an interesting avenue to increase grab bar use in community-dwelling older adults and in people requiring supervision to use grab bars on a regular basis to decrease the risk of falls during bathing or bathtub transfers.
Comparative Antitumor Activity of Different Solvent Fractions from an Auricularia auricula-judae Ethanol Extract in P388D1 and Sarcoma 180 Cells

The objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the antitumor activity of different solvent fractions (ethanol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and water) of the Auricularia auricula-judae 70% ethanol extract on the P388D1 macrophage and sarcoma 180 cells. A dose-dependent antitumor activity of each solvent fraction (from 0.01 mg/ml to 0.3 mg/ml) was shown against both cell types. These cytotoxic effects of all the tested fractions were confirmed on the MTT and SRB assays, without statistical differences each other. IC_50 value of dichloromethane fraction was 94.2 μg/ml against sarcoma 180 cells lower than any other solvent fractions. The potent antitumor effect of the dichloromethane (DCM) fraction was also found against solid tumor in BALB/c mice. The splenomegaly and higher splenic index were found in tumor-bearing mice, with the DCM fraction returning to the negative control values. Thus, the results indicated the dichloromethane fraction may have potential ingredients as antitumor candidates.
Responsiveness and Interpretability of the Portuguese Version of the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale in Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain

Study Design. A prospective cohort study with a 6-week follow-up of patients with chronic low back pain undergoing physiotherapy. Objective. To examine the responsiveness of the Portuguese version of the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (QBPDS-PT), and to determine the minimal clinically important difference, minimal detectable change (MDC), and floor/ceiling effects. Summary of Background Data. Measuring change over time is critical to assess the effectiveness of a physiotherapy intervention or to distinguish individual differences in response to treatment. Methods. One hundred thirty-two patients were recruited from 16 outpatient clinics in 7 different regions of Portugal. A final sample of 120 patients completed the QBPDS-PT twice: at the baseline and after 6 weeks of physiotherapy treatment. The patient global impression of change scale was used as an external criterion measure to distinguish between improved or nonimproved patients' scores between baseline and follow-up. The responsiveness of the QBPDS-PT was assessed through correlation coefficient and receiver operating characteristics curves. The minimal clinically important difference was estimated by the receiver operating characteristics curve method and the MDC through the standard error of measurement. Results. The scale revealed moderate responsiveness (&rgr; = 0.426 and area under the curve = 0.741; 95% confidence interval: 0.645–0.837). The MDC achieved 19 points, whereas the minimal clinically important difference was found to be 6.5 points (area under the curve = 0.741, sensitivity = 72%, specificity = 71%). A floor effect was founded with 15.8% of the participants reporting values within the MDC at the lower end of the available range of scores. For the highest baseline scores of QBPDS-PT (≥34 points) the optimal cutoff point was found to be 10.5 points (area under the curve = 0.738, sensitivity = 73%, specificity = 67%). Conclusion. The QBPDS-PT demonstrated moderate levels of responsiveness, and is recommended to measure change in disability in patients with chronic low back pain after physiotherapy intervention. Level of Evidence: N/A
A STELLAR MODEL-FITTING PIPELINE FOR ASTEROSEISMIC DATA FROM THE KEPLER MISSION

Over the past two decades, helioseismology has revolutionized our understanding of the interior structure and dynamics of the Sun. Asteroseismology will soon place this knowledge into a broader context by providing structural data for hundreds of Sun-like stars. Solar-like oscillations have already been detected from the ground in several stars, and NASA's Kepler mission is poised to unleash a flood of stellar pulsation data. Deriving reliable asteroseismic information from these observations demands a significant improvement in our analysis methods. In this paper, we report the initial results of our efforts to develop an objective stellar model-fitting pipeline for asteroseismic data. The cornerstone of our automated approach is an optimization method using a parallel genetic algorithm. We describe the details of the pipeline and we present the initial application to Sun-as-a-star data, yielding an optimal model that accurately reproduces the known solar properties.
Actorness and legitimacy of the European Union

The article surveys the current state of the academic debate about actorness and legitimacy of the European Union. It investigates various kinds of EU’s actorness, as well as concepts and categories of its legitimacy, and attempts to trace their relationships, which remains an underdeveloped aspect of the discussion. We examine a wide range of scholarly articles, books and other academic sources in assessing the quality and fairness of the respective discussions and suggest that, within the current mostly normative debate, a positive evaluation of the EU’s legitimacy is unattainable and that it is necessary to acquire a fairer notion of what kind of international actor the Union is.
Parent-Adolescent Relationships

The ten chapters that make up this volume not only cover a broad range of key substantive issues in adolescent research (e.g., ego, development, identity formation, self-esteem, pubertal development, cognitive development, deviant behavior, religiosity, and academic achievement), but as a whole they illustrate some of the key theoretical and methodological trends occuring in parent-adolescent research.
Electron microscopic analysis of the rod pathway of the rat retina

Two immunocytochemical markers were used to label the rod pathway of the rat retina. Rod bipolar cells were stained with antibodies against protein kinase C and AII‐amacrine cells with antibodies against parvalbumin. The synaptic circuitry of rod bipolars in the inner plexiform layer (IPL) was studied. Rod bipolar cells make approximately 15 ribbon synapses (dyads) in the IPL. Both postsynaptic members of the dyads are amacrine cells; one is usually the process of an AII‐amacrine cell and the other one frequently provides a reciprocal synapse. No direct output from rod bipolar cells into ganglion cells was found. AII‐amacrine cells make chemical output synapses with cone bipolar cells and ganglion cells in sublamina a of the IPL. They make gap junctions with cone bipolar cells and other AII‐amacrine cells in sublamina b of the IPL. The rod pathway of the rat retina is practically identical to that of the cat and of the rabbit retina. It is very likely that this circuitry is a general feature of mammalian retinal organization. © Wiley‐Liss, Inc.